"Wait!"
We all paused in our path toward the docks to head back to the ship. An elderly man who Edmund identified quietly to me as one of the Lost Lords of Telmar strode forward holding a barnacle encrusted sword.
"That's an old Narnian sword!" Edmund remarked looking amazed.
I could not deny that I was equally amazed by it. I had not seen something crafted like this in so long.
"May I?" I asked holding out my hands.
"Of course," the lord nodded passing it to me, "This sword was gift from Aslan to protect Narnia. There are seven in total. Your father entrusted each of us lords with one."
I passed the sword to Caspian carefully. A cheer rang out from the people bringing a smile to all our faces.
"Thank you, my lord," Caspian said gently, "And we will find your lost citizens."
We then turned and continued to the longboats. I frowned briefly noticing Percy had vanished from my side. I glanced back and instantly smiled, seeing the reason. He was right beside Edmund gazing in awe at the sword which I assume Caspian had handed the young man. Both looked amazed by the sword.
We all returned to the ship and set sail once again. It was but a short time after we left the docks of the Lone Isles that I found myself standing atop the beautiful masthead of the Dawn Treader. A sudden clamor below deck, however, drew me away from the peaceful area.
"What's going on?" I asked Caspian just as Eustace came scrambling up to the top deck.
"I'm not quite sure," Caspian admitted with a chuckle.
Reppicheep soon appeared, sword drawn as he chased after the clearly terrified boy. The crew began to gather and watch the little match. I couldn't help but laugh as Eustace tried to fight the mouse. Reepicheep was calling out different tips helping the boy but he had many, many more years of practice. Still I will admit Eustace put up a good effort. Sort of.
The mouse warrior then suddenly slipped backwards falling from the railing. Eustace rushed to the edge with a fearful look. We all smiled as Reepicheep appeared on the other side of the railing and tapped Eustace with his tail.
The boy turned and the mouse leapt up hitting him with the sword again. Eustace fell backward causing everyone to erupt into boisterous laughter. He ended up hitting a barrel on his way down and it toppled right over. Out of the barrel tumbled a little girl. The men backed up muttering in surprise as she fearfully scrambled away from them.
"Who is this?" I chuckled as she sat there, gazing up at us with wide eyes. I then smiled recognizing her, "Hello, little one."
Opening my arms, I knelt down in front of her. She immediately rushed into my arms burying her head in my chest. I ran a hand over her hair gently.
"Gael," her father breathed in exasperation.
"It seems we have a stowaway," Drinian called out walking over.
Gael gripped my shirt looking fearful up at the stern looking captain. He approached slowly as I stood. She gripped my hand tightly in both of hers and tried to hide behind me. A small laugh left my lips at he reaction. Drinian chuckled as well, squatting down and holding out an orange with a small smile.
"Welcome aboard the Dawn Treader," he said gently.
She took the orange with a timid smile, "Thank you."
I straightened and took her hand. "Come along, dear. Let's find you a place to stay."
I took her below deck where Lucy happened to be sitting on her bed fiddling with her dagger.
"Oh, hello," she greeted with a bright smile.
"Hi," Gael squeaked with a little wave.
"Lucy, this is Gael. Gael, this is Lucy. You can share a room with her if you would like. Or you could share a room with me," I offered.
"I'll stay here," the little girl replied then looked to Lucy with wide eyes, "If that's okay with you."
"Of course it is," Lucy nodded with a small laugh. She held out her hand, "Would you like me to peel that for you?"
Gael nodded placing the orange in her hand, "Yes, please."
Lucy easily removed the peel before passing the fruit to the little girl. Gael sat down on the bed beside her, happily biting into the delicate orange slices. I smiled lightly at her before heading back up to the chart room. I decided to take a detour upon seeing Caspian, Drinian, and Edmund standing at the helm looking toward something.
"What do you see?" I asked as I approached.
"An island, Your Majesty," Drinian answered pointing.
I followed his gesture to a distant speck of land. Caspian handed me the scope, saying, "It looks uninhabited. But if the lords were heading East, they may have stopped here."
I looked through the scope to see a beautiful beach which ended with a forested area. It seemed quiet and empty.
"It could be a trap," Drinian stated with a frown.
"Always the downer," I mumbled making the man give me a slightly irritated look.
I merely smiled in response.
"It could also have some answers," Edmund pointed out, "Caspian?"
The king seemed to think a moment before answering. "We could also find more supplies there. I think it will be safe. Aewryn?"
All three men looked to me as I lowered the scope. I almost chuckled at the child-like expressions on their faces.
"We'll go ashore and spend the night there then," I suggested, "We can explore the island in the morning."
Everyone nodded in agreement and Drinian called for the longboats. We made it to the sandy beach just as the sun was setting. I went to help Edmund start a fire.
