Chapter 7: Aboard the Dawn Treader

Lucy's eyes swelled to the size of dinner plates when she saw Ramandu, Caspian, and another woman walking to the boat.

            "Edmund!" She cried, "Caspian's done it!"

Edmund peered over his little sister's shoulder and saw the three of them boarding the ship. "Who is that woman?"

Lucy's brows knitted. "I'm not sure. Oh, her skin sparkles as well! Could she be another star?" Her eyes followed the two stars as Caspian ushered them past. She tugged on Caspian's sleeve, and he halted in his steps to speak with her.

            "Your orders, Caspian?" Edmund asked.

Caspian cast a weary eye at Ramandu and Alena before replying, "Set the course back to Narnia. And you may take the wheel."

Edmund grinned and sprinted off, and Caspian grinned after him. Edmund had so much potential if only given the chance, and Caspian saw a glimmer of himself in the young king of old. He was jilted out of his thoughts when Lucy again tugged on his sleeve again, and he looked down at her.

            "Are both of those people stars?"

Caspian nodded, "Yes."

            "They seem upset." And Lucy bit her lip.

Caspian gave her little back a small rub, "They are."

She looked up at him. "Is there anything I can do?"

Caspian gasped. In that instant, with so much care in her eyes, she looked exactly like Susan. "I'm sure Trumpkin could use some help with the sails."

Lucy gave him a small smile and went in search of Trumpkin. He turned and looked out at the ocean. He only turned back when he noticed someone standing just out of his eyesight. He turned, and there stood Alena.

Before Caspian could open his mouth, she spat, "My father needs shelter for the evening."

            "Shall I show the guest to his quarters?" Trufflehunter asked Caspian.

            "He may take my cabin." Caspian replied.

Alena stared at him oddly.

            "But, sir…"

            "It's fine." Caspian replied.

Trufflehunter bowed and walked over to Ramandu.

            "I still hate you." Alena said.

Caspian sighed, "I know what you're going through."

            "No you don't."

            "My father was murdered by my uncle." He said softly. "My mother died when I was a boy, and after my aunt gave birth, my uncle put a price on my head. So I know what it is like to be alone."

Alena gave in a small gasp.

There was a silence between them.

            "I'm sorry." She said.

He gave a small nod. "As am I. I am sorry for your sorrow."

            "He's all I have." She whispered, "Do you think there's any chance this Aslan would understand that and permit him to stay?"

Caspian wasn't sure how to answer this, he didn't know Aslan to change his mind. So he simply said, "Aslan will know what is best for both of you."

She gave a small nod, and wrapped her arms around herself. It was chilly out on the ocean, and the young star had no traveling cloak to keep her warm. He unbuttoned his own cloak that lay over his shoulders, and placed it around her small frame. "Here." He said.

She looked up at him, tears glimmering in her eyes. "Thank you." Alena didn't know humans to have such kindness after watching the White Witch inhabit Narnia, torture others, turn them to stone, kill. But this human, this King, seemed different.

He nodded his head.

            "Your people must adore you." She said. "You are a good man."

Caspian smiled, and gave another nod. The frigid night air was no place for a young girl. "You should head below. It is much warmer down there."

She spoke to him, but her eyes were on the stars. "I'd like to sit out here for awhile. I haven't watched the stars in a long time." She paused, "It's different looking at them from down here. They seem so small."

"Do you miss it up there?" He asked.

She nodded, her eyes still toward the heavens. "I do. But I love my father."

There was a silence between them, and then she asked, "Will you sit with me?"

            "Of course." He said, and the two of them sat down on the deck of the Dawn Treader, watching the bright pools dance in the velvet blue sky.

XXX

There had to be some kind of mistake. Peter blinked, shielding his eyes from the sun. He walked the sandy beaches of Narnia with a frown. What was he doing back here? Seconds ago he had been on the train. He could still feel the leather cushion on the back of his legs, and yet here he was, staring at the ruins of Cair Paravel. Something dire must have happened to bring him back here. And where were his siblings? With all of this on his mind, he broke into a run determined to find answers.