A/N: So we finally made it to Ramandu's Island and met his daughter, the future queen of Narnia.
Risa: Don't mention her.
Me: Who, the lady?
Risa: Her.
Me: You're just jealous
Risa: Didn't we already have this argument?
Me: Several times. Now for the readers out there, this is the second to last chapter.
Programmed AAAAWWWW…
Me: RISA!
Risa: I didn't do it!
Both look up in shock
Me: Um-okay, before things get any weirder-
Risa: You're in the room. How much more weird can it get?
Me: Ignoring. Let's get on with the chapter.
Risa: WE'RE ALMOST DONE!
Me: Yep, and then we can finally move on to the next one.
Risa: What?
Me: I can't give any more information away. Let's just surprise our audience.
Risa: You write the longest author's notes.
Me: It's a passion. On with said chapter!
Chapter 13
Enchantments, Endings and Eths
(Risa: I write better chapter titles)
((Me: Shut up))
Slowly the door opened and out there came a figure as tall and straight as the lady's but not so slender. To tell you the truth, Risa and I were about to jump out of our skins. We knew it was Ramandu, but seeing him was just so cool! If you want a description then read the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis did a fabulous job.
"Jaden, can I go hug him?"
"What? No!"
"Please."
"No."
"Pretty pleeeeeeaaaaase?"
"Risa I said no. You can't just go up out of the blue and hug a star."
"Why not?"
"I—"
Suddenly, they began to sing and cut off our argument. It was the most beautiful song I've ever heard, and very shrill. As they sang, the clouds lifted and the sun began to rise. Stars cause the sun to rise in Narnia.
"It's just like mythology class," Risa whispered. I don't know who the person is, but supposedly he had a chariot which dragged the sun up. Just shows you how the real God is more powerful. He don't need no darn chariot.
Anyways, it turns out that the farther east you go in Narnia, the sun gets bigger because you get closer to it. Out of the sun, a shape flew and the air became full of singing voices that no one (maybe the lady and Ramandu) could understand. Thousands of large, white birds flew towards us out of the sun and landed on everything. There were so many of them, it looked like snow. Risa began stroking the birds that landed on her as if they were puppies.
"Risa, are you sure you should be doing that?"
"But they're so pretty."
"Yeah but—"
Then Edmund shot us a look that said be quiet. The guys were looking at the birds cleaning off the table, but we, Lucy, Risa, and I, caught Ramandu being fed by one of the birds. It looked like a red-hot coal, but I couldn't tell. It was too bright to make out a shape.
Finally he turned to us. "Sir," said Caspian, "will you tell us how to undo the enchantment which holds these three Narnian Lords asleep?"
"I will gladly tell you that, my son. To break this enchantment you must sail to the World's End, or as near as you can come to it, and you must come back having left at least one of your company behind."
"And what must happen to that one?" asked Reepicheep.
"He must go on into the utter east and never return into the world," Ramandu answered.
"That is my heart's desire."
"And are we near the World's End now, Sir? Have you any knowledge of the seas and lands further east than this?" asked Caspian.
"I saw them long ago, but it was from a great height. I cannot tell you such things as sailors need to know."
"Do you mean you were flying in the air?" blurted Eustace. You have to understand, we liked Eustace and all after he started to change, but laughing at his ignorance is just too hard to resist. Risa and I burst out laughing, trying to hide it behind coughs, while Eustace turned red. Ramandu didn't seem to be paying attention to our little bout of immaturity.
"I was a long way above the air, my son. I am Ramandu. But I see that most of you stare at one another and have not heard this name. And no wonder, for the days when I was a star had ceased long before any of your knew this world, and all the constellations have changed."
"Golly. He's a retired star," said Edmund under his breath. We were close enough to hear it.
"Aren't you a star any longer?" asked Lucy.
"I am a star at rest, my daughter," he said and began explaining the whole process of his de-aging. Risa and I pulled back to have a conversation of our own.
"Man, Narnia is so much cooler than Earth. They have valleys and plants on their sun. Our sun is too hot to get near it," complained Risa.
"Yeah, what would it be like if we could go to Narnia's sun?"
"That would be epic."
"In our world a star is a huge ball of flaming gas," said Eustace to Ramandu.
