The Kings Promise

The Kings Promise chapter 15

‘Caspian please tell me where we are going?’ I had been repeating this over and over again ever since we had left my house. Caspian decided that it would be fine for us to walk and we had now been walk for over an hour, we were on the outskirts of town now. When we walked through the town many people smiled at Casper but gave me puzzling glances.  

‘We’re nearly there,’ Caspian answered.

I looked to see if I could see anything up a head and I could there was a small stone bungalow sitting on its lonesome.  As we drew closer I became slightly worried, what was Casper up to.

‘Casper who lives here?’

He didn’t answer and knocked on the small wooden door. An elderly woman answered the door and her tired brown eyes shone bright as they landed on Caspian. She held out her bony arms and I watched as he hugged her. I knew this woman from somewhere but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. When she let go of Caspian he smiled at her.

‘Mrs. Melody I brought an old friend with me today, I’m sure she would enjoy some of your warm cookies after all she hasn’t had one in ten years.’

‘Oh my, oh my, it isn’t...it couldn’t be.’ I was pulled into her arms and the smell of vanilla wafted through me. I couldn’t believe it either, I knew this person for sure after all she used to chase me and Casper around the kitchen until we all collapsed in fits of laughter. In the end she would always give us one of her special cookies; they were the best in the whole kingdom.

‘I missed you Mrs. Melody,’ I looked at her and saw matching tears run down her face. She took my hand into her grasp and held it tightly as if I may just slip away; she led me into her house and into a small kitchen.  I looked behind me and saw Caspian was following with a grin on his face already knowing what was to await us.

On the kitchen sat a plate full of freshly baked cookies, beside it a dish of vanilla ice-cream. I smiled remembering all the times in the castle we would sit down with Melody eating cookie sandwiches. Melody led me to a seat and told me to sit. Caspian also sat while Melody brought over an extra cup of chocolate milk.

Melody asked all about my life over the years and why I was never found. She smiled and cried at parts. When I told her of my friend Eve she was excited for me saying that she never thought I would ever have a female friend because other girls were always so jealous of me and if not jealous frightened. I told her about Mia and how I was able to make a living for myself and her.

‘Mrs. Melody enough about me what about you?’

She told me how she carried on working in the palace until Casper was twelve and then left. She said the castle no longer seemed to be happy and she just couldn’t bear seeing all the pain every time she walked down the corridors. She missed the laughter that used to ring through the castle walls. She said it was too gloomy to work there anymore. Caspian comes to her house once every few weeks and she laughed that maybe he was only coming for her  cookies.

We had been talking for hours when Caspian warned that we were going to have to leave because Eve and Mia would be home soon. Melody led us to the front door were we said are goodbyes.

‘Remember to come visit me with Caspian again. Bring your friends and I can’t wait to meet Eve.’

‘We will, but aren’t you coming to the ball.’

‘I will be dear; I’ll even bring my cookies this year because this ball might actually be one of great celebration. The prince has returned to his former self.’

‘You would think I had died the way people are acting,’ Caspian chuckled but I could see the truth behind it. Realisation was hitting him, his kingdom had lost the joy and it was only coming back because Caspian had found me.

On our way back Caspian held my hand and we laughed at all the things we remembered as small children.  When we reached my door the lights were on signalling us that Eve and Mia were home.

‘I’m sorry Is but I have to go home. I wish I could stay but I promised my father I would meet him this evening.’

‘It’s all right but shall I see you tomorrow.’

‘Of course, now your back in my life there won’t be a day that you won’t get to see my handsome face.’

‘Handsome face you say, I think I know someone with a far more handsome face.' i watched his face drop and it made me not only feel guilty but also a little sad. 'Eve’s little pup max.’ I teased.

‘Well then I guess you’d rather be kissed by Max then’

‘Casper I was only teasing.’

‘I know,’ he bent down and kissed me.  He pulled away and with a smile he began to walk away with me staring at his back.

‘See you tomorrow my princess he shouted over his shoulder before rounding the corner.’

I’m not a princess I muttered before opening the door into hell.

Casper POV

I smiled as I made my way through the castle hallways remembering her lips upon mine. I walked past the ball room which was nearly completely decorated in several shades of purple.  I could hear the echo of my footsteps as I made my way towards my father’s study.

Mrs. Melody’s words replaying in my head continuously.

She missed the laughter that used to ring through the castle walls. She missed the laughter that used to ring through the castle walls. She missed the laughter that used to ring through the castle walls.

How had I never noticed? The hallways were baron now but when I was a young boy the servants chatting would ring through the hallway and the children’s laughter. Mrs. Melody was right the castle had lost its former joy but now I'm ready to bring it back. It was time to bring the kingdoms joy back. It had been far too long.

I walked straight into my father’s office not bothering to nock knowing he wouldn’t mind. I looked around the room and seen nothing had really changed, his shelves were still stacked high with books. Photos were still placed all around the room of my family and Is’s family. My father’s desk was covered in paper yet to be read, signed and dated.

‘Father you wanted to see me,’ I asked. I wasn’t really sure why my father had called upon me this morning.

‘Yes my boy. I have heard that you have been spending your time with a girl. I have seen a spark develop in your eye that I haven’t seen since...since the war.’

‘Let’s just say I found an old friend and she is coming here for the ball along with her friend.’

‘Do I know this girl, what is her name son?’

‘You knew her when we were both little, I don’t think it’s my place to give her true name but I’m sure she will tell you herself eventually. I think she knows now that you would never have tried to change her if she had only stayed with us instead of running.’

I left my father standing there with a confused expression on his face. He was in for a big surprise.