I was lying on my side and was observing the patterns of the dark red bed sheet. I felt a yawn stretching at the back of my mouth at the start of my throat. I went with it. I parted my lips and took a gentle breath in filling my lungs with fresh oxygen. Releasing the air, I felt m chest and throat relax. The room was still quite dark because of the thick curtains and only a few rays of sunlight had snuck in through the gaps of the curtains.
I licked my bottom lip and slid my hand away from my forehead and down onto my stomach where I felt but the smooth skin of a hand, not my hand, someone else's. I blinked a few times rather confused at that point and glance down at my stomach. A hand rested upon it, palm down. I began following up the arm to see who it belonged to.
It was Caspian.
Of course, I had fallen asleep on his bed. I turn my head fully so that my left cheek was resting upon the cushiony material beneath it. Caspian was lying on his shoulder facing me and he looked so peaceful. His long brown hair seemed to double length now that I was so close to him. His eyebrows were the perfect thickness and his skin was soft texture. His hand felt so warm upon my stomach. I watched his left shoulder slowly move back and forth as he breathed in and out. His lips were full of the color of life and the bed sheet was pulled down to reveal detailed collar bone.
I lift my hand up wiggling my fingers, faintly trying my hardest not to make any noise that would wake the sleeping king beside me. An intrigue smile tweaked in the corner of my lips as I brush my fingertips against the area of skin by the corner of his cheeks. Caspian inhaled a sharp amount of air through his nose and shrug his left shoulder up making me gasp, snatching my hand back. He was still asleep however. I observe him for a few more seconds before closing my eyes taking in his body heat.
"Was I dreaming of were you just stroking my face?" Caspian suddenly whispered. I snap my eyes open only to be looking at his awake face. He seemed quite sleep but he still managed to create a peculiar expression upon his face. I parted my lips feeling a warm tingle spread over my cheeks.
"Uh…."
"Is that a yes?" he ask slowly revealing a weak smirk.
"No." I lied, forcing myself to relax. He lost the smirk from his lips and instead replaced it with a curious smile. We observed each other's faces for a few more seconds and I felt his thumb twitch against the fabric of my shirt against my skin.
"Hmm, well it felt nice," he muttered. "Is it morning already?" he ask.
"Yes, and I have to go before someone thinks otherwise,"
"Well let them think," Caspian said wrapping his arm around my waist.
"You are not leaving this room."
"Oh I beg to differ."
"This is not what I wanted!" Lilliandil's voice scream next to my room. I heard plates of metal clatter before a door was closed. A faun was muttering something about death under his breath as he walk by my door.
"Did she really have to move next to my room?" I ask Mrs. Buttercup, lying lazily on my bed. After going back to my own room, I didn't had much to do but lie around.
"She feels safer."
"That's because Caspian's room is below us, Mrs. Buttercup."
"I hate this room!" Lilliandil scream. Mrs. Buttercup was perched on my vanity chair, sewing a rip on my dress.
"Ow," I muttered, pressing down on my lower stomach.
"What's the matter?"
"Cramps. Nothing serious." It seems like a lazy morning, nothing to do except sleep-
"Ahh! Sky rats!" Another scream.
"Mrs. Buttercup-" I said darkly.
"A harmless bird. Nothing to it," She quickly replied.
"How will Caspian get himself out of marriage if she won't shut up!" I said, raising my voice at the last two words.
"He'll find a loophole. He always does." Mrs. Buttercup went through my drawers looking for extra thread.
"What's your book lying in here?" She ask, holding it up.
"Oh, I forgot about it." She handed me the book and I opened to the second page and wrote, "Once upon a time," I said out loud.
"There was a girl named Lilliandil," Mrs. Buttercup chuckled.
"Everybody died. The end."
"That's not nice, Ava." She said still chuckling.
"You're right. I should change it. She was so ugly, everybody died. The end."
"Ava," Mrs. Buttercup warned.
