The Chronicles of Narnia - Adventure continues [ book 1 ]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

I 6 | The Shooting Star

When Edmund and Hope appeared in the ballroom, Hope reserved many stares. Edmund ignored them and led her to the thrones where his sibilings were. This time, Eustace was with them.

"There you are. Where were you two?", Eustace annoyingly asked, with his cousins showing him to stop.

"I had a problem and Edmund helped me.", Hope answered his question and earned few glares. "Yes, my eyes are puffy. Yes, I cried. No, I'm not alright. And no more questions, please.", she barely spoke as her heartbeat became faster and her eyes brighter.

Silence. Music and dance were only sounds echoing the room. Tension was strong. "I need some air.", brunette said with a voice that cracked. Her steps became fast as she heard someone else behind her. "Alone!", her gasp was loud enough to stop Edmund following.

Outside was peaceful. Everyone was inside, dancing and having fun, but Hope was sad. Reason was unknown, even for her, but nothing could put a smile on her face. Even if she was thinking about her family, her friends, the kiss she had with Edmund. Nothing.

But the stars seemed to know answers on her questions. Everything was lightened up from stars. Next to her appeared small silueta that she detected as a mouse. "Stargazing, your majesty?", the mouse asked when he sat next to the girl.

"I don't know anymore.", she spoke silently as her eyes moved from the stars. "Everything I knew changed in few hours."

"Sometimes, changes are good for us.", the mouse added wisely. "And sometimes, they make us question the whole life we thought we knew."

"You're pretty wise for..", she smiled a bit after thinking what to say.

Please don't say mouse. - mouse pleased in his thoughts.

"A Narnian knight.", she finally spoke, while the mouse let the sight of relief. "What's your name?"

"Reepicheep, my liege.", he answered bowing his head.

"Do you seem to know many about the stars and galaxies?", she asked after stopping her tears.

"I could say I'm not very sure about everything we all know, but one thing is truth.", Reepicheep started his words, puting out his finger to show her the shooting star. "Make a wish."

She looked at him and then at the star. Her eyes closed as she imagined her wish. "I wish..", she stated, not saying second part of her wish.

☯️

"Are you alright, your majesty?", centaurs asked when they saw Grace Queen entering ballroom one again. She slightly nodded and smiled at their questions, although she was not fine. She couldn't put a finger on what is bothering her and she knew her friends will ask her to explain.

"Are you feeling better, Hope?", Susan motherly asked girl when she approached to them.

"Maybe better, but not completely.", she silently answered. "Can we call it a night? I'm tired.", Hope added as Susan strangely looked at her. "May I leave this party?"

"I'm not very sure, it's party for you.", Susan decided, but when she saw girl's face, she softed a bit. "If you'll be perfect in the morning and come down to the breakfast with us."

After listening to these words, Hope embraced Susan and smiled at her. But quickly, she walked to her room and felt empty again. In the same moment she fell on that bed, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.

☯️

The Sun rised. It's rays were traveling through glass of the window in Hope's room. After it shone at her eyes, she felt irritation. She started rubbing her eyes and slowly opened them. Her vision was still blurry and she didn't move. She was still in her bed, covered with white sheets.

One knock on the door made her frustrated. She hardly wanted to get up but few angry knocks following, made her to. She walked to the doors and annoyingly opened them and revealed one she-faun standing there with dresses in her hands. "Queen Susan alerted me that you'll be joining them for breakfast. I brought you few dresses, your majesty.", she said entering Hope's room.

"Okay, leave them and I'll take one. Although, I have those from last night.", Hope advised her as the faun bowed and left the room.

How do they live like this? , she asked herself trying to pick one of the dresses.

The violet one seemed very nice as it was simple. One of the things Hope liked - simple but special. After getting into it, her eyes stopped at her reflection in the mirror. Long dress with long sleeves, hair still curled a bit (she was curly naturally). Her eyes still a little red from tears last night, but she didn't care. If someone doesn't like her, then he shouldn't be looking at her at all.

By getting out of her room, halls were empty. Just few guards here and there. As she was walking to the breakfast room, she met mighty lion again. Her head bowed in front of him as he went to walk with her. "You know you'll have to leave Narnia very soon, dear one.", Aslan spoke with strong voice as the girl nodded. "Well, it will happen tomorrow, dear."

She stopped and Aslan with her. "But why?", she barely spoke, her voice cracked once again.

He continued to walk and so did she. "Your wish will soon come true.", Lion speaked to the girl as she lost her smile.

"My wish wasn't coming back.", she said between tears as she wiped them.

"Don't cry, dear one, you'll soon have a life you deserve.", he answered and left her alone in front of the breakfast room.

She insecurely walked to the table. Long table with 12 chairs, but usually only six persons would eat here, and now seven. Peter was at the high center, and then Susan and Caspian oppositely, next to them Lucy and Eustace and next to him, Edmund. Hope smiled when she spotted Edmund looking at her as he smiled back.

"We waited for you. Come, sit.", Susan warmly welcomed her as she sat next to Lucy.

At the table were many delicious meals that Hope couldn't even name. But the words Aslan said wouldn't let her peaceful. "What's wrong, Hope?", Peter asked before he took a sip of his drink.

"Aslan - told me I'm leaving tomorrow.", she sadly answered faking her smile. She played with her food a long time after she decided to leave. "Excuse me, please."
She got up and left them in wonder.