Announcement:
I could not decide how to end this final chapter. I went back and forth several times, so I hope you enjoy my final decision. For those of you who stayed with me for Analeigh and Caspian's entire journey, thank you! And for those of you who are simply dropping by, thanks!
Chapter 7
The crew of the Fiery Wind sailed for what felt like forever but was actually about three weeks
before they reached the Dark Island, where they were told they would find the pirates they had been
hunting. No one had to wonder for long before a large, black ship with blood red sails emerged around
the island, heading straight towards them.
"We've been spotted!" The lookout shouted.
"Men, battle stations!" Analeigh shouted, drawing her sword.
Kade appeared by her side, his sword drawn as well. "What's the plan, Captain?"
"Take the ship's wheel and do what I say."
"Ay." Kade resheathed his sword and took the wheel as ordered.
Caspian was still on deck, sword drawn, trying to run with the flow of the crew, pulling ropes
and manning cannons. The enemy ship was still approaching but had not fired as of yet. Analeigh found
this somewhat suspicious but did not lower her guard. Silently, the crew of the Fiery Wind waited for a
signal from their captain. "Steady, men…" Without any fire, the enemy ship pulled next to the Fiery
Wind. A wooden plank fell between the two ships, and one of the crew members of the other ship
began to cross. "Hold your fire!" The pirate said in a language Caspian could actually understand. "What
do you want?" Analeigh demanded, stepping onto the deck. A chilling smile appeared on the pirate's
face as he raised his hand in the air and shouted, "And welcome your death!"
The enemy pirate ship took this signal and swung across the gap onto the Fiery Wind. Canons
fired, metal clashed, and several men screamed as they fell off the ship. "Kade! Full speed ahead! Head
towards the mouth of the island!" Analeigh instructed after stabbing one of the enemy pirates in the
thigh. Even though he did not understand why she wanted to corner them in the cave, Kade followed
orders and climbed onto the mast, ducking and dodging swords and fists. Once on the mast, he
relinquished on of the sails, praying the wind would carry them.
Aslan was indeed on their side today. A fierce wind blew, propelling them forward towards Dark
Island. The plan between the two ships fell, and the enemy captain could be heard shouting orders to
follow. Since her last experience with these pirates, their crew had apparently doubled in size,
outnumbering the Fiery Wind's crew. However, only a handful of men had crossed onto the Fiery Wind,
giving Analeigh's pirates a temporary upper hand. A loud boom sounded behind them followed by a
plunk in the water. Cannon fire.
"Kade, watch her!"
"Ay, Captain!" Kade quickly scurried back to the wheel, taking hold and veering her to the left,
heading towards the mouth of the cave.
As the Fiery Wind tried to dodge the cannon fire, Analeigh's crew successfully eliminated all of
the enemy pirates who had infiltrated their ship. "Good job, men!" She shouted. "You have all fought
valiantly. I must warn you, what we face next will be our hardest challenge of all. We will enter the
mouth of that cave, sail into her waters, then we will do our best to lure the enemy to follow us. Once
we leave the cave, we will turn about and fire will all that we have. Are you with me?"
The entire crew roared with their swords above their heads, siding with their captain. Finally,
Kade understood what in the world was going on through Analeigh's mind. Just as she instructed, the
Fiery Wind followed Analeigh's plan and to their joy, the enemy pirate ship followed. However, what the
crew had not expected, there was another enemy ship inside the cave of Dark Island. "Stay to the course,
Kade!"
The second enemy ship did not fire cannon balls like the previous ship. Instead, the crew had
been hiding in the water and were now throwing their grappling hooks onto the side of the Fiery Wind
and climbing aboard. Analeigh's crew tried to cut all of the ropes but there were so many of them.
Analeigh was now standing near Kade, trying to analyze the situation. Unfortunately, with all of the
clatter and cries of the fight below, she did not hear the enemy pirate scale the boat behind her. After
striking an enemy down, Caspian glanced at Analeigh, seeing the pirate behind her. Trying to warn her,
he shouted, "Analeigh, look out!"
Both Kade and Analeigh were too slow to react to Caspian's cry. The enemy pirate drove his
blade into Analeigh's stomach. As she fell to the floor, Kade dug his own sword into the enemy's heart.
"Analeigh, Analeigh… are you alright?" The first enemy ship had entered the cave, catching Kade's
attention. Caspian left the fight on the deck, running towards Analeigh and Kade.
"Take the wheel, Kade! We'll crash!"
Reluctantly, he left Analeigh's side, letting Caspian take over, and took the wheel, jerking the
ship around a rock. Analeigh was bleeding heavily and having trouble breathing. Taking her hand in his,
Caspian tried to comfort her. "It's going to be alright, Analeigh. You're going to be okay… I promise."
Tears were welling in his eyes as he said this, feeling the fear of losing her grip at his heart.
Fear. That was it! Caspian recalled his journey with the Pevensies last time he was at the Dark
Island. Closing his eyes, he thought of the sea monster that Edmund had accidentally summoned last
time. "Kade, get us out of her. Around the rock and out the mouth. Hurry!" Caspian shouted, watching
as a few rocks began to sink under the water. A large sea monster, just like before, emerged from the
water, screaming at the enemy pirate ship that had been hiding in the cave. Thankfully, the monster
stayed distracted with those pirates and let the Fiery Wind pass without a second glance.
Aslan must have truly been with them in that grim hour, for the crew of the Fiery Wind not only
escaped the sea monster but evaded the original pirate ship they had been hunting all of this time. Once
they were a fair distance away, the island started to sink, baffling the entire crew. "What happened?"
"Where did the monster come from?" "Is the enemy still among us?"
"Quiet!" Kade exclaimed. Now that they were no longer in imminent danger, he left the wheel
and returned to Analeigh's side. Somehow, after the island sank, her wound had disappeared as well.
This place was most definitely full of mystery and magic. Slowly, Analeigh, with the help of Caspian and
Kade, stood on her feet and addressed the crew. "Men, you have made me proud today. Let us sail,
home!"
One Month Later
After their adventures on the Fiery Wind, Caspian, Analeigh, and Kade all returned to Cair
Paravel, against Kade's wishes of course. No matter how much he protested, Analeigh remained with
Caspian, and a week after their return, Caspian proposed the Analeigh, who happily accepted. Kade left after the wedding and occasionally sends letters to Analeigh, always trying to convince her to join his
new crew. Caspian and Analeigh sailed together many times after that and had many more adventures
together. Forever reminded of how their love was found and blossomed on the Narnian seas.
The End
