Edmund struggled to keep on his feet as the ship was tossed violently across the rolling waves. His mind was numb with exhaustion, and after hours upon hours of howling wind and crashing waves the storm showed no signs of subsiding. Edmund could tell the crew was every bit as tired and downhearted as he himself was, and even taking shifts battling the sea was too much for his frazzled crew.

Rain fell above Edmund's head in sheets, soaking the deck and drenching its occupants. His light, summer clothing seemed suddenly inadequate against the cold bite in the wind. Edmund shivered as he and several other members of the crew pulled hard at the sail ropes, attempting to secure them to the mast. His muscles strained against the pull of the ropes, his arms beginning to ache.

A flash of lightning filled the sky and Edmund heard scream followed by a shout of surprise. Edmund looked towards the ship's wheel where the scream had come from and saw the ship's Captain lying on deck while the wheel spun wildly. Edmund dropped the taut rope in his hands and ran towards the wheel as fast as his unsteady legs could carry him. In a matter of seconds he reached the prone Captain, kneeling down and feeling for a pulse while making sure his head was clear of the spinning wheel. The Captain's face was slack and pale, and the ends of his hair were dark and singed even in the pouring rain around them. The Captain has been struck by lightning.

Edmund shivered, not with the gripping cold that surrounded him, but with fear and dread. Slowly, cautiously, Edmund straitened to a stand after closing the eyes of his dead Captain. He looked up at the swirling sky above as he braced himself and took hold of the ship's wheel. His arms, strained by the pull of the ship screamed in agony as he fought to steady the bulk of the vessel.

Never in all his life had Edmund seen anything like it. If he was only observing the storm and not experiencing its blunt terrors he would have called it almost beautiful. The sky was dark, but the terrifying black of the stormy sky was made magnificent with streaks of scarlet and deep purple among them. The contrast of colors nearly took his breath away, and he fought to regain his concentration as he shouted orders to his crew.

"Secure the sails!" He cried, raising his voice above the howling wind.

The hurried to do his bidding; ever obedient, even with the threat of death to the rolling sea hanging low over their heads. The sight of them – loyal no matter what – stirred in him courage and inspiration he didn't know he possessed. It would be an honor to die alongside such people.

Edmund had no more time for thinking, it was a time to do or die.

Hours passed as Edmund and his crew fought the storm that longed to claim their small ship. Edmund remained at the wheel through it all and his crew, though tired and downhearted, fought for their ship with every bit of strength in their bodies. They would not go down without a fight.

In the middle of all the confusion, in the midst of all the noise, a voice was suddenly louder than the storm itself.

"A break in the clouds," Said one of the crew. "The storm is coming to an end!"

A cry of celebration went up around the deck as every weary sailor voice was heard proclaiming their salvation. Edmund looked to the sky, searching for the cause of their new hope. There, on the edge of the horizon, a patch of blue sky could be seen against the fierceness of the storm. At first, Edmund couldn't believe his eyes; the sight looked almost too good to be true.

The grin that Edmund felt beginning to stretch his face was wiped clean, jerked from his features as the ship's movement was stopped abruptly, a final lurch shook it to its core before it settled, stilled in the churning waves around it.

The lurch had thrown Edmund off his feet and sent him sprawling across the saturated deck. He'd heard scream of surprise as men were thrown overboard or sent careening into thin air. Edmund himself barely escaped being thrown overboard as well, and slowly struggled to raise himself from the ground, his hands and feet slipping on the deck's wet surface.

Edmund heard members of his crew calling out to each other, and heard a voice call out to him.

"King Edmund! King Edmund are you well?"

The wind had calmed down around them, another sure sign that the storm was reaching an end, and with the wind no longer raging, he could clearly hear his comrade's voice.

"Over here friend!" He replied, raising himself to his full height to be seen better.

The voice calling him belonged to Anvard, the ship's first mate, an honest and loyal faun. Anvard looked up in Edmund's direction and relief filled his eyes, spilling over to his features as his shoulders relaxed some and he began to make his way in his King's direction. On the deck below, those of the crew who'd escaped harm were coming together to assess the damage.

Edmund was finishing his quick scan of the crew when Anvard made it to his side.

"Thank Aslan you are safe my King." Said the faun with sincerity, pausing for a moment then continuing.

"We've run aground sire, and while lives have been lost, most of the crew has survived. What are your orders Highness?"

Edmund walked to the side of the ship and surveyed the damage before replying. Though in no immediate danger, the ship was securely pinned between two large rocks and would not be freed by any mean feet. The ship was doomed to be crushed the rocks and waves, there was no other option.

"Tell the crew to abandon ship, there's no saving it now. Ready the escape boats and make a list of those who are still accounted for."

Edmund suddenly remembered Lucy, tucked away in the safety of their cabin beneath the deck.

"I'll go to her Highness, Queen Lucy and bring her above deck when we're ready to abandon ship."

Anvard nodded, bowing slightly before turned to do his King's bidding. Edmund didn't pause, but followed him to the lower deck and walking down towards the entrance to the hold. Water from the deck escaped into the opening below as Edmund began his decent downward. The hold looked disastrous; cargo littered the area around him, boxes and crates that hadn't been tied down were strewn around the room. Edmund shook his head as he continued towards Lucy's room.

Edmund stopped suddenly, his face paling. The door to Lucy's room was wide open, and Lucy was nowhere to be found.