After Glenstorm knocked some sense into me, Thomas and I journeyed back to the castle. I locked him in his stall and helped Mr. Henry give Thomas his lunch. He never ate unless I was around and that made me feel important somehow. I did have a friend that I could turn to in times of need.

After that, I rushed to the castle. Déjà vu hit me once again as I entered the dining room. "You should have started without me." I smiled as I took my place on Caspian's left, opposite to the Professor.

"We could never, dear." The Professor said.

"Not without you." Caspian continued.

I blushed as I took my seat and then, we started eating. "What happened with the Council?" I asked them after some time. 

They looked at each other as usual. "They found your voicing out of opinion to be really bold." Caspian said.

"They want a proper Coronation ceremony." The Professor said. "On the day you were born."

"What!" 

The reason I exclaimed was because the three of us had talked about any ceremony related to the Coronation after all of us found out who I was. We also talked about whether I wanted to take over the kingdom. But it was just too much for me to talk about and so, I had told them that I would talk about it slowly and that I needed time. I was very grateful when they told me that they understood.

I knew that I would have to attend a Coronation ceremony but I thought that it could be in some time. But once again, I was facing reality of having to attend it within two months. Two months until my eighteenth birthday and coronation to become a Queen.

"I showed them the Prophecy and explained it to them how we found out that you were the Lost Legacy." The Professor explained.

'The Lost Legacy' sounded cool. But 'Princess Sophie'? Never call me that. I was never a Princess. I was only Sophie Adams - an orphan, a person in need of help, a loner and a human being.

"They happen to believe that the sooner you get crowned, the sooner they could handle the diplomatic relations." Caspian explained.

I had no clue what that meant. Actually, I did know what he meant, but I didn't want to think about that responsibility that would be handed to me. I trusted the Professor's and Caspian's judgement.

"We can keep it small." Caspian assured me as I thought about it.

"But we have to send out word to other kingdoms that you are the Heir of Narnia." The Professor informed.

"Oh my God." I leaned back on my seat. "I cannot believe that this is happening. But we don't want to offend the members of the Council." I said, slowly.

"That's right, dear." The Professor said.

I sighed. "All right. Bring it on." The two of them smiled reassuringly. "But nothing fancy, and we are not spending a lot on this. I know that you like to keep lavish parties but we're not spending more than necessary on this."

"Done." Caspian agreed.

"You can look over the arrangements if you want to." The Professor said.

"I would like that." I nodded.

"You'll enjoy yourself." Caspian said and I looked at him questioningly. "You get to choose what you want to wear and how you want your crown to be."

"And there is the royal painting." The Professor.

"Oh yes." Caspian said, sounding disappointed.

"Caspian, you need to have your painting done as well." The Professor reminded him. "We have avoided him for as long as possible." He chuckled.

"Why haven't you had your portrait done yet?" I asked him.

He sighed. "I do hate myself in paintings. There is something very strange about seeing yourself in them."

"Don't worry." I held his hand that he had rested on the table. "You have company now." 

"Together." He smiled.

"Together."

I was starving as I made my way back to the castle. Glenstorm was of big help! I needed that conversation with someone who didn't look at me and go, "All hail, Princess Sophie." with their eyes. 

I made a decision to talk with him often and interact with the Narnians in the woods often. It would be good for me to get out of the castle more. After all, Glenstorm was absolutely right! Narnians were my people. I wasn't ready to accept that yet but they did make me feel welcome whenever I went there.

I became quick friends with most of them and just prayed that it wouldn't change after they found out who I was from the centaurs. I had a feeling that most of them already knew who I was supposed to be and that they were trying to hide it for my sake, which I appreciated.

I locked the horse back in his stall and thanked him for not leaving me alone and for not pushing me off while we rode through the forest. It meant a lot that I could rely on him. I stole a glance at Thomas and then ran to the castle, holding the ends of the gown in my hands. Mr. Henry wasn't there and I knew that I was late for lunch.

As I entered the dining room, I saw that the food was already served, but the Professor and Caspian hadn't started eating. I felt guilty. They were waiting for my presence. "You should have started without me." I said as I sat down. I also felt guilty for storming out earlier but I knew they knew that I needed it.

We started eating without talking about what I knew that the two of them wanted to discuss. Caspian was about to start speaking about something but was stopped by the half-giant. "I apologise for storming out earlier." I said after a long - and I mean really long - silence between the three of us. But somehow, the silences weren't awkward.

"It's completely all right, dear." 

I looked at Caspian for the first time and he gave me a reassuring smile. "We understand." He said as he held my hand. 

"Thank you." I told both of them. "Truly. I don't know what I would do without both of you."

Right at that moment, with a perfectly unperfect timing, the leader of the Talking Mice of Narnia walked in. "Goodness gracious!" He exclaimed as he entered the room. "I apologise for entering while you were eating."

I looked to my left as Reepicheep climbed over the table and started running towards us very hurriedly. Or towards me, to be specific.

"But I needed to get this out as soon as possible." He told us. "Of all the time we have known each other," He started telling me. "you would have found out that I am fairly loyal." He took his rapier out and knelt in front of me while holding it in his hand. "All of Narnia and all the Narnians pledge their alliance to you."

The walls started closing in once again. I couldn't breathe anymore. "I'm sorry." I stood up from the table. I pushed the chair with shaky hands before heading out of the door. I held my forehead the entire way to my room.

That was only an example of how everyone reacted around me, and that was what I meant by friendships changing. I didn't want anyone to bow before me or address me with my title. I didn't want things to change.

I guessed that that was how Caspian must have felt when I had called him by his title when he revealed his feelings for me during the night of the ball. The guilt started to eat me up. I had to apologise to him for that night.

I locked myself in my room and worked on some designs. I wanted to pass the time somehow and sketching was the only way to keep my thoughts together. It wasn't fair that everything was changing. I certainly wished that I could turn back the time.