Caspian's health improved very quickly and Evelyn's medicine had a huge role to play in that. We met each other one morning in the courtyard as I tried to finish the painting beside the fountain. "Good morning." He wished me as he approached.

"Good morning." I wished back and closed the painting.

"Is that a painting?" He pointed to the parchment in my hand.

"Yes." I peeked into it and examined it for a few seconds. I looked at him coming towards me and had an idea. "Could you please stand there and stay still for a minute?"

"What?" He looked confused but stopped walking as per my request.

I looked up and he was exactly in the right position. "Don't move." I said and continued working. I took my brush and frantically noted down the details that I had forgotten. I didn't know how I had missed it.

"What is it?" 

"Just a second." I added the final touches that I knew I was missing. "Done!" I set the pencil down and admired the painting. It was really good but I could see my sleep-deprived self in it.

"Can I move now?" He looked confused but amused.

"Yes. Thank you." I bowed my head.

"I just asked Nina whether I could go to the Shuddering Woods today." He started as I packed my art kit.

"What did she say?"

"She was a little strict about my going immediately after recovering but she did tell me to tell you that she would prefer it if you accompanied me."

I couldn't believe that Nina said that. "She did?" I mean, she did know that I was excited about being in Narnia and finding new places here, but I couldn't believe that she placed an ultimatum in front of Caspian that involved me.

"I told her that I was going to show you around anyway, and she told me that this was the perfect opportunity for it. I agree with her."

"Great!" I exclaimed as I picked my sketchbook up. "I'll just keep these back in my room."

"Was that part of the deal?" He asked me as I rolled the paper in my hand.

"I don't know what you are talking about." 

He smirked, understanding that I was trying to keep it a secret. "Meet me at the stables." He informed before climbing down the staircase towards the stables.

I kept the art supplies in my room and made my way to the stables. Mr. Henry and Caspian were talking to each other. There were two horses. Caspian was holding the saddle of his horse and Mr. Henry was holding the saddle of....

"Thomas!" I exclaimed as I approached them.

"Good morning, Sophie." Mr. Henry tipped his hat.

"What!" I exclaimed happily as I stroked Thomas' face. He really calmed down when I did that and I loved seeing him like that.

"I thought you might like to take him out today." Caspian informed me.

"Thank you!" I laughed. My emotions got the best of me but I was super excited. "This is amazing!" I had to close my mouth to keep myself from squealing.

"You two have a good day." Mr. Henry said and walked inside the stables.

"Shall we?" Caspian asked.

I bowed my head at him. "We shall." I got onto Thomas and Caspian adjusted my seat. But doing so, he clenched his jaw for some reason. "Thank you." 

He climbed onto his horse, Destrier and off we went into the forest to meet Narnians. Thomas was faster than Destrier and I had to whisper for him to slow down because Caspian was the one leading the way. "We don't want to get lost, buddy." I told him.

The path that we were going on looked very familiar. We were going to Beruna. I didn't ask Caspian if I was right because he didn't talk the entire way. Maybe he was thinking about something that he didn't want to talk about and I gave him some time to himself.

After we came near the river, I patted Thomas to let him know that we were going to stop. Thank goodness Thomas stopped. Caspian climbed down first and helped me down as well. "Thank you." I said.

Thomas neighed and I went to stand in front of him. I looked him in the eye and patted him down for him to stop fidgeting. "Good boy." I whispered.

"I've always wondered how you talk to him." Caspian stated.

"I just try to be kind and look at the world from their perspective."

"That is actually very gentle of you." He said and then turned away from me. He shook his head slightly.

"Shall we?" I changed the topic by suggesting that we started on our way into the woods.

Queen Susan was called the Gentle Queen and I knew that Caspian was thinking about her. I didn't want to pry. "We shall." He nodded and started leading the way into the forest.

I tried not to trip over some of the undergrowth because I was wearing a really long dress. I had to walk by pulling the skirt up. I was getting used to wearing dresses but I still preferred my cargo pants and sweatpants.

We walked to the inner parts of the forest. The sunlight entering through the canopy was beautiful! It gave a nice yellow glow to the deep green forest. I don't know how long it took but suddenly, I heard the sound of moving water.

"No." I whispered as Caspian waited for me at the ridge. It was the same bridge that I had used to come to Narnia.

"Everyone is right over." He informed and pointed to the other side.

He was about to cross over when I shouted, "No!"

He turned around and walked towards me. "Are you okay?" 

I hesitated. What would he think if I told him the truth? "I don't want to go to the other side." I shook my head and stared blindly at the flowing water. Fear was making my heart beat faster and faster. I was finding it hard to breathe but Caspian kept me in reality.

"What are you talking about?"

"This is the exact same bridge that I crossed before I came to Narnia from the Other World." He looked at me patiently. "I don't want to go back." That was my biggest fear. 

"Sophie." He rested his hands on my arms. "You're not going to go back there. I'm sure that the portal closed."

"No." I shook my head and continued to stare at the bridge. I could hear Jonathan's voice, mocking me for my fear. But I shook him away. He wasn't going to continue his treachery.

"How about you close your eyes?" I looked up at him. "I promise I won't push you down." He laughed.

"Are you trying dark humour?" I asked, squinting my eyes at him.

"Maybe." 

I smiled. I had explained dark humour to him a few days back and I was glad that he was listening to my rambles. I was sure that people tuned me out but it meant a lot that he didn't. "All right."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trusting Caspian. He took my hands in his and I started walking forwards. I had crossed my fingers when he said, "Don't worry. Breathe." That was when I realised that I had stopped breathing.

He let go off my hands after some time and I opened my eyes. "Cas?"

"We're here." He announced.

"Thank you." I said and we continued walking. "I'm sorry for acting completely childish before. I know that it must have looked foolish."

"It's all right. I completely understand."

"Caspian?" A voice called out.

"Trufflehunter?" Caspian called out and a badger came into view, peeping his head up from the bushes.

"It's nice to see you again." The badger named Trufflehunter told Caspian. "You must be Miss Sophie." He said to me.

"It's nice to meet you, sir."

"Sir?" He looked at Caspian. "Ooh I like her." He expressed and ran off.