Chapter 10

LUCY'S POV

Lucy sighed, she sat on the bed in her cabin and stared down at the sword in her lap. She knew that Dark Island would be the last stop on this voyage for the Dawn Treader, and that this would be the last battle she would have in this world. She stood, placing her sword and healing cordial down on the bed. They did not know what faced them on Dark Island other than unspeakable evil and terror. Their darkest dreams will come true as well as their heaviest fears. But Lucy could not think of any other fear greater than leaving Narnia forever. Leaving her friends, the beautiful land, Caspian. Tears started to fall from her eyes as she thought of the moment when she would say goodbye to her best friend. She could not even bear the thought let alone live it. She heard a knock at the door.

"Come in," She said softly, hastily trying to wipe the tears from her eyes. When she saw it was Edmund though, she let out a strangled sob and jumped into his arms. He was taken aback, but stroked her hair comfortingly.

"What's the matter, Lu?"

"Edmund, were going to leave soon. I know it!" She cried even harder as she said the words aloud. Why does this have to happen? Edmund sighed, finally understanding. He pulled her over to sit back on the bed.

"Lucy, I know it's hard. We will be alright though. We don't have to be in Narnia to be happy, to have adventures. Just look at Peter and Susan. Off in America having the time of their lives, they could not be happier." He meant to soothe her with his words, and tell her that life would go on. But they had the opposite effect. She threw her hands in the air.

"Thats just it! They're so happy without Narnia! I don't want to feel that way! It's like they left and then it didn't even matter to them anymore, they completely forgot. I don't want to forget. I can't forget this place, or my friends. And Aslan! We'll never see him again! I just don't understand why he had me discover this world with the intention of pulling me away from it when I was happy." She groaned, sitting back down on the bed heavily. She felt bad for having angry feelings towards the great lion, but she could not help it. Lucy was mad at Aslan, and he had not even taken her away yet.

"Lucy..." He hesitated, as if not sure what to say. "I'm not going to say that this is going to be easy. I love it here as well. But right now, in this moment, we can't be selfish. We're on our way to fight for the freedom of many people of Narnia. Have you forgotten?" She looked down at her hands and shook her head, ashamed. "We need to focus. The people on this ship are the only hope those captured citizens have. This is the reason Aslan brought us here." Lucy nodded once more, afraid to look at her brother. She was ashamed for acting so selfishly, but did not want to look at him mainly because of the fact that she was still upset with Aslan. She wanted to help those people, and she would, but she could not just forget her fate so easily. Edmund said nothing more, only squeezing her shoulder and exiting the cabin. She huffed after him. Why do brothers have to be such prats? She stood, folding her arms across her chest and walking over to the mirror. Tears started to fall out of her eyes. She sighed, frustrated, closing her eyes and wiping her tears. I've never cried this much before! Why does this have to hurt so much?

"Be calm, young one." Lucy yelped with a jump, and then saw the golden mane of Aslan standing in the reflection once more, just like he had the last time she saw him. She turned, hopeful, but once again, his form was only in the mirror, not physically next to her. "You're angry with me." She hesitated with her answer, eventually just nodding slowly.

"I'm sorry! I can't help it! Did Susan and Peter hurt this much when they left?" Aslan gave her a look, she reverted her eyes quickly. "I forgot, you cannot tell me. I'm only told my own story." Her head shot up to look at him once more. "But shouldn't I be able to choose my own future?" She barely finished the sentence, because he had gone.

"Yes." Aslan's voice rang in her ears. She turned around in all directions, but she did not see him. So what does that mean? She wondered, still frustrated. She wiped her face clean of tears before grabbing her sword and dashing from the cabin. Ready to face the danger lying ahead.