"Even in your world, my son, that is not what a star is but only what it is made of."
"Hey Risa, we could have talking stars in our universe too," I whispered to her.
"I think that's what he just said Jade."
Trying to suppress a groan at that infernal nickname, I turned my ears back to the conversation.
"And in this world you have already met a star: for I think you have been with Coriakin."
"Is he a retired star too?" asked Lucy.
"Well, not quite the same. It was not quite as a rest that he was set to govern the Duffers. You might call it a punishment. He might have shone for thousands of years more in the south winter sky if all had gone well."
"What did he do, Sir?"
"My son, it is not for you, a son of Adam, to know what faults a star can commit. But come, we waste time in suck talk. Are you yet resolved? Will you sail further east and come again, leaving one to return no more, and so break the enchantment? Or will you sail westward?"
"Surely, Sire, there is no question about that? It is very plainly part of our quest to rescue these three lords from enchantment," said Reep.
"I think the same, Reepicheep, and even if it were not so, it would break my heart not to go as near the World's End as the Dawn Treader will take us. But I am thinking about the crew. They signed on to seek the seven lords, not to reach the rim of the earth. If we sail east from here we sail to find the edge, the utter east. And no one knows how far it is. They're brave fellows, but I see signs that some of them are weary of the voyage and long to have our prow pointing to Narnia. I don't think I should take them further without their knowledge and consent. And then there's poor Lord Rhoop. He's a broken man."
"My son, it would be no use, even though you wished it, to sail for the World's End with men unwilling or men deceived. That is not how great unenchantments are achieved. They must know where they go and why. But who is this broken man you speak of?"
"His name's Lord Rhoop," answered Risa. I shot a glance at her, but she continued. "We found him at Dark Island. I guess he's been there for years and the nightmares made him go nuts."
"I can give him what he needs most. In this island there is sleep without stint or measure, and sleep in which no faintest footfall of a dream was ever heard. Let him sit beside these other three and drink oblivion till your return.
"Oh, let's do that, Caspian. I'm sure it's just what he would love."
I nodded. "Yeah, he could use some real sleep without any type of dream or nightmare."
Just then, Drinian and the rest of the crew approached. First they were shocked by Ramandu and his daughter, and every man took his hat off in respect. Oh the wonderful days of chivalry.
"My lord, pray send two men back to the ship with a message to Lord Rhoop. Tell him that the last of his old shipmates are here asleep—a sleep without dreams—and that he can share it," said Caspian to Drinian.
"We'll go," Risa volunteered us. Before Caspian could argue, Risa was already dragging me to the boat.
"Risa, will you stop? I can move on my own without you dragging me."
She let go and we both ran to the row boat, surprisingly tougher to row than it looked. When we finally were able to get to the Dawn Treader we went down to the cabin where Rhoop was staying. He was huddled on his bed, looking out the porthole.
"Lord Rhoop?" I asked gently. He seemed to have not heard or was ignoring me. "Lord Rhoop, we aren't dreams. We come with a message."
"And what would that be?" he asked shakily.
"We found your old shipmates on the island where we stopped. They all are sleeping, but it is a sleep without dreams. Ramandu, the lord of the island has invited you to join them."
He finally turned over and looked terrible. I wouldn't wish it on anyone to spend years where he has spent them. He didn't seem to believe me.
"Is it true?"
"It's true," said Risa.
"Please, come with us."
A creaky smile parted his lips and his frail form pushed itself up, his limbs trembling. He really was broken. We helped him up to the deck, but then Risa abandoned me and went back below deck. While she was busy, I helped Rhoop into the boat and waited for her to come back. Her arms were full with the treasures we had just found (the ones from the last chapter.)
"Why did you bring those?"
"Because, my bo staff is epic and maybe I can 'accidentally' hit her with it."
"You like holding grudges don't you?"
"Uh-huh," she said, her words spiking to a dangerous pitch. I rolled my eyes and took the whip.
"Fine, but no whip."
"It's yours anyway, I couldn't make it work."
"How do you know it's mine?"
"It just seems like you. When I see it, I think of you. That and some type of jelly and then a mushroom cloud. Whatever that means."
"Right." No—I don't have a psycho friend—what makes you think that? "Well put the staff down and help me row."
