"Did you sleep well last night?" 

"I did, thank you."

I didn't. I couldn't sleep at all. The first problem was that I had insomnia. Second problem was with the bed being too comfortable. Does that make any sense? It all felt eerie to me. I was in a strange magical land and though barriers of reality were breaking, I was going to go along with it.

The third problem was more of the reason that I couldn't sleep. It was the thought of going back home and coming to the realization that I didn't want to go back. If I did go back, I couldn't talk about this to anyone because nobody would believe me. Narnia was huge! I wouldn't have been able to keep it to myself.

After I got about five hours of sleep, I brushed my teeth and went down to the kitchen near the quarters at about six in the morning. I didn't know whether people were awake, since the sun wasn't completely out, but even if they were awake, I didn't want to disturb them.

The minute I stepped into the kitchen, my questions were answered. People were already awake and were working in the kitchen. "I need to get you a dress in a size of your own." Nina told me as she poured me a glass of milk.

"Like a corset?" I was not in a mood to wear dresses. Dresses and I definitely didn't get along, but that may have been because I never got a chance to wear them.

"Not like a corset but at least something to get you out of that." She pointed to my loose yet long black shirt and cargo pants.

"What's wrong with this?" I pulled the collar of my shirt.

"It's not lady-like." 

I frowned. Lady-like? "Fine. Can I make myself something to eat?"

"What would you like to have, dear?" She asked. "I'll make it for you."

"What do you usually make for everyone?" I asked as I sat down a bench nearby.

There were a lot of wooden tables and benches and people were working in most of them. Some of them were cutting vegetables and some of them were making dough. Some had gone out to the town to buy some things. Only Nina and a few others were present that morning. People usually woke up before the King and everyone else who lived in the castle did.

"We have porridge and some fruits, dear."

"I'll have the same thing then." I sipped my milk but saw the people around me stop working to look at me out of the corner of my eye.

Nina noticed the sudden tension and tried to take things back to normal and to take my mind off of it. "Would you like to wait and eat with the King and the Professor?" 

"The Professor? Was he present yesterday?"

"He was in the library. He usually attends the council meetings but something happened yesterday. I don't know what though."

"Am I expected to eat with them?" I asked as I walked over to Nina's table.

"It's your decision, dear." She said as she started peeling oranges. The oranges were really bright. They looked so much more tastier than the ones I had seen. I was tempted to steal one but I was on the path of being careful.

"Did I say something wrong before?" I whispered, referring to when I suggested that I'd eat in the kitchen with them.

She smiled politely. "No dear, you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that we're not used to guests eating with us." I started to wash my empty cup after I finished my milk and Nina tried to stop me. "You're a guest! You shouldn't be doing this. You shouldn't even be here, Sophie!"

But I had already finished washing the cup in the time that she wanted to exclaim. "I don't think I qualify as a guest, Nina." I said. "I'm a stowaway."

She gently grabbed the cup from me as I started to dry it. "Well, you're wrong. The King clearly described you as our guest."

"I know that he did!" I sounded surprised, which surprised Nina. "And, as a matter of fact, I'm more comfortable here."

"I think that the King will want you to eat with him. You'll have things to discuss about you being here." That was true.

Right then, one of the other people in the room spoke up. He was peeling potatoes and had a streak of flour on his face. "The King told me not to disturb him this morning. He and the Professor are busy in the library and they do not want to be disturbed."

"Is that so, Mark?" Nina asked and a smile crept on my face.

"I guess that I'm having breakfast here then."

Around ten in the morning, Nina told me that she was going to town to buy some things along with some dresses for me. I asked her how much I should pay for it but she told me that the King was thinking otherwise.

I was alone in my room and didn't know what to do. So, I started roaming the castle. I walked out of my room and into the corridor when I saw something that was brilliant!

I laughed heartily and ran back to my room to grab my school bag and pull my sketchbook out. I also gathered my art supplies and rushed down the stairs in search of the place I had seen.

I finally reached that place and it was perfect! There was a staircase that led downwards to another stable. Two stables? Cool!

But the reason that I went there was because of the beautiful image of the town. In the west was the glorious sea glistening in the sun and in the east was the town. It looked like a picture-perfect image from where I sat.

I sat down with my legs criss-crossed on the first step of the staircase and opened my sketchbook. I started drawing the beauty that I was seeing.

I made an impromptu decision to make it a gift for the King for letting me stay in the castle. I would also request him for a job in a letter. Maybe I could ask the Professor about that and perhaps he could help me.

I didn't know when noon came over until someone came and stood behind me. "You have a good hand." I looked around and saw an elderly man who was a little shorter than me and was standing with his hands crossed.

He had pearly white hair and a long silvery beard which came down to his waist. He was wearing robes and also had twinkling eyes behind his round glasses. I'm not sure whether it was my imagination about the eyes, but he reminded me of Albus Dumbledore.

"Thank you, sir." I told him as I stood up.

"I heard that you were new here." His voice was filled with merry.

"That I am."

"I am Doctor Cornelius." He told me as he touched his chest with his hand.

"Sophie Adams." I offered him my hand. He looked at it questioningly. "Right, I'm doing it again."

"Should I shake it?"

"Would be better for my dignity." I said and he broke out laughing.

He shook my hand and said, "Well, Sophie Adams, you sure know how to make an old man laugh."

"I'm trying so hard not to embarrass myself than I already have, Doctor."

"Oh please." He waved his hand down. "People call me Professor. Everyone does." He chuckled.

"Oh!" I exclaimed. "You're the Professor. I've been meaning to meet you actually."

"Is that so? Well, it's lucky that I'm here now." I was liking Professor Cornelius. He was very cheerful and certainly very optimistic. "Caspian mentioned to me that you are still in school." I nodded. "I would like to see that painting once you finish it. You have a great talent, dear."

I blushed. "If you can keep a secret...."

"Oh, I can!"

"I'm making it as a gift for the King. I would like to meet him sometime. Outside of the throne room, obviously."

"That's what I came over for, my dear. The King wants to meet you. We want to discuss about you being here. I'm sure there are a lot of questions on both the sides."

"Okay. I'm free whenever you are." I shrugged, tucking my hands in the pockets on my pants.

But before he could answer, a guard came and told the Professor that the King was expecting him in his chambers. He left after wishing me a good afternoon and I continued to paint. Narnia was going to change me and that was inevitable.