And I am going to go ahead and post the second chapter! Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
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Krista clung to the rope as her and Caspian were lifted up the side of the grandest ship she had ever hoped to lay eyes on. It was sleek and beautiful. A golden sea serpent adorned the vessel with a purple sail cast almost grandly behind it. The golden crest of Caspian's family stuck out almost brightly against the rich plum color and the sight was almost so blindingly breathtaking that she was tempted to shield her eyes.
"Krista, is that you?"
The familiar tone of Edmund's voice filled the red head's ears as she looked up to see the familiar faces of the Pevensies. "Edmund!"
"Krista!"
Krista jerked her head and her eyes landed on Lucy who was being wrapped in a thick-looking blanket by none other than Jami. "Lucy and Jami?"
The girls grinned at the sight of Krista before hurrying to Edmund's side, waiting for her to join them on the ship. "Careful. Easy does it." Caspian placed his hand on the small of her back and Krista couldn't help but jerk slightly from the touch. Ever since that day she had shared that kiss with him, she had dreamt of seeing him again.
But she wasn't expecting this.
"How on earth did you get here?" Jami asked as Krista shakily stepped onto the wooden floor.
"That...is an excellent question." Krista smiled shyly as a blanket was handed to her. She nodded gratefully at the minotaur before wrapping it around her soaked form.
"Honestly, how did we all get here?" Lucy asked before Caspian caught her eye. "Did you call us?"
Krista looked to Caspian, secretly wondering if he missed her as much as she had missed him. He looked from her to Lucy and back again before shaking his head as he told her, "Not this time."
"Who cares?" Edmund asked, stepping particularly close to Jami. "I'm just glad to be back."
A shrill scream made the ship's passengers jolt before they all looked behind them to see what looked to be a chubby brat curled up in a corner. Krista tilted her head slightly at the sight of him. His hair was plastered to his forehead, much like hers and her friends', but his squinty eyes, chubby cheeks, and thin lips in the shape of an "O" reminded her of a baby when they were in the middle of a temper tantrum. "Who's the twerp?" she asked as Lucy and Edmund shared a perfectly timed grimace.
"Eustace."
"Now, calm down, sir." The familiar voice of Reepicheep brought a small smile to Krista's lips as the mouse approached Eustace with a calm air.
"Get this thing away from me!" Eustace's screechy voice sent a chill down Krista's spine before she straightened at the sight of Eustace attempting to kick Reepicheep.
"Now, look here," Jami quickly stepped forward with her arms crossed and wild hair falling in her brilliantly bright eyes. "There will be none of that on this ship. You don't respect those around you, then you can go back in the water."
Eustace looked from her to his cousins in confusion before turning his nose up in disgust. "Never mind a silly girl telling me what to do."
"Excuse me?" Jami's voice rose as she quickly grabbed his shirt and hauled him to his feet.
"Someone's gotten a little bit more outspoken since we last saw her." Lucy commented as Edmund rushed forward to calm Caspian's sister.
"Your majesties, dare I ask what we do about this hysterical interloper?" Reepicheep's voice broke their slightly hushed conversation and the girls cast their gazes to the floor.
"Can we follow Jami's idea? It's a good one." Krista grinned at the thought of tossing the whiney thing overboard.
"He's...our cousin." Lucy tried to explain. The words were almost too painful to speak.
"That rat thing just tried to claw my face off!" Eustace argued with Jami, catching their attention once more.
"Oh, I was merely trying to expel the water from your lungs, sir." Reepicheep explained.
Eustace's eyes grew to the size of saucers as he pushed Jami away from himself and into Edmund. "Did-Did you just see? It talked! Please, did anyone hear that? It just talked!"
Another sailor grinned as he said, "He always talks."
"Actually, it's getting him to shut up that's the trick." Caspian added with an amused smirk.
"I don't know what kind of prank this is, but I want to wake up! Right now!"
"Jeez, he's turning as red as my hair." Krista muttered.
"Perhaps we could throw him back?" Reepicheep asked, wondering if it was possible for Lucy to change her mind.
"No." Lucy shook her head just as Eustace stomped through the crowd, screaming at the top of his lungs once again.
"I demand to know, where in the blue blazes am I?"
"The Dawn Treader." Caspian's and Jami's voices rang together as they shared a look.
It was then the minotaur stepped up behind Eustace and added, "The finest ship in Narnia's navy." Eustace looked over his shoulder, the bellow of the mighty beast making him tremble all over. But it wasn't the voice that finally made Eustace slip into a much needed faint, but rather the beast's appearance as it towered over the frightened boy. The minotaur couldn't help but look around in confusion as Caspian chuckled. He then asked his captain, "Was it something I said?"
Jami hid a smile behind her hand as she spoke up and said, "See to him, will you?"
