This is Home

08

By dawn, the seas had calmed, much to Esther's relief, as though the storm had never occurred. The only evidence of the storm was the disaster on the deck. The crew was clearing the deck. Esther watched as the green mist coming from the mops and cloths. Drinian was watching his crew closely and every so often, they would look up and glare at him.

"How much longer?"

"Where are we?"

Esther saw Caspian and Edmund walk from the study and walked up to them. "What is it, Drinian?" Caspian asked wearily.

"The storm has blown us off course."

Edmund thought a moment before speaking. "So keep heading east."

"And when we run out of rations?" Caspian questioned.

Edmund had an annoyed look, which piqued Esther's curiosity. She guessed either something had happened with his cousin or he had found out some troubling news. She walked up to him and his annoyed look faded, turning into a smile.

Drinian let out a sigh. "I don't like the looks we're getting. Something's got into the men."

One crew member made his presence known and asked, "What's going on?"

Caspian noticed the angry look in his eyes as more crew members began making their disdain known. "Where are we?"

"They got us lost."

"Look, just order them," Edmund told Caspian.

Esther shook her head. "I don't think ordering will work in this case. Look at them. They're terrified. We're on a dangerous quest and we don't know what will happen. You can't blame their fear, Ed."

Edmund let out a sigh and nodded. "No, I suppose not."

Another crew member asked, "Your majesties, what some of our have been wanting to ask for some time now is how are we going to get home? We'd like to know what hopes we have of seeing Narnia again."

Caspian looked to Edmund and the younger boy glared at the king. "Gentlemen, I understand how you feel. But our mission is to continue east."

"No."

"How much longer?"

"We wanna go home. Turn us back."

"What's the matter with you all? This is just your fear talking," Rhince said.

"We demand you turn us back."

"Are you threatening mutiny?" Drinian asked angrily.

Esther moved away from Edmund and addressed the crew. "I understand your fear. I feel the same deep inside. But we have a duty we are sworn to do. Caspian is on a quest to save us all from the evil lurking all around. I will fight, as I always have, for Narnia and for Aslan. The Great Lion has saved us many a time before. He has never failed us, and he certainly will not fail us now."

The men nodded, seeming to feel better about the quest they were pursuing. A man up in the crow's nest yelled, "Land ho!"

Everyone turned to see that there was indeed land looming closer to them upon the horizon.

"Well? Land ho!" Drinian repeated, motioning for his crew to get back to work. They did so, with one last glance of appreciation to the Faithful Queen.

Drinian walked closer to Caspian, Esther and Edmund. They had since made our way to the main deck. "And not a moment too soon," he stated, taking the wheel.

Caspian glanced at Esther and nodded. "Thank you."

Edmund smiled proudly at his girlfriend. "She often assisted me on matters of diplomacy for that very reason." He took her hand and squeezed it gently. "As always, well spoken."

Esther returned his smile. "Thank you. Sometimes all people need is a boost of morale and a simple reminder can do such."

The group boarded a boat and Esther sat next to Lucy, opposite Caspian. Reepicheep caught their attention by yelling out from the second boat, "I doubt the lords stopped here, my lieges. There's no sign of anything living."

"Right. Well, once we get ashore, take your men and search for food and water. The five of us will search for clues," Caspian shouted back.

"Hang on, you mean the six of us," Eustace piped up. Everyone turned to look at him. "Come on; please don't send me back to the rat." Lucy and Esther laughed softly.

"I heard that," Reepicheep said.

"Big ears," Eustace muttered with a roll of his eyes.

"I heard that too."

Everyone laughed quietly as Eustace huffed and looked down with a mix of shame and annoyance, though Esther suspected it was more of shame that he'd been overheard.