I know the last one was short. This one's a bit longer.

The Water is Wide

Chapter 3

Daughter of Eve

I opened my eyes slowly, bracing myself against the harsh light, but the light was dim not bright. I looked up at an intricately carved ceiling, not a sky of clouds. I was laying on a bed, soft and lush, not the hard, wet wood of a latch door. I tried to move, but my body was stiff and pain shot through me. A moan escaped my lips.

"She's awake," a delicate voice said softly from my left.

I heard the thud of boots on a wooden floor and soon after the sound of a door opening. I pushed through my pain and turned my head to see. I saw a young girl standing at the door. Her blonde hair was tied back with a piece of leather string and she was wearing a man's breeches. She was speaking to someone just outside the door. I only knew it was a girl by her slight curves, accentuated by a belt around her waist, and by her light voice; a boy of the same age would already have the voice of manhood.

"Send for my brother and Salinus," she said. "The girl has awoken." She closed the door and turned back towards me; I didn't have time to look away.

"Oh! Hullo. It's nice to see you awake. My name's Lucy; what's yours?"

I didn't answer her. I don't know why. I merely looked at her. It was rude and improper perhaps, but I couldn't seem to help it. Her face was kind and genuine, and when I didn't answer, her worry was sincere.

"Are you all right? I mean…can you hear me? Do you understand me?"

Again I didn't answer her, this time however, it was because we were joined by two other bodies. I say "bodies" and not "people" because one of them, the second to enter, was not a person at all. He was a Faun. A Narnian Faun. The first body to enter was clearly a young man. He had dark hair and dark eyes, and he immediately went to stand next to the girl. I knew this must be the brother she asked for; for though they had little in common in the way of physical appearance you could see their relation in the air that surrounded them and the way they held themselves.

"She just woke up," the girl, Lucy, said. "She hasn't said anything. I don't know if she just doesn't understand me or if perhaps she can't hear me…" Her voice grew softer as she spoke and she turned her eyes up to her brother.

"Salinus?" the boy said in a questioning manner. The Faun nodded and approached my bedside; his hooves clicked and clacked on the wood.

"My name is Salinus," he said. "I'm a Faun of Narnia. You do not appear to be frightened. Do you know what a Faun is?"

I nodded my head slowly, though it hurt dreadfully to do so.

"Have you seen one of my kind before?"

I nodded again. It had been a long time ago, but I had seen a Faun.

"You can understand us, then?" Lucy asked.

I nodded.

"Daughter of Eve, can you tell us your name?" Salinus asked.

Daughter of Eve. It wasn't the first time I had been called that. The other Faun called me that; it must be a Narnian thing. Lucy, her brother, and Salinus were staring intently at me and I didn't know why, until I recalled that Salinus had asked for my name.

My name…

It was…? It was…?

What was it? Why couldn't I remember it?

"She's scared," Lucy's brother said.

"It's all right now. Calm down, young Daughter. Can you tell us what happened? How did you come to be on the hatch door?" Salinus asked gently.

I searched my mind but again I came up with nothing. There was only an immense blackness. How could I recall that I'd seen a Faun years ago when I was but a small child, but I couldn't recall my own name or what happened? I felt fear and panic begin to grip. My heart began to beat faster inside my chest and tears pricked at my eyes.

"Shh, calm now, clam," Salinus cooed softly. "It's all right, dear Daughter."

But it wasn't all right. I knew that. I knew I should know what happened and it wasn't right that I didn't know. Something was wrong. I opened my mouth to speak, but my throat was dry and sore and no sound would come from it. I felt a pair of fingers at my throat; it was a moment later before I realized they were mine.

"Water, she needs some water."

There was some scrambling before a hand reached under my head and lifted it gently. Then there was a cup to my lips and the sweetest liquid passed over them. It was water, only water, but it was pure and clean. The purest and sweetest water I'd ever tasted and I drank it hungrily.

"Gently now; we must go gently," Salinus said as he pulled the cup back.

"More," I said hoarsely. My voice was strange and foreign to my ears.

"More is it?" Salinus chuckled. "All right, but remember to drink it gently."

Salinus offered me the cup again and I drank. The water slid steadily over my lips and down my throat. It filled me completely and wholly. It was glorious and revitalizing. It called me to life and awoke my senses, and with it I began to feel every bruise and ach my body held. Pain like I had never experienced before flooded my senses. Fire and smoke and a raging storm filled my mind. Images of my Papa and my siblings flashed before my eyes and I began to cry.

"Shh, now, now Daughter. Chew on this; it will help against the pain," Salinus said as he offered me something, but I could not stop crying long enough to see what it was.

"Come, Lucy. I think we should leave now," the boy said.

"What? Why?" Lucy asked.

