Author's Note: First and foremost, heaps of thanks to all of you who are following this story, and an additional heap to those of you that have reviewed.

Up to this point I've stuck with the movie version of events, but we're going to take a slight detour through the realms of the books and my own imagination. This is all in the interest of giving our beloved Kings some more time together.

I still don't own Narnia or any of its inhabitants, etc. - happy reading!

~Chapter 10~

Edmund

After reluctantly leaving the warmth of Caspian's arms, Edmund had barely snuck in a few minutes of sleep before being jolted back to consciousness by Lucy and Gael's excited cries. The elusive Blue Star had at last revealed itself to them. There had been a hurry to depart Dragon Island, as it had come to be called, and not a single man, woman, or creature was sorry to leave the unfriendly land behind them.

The Blue Star… Edmund leaned over the port side of the Dawn Treader and stared pensively at the glowing aquamarine orb floating over the watery horizon, a light leading us into the dark.

Caspian approached and touched Edmund's arm lightly in greeting before resting against the bulwark. The two Kings shared a rare quiet moment. Since leaving Dragon Island the day before, they had not been presented with any opportunities to discuss what occurred between them, yet Edmund wasn't sure if there was any need to. Caspian's deep brown eyes seemed to express every unspoken sentiment that Edmund felt he would never be able to put to words. A longing to once more be in one another's arms simmered softly between them, but went largely unsatisfied due to the absence of privacy on the small ship and they had to suffice with brief stolen kisses in the confines of Caspian's cabin. Even in the late-night hours on deck, which had previously offered solitude to the couple, they were afforded no chances for any clandestine encounters as a result of Eustace's constant presence overhead.

The boy-dragon had been flying unremittingly alongside the Dawn Treader like a dog running along with his master's bicycle. Reepicheep had forsaken the ships figurehead dragon for a lookout post between Eustace's ears and the crew joked that even with the increase in capacity, the young relative of the Kings and Queens of old was likely to be getting an earful. Edmund worried about what would happen when his cousin was too tired to go on, for even dragons must tire sometime.

On their third day out, Eustace and Reepicheep flew ahead and the Pevensies watched as he became smaller and smaller until he appeared no bigger than a ladybird.

"Oh dear," Lucy fretted, chewing on a nail in a most un-Queenly fashion. "He must be exhausted – I do hope he's alright."

Edmund tugged her hand away from her mouth and patted her on the shoulder. The siblings stood wrapped in a bubble of shared concern for a good stretch of time before the speck grew larger once more and the dragon came back into full size over the deck. Reepicheep ran nimbly down the long, sweeping tail, leapt to the mast, and slid down a rope to land at Edmund's feet.

"Land, Your Majesties!" the mouse reported. "There appears to be a village that has come to ruin recently; I saw no inhabitants."

"How awful!" Lucy exclaimed. "What do you suppose happened, Reep?"

"We can't be sure," he replied gravely, "My first guess would be that it was the work of pirates, but there is no sign of any present danger. It would be a good place to rest and replenish our stocks, seeing as how there was so little to be found at the last stop." At this point, the furry knight paused and raised his nose upwards, his whiskers twitching in an agitated manner, "Eustace is weary. He's done marvelously thus far, but I fear he will not be able to endure much longer."

"Of course," Caspian said, having joined them as soon as Reepicheep had landed on the deck. "Is there a place for us to put in?"

"Yes, My Leige. The nearer side of the island is where I saw the ruins, but there is a cove on the far side that would do just as well. Either spot would be near a source of fresh water."

"Do let's go around to the cove," Lucy urged, "I don't fancy sleeping near the ruins – it would be like sleeping in a cemetery."

"Alright then," Caspian announced, "Reep, you and Eustace go on ahead. Tell him to rest up and we'll join you on the far side. Keep an eye out for any sign of pirates or otherwise; if you meet any trouble… well, you've got a dragon with you…"

"A pacifist dragon," Edmund muttered, but the stalwart rodent was already scampering up the rigging and took a flying leap back to Eustace's tail.

