"How is this possible?"

"This is mockery!"

"She only came here a year ago!"

It was none other than what had been expected.

"What the king told you is absolutely true." The Professor took a few steps forward as he addressed the room. "Princess Sophie," the name that made her shudder. "is the true heir to the throne."

At that, Sophie looked at Caspian, who had a look of awe on his face. The words that she had told him came back to her. He really did deserve someone better than her, but he thought completely otherwise. He needed her to know that his feelings towards her had nothing to do with her birthright because she was the most important person to him.

"This is a hoax!" Lord Raindon said. "This is a conspiracy for wanting the throne."

The Professor had warned Sophie beforehand to stay silent during the meeting. Time was of the essence here to accept the truth as it had been for her. The council were already facing the consequences of the changes from Miraz's rule. But that only made her angry because they did not know who she was and had no right to throw false accusations against her.

"I want nothing to do with the throne whatsoever," said Sophie, standing beside the Professor. "I came to Narnia as a normal human being and I wish to be that way. That gives you no right to tell me what I should and should not do."

Anger fumed within her at the thought of being called a liar. She hadn't fled from her old life for this to happen.

The Professor placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sophie, why don't you wait in the dining hall for lunch? We'll be with you shortly," he said. "Good job, young woman." He winked at her, proud that she stood up for herself. "Now go." He simply nodded his head, telling him to trust her. 

So, she did exactly that. But she couldn't stay in the castle while the members were under the roof of her home. She couldn't stay there knowing what was happening and decided to go to the one place where people treated her as who she was - only Sophie Adams.

Sophie ran to the stables and brought Thomas out after wishing Mr. Zahair a good afternoon. She fixed the saddles on the horse's back herself and the two of them made their way into the forest towards her place. Well, it wasn't exactly her place but it felt like that. It felt like an extension of home. 

Many people did not know that she was 'The Lost Legacy' to make sure of her safety until an official announcement could be made. But that didn't stop her from trying to hide it. She had spent her entire life finding her identity and after eighteen-years, someone was changing it entirely for her.

Change was an option she had given no place to rule in her life, but when the biggest truth of her life had been revealed, she would have to accept certain harsh truths. 

"Come on Thomas!"

She needed time to accept this. 

A lot of time.

The dream came back in flashes at exact moments of passing through the forests she had before as she ducked the branch of a tree that threatened to slam against her face. She took a deep breath thinking about the heavy weight that was pinning her to the ground. Her hands were bruised when she woke up, but that couldn't be because of the dream, not could it? Caspian would never hurt her. 

The part of her that was still afraid was telling her to trust herself. But how could she do that when she had to get comfortable with the idea of a whole new identity?

They reached the familiar part of the woods that she had visited countless number of times in the past four months. It felt natural to her when Thomas jumped over the fallen tree, and it was natural that it had come in her dreams. Fear could only be communicated through realms that the human mind can comprehend easily.

Paranoia - that's what this was. Somewhere deep inside, the fear of Narnia not being her home lingered this was a fear that she had during the first few weeks after she came. Maybe her dream was a war of resurfacing that fear.

A million questions swam in her mind, and she could only search for a certain Narnian to help her out.

Nobody would follow her there. Nobody would be searching for her; she was still a nobody to many. This would be an advantage that could be of use as long as Sophie needed time to process whatever was revealed to her.

A long branch of wood lay outside the main entrance, alone in the sun, gathering the dust that was not meant for it. Using the amount of information that Sophie had paid attention to in science and history, she rubbed two stones together and lit the stick on fire. 

She stood before the front entrance of Aslan's How, unaware of just how different her life was going to be.

The torch in her hands lighted her path. It felt surreal to be there, walking through the same walls that the old rulers had Caspian had mentioned that during the Second Battle of Beruna, the How was attacked and the front path was blocked. But once he was crowned king, he had them removed.

This was a site for people to find hope.

And hope was exactly what Sophie needed.

All the way inside, carvings stood on the wall, depicting how Narnia was found by Aslan, how the lamp post established the middle of the forest, the adventures of the Pevensies and how they defeated the White Witch. There was one about their coronation. Sophie entered a new pathway and this was the one that were newly engraves - the attack of the Telmarines, the return of the Pevensies, the rebellion by Caspian, the Second Battle of Beruna, Aslan's Wish and last, but not the least, Caspian's coronation.

A strong air passed Sophie's face and threatened to blow out the fire, which seemed strange because the only entrance to the How was the one she had passed through. 

She reached the place that she had been looking forward to. She entered the clearing and placed the fire at the side entrance. The fire spread throughout the archway and lit the room, illuminating the stone sculpture against the wall right in front of her. "Aslan," she whispered, walking inside and sitting against the Stone Table, facing the wall.

Aslan had told her that they would meet again. At a time when she needed answers the most, she needed to be someplace that she could feel closer to Him. She needed to hear His voice somehow. "You are not a nobody. Definitely not in Narnia." 

He had known who she was.

If what was said about the mark on her shoulder was true, then it was Aslan that had saved her life. Was she grateful or was she angry at the possibility of a different future that was taken away from her?

Sophie sat there for a really long time, ignoring her stomach rumble in hunger. She would have to go back to the castle some time even if she wanted to stay away. And with Nina, she would definitely have to get back.

