Here's another nice long chapter for you! Enjoy :D
Chapter Six
"Onward! The thrill of the unknown lies ahead," Reepicheep called out as they landed on the deck of Narrowhaven.
"Couldn't we have waited until tomorrow morning?" Eustace complained as he struggled up the steps.
"There is no honour in turning away from adventure, lad," Reepicheep scolded.
"He's right," Aurelia agreed as Caspian clasped her arm and helped her out of the boat. "And you might just have a little bit of fun as well,"
Lucy walked forward a few paces and paused, "Listen!"
Everyone stopped and listened, Edmund and Aurelia exchanging worried looks.
"Where is everyone?" Lucy mused.
Aurelia accepted Caspian's hand up the stairs, wondering the same thing as Lucy. The buildings didn't look like they were rotting and the port was well kept. Who was doing the work if no one was there to greet the king when he came? A commotion was heard behind them and Aurelia glanced behind her to see that Eustace had refused help out of the boat and had fallen flat on his face. Caspian looked at Lucy.
"And you're sure he's related?"
Lucy simply rolled her eyes and linked arms with Aurelia to walk on. The group cautiously approached the staircase that would hopefully lead them to the main village on the island. Caspian raised his crossbow in front of him and the others followed suit by drawing their swords. Aurelia drew her own, amazed at how wonderful that simple action felt. Suddenly a loud bell was heard from an unknown source. Everyone braced themselves for an attack but all that happened was a flock of birds were disturbed and screeched as they flew away. Caspian looked at Aurelia, alarm lighting his eyes.
"I'm almost tempted to send you back," he murmured, coming to stand in front of her.
"But?"
Caspian put a hand to her cheek, "You'd never forgive me. And whether I like it or not, you're invaluable to us,"
Aurelia smiled up at him and put a hand over the one on her cheek. Caspian left it there for a moment before turning back to his men, "Reepicheep, stay here with Drinian's men and secure this port. We'll head on,"
Aurelia held her sword out and as she made to follow Caspian, she turned back to Reepicheep, "If we don't come back by dawn, send a party,"
Reepicheep nodded, "Yes Majesties,"
Aurelia followed the rest of the small group up a ramp, through an archway and along a dark path. She came to stand next to Edmund.
"It's much changed from the last time we were here, isn't it," she said to him. He looked at her, his battle mask hiding his emotions.
"That was over 1500 years ago, who knows what has happened since then?"
Aurelia nodded and continued their walked. They came out into what looked like a town square, except like the port, this was deserted.
"Either the people of this town are nocturnal, or they simply don't exist," she said, noticing Eustace peeking in at a window. "Anything?"
"No... no looks like no one is home," he said nervously. Edmund looked uncertainly at Aurelia.
"Do you want to come over here and... guard something?"
Eustace ran enthusiastically over to the group, "Ahh yes... good idea Edmund. Very umm... logical,"
Eustace stood nervously by the entrance staring expectantly at them all. Aurelia held her hand out to Caspian who, after a moment handed over his dagger. Aurelia handed it to Eustace.
"If you're in danger, you mustn't be afraid to use it,"
Eustace nodded and braced himself in what he imagined must be a battle stance, "I've got it, don't you worry about a thing,"
Aurelia and the other entered what looked like the main building in the square, the heavy door creaking loudly as they went. Inside was dark, dank and depressing. The building had high ceilings and the only source of light was small, arched window scattered on the walls. From the ceiling hung what looked suspiciously like small cages, although Aurelia couldn't see inside them. They left the door open and could hear Eustace breathing nervously outside. Aurelia noticed a small stand, laden with books. A large ledger was open on top of it. Inside were pages upon pages of names, most of them crossed out in red ink.
"Who are all these people," Lucy asked.
"Why have they been crossed out?" Edmund shone his torch over the pages.
"It looks like some kind of fee," said Lucy.
Caspian came to stand by Aurelia's side, glancing at the book, "Slave traders,"
There was an uncomfortable silence before the same bell sounded again and with a huge shout, men began to descend from the roof.
