Ever since the return, there was one particular part of life that wasn't easy to comprehend - Dhruvika's life. It had been a tough few months that she spent in Narnia. It hadn't been easy when she was once again forced to be a prisoner and to be stuck in the form that she had spent years getting over. 

Dhruvika did not question her fate but she did question what her future should have been like. What had happened had happened. Nothing could be done about it. Only after talking to the queen did she realise how much pain and misery that the Witches had really caused by coming after their families.

There were three rules of Charn that had invaded Narnia during King Farhan and Queen Helena's rule - Carmis, Jadis and Olivis. It was unclear who was older between Carmis or Jadis, but it was clear that Olivis was the youngest. The attitude adjustment that she needed was basically her being pampered by her older sisters. That was what she had been talking about when she had Sophie captured.

"I cannot believe that the prices have gone up so much!" Dhruvika had told Sophie one day when they had gone to the local market.

"That's because the economy has changed since the Golden Age. The Telmarines changed everything." Sophie liked having a connection with someone to the past, but what she didn't know was that it wasn't going to last long.

Dhruvika was sitting at a log when Sophie entered the part of the forest with the safest route for her, turning around quickly to see her queen even though Sophie had made absolutely no noise. The bird part of her was leaving her slowly while she was getting used to the fact that she was a human, but she would always be cursed. Both of them would be. 

"Your Majesty." She bowed her head.

"Hi Dhruvika."

The two of them started walking towards the inner parts of the forest in silence. The one problem that they faced with each other was to come to a common topic that they could talk about, but once they found that, they could talk endlessly. They had spent countless nights talking about what Dhruvika had been through and what she needed to move on from the trauma, but the final strike would be taken now.

"Glenstorm wanted me to check a site for the ceremony. Mind accompanying me there?"

Dhruvika  simply smiled and walked silently beside Sophie. They walked past a couple of trees and on a normal day, Dhruvika would have been identifying them to get used to the new species, but today was no usual day. "Your Majesty? I think we may need to talk."

Sophie stopped walking as Dhruvika did. "Is everything okay?"

Dhruvika didn't meet her eyes, unsure of how to say what she wanted. "I've been thinking about something....for weeks really and...." She sighed. "I want to leave Telmar."

Sophie blinked, having been theorising about what Dhruvika wanted to talk about but that was nowhere near to what she had been imagining. "Why all of a sudden- Did someone say something or-"

"It's none of that. It's....Every day that I have spent here has reminded me too much of what has happened. I cannot seem to see my own reflection without thinking about the time that I have lost. Do you the spell that struck me when you flooded Olivis' palace?" Dhruvika pushed her locks of her hair and revealed a gray hair among the ebony ones, which made Sophie's eyes open wide. "The spell wasn't to harm me. It was her intention to harm me, but not in the way that we were thinking."

"You are aging." Sophie found the voice that had been stuck in her throat.

Dhruvika nodded, pursing her lips. "The spell was to reverse the everlasting one that they had casted on me all those years ago. I have a chance at a new life....but it is at the wrong time. The one I wanted to spend it with isn't here any more. And it about time I started to accept that."

Sophie knew that she had to be a good friend then even though she didn't entirely agree with herself. She didn't want to lose her connection to the past that they shared. She needed to know her own history to find who she was. "I understand."

But there was something else bothering Dhruvika. "I need you to give me permission to leave."

Sophie's eyebrows knitted together. "I....don't understand. How could I give you permission....oh." It dawned on her right then. "If things had gone right, I....would have been Queen."

"And I, your subject."

If the three witches hadn't attacked the castle, Sophie would have taken over the throne one day and Dhruvika would have been her friend. In some political way, she still was. For Dhruvika, Sophie was, is and always would be her Queen. The past that Oreius had told her about her family being close to King Farhan and Queen Helena would have resulted in her and Sophie growing up together. They could have had a different set of memories altogether. 

But would they give up the sweet memories that they shared with their loved ones for a life that they never knew about?

Sophie nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "Of course. I will write the letter as soon as we are at the castle."

Dhruvika had relief in her eyes. "I'll be leaving in two days," Sophie's head snapped up. "If that is okay with you."

"Two days." Sophie took a deep breath. "Wow, that is awfully quick. You're not going to stay for the wedding."

"I'm really sorry, but I cannot stay here any longer than I already have. Everything is a reminder really. I hate to admit that I miss him....I feel weak. I shouldn't be holding onto something that never had a chance."

Sophie nodded. "Don't say that! You both loved each other very much. I thought that....never mind." She looked at Dhruvika and put on a brave face, having been looking forward to this. Something had to change somehow. The only deal was that she hadn't been expecting to lose someone.

Dhruvika pulled her into a hug. "Thank you for understanding. I'll never forget what you and King Caspian have done for me. I'll always be grateful for that."

Sophie managed to smile weakly. "It was our pleasure really. I...." She didn't want to talk because her voice would have surely cracked, but she shook that thought off her head. "Where are you planning to go?"

Dhruvika smiled at Sophie supporting her decision. "Galma. There is an orphanage there that was looking out for someone that would teach there. I always considered being there for the people who need a mentor."

"Teaching." Sophie smiled. "I'll talk to Lady Mirza and let her know that you will be moving to Galma. I'm sure she will allow you to visit the castle whenever you want because she too mentioned that she has contact with the orphanage. She'll be able to help you out better, knowing the place more."

"Thank you."