Caspian grinned at his sister before he ran to the stairs and hopped on them. "Men, behold our castaways." Edmund joined Lucy's and Krista's sides as the king continued to say, "Edmund the Just, Lucy the Valiant...high King and Queen of Narnia. Along with them is Narnia's faithful friend, Krista...close friend of your king."
It was almost simultaneous, the way everyone moved to their knees and bowed to the King and Queen of Old. Krista felt a small blush rise to her cheeks, knowing this treatment was not for "Narnia's faithful friend", but rather for its rulers. She let out a small sigh and looked back at Caspian. They all had a lot of catching up to do.
-.-.-.-.-.-
Caspian opened the doors to his study, several thoughts running through his head as he looked back at his friends who were now all properly dried and dressed. "Wow..." The small word escaped Edmund's mouth as he looked around in amazement. The carvings and details were exquisite.
"Aslan." Lucy's eyes immediately landed on the gold carving of her beloved friend. And while both of them looked around at the beauty to take in, Krista couldn't help but find herself standing by the door. "Look," The redhead turned her gaze to follow Lucy as the young girl crossed the room. "Susan's bow and arrows."
"Lucy," Caspian caught her attention and held up the box that contained both her dagger and her healing cordial. A small smile brightened up his face as she grinned with excitement.
"You kept them!"
"But of course."
She reached for them only to find herself hesitating. "May I?"
He laughed and handed her the box. "Of course. They're still yours."
"Peter's sword." Edmund's eyes landed on his brother's grand present from Santa and Jami nodded.
"Yes, Caspian's looked after it as he promised your brother." She earned a smile from Edmund before ducking her head to hide the small rosy blush that was daring to show itself.
"Here, hold it if you wish." Caspian quickly picked it up and held it out to Edmund.
"No, no, it's yours. Peter gave it to you."
Krista noticed the slight disappointment Edmund was trying to mask, but made sure not to comment on it. Instead she watched as Caspian excitedly walked over to another bookcase and said, "I did save this for you though." He pulled out Edmund's torch and tossed it into the waiting hands of the High King.
Edmund let out a small chuckle and nodded in appreciation. "Thanks."
Silence fell on the group before Jami decided it was time to voice her thoughts. "Now, I think it's time we talk about the changes that have occurred since you all were last here."
"Yes!" Caspian walked over to his desk and pulled out a large map, stretching it over the massive piece of wood. He searched for a particular spot on the map and, when he found it, quickly pointed. "Since you left, the Giants of the North surrendered unconditionally..."
"Then we defeated the Calormen armies at the Great Desert." Jami added, pointing to another spot on the map.
"There is peace across all of Narnia."
Lucy beamed at the thought of all Caspian and Jami had accomplished, amazed at the work they had put into their efforts.
"Peace?" Edmund asked, as if he couldn't completely wrap his head around it.
"In just three years." Jami grinned, proud of her accomplishments she's made with her brother.
"And," Lucy tucked her hair behind her ear as she peered up at Caspian. "Have you found yourself a queen in those three years?"
Krista jerked her head up when she heard that question, her crystal gaze staring intently at Caspian as he bowed his own head and let out an awkward laugh followed by a small smile. "Uh-heh...No." He looked back up, his face directed towards Lucy, but his eyes meeting Krista's. "Not one to compare with-"
"Hang on," Edmund interrupted the discussion of romantic interests as he turned his attention to Jami. "If there are no wars to fight, why are we here?"
"It's a good question."
Caspian nodded, agreeing with his sister as he added, "I've been asking myself the same thing."
"So where are we sailing to?" Edmund asked, knowing that was the best answer he would get from either sibling.
"Before we took back the throne from our uncle...he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters."
"The seven lords of Telmar." Jami stood by her brother's side and gestured to the sketches behind him as they all focused on the faces she and Caspian were hunting for.
"Jami knows more about their history than I do so I'll let her explain." Caspian stepped to the side and around Edmund and Lucy before making his way to Krista. "May I speak with you?" he asked with a hushed voice as Jami started her story.
"They fled to the Lone Islands. No one's heard from them since, but we wish to fix that small problem."
Edmund spoke up as Krista looked at Caspian and played with the sleeves of her shirt. "I-Caspian..."
"Come with me." He grabbed her hand and they quickly and quietly slipped out of the room. Walking down the hall, they approached a massive door that creaked as Caspian opened it. Inside were similar paintings and details that had been in Caspian's study, except in here there was a bed to go along with a few bookcases.
"Your bedroom?" Krista asked as she arched an eyebrow.
"Ignore the room. I just..." He turned to face her and couldn't stop the grin that formed on his face. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her as tightly as he could. "I missed you, Krista." He whispered the words into her hair as if they were a secret she couldn't share with anyone else.