As the ship drew closer to the island, Drinian and the Kings took it in turns to peer through a telescope at the wreckage on the shore. A cluster of low stone huts with blackened sides stood at the edge of a wooded area and many of the trees were scarred with the evidence of fire as well. A small pier was half submerged in the water and the remains of a boathouse were strewn across the beach, but there were no boats in sight. There was, as Reepicheep had asserted, no sign of any inhabitants.

"It doesn't look as though they were seafaring people," Edmund remarked as he examined the pier, "I suppose they just took small boats out for fishing. Should we go ashore and have a look around?"

The crew members, however, were not keen on the idea of exploring the barren village. Drinian was opposed to the proposal as well, stating that the dead were best left to rest in peace and it would be unwise to disturb the remains. Edmund's first thought was that this was all superstitious rot, but upon further consideration, and remembering all that had come to pass on Dragon Island, he had to admit that the captain might have a point. Although the nightmares that had plagued them had mercifully ceased since the appearance of the Blue Star, there was no telling where or when the Evil might choose to strike again. At length, although Caspian showed signs of wanting to inspect the ruins, they decided to sail on around to the cove without investigating.

The Dawn Treader proceeded around the cliff-lined north edge of the island and dropped anchor in the clear, turquoise water of a bay on the eastern side. The north portion of the cove was all jagged grey rock that housed a number of small caves and tapered off as it met a vast beach of white sand that composed the remaining border. Edmund compared it to photographs of tropical islands that he had seen in the books of his world, though the vegetation was of an entirely different variety.

Reepicheep greeted them on the beach with news that Eustace, after having a brief kip in a cozy cave, had gone hunting. How the mouse had managed to gather this from someone (or some creature) who was entirely incapable of speech was beyond anyone, but sure enough, Eustace soon came soaring into sight with a large goat clutched in his left claw and two smaller ones in his right.

Several hours later, the goats were roasting over a Eustace-made fire along with a few plump rabbits that Lucy had bagged. The company ate better than they had in weeks the cool, clear water that was attained from a nearby stream had a revitalizing effect on everyone. Despite their full bellies, though, the men began to shift uneasily as the sun began to sink low over the tree line at their backs. Drinian approached the Kings and ventured that perhaps they should head back to the ship for the night. Edmund caught snatches of mutterings about ghosts and spirits from some of the crew as they glanced warily at the caves off to their left.

"Very well," Caspian told the captain, after a brief counsel with Edmund and Lucy, "You and the men return to the ship. The three of us will stay here with Eustace, and I daresay Sir Reepicheep will remain as well."

"And I!" piped up Gael hopefully, but Rhince was having none of it and firmly escorted his daughter towards the boats.

Drinian was clearly perturbed by the idea of leaving the three Royals behind, but did not go so far as to argue with his King. He hesitated on the verge of speech for no more than a few seconds before giving them a brusque nod. Lucy and the two boys accompanied the man as he strode to join his crew, all of whom were already waiting (somewhat anxiously, though trying mightily not to look it) by the boats.

"Don't worry, Drinian," Caspian reassured the captain with the air of a schoolboy placating an over-protective mother, "Two Royals of old, a noble knight of Narnia, and a fearsome dragon! We'll be just fine."

"Add to that King Caspian the Tenth and we'll be more than fine," Edmund put in, and he made to lay his hand on Caspian's shoulder, but caught himself and tried to pass the movement off by running his hand through his own hair. In reality, Edmund could have carried out his intended action without anyone giving it a second thought, but he had been somewhat skittish about showing any overt signs of affection towards Caspian ever since their encounter on Dragon Island. Caspian's eyes flickered towards Edmund, which resulted in both boys averting their eyes quickly and turning slightly pink. Drinian did not appear to notice anything (although the stoic man may very well have detected the fumble and tactfully ignored it) but Lucy shot her brother a swift, calculating look.

"You know," the girl announced, still eyeing Edmund, whose ears were now rather red, "On second thought, perhaps I shall go back; I've grown rather accustomed to chatting with Gael before turning in. You boys will have to manage without me."

Everyone except Caspian, Edmund, and Reepicheep (and, of course, Eustace) piled back into the longboats just as the sun dipped below the trees. As she swung herself into the boat, Lucy looked around to send a decidedly impish grin in her brother's direction and he could have sworn that she winked at him before settling into her seat. Edmund's ears were now, he was sure, positively glowing.