Aragorn and the Phoenix of Caspian (ENGLISH)

Chapter 49

CHAPTER 49

Sphyra didn’t know what to feel towards the new servants who entered the palace. It means that there were more eyes to look at her. She didn’t want to be caught by these people. She needed to be more careful, so she won’t be in danger.

Lolita set up a small celebration for the new servants in the dining room. Her friend, Dina, seemed not to come. She saw Lolita asked her sister to check on Dina. A true friend she is, Sphyra thought.

The conversation between the servants started. Sphyra was just agreeing and smiling at them since she cannot also relate. Sometimes, Zonia will share fake stories about the two of them. It was realistic, and even she almost believed it. She knew she did that to make her existence as a person more believable.

In a few minutes, Dina arrived. The only available chair was beside Sphyra. She looked forced when she sat beside Sphyra. She wasn’t feeling well, she thought, and she was staring at the flowers in the middle of the table.

Sphyra asked her if she was okay. She said she was, but she didn’t look like that. She told her advice to look at the flowers, but she stood up and left the dining room for a few more minutes. She was upset, but Sphyra doesn’t know why. It can be because of the new servants, just like she does, and she and Zonia arrived at the palace.

The small celebration ended after fifteen minutes. They wanted to make it longer, but servants still need to serve for the palace. After everyone’s celebration, they all got back to work.

Sphyra observed how Ruth always wanted to talk to Lolita. That made sense in the palace. To have a slightly higher position among the servants, you needed to be the personal servant of anyone or be the friend of anyone’s personal servants. Ruth’s tactics were going good. It looked like she was getting Lolita’s trust, but in her eyes, it was still Dina, her best friend.

At last, Ruth left Lolita. Sphyra was picking up the utensils that they used. Lolita helped her.

“Do you know where Dina is?” Lolita asked. Oh, she was searching for her best friend, Sphyra thought.

“She said earlier to you that she’ll be with the queen,” she reminded her.

“But she’s lying. I just thought you know where she’s going when she’s upset. I know that she’s upset when a set of servants were entering the palace. She didn’t want other people to take over her position as the queen’s personal servant. She also thinks that I will replace her when the time comes.”

“She sits beside me earlier. She seemed not feeling well, and she stared at the flowers.”

“She’s always like that. Maybe she’s still young. But I’ll talk to her once I cleaned every mess that I did in the dining.”

“Your idea was great. You always make us feel welcomed in the palace.”

“That is what seniors made me feel when I entered. I’m just repeating their legacy. I missed the older servants in the palace after they were replaced by younger ones. They had to retire for their family, and some retired because their children were already earning a lot.” Lolita stared at the bunch of utensils on the table. “Please check on Dina if she’s fine. I don’t to be the one to approach her today since she looked mad at me. She might be in the garden or in her room. I’ll be the one to clean all of these. Please, Sphyra.”

“Sure, Lolita. I’ll check on her, and I’ll update you.”

Sphyra thought Dina was in the garden. She primarily sees her there, taking care of Queen Amira’s plants. She treated every flower and plant in the garden to be her child or her sister.

She wasn’t wrong. When Sphyra headed to the garden, she saw Dina sitting on the plant box, staring at the flowers. She smiled and was about to approach her when someone covered Dina’s eyes. The man was familiar, but he wasn’t a threat. Sphyra already saw him walking in the hallway of the palace. As far as she knows, the guy is Aragorn’s cousin.

She stopped and stayed in her place, watching Dina and the guy talk. They looked like they were okay and pretty close. The guy pulled Dina towards him. Sphyra smiled. Dina’s in good hands, she thought.

She left her place and walked to her room. She remembered that she’ll clean the floor and their beds. But in the middle of the way, she saw Queen Amira walking with a servant by her side.

“I am looking for you, Sphyra,” Queen Amira said.

“Apologies, Your Highness. I had a thing to do. But I’m available right now.”

“Follow me in the dining room.”

The dining room was the queen’s favorite place. She often stays there along with her servants and food. She rarely sits on her throne beside the king since the king wasn’t there as always.

Sphyra followed Queen Amira to the dining room. On her way, she thought of the Aragorn’s resemblance to her mother. They have the features that made them look royal. They both have pointed noses, but the whole prospect of the prince was mixed with the king’s and the queen’s.

Queen Amira sat on a chair. Sphyra clasped her hands and sat in front of the queen.

“Aragorn will be visiting the royal palace tomorrow. He’ll stay here for the whole day and will sleep here. I want you to take charge of the food and the things needed for a small celebration. Leo reported to me that he did great in training. I want to show my appreciation towards him.”

“Apologies, Your Highness. This would be the first time that I am going to disobey you. I don’t know how to cook dishes. I only know how to clean and take care of my dog. I can’t be the one to lead the celebration tomorrow. Lolita would be the best choice for it.”

“It doesn’t matter. You’re with Aragorn for the months that he wasn’t here. So, you must know a lot about him.”

She shook her head. “Months of being with him were incomparable for the years he spent with you, Your Highness. I’m also not with him as always because he’s careful about anyone not following him. I don’t know him that much, Queen Amira.”

She told the truth. She didn’t know Aragorn that much even though she wanted to. She wanted to know her favorite color, her favorite food, her favorite music, and things that would make him happy.

“Fine. If that’s the case, I’ll ask Lolita to lead the preparation. But I want you and Aragorn to get to know each other better. I’ll set a night where the two of you can enjoy yourselves freely.”

“Queen Amira, this will cause issues in the palace. They might think why Aragorn is very close to a servant like me. I don’t want to ruin his reputation, Your Highness.”

“That won’t happen, Sphyra. Trust everything to me. I’m going to be the one to prepare for the two of you.”

Queen Amira grinned at her. Then, she stood up and left her alone in the dining. She didn’t know why the queen was, does that? She wasn’t something special for Aragorn, and he’s the prince of Caspian. His happy ending would be someone royal and who deserves to be part of the monarch. His happy ending couldn’t be her. Because even if destinies were true or not, the world decided that they weren’t each other’s destiny.