OK guys! If you're here, you must think this sounds marginally interesting, so thanks for being here! I really love this story, and my OC, and of corse Caspian (Ben Barnes) yum… anyway. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
"Caspian look there! In the water just off the bow of the ship!"
Amelia watched him run to the side and lean over.
"Drinian!" he shouted. "Get them out!"
Caspian launched himself over the edge of the ship, landing in the water in a perfect dive. Drinian and another man were not far behind. Amelia looked back to the three people who had appeared in the water out of nowhere. One was screaming about something called England. Caspian reached the girl and when she turned around, Amelia watched her smile. The boy not screaming smiled too. They all swam back to the ship. Well all but the screaming one. He seemed to be fighting with Drinian.
Amelia watched from her place high above the deck as Caspian, the girl, Drinian and the two boys were brought aboard. She was perched atop the sail when Caspian looked up for her. She gave him a half smile and took hold of the rope tied loosely around the mast. She leaned forward and easily slid down the rope to the ground right behind the still screaming boy. He was yelling about how Reepicheep had tried to claw his face off.
"I was merely trying to expel the water from your lungs, sir," Reep said simply.
The boys face drained of what color was left.
"Did you hear that? It talked!" he practically shouted pointing an accusatory finger at the mouse.
"He always talks," Amelia said making the boy spin and stare at her with wide eyes.
"Actually it's getting him to shut up that's the trick," Caspian said with a smile.
"The moment there is nothing to be said, your highness, I promise you, I will not say it," Reep said defensively.
"I don't know what kind of prank this is, but I want to wake up right now!" the boy shouted hysterically.
"Perhaps we could throw him back?" Reep suggested.
Amelia glanced up at the two who were with him. The boy seemed to be thinking about it.
"Edmund!" the girl said in a scolding tone.
By now the other boy was crying and screaming.
"I demand to know just where in the blazes am I?" the boy screamed.
"You're on the Dawn Treader. The finest ship in the Royal Navy," explained Tavros.
The boy promptly fell over, unconscious. All the men laughed except poor Tavros. He looked shocked the boy had feinted. He looked around confused as Caspian walked over.
"Was it something I said?" he asked.
Caspian laughed.
"See to him will you?" Caspian asked.
Tavros nodded as Caspian jogged up to the stairs and went about halfway up.
"Men!" he yelled getting the attention of everyone. "Behold our castaways. Edmund the just and Lucy the valiant. High king and queen of Narnia."
Amelia snickered at Lucy's half curtsy, but followed suit and bowed before them. They smiled as the crew stood up.
"Alright back to work!" Drinian yelled from the wheel.
The crew hurried back to what they were doing while Amelia stepped forward.
"My friends," Caspian said stepping to Edmund and Lucy's side. "This is Amelia. She has been my friend for a long time."
She shook Edmund's hand and inclined her head to Lucy.
"If by a long time you mean three years, then yes, we have been friends for a while," she said.
"Where did you meet?" Lucy asked.
"I was working in a sword smith shop when Caspian met me. He asked me to make a sword for him. Little did I know, he was just testing me," she said smiling at the King.
"But I kept it didn't I?" he asked smiling.
"Yeah yeah."
"And what do I always tell you about that sword?" he asked.
"It's your favorite," she said with a slight smile.
"And?" Caspian probed.
"And you won't go anywhere without it," she said.
"Exactly," he said patting the sword at his hip.
"Now you two go change and meet me back here," Caspian said to Edmund and Lucy. "Edmund come with me, and Amelia, will you take Lucy and get her some clothes?"
Amelia nodded and turned toward the hatch. She opened it and dropped down into the lower deck. She turned and helped Lucy down then led her to the bow where there were hammocks strung up in the rafters.
"Is this where you sleep?" Lucy asked as she dodged a sleeping mans arm.
"It is," Amelia said climbing up to her hammock.
She reached above her hammock where a nail was holding an extra shirt, belt and pants. She tossed them down to the youngest Pevensie sibling. She caught them and held the shirt up to her.
"It might be a little big," Amelia said leaping down from her hammock. "I'm quite a bit taller than you."
"I'm sure it will be just perfect," Lucy said happily.
She turned and began to change. Amelia sat on the bottom hammock and waited.
"Oh these feel much better," Lucy said smiling when she got the pants on. "They feel like home. Besides this is the first time I haven't been in a dress. I enjoy it."
Amelia smiled.
"I know what you mean. I have never worn a dress and I don't plan to. Ever. You mean you didn't have better clothes when you sat on the throne at Care Paravelle?"
"The crowns never fit my head properly," she answered turning and spinning in front of Amelia. She smiled and stood. She handed Lucy a long vest and led her back upstairs where they met Edmund and Caspian heading toward the Captains quarters. They entered the large room at the stern with Caspian first then the King and Queen then Amelia bringing up the rear.
The room had a warm golden glow because of the setting sun. Amelia immediately liked it. Lucy instantly went to the 3D image of the great golden lion and reverently touched it.
