The sound of hooves pounding across the forest ground was the only noise louder than Caspian's own heart beat. Riding always gave him time to think and right now that was all he needed. Ever since the night before, he had been nervously waiting for something miraculous to happen. Trees past in a blur and the crisp autumn wind through their branches was the only movement around him.
Not far away, Amelia wandered cautiously around the wood, walking along a small river she had come across. The sound of running water was calming, even though every one of her nerves were on edge. It was just a dream. One painfully long, vivid dream. It had to be. Judging from the fallen red and orange leaves crackling under her feet, it must've been fall where ever she was.
After she had bumped into the lamppost, Amelia had taken a deep breath and gathered up her belongings, though the pages had vanished with the breeze. Her bag still held her father's book and her empty journal. After that she figured she should try to find a town or some sort of settlement. That's how she ended up walking through the wood for almost two hours, her feet sore and limbs aching. There was still no sign of civilization anywhere.
Caspian's horse slowly came to a halt as they reached a small river. A young woman in strange clothing walked slowly, holding her shoes in her hand. Destrier reared back on his hind legs, neighing loudly.
Startled by the sudden sound, Amelia whirled around to quickly, lost her footing, and fell into the rushing water behind her. The cold water instantly seeped through her dress as the light current began to carry her down the river. Caspian jumped off of Destrier, frantically searching the river for the girl. Thankfully, the current was not as fast as most of the rivers in Narnia, and he saw her come up not ten yards away.
Amelia broke above the water, filling her lungs with air before she was sent under again. When she was able to finally get herself above the rapids, she heard someone shouting and looked behind her to find a man running after her at the river's edge. She tried to swim to land, barely being able to latch onto a tree root. Caspian finally reached her and pulled her up onto solid ground, both of them breathing heavily.
"Are you alright?" The man asked and Amelia nodded. He quickly took off his top shirt and wrapped it around her. She shivered and accepted the warm fabric gratefully.
"W-where am I?" She asked. Things began to connect in Caspian's mind.
"You're in Narnia." He answered, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm sorry, what?" Amelia raised her eyebrows. Everything clicked into place. Her odd clothing, her confusion. She was from a different world. Perhaps the Pevensies' world.
"I'm sure this is all very strange for you, but I know something that may help." He thought of the palace library, filled with books explaining all of Narnia's recorded history. "What's your name?"
"Amelia." She said nervously. "Amelia Connelly." She stuck out her hand and he shook it.
"Caspian." He smiled, his dark eyes bright and curious. Amelia sat up quickly.
"My bag." She searched around her. "What happened to my bag? I have to find it." Caspian helped her look until she glanced at his horse, nudging her purse with its muzzle. She layed back on her elbows and sigh with relief. She must have dropped it before she fell.
To Caspian's surprise, she started to laugh. It was a light sound, like that of a bell or the song of a bird. What surprised him further was that her laughter instantly captivated him.
"What do you find so amusing?" He wondered.
"All of this." She responded, motioning around her. "I'm completely soaked, saved by someone I've never met, I haven't the faintest idea where I am, and there is a horse going through my purse!" She giggled, and Caspian couldn't help but chuckle himself. "How could I not find the situation comical?"
"Fair enough." Caspian resolved and the two continued to laugh both laying in the cool grass. Caspian suddenly sat up, alarmed by the sound of someone approaching them.
"Your Majesty." It was one of the workers at the palace. He studied Amelia for a moment before remembering his purpose of being there. "Your professor wished to speak with you. He said in concerned the Seven Lost Lords."
"Yes, of course." Caspian stood and helped Amelia to her feet. "Could you tell him I'll be with him shortly?" The man nodded and waited until Caspian dismissed him to turn his horse back to the castle.
"Your Majesty?" Amelia gasped. "You're the king?" She nervously stepped back and curtsied.
"Please," Caspian took her hand and bent down to kiss it. "To you, I am simply Caspian." They walked back to Destrier and Amelia picked up her bag, looking through again to make sure everything was still there. She opened the book and took out the photograph, trying to think of what her father would say if he was here. Of course she knew exactly what he'd tell her.
"You just shook hands with a king who saved your life!" Even his smirking tone was crystal clear in her mind. "You'd better go with him." She smiled to herself. Not that she had much of a decision anyway. She could wander around the wood for a few more hours and get lost all over again, or she could go with Caspian and find out where she was.
She imagined her father standing in front of her with his wide grin and an adventurous look in his eyes. If he found himself in a mysterious new land- Narnia, as Caspian had called it, Marcus Connelly wouldn't hesitate to discover all there was to know about Narnia. And that, is exactly what Amelia intended to do.
