Disclaimer: See first entry of story.

Chapter 3

Susan quit beating on the door after the ship suddenly pitched up in the air. She rolled into the wall, and after hitting her head she dizzily lay there turning over and over in her mind

everyone of Lucy's ''stories'' she could remember from lazy days gone by when they stayed with the Professor in the English country side, and slightly after when they were back and

forth to boarding school each day. "I don't EVER remember her railing about snake creatures? Where in blazes did they come from?" The battle raged on around her for a long while,

and then gradually faded into silence.

A little while later Drinian came down to fetch her. "Caspian said I was to let you out now, said he'd hope your head had cleared a little. Has it, miss?"

"Oh it's more so cloudy now, actually. I hit my head against the wall awhile back, and it knocked me silly! So silly, in fact, I'm starting to think that this might not be a dream after

all. Because in all of Lucy's silly games that I can remember, she NEVER said anything about giant snakes attacking sailors!"

Drinian raised an eyebrow, "Well, she wouldn't have told you about them, ma'am, because they only started coming after she left Narnia last. I haven't had the time to explain it to you

myself. Got my charts to look after and chores to do, but Caspian wanted to speak to you anyway, so I'll let him explain ." Susan was lead on deck to where Caspian stood talking to

Gallaren who was at the helm. "The way I see it, she'll bring more with her when she returns," he was saying, "After all, last time she brought only one more besides her, and this time

she's brought two. What could that mean?"

"I don't know, sire, but I surely hope you're wrong! Three giant snakes is enough to contend with, in my personal opinion!"

"I agree!" Caspian said turning to face Susan. "Hello, has your head cleared any since I saw you last? Been to that dance yet?" he laughed.

"None of Lucy's play-pretend stories EVER had 30 ft. fire-breathing snakes in them! Where on earth did they come from?"

"Ah, I suppose it has then, since you're using your wit again just like the Susan I remember! Well, Lucy wouldn't have told you about said fire-breathers because they started coming

about a week or so after she, Edmund, and Eustace left Narnia. You see, Drinian and I were sailing around the Isles of Bad Dreams and Mist shortly after it had been cleansed, making

sure none that had been on the island were left behind, lest they be left there forever {for we were planning on returning home}. While we were sailing there we saw a green flash on

the mountain, and we went ashore to investigate. What we found was a sort of parliament between a witch-queen and her servants. They were planning to sneak and steal the

throne of Narnia while I, {the King of Narnia if you remember} was still abroad. We returned early that morning with a surprise attack, and for 5 or 6 months {to be honest, I have

completely lost count] since then we've been chasing her back and forth between these remote islands, while some of our party return to the capital to inform our forces of her plans. If

she ever does, Aslan-forbid, slip through our grasp we want them to be ready!"

Susan blinked at him stupidly. "Oh, I see, the snake is trying to take over the world."

"Yes, pretty much."

"And you're trying to stop her?"

"Yes, now you're catching on."

"That's brilliant! Just the sort of thing Lucy would have come up with!" Now it was Caspian's turn to blink stupidly, "What? You mean you think Lucy made all of those things up?"

"But of course, they're absurd!"

"So...you mean you've completely dismissed everything and everyone you've ever encountered here. Even...Aslan?" the thought of that was more absurd to him than talking lions and

dictator snakes was to her.

"Well, yes..."

Caspian wailed, "So this is the reason for all the horrible dreams I've been having about you?" He was distraught. "Well, um, I didn't know about any dreams..." she said not knowing

what to do. He leaned his head against the forecastle's wall in despair. "Aslan help us! What are we going to do with you?" The situation was becoming very awkward. Gallaren was

trying to steer, but he ,too, was utterly appalled at the thought that anyone could dismiss Aslan.

Drinian came up just then and tapped Caspian on the shoulder. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything, sir, but you said you wanted to speak with me when I had a moment.

"Oh?" Caspian said looking up wearily, "Oh, yes, right! This way then!" he said opening the forecastle door and quickly shutting it again when they were inside, leaning against it in

exhaustion. "Did you hear what she said? She's renounced the faith...she's.. dismissed Aslan!"

"What? how could anyone, 'specially one of the King's and Queen's of old, dismiss Aslan?"

"You tell me?" He leaned against the door for a long time in exasperation. "Oh now I remember what I wanted to ask you! Sit down, Drinian, what I'm about to ask you is not easy. I've

dreaded it for a long time..." Puzzled, Drinian sat down, and Caspian took an ancient book and laid it on the table. "Twice today, Drinian, keep in mind twice, I have come within less

than an inch's distance from death. That's got me to thinking, what on earth would my people do if death or serious injury were to suddenly befall me? The thought has left me sick, for,

having no family to make the decision of an heir for me and having yet trained no one to take my place in case of emergency, my kingdom would be left in total chaos! Now, I have been

talking with Aslan about this for a long while, and he has instructed me to choose and train for myself a suitable heir for the case of emergency. I can find none more suitable, nor more

trustworthy than you, Drinian. Yes, what I'm asking you is to do me the great honor of becoming my crisis-heir!"

Drinian, of course, was speechless. "Well, I'm deeply flattered, sir, ah.. but I'm not king material!"

Caspian laughed, "Neither was I! No, Aslan Himself recommended you, Drinian, and so it's either you, or no one." Drinian couldn't stand the thought of something happening to his

king. Why, he'd become like a little brother to him! But he couldn't stand the thought of him being sick with needless worry either. "I'd be honored, sire!"

"Oh I'm so glad you've agreed to it! Everyone else thought you'd make a good king too! I even took a vote amongst the crew; everyone voted for you!"

"You-you what?"

"I'm sorry! I know it wasn't entirely fair, since I hadn't asked you yet. But I had hoped that if I couldn't convince you, they would..." So he had given this a lot of thought. Drinian

admired his wisdom in preparing for the possibility of accidental death, but the thought troubled him immensely.

"Good, now that's done, you needn't trouble yourself about it anymore!"

"Oh I need to, yet, and I MEAN too. I still haven't trained you, remember?"

"Oh yes, right.."

"There's not much to learn, really. Your experience as a ship's captain has taught you enough about leadership, and you've been in my company long enough to understand the

mechanics of it all. No, all I'll have to show you is how to properly sign things into law. Good, we'll start tomorrow! Thank you very, very much, Drinian, you may go now if you like!"

"Yes, sire..." He left with a sickening feeling of dread in his stomach. What if something did happen to Caspian? He tried very hard not to think about it.

Please R and R!