Sophie nodded. "Keep in touch?"

"Of course. Who else would I annoy?"

Sophie laughed, but the void in her heart was still there. Change was her worst enemy. No matter what she did, it seemed to find her in one way or the other. Not knowing what game it was playing with her life, but Sophie could hear it laughing at her and mocking her behind her back. 

"You think this is the end? We haven't even begun yet." That was what she could hear.

Sophie was a person that planned everything out but stopped doing that when change took over every decision she made. She hadn't decided to punch Jonathan's nose in school but a change had come over her, and if she hadn't thrown the punch, she wouldn't have run into the forest or found herself in Narnia. 

There were pros and cons to every situation. But the problem with her life was that the cons overweighed the pros even when she tried to concentrate on the latter.

Walking back to the castle with Dhruvika and the guard that accompanied them, Sophie felt truly alone. Both of them were thinking about the past few months and there was no way to think about the past without having a feeling of guilt wash over them. Dhruvika couldn't change what happened and neither could Sophie. They could only accept it and move on, letting the past stay where it was.

As Dhruvika walked in the direction of her chambers, Caspian's request hit Sophie. He wanted her to decide on her ladies-in-waiting and she told him that she didn't want any help. Unless she could change that term entirely, she could ask some people for her help.

Sophie entered the Music Room and found Evelyn and Rumira talking. They stood up immediately as she entered and Sophie couldn't help but smile, still not used to the fact that she was supposed to be the Queen. "Can we talk?"

Rumira and Evelyn exchanged a look with each other, not knowing what they had done for the Queen to come find them. That was something that she would have to change after the wedding, because Sophie could no longer meet people in an informal fashion. She could not change Narnia when she was an outsider. But she needed to break the barrier that separated her from everyone else.

"Of course, Your Majesty," Rumira said.

Sophie sat down on one of the chairs and the two of them did the same after that. It pained Sophie to have such high status among everyone. "Dhruvika will be leaving us. She will be leaving for Galma. "She requested my permission and I....gave it. It's not really my place to answer the why part, Evelyn, but I....Things keep changing."

Rumira was confused as to why the queen was talking to the two of them about this but noticed the sorrow that she wished to share. "How can we help?"

Sophie looked up at the blonde. "I guess this is a situation that is new to all three of us. I want you to know that I think of you as my dear friends, which would mean that I would love it if you could call me by my name when we aren't present anywhere formally."

Rumira's eyebrows raised up just as Evelyn gaped at Sophie. "But...."

"Caspian talked to me about having ladies-in-waiting and I realised that I didn't really talk to anyone apart from you. I don't think I ever will. Introvert." Sophie pointed to herself and let out a shaky laugh. "I don't know if what I'm doing is fine or if....um...." 

"If I may," Evelyn started. "I know that you are not used to the formality of all this, and you don't have to be if you don't want to. Seeing you adjust to this new life is really inspiring, Your Majesty." 

That was the first time Evelyn had voiced out her opinions so boldly, always having been a silent person in general. But with the position that she held that she could not share, she had to help the queen out however she could.

"You are doing really well, Your Majesty," Rumira said, noticing the determined look on Evelyn's face. "And we would be honoured to help you in any way possible."

It took Sophie some time to realise that breathing was in and out simultaneously. "Will you....um....be my friends? Like, I don't want any obligation to play a role here. I want us to be how we were before all this happened."

"It would be our pleasure." 

Sophie let out a breath of relief. "Oh, you have no idea how hard that was. Phew! Well then." She clapped her hands together. "I don't know how you spend time together as proper friends in Narnia." She admitted, feeling the heat rush to her face and not used to having girlfriends before. "Any ideas?"

Rumira and Evelyn looked at each other again. "We could have a tea party?" Evelyn suggested, knowing about the recent rebellion group that seemed to be forming. She had to keep the Queen in the palace grounds as much as possible.

"We could spend time getting to know each other more," Rumira said, going along with the plan. "After leaving our responsibilities behind, of course."

Sophie laughed, completely unaware of the ulterior motive behind their words. "I would love that. Thank you both. I really needed this. Tea party tomorrow at eleven hundred hours?"

"But, Your Majesty," Evelyn started. "Day after tomorrow is the...."

Sophie smacked her forehead. "Of course! How could I have forgotten about the date? How about this weekend then? Same time?" They nodded, completely in agreement. "Awesome!" 

Sophie headed for the door and then realised that she hadn't made herself clear, at least not to herself, and missed the secret exchange that had taken place between the other two. "Oh....um....about the other situation. Would you do me the honour of being my supposed ladies-in-waiting? It is only to fill the role. You don't have to help me much." Both of them stood up after that question, probably wondering how the Queen was asking them for a huge change of roles. "Because that's the thing. I consider you my friends but I don't trust anyone that I could ask about this 'ambush'. It's not really a job because I'm only doing this to shut the Council up and-"

"Your Majesty?" Rumira called out. "We would love to be your friends. And your supposed ladies-in-waiting."

"We are glad that you thought of us," Evelyn said. "I....I don't know if I can give up this job but it would be an honour to have a chance to be closer to you."

Sophie looked back and forth between them and walked towards them and pulled them into a hug. They were hesitant at first but they put their arms around her. "Thank you." Sophie sniffed, trying not to get emotional. "Like I said before, you don't have to help me much. It is only a title. You can do what you want and I won't force you to follow the duties."

They nodded. "We understand, and we will see you at the tea party."