Destrier appeared to take the most precarious route back to the castle, leaping over fallen trees or picking up speed suddenly, as if he was trying to show off to the new and unfamiliar rider on his back. This caused Amelia's arms to wrap even tight around Caspian's waist. When they reached the end of the woods, Amelia gasped as she faced a fortress more magnificent than she possibly could have imagined. Caspian smirked at the sound of her amazement.
He remembered well how dark and uninviting this castle had been under his uncle's rule. He remembered how many lives had been slaughtered just beyond that gate. But now, the kingdom was filled with light again. As the two rode across the long bridge and through the small village surrounding the castle, Amelia noticed the people bow and wave merrily at the sight of their king. Caspian waved back at his people, grinning broadly.
When they finally reached the castle itself, Caspian's professor, Doctor Cornelius, rushed out to meet them.
"Your Majesty!" He exclaimed. He began to speak quietly and quickly to Caspian. He stopped suddenly when he saw the strange woman behind the king. "Where are my manners? Who is this lovely young woman you've neglected to introduce me to, Caspian?"
Caspian climbed down from the saddle and held out his arm so Amelia could steady herself as she climbed off the horse as well. The professor had a friendly face and a curious smile as he bowed to kiss her hand.
"This is Amelia. She will be staying with us." Caspian turned to her. "That is, if she accepts my invitation."
"There is nothing I'd enjoy more." She replied. "But I wonder, you had said there might be something to help me understand this place."
"Yes of course, forgive me I had nearly forgotten." Caspian glanced at the setting sun and sighed. "I'm afraid I must meet with Doctor Cornelius before the night draws to late. I suppose you would like some rest after the day you've had." Amelia hadn't even realized how tired she was until that moment.
"Perhaps tomorrow you would accompany me to the palace library where you will find all of the information that one needs to know about Narnia." His tone was hopeful.
"I would like that very much." She gave him a small smile before he was ushered away by the professor, checking over his shoulder so he would be able to see her until the last possible moment. Not long after, a group of maids came scurrying out of the door and lead her inside.
The interior of the palace was even more stunning than the outside, with paintings and tapestries lining the walls. Many depicted a great lion, standing tall over forests and oceans.
"That's Aslan." One of the handmaidens said. The name filled Amelia with a sense of joy and warmth, like sitting by a fire with a good book or walking through a field barefoot in the summer. They continued walking and another painting caught her eye. It showed a grand throne room, only instead of one throne, there were four. Each occupant sat in such a regal manor that she felt the need to kneel at the sight of them.
"Who are they?" She wondered.
"The Kings and Queens of old." One maid answered.
"Or not so old." Another giggled. She pointed to each of them as she named them. "King Edmund the Just, Queen Susan the Gentle, Queen Lucy the Valiant and High King Peter the Magnificent."
"Those are quite the titles." Amelia said to herself, staring at the picture for a few more moments before she was swept away by the hand maidens, all discussing her strange and damp clothes.
They picked a room in the western third floor corridor and excitedly started to choose dresses out of the closet, laying them against Amelia's torso.
"This one will be perfect." One said.
"No, no this one." Said another. All of it was starting to be very overwhelming.
"What are you all squabbling about?" A voice boomed from the doorway. "The king said for her to get rest, not to be ambushed by the lot of you." The maids hung their heads and scattered out of the room, still chatting quietly amongst each other.
With the crowd gone, Amelia could finally see the woman who was speaking. She was an older woman, her red hair tinted with grey. Her stern expression melted into something more friendly and- in Amelia's opinion- motherly.
"Terribly sorry about them dear." She came further into the room. "They tend to get a little excited whenever King Caspian has guests- particularly the female ones." She chuckled. "Anyway, I am Mrs. Ashby, the king asked me to look over you in your stay. Now let's get you out of those wet clothes."
Now that she wasn't blinded by a flurry of fabric and chatter, Amelia could see the grandeur of the room around her. The four posted bed was nearly three times the size of her bed in London. There was a writing desk in the corner, so beautifully carved, she was almost afraid to set her bag on it.
Mrs. Ashby grabbed a nightgown from the wardrobe and helped Amelia out of her dress. As soon as the nightgown touched her skin, Amelia felt like she never wanted to take it off. The fabric was so soft and warm, she wanted to bury herself in its folds. After she settled under the covers of the enormous bed, another maid came in carrying a tray with a kettle and a set of cups. She poured the hot drink and handed Amelia one of the cups. It was sweet and reminded her of coffee, but with more chocolate. It was heavenly and spread warmth all the way down to her toes.
