The Legacy's Return (#2)

Understanding

From the moment we were back from Galma, I started reading a lot to keep myself from blowing up like a crazy person. I became so invested in books that I didn't give myself time to worry about what was going on. I knew that I was supposed to be preparing for any possible attacks but my mind could handle only so much.

First, I found out that I was a long lost Princess. The Lost Legacy. Second, I found that I was supposed to be ruling Narnia. Third, my parents didn't abandon me like I had been thinking all my life. They saved my life. I could go on and on but let me skip to the end - the return of the White Witch, the person who killed them.

I spent the entire time of the day reading in several parts of the castle. For a little bit of change to stop annoying people with my presence, I went to a secret place. Caspian had put two guards at my side until we could come to a decision about our personal guards and I requested them for some privacy. 

I went to the one place that was special to me and moreover, special to Caspian - the Secret Garden.

I sat down on the edge of the fountain and read one of my favourite books there. I wanted to get everything out of my head just for a few days. Nobody could have disturbed me there, except for one.

My flow of reading was interrupted when one of the doors opened up. I grabbed the knife next to me as instincts took over, which I had it with me for safety purposes. "Sophie?" It was Caspian.

I kept the knife back down and picked my book from the ground. I didn't realise that it had fallen down because I was concentrating more on any surprise attack.

He walked inside. "What are you reading?" I showed him the cover of the book. "Ah."

"What happened?" 

"Nothing. I wanted to see where you were." He said. "And how you were." He smiled.

"I'm here." I said as he sat down next to me. "And I'm good, I think. How are you?"

"I'm fine." He said. "As long as I am with you." He touched his forehead against mine.

"I'm glad." I smiled faintly. "I was wondering when you would be running towards the bushes." 

He laughed. "Never going to happen." He said, brushing away a loose lock of hair from my eyes and tucking it behind my ear.

Caspian looked confused all of a sudden. He was looking at the knife next to me. "It's nothing." I said.

"Are you sure?" He asked as he took the knife in his hand and examined it.

"You know? That knife supposedly belonged to my mother." I said. "Trumpkin gave it to me during our training lessons." The first day actually. He had told me that the knife had belonged to Queen Helen. I should have known that fate was going to play a mysterious game right then.

"Now you have two things of your parents." He said. "One of your mother's and one of your father's."

"I guess so." I touched the ring on the necklace.

We sat in silence for some time. The gushing of the water was the only thing we could hear. "Sophie." "Caspian." We said at the same time. 

"You go." I said.

"Sophie. You cannot come to the battle."

"What! Why?"

"I cannot concentrate in the field if I keep looking out for your safety. You've never been in a battle before, and they can get quite ugly. I know that I will be looking out for you."

"Caspian, I can handle myself." He shook his head. So, I held his hands. "Trust me." I said, trying to look at his eyes but he was looking at our hands together. "I've been training for this ever since I've got here. Trust me."

"I wanted to tell you that-"

"No." I said. "I know what you are trying to do. No goodbye talks."

He laughed. "All right."

I nodded and got up. "Do you want to go steal some desserts? We haven't done it in ages!" I was heading for the door when Caspian did something and changed my life forever. Our lives as well.

"Sophie."

"I know, Nina will-" I turned around and stopped in the middle of the sentence.

Caspian was on one knee and he was holding a blue satin box in his hand. I think my heart stopped for a moment because I knew what was going to happen. "Sophie." He smiled.

"Caspian." I breathed out. It was hard speaking. Unconsciously, I walked towards him. Where was my brain when I needed it?

"Sophie." He pulled the box open and revealed a beautiful ring. "This was my mother's." He said. "Will you-"

"No." I sat down in front of him and cupped his face. "I mean, not 'no' as in I won't. I mean...." I took a deep breath. "I know what you are trying to do." I said once again. "Save that ring for once we win."

"But-"

"I am going to be fine during the fight, Caspian. You don't have to worry about me. We are going to win and then, you can ask me when the time is right."

He looked at the floor and smiled softly. "And what will your answer be?"

I pulled him into a kiss. I couldn't believe that I had interrupted him. But the time wasn't right. It wasn't time yet. "You'll find out." I said as I held him close to me. "I know this isn't how you wanted this to go."

"No, I am glad that you stopped me." He said. "We are going to win." He was confident. He took my hand and pressed it gently. "And then I will ask you, Sophie Helen Adams, the only question I want the answer to."

I blushed. "How did you know that I chose that for my middle name?"

"I know you." He kissed my forehead. "Now, let's go and take those desserts." He winked.

"I have a feeling that Oliver is going to be furious." 

"Not more than Mr. Henry was."

My eyes opened wide. "You know about that?" 

"Of course, I do." He said. "Sometimes people forget that I am the King." He joked.

"Wait, is that who you are?" I cracked a joke as well.

As we made our way to the kitchen, Trumpkin ran towards us from the other side of the hallway. "Your Majesties." He breathed out.

"What happened, Trumpkin?" I asked.

"The village." He said. "They attacked it."

Caspian and I looked at each other and ran to the armoury without having to tell each other that we were doing so.