"Aslan," she whispered.
Amelia rolled her eyes and leaned against the closed doors with her arms crossed and one foot resting against the door. Edmund marveled at the painting of them and their sister and brother on the left wall.
"Look," Lucy said. "Susan's bow and arrows."
She touched the red feathers gently.
"Lucy."
She turned and saw Caspian hold out a box to her.
"My healing cordial. And dagger!" she said joyfully crossing the room only to stop. "Oh may I?" she asked Caspian.
"Of course. They are yours," he said with a laugh.
"Peter's sword," Edmund said spying it against the wall.
Amelia had always thought it was a big, heavy, gaudy thing, but everyone else seemed to like it especially Edmund it seemed.
"Here hold it if you wish," Caspian offered.
"No, no," Edmund said, although Amelia could see the lust in his eyes. "It's yours. Peter gave it to you."
Caspian seemed relieved Edmund hadn't touched it.
"I did save you this though," he said as he tossed Edmund his 'torch.'
Edmund looked less than excited. Just then, Drinian came in and Caspian unrolled a map on the desk.
"Since you left us, the giants of the north have surrendered unconditionally, and we defeated the Caliman armys at the great desert. There's peace across all of Narnia."
"Peace?" Edmund said sounding rather disappointed.
"In just three years," Caspian said his voice like velvet.
"And have you found yourself a queen in those three years?" Lucy asked with a twinkle in her eyes.
Amelia stiffened while she waited for his answer. He half smiled and said, "No. Not one to compare with your sister."
Amelia bristled and left the room quietly. No one noticed but Lucy. Amelia jogged to the other side of the ship and took hold of the rigging. She pulled herself up the mast until she reached the top of the sail. She sat with her back against the mast thinking until she was shaken from her thoughts by a certain mouse.
"Up here again? I swear, if you could you wouldn't come down," he said.
She shrugged.
"What is the matter?" Reepicheep asked.
"I'm just thinking," she said quietly.
She glanced over her shoulder as Caspian, Drinian, Edmund and Lucy came out of the Captain's quarters.
"Ahh I see," Reep said nodding.
"What do you see?" she asked looking at him curiously.
"I can see what you want. With the King?"
Amelia growled and stood. She stepped over him and walked to the end of the mast.
"It's nothing to be ashamed over darling," he said hopping up behind her.
"I don't feel anything for him Reep," she said, trying and failing to sound sincere.
Reepicheep nodded slowly.
"Why not talk to him?"
Amelia sighed.
"I can't. He hasn't noticed how I feel for three years. What makes you think he wants to now?"
"Men are rather stupid," Reep said simply.
Amelia turned and raised an eyebrow.
"Are you calling the King stupid?" she asked.
"Of course I'm not," Reep said with a whip of his tail. "All I'm saying is- Well most men are."
He nodded and hopped off leaving Amelia to shake her head. Suddenly she heard the clang of swords and realized there was a duel happening on deck. Always happy to join in on swordplay she wound a rope around her wrist and swung to the ground. Edmund and Caspian were testing their abilities with a sword. She stood up on the edge holding the rigging watching.
Edmund was on the offensive pushing Caspian back. Caspian took aim to cut off his head, but Edmund leaned away from it stopping for a second to re-evaluate his target. He swung down on Caspian, but he blocked it and forced Edmund into a spin that almost took out Caspian's knees. He jumped back only to block another of Edmund's attacks. Amelia let a half smile cross her face. Edmund was better than he looked. Caspian made a move for Edmund's head again, but he ducked. Caspian was then forced to block two more blows from the High King then Edmund aimed for a blow to Caspian's head. He ducked then parried forward. His blow was caught by Edmund's extended sword. Caspian spun around, pushing Edmund's sword toward his neck. Edmund spun the swords back the other way and ended the fight with the sword pressed against Caspian's torso. Although the winner was unclear because Caspian had his sword against Edmund's neck.
"You've grown stronger my friend!" Caspian said enthusiastically to Edmund.
"It seems I have," he answered.
Amelia smiled at how out of breath he was.
"No one on this ship can beat Caspian," she said jumping down from the rail.
Edmund and Caspian turned around and she put her hand out to Edmund.
"No one but me."
Edmund laughed nervously.
"Well I didn't beat him. Not really," he said.
"You, Edmund Pevensi are a worthy opponent," she said with a grin.
"Well thank you," he said, color rushing to his cheeks.
Drinian yelled for everyone to get back to work and Caspian rushed off to deal with something so Edmund went to sit by his sister. Amelia followed and stepped up onto the railing. She turned and sat gracefully with one foot propped up on the barrels.
"Edmund," Lucy addressed him. "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 are a long way from there," her brother assured her.
"I see your still talking nonsense the two of you," came a voice.
The three turned to see Eustace coming out of the hatch and dusting himself off.
"Are you feeling better?" Lucy asked leaning around Edmund to look at him.