Krista exhaled in relief as she rested her head on Caspian's chest. He had changed since they last saw each other. He was taller...more built. And he decided he needed a bit of scruff for his face. She had always wondered... "I missed you too, Caspian." she whispered, closing her eyes as she took in the moment.
"Not this time."
Those words hit her in the gut like the trees that had attacked the Telmarines so long ago. She pushed Caspian away and tucked her hair behind her ears. "But you didn't call us."
"The horn wouldn't work unless I was in need of your help." Caspian reminded her. "And it seems you haven't seen the Pevensies in as long of a time as I have. The horn only calls on them."
Krista sighed, knowing he was right, but wondering if he really did miss her. "So...you still haven't found a queen?" She asked, biting her lip as she walked to one of the paintings on the wall and traced the details.
"No, I have."
Another blow to her gut. Krista spun around, clearly confused and hurt as she asked, "Then why did you just lie to Lucy? Why did you bring me in here? You didn't seriously-Oh Aslan, you did. I-I am not that kind of girl, Caspian!" She stormed over to him and pushed his chest, knocking him into the wall closest to him.
But Caspian couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. He had forgotten how quick she was to jump from one thought to the other and how easy it could be to set her off. "Krista, calm down. You know better than to think I'm that sort of man."
"Who knows? I haven't seen you in a long time. For all I know you could be wooing girls to bed all the time. It wouldn't be a new thing for your family to be conniving, little-"
"Hey now," Caspian grabbed her wrists and pulled her towards him. She squeaked in surprise as they stood, pressed chest-to-chest, and tried quickly to control her breathing. "Krista, do not think I am that sort of man." He let go of one of her hands and tucked stray strands of her soft hair behind her ear again. "When I said I haven't found a Queen yet, it was because the only girl I wanted wasn't one I could have with me." He smiled as he searched her face and her now free hand fell to her side. He traced her jaw with his thumb and said, "I've been waiting for you to come back to me, Krista. That's all I've been waiting for."
"Caspian..." The words she had been meaning to say flew from her mind as easily as the Dawn Treader sailed the seas. "I..." She found herself leaning into him and him bowing his head slightly as their eyes began to drift shut. "We..."
"We can now." He whispered, his lips barely brushing hers as he let go of her other wrist and wrapped his arms loosely around her waist. "Just let us."
Krista leaned closer to him, wanting to continue from where they had left off the last time she was in his arms like this. But then it dawned on her.
It had been three years.
"Whoa now!" Krista jerked back, stumbling in her boots as she tried to find her balance. Now out of Caspian's arms, she urgently made as much space as she could between the two of them. "That was...That was s-something."
Caspian looked like a lost puppy as he stared at her with a loss for words. "This is the second time you've managed to do this." He reminded her as his thoughts drifted to that night on his roof. He remembered what she had looked like in that dress...remembered how close she had been to him and how she had almost answered "yes" to his question. What in the world had stopped her from answering him?
"Do I need to make a third?" she asked, interrupting his train of thought. Krista quickly turned her head so her hair would hide the dark red blush she knew would be from the top of her forehead to the base of her neck. "Do I need to remind you that it has been three years for you? Three? That is...a long time."
"But it could've been longer."
"And it could've been shorter." Krista reminded him, trying to steady her breathing. When she finally felt somewhat calm, she faced him and dared to speak again. "Caspian, it's been three years. You've grown up and I have too. You're a king now. I'm supposed to be picking a husband back home. Our lives are different now than they were when we first met. When we first met I was a girl looking for an adventure-"
"And I was a lost prince in need of hope."
"You gave me an adventure, Caspian."
"And you gave me hope."
"But we don't know if this," She gestured between the two of them. "Is real. We don't know if it means anything or if that is all we were. A hopeless prince and an adventurous girl who just got lucky."
"And what if you being here is supposed to be our second chance? Krista, I asked you to be my Queen then and I'll repeat the question if I must."
Krista hesitated. Queen...That was an awfully big title for someone as small and unimportant as her. She needed proof...She was the one who needed hope this time. Looking at him, her eyes softened and she hugged herself and she told him, "If this is our second chance then prove it to me."
That was her last word on the matter. Turning away from him, she silently walked out of the room and shut the door behind her. She refused to give him another glance or even spare a moment to hear what he had to say. She could be so infuriating at times! Caspian groaned and fell onto his bed, covering his face with his arms. Bringing peace to Narnia wasn't nearly as confusing as bringing Krista back to Narnia. He just wondered what it had been that had interrupted their moment those three years ago.
"Where sky and sea meet," a soft voice sang, "Where the waves grow ever sweet...doubt not, you Reepicheep. To find all that you seek there is the Utter East. Doubt not-"
The sound of Reepicheep's singing filled Caspian's ears as his mind finally recalled the mouse's interruption on their important discussion. "Yes," Caspian mumbled, "It is definitely shutting him up that's the trick."