"Look out!" Aurelia screamed drawing her sword. Caspian shot the one nearest to him and Aurelia, Lucy and Edmund began trying to cut them down, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. They heard a pathetic wail and froze. One of the attackers had grabbed Eustace and had a knife to his throat. He slammed the door behind him.
"Unless you want to hear this one squeal like a little pig, I suggest you drop you weapons now,"
"Like a pig?" Eustace cried indignantly.
"NOW," the man shouted shaking Eustace a little.
The boys lowered their swords slowly to the ground and Lucy threw hers in contempt. Aurelia, however still held hers high. The man she had been fighting stepped in front of her.
"The pretty one has a rebellious streak," he laughed. "Put it down sweetheart, I don't want to mark that nice face of yours,"
Aurelia waited a moment before she threw her sword violently to the ground.
"There's a good girl," the man said patronizingly.
"Put em' in irons," Eustace's captor commanded. Aurelia's opponent grabbed her with glee securing her wrists in irons and holding her tight, his foul breath on her face.
"So lovely, I might just keep you for myself,"
"Get your fitly hands off my wife," Caspian yelled, struggling against his own chains. Aurelia's captor laughed loudly. Eustace's captor dragged him forward by the ear.
"We'll take these two to market," he said motioning to Lucy and Eustace. He came to a stop in front of Aurelia.
"Put her in the dungeon with the other two. Keep her in good order; I have a private buyer that will be very interested,"
Caspian struggled as he was dragged away, "Listen to me you insolent fool, I am you king!"
Edmund swung at his attacker but missed and instead was struck on the face himself.
"You'll pay for that!"
"Actually," said a voice from door. What looked the like attacker's leader had appeared. "Someone else is going to pay... for all of you,"
Lucy and Eustace began to be dragged in the opposite direction to the others.
"EDMUND!" Lucy screeched.
"No, Lucy!" Edmund yelled back as he, Caspian and Aurelia were dragged to the dungeons. Aurelia struggled against her attacker and inwardly cursed the little strength she had. Lucy's screams could be heard as Aurelia and the two boys were thrown into the dungeon. Aurelia's attacker paused and looked at their leader as he held her outside the door for a moment.
"Should we keep this one for later?"
The leader looked at Aurelia for a moment and smiled, "She'd fetch a high price at market, but it might be worth making sure she's well trained. Keep her for now,"
Aurelia's captor gave her a toothless smile and threw her roughly in the cell, Caspian catching her just in time. They looked over to see Edmund had fallen to the ground, the blow to his head being harder than they thought. Aurelia glanced at Caspian before she sat down next to Edmund and pulled his head onto her lap. Caspian sighed and sat down next to her.
"What now?"
Aurelia sighed, "It's getting dark. Even if we did get out, who knows what goes on here at night? We'd better just wait it out,"
Caspian shifted uncomfortably against the wall.
"Are you warm?" he asked.
"A blanket would be lovely right now, but this isn't my first time in captivity,"
Caspian laughed, "I remember that. You risking your life and throwing yourself headlong into danger without a moment's hesitation,"
"That used to drive Peter mad," Aurelia smiled. "I remember in the Golden Ages, there was this great battle over the desert with Calormen and I disappeared one night to find a weak spot in their camp defence. I came back the next morning and Peter almost had me escorted back to Cair Paravel, he was fuming,"
"Were you allowed to stay?"
"Of course. Peter would never send me away from a battle. It's in my blood,"
Caspian sat closer to Aurelia, hoping to make her warm, "I would have loved to see that battle. I never got to see properly, but the story of you swordsman... womanship was legendary. I read somewhere that you helped train Edmund and Peter,"
"They had it in them the whole time; I just pushed them to challenge themselves. Peter was a born warrior," Aurelia said fondly. Caspian reached out to grasped Aurelia's hand and for once she didn't flinch away.
"Do you think you will ever stop loving Peter?" Caspian asked. Aurelia's eyebrows shot up in alarm at his honesty. For a moment she couldn't answer. For so long her feelings for Peter had been painful and she had tried in vain not to think of them. Now, she carefully prodded at those feeling she had locked away and found the hurt to be considerably less than it was. She could think of Peter with a certain fondness and not be angry and the fact that he was ripped away from her.