"What?" I ask, giving her a devilish grin. "I'm just joking. Where has Caspian gone?"
"I don't know dear. I haven't seen him all morning."
"I'll go ask," I said closing my book, placing it back in the drawer.
Ten minutes later, everyone that I saw, didn't know where Caspian was. I gave up and went to another market, few miles away from the castle. I look up and back down.
Wait! Who was that? My head snap up to see a patch of blonde hair getting away. "Sam?" I whispered, feeling my heart racing and my palms sweaty.
No, it couldn't be Sam. He's in New York. There's no way he could be here. But my eyes and head saw otherwise.
"That is Sam!" I race after him, apologizing to those whom I bump into. He was getting away!
I quickly push people away. I was definitely positive that it was Sam.
"Sam!" I called out but it was no use. He didn't hear me as he walk into a hotel/tavern. I walk in the tavern, scanning the entire place. No sign of Sam. There were a few men sitting in tables, discussing in low tones.
"Excuse me," I said to the bartender who was cleaning the glasses.
"What can I do for you?" he ask.
"A tall..err blonde man with green eyes came in here a few minutes ago. Can you tell me where he has gone?"
"He went upstairs to his room."
"Can you tell me what room he is in?"
"The one with the black door."
"Thank you." I race up the wooden stairs, seeing a long hallway before me with colorful doors. The black door was at the very end. Once I reach it, I nervously licked my lips, raising my hand, giving it three good knocks. My heart beat faster and faster as I heard footsteps coming closer behind the door.
There was a click and the door open.
"Ava?"
I hate it when I'm always right.
"S…s…"
"Ava!" My legs gave way underneath me and my vision blackened.
I slowly open my eyes and gasp, sitting straight up.
"Mrs. Buttercup, I had the weirdest dream. My boyfriend was in Narnia."
"It wasn't a dream." My head swiveled in the direction where Sam's back was facing me.
"How did you even get here?" I ask, getting out of bed.
"Through the closet. I felt a draft behind the jacket area."
I think I like my version better
"How long have you been staying here?"
"About three days. So this is Narnia," Sam said, getting up looking out the window. "You were right about the spring-summer feeling."
"Why are you here?" I ask, crossing my arms. A few sun rays his against his hair as he looked at me. Those hazel green eyes bore into mine.
"Same thing as you are here. I don't know. But now that I'm here, I'm glad I found you," Three long strides and he was in front of me.
"I've missed you so much, Ava," he tilted back my head, kissing me on the lips. Caspian's face came into my mind. I broke the kiss, stepping away.
"Look, Sam, I have something to tell you."
"I do too."
"I'm break-"
"Will you marry me?" A silent of moment came.
"What?" I finally spoke.
"That's not the kind of answer I was hoping for."
"Okay then, let's try another…why?"
"Why? Because I love you, Ava. We've been together for two years. I want to continue to spend my life with you. Grow old. Have kids."
I stood there speechless, not knowing what to say. Should I say yes and break Caspian's heart or should I say no and break Sam's heart?
I looked down at the plain silver band that was on my finger that Caspian gave to me.
Something to remember me by….
"So I'll ask you again. Will you marry me, Ava Johansson Garden?"
"Ava, where have you been?" Caspian ask me at once when I came inside the castle.
"I…."
"I was so worried about you. I thought you were gone again." Caspian must have saw Sam because his smile was lost.
"Who is this?" He ask.
"This…" I cleared my throat. "Is my boyfriend, Sam."
"How do you do?" Caspian murmured shaking hands with Sam.
"He's….my fiance." About a 100 pairs of eyes landed on me in surprise. Caspian's face was straight, showing no emotion.
No, Caspian. Look at me. Don't look at the wall.
"He came to Narnia by accident."
"Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you," Sam answered.
"If you'll excuse me, I have to go plan my wedding," he inclined his head as a bow and walked away. His back straight and stiff and his hands balled into fists.
What have I done?