Please listen to 'A Thousand Years Pt. 2' by Vitamin String Quartet for this chapter. Consider this the only time I will be writing this. No mature content but I do give my warning here.

*****

The main hall changed in the few minutes that Sophie and Caspian went outside. The centre of the floor was cleared up as the two of them ran towards the centre while everyone cheered. Flower petals reigned on them as they took a few steps back and he bowed down like a gentleman and she bowed her head down to honour the first time that they met each other. He understood her reference and laughed.

The music started to play and he placed his hand on her waist. Sophie held his right hand and left shoulder and they started to dance. Only when the troupe increased the pace did she realise what song they were playing.

Her mouth fell open. "I know, I should have asked you." Caspian said. "But the look on your face right now is priceless." He leaned in closer. "And I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

Sophie's eyes started to tear up. The Narnian troupe was playing 'A Thousand Years Pt. 2' by Christine Perri and Steve Kazee, her favourite song of all time, and it was the top song in the wedding playlist that she had made on Spotify. She rested her cheek on his shoulder. "I don't believe this."

Caspian spun her around and dipped her to the ground, but had a close hold on her. "I know that you've been quite silent about whatever has happened and...." He smiled. "I thought you needed a reminder that you are loved."

Her eyes melted. "Oh Caspian!" She kissed him, holding his face in her hands, but for her, she was holding her world in her hands. "I love you more than anything in the world." Caspian's face softened when he looked at her. He started to wipe the tears from her eyes and the surprising part was that he didn't even hurt the make up. "Ever thine, ever mine-"

"Ever ours."

And so, they had their first dance as husband and wife.

Right at that time, a shower of light pink rose petals fell on them. Caspian and Sophie looked at the shower and then at each other. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around. They rested their forehead against each other and other people started to join the dance floor.

Caspian and Sophie started to go around the room to thank everyone for coming. They didn't have to do it but it was plain courtesy. They had to split up at one point to cover more people in the crowds that were forming. And among that crowd, Lady Daniels hugged her instantly. "Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

"Thank you, Arya!" It was so good to see her there. "Why aren't you on the dance floor? Hasn't anyone asked you yet?"

She waved her hand down. "I'm a little tired. Besides, I don't think I'll find anyone who will want to dance with me."

Sophie gaped at her. "What are you talking about! You're a gorgeous, hard-working woman. If I had met you before Caspian, I would have courted you right there. I know, not something I should say on my wedding but it's true!" Right then, her gaze fell upon a certain eligible bachelor who was standing alone as if he didn't fit in with the crowd. "Excuse me for one minute."

"Sophie, no-"

She did not let Arya stop her. Sophie walked over to the tall gentlemen and patted his shoulder. "Sorry I couldn't ask you for a dance tonight."

Duke Jeremiah turned around and laughed. "Your Majesty." He bowed down at her. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Thank you so much for coming! It means a lot."

"Why, of course! There was nowhere I would rather be tonight."

Sophie smiled. "Well then, why aren't you on the dance floor? If I remember correctly, you were the one who asked that I dance with you on the night of the Annual Ball, right?" He was about to say something when she continued. "Oh come on! You've got to dance. It's my wedding!"

He smirked. "Oh, all right!"

"Great!" She took his arm and led him to where Lady Daniels stood waiting. "Let me introduce you to my friend, Lady Arya Daniels of Galma."

The Duke bowed down and then kissed her hand as a true gentleman. "It's a pleasure meeting your acquaintance, Lady Daniels. I'm Duke Nathan Jeremiah of Archenland."

Now, Sophie was not the best at romantic and flirting advice, but what happened next had her shocked because of how this story ends. Lady Daniels laughed and held it back immediately, making Sophie stare at her. What was she trying to do? 

"Is there something funny about my name?" The Duke asked.

Arya straightened her face. "Oh, not at all! I didn't expect Her Majesty to introduce me to someone whose country is known as 'famous throughout the land'!"

"Yes, that does sound a little ridiculous, doesn't it?" The Duke intervened.

Sophie blinked at him next. Arya had criticised him for not talking out about the hypocrisies of certain people and he was going on with the joke. Well, if that wasn't the start of something, she didn't know what is.

"Would you like to join me for a dance?" The Duke asked.

Arya looked at Sophie and then at the Duke. "Would you leave me if I said no?"

Oh my goodness, she was flirting with him! It was a great line though. Sophie wondered if she should be taking notes from her. She could be a great player!

The Duke cocked his head. "Interesting question."

Sophie started to back off when they started to hit it off and hit someone while walking backwards. "Easy there, lionheart." She turned around and somehow tripped on her dress. Caspian caught her right there. "I think we've had enough of thanking everyone, right?"

She chuckled. "I think so too."

"Trumpkin informed me that this is going to end soon. We can take rest for some time." He kissed her temple as he led her to the seating area. "Let's relax for a while, shall we?"

She nodded. "We really shall."

Dinner was over and they cut the two cakes. Caspian and Sophie sat in their seats while the room cleared out and so, the end of the night finally arrived. Nina found them half asleep and told that everything would be taken care of and that they could head upstairs.

Caspian held Sophie's hand and gave it a soft squeeze as he noticed her breath constrict. He lifted her off of the ground and held her near his chest. "Sophie?"

"Mmh?"

"You're not breathing." She inhaled sharply. "That's better."

She looked up at him. "You're going to follow the last tradition of carrying me into our home, aren't you?"

He smiled. "Well, it wouldn't be complete if I didn't. So, shall we?"

She wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head against his chest. "We shall."

