Sophie and Caspian woke up really early the next morning, earlier than the kitchen staff did. They met each other halfway from their rooms at the staircases and walked down together hand-in-hand. It seemed that their little moments with each other were more important to them than the weight of the world and the responsibilities that they would soon share.

They reached the kitchen before everyone in the castle woke up and adored each other in the silence as sunlight started to take over the room. "Oh, Your Majesty!" Sahil exclaimed, being the first to enter. He stopped just after opening the door, shocked to see the rulers of Narnia waiting there for them and blocked the way for the others.

"Good morning!" Sophie wished him, standing up along with Caspian, not meaning to startle any of them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Nina asked, following Sahil inside to see what the fuss was about. 

"Today, Sophie and I are going to cook lunch for everyone." 

"This is not right, Your Majesty. I cannot possibly let you do our work-" She was the only one who could talk back to Caspian without any fear, considering him her son after all. She was not going to let his position take away the fact that she was his family.

"Please, Nina?" Sophie asked.

"Please?" Caspian asked.

"But, no offense, Your Majesty," started Alexandre. "You don't know where all the ingredients are."

"And we haven't brought in the daily ones from the market," added Evelyn.

Sophie cleared her throat, grabbing everyone's attention. "Has everyone forgotten that I've spent most of my time here? I didn't help out here for you to forget me like this." She sniffed, teasing them. 

Her excitement was beyond any happiness she had felt before. It was the first time that she was going to see Caspian be himself and not what being a royal demanded out of him. He was going to be only Caspian and she was going to be only Sophie, like she had been all this time. 

Everyone was practically pushed out of the kitchen once Nina conceded, leaving the two of them alone. "So what are we making?" Sophie asked, shutting the door completely.

"The only thing that I know to make properly without burning down the kitchen because of how much I love eating it," he said. "Lasagne." 

Sophie loved listening to Caspian's voice. It was one of the things that drove her, but she never told him that. Not yet, anyway, because she didn't want to sound too dorky. 

Caspian prepared the sauce while she prepared the dough. One year in Narnia and she had figured out how to make good dough, all thanks to Evie really. Everyone taught her different things and she was glad to help them out. She never felt left out, until the truth was out.

"Sophie, will you please taste this?" He asked, bringing the ladle to the table she was seated at. He was really serious when it came to cooking. Nina was the one who taught him that the art of cooking never came to everyone but the ones who had them always left it unappreciated. Very few would embrace it and make it a part of their lives.

Sophie found it strange to see Caspian in an apron because she never could have imagined him so normal. She wondered if he would be the same if they had met each other in the Other World. Would he be the same person that he was now? She also wondered how it would have been like if they had grown up in Narnia without the responsibility of being rulers looming over their heads.

It was a nice dream that she would always wish to be true.

Caspian smirked as he handed her the ladle, making her narrow her eyes at him. "What?" She asked, coming out of her thoughts.

"Nothing." He shook his head. "You just have a little bit..." He wiped her cheek with his thumb and showed her the powder of the flour that she had on her face.. "You just had some flour there."

"Oh! Then maybe we should be even." She spread some flour across his face.

"Sophie!" They broke out laughing. Caspian and Sophie thought that their better half had a very contagious laugh, or maybe it was them who always felt happy around the other. "Anyway, would you please take a taste?" 

Sophie took a different spoon from the kitchen counter and tasted the sauce, which was the perfect red that she could have ever imagined. "Maybe a little bit of salt?"

"All right." He sprinkled some salt over the pan and started working on the pasta sheets next while she prepared the pan for cooking the lasagne in the oven. "I hope they like it." He looked like the little boy who was scared to show his big science project at the Annual Fair and Sophie was trying so hard not to go awe on him.

"I'm sure they'll love it."

She turned around from the oven and felt a splash of water thrown at her. "A-ha!" Caspian exclaimed, keeping their fun in the kitchen going.

"Oh no, you didn't."

She wanted revenge.

It was war now.

But she would get it soon.

After the lasagne was done, the two of them devoured each other for a few seconds with their gaze in anticipation of what everyone else would think. And once they were allowed inside, Alexandre was called to taste. "Please do the honours." Sophie bowed her head and moved away from the table to give him some space.

The anxiousness in the room was unmistakable, but it was more for Caspian, who held onto Sophie's hands. She could feel his fear taking over and that time, it was her turn to help him calm down by drawing circles on the back of his hands.

