Chapter 7
"Caspian Saves the Day Once More"
Lucy awoke the next morning, finding that Marina has already been up, and was staring out the window. Marina turned her way.
"Good morning" she said with a smile.
"Morning" replied Lucy. "How can one look beautiful even after waking up?" she wondered, growing slightly jealous.
"It's quite early. You should probably get more sleep." Marina said in a warm tone.
It was early. The sun hasn't even risen yet.
"You're right. What are you doing up so early?" she asked.
"I tried sleeping. It's impossible with everything going on. You should rest. You need it."
With that, Lucy went back to sleep, and found it easy to drift back into her dreams.
When Lucy retreated back to her slumber, Marina went over by the wall, took a seat, hugged her knees, and began to cry. She kept herself quiet, making sure she wouldn't bother anyone. This is how she usually expressed her grief. How she'd let everything out. Through crying everything out, crying about multiple things. As moments passed, her tears lessened, and she fell asleep, the tears drying on her cheeks.
Edmund awoke moments before, but decided not to move. He could have sworn he heard one of the girls crying. He was sure it wasn't Lucy, for he knew very well she sounded different. It wasn't Annie. He could see her peaceful face, sound asleep from where he laid. So he was pretty sure it was Marina. He wondered why she was crying, but realized their situation.
He remembered last night, and how much he'd enjoyed talking to Annie. She was afraid. He knew that very well. And he was too, but someone needed to comfort her, and it had to be him. She was curious on what it was like years back in Narnia, and so he had to tell her. The memories came back to him, and it brought him to be happy. He liked her. He'd come to learn that now. He loved the way her eyes were big, and round. They were expressive. She was quite shorter than he, but not any less of a person. He loved the way her hair blew across her face when a wind would hit the deck while on board the ship. The way she'd scold Marina after she does something dangerous, or say something foul. She was fun, well-mannered, smart, and so much more things he was yet to learn of.
Marina woke up about an hour after, and saw that everyone else was awake, and was quiet. She the way Annie was fixing her hair, and Edmund was watching her, looking as if he were about to drool any second. She decided to go talk to Annie.
"Hi there" said Annie once she came beside her.
"I think pink-cheeks over there digs you" she whispered
"There you go again with your wild assumptions" said Annie.
"Serious here. I can see it in the way he looks at you. It's not the first time."
"Stop it. There are much bigger problems" Annie sighed.
"Bet he enjoyed the CPR as much as you did" Marina said with a teasing smile.
"UGH!" Annie scoffed hitting Marina in the stomach. The two girls fell into giggles, when Pug came in with other slave traders.
One of them was about to tie Marina, when she kicked his shin, then began to tackle him. Another one of them grabbed Marina, and separated her from the man who she almost strangled.
"Be a nice girl now missy." Said the man.
"Ok, then if I'm a good girl, maybe you could give me a cookie?" Marina asked with an innocent face, and a mocking tone. The man just growled, and tied her up. All four of them were brought out to the market, with an audience of buyers awaited them. They were lined up at the side of the stage, along with other slaves.
The first one was a boy of average size, and was being sold at 100 crescents. A man with a crimson beard bought him. After that first one, a few others arrived in cloaks, their faces hidden. Marina watched one of them take his place near the stage. He looked up, and gave her a wink. She replied with a gentle smile. It was Caspian. All the others in cloaks were his men.
Next was Edmund, and Annie couldn't bear watch.
The next morning, Lord Bern awoke Caspian from his sleep, and asked him to order every man he had in armor. They went to the pier, and Caspian blew his horn to signal Drinian to come forth. The Dawn Treader came to the pier, and Bern explained everything to Drinian.
A few boats were filled with Caspian's and Bern's men, and they set out for Narrowhaven. They arrived at the pier, and Caspian noticed a crown forming. Bern noticed Caspian's confusion on the happenings.
"This is what I sent word about last night" he told Caspian. "Don't worry. They are all god people" re reassured.
Once Caspian got off the boat, and onto land, screams filled the air.
"To Narnia! Long live the King!" they screamed.
At first, it was only the ones Bern told about what's going to happen that cheered, but soon, many others joined in for their very own reason.
They soon reached the gate of the castle. "Open for The King of Narnia; come to visit his trusty and well- beloved servant the governor of The Lone Islands." A small person opened the gates, and said in a way almost not understandable "No interviews without appointments. "
"Uncover before Narnia, you dog!" said Lord Bern, giving him a punch in the stomach. Caspian's men opened the gate, and they were able to make their way through.