"Yes no thanks to you," he barked. "Its lucky I have an iron constitution."
"As effervescent as ever I see," Reep said hopping down from the rigging onto the bucket. "Find your sea legs?"
"Never lost 'em," was his quick reply. "Simply dealing with the shock of things. Mother says I have an acute disposition. Due to my intelligence."
At the last statement, Edmund nearly choked on his water.
"I don't think he has a cute anything," Reep said looking up at Lucy.
"I'll have you know as soon as I find civilization, I'm contacting the British consult and having you all arrested for kidnapping!" he shouted as he walked off.
"Kidnapping is it?" Caspian asked as Eustace bounced off of his chest. "Funny, I thought we saved your life."
"You held me against my will!" he said loudly.
"HA!" was Reep's reply.
"Did I?" Caspian asked crossing his arms and smiling in amusement.
"In one of the most unhygienic quarters! It's like a… like a zoo down there!"
"He's quite the complainer isn't he?" Reep asked.
"He's just getting warmed up," Edmund said.
"You sound like you have heard this a thousand times," Amelia said smiling.
"Oh we have," Lucy assured her.
Suddenly the man in the crow's nest yelled.
"Land hoe!"
Caspian jogged up the stairs and Amelia went straight for the rigging. She crawled up the rope so fast Reepicheep had a hard time keeping up. She stood atop the mast and shadowed her eyes from the setting sun.
"That's it Reep. The Loan Islands."
"I haven't been here in years," the mouse mused.
"Last time I was here, I was twelve," Amelia said fighting back the memories.
Reep glanced up at her, but realized now may not be the best time to talk about it. After a few more minutes looking at it with her human eyes, she decided she wanted to see it better. She swung down the rigging and hit the deck. She jogged up to the top deck where Caspian, Drinian and Edmund were looking through a glass.
"Strange," Caspian was saying as he handed the glass to her. "There's not a Narnian flag in sight."
Amelia looked quickly and couldn't see anything either so she handed the glass to Edmund.
"But the Lone Islands have always been Narnia's," Edmund said.
"It seems suspicious," Drinian remarked.
"I say we prepare a landing party," Edmund said. "Drinian?"
"Forgive me your majesty, but the chain of command starts with King Caspian on this ship."
"Right," Edmund said stunned.
Amelia tried to judge his reaction. He seemed taken aback by the lack of authority he had on the ship.
"We'll use long boats. Drinian, pick some men and come ashore," Caspian ordered.
"Ay ay," Drinian said.
They all went to the boats and Tavros yelled directions to everyone. As they waited for the boats to be ready, Caspian appeared behind Amelia.
"You can stay on board if you wish," he said.
She turned green eyes on him.
"I'll be fine," she said with a nod.
"But you don't have to be," he said putting a hand on her shoulder.
She smiled and touched his shoulder.
"I'm alright. I promise."
He nodded and kissed her cheek.
"Alright then. Let's go."
She smiled then let out a small sigh.
Once they were on the shores of the Loan Islands, the feeling in the pit of her stomach seemed to go away a little. As Reepicheep jumped off the boat, insisting on being the first one ashore, Eustace began complaining.
"Couldn't this have waited until the morning?"
"There is no honor in turning away from adventure, Lad," Reep said sounding exasperated.
"Listen," Lucy said hushing the argument. "Where is everyone?"
"Come on jelly legs," Reep said offering Eustace his paw.
"I'm quite capable of doing it myself," he said waving a hand at the mouse only to fall on his face and hurt his leg.
Reep sighed and gave up on the boy.
"And your certain he's related by blood?" Caspian asked Lucy.
They walked off the dock onto land looking up at the large walls of the town. Everything was calm and quiet. Almost too quiet. There were no animal or people sounds. No birds, or goats or sheep. All was still. Amelia didn't like it and drew her sword. It instantly caught Edmund's eye. He couldn't help but stare at it.
It was as long as Peter's sword, but the whole thing was curved. The strange shape started at the hilt and curved up slightly then arched back down to about three inches from the tip where it abruptly went up. The hilt was a deep brown leather and it was about one third of the length itself. There was a metal flourish to separate the grips for both hands. The cross-guard had the same strange arch with the blade following it down. The blade seemed to be held on by a few pieces of leather and metal straps. Amelia caught him staring.
"When we get back to the ship, I'll let you have a close look," she said to him.
He looked away sheepishly but smiled. Suddenly the bell in the bell tower clanged. If their swords weren't drawn yet, they all had them out when the harsh noise broke the silence. Caspian slowly raised his crossbow, but when nothing else happened, he lowered it and began to move toward the city.
"Reepicheep, stay with Drinian's men and secure the area. We will continue on. If we don't return before dawn, send a party," he instructed.
"Yes your Majesty," Reep said hopping off the wall and scampering back to the boats.
Alright guys, tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is always appreciated, and if you have any, please use your profile, so I can talk to you and you can help me out. Thanks so much!
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