The Real Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Thank you all for your lovely supportive reviews! :D

I did rather struggle with what Peter's fear or temptation could be, and he has a lot of anger and frustration inside of him, I decided to dig deeper through to the source of it... so I hope what I've come up with is passable.

...

"Look, we're not the first ones on this island." Peter said, being the first to see a rope tied to a rock leading down into a cave.

"The lords?" Edmund asked.

"Could be." Caspian said looking down into the cave. He picked up a rock and dropped it down, seeing how far they had to go. "What do you think could be down there?"

"Let's find out." Edmund said.

He climbed down the rope and observed the many tunnels in the cave. Caspian then took off his coat leaving it on the side and climbed down next, waiting at the bottom for Lucy and Susan.

Once Lucy was down she looked around. "I've got a bad feeling about this place." She muttered.

"Alright Su you next." Peter said, looking down into the cave. She took off her bow and quiver, putting them on top of Caspian's coat. Peter looked at it thoughtfully.

Susan climbed down easily and was quickly followed by Peter.

"Which way?" She asked, seeing the many directions they could go in.

"Maybe we should split up." Peter said moving towards one direction.

"I'll go with you." Susan said rather quickly as she followed him. He glanced at Caspian who was looking after her.

"Be careful." Lucy said.

"We'll meet back here." Caspian said and Peter nodded to him.

...

Edmund walked along the side of a deep pond, a gold statue of a man caught his eye as he moved closer.

"What's that?" Caspian asked as he moved closer with Lucy.

"I don't know." He replied. "Looks like some sort of gold statue."

He looked around him and walked over to a wall where dead branches hung. He ripped one off and stuck it into the water trying to move the statue. It suddenly felt heavy in his hands and he lifted it out of the water as it slowly turned into solid gold, making its way up to his hands. He couldn't hold onto it any longer and he dropped it into the water. The three of them looked around. This place was enchanted with dark magic. They could feel it.

"He must have fallen in." Caspian said looking at the statue of the man.

"Poor man." Lucy said, feeling heartbroken at the sight.

Edmund looked at the crest of the shield next to him in the water. "You mean poor lord."

"The crest of Lord Restimar." Caspian observed.

"And his sword." Edmund exclaimed, pointing to it in the water.

"We need it." Caspian said.

Edmund drew his sword as Caspian held his arm bracing the two of them as he leaned over the water. The green mist floated underneath it.

"Be careful." Lucy cautioned them. Edmund hooked his sword into the hilt of the other and lifted it carefully from the water. "You sword hasn't turned to gold." Lucy exclaimed.

"Both the swords are magical." Caspian explained. Edmund moved it away from the water. "Here" Caspian said, taking hold of it.

"He mustn't have known what hit him." Lucy said sadly as she looked at the lord.

"Maybe. Or maybe he was onto something." Edmund said putting his sword down.

Caspian held the sword in his hand down as he looked over to him confused. "What are you talking about?"

Edmund picked up a shell and bent down dipping the tip of it into the water and quickly putting it onto the ground as it turned to gold. He picked it up and observed it desirably and greedily.

"What are you staring at?" Lucy asked, seeing the odd look in her brother's eyes, making her feel nervous.

"Whoever has access to this pool, could be the most powerful person in the world." He said in a low menacing voice. Lucy and Caspian looked at each other in caution. "Lucy we'd be so rich. No one could tell us what to do, or who to live with." Lucy stepped back; no longer recognising the person knelt in front of her.

"You can't take anything out of Narnia, Edmund." Caspian said gently.

"Says who?" Edmund asked looking at the shell.

Caspian's eyes seemed to become black as he looked at him threateningly. "I do." His voice was deadly and dark.

Lucy took a step back from him. What was the matter with them? Edmund looked up at him with fury in his eyes as he picked up his sword and moved towards Caspian.

"I'm not your subject." Edmund reminded him in a threatening tone as he moved towards him.

"You've been waiting for this haven't you? To challenge me. You doubt my leader ship." Caspian accused him in a low and dangerous tone.

"You doubt yourself." Edmund spat as he moved forward into Caspian's face.

"You are a child!" Caspian shouted, looking down at him threateningly.

"And you're a spineless sap!" Edmund shouted back.

They could feel their blood boiling with anger, beneath their skin. Jealousy and lust for power driving them against each other.

Lucy rushed forward and grabbed Edmund's arm. "Edmund!"