"Well I'm sure King Caspian has a big day planned for you tomorrow." Mrs. Ashby said and began to blow out the candles around the room. "If you should need me, just ring that bell there, and I'll be here faster than you can say Aslan." She pointed to the table next to the bed, where a small bell sat silently, waiting to be rung. Mrs. Ashby gave Amelia one last smile before blowing out the last candle and saying goodnight.
The morning was filled with the noise of hammers and saws as Caspian watched the ship coming together. He couldn't stop the sense of pride swell inside himi as- after months of construction, the Dawn Treader was finally coming together. During his long meeting with Doctor Cornelius that night, the first voyage of the Dawn Treader was decided. At the end of winter, Caspian would begin the search for the Seven Lost Lords, men trusted by his father who had been missing for many years.
But he couldn't dwell on thoughts of the journey now. He had more pressing matters awaiting him inside the castle.
Amelia had been wandering the halls, nibbling on toast and talking with Mrs. Ashby about her work at the palace. While she was one of the head maids, her husband was the lead constructor of the king's new vessel.
"Amelia!" Caspian came bounding down the corridor after them with a very boyish grin on his face. "Are you ready to take up my offer and join me in the library?" Mrs. Ashby had never seen the young king so giddy.
"That would be lovely." She turned to Mrs. Ashby. "Would you like to come with us?"
"Oh no, go on dear. I've got meals to serve and rooms to clean anyway." She watched the two excitedly before going back down the hall. Caspian held out his arm, which Amelia took and the pair walked through the many halls, sometimes pausing to watch out one of the numerous windows. And after ten minutes or so, they reached a pair of large doors, a map of Narnia carved into the dark wood. Caspian rocked forward on his feet and opened the door and they stepped into the massive room, walls lined with impossibly large book shelves, each overflowing with books. A grand staircase led up to a second floor, where Cornelius was discussing something with someone Amelia couldn't see from below.
Above the roaring fireplace was a portrait. Amelia recognized it as one of the queens from the painting she had seen the night before.
"Queen Susan's Library." Caspian explained. "I had different parts of the castle dedicated to each of the Pevensies. This is for Queen Susan, the gardens are Queen Lucy's, the main study is for King Edmund, and the royal armory is dedicated to King Peter."
"You speak of them as if you knew them." Amelia noted. Caspian chuckled.
"It's all very… complicated." He took her hand and started up the staircase. "This is the part of the library I have reserved for all of my favorites." He pointed out all of his favorite books on the history of Narnia, the Kings and Queens of Old, the White Witch, and the War of Deliverance. As she scanned the shelves, the one that caught her eyes was not large or bold in color, instead it was rather small and it's cover was a deep blue with the title in small silver letters. 'The Telmarine who Saved Narnia' with even smaller words beneath that read 'The true story of Caspian X's rise to the throne.'
"Is this about you?" Amelia asked with a tone of amazement. Caspian covered his eyes and laughed.
"How did that get up here?" He peaked his head around a stack of books and called to the professor. "Did you bring this up here?" Cornileus chuckled, clearly amused at the king's discovery.
"I thought that the young lady might like to know a bit about who she is staying with." As the two men made jolly quips at each other, Amelia was astonished to see whom the professor was speaking with. A mouse stood at the opposite side of the table from Cornileus. But it was no ordinary mouse of course, for it had a sword and sheath at its waist, and a small gold band with a long red feather around its ear. When it saw her, it bowed.
"Forgive me miss, but I do not believe we have been introduced." Her eyes grew wide, and she opened her mouth, but no words came out. "I am Reepicheep, knight of King Caspian."
"My most trusted and loyal." Caspian added. Amelia grinned and curtsied.
"I am Amelia."
"It is a pleasure making your company, Lady Amelia." Reepicheep bowed again before carrying on the discussion with the professor.
As Caspian and Amelia walked around the library, Doctor Cornelius and Reepicheep watched and a knowing smile spread across Cornelius' face. He noticed the joyous expression on Caspian's face and the gleam in his eyes when he looked at Amelia while she picked out more books about Narnia's past.
"Ah," began the professor, leaning in towards Reepicheep and motioning towards Caspian. "As the leaves fall-" Caspian beamed as he took Amelia's hand and the couple moved around the library, both chatting and laughing happily. Cornelius smirked and raised an eyebrow. "So does he."
I'm really bad at remembering author's notes so you'll have to excuse the absence of one in the last chapter. I can't even say how proud I am of this story so far and I'm so excited for you guys to read it. The reviews I've gotten are so kind it just makes me so happy to read and know what you guys think, so keep it up! I really hope you all enjoy reading as much as I like writing this.