"Who is your captain?" asked Caspian to one of the men.
"I 'am. "Said the man in a half-confident tone.
"If you may please, I wish that my visit here would bring joy, not terror. Command a cask of wine to be opened for your men, and drink to our health. But tomorrow, by noon, your men are to be at this courtyard looking like men-at-arms, not vagabonds.
"Three cheers for the king!" cried Bern and others followed. With that, Caspian, Drinian, Bern, and four others went into the far end was a table with many secretaries, and Governor Gumpas. He was a bilious looking man with gray hair. He glanced up, and automatically said " No interviews without appointments, except between nine and ten p.m on second Saturdays."
Caspian glanced at the others, to signal them on what to do. Drinian went over to the left side of the table, and Bern to the right. Together, they pushed the table down, sending all the contents flying around. They approached Gumpas, who looked both ways quickly, and took him by the arms, and brought him forth.
"My Lord," said Caspian courteously. "I reckon you haven't given us a proper welcome. We are the Kings and Queens of Narnia."
"Well, I haven't been notified about anything on your visit."
"I require the explanation for two things. First, I find no record that the tribute due from these Islands to the Crown of Narnia has been received for about a hundred and fifty years."
"That would be a question for the council, next month" replied Gumpas, and continued on, but Caspian stopped him.
"I also find it very clear in our laws that if a tribute is not delivered the whole debt must be paid by the governor out of his private purse."
"But, you must be joking" said Gumpas. After a brief moment of silence, Caspian continued.
"Second, tell me why you have allowed slave trading." Said Caspian in a majestic tone.
"It's an essential part of our economy. It's necessary." Replied Gumpas.
"Why do you need slaves?" asked Caspian.
"For export. Mainly to Calormens. Sometimes to others. We're a great trade center."
"In other words, slaves aren't needed. Tell me what purpose they serve except to put money into the pockets of such as Pug?"
"Your majesty, you are young. Not that I 'am underestimating you. I merely speak of facts. But, you do not understand the economic problem involved."
"I may be young, but I understand just as well as you. It doesn't bring anything good, and should there for be stopped. "
"Don't you know anything about progress and development?" exclaimed Gumpas.
With that, Gumpas's reign over The Lone Islands was stopped, and Caspian proclaimed Lord Bern to now be the Duke of The Lone Islands.
They set out for the market, where the slaves were being sold.
Edmund made his way on to the wooden stage. Annie's heart was now pounding.
"For this lad, let's say 150 crescents?" said the bidder, referring to Edmund. With that, someone in a cloak raised his hand. "150 here!" said the bidder. No one else would offer a higher price. "Going once!" a pause, then Marina saw Caspian look up, turned his head to signal the others, "Going twice!" he nodded to all of them, "And sold to the man in the cloak! If you please sir, come forward, pay the price, and receive your fine new slave." The man in the cloak who has supposedly bought Edmund (Drinian) stepped forward, and when he reached the table, he removed his cloak, along with everyone else, and brought out his sword, and cut the ropes around Edmund's hands.
Caspian went straight to Marina, and removed the ropes from her hands.
"Thank you. Have you got a spare sword?" she said to him. Caspian handed her a sword without saying a word. Marina took it, went over to Lucy, and removed her ropes.
"Go hide somewhere safe, and come out once it's safe." She told Lucy.
Lucy ran into one of the houses. Marina fought off many other people. She'd injured some of them, but tried her best to merely leave them unconscious through nerve pinching them. She didn't want any serious damage to be done to them. It didn't take long for them to win over.
"Well done, my lady" said Caspian.
"Thank you. It is my honor, your majesty" she replied.
"Should this be something to celebrate about?"
"Why shouldn't it? We're all back in one piece, not a scratch on us, I think, and I still have my hat" she said, fixing her hat.
"Very true."
"Let's all head back into the ship now!" Caspian yelled for everyone to hear.
All of them went back on board, a little exhausted, but still had more than enough energy to spare. Anyone who knew Caspian well, or had been working under him for some time would now that he's have a cask of wine opened for the entire crew, and allow them to have their fun for their victory, and would have fun himself as well. Caspian himself found himself predictable. But he thought of it as tradition. His men should have fun. For they have served their king well, and more importantly, they have served Narnia at their best.