"Would ya look at that?" he hummed drawing my attention.
I looked up and followed his line of sight to those across the pile of timber. I then smiled seeing Percy offer a blanket to Gael. She accepted it with a timid smile thanking him. His face tinted pink as he nodded.
"Oh, dear," I chuckled shaking my head.
"I think they'd be cute," he remarked with a thoughtful look.
"Ed!" I scolded playfully and he laughed.
We continued stacking wood until we were certain it would last us the night. Drinian then lit the fire with a lantern brought over from the ship.
"Does Percy suffer from panic attacks?" Edmund questioned suddenly.
My face fell instantly. He must have had one while we were on the Lone Islands. I sighed and nodded.
"Ever since he was maybe three or four. I don't know why or what to do about them," I answered slowly, "Caspian and I have tried everything. But he gets so worked up so quickly...They're certainly less frequent now, but when they happen..."
I shook my head. It was horrible watching my baby suffer like that. The fear in his little eyes...
I glanced over to see Percy sitting beside Gael, both of them looking up at the stars. He was pointing upward and gesturing as he spoke. He must be telling her some of the bedtime stories Caspian used to tell him. His professor had taught him loads about astrology, and Caspian had been more than excited to pass on his knowledge to my son.
Eventually, night fell and we all drifted off to sleep. My sleep was dreamless and peaceful. That is until I heard Aslan's voice.
"Lucy! Lucy!" he called out.
I gasped jolting awake. The sun had just barely begun to rise, the sky a pale lavender. For a moment, I simply sat there unsure what had awoken me. But then I looked around our small camp and realized Lucy was missing.
"Caspian!" I gasped hurrying to my feet, "Edmund!"
Both sat up groggily, looking around in confusion. Percy woke up as well accidentally bumping Gael and waking her up too.
"What's wrong, Aewryn?" Caspian questioned rubbing his eyes.
"Lucy's missing!"
That was the key to getting them all up. Everyone leapt to their feet, grabbing their swords.
"Look!" Edmund pointed suddenly.
On the ground all around us were massive footprints. We exchanged worried glances then Caspian and Drinian began to follow the footsteps into the forest.
"Stay close to me," I told Percy and Gael.
Both nodded, Percy gripping his father's sword as Gael grabbed my hand. Our whole company followed the footsteps through the forest for what seemed like forever. Just as the sky was turning blue, we entered what looked like a garden of sorts. I paused as confusion filled me.
"Lucy's dagger," Edmund called out bending down and picking it up.
Suddenly something yanked Caspian's sword from his hands. We all gasped in surprise as all of the crews' swords were snatched. Now the swords floated in the air circling us.
"Who's there?" Percy called out, "Show yourselves!"
"We are invisible!" a voice called from my left.
"Invisible? What sort of creatures are you?" Caspian questioned.
"Fearsome beasts!"
"Yes! Terrifying!"
"If you could see us, you'd cry!"
I blinked in confusion looking to Edmund. He shrugged.
"We have the head of a tiger!"
"And the body of- of-"
"Another tiger!"
"Yes! Another tiger!"
At this point, I was beginning to wonder if these so called 'beasts' were even remotely competent. The light began to shift near one of the swords. My brow furrowed as I watched it. It warped then a strange creature came into view. Or should I say two strange creatures. One was holding the sword and the other was holding the first one up.
"Best keep away!" the one with the sword warned.
"Or what?" Edmund questioned raising an eyebrow.
"I'll claw you," another voice answered as two more of the creatures became visible, "With my sharp claws!"
"Yeah!"
"Yes!"
"That's right!"
"And I'll run my tufts right through you!" one said appearing in front of Caspian.
"And I'll gnash you with my teeth!"
By now, all of the creatures had appeared. I held back a laugh realizing they were as ridiculous looking as they sounded. All of us were now smiling as we realized these creatures were far from what they described themselves to be. They reminded me of dwarves with their long beards and wispy hair. But their bottom half was not quite the same. Instead of two legs, they had one trunk of a leg attached to a massive hairy foot.
"Oh, and I suppose you'll crush us with your fat bellies," Caspian teased smirking.
"Yes!" the one in front of him cried then frowned, his bushy brow furrowing, "Wait- no. Huh?"
"Yes and you'll kick us perhaps?" Percy laughed.
They all began to look around and down at themselves. They then gasped realizing they were no longer invisible. One lost his balance and toppled down from the two holding him up. Edmund immediately walked toward him glaring.
"What have you done with my sister, you little pipsqueak?" he questioned sharply, leveling his sword with the creature's throat.
"Now calm down," the creature stammered.
"You'd better tell him!" another cried looking fearful.
