╔══════════════════╗

WALKING IN THE WIND
vii. IMPOSSIBLE QUESTIONS BEFORE BEDTIME

╚══════════════════╝

  HOPE WAS A BELIEVER.

  She believed in the good that things could be rather than the bad. She put her blind faith into nearly everything, whether it was ideas, dreams, or people. Maybe that made Hope somewhat naïve, but her heart of gold had gotten her this far in life.

  Even then, some things were beyond Hope and her simple belief system: questions about the universe that couldn't be answered, unexplainable wonders of the world, uncharted mysteries lurking within the constellations of the skies. There were things Hope couldn't just believe in because she didn't understand them: Does every realm share the same sky? Is there a meaning to life? How are there different languages when they're all just made up sounds? How do mathematics and science prove that adding two infinities together is any different from multiplying two infinities together?

  She pondered these answers often, specifically if there was a right or wrong answer. Sometimes, she wondered if her uncertainty was an answer in itself, maybe even the most preferable one. Without knowing everything, you leave room for personal growth, and what would humans be if they were stagnant?

  ...Perhaps that was another question Hope needed to add to her list.

  "Do you believe in soulmates?"

  Hope could be found in the princess's chambers, tidying up where she deemed it was necessary. Toward the windows stood Princess Odette, who donned a silk nightgown and a brush on her hand. The item glided through her long, blonde hair as she stared outside at the world. It looked so small from where she lingered.

  Odette continued, "Because I'm not sure if I do. I think the idea of having one is rather harrowing. The world is so big, and there are so many people. How is anyone meant to know when they've met their soulmate?"

  This was something they did often, particularly for Odette's sake. You see, Odette was resigned to play the role of the ditzy and demanding damsel in distress, and Hope knew how much that troubled her. So, every other night or so for the past few years, they bounced philosophical ideas or puzzling queries between each other. These were impossible questions before bedtime—because their thoughts and queries never had an answer other than the ones they suggested and theorized.

  Hope hummed. "I think if soulmates are real, then they should be fated to find us, right?" she humored.

  "But it's not as though we're given instructions stating to go out and seek our soulmates," Odette countered.

  Hope suggested, "Maybe it's like gravity. If there's a force pulling us to the ground at all times, maybe there's a force that's pushing us to our soulmates, too. Like destiny, in a sense."

  The princess pulled her gaze away from her view of the sleeping kingdom to shoot Hope a look. "Do not get me started on destiny again," she insisted.

  Hope laughed, "I wouldn't want to. You were so heated, I was almost afraid to leave you that night."

  "Because destiny isn't logical! What's the point of being destined to, I don't know, slay a dragon or find lost treasure? What does anyone gain from it?" ranted Odette, menacingly pointing her hairbrush at her.

  "At ease, soldier," Hope teased.

  She always enjoyed these talks. Women in Wysteria weren't encouraged to speak so freely regarding intellectual and educational subjects. Even when Hope's father began to teach her swordplay as a girl, it was frowned upon. Wysteria was in serious need of social reform, to say the least.

  Hope confessed, "I think soulmates are real. Don't you think your parents are soulmates?"

  Odette faltered. Now, that was an interesting question. "I'm not too sure," she replied. "I'd think so, but... what exactly are the qualifications of being someone's soulmate? Are there rules?"

  Hope pursed her lips, a thoughtful gleam catching her emerald eyes. "I'd say a soulmate is someone your spirit yearns for. It's a person that isn't exactly like you, but someone you can learn a lot from and grow with," she decided. "I wouldn't say having a soulmate is like... uniting with your missing half. It's more like... finding someone that makes you feel whole as yourself."

  Odette smiled at her best friend's wise words. It was times like these where she was right on her theory about her lady-in-waiting: Hope was wiser than she was educated, whereas Odette was more educated than she was wise.

  "I'll do you one better," Hope suddenly proposed. "I think it's possible to have more than one soulmate."

  The blonde gasped. "That's blasphemous! That defeats the whole purpose of having a soulmate!"

  "Well, don't you think that's a lot of pressure to put on one person?" Hope countered. "Think about it! Do you honestly expect one person to teach you everything there is to know about life and self-acceptance and growth and love?"

  Odette faltered. She supposed that made enough senses. "Maybe you're onto something," she admitted. An exasperated sigh escaped her as she waltzed forward and collapsed onto her bed.

  Watching her, Hope wondered, "Do you think you and Edmund are soulmates? It would prove my point of how Aslan created a force that pushes us to our soulmates."

  Odette lifted her head up, glimpsing back at her in surprise. "You still believe in Aslan?"

  She nodded. "I never stopped," she proudly confirmed. "And you?"

  Odette chewed on her lower lip, hesitant. "I think I do. But does he believe in me? Now, that's a question I'd like him to answer one day." The girls laughed at her words, hardly thinking anything of them. After all, the princess was half-asleep at this point. "I don't know, I'm not sure if Edmund's my soulmate."

  "Well, you are marrying him, you know."

  But Odette shook her head and sat upright. "Marrying someone doesn't quantify love or anything of that sort. I didn't want to believe it was for a long time, but now that I'm in a predicament where I'm to marry someone for the sake of my kingdom, it makes more sense to me. For people like me, people who are in charge of other people, marriages are never for personal gain. It's for the sake of others."

  Odette paused. "Even people like you who have no responsibility to anyone but herself and her family," she continued, "you're more likely to succeed in this world if you marry rich and become apart of that man's assets. Marriage is solely an economic proposition."

  Silence.

  Then, Hope smirked and inquired, "Have you been eavesdropping on your father's conferences again?"

  A gentle laugh left Odette's lips. "Somewhat. I've been trying to educate myself on what to expect when I'm coronated. It feels so far away, but it's so soon at the same time. I want to serve justice in Wysteria. It's frustrating knowing that my parents don't think I can do it without a man's guidance."

  Truth be told, Hope had known of this — Odette's thoughts — for a long time despite never hearing it verbally. That was just how strong their connection was.

  "For what it's worth," started Hope, "I believe in you."

  Odette's smile returned to her. "Thank you, Hope. Is it wrong for me to feel so nervous about this marriage? Maybe nervous isn't the right word for it..."

  "I can only assume it's anticipation," Hope returned. "It's all the good nerves mixed with bad ones. A lot is carrying on this marriage, after all." She noticed how Odette frowned at the thought. "I might be biased, but I think you'll be a wonderful monarch. You'll be the first Queen in Wysterian history to outshine the King."

  Odette beamed. She felt relief hearing such simple, yet supportive words. "You know, I'm afraid I'm never going to be able to let you go." She leaned back into her warm bed. Her head sunk into her large pillow and her eyelids began to droop. "We'll be old and gray together. Edmund and his siblings will be there, too, and we'll all be wrinkled together. We'll even enter Aslan's Country together!"

  "You couldn't get rid of me, even if you tried," Hope remarked. "I'll be running errands for you until I'm crippled!"

  Hope found herself pondering all of the things Odette would accomplish as Queen of Wysteria. The list was endless, and upon that list, the restoration of Wysteria lurked.

  Maybe King David and Queen Lydia didn't believe in their daughter, but the handmaid didn't care.

  Hope would never stop believing in Odette.