Caspian
The next morning Cornelius was the first one to wake as he always woke up when the first rays of sun hit his face. He slowly, carefully remembering his old body, rose from his bed and went to his small bathroom to wash up before starting the day.
When he came out of the bathroom he took his neatly folded clothes from his chair and dressed up in the white shirt, brown trousers and his red robe. He then made his bed as he always would as he was one who didn't like the untidiness in his rooms, and then went to see Hope, who was still sleeping in his study.
As he quietly opened the door he could see her small frame snuggled up into the blankets, still in deep sleep in her bed. He quietly went to her bed and sat on the edge of it.
''Hope, it's time to wake up,'' the Doctor gently said as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
''Five more minutes,'' came a muffled voice from deep within the covers, making Cornelius chuckle at the child's antics. He then remembered what Marigold had told him of how she would always get Hope to wake up. He started tickling her sides, making Hope laugh and unwillingly rise from the bed as she tried to pry the merciless hands off of her.
After Cornelius deemed her woken up as she was so busy glaring at him he rose from the bed and handed her her yesterday's clothes. Hope took the clothes and while muttering something Cornelius couldn't hear she went to the bathroom to wash up and change. And while Hope was in the bathroom Cornelius made her bed as well.
After about ten minutes Hope emerged from the bathroom now in her clothes and her hair tied up into a low ponytail so her pointed ears were covered. Just then a knocking was heard from the door, making Hope feel scared once again and hide behind the old Doctor. The Doctor gave a permission to enter and saw a young, maybe in her early twenties, maid come in with a tray of food in her hands.
''Good morning Doctor. I heard you have a small child with you so I brought a little more food than usually,'' the maid said as she placed the tray on the table.
''Thank you Janice,'' Cornelius said to the familiar maid, who gave a quick nod and left as she saw the scared child hiding behind the Doctor and did not want her to feel uncomfortable.
After Hope heard the door close, indicating that the maid left, she felt good enough to come out from behind the Doctor.
''So let's eat, shall we,'' Cornelius said as he brought another chair to the table that Hope sat on as Cornelius himself sat on his usual chair on the table. He gave Hope a toast with some cloudberry jam and a class of milk, while he himself started to stir his usual cup of tea adding a couple spoonful's of sugar in it as otherwise the herb tea would taste a bit bland.
Hope ate the toast, but did find the jam a bit bitter for her taste, but she ate it anyway not wanting to seem ungrateful to the Doctor. The Doctor then took the bowl of hot porridge that obviously was meant for Hope and gave it to her, warning that it was still hot.
Hope blew some of the steam off and took a small careful bite of the porridge and after the taste she immediately took the sugar cup and put some sugar in it as the porridge tasted like burned milk and oats without it. Her mother always used put some sugar and some fresh berries, or some rare times fruits, in her porridge and this porridge in front of her lacked all those things. But after about five spoonful's of sugar the porridge tasted like it was edible.
After they had eaten their breakfast Cornelius gathered the plates and cups from the table and placed them on the tray so the maid could get it later. He then suggested that they'd go see Vivian and how she was coming up with the dresses for Hope. Hope, even though still feeling a bit frightened by any Telmarine woman, agreed to go see the old tailor.
They walked across the castle Hope tightly clinging to the Doctor's arm all the way until they finally reached the Royal Tailor shop. They walked inside and saw Vivian and two other females sowing dresses around a big table that was now covered with different fabrics, some thread and measuring tapes along with many papers full of clothing patterns.
Vivian, after noticing the door opening, looked up from her work to see the old Doctor and his new ward standing by the door.
''Doctor Cornelius, came to see how my work is progressing?'' Vivian said as she placed the fabric she was sowing to the table and with a little difficulty walked to meet the Doctor, while the other two tailors, one black haired and young while the other one had dark brown hair in a bun and was most likely in her forties, began to gossip about something.
''Yes in fact I did,'' Cornelius confirmed with a small smile making Vivian smile too.
''Well I have just started to sow the first one, but it doesn't look that good yet,'' Vivian said as she took the white fabric she just placed to the table and showed it to Cornelius and Hope, who peaked from behind the Doctor.
And just a she said the dress didn't look much of anything just yet. If you'd look close enough you could see some shape in it, but it was still very vague. Vivian then put the dress back to the table and took some paper into her hands instead.
