Chapter one
The Dawn treader, the finest ship in all of Narnia was finally out in the open and in the beginning of a new journey, a new adventure. The men on board joked around and had a really good day, this first day on the sea. Everywhere you could hear laughs and on some places even singing. Of course, the strong men never stopped doing what they're there to do. They all had their own tasks to deal with, but now on this first day, the tasks was not yet ready to be done.
The sun was setting in the horizon and it was like the water was on fire, The king, Caspian X, walked from his room and looked out of his men and he had to smile for himself. He had bin on a good mood before he walked out to see all the happiness that was among his people but now it was shooting to the roof. He smiled when he saw a swords duel between two men and he cheered them on. As he looked over the strong sailors he then saw her and he smiled even bigger. After a year of being married to this beautiful woman, he still felt the butterflies in his stomach and sometimes he had to hide his face when he blushed of something she had told him, sometimes just from a look she gave him.
As he walked over the ship to get to her, he studied her long hair, curvy with the same colour as honey with the same softness as silk. It was now dancing from the soft breeze. He looked at her dress, the deep red colour made her beautiful hair become more alive. She turned around, looking at him, as if she felt his stare, and when she smiled his heart skipped a beat. The magic that she held over him was so much stronger than anything he had ever felt before.
"Hello, my king" she said in her soft voice as she leaned in against his chest and gave him a small kiss on the lips. "It's beautiful outside, don't you think so?" she said and turned her eyes towards the water again.
"Yeah" he breathed out, never turning away his attention from her. She looked back up at him and some hair flew before her eyes, which he smoothly took away. Her eyes had the same warm colour as her hair, and they were so full of love for the strong man that stood next to her.
"Everything is so perfect now. A part of me really wish that we could just stay like this forever. With the sea surrounding us and the companionship we all feel here on the Dawn treader. It almost breaks my heart when I finally realise that we are here on a mission, in a way it takes away the beauty from everything" She said this in a small voice and the last statement almost came out in a whisper. Caspian, who had felt the same thing as her more than one time since they got on this fine ship not too long ago, gave her a smile that was saved just for her.
"It is a long journey to the Lone Island, we have yet many beautiful nights like this to enjoy" They stood there silent for a minute or two, then Caspian started talking again.
"Arya, do not worry about the future. There is a chance that this journey is going to be hard, but in the end everything will be as wonderful as we can possibly make it. There is no doubt in my mind that we one day are going to sit outside in the grass, watching our grandchildren running around in the big garden outside the castle"
She smiled at the last statement.
"This is a life I never thought I would have. Thank you" she turned her face up to the king and looked into his dark eyes. "I never worry when you are by my side, love. For a long time I dreamt of a home and you gave me one. My home is where you are. Lets just get to the Lone island as fast as possible, let us find the lords and let us start our forever that are waiting for us"
"Our forever has already started" Caspian said, almost moved to tears by what she'd said. His sweet Arya.
The days that followed was just as joyful as the first day. Arya helped the men when needed. If an outsider could see her they never would have guessed that she was their queen. The dress she now wore was not at same high standard the red one had it was a simple dress in a light shade of brown, decorated with pearls from her home country, and her long hair was set wild on her head, ruffled by the wind. At this moment the sun was set high on the blue sky and Arya had taken a break from the shores she had put on herself. She was now standing on the front of the ship with the noble little mouse Reepicheep.
"What are you thinking about, young queen?" the mouse said in a gentle voice to the girl who stood beside him. They had talked about old adventures and all of the sudden she had forgot the time and place and got lost in her own thoughts. She turned her head towards the mouse when she heard his voice and she gave him a small smile.
"I just remembered one time when I was back home, long before Caspian and his men entered my country. I was on the sea, in a ship less beautiful than this, but with the same beautiful sea surrounding us. I do not remember the reason for us being on the open water, this was the time when my people had to stay away from everyone, to stay in hiding. Anyway, me and my father was enjoying ourselves with old stories, just like us two are doing now. It seems like a lifetime away" she let out a sigh at the last sentence and Reepicheep chuckled.
"Yes, my queen. I too have memories a lot like this one, but I must say – if you do not mind – that this particular day is one of the best memories of this sort"
"I am honored" she gave him a bigger smile. She was about to say something else when she saw something unexpected.
"There's people in the water!" she yelled and turned around to the men behind her. They all reacted fast and they ran to the side to see what she was yelling for. They started to work fast and some of them jumped in to help the poor people. She saw that her brave king was one of them. She ran to the side with the others and she saw the strangers struggling with keeping themselves over the surface. She did not have to worry for long, she could see the men getting to them and help them up on the ship.
Caspian stood with his arm around the youngest queen from the old days, Lucy the valiant and they walked towards Arya as he put a blanket around her shoulders, and holding another one in his arms. He smiled to his wife that now stood beside Lord Drinian, who waited eagerly to meet the new passengers.
"That was thrilling" Lucy smiled at the king as they walked by each other.
"Yeah" Caspian chuckled. "How in the world did you end up here?"
"I have no idea"
They were not far away from the waiting queen when Caspian heard someone call his name. When he turned around he saw the youngest king of the old. Edmund the just. He got a big smile on his face, yet again, and turned around to greet his old friend.
"It's great to see you" Edmund said in a cheerful voice as Caspian put the spare blanket around the young kings shoulders.
"It's good to see you too"
The three of them was now walking beside each other and then Lucy remembered something.
