Tales of the Narnian Monarchs: Reality's Frightful Jerk

Two Queens Go To Oxford

A tall man with hazel eyes, fairer than Sanya but with a nose like hers, opened the door and looked down at the redhead, surprised. "Hello, how may I help you?"

Lilith tried not to shiver, again damning Aslan for putting her in only a sundress- And not even a warm one!

"I'm Lilith." She said, even if it didn't mean anything to who she was assuming was Sanya's father. "I'm- I'm Sanya's friend."

"Oh." The man looked back and then stepped aside, pulling the door open wider. "Come in, she's asleep now but you can wait till she wakes up... though that may not be till afternoon... or tomorrow."

"I forgot how much she likes sleeping," Lilith laughed as she stepped in, warming to her friend's dad.

"How do you know her?" He asked as he led her in the spacious but cosy living room, sitting her down on a sofa. "Oh, I-" Lilith wracked her brain. "Same school."

"You look older than her, must be graduated already?"

"Yes, sir, I'm 19." She nodded and added, "I graduated with Susan Pevensie... you probably know her younger brother."

The man frowned as he came back from the kitchen, wife in tow. "Yes, the Pevensie boy. Somehow has charmed my daughter." Lilith knew they were immigrants from India, but wow, did they speak impeccable English.

"I'll wake Sanya up, she should definitely get up for one of her friends." Her mother grinned as she left the room, calling out to her husband, "Close the door on your way out!"

Some minutes later, a drowsy looking Sanya, clad in plaid pyjamas and uncombed and possibly unwashed hair came into the living room. "Lilith?" She asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Hoping to talk to you, believe it or not- and perhaps ask for a temporary place to stay. Oh! And I was wondering if you wanted to go out today? I know you're probably not in the mood, but I'd like to explore, and it might get you out of the house.." she stopped herself, realising once again that she'd been rambling as she'd began looking around the room, fascinated.
"So." She turned to her friend, "Fancy an outing around 1940s London? Oof, I'm still not over that..."

Sanya fixed her with a dead look, though it might have just been her sleepiness, "You're welcome to stay anytime, I just have to ask my mother." She went into the kitchen and after a brief shouting match, came back. "You can stay in my room, we can put up a spare mattress. Oh, your parents are dead and you have no other family by the way."

"A cheerful reminder, thanks." Lilith said dryly. "But really though, thank you. I'm very grateful. Now, about the tour....?"

She watched Sanya seemingly have a conversation with herself in her own mind.
"Sure. We'll head out in a bit, just me just go get ready." She replied, turning and making her way back upstairs. Not moments later, Lilith heard what must've been the shower start as she settled herself back on the sofa.

It wasn't long until Sanya came down, wearing a knee length check blue dress. "We'll go into town, maybe Oxford though it's an hour long train ride... I want to buy some books." This was the Sanya projected to her friends, Lilith realised, and almost wanted to shake her to cry, sob, grieve outwardly over the loss of her child. But all Lilith said was "Okay." before starting more hesitantly than ever, "But you should-"

"You aren't here to be my therapist or sounding board. Not anymore. And I don't have to do anything." She said savagely before stalking out, throwing the door open. Lilith looked at the hurting girl for a moment, before following her.
"Noted." Lilith replied with a small shrug.

It was mostly silent until they reached the station. At the ticket booth was when Lilith had a realisation.
"Oh shi- no. Oh, no." She corrected herself before turning to Sanya, "I just realised... I- uhm... havenomoney." She said very quickly, hating where this conversation may be about to go.