Sophia awoke to something tickling her nose.
"Caspian, go away before I kick you." she mumbled grumpily into her pillow. After being won by the Narnians in the bidding for a ward, Sophia set out with High King Caspian and the Narnian congregation to their home country to learn the customs and ways of the Narnian people and royals. This particular journey took about a month to complete, and in that time, the High King insisted that formalities be abandoned. Sophia was happy to oblige.
"What? You need to wake up, you lump." he chuckled, pushing her off her seat in the moving carriage. He kicked his feet up and laughed when he heard her groan. "You missed breakfast again!" he said, staring down at the daughter of the duke. She huffed.
"I'd sacrifice my food for extra sleep any day!" she said. "With lunch so close to breakfast, I doubt it matters when I wake up!" she growled, pulling her blanket up over her head again.
"You missed lunch too!" the king said laughing. Hearing her "Oh well." from under her pillow, then king became antsy. "Get up, Sophia!" The king whined. "I'm bored." Sophia lifted her head out from under her blanket and stared at the boy king with steely eyes.
"Caspian, are you saying that you woke me from a deep sleep because you had nothing better to do?"
"I- well I, erm, no?" Caspian stuttered, unsure of how to keep the fiery girl from maiming him. However, instead of reaching towards her sword, Sophia grabbed the pillow she had previously been burrowed in and swung it viciously at Caspian. She smiled when she heard it hit the king's face with a loud THUMP.
"You just assaulted a king!" he shouted playfully.
"And? What are going to do about it? Going to set your centaurs on me?" Caspian was quiet for a minute, and that's when Sophia became concerned. "Caspian." she said, warningly. Pulling her blanket off, she glared at the king. "Don't you dare!"
"SOL- mmph" before the king could finish calling for the centaur, Sophia picked up another pillow and shoved it in the king's face.
"I have assaulted a king, and I'm not past smothering one to death." she laughed, pulling the pillow off his face. Caspian grinned.
"Well fine." he said. "I won't have Soldan throw you over his shoulder again." he chuckled. "Anyways, we're only a few minutes away from my castle."
"I should change then. Out with you." she said, pulling out a dress from her trunk. The king gracefully hopped out of the carriage, and left the girl to change.
Caspian had told Sophia about all the other Narnian royals. Peter the Magnificent was the eldest and leader of the original kings and queens. Susan the Gentle was the nurturer. Lucy the Valiant was the youngest and the most energetic. He more of warned me than told me of her. And Edmund the Just was the joker, or that's what Caspian said was the case. Lately, The Just King had been on edge with his new courtship with The Princess of Galma. It was purely diplomatic, and all the other royals knew that. The King's personality had taken a turn for the worst with this relationship, and it taxed the rest of the kings and queens. I hope he won't find my presence too annoying. Sophia thought, pulling her dress over her shoulders and changing. She pulled on an ivory dress with olive green trim.
"Cas!" she called out the window of the carriage. "I'm finished!" she said.
"That doesn't matter! Come out here! We've arrived!" Caspian called from outside. Pushing the carriage door open, Sophia jumped out and landed gracefully on her feet. She ran to catch up to Caspian. Noticing a large white marble structure, she stopped and stared with a mouth wide open. This is magnificent. The castle was seated on cliffs surrounded by a calm sea. Behind the castle, she could make out a large expanse of woods. Perfect. Now the castle itself was of simple design, but there were small details that made it extravagant. There were large windows, decorated in beautiful colored glass. There were gorgeous dark wood doors covering every entryway. Sophia's attention was taken away from the stunning views when she saw Caspian jogging back to her.
"Don't get lost now, my lady." he said, smirking. He took her hand, and lead her down a cobblestone pathway. Her bare feet were making tiny pap pap paps on the stone, and The High King stared down at her.
"What?" she asked. Caspian stared at her.
"Where are your shoes?" he asked. Sophia looked honestly confused.
"I don't like shoes." she said simply. The king laughed.
"The kings and queens will love you. Just wait and see." he chuckled. Sophia smiled, although she remained confused. The two nobles and the rest of the Narnian congregation approached the large wooden doors that lead to the entrance of the castle courtyard. Looking up, The High King, called to the guards at the top of the gate.
"Open the gate!" Sophia braced herself as she watched the doors swing open slowly. Following Caspian inside, she stared up at the walls of the castle courtyard. She was then redirected as she watched four young people run out of the castle doors and into the open courtyard.
"Caspian!" shouted one young girl. In a blur of, for lack of a better word, human, Caspian was tackled to the ground. Sophia was unsure of how to react to this, so she just stood still and smiled politely. That must be Queen Lucy. Sophia watched as Caspian righted himself. The young girl ran up to Sophia.
"You must be Lady Sophia." she said excitedly. "I'm Queen Lucy, but please just call me Lucy." Sophia made to curtsey, but the young queen interjected. "And no curtseying, please!"
"You will be our guest for the next five years." added the other older girl, who Sophia inferred was Queen Susan. "We're not going to have you breaking your legs trying to curtsey for us in all that time." she said.
"I dunno." said the blond one. "It is custom." King Peter. She began to curtsey, before she watched The Gentle Queen hit her eldest brother on the shoulder. He laughed and quickly said. "I'm only joking." Sophia smiled and stood upright and was finally greeted by the youngest king of Narnia.
"Your majesty." she murmured. The king merely stared at her.