Alexandre looked at the floor and started to clap, which was the biggest honour he could bestow upon Sophie and Caspian. The look on Caspian's face was unbeatable and it was a happiness that Sophie would always carry in her heart.

"Who forgot to invite me to the celebration?" The Professor asked as he entered the dining room having overheard their voices as he passed the corridor in desperate need for lunch.

"I was just about to call you," said Sophie. 

"We made lunch today," said Caspian.

The Professor looked surprised. "Is that so? I hope you haven't burnt down the kitchen then. It's like Nina always says."

"A good cook never burns the kitchen cloth." The entire room chorused, making Nina roll her eyes, hating that she was so predictable to them.

"Today is the only day you two get to do this. Do not assume that this will make us forget that the two of you are the rulers of the kingdoms," Nina informed Sophie and Caspian while everyone sat down to eat.

"Of course." Caspian kissed Nina on the cheek, startling her into blushing.

Everyone was enjoying themselves and that was one of the favourite days of their lives. It was some of Sophie's favourite moments with Caspian. They kept glancing at each other but they also adored everyone that sat down together to eat. 

"Good job, Cas." She bumped his shoulder with hers and he kissed her forehead. 

Sophie could have sworn that every time he kissed her forehead or temple, a part of her heart melted. She yearned for his affection like she had never before, which was a new and strange feeling to her. She had never wanted to be someone's partner because that was a life that she had never envisioned for herself.

But Caspian was the one for her, even if she couldn't tell him that so soon.

Caspian's smile didn't reach his ears when they looked at each other. While everyone were having laughter-filled conversations, his gaze had been on her. "Is everything all right?" She asked him, feeling his fingers tense around hers.

"Instead of going to the tower," he whispered to her. "Can you meet me at the astronomy tower?"

"The one in the castle or the one in the stables?"

He smiled. "The one in the castle, of course."

"I would love to."

The Professor had told Sophie that the sky was going to look like a snow-fallen ground for a week that morning, and Sophie was looking forward to see it, having never experienced it before. But Caspian's silence and secrecy worried her. What was he going to tell her?

Sophie entered the dark astronomy tower with the moon as her only companion. The celestial being was less bright than it usually would have been, hiding behind the shadows of the trees. A strange feeling took over the air as it got colder day by day. But it didn't seem like the cold that came along with the possible expectation of a bridal snowfall.

Caspian was seated on the floor on a blanket with his gaze up at the glass dome that covered the tower. She sat down beside him, removing her cloak as she did so. "This is nice."

He lay down and so did she, mirroring his posture. The anticipation of unsaid words was running in both their minds as the clouds moved in a hazy manner, blocking the only beauty that could be visible in the night sky. 

"That, Sophie, is supposed to bring about peace." He said, pointing to one of the constellations.

"Is that so?" She asked him with sarcasm in her voice and won in making him smile through the sorrow that filled his eyes.

There was a silence between them that was strange, but the wind that swept past them was eerie, making Sophie constantly aware of her surroundings as she waited for something to happen.

"Sophie, I need to tell you something," said Caspian, finally breaking the silence.

Sophie turned to lie on one side, making it Caspian's turn to mirror her. "I knew something was wrong. Is everything okay?"

"I'm leaving for Archenland tomorrow. We are going to work out a treaty with the men there so that I have conquered their lands without any trouble. We can't and should not have to go to war for this. Our beliefs contradict each other but it is time to prove that we are our own beings. Everyone is free to believe what they want to, like you pointed out long ago."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" 

Sophie was annoyed that Caspian didn't trust her earlier to tell her this. They had talked about religion and faith a couple of months before and it was obvious that he had been building up to fight for this treaty to work out, which is why she didn't show it in her voice.

"I didn't know how to." Caspian had expected that reaction from her and she was right in feeling that way. They were supposed to be partners. They were supposed to make decisions together, but with her ceremony right around the corner, he didn't want to burden her just yet.

"Is that what today was about?" She asked, hearing Caspian's laugh in the kitchen as she spread flour across his face. Her lips threatened to form a smile but the weight on her chest restricted it.

"I wanted to tell you today so that we could spend the rest of the day together. I really didn't know how to." He wished that their situation was easy but they were the living rulers of Narnia. Nothing would be easy for them.

"I can't come, can I?"