XoXoXo

CASPIAN'S POV

Staring out at the eerie looking island, Caspian could not help but feel fearful. He knew not what lurked beyond it's shores, and although he did not want to find out, he was going to. Behind him, the crew of the Dawn Treader stood more silent than ever before, all reflecting on their thoughts. A general sense of fright lingered in the air. Caspian turned just in time to see Lucy emerging from below deck, holding her sword and ready for the fight. His heart ached, the only thing he wanted to do was to lock her up in her room below deck until this was over, to be certain that she was safe. Unlike the others, though, Caspian saw something in her eyes that lifted him. Hope. He did not know for what, but it seemed as if it had taken her from her depressed state that she had been in since they left Ramandu's Island. He knew why she had been distressed, though. The time drew nearer for her and Edmund to leave Narnia for good. He felt his heart rate drop dangerously low. I'll never see her again. He had known this, but it had never hit him that hard before. Caspian turned completely around, rushing down from the Helm and swept her up in his arms before she could even utter a single sound. He did not care who watched, especially that Edmund stood only a few feet away. He did not care. He held her for a long time, his head buried in her hair as hers was in his chest. He wanted so badly to kiss her, and tell her how he felt. But he knew that it would only hurt both of them in the long run. To his suprise, Lucy pulled away from him, linking her arms loosely around his neck. She stared into his eyes before smiling. She stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek lightly, leaving a patch of heat there. She moved then to speak against his ear.

"It will be alright." She did tell him as if she hoped, she told him as if she knew. Like she knew something that he did not. He wanted to question her on this, but Drinian's booming voice interrupted them.

"No! No one gets off of this ship! The Dawn Treader herself will carry us to the shores. She will protect us better." Caspian and the captain had settled this earlier, and Caspian nodded to several crew members that looked to him for confirmation. Reluctantly letting Lucy go, he made his way back up to stand next to Drinian. He looked over his crew, knowing they were expecting a speech from him. He knew not what to say beyond two words.

"Be strong." He said firmly, he turned his back on them, looking once again at the island ahead of them. He took a deep breath, and then nodded to Drinian to let them move forward. He heard the captian shout orders for rowers, and he took a hold of the wheel. Caspian was taken by suprise when he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning to see that it was Edmund.

"I'm sorry about before. It's not that I don't think you'd be good for her. Actually, if we lived here like you did, I would prefer it be you over anyone else." Caspian nodded, glad that they were back on good terms. He focused once more on the issue at hand. The ship moved forward towards the storm clouds and fog. It was dead quiet. The only sound was the ragged breathing of every single crew member. As they moved through the fog, no one was aware of what might come at them, so they were holding out their swords, looking all around, as if daring something to attack. All of the sudden, they saw swirls of the deadly green fog all around the ship, lingering over individuals. Caspian gasped as a bit turned into the form of his father standing beside him.

"You are a great disappointment. You call yourself my son, and act like a King." Caspian started to respond but Lucy had stepped up beside him, putting a hand on his shoulder. Her presence shooed the mist away.

"Caspian?" She sounded worried, he gave her a weak smile, taking her hand in his. She squeezed it gently, giving him comfort. They jumped and turned sharply when hearing a shout from Edmund.

"You're dead! Leave me alone!" Lucy ripped away from Caspian and rushed to her brother. He had pulled his sword and was waving it around at a cloud of green mist. Lucy grabbed his arms and looked at him frantically.

"Edmund, who are you talking with?" She asked, her eyes scanning his face. He looked at Lucy as if she was crazy.

"It was the White Witch, didn't you see her?" Lucy's eyebrows furrowed together as she shook her head slowly. Edmund pulled away, looking confused himself.

"Get away! Get away!" The whole crew turned in circles trying to find the source of the voice. It continued to shout its warning as Edmund pulled out his flashlight, shining it around, eventually stopping when it landed on an old looking bearded man, looking as if he should have died of starvation long ago. He stood on a high rock in the water and was waving a sword at them.

"We do not fear you!" Caspian shouted back, making his way to the railing to get a better look at the man.

"Nor I you." The man said firmly, waving his sword. Caspian stared at the man for a few moments before realization struck.

"Lord Rhoop?" He asked. The Lord looked caught of guard at the name, and kept his sword up but was staring back into Caspian's face as if he had seen a ghost.

"My King?" The Lord asked hesitantly.

"His son. Pull him aboard!" He ordered the crew. Withinn moments, the Lord Rhoop stood aboard the Dawn Treader, looking around frightfully.

"Well, we have his sword. Let's turn around." Edmund suggested, he clearly wanted to get off of the island. As did everyone else, who nodded frantically. Caspian needed no further persuasion, and turned to Drinian to give him his orders. He stopped, when an icy hand grabbed his, he jumped, turning to see that it was Lord Rhoop.

"Do not think!" He spoke to everyone at once. "Do not let it know your fears or it will become them!" Caspian gave him a pained look, and looked to see Edmund's eyes widened before they closed. Lucy saw this as well.

