"Aft crew!" He barked incisively. "To your rowing positions! Oars at double speed!"

The crew immediately scrambled about the vessel like frantic ants, racing to their positions. Time slipped through their fingers like sand, as they scurried to steer the vessel towards their escape route. Reepicheep barked at the crew to put all their backs into rowing, urging them to keep going as their lives depended on it.

Charlotte aided the crew members to their feet, when a stentorian screech haunted her ears. She whipped her head towards the obstreperous sonance, and her face went pale. The serpent's swift swimming motions approached the ship with every passing second, splashing through the waters with all its strength.

"It's gaining on us!" Charlotte warned the crew. "Lucy, we need to get Gael to safety! Now!"

The serpent leapt over the vessel, wrecking its structures. The vessel erupted with tumultuous splashes, almost suffocating the seamen.

Lucy immediately grabbed Gael's hand, leading her indoors in a hurry as Charlotte followed suit. The Queens burst into the artefacts room, and Charlotte immediately headed for the crossbow of Queen Audrey.

"You must stay here, until someone comes and gets you!" Lucy instructed the young girl, before she grabbed Queen Susan's bow and arrows.

The girls sped towards the main deck, horrified at the scene before them. The serpent had its body coiled around the vessel, sending a variety of seamen sliding across the floors. Caspian hijacked the wheel, as his eyes desperately scanned their surroundings. He caught sight of sharp rocks ahead of the ship, prompting a possible solution.

"Ed! Ed! We ram the serpent, smash him on the rocks!"

"Steer her to port! I'll keep it on the prow! Char!" Edmund gestured with his head. "Cover me!"

Charlotte positioned her crossbow, shielding Edmund from the attacks. Together, they manoeuvred through the chaotic crew and rolling crates and barrels. Once Edmund cautiously steadied his balance, he shone his torch, capturing the serpent's attention. The sea creature was lured towards the rays, positioned right where they targeted it.

"Try and kill me, come on, you incompetent twit!" Edmund provoked the creature, with his sword out. "Come on, I'm here!"

The creature revealed its fangs, and immediately attacked the dragon's head, damaging its structures. Edmund leaned back, steering clear of its teeth, as Lucy and Caspian cried out for him.

Charlotte immediately raised her crossbow, firing at the serpent in tears. The serpent screeched as her arrows penetrated its abdomen, yet writhed them off with ease. She paused when she heard Edmund's voice taunting the creature once more, her tears speaking of overwhelming joy that he was alive.

"I'm still here!"

Lucy then aimed and let an arrow loose, which pierced the serpent's eye. It shrieked in agony, losing its senses momentarily as it landed at their most ideal targeted angle.

"Brace yourselves!" Caspian warned, as the ship collided with the creature, enmeshing it against the rocks.

Edmund tumbled onto the main deck of the ship, grunting as he landed on the hard floors. Caspian rushed to his aid, pulling him to his feet.

Floating ||Edmund Pevensie FanFiction||Where stories live. Discover now