"She is in a great deal of pain, and I can see that she is frightened. I think she would be more at ease if we left."

"Salinus, what say you?" Lucy asked.

"I believe you brother is very wise. It may be best if you do leave, milady."

"Oh, very well then, but you will keep us informed."

"Of that, you have my solemn oath."

I nodded to Salinus who then turned his attention back to the girl, before quickly ushering Lucy out. I knew Lucy really didn't want to leave, but there was so much fear in the young girl's eyes when she couldn't voice her name. I knew that fear wouldn't subside with us looming over her, and I could not bear to see the fear when there was so little I could do. I had first sent the scouts out hours ago when we found her floating. Now night had fallen and since none of our scouts were night faring birds—we did not think we would need any Owls on our voyage and they had a tendency to be rather pretentious—the searches had come to an end for the day. They had found nothing. One of our Eagles had spotted a Sea Nymph and he had the wits to inform her of the search; she said she would keep an eye out for a new sunken ship and inform us immediately, but nymphs were often flighty and unreliable.

It was a good hour later before Salinus came to my cabin where I sat with Lucy.

"How is she?" Lucy asked before the poor Faun had a chance to say anything.

"She is sleeping and with any luck she will sleep through the night. I have given her a solution which might help that."

"Has she said anything? Does she remember what happened?"

"I am sure Salinus will tell us everything, Lu, if you would but give him the opportunity," I said.

Lucy shot me a look before softening and replying with a sigh, "I'm sorry, master Faun. Please, continue."

"That is quite all right, Your Majesty. I understand your eagerness. I am sure you know that head injuries can be among the foulest injuries to endure. Memory loss can occur quite frequently and be vastly unpredictable. The Daughter did manage to relate some information to me, however.

"Her ship was indeed caught in the storm. One of the masts was struck by lightning and the ship was lost. She…fell into the ocean and nearly drowned. She doesn't recall how she came to be on the hatch door nor how many days she was adrift."

"Well clearly Aslan was with her," Lucy stated.

"Thank you, Salinus. Your service is most appreciated," I said in earnest gratitude.

"There is one other thing she spoke of, Sire," Salinus said rather reluctantly. I was surprised; Salinus was a Faun with few regrets.

"I implore you, master Faun, speak. What news has made you silent?" I asked.

"She…The Daughter has inquired of her family. She says they were on the ship with her, and she wants to know what has become of them. There are three sisters and one brother."

Lucy gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "And what of her parents?" I asked.

"She made no mention of parents, only siblings. It is my suspicion that her parents have already flown this life, or perhaps they were simply not on the ship with her."

"Oh Edmund, please say you have some good news in the way of the search," Lucy said almost desperately.

I said nothing for I knew I had nothing to say which she would like to hear.

"How can that be? Your scouts were out all morning. Surely they must have found something by now!"

"And they are not searching the Great River or the Western Wood! This is the sea, Lucy; its reach is far and wide. There is much out here that has yet to be explored. We know neither where she was going nor from where she came. Our scouts have not known in which direction to search, and they have done the best they can with such limited direction given to them."

Lucy stared at me for a moment, startled, before closing her eyes and nodding. "You are right. I am sorry, Edmund. I didn't mean to sound cross. I know you have done all you can for today," she said as she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I hadn't realized it at the time, but I had risen from my seat during my tirade. I too closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.

"I am sorry as well. It has been a trying afternoon on all our nerves. Some sleep would do us good, I think." Lucy looked out of sorts for the briefest of moments; our newest passenger was sleeping in her bed. "You will sleep here. I'll string a hammock elsewhere."

Lucy nodded. "Thank you."

"Salinus, I think you should find some rest too. I know you're supposed to take a night shift, but considering our lack of movement at the moment, I do not see a problem with letting more men sleep."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will see you in the morning."

I turned to Lucy and placed a hand on her shoulder once we were alone. "We must hold true to the belief that Aslan has sent us to her for a purpose."

"If for no other reason than that one life may be spared," she said hopelessly,

"We do not yet know that her siblings are lost. Tomorrow we will send the scouts out again."

"Maybe we can ask her if she knows where her ship was last. That would give the scouts a heading."

"It would indeed, but most girls do not know how to read a map. I do not think she will be of much help."

"I can read a map."

"You, my sister, are not like most." That earned a small smile from Lucy. "Do try to get some sleep."

"I should be telling you the same."

I shrugged. "I don't sleep half as much as you," I said before walking out.

As I headed to my new sleeping quarters , thoughts of the girl plagued my mind. I knew it was likely she had family, but to learn that she had four siblings missing was more than I anticipated. I knew too well how it felt to not know the whereabouts or the welfare of siblings. I vowed to myself that night, that I would do all I could to help her.

Thank for all the support. See you next week!