It seemed harder to row back to the shore than it did to the boat, but we finally got there.
"What should we do now?" I asked, not wanting to interrupt the large congregation of sailors around a speaking Caspian. Ramandu came up to us.
"Follow me, my son," he said to Rhoop. Rhoop obeyed, as did we, and went to Aslan's table where his friends were. He was seated next to Lord Argoz-- I think that was his name—with the help of Ramandu's daughter, in which Risa began glaring at her. Ramandu stood behind him and laid his hands on Rhoop's head.
"And now for the Lord Rhoop." Everybody turned around and saw Rhoop at the table. Hah, they were too late. Even though the sun, much bigger and brighter than usual, was up and shining, there was still a faint silver light that came from the star's hands. Rhoop held out his hands to Lucy and Caspian as if going to say something, but then his smile brightened and he let out a long sigh of contentment, his head fell forward and he was asleep.
"Poor Rhoop. I am glad. He must have had terrible times," Lucy said.
"Don't let's even think of it," said Eustace.
After that, the sailors scattered all over the island to think. "So, how was your speech?"
"We'll see in a moment."
At the end of the half-hour they all came trooping back to Aslan's Table and stood at one end while Drinian and Rhince went and sat down with Caspian and made their report. Everyone had changed their mind, one by the name of Pittencream (I love that name) chose at the last second. He wasn't allowed to come.
That night before we left, we all ate and drank at the table and got ready to leave the next morning. Risa and I were near Caspian when he went to Ramandu's daughter.
"Lady, I hope to speak with your again when I have broken the enchantments." Ramandu's daughter looked at him and smiled while Risa scowled.
"Oh brother."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! IT WILL NEVER END! We had just left the stupid island and it felt as though we had been sailing forever. It was as if a new feeling rested on the ship and its crew like a blanket. No one talked anymore except in whispers, no one wanted to eat or drink (except me because I can't go very long without eating and especially without drinking. I drink like a horse) and no one wanted to go to sleep.
There was also way too much light! I am a person who thinks a good day is a nice warm rain. Light and me don't get along real well after a long time. Every morning we would see the large white birds flying to Ramandu's island to eat at the table and then would fly back and vanish into the east.
That particular day, I was on my back looking up at the sky. How I wanted to be home. I could even stand my brother for a bit, as long as I was home.
I looked over and saw Lucy leaning over the side of the ship. Curiosity got a hold of me, and at least I would be doing something.
"Lucy?" I whispered. She didn't seem to hear even though I was right next to her. "Lucy."
She jumped up and looked at me. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she whispered back.
"What are we doing?" Risa whispered obnoxiously. It was more of a whisper yell.
"Looking at the water," I hissed back.
"Why?"
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Shut-eth up-eth," I sighed.
"You-eth shut-eth up-eth."
"What are you two doing?" Lucy asked quietly.
"Nothing-eth," answered Risa. Lucy giggled and joined along.
"This-eth is-eth fun-eth."
"So-eth, what-eth were-eth you-eth looking-eth at-eth?" asked Risa.
"There-eth was-eth a-eth shadow-eth following-eth us-eth."
"A-eth shadow-eth?"
"Yes-eth. Come-eth look-eth," she beckoned. We leaned over and saw the shadow following us.
"It's-eth our-eth shadow-eth! The-eth shadow-eth of-eth the-eth Dawn-eth Treader-eth. Our-eth shadow-eth running-eth along-eth the-eth bottom-eth of-eth the-eth sea-eth. That-eth time-eth when-eth it-eth got-eth bigger-eth it-eth went-eth over-eth a-eth hill-eth."
"But-eth in-eth that-eth case-eth, the-eth water-eth must-eth be-eth very-eth clear-eth," said Risa.
"Good-eth grief-eth, we-eth must-eth be-eth looking-eth at-eth the-eth bottom-eth of-eth the-eth sea-eth, fathoms-eth and fathoms-eth down," said I.
We then passed over a mass of soft purplish-green with occasional dark spots. The dark stuff seemed taller and were waving gently in the current.
"Just-eth like-eth trees-eth in-eth the-eth wind-eth. And-eth I-eth do-eth believe-eth that's-eth what-eth they-eth are-eth. It's-eth a-eth submarine-eth forest-eth." said Lucy.
