Last time
"Besides Caspian. What about Lilliandil?"
"What about her?" Caspian argued
"You love her" Margaret said
Chapter 12: The Last Stop
The crew was silent at the declaration. Most were stunned at how Margaret could have figured out their king. Especially about something they knew nothing about. Meanwhile, Drinian, Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace were gapping at her.
They knew she had feelings for Caspian and it probably killed her to say those words. But she had the guts to say them.
"And she loves you" Margaret added
"But…I thought…you…" Caspian said
"No" Margaret said shaking her head sadly. "Just a schoolgirl crush. But what you and Lilliandil have…when I saw you two together…It was like looking at Holly and Peter again. Or even my parents. Besides, I'm from a different world. Meant to go back. It wouldn't have worked. There's probably somewhere, my own age, in my world for me. But you need to stay here to rule Narnia with Lilliandil at your side"
The two locked eyes. She noticed that her little speech had caused the needed conflict in his. On one hand, Caspian wanted more time with her, Edmund, Lucy, and the reformed Eustace which meant more adventures for this quest. On the other hand, going back means back to his Love-at-first-sight, his father's friends, his own friends and his kingdom
Caspian then stormed off to his cabin to figure out if he was going to put up more of a fight or if he was going to cave
"You did well" Edmund praised Margaret said
"I wish I hadn't led him on. I had thought it would be possible, but…if Aslan wanted it to be, he would have said something to Caspian or me by now by telling me not to go"
Down in the cabin,
Caspian was pacing as he tried to decide what to do. On one hand, he REALLY wanted to see Aslan's country and to spend as much time as possible with his fellow royals. Especially Margaret. On the other hand, Margaret was right. Her and the others. He had a country who looked up to him
Suddenly, the lion's head on the mantle came to life
"Caspian" it spoke in Aslan's voice
"Aslan" Caspian whispered as he knelt before the statue
"Caspian" Aslan repeated sternly. "Reepicheep, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace, and Margaret are to carry on to my country and you are to turn back at once. You are not yet ready for my country"
"Yes Sir" Caspian said like a little kid who just got lectured by his favorite parent.
He came out and gave the news. At about two o'clock, the five who were to continue said their goodbyes to the crew.
When Margaret got to Caspian,
"Give my best to Lilliandil, Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, and Cornelius" Margaret said with a small curtsy
"And you give mine to Queen Holly, King Peter, and Queen Susan" Caspian said
Margaret then gave Caspian a hug that a sister would give to a brother
"Keep up the good work in Narnia." Margaret said. "Or I'm going to have Aslan bring me back to give you another good telling off"
Caspian shared a smile with her at the joke (despite the fact she meant it). She then climbed in with the others and the longboat was lowered. The Dawn Treader then turned around and sailed away
"Now to Aslan's country and home" Margaret said
The fivesome traveled together in silence before coming across an island that had a wall of water on one boarder
"The edge of the world" Lucy gasped
"I would have thought it would have been like a cliff one was about to go over" Edmund stated with a shrug
"I'm still amazed this world is flat" Eustace said
Suddenly, something caught Lucy's eyes and she motioned for the others to look. They turned and saw a VERY familiar figure
"Your grace" Reepicheep said in a VERY low bow as the others followed
"Welcome" Aslan greeted them
"Sir? Is this your country?" Eustace asked
"No Eustace" Aslan said gently. "My country is just over this wall"
"Then I must go over" Reepicheep said before turning to Aslan "With YOUR permission of course, Sire"
"You have proven yourself worthy. You have my blessing" Aslan confirmed
Reepicheep then turned to the humans
"Can we?" Lucy asked as she and Margaret knelt down to the mouse's level
"I suppose just this once" Reepicheep sighed
The girls scooped the mouse into a hug. Then they released him.
"It has been an HONOR fighting alongside you, your majesty" Reepicheep said bowing towards Edmund
"Likewise" Edmund said returning the bow
Then Reepicheep turned to Eustace who had a face of 'I'm not going to cry….I'm not going to cry.'
"Cheer up lad." Reepicheep said. "Remember. Show no fear. You've made a grand fighter in this time that I've gotten to know you and it's been an honor fighting with you"
"I feel the same way" Eustace said
Reepicheep then ran up to a small boat and took off his sword
"I won't be needing this" he declared before rowing over the wall of water
"He's in a better place" Lucy reminded them what Margaret had mentioned about her suspicions as she wiped a tear from her eye
"That he is" Aslan agreed "Now, Edmund, Lucy, and Margaret. You three are not to return back to Narnia"
The disappointment was obvious
"So we'll never see you again?" Margaret asked
"You will see me" Aslan informed them
"You're in our world too?" Edmund asked
"I am. But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. That was the reason you were brought to Narnia in the first place: to know me a little here, so you can know me better there"
"Will Eustace come back?" Lucy asked motioning to her cousin who was still too stunned. Margaret sympathized with the boy fully as she had been in a VERY similar spot
"Do you really need to know that, Child?" Aslan answered
A hole in the wall of water opened and the four humans looked at each other
"I guess this is goodbye unless we run into each other in our world" Margaret sighed
"Give our bests to Holly" Lucy said hugging the older girl
"Give Peter and Susan our bests as well" Margaret said as she hugged Edmund.
She then turned to Eustace and held out her hand which he shook
"You're not a bad kid Eustace" she said with a smile. "You just needed to…have an attitude adjustment. Keep this new one and you'll go far"
"Thanks Margaret" Eustace said
The foursome walked through the hole with a final wave towards Aslan
TBC
