Helena Pevensie (Caspian Love Story)

6. Land

"Can you use a sword?" Caspian countered. She shrugged, but none of them missed the wicked glint in her eye. After acquiring two swords, Caspian and Helena faced one another. 

As they began moving in a circle, Edmund muttered to Lucy, "I know she thinks she can learn anything on the fly, but I don't think this will go well." 

"Oh, have some faith," Lucy countered. "She may just surprise you." Edmund grunted in response. 

Before he could properly respond, there was a terrible clash of metal. Edmund looked up in surprise to see that Helena was still radiating confidence, her smile pristine and wide. She had pulled her long hair into a bun at the crown of her head but a few strands still fell, framing her face. Lena had struck first, aiming for his shoulder. Caspian had easily blocked it and they had returned to circling one another. She gave a few more testing strikes. Edmund was surprised to see that she wasn't simply flinging around the sword as an inexperienced swordman would. 

Instead, she maintained perfect control. "She's done this before," Edmund said, grinning. Lucy gave him a quick look, rolling her eyes. Had he bothered to remember, he would have known that. Lena had written them all several times that she was taking fencing lessons at school. Her scarlet lips were still pulled into an enchanting smile as she effortlessly blocked each and every attempt of his to land a hit. 

"I do wish they'd get on with it," Lucy muttered irritably. 

"Shh," Edmund chided. Caspian and Helena had finally moved past the foreplay and the clashing of swords reached their ears. Caspian aimed for her head and she ducked, aiming for his feet. Jumping, he caught her sword with his own and raised it high in the air. Shoving his sword from her own, Helena got it to the other side, twirled her sword around in a three-sixty-five arch, only just managing to disarm him and press her sword to his throat. 

Caspian let out a surprised laugh as she lowered her sword. "Who knew you'd be so accomplished with a sword," he remarked. She shrugged, an easy smile on her lips. "I suppose the royal blood is blooming talent." 

Instantly, that smile was gone. "What?" she said, frowning. "Royalty?" Caspian furrowed his brows, glancing at Edmund and Lucy who merely glanced at one another. "What are you talking about?" When no one answered her, she turned from him, handing back the sword and approaching her siblings. Raising an eyebrow, she repeated, "Royalty?" 

"We might have failed to mention," Edmund said awkwardly. 

"Peter was High King," Lucy explained. "We ruled alongside him and Susan as king and queen." Helena, not knowing how to respond, nodded and moved to sit on a barrel by the side of the ship. Edmund took Lena's former sword and began to spar with Caspian as Lucy joined her. 

Helena was frowning slightly. Noticing this, Lucy asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just...this is all insane," Helena said. "I can't believe you are all royalty here."

"Well so are you," Lucy said with a laugh. "Being the sister of kings and queens does make you a-"

"Stop, stop, I don't want to think about that," Helena interrupted. If anyone uttered the word 'princess'  or worse, since they were multiple kings and queens, 'queen' she felt she may simply jump off the boat there and then. 

Edmund joined them with a glass of water after the fight ended as Lucy asked, "Edmund, do you think if we keep sailing to the end of the world, we'll just...tip off the edge?"

"Don't worry, Lu, we're a long way from there," Edmund replied. The hatch in front of them was pushed open and out of it emerged Eustace. Helena started, having forgotten he was even there. 

"I see you're still talking nonsense, the two of you," he said irritably.

"Are you feeling better?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, no thanks to you," he snapped. "It's lucky I have an iron constitution."

"As effervescent as ever, I see," Reepicheep said from behind them. Helena cried out in surprise, covering his mouth with her hands.

"Sorry," she said meekly. "You just- I forgot animals can talk here." 

"It's quite all right, your majesty," he assured. Turning to Eustace, he asked, "Find your sea legs?"

"Never lost them," he snapped back. "Simply dealing with the shock of things. Mother says I have an acute disposition, due to my intelligence." Edmund, who had just taken in a sip of water, choked on it as he began to laugh.

"I don't think he has 'a cute' anything," Reep muttered, causing Helena to smile.

Getting angry, Eustace warned, "I'll have you know, as soon as we find civilization, I'm contacting the British Consul. Have you all arrested for kidnapping." He stormed away as Helena smiled, spotting exactly where he was headed.

"Kidnapping, is it?" Caspian asked, completely unaffected by the young boy barreling into him. "That's funny. I thought we saved your life."

"You held me against my will!" Eustace cried.

"Did I?" Caspian replied in amusement, leaning back against the railing.

"In, what I must say, are the most unhygienic quarters. It's like a zoo down there!" Eustace shouted.

"Eustace!" Helena scolded, sending an apologetic look towards Caspian.

"He's quite the complainer, isn't he?" Reep said.

"He's only warming up," Edmund replied.

"Land ho!" a voice called. Everyone looked up and sure enough along the horizon was a small stretch of land.