''This is what it's supposed to look like when finished,'' Vivian said as she handed the paper to Cornelius, who also showed it to Hope. It was a very basic child's dress, white under dress with long slightly wide sleeves and a royal blue sleeveless dress over it.
''It looks good,'' Cornelius said as he handed the paper back to Vivian's wrinkly hands.
''Thank you, but as I said yesterday the dresses won't be finished until the end of the week. And the shirts and trousers will take another week. And I do try to make the nightgown so it would be finished by the end of this week as well, but I make no promises,'' Vivian said.
''I understand. Well ladies we'll leave you to your work. Good day,'' Cornelius said as he gave a polite bow to the tailors and then gently guided Hope out of the tailor shop.
Cornelius then started guiding Hope through the palace, Hope yet again clinging to the Doctor's arm for support and comfort.
''Hope, do you remember what I told you yesterday?'' Cornelius then asked.
''No,'' came a quiet answer from the little girl beside him.
''I told you I'd introduce you to the prince I tutor in this palace. Would you be up to meet him now?'' Cornelius said.
''Will you be there with me all the time?'' Hope asked a slight panic clear in her voice.
''Yes, it's his tutoring time and I'd introduce you as my niece and ward and a new pupil to the lessons. And as I told you he is just your age and is just a fun loving child like you. I'm sure you two would become good friends with time,'' Cornelius answered.
''Okay, but don't leave me alone with him,'' Hope said with quiet voice as she moved slightly closer to the old Doctor.
''Of course not my dear, of course not,'' Cornelius answered as he gently started guiding Hope to the Prince's quarters at the top floor of the palace.
As they entered the floor Cornelius took Hope to one of the many doors and knocked on it. Soon a voice inside gave them permission to enter and Cornelius then opened the door to reveal nice looking room.
This room was not filled with books and scrolls like the Doctor's, but rather some wooden swords, some clothes and some toys around the floor, table and even on the bed. Carefully the Doctor and Hope, who still refused to let go of his hand, weaved themselves through the scattered items on the floor.
Soon a young boy with dark brown hair, warm brown eyes and tanned skin came into their view.
''Doctor is it my tutoring time already? And who's that?'' The boy asked pointing towards Hope, who quickly hid herself behind the Doctor.
''Yes my Prince, it is your tutoring time. The sun has already risen. And this young lady is my niece Hope, who will from now on live with me and take part of our lessons,'' Cornelius said as he half forced half guided Hope out of her hiding place.
Hope stood stiff like stick as she had been forced to stand in front of this Telmarine stranger, no matter how young he was.
''Hi, my name's Caspian. How old are you?'' Caspian suddenly said right in front of Hope, making her take couple steps back as he frightened her with the sudden closeness. But as Hope took couple steps back, she stumbled on one of the toys on the floor and fell down. And as she fell with a small shriek, Caspian was immediately on her side looking very worried, while the Doctor stood a bit farther away giving the children time to get to know each other.
''Oh man are you okay? Eleanor did say I should clean up my stuff off of the floor and I was going to do it, I promise. Here let me help you up,'' Caspian said with a panicked voice as he held his hand for Hope to take and Hope couldn't help but to stare at the sincerity of the worry that the Telmarine's voice and face showed her. How can somebody who's supposed to be a total monster be this worried over a girl who just stumbled on her feet?
Hope then slowly took his hand and let Caspian help her up.
''Thank you,'' Hope said with her quiet voice, still feeling a bit cautious of the boy.
''You didn't hurt yourself, right?'' Caspian asked with still worried voice.
''No,'' Hope said as she let go of the hand that for some reason still held hers.
''Good, and I'm so sorry,'' Caspian said with sincere voice.
''It's okay, I used to scatter my toys around too,'' Hope said and gave a small encouraging smile to the young prince, who also started smiling.
From the small distance the old Doctor also gave a small smile as he saw how the prince was able to bring Hope out of her shell. She was still cautious, but this was the first time she had spoken willingly to any Telmarine and the Doctor was sure that eventually Hope and Caspian would become friends, even if Hope would still be cautious and slightly scared around other Telmarines.
And true to his words Caspian was able to bring the cheerful Hope back into life as their friendship started growing. Hope always smiled around the prince and Caspian was always asking Hope to play around with him no matter what. They truly grow to be the bests of friends around.
