Chapter 3: Journeys are never easy

We had already been on this ship for two weeks and there was still no sign of land. Edmund had been brooding, as per usual, but he was happy again at being back in Narnia. "So Reep what do you know of Aslan's kingdom?" I questioned him, he smiled at me. I had been bugging him continuously for more knowledge about this. He chuckled, "that it is a kingdom at the edge of the Earth, a home for noble warriors and leaders of Narnia. I hope one day that I'll earn the right to live there" Reep informed me.

"So Aslan hasn't been sighted since we left?" I questioned him and he shook his head. "No your majesty, he staid for a day or two after to ensure Narnia be run smoothly then disappeared into the night." Reep told me. I frowned but nodded, he must have come to me that night then and to take Emma.

With the time difference in Narnia, only three years had passed. Would Emma be three then? Or did time past differently in Aslan's realm, would she still be only a baby? Would we get the opporutunity to stay in Narnia with her and raise her here? Or is she already an adult and doesn't need us anymore? So many questions kept me up at night that I found it too difficult to sleep. I was often found either on deck or in Edmund's hammock with him when he woke up in the mornings.

"Don't worry Jenna, we will find her" Caspian assured me. I smiled at him. "Thanks Caspian" I told him looking back out to the ocean the sun was setting casting a red/gold glow over the water. "Something else is bothering you" Caspian noticed, I looked over at him and sighed. "I wonder what she looks like, how old is she, and when we do find her. If she'll want anything to do with me and Edmund. Especially if she is already grown" I told him. I felt bad for talking to Caspian about this. But so relieved at the same time, I couldn't talk to Edmund about this.

He had completely shut down to the topic of Emma since that day in the hospital, after I had that dream. Every time Emma's name was mentioned he'd stiffen and leave the room. I hadn't really known before how deeply it hurt Edmund to have a child then they be taken away. Caspian squeezed my hand. "I'm sure no matter how old she is she'll be as beautiful as her mother and on the second matter I can speak from experience no matter how old a child is they'll need their parents" he assured me. I smiled squeezing his hand back.

We hadn't noticed Edmund standing not far behind us. "Jenna" he called, I looked over at him and smiled at him letting go of Caspian's hand and wrapping Edmund in a hug. He hugged me back, "it's time for bed sweetie" he said softly. I nodded, only for "land ho!" to be called out. We looked over following the pointed finger, and smiled at seeing the land not that far ahead of us.

It was a relief to see that island Drinian walked over to us. Edmund took the telescope taking the leader role. "We should prepare the long boats, take a look around. Drinian" Edmund said looking at the captain. He exchanged a look with Caspian before saying. "With all do respect your majesty orders on this ship start with King Caspian" he said. My eyes narrowed, jaw tightening at Drinian's words. "Excuse me?" I snapped as Edmund stiffened at the insult.

Drinian's eyes landed on me, I opened my mouth to tell that bastard off when Caspian cut me off cooling the air between us. "Drinian go prepare the long boats, a small team will go exploring" he said. Drinian nodded before disappearing. "I'd like to see him tell Aslan that!" I growled furious. Edmund nodded his agreement, his arm tightening around me before leading me towards the longboats. And here I thought all the tension between us had passed the last time we were here.

Apparently not.

Reaching the island we climbed out, Reep offering to help Eustace out but of course he refused and nearly busted his face on the ground. "Are you sure he is related by blood?" Caspian questioned, Edmund gave him a look. Caspian sighed, "Most unfortunate" he commented keeping an arrow ready as we started climbing up the stairs. Reep and a small party staying with the boats, while Caspian, and the Pevensie family explored.

We froze as a large church bell rang. Caspian and I immediately turned our arrows at it. Searching the windows for the figure of a person. Nothing. "Stay close" Edmund whispered to me and I nodded. "Let's check out that church first" I commented walking ahead, Caspian quickened his pace to stay in front. If there was anyone here they'd be in that church. It wasn't a coincidence that, that bell rang. "It could be a trap" Caspian said as we stood outside the door. "And there's only one way to spring it" I told him pushing the door open. "Jenna!" Caspian growled, Edmund stepped around him making sure to cover my back as we walked into the room. Lucy followed and regretfully so did Caspian, Eustace guarding the door.

Our eyes scanning the room only to not find anyone, "What's this?" Lucy questioned, looking over she was standing in front of a book as it were. I walked up behind her to see a list of names that were crossed out with numbers next to them. I furrowed my eyebrows before I gasped. "Slave traders" I growled. Edmund growled too while Lucy glared. This was all to familiar of a situation. "How could you allow this?" I growled as Caspian. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Narnia hasn't visited the lone islands since your reign! I haven't had a chance to correct it yet!" Caspian defended, "You better" I growled only to hear the shouts of men sliding down on ropes around us. Brandishing swords.

I quickly took aim and fired my arrows trying to kill as many of them as possible. There was no way in hell I was going to go back into slavery. I smiled at seeing Edmund expertly taking down as many slave traders that dared approach him. Quickly falling back into all the battle experience we've collected over our Narnian years.

"AH!" Did Lucy just scream? Looking over Lucy was fine, but Eustace had a knife to his throat. Wow he screamed like a girl! "Put your weapons down or I'll kill him right here" the man growled. "Don't do us any favors" Edmund muttered making me snicker. Lucy hit him on his side. He rolled his eyes at her only for Eustace to start whining again. I growled only to get grabbed from behind. Edmund quickly turned around his sword at the ready only to get over powered.

The man's arms wrapped around my stomach lifting me up off my feet after he knocked my bow out of my hand. My arrows falling to the ground. I screamed throwing my head backwards trying to hit the guy in the face. "Jenna!" Edmund shouted, but Lucy was also captured. I struggled against the man only to get shouted at. "Keep struggling and we'll kill that little girl right there" The man growled, Lucy gasped at a knife being pressed into her neck. "Lucy!" Edmund and I all shouted.

The man holding me chuckled, "I hope you know that I'm really going to enjoy killing you" I growled as Lucy, Eustace and I were dragged out of the church and into some prison cells. Caspian and Edmund were thrown into one that was opposite of us. "Are you all right?" Edmund questioned and I nodded, "you?" I questioned Lucy, she rubbed her neck but nodded. "Yeah you guys?" She questioned the boys and they nodded.

"Oh don't even ask if I'm all right!" Eustace whined, "Well if you'd pay attention in Reep's lessons none of this would have happened!" I snapped at him. He glared at me, crossing his arms and looking away from me. "Don't worry we'll figure this out" Edmund said only for him and Caspian to try to kick down their cell door. Lucy and I exchanged smiles. That so wasn't going to work. Lucy and I sat down on the ground and just watched the boys. After two hours they were pretty exhausted.