Caspian led them up the stairs. She was counting her breaths the entire way, but both of them were silent. They entered the room and Sophie hated removing her head from the comfort of his chest but he set her down slowly and they broke apart. They smiled at each other about the long day that we had had and started to remove their accessories. Sophie removed her earrings and set them on her study table near the door. Her hands were shaking and her mouth felt dry. Caspian was removing the medals from his chest and she walked over to him to help him.

Turned out that she wasn't the only one who was scared. "Here, let me." She removed the pins and set them on his table.

"Thank you, love."

One smile. That's all it took for the oxygen in her to leave.

Caspian removed his sword in that moment and set it on the table, which was a good distraction for her to catch her breath. He made her turn around for him to remove her necklace, knowing that she always needed help with it. His hands brushed her neck and cheeks and a shiver ran up her spine. She took the necklace from him and set it beside the earrings. "It feels so good to finally be out of it." The silence wasn't awkward but someone had to talk.

"That's true." He let out a shaky breath. "We've had a really long day."

Sophie turned around and couldn't help but blush. Caspian and Sophie were in the same room. Alone. On their wedding night. They both knew what was going to happen. The bed and the candles were a drastic reminder of that.

"I think it is time that we address the elephant in the room."

He nodded. "Sophie?" She looked up at him. "We don't have to."

Her eyebrows furrowed. She wasn't expecting that. The entire week, she was worried about this but actually being in that situation, all those worries were out of the window. It was Caspian. She realised that.

She walked over to him and kissed him softly at first. She held his arm while Caspian cupped her face. She pulled him closer and felt a moment of hesitation in him because of the unspoken tension. She wasn't going to let go. She was serious about this.

When they broke apart, both of them were catching our breath. "Sophie-"

Sophie locked lips again with him and felt the shiver again. They had never done this before, always having a space from each other, but she was reducing all that distance in an instant. She had no idea what she was doing, but it was a start. "I'm ready."

Caspian brushed the hair out of her face. "We can wait." His fingers were leaving heat marks all over her face and she was blushing in an instant. Only he could do that to her. "I meant what I said, Sophie. I won't make you do anything that you don't want to."

"And I'm really thankful to you about it." She placed her hand on his chest. "I'm sure. It's you, Caspian. It's always you. I'm not....I'm not scared about anything anymore."

He looked back and forth between her eyes. He was considering her truth and was going to argue when she pulled him into another kiss. She could feel the heat coming off of him and felt the heat rise to her face as well and she pinned him against a wall gently, still refusing to let go. He did not let go either. He wrapped his arms around her and was pulling her close to him. She pulled the collar of his tunic and a laugh escaped him. "You really are my little lionheart. Are you sure?"

She cocked her head. "You know, this is actually ruining the romance."

"Oh really?" There was a huge smile on his face and she should have expected what he did next.

"Ah!" Sophie exclaimed as he lifted her off the ground like he had when they entered the room and carried them to the bed. He set her on the soft bed and kissed her softly, but he broke it apart and sat at the other side. They were at a distance from each other. Looking at him in the candlelight, Sophie forgot my English for a while. "Caspian?" He turned to look at her. "You....don't want to?"

His eyes melted. He sat closer to her and she was aware of the organ called heart inside me. "You have no idea....how much I've wanted you." The change in his voice made her shiver. He was speaking the truth. He placed his arms on either side of her, locking her in and kissed her softly at first. He was waiting for her to push him away and agreeing to his concerns. But when she held his neck, he pulled back, but he was still close enough. "I'm thinking about you, my love."

She looked him in the eyes. They were really close now. "It's you. I'm safe." She reduced the distance between them and they were both on our knees. He caressed her face when they broke apart, brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek. "I'm ready." She nodded once more, the heat rushing to her face. "I want you. Caspian...."

He cupped her face. "You have no idea how much I've waited for you." 

And then, all the space that they were considering were out of their minds. Sophie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. She didn't know what overcame her but all she could think about was them. They had taken our vows and we were joined in matrimony.

Sophie gasped softly when she realised that Caspian's hands were on her back, trying to figure out how to undo the lace straps of her dress. "Tell me when you want me to stop."

Her heart was beating out of her chest. But looking at Caspian in front of her, she had nothing to fear. He was hers and she was his for the next seven lives that they would take. "Always."

⧪

The moon was high in the sky, cold wind blowing outside. The last light of the melting candles were fading away with time, letting the shadows of the husband and wife dance on the wall before them. Sophie lay awake in the bed for a few minutes, not being able to sleep, but she lay watching Caspian. He looked so peaceful while sleeping. She was blushing only by looking at him. It didn't feel strange that she was lying beside him.

The only time they had ever spent such time together was right before they went to Galma. Sophie imagined how different times were back then. Caspian hadn't known who she was, not entirely. But now....well.

She brushed the hair out of his face and admired him. He was her husband and she was his wife. Different words to describe their relationship but the truth would always remain the same. He was her other half.

She took one of the sheets off the bed and wrapped it around her as she walked over to the window and looked at the moon and the stars. She thanked her fate or destiny or whatever it was for bringing her to Narnia. There was no way she would have considered anything at the moment.

"Thank you." 

Sophie heard Caspian shift in the bed behind her. "Sophie?" He walked over to her, half-dressed and wrapped his arms around her.

She looked around and smiled. "Hey."

"Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head. "I was watching you sleep." 

"I'm going to take that in a non-stalker way." She hit his arm playfully. "I love you, Sophie."

Sophie sighed. Those words, that voice....him. "I love you too, Caspian."

They were together. That was all that mattered.

- End of Book 1 -

Hope you enjoyed this book!

There is more to come. I'm just figuring out how not to get demotivated and succumb to pressure because I keep feeling as though this story isn't worth it and that I can make it an original and move on. But thank you to TitanOfStorms for making me realise that I can do this and that I'm doing this for myself and not for anyone else. Thank you so much!

Stay tuned for the future books!