"I need someone here. If something happens while I'm away, there will be a ruckus. The people are finally getting used to all the changes, the incident with the Narnians proving that. I was hoping that it would be you." Sophie's gaze fell to the ground as her hands started to remove the loose threads in her dress. "Sophie?"

"Of course I'll stay here." She managed a weak smile, one that was more to convince herself than him. "How long will you be gone?"

"It's only for two months. I'll be back before you know it."

"Two months." She repeated, the words tasting like ash against her tongue.

It was going to be a long two months. But Sophie knew that it would be difficult for Caspian to leave if she created a fuss. It was her duty to make situations easier for him after everything that he had done for her.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."

"It's okay. I would've probably talked you into letting me come if you hadn't."

Caspian laughed, understanding her attempt at the joke. "You have a charm around that."

Sophie rested her head on his hand that held her cheek. She knew that the little child in her was coming to the surface, but if she was to be a future leader, she was going to have to learn to choose others over her in a way that she had never done before.

"What time will you be leaving?"

"Early." Sophie knew what he meant by that - before sunrise. "Would you like anything from the journey? I want to bring you back a gift that you want."

Sophie wondered what she should ask for. If he had asked her earlier that morning, she would have asked him for paints that were made from the essence of sea shells that she knew would enhance any painting that she would make. But there was something more important that she needed. "Remember when I told you about the fairy tales from the Other World? I want you to bring back the first branch that your back touches during the journey."

"Ella." He smiled, recognising the tale. "Cinderella asked her father for the same when he went on his trip."

"Correct. That way, you'll have something with you throughout the journey that will remind you of me. Every time you look at it, you would think of me. In a way, it will be like I'm with you."

"You'll always be with me." He took her right hand in his and kissed her knuckles, refusing to leave her eyes as he did so. "No one can separate you from my thoughts. You've been inside my head for as long as I realised that you were someone more than a friend to me."

Sophie blushed and hoped that it was too dark to notice. She felt like an early teenager with a new crush, although she had never experienced that before. Caspian really did have a charm around her. "How about we just enjoy the stars for now? We're together."

"Together." He smiled.

The two of them lay back down and observed the stars, wanting to tell each other a million things but not being able to think of one to say. Maybe their voices wouldn't come out even if they tried.

Sophie moved closer to Caspian and rested her head on his chest. Caspian looked down at her and could feel the distress off of her. He put his arm around her, wanting to make the world safe only for her and pulled her closer. Maybe the two of them were the two halves of the same coin. But only destiny would decide their fate for them. 

He brushed his free hand against her hair, soothing it and playing with it between his fingers. This was what poets had written about that neither of them could undergo until now. She wanted to freeze that picture-perfect moment and wished that they could stay like that forever - only her and Caspian with no one to negotiate the rules of living and tell them who they were supposed to be.

But the morning sun would rise no matter way because that was the way of life.

Caspian's rhythmic breathing, the rising and falling of his chest calmed her down. She convinced her childish self that he had his reasons for not telling her earlier because she had been right. She would have created a fuss rather than taking it bravely. He knew her well enough to tell only her about it. But being with Caspian that night - or day to be precise - was more than enough for her. That was their last night together for what felt like a very long time. But that only made the reunion everlasting sweet and tearful.

"We should go back," she said after some time, hating that she had to break the moment.

"I don't want to." He spoke for both of them when he pulled her even closer, wrapping both his hands around her.

"You'll fall asleep during the journey tomorrow if we don't." She moved out of his arms, every move paining her. "You'll lose important planning if you do and Reepicheep would just become furious."

"All right." He stood up beside her and helped her fold the blanket. "I wouldn't want to face a disappointed Reepicheep. He is scary when he is angry. And his rapier only makes him more scary."

All the way back to their chambers, the two didn't talk. Caspian wanted to tell her something that he had never told someone before, but it was not the right time. Not yet. Sophie held onto his hand, not ever wanting to let go of him. Their silence spoke for them.

"Am I really forgiven?" He asked her after they reached her chambers.

"There is nothing to forgive you for," she sighed, taking both his hands in hers and looking up at him. "I'll be counting the days till I can see you again."

He brought his hand and held the back of her neck in a way that always made her heart flutter and her cheeks blush. He kissed her softly on the lips but it was one of delays that would be separating each other. It was one that would remind her of him. "And I you."