Everybody in the castle knew how Caspian and Hope spent all their time together. They studied together, they played together, they rode together, and they even practiced sword fighting together when they grew older. The teacher was at first hesitant to take the young girl into the lessons, but after the prince had firmly said that if Hope can't join them then the teacher could remove himself from the castle as he wasn't needed, since Caspian refused to practice without Hope.
Caspian and Hope's favorite place to play was without doubt the garden and if one couldn't find them in the palace then they were sure to find them in the garden playing hide and seek or some other game.
Caspian also never belittled Hope because she was a girl even if some knights and male servants said that women weren't as good as men. But Caspian always told them off saying that Hope was just as important as he was.
And as Caspian and Hope started reaching their teen-age years, one could see them often glancing each other when the other wasn't looking. They started having some trouble talking to each other, but noting major, they still remained bests of friends.
And if one would look they could see that whenever the other talked or spent time with the opposite gender the other one would show some signs of jealousy. And they ensured that they still spent most of their time together. And as Caspian's lesson's kept increasing due to him being the rightful heir to the throne their time was cut off as Hope had started learning privately with the Doctor when Caspian had lessons elsewhere.
But they always promised to meet at the gardens before the day would end. Like now,
''How was your day?'' Hope asked the tired Caspian as they walked at the far end of the garden.
''Don't even ask. The riding lessons have become a nightmare and the ever growing pressure of being the best…ugh. I'd rather spend my time with you,'' Caspian said as they finally sat on the bench.
''I know. Uncle Cornelius has had me study endlessly of the history of Narnia and all the other stuff. I feel like my head will explode,'' Hope said as she adjusted her loose side ponytail that hid her ears perfectly. Just then her eyes saw something new in the garden.
''Look they've planted white roses,'' Hope said as she quickly rose from the bench, her powder blue dress flowing behind her as she moved to see the flowers.
Caspian couldn't help but to stare after his best friend. He couldn't understand how that timid child, who came into the castle with the old Doctor and always hid behind him when somebody got too close could turn into this beautiful confident angel in front of him. Caspian had of course noticed how some males had started looking at Hope's direction whenever she walked by, and if he was being completely honest with himself, he didn't like it. Luckily Hope didn't pay any attention on the looks.
''Aren't they beautiful Caspian?'' Hope suddenly said as she smelled one of the white roses on the bush.
''Not as beautiful as you,'' Caspian suddenly found himself think. ''Yes they are. Roses are after all your favorite flowers,'' Caspian said aloud as he walked next to Hope.
''That they are. If you'd ask me the whole garden should be full of roses,'' Hope said as she looked at the garden that was full of different kinds of flowers.
''Well then,'' Caspian said as he picked one of the white roses from the bush, ''your favorite flower, my lady,'' Caspian said as he bowed and gave the rose to Hope.
''Thank you good sir,'' Hope said as she took the rose and gave a small curtsy to Caspian. ''But white roses aren't my all-time favorite flowers,'' Hope said as she smelled the rose in her hands.
''Then what is?'' Caspian asked.
''Golden roses,'' Hope said.
''Golden roses don't exist,'' Caspian said as-a-matter-of-fact type of voice.
''I know, but I think that golden roses would be beautiful. Golden was my mother's favorite color because it reminded her of my father's hair color. At least that's what she always told me,'' Hope said with a hint of sadness in her voice.
Caspian had of course heard how Hope had lost her family. Or at least he knew that they were dead. During all these years Hope had lived in the palace she and the Doctor never breathed a word of how Hope was actually a Winter Nymph, not even to Caspian, who knew more about Hope than anybody else in the castle.
That was one thing that helped them to connect with each other as children. They both knew the pain of losing a family and were there to give support for one another when it seemed too hard to go on. And together they got through the rough childhood without parents.
''Well I think it's time to head back. It's getting a bit dark,'' Hope said looking at the setting sun at the distance.
''One day we will get to spent the whole day together, even if we have to sneak out to do it,'' Caspian vowed.
''I know we will. I'll see you tomorrow,'' Hope said as she smiled. She then gave a small kiss on Caspian's cheek, making his whole face flush red, ''And thank you for the rose,'' she said as she went back to the castle, leaving the red faced and dumbstruck Caspian standing in the middle of the garden.