Loud thuds echoed from the stone walls behind her. Sophie's heart leapt up as she stood, getting her dagger out to defend herself. Shadows moved behind the flickering light of the fire. Someone was coming. 

"Who is it?" The voice called out.

"It's me." She spoke as the figure came into light.

"Oh." He stopped trotting. "Sophie Adams."

Thomas stopped running as the bridge came into view. Sophie's fear of crossing it had gotten over when Narnians gave her the confidence that she needed. Her closest friend had told her that there was no way that she could go back to the Other World in the same way that she came in.

"Ah, Sophie." He trotted across the bridge. "I was expecting you."

"Good afternoon, Glenstorm. Nice day, isn't it?" He bowed down at her. "Oh, stop it." She waved her hand down, laughing at their little joke. "Shall we?"

He gave her way. "After you."

And so, their race to the How began. It was a tradition that they had created because they always preferred to discuss serious matters there. It may have been the place when Aslan had been killed by the White Witch but it would always be a place where people could feel closer to Him.

Unfortunately for Sophie, Glenstorm beat her that day, having reached the Table first. "That's so not fair!" She exclaimed, hopping off of Thomas. "You always beat us here. Is there a secret route that I do not know of?"

But the centaur simply laughed. "What happened?" He asked as she leant against the Table.

Sophie explained what was happening back at the castle. "Everyone is acting differently around me. People are bowing down and are flinching every time I move around them. And don't get me started on the staff, whom I have already considered my family. We had so much fun together but now, they are not letting me even see them. They even stop talking when I enter the room."

"Now you know what His Majesty must be going through."

Sophie's mouth fell open. Why was it that Glenstorm could make her shut up by telling her something like that? "Oh Saints!" She held her forehead. "You're right! You're absolutely right. Poor Caspian...."

The fire in the hearth crackled in the silence that took over as Glenstorm let her get her thoughts together. "You should put forward your opinions sometime." 

"I want to, but the Professor told me that everything would be better after the...."

"Yes?" He raised his eyebrows at her.

She shuddered. "Coronation."

"That's better," he said, continuing to pace the room.

"Will you come?" She asked, feeling like a little child. "Will everyone come?"

"Some of us are worried about what happened last time."

"I promise you that it won't happen again. The newcomers were only startled, that's all. Although I'm not excusing their behaviour, give them some time."

The last time that the Narnians had visited the town as a group, many people had behaved indifferently towards them, which made the Narnians feel unwelcomed. Anyone in their shoes would have felt that way. But this could be a chance for the human to realise their mistake. Sophie was trying to build the thread of relationship between them because humans needed some time to believe the Old Tales that they had been told were unreal their entire lives.

"I saw something last night," said Glenstorm. "The constellations have warned me that a reunion is going to happen. The north star, Spear-Head is brighter than it is supposed to be."

"Which can happen if I talk to everyone and convince them to come. I couldn't survive if none of you came. I definitely need your support. Why do you think I come here whenever something happens?"

He nodded, understanding her feelings. "Of course. But remember what I told you."

⧪

"Glenstorm," whispered Sophie.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he put out the fire in the torch that he held.

"I...." Sophie did not know how to explain. She had wanted to escape the truth by coming to the How. "I came here because I need answers. About who I am. You knew. You knew from the first moment you saw me. You bowed down Caspian, but at me as well. You suspected who I was."

"Ah." He trotted inside the room. "I'm guessing that the Professor has told you then."

"Only a few moments ago."

Glenstorm was confused. If the girl had found out who she was, why would she come here of all places in search of answers. "And what answers do you expect to find here?"

"Why did I come here? I don't know myself." She let out a shaky laugh. "I couldn't stay there. It was all too much for me. The truth....was too much for me."

"But you did find your answer. You found out who you were."

Sophie blinked. He had made a really good point. "How did you know who I was before the Prophecy was revealed? I should have known that something like this was going to happen when you bowed at me the other day. I guess....I always knew that something was going to change, but it seemed too dreamlike for this possibility to be true."

"Centaurs read the stars. The universe has always been sending us messages, long before humans even found out about it. Sometimes it is extremely accurate, sometimes it is only a passing time."

"So the whole universe is against me then." She buried her face in her hands, telling herself to breathe. What could she do when her fate was already been decided?

"I'm sure that you have a lot of questions."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course." 

"Can dreams be a way of communicating with someone?"

He thought about how peculiar her question was but answered it anyway. "It has been foretold that some people have the powers to enter other people's dreams," he said. "But only very powerful people can do so."

"Do you think He could?" She turned her head to look at Aslan, finding a glimmer of hope that she thought she had lost. Things could be found again, if only they were looked for. She was looking for her answers, but the truth was so big that it wasn't enough.

"If you want to know what I think, I think he can do anything he wants." He gave her a reassuring smile.

"What did you mean by 'powerful', if I may ask?"

"Either the person is dealing with magic....or they are dealing with something dark and evil."

They stood in silence for some time before she knew it was time to leave. She felt comfortable there and Narnia felt like home again, even if it was only for a moment. Maybe she didn't have to worry about things changing. And even if it did, she would fight it.

"It was nice talking with you, Glenstorm," she said, getting on her horse.

"You are welcome here anytime. Narnians are your people, Princess."

She flinched. "Please don't call me that. I'm only Sophie, nothing more."

"Well, to us you will always be more," he revealed. "I'll see you soon....only Sophie."