stay // e.p.

II

The first few days on the Dawn Treader was very emotional. They were both the happiest day and the saddest days of Avalon's life. She had been away from her family for such a long period of time, and getting to spend every day with her brother felt fantastic. And they really did spend every moment they had with each other, as they were in serious need of catching up.

She soon learned of her uncle's struggle for power, and how he had killed their father. They spent that day in Caspian's cabin, silently crying while lingering to each other and remembering their late father.

She learned of the civil war between the Old Narnians and the Telmarines. How she wished she had been there at her brother's side. She learned about how the Old King and Queens came back, to stand by Caspian's side and help him during the war. She definitely didn't forget this, as she hugged and wept the next time she saw the gentle girl and the boy her age - whom she learned was Queen Lucy the Valiant and King Edmund the Just.

She also learned of the voyage of the Dawn Treader. Of the seven lost Telmarine lords, who had been sent away by Miraz. One of whom was the elderly man she saw Caspian and Edmund conversing with in Narrowhaven - Lord Bern. And she learned how they wanted to find the source of the green mist, that they saw in the formerly mentioned city. The mist that makes people disappear.

Avalon was determined to be there for her brother and help him on his quest - no matter what it took. Nothing would make her leave her brother's side again.

During these first few days, Avalon grew close with Lucy - who was as strong as she was graceful - and Edmund - whom she understood was doing everything in his might to be good. To show everyone that he was truly good.

She had learned of the Kings and Queens first time in Narnia, and how he'd chosen the wrong side, a long time ago when she still resided between the castle walls. Every child in Narnia had heard the tales of how the High Kings and Queens came to Narnia. Of their ruling time. Of how they grew from children to adults. And how they mysteriously disappeared many years later.

Avalon didn't understand how come the High King and Queen were so young at first before Lucy had told their tale from their perspective. She learned that their older siblings had outgrown Narnia, and wouldn't be returning. And she had learned of the relationship between Caspian and High Queen Susan. Avalon knew not to mention this to Caspian before later since she wouldn't inflict him any more pain. 

Also from Lucy, she had learned to ignore Eustace's blabbing on about how everyone was barking mad. From what Lucy told her, Eustace had never been to Narnia before and had a tough time accepting the conditions that he was now living under.

Though these days were very emotional, she grew to love the Dawn Treader and call it her home. Something she hadn't been able to call anything since she was taken from the castle when she was very little. Now she was able to be herself and grow into the women she was meant to be. 

Her determination to help her brother concluded in her seeking up the slightly-larger-than-usual mouse, whom she had seen leading the battle at the Lone Islands. She soon learned that he was called Reepicheep and that he was very humble. She told him, that she was very impressed with his sword skills, and had humbly asked if he would be willing to help improve her own. This had been the start of a companionship between the two. He taught her all the theory of sword fighting and how to stand, but due to his size, he thought it would be better for her to practice with someone her own size, who also had the necessary sword skills. 

That is how Avalon wound up with her sword striking against Edmund's. He had happily agreed to help her practice the manoeuvres and get her prepared to fight if necessary. "I don't really have anything else to do if I might say so," he had laughed jokingly. And he was quite right. Since they boarded the ship he'd been sitting with the Lord's sword - trying to get it functional, again. Both Reepicheep and Avalon found the story of the swords quite interesting and found it quite relaxing sitting by Edmund in silence as he cared for the sword.

She soon discovered that she quite enjoyed the sound of metal hitting metal. It gave her a joyous rush that made her more driven to acquire the skill of sword fighting. This soon became an unwritten law between Avalon and Edmund - to meet up once a day and practice her sword fighting. Reepicheep would for the most part stand by and compliment Avalon on her fighting skills, while also giving her the theory of things she could do better. 

Sometimes she would even sit starboard and talk to Drinnian and Caspian as they were arguing about where to lead the ship next. She just enjoyed the familiar feeling of it. And that was where she was when she saw Reepicheep chasing Eustace who was clinging to a big butcher knife. She couldn't help but giggle, as Reepicheep yelled out "Trying to get away? We're on a boat you know.". She rose from her seat to find a place beside Edmund and Lucy, where she better could see what was going on between the mouse and the lanky boy.

The men aboard the ship couldn't help but laugh as Eustace flung forwards with his knife, trying to hit the mouse but missing famously. A smile tucked the corners of Avalon's mouth upwards, as she realized that Reepicheep was trying to teach the boy how to fight. He gave Eustace a chance, in spite of all the horrible things the boy would mumble under his breath.

When Reepicheep had tricked Eustace to think he had fallen overboard, he tapped his shoulder with his tail and got the boy to turn around. He then took this opportunity to give him a kick from behind, which caused the boy to fall and knock over a barrel. As soon as the barrel hid the ground some hair stuck out from under the cover. It seemed that Lucy had seen the same. "Look," she announced. Everyone stopped laughing as a young girl crawled out of the barrel.

"Gael...?" A crewmember stood forward, and Avalon recognized him as someone from Narrowhaven. The air was tense and no one said a sound, as she went to him and clung to his side, not expecting to be caught. It must have been his child. The silence was cut with footsteps coming towards the father and his child. Drinnian had never looked so sour, as he did in that moment. Then a smile broke out on his face. "Looks like we have an extra crew member." He laughed and offered her the orange, that Reepicheep and Eustace apparently had been fighting about. 

Avalon watched as Lucy led the younger girl into Caspian's cabin - probably to give her some food, and get her freshened up. Reepicheep found a place by Avalon's side, just in time for Eustace to walk by. "Good match," the mouse marked "I'll make a swordsman of you yet." She smiled knowing she had been right about Reepicheep's intentions of the fight. "Yes, well, if the playing fields were a little more even," Eustace started, while she saw Edmund roll his eyes beside her and she held in a giggle. "It would've been an entirely different result.". 

Avalon was enjoying her time on the Dawn Treader immensely, and she couldn't wait for what was in store for the rest of the quest.