So this is where the plot is sort of introduced and the goal at hand. Not much to say about this bit, just read it and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Syrena, all rights go to C.S. Lewis, the genius who blessed the world with his beautiful stories :)
Below deck there were hammocks hanging from every inch of ceiling space possible, each with a thin blanket hastily thrown across. In one corner, crates of extra supplies were stacked neatly. There were mops and buckets leaning against one wall, incase of a leak in the ship. On the opposite side of the hatch they came through, there were three doors; one led to a room filled with more crates, this time filled with fruit and dried meats and barrels of water and wine. Strings of onions and garlic hung from the rafters, and baskets of breads covered with cloth lined the shelves. The other two doors led to private quarters; the largest, and definitely grandest door most likely led to Caspian's private quarters.
"Basically, out here is where the crew sleeps. As you may have guessed," Syrena said, pointing out the various hammocks in which men were sleeping away peacefully, "there isn't enough space down here for everyone. So they switch off; some work during the day and sleep at night, and others work at night and sleep during the day. It works out pretty well." She moved soundlessly across the damp wooden floors, the soft tapping of her leather boots hardly making a sound. Stopping in front of the first door, she gestured to Lucy.
"This is where you'll be staying," and she opened the doors. Lucy saw a bed, a large chest and wardrobe, a mirror and a small table with two chairs occupied most of the room. She was pleasantly surprised that her room had a window, through which she could see the sea outside. The décor in the room was tasteful; pictures of fauns and other Narnian creatures lined the walls. There was also a small fireplace, with a golden plaque of Aslan's face on the hearth. "There are some of my clothes in the wardrobe; feel free to choose whatever you like."
"Is this your room then? I really can't take it-" Lucy asked, turning towards Syrena.
The girl smiled. "I am offering it to you; besides, I prefer watching the stars to sleeping any night," and she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Lucy looked around, feeling slightly awkward at having just unintentionally kicking Syrena out of her room. But, she chose not to feel guilty, for it had been an offer to her, and instead when to the wardrobe to change out of her damp clothes which had already begun to smell thick with sea salt.
After Lucy and Edmund had changed, Caspian came below to great them. Lucy had changed into a loose white shirt and blue pants with a brown belt; her hair had been tied back from her face to allow for drying. Syrena's boots had all been too small for her feet, so she went barefoot. Edmund was wearing a light blue shirt and tan pants, with a pair of Caspian's dark boots. "All dry now, I see?" Caspian noted. "Good, we have a few things to discuss."
Drinian, the captain of the ship, came down from the ladder and warmly greeted Lucy and Edmund, and Caspian led them to his study. He opened the double doors, and Lucy couldn't help but gasp. The room was beautiful! Every inch was either covered in wood or glass, and most of the finish in the room was painted red or gold. There was a large table in the center, covered in maps and little models of ships, bottles of ink and quills and rolls of parchment. A large window that opened up onto a sort of private deck that overlooked the water behind them. Edmund had never forgotten how much attention and detail the Narnian builders put into everything.
"Beautiful, isn't it? There's never been a finer ship, never a finer," said Drinian, noticing how the Pevensies were looking around with awe. "We had them draw plans based on ships made during your Golden Age-"
Syrena cleared her throat. "Caspian, you mentioned we had business…"
"Right, yes! Well, I'm sure you would like to know how Narnia is faring these days," he said with an odd voice, as though having just been woken out of a strange dream. Edmund, Lucy, Syrena and Drinian stood around him, looking down upon a map of Narnia and the surrounding lands. "Since you left, the giants to the North have surrendered unconditionally, and we defeated the Calormen army of the great desert. There's peace all across Narnia."
"Peace?" Edmund asked incredulously.
"Yes, for three years exactly."
"And have you found yourself a Queen in those three years?" Lucy asked. Caspian glanced up at her with a smile.
"No, not one that can compare with your sister," he replied with a smile. Lucy grinned.
Edmund stared back down at the map, then at Caspian. "Hang on, so if there are no wars to fight, then why are we here?"
"That's a good question," Caspian admitted. "I've been asking myself the same thing."
"Where are we sailing to?" Edmund asked, looking down at the map.
"Before I took back the throne from my uncle, he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters." He then turned around to a board that was covered in sketches of seven men. "The seven lords of Telmar." turning back to the map Caspian pointed to the Lone Islands. "They fled to the Lone Islands. No one's heard from them since."
Edmund noticed when Syrena drifted away from the table and stood by the sketches of the Lord. Her eyes bore into the face of one in particular, an aging man with a kind, handsome face.
"So you think something has happened to them?" he asked, turning back to Caspian.
"I hope not, but if so, it's my duty to find out," Caspian replied. He also noticed Syrena staring at the picture. "They were forced to leave much behind…"
"What's East of the Lone Islands then?" Lucy asked.
"No one knows," Syrena said. She was heading back for the table. "Anything East to the Lone Islands is uncharted waters."
"Things you can barely imagine; tales of sea serpents and worse," Drinian said.
"Sea serpents?" Lucy hated snakes of any kind, land dwelling or otherwise.
"The point is," Caspian interrupted, "we plan on heading East as far as we can to try and find the Lords and bring them home, or…at least find out what happened to them."
Reepicheep was on the dragon's head of the ship, singing
"Where sky and water meet,Where the waves grow ever sweetDoubt not you ReepicheepTo find all that you seekThere is the Outer EastDoubt not-"
"That's pretty." Lucy interrupted from behind him, causing the poor mouse to jump up, scared out of his wits.
"Oh, thank you." Reepicheep said after calming down, making his way over to Lucy. "A dryad sang it to me when I was just a mouseling. I can't define the meaning, but I've never forgotten the words."
"What do you suppose is past the Lone Islands, Reep?" Lucy asked him.
"I've been told the furthest East one can sail is to the end of the world. Aslan's Country."
"Do you really believe there's such a place?"
"Well, we have nothing if not belief." Reepicheep said with the upmost faith. Then spotting Syrena walking across the deck, he said, "Syrena once believed she dreamt of it; I've asked her what it was like, but she could never remember. I suppose she simply does not wish to speak of it."
"Do you think you could actually sail there?"
"There is only one way to find out. I only hope I can one day earn the right to see it." Reepicheep turned back to gaze at the horizon, climbing back onto the head of the dragon, and Lucy leaned over the edge to watch the water flowing gently past.
Ooooo, plot thickens. I will go into more detail about the Lords, mostly one in particular, and about Syrena's nightmares in the next couple of chapters. Please read and review! That shiny button is just waiting to be pressed :)