"Truthfully, I'll always love him. But just the same as you'll always love Susan. I don't think you can ever erase your love for someone, but I think you can move past it until one day it's a fond memory. I like to think I'm moving to that place,"
Aurelia glanced at Caspian whose face lit up for a moment as he regarded her. Aurelia prodded a different box inside her, the one where she kept her feelings for Caspian and as she opened that she found a warmth spreading through her heart. And she found she liked this. Caspian smiled and patted his shoulder. Aurelia leaned her head on it, closing her eyes and willing her mind to sleep. Caspian did the same and the night passed over their heads.
The next morning, Edmund still hadn't woken up, but his heartbeat was steady and his breathing was calm. Caspian kicked violently at the bars.
"Oh Caspian give it up would you?" Aurelia snapped, the clanging of the gates giving her a headache. Caspian paused, just as Edmund jolted away and looked warily up at Aurelia.
"Are you alright?" Caspian asked. Edmund stood up and rubbed his head, pulling Aurelia up with him.
"Yes, fine," Edmund looked around at their cell. Aurelia put her hand on his shoulder, but couldn't find any words. Caspian kicked at the door a few more times, growling in annoyance as he did.
"It's no use," a weak voice came from the shadows. "The bars are built to hold stronger men than you; you'll never get out,"
Caspian exchanged a glance with Aurelia and peered into the shadows where the voice had come from.
"Who's there?" Edmund called.
"Nobody," the voice said. "Just a voice in my head,"
Caspian and Aurelia crept forward slowly, not knowing if the voice was a danger to them or not, but feeling the latter as it sounded so weak. Into the light a man emerged, an old, pale and weary looking man with a white beard and nothing but fear in his eyes. Aurelia's eyes widened and she nudged Caspian, who nodded, seeming to understand too.
"Lord Bern?"
"Once I was Lord Bern, but not anymore. I do not deserve that title," the old man mumbled gruffly.
Caspian glanced at Edmund.
"Is he one of the seven?" Edmund asked. Caspian nodded. He very carefully approached Lord Bern and crouched in front of him. Bern recoiled slightly but narrowed his eyes, seeming to see something in Caspian's face.
"I'm sorry but... you look so much like someone once very important to me," Bern whispered. "A king I once loved,"
Caspian smiled, "That man was my father,"
Bern seemed to come to life and tried to stand and fall to his knees, "Oh my lord, please forgive me,"
Caspian caught Bern's arms and hoisted him up.
"No, please. You have been through much. I will not make one of the seven lords of Telmar kneel before me," Caspian held his hand out to Aurelia. "This is my Queen, Aurelia of Archenland,"
Aurelia smiled and let the old man take her hand. He studied her face closely.
"Aurelia, from the Golden Age?"
Aurelia nodded.
Bern sighed, "Wonders never cease in this world,"
At that moment a commotion was heard outside and Edmund jumped up to look out the window, clinging onto the bars. Aurelia and Caspian joined him. Outside a cart full of slaves was being taken to the shores of the Island. A man and a little girl raced behind the cart and the man tried to pull a woman from it, but he was knocked down. The little girl screamed. The captives were dragged out of the cart and forced onto a boat.
"Where are they taking them?" Aurelia asked.
"Keep watching," said Lord Bern.
The three cast their eyes back to the boat which had begun to carry the captives out to the middle of the sea, without anyone rowing it. Suddenly, a great cloud descended over the ocean and from the distance a great green mist raced towards the little boat and the slaves. In no time the mist had covered the boat and disappeared, taking the screaming men and women with it.
"What happened?" Caspian asked as he pulled Aurelia down from the ledge.
"That was magic," Aurelia said darkly.
"It's a sacrifice," Bern explained.
"But... where did they go?" Caspian's voice took on a tone of anguish. Aurelia put a hand on his arm.