"My Lady. Just call me Edmund." with that, he turned on his heels and strolled back into the castle. Sophia looked back at Caspian.
"Did I do something to offend him?" she asked, looking concerned. Caspian quickly shook his head.
"No, he's been like that." he replied. The other king and queens, however, were furious.
"He has no right to behave like that!" exclaimed Queen Susan. Sophia was quick to stand up for The Just King.
"It's alright, majesties." she said. "I understand how he must feel. I myself don't particularly enjoy having strangers in my home." Queen Lucy smiled kindly at the young girl.
"Thank you for understanding, Lady Sophia." she said, graciously.
"It's no trouble, and please, just Sophia is fine." The golden haired king chuckled.
"Let's just abandon formalities." he said. "They're too cumbersome either way." Sophia simply nodded. Caspian cast her a funny look.
"What is this?" he asked with a burst of a laugh. "Is this the same Sophia who threatened to smother me with a pillow, not earlier this morning?" Sophia blushed. The other king and queens let big grins come to their faces.
"Well why didn't you smother him?" asked Susan, smiling saucily. "We'd all love to see what shade of blue he'd turn."
"Try not to be so shy, Sophia." said King Peter. "We're friends, and we really don't want you feeling uncomfortable during your stay."
"Alright." Sophia said. "I'll do my best." Lucy grabbed Sophia by the hand.
"Let me show you your room!" she said excitedly.
"We can all show her her room." said Susan, kindly.
"Well that doesn't mean we can't get there first!" said Lucy.
"Is that a challenge?" asked Peter playfully.
"No, Peter." said Caspian. "You aren't much of a challenge." The girl's mouths dropped open in amusement at the King's smart retort.
"Well then it's settled." said Susan. "A race to Sophia's room."
"Where is my room?" questioned Sophia. "I want to be a part of this race!" Caspian quickly gave her directions to her room and, they were ready to begin. Lucy began the countdown.
"Three...Two…"
"ONE!" shouted Susan, taking off to the open throne room. After that, it was a mad dash. Sophia, followed by Lucy, followed by Peter, and Caspian trailing behind.
Sophia took the left hallway and quickly caught up to The Gentle Queen. Waving cheekily, the daughter of the duke passed The High Queen and continued onward. Sophia enjoyed the feeling of running. It was freeing to her. She quickly took the stairs and sprinted up, taking the steps two by two. Straight down the hallway, and she entered her room.
It was an ivory color with olive green, dark red, and gold accents. In front of the door was a lush bed with several pillows. A dark wood nightstand stood by the bed, and a wardrobe of the same color was tucked away in the back corner of the room. To the side of the room, directly across from the foot of the bed was a small writing desk. Much to Sophia's delight, the expanse of the walls were covered with windows, and there were two double doors that lead to a balcony. Before she could go inspect the outside area, Susan puffed through the door, followed by Peter, Lucy, and finally, Caspian.
"How on earth," Peter huffed "did you manage to get here so fast?" Sophia smiled.
"Well there is a secret." she said smiling mischievously. The four royals stared at the girl, confused. Smirking, she lifted her skirt just far enough for her bare feet to be visible.
"No shoes to slow me down." she said. Caspian pouted.
"That's technically a cheat." he whined. Lucy laughed.
"It's not her fault that you're old and slow." she said. Caspian fake glared at the young queen while the others began to laugh.
"Anyways," Susan said, changing the subject, "how do you like your room, Sophia?" Sophia sighed happily.
"It's so beautiful and extravagant." she said. "Thank you so much. I feel so welcome here." The four other royals smiled.
"It's what we were aiming for." said Lucy, kindly. "You look tired." the young queen observed as Sophia rubbed her eyes. "Why don't you rest and then come down for dinner?" she asked. Sophia nodded her head.
"That seems like a good idea." she said in between a yawn. The royals quickly exited the girl's room, and left Sophia to collapse into her bed and quickly fall asleep.
Sophia awoke feeling sticky and breathing heavily. It was just a nightmare. She sat up and gripped her bedsheets, crumpling them. I wish Victor was here, or Munny. Whenever she had a nightmare, Sophia was usually comforted by her brother or her sweet nurse. Now she was in a foreign land with no one who could help her in times like this. Her thoughts were disrupted when she heard a knock at the door.
"My lady," called a soft female voice from outside. "it's me, Talila." Sophia scrunched her eyebrows, unable to remember the name. "I'm to be your lady's maid for the duration of your stay." Sophia still did not remember.
"Come in!" she called. The door opened slowly, and Sophia was surprised to hear what seemed to be the clip-clop of hooves. Whipping her head around, she stared at what seemed to be a somewhat chubby half goat, half woman. A faun. She thought quietly to herself.
"My lady. My name is Talila." said the faun, curtseying. She looked about thirty-eight in human years, with wavy blonde hair, pinkish skin, and light brown eyes. The fur of her legs was a light brown, and her hooves were dark and trimmed. Sophia broke out of her trance and stood.
"Please, just call me Sophia." the faun shook her head.
"I cannot." she said smiling. Sophia grinned at her peculiar handmaiden.
"I still would like you to call me Sophia, but if you do not wish to, then I shall not force you." said Sophia. The faun hummed happily.
"You look like you need a bath." said Talila simply. The young girl from Archenland stared down at her sweat soaked body.
"I definitely agree." she responded smiling shyly.