He pushed her back not taking his eyes off Caspian. "I'm tired of playing second fiddle. First it was Peter and now it's you! You know I'm braver than both of you." Caspian smirked at him smugly. "I deserve a kingdom of my own. I deserve to rule!" Edmund shouted.

"If you think you're so brave, prove it." Caspian challenged him as he pushed him back.

Edmund let out a furious roar and they clashed swords several times. Lucy ran in between them putting an immediate stop to it.

"No! Stop it! Both of you!" She yelled at them. "Look at yourselves. Can't you see what's happening? This place has tempted you. It's bewitching you. This is exactly what Coriakin was talking about." Her voice was full of disappointment and sadness.

They both straightened as their clouded minds lifted from them. They couldn't believe they had just attacked each other. Edmund looked at the shell; he was ready to kill his best friend over gold and power.

"Let's go find Peter and Susan." Lucy said leading them away.

Caspian and Edmund looked at each other sheepishly as Edmund threw the shell back into the water as they followed her.

The green mist dissolved away going by completely unnoticed.

...

Meanwhile...

Susan was leading them through a rocky part of the cave, determined to get out of there as quickly as possible. The green mist flowed through the spaces between the rocks beneath their feet.

Peter watched her intently as he followed her. He could feel himself getting angry at her as he thought of how she was just wasting their time in Narnia by not letting it in. They were back. This is what they had wished for. So why was she fighting it so damn hard? He just didn't understand her, she was the most confusing of all females he had ever known, and it had taken him weeks on the Dawn Treader, to finally figure her out to some kind of level. Why did she have to be so complicated?

"You haven't used your bow the entire time we have been back." Peter stated in a rather strong and judging tone.

"Well between being on a ship, being kidnapped by Dufflepud's and being tossed about in a storm, I haven't exactly had much time." She said, wondering where the conversation was going.

"Hmm. I don't think you want to use it." Peter said firmly.

"Don't be silly Peter. I love my bow." Susan said flippantly as she continued walking.

Peter came to a halt. "Exactly." He stated.

"What are you getting at oh, observant one?" She asked irritably, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she stopped and turned to him.

"You say you don't remember who you are, but you won't even use your bow. Your bow has always been a part of your arm, just like my sword has with me. Being in our world is like having your arms chopped off, they feel incomplete. But it's like you don't want to remember how it feels to be who you really are." Susan just folded her arms and looked away as she huffed irritably. "You refuse to let Narnia back into your heart." Peter said his voice rising with each sentence.

"I'm not refusing anything!" She snapped. It was a blatant lie but he was irritating her.

"Oh please! You run away from Caspian at every turn!"

"You leave him out of this Peter!" Susan said in a dangerously low voice as she pointed at him.

"Why? I thought you missed him!" Peter kept on pushing her as he took a step forward.

"You know nothing I do will make you happy! If I push him away, I'm being unfair. If I let him in, I'm only going to hurt myself more when we leave. So which one would you rather have me do Peter? Because either one you would be warning me against it and advising me to do otherwise!" Susan ranted.

"It's not my fault you fell in love with him!" He yelled throwing his arms up in exasperation.

"Well it's not mine either!" She blurted out.

She had never admitted to her siblings that she was in love with Caspian. They all knew but she had never said anything to confirm it.

Peter looked at her shocked and his expression softened slightly."Why is it so impossible for you to just listen to your heart?" He asked frustrated yet in a gentle tone.

"Why do you care?" Susan yelled.

"Because you are not the sister I know and love! You're just a cold, empty shell of her!" He snapped.

The green mist grew thicker as it circled Peter's feet.

Susan recoiled as if she'd been slapped. She'd be lying if she said his words didn't hurt, they did hurt her deeply, but from all of his frustration and anger in America that he would take out on the punch bag, she had a feeling that his anger wasn't directed at her. Not really. The mist must have been excelling it.

"Why don't you just get to the point Peter?" She said in a dull tone.

"I thought I just did!" He yelled. His eyes were not his usual kind, brave, ocean-blue eyes but they were seething with anger, something completely off and dangerous about them.

"No. Why don't you just admit who and what you are really angry at?" Susan said firmly, trying to stand her ground.

"I'm currently feeling strong anger towards you!" He shouted, gesturing towards her.

"No you're not! Just admit what is really getting to you!" She needed to guide him into admitting what had been eating him up for so long. He was too proud and brave to admit it in his right mind.