"In the mansion," he answered.
"What mansion?" Gael asked.
A flash of light shown to one side. We all turned as a grand mansion began to appear in the midst of the garden. It was marvelous! Our awed silence was broken by a rather infuriating voice.
"You know I'm really getting tired of you lot just leaving me plac-" Eustace paused mid sentence as he exited the bushes.
The creatures began to chortle and grin.
"The pig!"
"The pig is back!"
They laughed. I couldn't help but laugh. Eustace was too shocked to take offense however.
"This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder," he grumbled moving to join the rest of us.
Lucy and a man appeared walking toward us. I let out a small breath of relief glad to see she was safe.
"Oppressor!" the creatures cried jumping around, "The Oppressor!"
"Lucy," Edmund breathed smiling.
The man bowed to us.
"Your Majesties," he greeted.
"Caspian, Edmund, Aewryn, and Percy," Lucy listed off our names, nodding to each of us in turn.
I smiled warmly at the man who gazed at us all in awe.
"This is Coriakin," she continued, "This is his island."
"That's what he thinks!" one of the creatures interrupted.
We all frowned looking back at them as they pushed their way to the front.
"You have wronged us, Magician," the ringleader stated.
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"That's right!"
"Wronged us!"
Coriakin shook his head walking toward them. "I have not wronged you. I made you invisible for your own protection."
"Protection? That's oppressive!"
"Oppressor!"
"Oppressor!"
"Oppressor!"
I frowned shaking my head at them. They were absolutely ridiculous!
"Would you quit it? All of you," I snapped putting my hands on my hips, "This is utter nonsense! He saved your lives and in turn, you act like spoiled, bratty children. You should be ashamed of yourselves."
They seemed surprised by my words. All of them froze and stared at me blinking. They then looked at one another in question. Edmund chuckled shaking his head.
"Alright off with you lot," I huffed waving them away, "Shoo!"
They grumbled in irritation but hopped away finally. I shook my head as we watched them leave, bounding over the topiary.
"What are those things?" Eustace asked.
"Dufflepuds," Coriakin answered with a smile.
"Oh, but of course, silly me," the boy huffed rolling his eyes.
Coriakin led us inside his mansion and explained the situation with the green mist. Apparently, a great evil was truly behind the mist. One known as Dark Island. Showing us into his magnificent study, he revealed a map that showed the island itself.
"It can take on any form," he warned, "It can make your darkest dreams come true. It seeks to corrupt all goodness and steal the very light from this world."
"How can we stop it?" Percy asked.
Coriakin turned to him with a solemn expression. "You must break its spell."
He then pointed to Edmund's sword. "There are six others. You must follow the blue star to Ramandu's island. The seven swords must be laid at Aslan's Table. Only then will their true magical power be released. Beware, you are all about to be tested. Until you have laid the seven swords at Aslan's Table, evil will have the upper hand."
A chill ran down my spine as his eyes briefly met mine. A silent understanding passed between the two of us. This evil was far greater in power than anything I'd ever faced, and these trials must not be taken lightly.
"It will do everything in its power to tempt you," he continued now looking to Lucy, "Be strong. Don't fall into temptation. To defeat the darkness out there, you must defeat the darkness inside yourself."
With that chilling last word, we left the mansion and returned to the beach. Little talking occurred on the short passage back to the boat, everyone contemplating his words. That night before bed, Gael and Percy sat with me in my room finally getting to ask all the questions they had from the day. I merely answered as best I could, smiling lightly at their curiosity.
"Mother," Percy called after a lull in the torrent of questions.
"Yes?" I hummed as I redid Gael's braid.
"Do you think he'll redo the spell?" he asked, "To hide the Dufflepods? Even though they dislike it?"
"Most likely," I nodded, "Until we can put an end to the Green Mist, they will have to stay in hiding for their own safety. Hopefully, they will better understand why now."
He nodded slowly. I finished Gael's hair and we walked her back to her and Lucy's room. Lucy was not in there yet so I tucked Gael in.
"You remind me of my mother," she said softly.
My face softened as I looked down at her.
"We will find a way to get her back," I told her gently, stroking her hair, "I promise."
She yawned nodding.
"I trust you," she murmured sleepily.
I smiled and kissed her head before leaving the room. Percy was fast asleep against the wall. I chuckled to myself shaking my head. Luckily Edmund had just walked below deck. He raised an eyebrow seeing me standing there with an amused smile on my face. I pointed to Percy. He chuckled seeing the boy.
"Would you like me to get him?" he asked.
"If you can, yes," I nodded with a grateful smile.
"Don't worry about him. I've got it. Go ahead and get some rest," he replied.
"Alright," I agreed, "Goodnight Edmund."
"Goodnight Aewryn."