"Did you not call for us?"
Caspian shook his head "No. Not this time"
The newcomers did not look to sad about the fact that they had shown up in Narnia for no reason at all this time, and Edmund got an even bigger smile on his face.
"Well, whatever the case is, I am so happy to be here again"
When he said this Arya walked over to the three of them, more nervous than she had bin in a long time. She had heard them talking and even though she'd always wanted to meet the old kings and queens, she did not know now how to respond to them. When she got to them Caspian put his arms around her shoulders and both Lucy and Edmund looked questionable at her. The brave king Caspian was about to introduce them to his loving wife when a loud scream made them turn their attention elsewhere.
On the other side of the ship a young boy lay on his back, pushing away Reepicheep from his chest. His high voice was echoing all over the big boat and some of the men laughed quietly to themselves. Caspian looked down at Arya with raised eyebrows and then turned the attention back to the screaming boy.
"Get off me, get off me! Get that thing off me!" he was not strong this young boy, but the brave little mouse still flew a bit before rolling around to stand on his feet again.
"Reepicheep" the youngest queen shrieked with joy in her voice. The mouse turned his back and when he recognised the children he gave them a bow.
"Your majesties"
"Hello Reep" this time it was Edmund who spoked. "What a pleasure"
"Well, the pleasure is all mine, sir. But first, what to do with this.. this.. hysterical interloper?"
Arya looked over at the boy again, who now stood on his knees, pointing at Reepicheep.
"That giant thing just tried to scratch my face off!"
"I was merely trying to expel the water from your lungs" Reepicheep interjected. This chocked the boy beyond belief and Arya had to let out a laugh.
"It talked. Did you see? Did anyone just heard that? He just talked!"
Arya spoke out loud for the first time since the new people had arrived on her temporary home. "He always talk"
Caspian chuckled beside her and continued what she had started. "Actually, it is getting him to shut up that is the problem"
"The moment that there is nothing to be said, your highness, I promise you, I will not say it" Reepicheep said with a honourable hand gesture to Caspian, who smiled back at his noble friend. The boy with the high pitched voice continued to scream at the people around him and now he was so angry that he even stomped his foot against the floor. Arya tried not to listen to his complaints and when she looked around the men and the young queen, she saw that everyone found this entertaining.
"Maybe we should throw him back into the water?" she asked and winked at the other two, smiling wide at the same time so that they would understand that it was only a joke. Edmund on the other hand looked serious for a moment, as he was thinking if that was an option they could take. Lucy, of course, put her elbow in his side, disagreeing to my suggestion. Arya smiled and looked over at the panicked boy again who now was walking around the men, screaming.
"I demand to know where the bloody hell I am!" he screamed and when he turned around a big centaur was standing there, answering his question.
"You're on the Dawn treader, the finest ship in Narnia" Tavros face was priceless when the boy fell on to the ground. "Was it something I said?" he asked, looking surprised.
Caspian walked over to him, looking at the boy than back up at Tavros. "See to him will you" He then walked over to his wife and the other king and queen. This time, he did not put his arm around Arya, but instead walked over to the stairs so that everyone could see him.
"Men, behold our castaways: Edmund the Just, and Lucy the Valiant. High King and Queen of Narnia." All the people aboard went down to their knees to greet the majesties and Arya was one of them. When they rose again Arya spoked.
"Well, you should get some dry clothes on. Come with me and we will see if something is in your size"
"You are so much taller than me, these dresses look ridiculous on me" Lucy said with a sigh as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was right, Arya noted when she walked beside her.
"They should have bin some sizes smaller. It is too bad, this blue colour is beautiful against your skin" she smiled down at the small girl and walked away again to bring something else to her. "I am sorry, all my dresses has the same size. I am afraid that something of Caspian will suit you better, your majesty"
Lucy chuckled "Please, call me Lucy. It feels wrong that you of all people would call me your majesty when you yourself is the queen of Narnia"
"If you say so" Arya answered while handing Lucy a pair of pants and a big shirt. "These are also a little to big, but if you put the pants down in your boots and tuck your shirt inside your pants than you'll be fine"
They fell into silence for a moment while Lucy got dressed and Arya walked over to the window, watching the waves from the ship disappear into nothing but foam. Once again she got lost in her own thoughts when she heard Lucy talk to her.
"Arya, are you listening to me?"
The queen turned around with an apologetic smile on her face.
"I am sorry, my thoughts were taking me elsewhere. What were you saying?"
"I just asked you where you and Caspian first met? I do not recall seeing you in his castle after he got back his throne after Miraz"
"You did not see me there for I am not from his country" she answered. "My past is a long story which we should not talk about now. Caspian and your brother must be waiting for us" she started to lead the way out but then stopped and smiled down at Lucy. "But I promise you, that when the time is ready I will tell you everything about my past. Caspian once told me that you are very fond of magic so perhaps you will enjoy this"
Lucy's eyes grew big. "There is magic? I cannot wait to hear this"
Arya laughed a laugh similar to an angels, at least in Lucy's ears. Together they walked out of the room with the big bed and just outside Caspian and Edmund were waiting for them.
"Oh" Caspian said, looking surprised. "Have you seen a little girl, I am sure she was here a moment ago" Lucy's face got bright red from embarrassment and Caspian chuckled. "I am just teasing you, Lucy"
The company laughed at her scoff and Caspian opened a door with the others close behind.