"I'm angry at Aslan!" He admitted, feeling some of the weight lift from his chest. The green mist grew thicker around him as voices whispered. "He shattered our faith; he took everything we loved away from us! Twice! Why did he put us through so much pain if only to bring us back and not even bother to explain why? We both know he's only going to make us leave again. We aren't some puppets he can just use to save Narnia and then discard us to the side once we have! Narnia is our home!" His emotion was so raw in his eyes and voice. He was so hurt and he felt betrayed and used. He felt like he wasn't a good enough king. He had disappointed Aslan.

"A part of me feels that way too Peter, but we both know that Aslan loves us. Another part of me knows that he gave us a gift allowing us to even find Narnia. We both know that we can't co-exist in both worlds, so he's not to blame, although we may wish we could blame him! So who else are you angry at?"

"Myself!"Peter yelled, surprising himself at his answer. His anger faded and was replaced by guilt and sorrow. "I'm angry at myself." The green mist grew weaker as he fought through his rising anger. He felt such a weight lift from his chest, which had him feeling as if he was suffocating for such a long time.

"Why?" She asked gently, her eyes filled with confused sorrow.

"Because... I swore I would protect all of you." He confessed in a weak voice as he sat on a rock, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"You have Peter." Susan said softly.

"No. No I haven't. I didn't protect you. I didn't see through your barriers that you put up. I didn't see how much pain you were in the first time we left. I didn't even see Edmund's and Lucy's, I was that wrapped up in myself. I felt so lost that I needed to prove myself. I lost faith in Aslan, and I kept pushing and pushing to prove I was still 'King Peter, the Magnificent.' But I'm not; I am so disappointed in myself knowing that through all my mistakes I've disappointed Aslan. If I had been half the brother I once was, I would have been there for you." Peter said, utterly ashamed of himself as he looked at the floor.

"Peter—"

"No Su. I didn't even see your feelings for Caspian." He looked up reluctantly into her sad eyes.

"We were in the middle of a war." She said soothingly as she crouched in front of him.

"I didn't protect your heart from being repeatedly broken, time and time again; from the moment suitors only treated you like a pretty trinket in the golden age..."

"You threw out almost all of them suitors...literally." Her voice held a hint of humour as her lips tugged into a smile as she tried to cheer him up.

"... To the time Rabadash tried to force himself on you and waged war for your hand."

"I had Edmund with me. You were busy fighting the giants." She continued making excuses for him.

"...To the time we left Narnia, to the time you finally found love only to be ripped from it. I didn't stop all of them in America from stripping you into a blank canvas only to train and mould you into someone you aren't. I watched you struggle every single day, and I did nothing." He said bitterly.

"There was nothing you could do!" She exclaimed.

"I could have done...something!" He yelled frustrated with himself.

Susan threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Peter, you can't protect my heart, you can't stop it from breaking." She whispered gently. "You are the most...magnificent, big brother I could have ever wished for. You protected us Peter. And I know if Mum knew everything we have been through, she would be so proud that you kept your promise to her."

As she hugged him soothingly, he felt rather light from admitting the thoughts that had been plaguing his mind for so long. The green mist slowly rippled away from them as Peter gained full control of his anger.

"I hate it when you do that." He said softly as they pulled back.

"Do what?"

"When you read me like a book." He said smiling slightly. His eyes lost their humour as he looked at her thoughtfully. "Su... I know you're afraid. I am too. But if you don't let it all back into your heart, I fear you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"I can't." She whispered.

"On the Dawn Treader I didn't see Susan Pevensie. I saw the Gentle Queen. You're so much more than you allow yourself to be. You just need to find the courage to be the person you once were." He said wisely.

"There you are." Lucy said. "We've found a sword, let's get out of here."

Susan and Peter looked over to Caspian and Edmund who looked rather ashamed of themselves.

"Is everything alright?" Peter asked.

"Everything's fine. Let's go." Edmund said.

Peter and Susan gave each other a small smiled as they followed them out of the cave.

...

Eustace trudged heavily over the lifeless, rocky hill.

"Oh, yes, follow the imaginary Blue Star to the island of Ramandoodoo. Lay the seven steak knives at the table of a talking lion." He ranted, kicking the stones on the ground. "Ninnies!"

Something shiny caught his eye and he turned to see mountains of...something shiny. The sun was reflecting off it and hitting him in the eyes. It was rather impossible for him to see.