"Oh, Edmund! What did you just think of?" Edmund's eyes snapped open before he grabbed his sword tightly.

"I'm so sorry," He apologized, looking around before taking a deep breath, and making his way over to the railing to take a fearful look into the waters surrounding them. Everyone jumped as they felt something bump the ship, knocking a few off of their feet. After a moments silence they saw what they were up against. A massive sea serpent slithered out of the water and towered over the boat, bearing its fangs at them fiercely. It backed up, as if in slow motion, ready to jet forward and attack.

"GET DOWN!" Caspian roared, jumping forward and pushing Lucy to the ground, shielding her tiny body with his. The serpent had lunged forward, as if to strike the ship, but a archer had aimed at its chest and hit it, making it hiss in pain and retreat, retaking its towering stance. "Archers!" Caspian ordered. With his command, the men stood, aiming at the same time as well as releasing. The snake hissed once again, but it was not hit anywhere near being fatal. Drinian had ran to the helm and was not trying to turn the boat around, as unknowing rowers continuously worked quickly. Edmund jumped up from beside Lucy.

"I have an idea!" With this, he gripped his sword and dashed away, towards the front of the boat.

"Edmund, STOP!" Lucy made to follow him, but Caspian held her in place. She looked at him angrily. "Caspian, let me go." He looked back with just as much anger.

"No. I will not let you get hurt. Not again." Her eyes softened and she went to say something before hearing a roar and seeing the sky light up slightly. They saw that Eustace had gained a great amount of courage, and had blown fire right in the serpents face. Caspian was just about to yell to Eustace when Lord Rhoop jetted forward.

"Oh no you don't you beast! Take that!" The Lord threw his sword roughly, slicing and wedging into the dragon's shoulder.

"EUSTACE!" Several members of the crew yelled for him, but he did not act as if he heard them. The dragon simply turned away, flying out of the dark clouds weakly. Lucy ran up to the Lord and shoved him roughly.

"That's no beast! That's my cousin you stupid old man!" Caspian came forward, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Lucy, please. He didn't know that-" But his attention was caught by something over her shoulder. Edmund had climbed into the dragon's mouth of the ship, and was yelling to the sea serpent.

"Thats right! I'm over here! Come get me!" He was taunting it. Luring it closer. Lucy made to run to Edmund's aid but Caspian grabbed her again. The beast lunged forward, just in time for Edmund to back safely into the mouth, unharmed. He climbed back out the front, missing the serpent's attack by inches, before jumping onto the rope that would lead him up to the crows nest.

"EDMUND!"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Edmund, however, ignored the cries of worry, and pulled himself into the nest, raising his sword.

"Come on! I'm over here!" The serpent's head turned sharply, eyes resting on Edmund. It slowly started making its way forward before something miraculous happened. Edmund's sword turned a piercing blue that was nothing less than magical by the looks of it. The boy knew that his sword was newly powerful, so he mustered up all of his courage and shoved the sword through the beast's throat, before yanking it back out, losing his balance and falling in the nest. The serpent hissed in excrutiating pain before toppling over into the water, dead. Edmund stood, looking around as if amazed and then grabbing the rope once more and pulling himself down onto the deck. He was greeted with cheers and hugs but he pushed through politely, looking at Lucy apologetically.

"Lucy, I'm sorry. I had to-" He could not get another word out before she threw herself on him, hugging him and almost knocking him over.

"Edmund you did it!" She pulled away. "You're a great prat for being so foolish but you did it!" She hugged him again. He laughed, pulling away. Caspian noticed that the dark clouds were disappearing, as was the green mist and fog, he turned to them.

"I think the spell has been broken. But how?" Lucy looked down, as if trying to collect her thoughts. Finally it dawned on her. Her head snapped back up, a huge smile on her face and in her eyes.

"Eustace! He had Lord Rhoop's sword! He must have put it on the table!" As she finished, they heard a crew member shout to gain their attention, and they all looked out to see boats full of the citizens that had been fed to the mist appear. The people cheered, and cried, thankful for their rescue. Edmund wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulders and smiled down at her. Caspian had every citizen pulled on board and they made their way back to Ramandu's Island to find Eustace.

Not much fluffy stuff, I know. But believe me, there will be A LOT in the next chapter! Read and Review please! Thanks for reading!