"No one knows," Bern shook his head. "The first sighting of the mist was in the east. Reports came to us of fisherman and sailors disappearing out at sea with no explanation. We, the seven lords made a pack to find the source of the mist and destroy it. They each set sail, but none came back. So you see, if they don't sell you to the slave traders and take you to Calormen, you're likely to be fed to the mist,"
"We have to find Lucy," Edmund said in panic. "Before it's too late,"
Footsteps sounded and the slave traders emerged. The one who'd shown an interest in Aurelia unlocked the gate and the three's shackles were replaced. They were dragged out of the dungeon and out into the sunlight.
Aurelia, Edmund and Caspian were led up a set of stairs where they could hear an auctioneer shouting out for bids. As they emerged they could see Eustace was being auctioned. Aurelia felt a small stab pity for the boy; she could hear the crowd jeering and laughing at him.
"I'll take him off your hands," a familiar voice said. "I'll take them all off your hands,"
A man in a blue cloak threw his hood up and Drinian raised his sword, Reepicheep leaping down from his shoulder. Throughout the crowd, Drinian's men revealed themselves and drew their swords. Aurelia and Caspian exchanged a look before both of them used their chains to hit their opponents in the face and get free. Bern managed to get the keys from the man Edmund was strangling and freed himself and Edmund before tossing the keys to Caspian who unlocked him and Aurelia. Aurelia tossed her chains into the face of a would be attacker and managed to grab his sword while he was down. She tried to hand it to Caspian who shook his head.
"Keep it; I'll get one myself,"
Aurelia smiled at him and ran to a small group of what she assumed were villagers, hiding in a corner.
"Fight!" she cried at them. "No one has the right to sell you like property, fight for your freedom!"
The villagers gave up a great cry and ran into their houses. Most of them emerged with things they could use as weapons. Once the downtrodden in this town had risen up the slavers had no chance and in no time the slavers had been subdued. Caspian ran to Aurelia as she sheathed her sword and grabbed in his arms. Almost like he had been taken over by joy he kissed her firmly on the mouth. Aurelia froze in surprise, but in a moment she had softened and returned the kiss. As they pulled away Aurelia saw Lucy smiling brightly over Caspian's shoulder.
"I'm never keeping you from battle again," Caspian vowed. "You belong here with me, not cooped up in a castle,"
Aurelia laughed and planted another kiss on his cheek before joining Lucy. The Narnian's paraded through the town to clapping and cheering and Aurelia had never seen so much joy than that on the villagers faces. A man approached the king, but Drinian held him back. Aurelia recognized him as the man who had been chasing the cart.
"Drinian," she snapped. Drinian freed the man and he approached the king and queen.
"Your Majesties, my wife was taken by the mist," he said, a little girl clinging to his arm. "Let me go with you,"
"Daddy, no I want to come!"
"Gale no, stay with your Aunt," the man turned back to Caspian. "My name is Rhince, I'm a fine sailor. Been on the seas my whole life,"
Aurelia put her hand on the man's arm, "Of course, you must come,"
Little Gale let out a cry and Rhince turned back and grasped her arm, "Have I ever not come back?"
Aurelia smiled at the little girl and knelt down in front of you, "My father told me he would always love me and I thought I'd never see him again, but he came back. Have faith,"
The party made it to the shore where Lord Bern walked triumphantly towards them. He was transformed. There was colour back in his cheeks and he walked taller. He was carrying a grand sword.
"My King!" he shouted. He held out the sword. "This was given to me by your father; I'd hidden in a cave all these years,"
"That's an old Narnian sword," Edmund exclaimed. Bern nodded.
"It's from your Golden Ages. There were seven of them from Aslan to protect Narnia. Your father entrusted them to us," Bern held out the sword to Caspian. "Here, take it. And may it protect you,"
Caspian reached out and took the sword, an awed expression on his face. A cheer rose up as Caspian held the sword to the light.
"Thank you my lord and we shall find your lost citizens,"
Bern smiled and nodded his blessing to the group. Caspian held his hand out for Aurelia who waved once more to the villagers before taking Caspian's hand and following him to the boats. As they walked Caspian handed the Narnian sword to Edmund and the two exchanged a moment. Aurelia smiled, knowing that the search for the mist would be hard, but that it would be worth it.