"What is that?" He asked to himself. He took a step closer and the rock gave way causing Eustace to tumble down the small cliff. He fell hard with a grunt and he looked around to see he was surrounded by mountains of treasure.

"I must be dead." He said rather in awe. His greed overpowered him as he gleefully ran over picking up the treasure and putting it into a large golden goblet.

A shiny cuff bracelet caught his eye. It had a dragon or some kind of lizard engraved into it. He put down his gathered treasure and made his way over to it.

"Ah!" He stumbled back startled by the skeleton that wore the bracelet. He quickly gathered himself.

"You're definitely dead." He stated.

He pushed it over and tugged the bracelet off him, putting it around his own arm.

"Won't be needing that then, will you?" He asked it.

He quickly began collecting more treasure stuffing it into his pockets and gathering it into his arms. He stopped only for a moment as he heard voices whispering around him. He saw nothing so he turned back to the treasure.

"Finally... a favourable turn of events." He said gleefully as the green mist wove through the treasure.

...

Susan and Lucy walked slightly ahead of the others, as Lucy quietly filled Susan in on what had happened. She briefly turned to Caspian who was walking with his head down, slightly ahead of Edmund and Peter. She didn't really have much of an opinion on the matter. They were all human and prone to such temptations. Just thank Aslan, Lucy was there to snap them both back into reality.

"What food did you find?" Caspian asked the men as they reached the boats.

Mr. Rhince crouched near woven baskets that weren't even half full. "It's volcanic, Your Majesty. Not much grows."

Caspian felt his stomach churn. This was not going to be good. The men were already beginning to rebel against his orders.

Susan looked around."Where's Eustace?"

"I believe he's out not helping us load the boats." Reepicheep said irritably.

Caspian rolled his eyes. "Eustace!" Susan shouted.

"Eustace!" Lucy echoed her shout. But there was no sign of him. "Peter, I've got a bad feeling." She said turning to her eldest brother.

"I'll go look for him." Peter said going in one direction.

"I'll go this way." Edmund said completely irritated.

"I'll come with you." Caspian said, handing Susan the sword.

Edmund looked at him awkwardly; he was clearly trying to mend the damage on their friendship they had both caused so he nodded to him.

"Be careful." Susan said to them all. Her gaze lingered on Caspian, who turned and gave her a small reassuring smiled as they set off.

"Don't worry your majesties. They'll find him." Reepicheep reassured them.

"I'll wait here in case he shows up." Susan said addressing the crew. "You all head back to the ship."

"Yes, Your Majesty" Reepicheep said.

"I'll go with them. Check up on Gael." Lucy said quietly to her. Susan nodded and helped them load the boat.

...

"Eustace!" Caspian shouted.

"Eustace!" Edmund echoed his shout as they walked along the path Eustace had originally been on. They stopped where Eustace had fallen, both looking at the treasure.

"Treasure." Edmund said.

"Trouble." Caspian replied in a warning tone.

They made their way down and Edmund ran over to Eustace's burnt red shoe and picked it up.

"Eustace." He said, his voice filled with pain and shock. He looked over to see the bundle of his burnt clothes and he ran towards it and knelt down picking up his slightly singed dairy. "No! Oh, cousin." He voice was mournful and filled with shame.

Caspian crouched beside him. "I'm sorry." Caspian said sombrely in an almost whisper as he looked at the burnt clothes, unable to register he was actually gone.

"He was just a boy. I never should have left him." Edmund said guiltily. He shouldn't have been so hard on him. He was new to Narnia; he should have been there for him. "What could have happened to him?" He asked in a slightly shaky voice.

Caspian looked over his shoulder. "In this place. Anything." He noticed a skeleton behind him and he rose walking over to him. "And he wasn't the first. It's Lord Octesian. We need to find his..." He turned to see Edmund unsheathe the sword as he tried to hold back his mournful tears. "...sword."

...

Lucy was standing with Gael on the second deck with Drinian near the wheel. A loud roar was heard in the distance and everyone moved back fearfully.

"What was that?" Lucy asked Drinian as the roaring continued.

"Is it the volcano?" Gael asked innocently, her voice filled with fear.

"Oh, no. That's no volcano." Drinian replied nervously. "All hands on deck there! Archers, arm yourselves!" He ordered.

The crew scurried around the deck arming themselves at the ready. A dragon flew towards the Dawn Treader, roaring and breathing fire.

"Take your positions and wait for my command." Drinian yelled.

Lucy gripped onto Gael tightly as the men took aim. The dragon landed on the mast wobbling it with its heavy weight.

"What's it doing?" Lucy shrieked fearfully.

"Fire!" Drinian yelled. The men fired at it causing the dragon to stumble against the mast. "He'll break the mast." He yelled.

Reepicheep unsheathed his sword. "Right!" He put it into his mouth as he climbed up the mast and swung on a rope stabbing in its hands. The dragon fell and glided away through the air breathing fire as it roared heading back to the island leaving behind a very proud and triumphant Reepicheep.

...

Susan turned to see Peter returning without Eustace.

"Don't worry they'll find him." Peter said gently.

He looked past her shoulder and frowned, Susan turned following his gaze to see Caspian and Edmund returning without Eustace. Caspian couldn't bear the thought of telling Susan, Eustace was gone. He looked up at her and furrowed his brow in confusion at her wide fearful eyes. He heard loud flapping behind him and he turned to see a dragon reaching out for him.

"Caspian!"

He heard Susan scream his name in terror, and he was suddenly tackled to the floor by a strong force. He looked up in shock to see Susan lying on top of him, protectively. They locked eyes, both of them filled with fear as their faces were only inches apart. They quickly turned their heads to see the dragon head for Edmund.

"Edmund!" Peter yelled.

"Ed!" Caspian shouted as he and Susan scrambled to their feet.

The dragon lifted him into the air and flew away with him.

"No!" Susan screamed.

Edmund struggled against its grip as he flew him over the volcano. Written into it was "I am Eustace."

Edmund looked up at him disbelievingly. "You've got to be joking!"

...

The five royals, Gael, Mr. Rhince, Drinian, Reepicheep and Tavros were all looking at Eustace as he tried to gnaw and scrape the bracelet of his arm.

"He must have been tempted by the treasure." Edmund said.

"Anyone knows that a dragons treasure is enchanted..." Caspian said and he caught himself remembering who he was speaking about. "Well, anyone from here." He added a little sheepishly.

Eustace grumbled at him. Lucy smirked at Caspian as Susan walked towards Eustace. She held her hands out for the bracelet but Eustace growled at her and snatched his arm away.

"Eustace Clarence Scrubb, do not growl at me." She scolded him, her siblings smirked as the rest of them raised their eyebrows, both surprised and amused. "Now give me your arm." She said gently. He hesitated and put it out in front of her as he fidgeted. She slowly and gently took the bracelet off; he roared and gave her the most irritated look. "Well if you would have stop fidgeting it wouldn't hurt." She lectured gently as she threw the bracelet to the side. "Let me see." She rubbed his arm gently.

"Is there any way to change him back?" Peter asked.

Caspian looked over to the Narnian's and they shook their heads. "Not that I know of." He said reluctantly.

Eustace looked into Susan's eyes, his own were full of fear and worry. Susan stroked his snout trying to calm him.

"Aunt Alberta will not be pleased." Edmund said.

"Sorry about the hand, old boy. I can be a little overzealous at times." Reepicheep apologised sheepishly as he stepped towards him.

"The boats are ready Sire." Tavros shouted to Caspian.

Susan quickly looked to Caspian. "We can't leave him alone." She said gently as he locked eyes with her.

"Well we can't bring him on board your majesty." Drinian said.

Caspian looked into Susan's puppy dog eyes. He couldn't refuse her anything. "Drinian, you and the others take one board back. The rest of us will stay here till morning...and work out what to do." Caspian ordered, handing Drinian one of the seven swords. Susan smiled at him gratefully.

"But you've no provisions, and no means of staying warm, Your Majesty." Mr Rhince pointed out.

Eustace gathered his train of thoughts and breathed fire onto a small log, setting it ablaze and startling them all.

Reepicheep chuckled "You were saying?" They all smiled at him.

"Well I guess you're not useless after all." Susan said gently as she scratched behind his ear which he seemed to like as a dog would have. She giggled at him. "No you're not."

"The Gentle Queen indeed." Reepicheep said in a low voice to Caspian as they both watched her. Caspian smiled down at him. "The one who returned to you after all." He whispered only so Caspian could hear him. He smiled giving Caspian a knowing look and Caspian felt his heart skip a beat. Reepicheep had been right all along. Aslan wouldn't just reunite them only to tear them apart again. That would be too cruel a fate for anyone to endure.