"Can-eth we-eth please-eth stop-eth talking-eth like-eth this-eth," I begged. (It's easier to say than it is to type)
"Fine-eth," Risa said grudgingly.
"Thank-eth you-eth… wait-eth… I-eth can't-eth stop-eth!"
"Yes you can," Lucy said normally.
I stuck out my tongue a stretched it before pulling it back in. "It feels like I have cotton mouth."
"Hah! You started it and are paying for it—hey wait, you're taking my job!" Risa accused.
"Look," Lucy pointed. There was now a pale streak running across the bottom of the sea. "If I was down there, that streak would be just like a road through the wood. And that place where t joins the other would be a crossroads. Oh, I do wish I was—Hullo! The forest is coming to an end. I do believe the streak really is a road! I can see it going on across the open sand, but it's a different color. And it's marked with something at the edges—"
"They're dotted lines," Risa pointed out.
"They look like stones, probably markers like on the highway."
Lucy was too enthralled to ask about a highway. We saw the road get wider and wider because the ship was crossing shallower waters. Finally little specks were moving on the road. As we got closer the specks formed a bright and jagged object. A castle.
"Wow, the castle is even more beautiful than I thought," I said softly, not even caring about my slip of words. Seeing something and reading a description of it are two totally different things (sorry Mr. Lewis).
"Why, it's a city or a huge castle! But I wonder why they've built it on top of a high mountain?"
The ship finally passed the castle and the road was soon gone when Lucy squealed and pointed into the water. Sea-people.
There were between fifteen and twenty of them, all mounted on giant sea-horses. Some had gleams of gold on their heads and colorful stuff flowed from their shoulders. Unfortunately a school of fish passed over them and blocked our view.
"Oh bother these fish." Suddenly a fierce little fish caught one of the fat ones and sank back down to the sea-people who were laughing and talking.
"Why I do declare, it's a hunting party! Or more like a hawking party."
"What's a hawking party?" Risa asked.
"They ride out with these little fierce fish on their wrists just as we used to ride out with falcons on our wrists when we were Kings and Queens at Cair Paravel long ago. And then they fly them—or I suppose swim them—at the others. How—"
She cut off because the scene was changing. The school of fish had scattered as the shadow of the Dawn Treader passed over them. The sea-people then came up to find what was going on. The king in the center looked proudly and fiercely into our faces and shook his spear. The others did the same. The ladies with them were filled with astonishment. They must have never seen humans or a ship before.
"What are you staring at you three?" Drinian and Edmund came up beside us.
"Look," I pointed to the people. They did and almost immediately, Drinian said, "Turn round at once, your Majesties and Ladyships. That's right, with your backs to the sea, and don't look as if we were talking about anything important."
"Why?" asked Risa, who, though stubborn, nevertheless obeyed.
"It'll never do for the sailors to see all that. We'll have men falling in love with the sea-women or falling in love with the sea-country and jumping overboard. I've heard of that kind of thing happening before in strange seas. It's always unlucky to see those people."
"But we used to know them. In the old days at Cair Paravel when my brother Peter was High King. They came to the surface and sang at our coronation," said Lucy.
"I think that must have been a different kind, Lu," said Edmund. "They could live both in the air and under water. I rather think these can't. By the looks of them they'd have surfaced and started attacking us long ago is they could. They seem very fierce."
"Edmund's right. I didn't like the look in that king's eye," I agreed. Risa shot me a knowing look and I just rolled my eyes. I seriously did agree with Edmund's point.
"At any rate—" Drinian started but was interrupted by a splash. Suddenly Heslath, who was up in the crow's nest, shouted, "Man Overboard!"
More like mouse overboard. "Drat that mouse! He's more trouble than all the rest of the ships' company put together. If there is any scrape to be got into, in he will get it! He ought to be put in irons—keel-hauled—marooned—have his whiskers cut off!"
"Don't talk about Reep like that!" Risa shouted, but Drinian ignored her.
"Can anyone see the little blighter?" The ship finally turned round and a little black blob was Reepicheep who was chattering away. "He'll blurt the whole thing out if we don't shut him up." Drinian pulled the rope away from the men saying, "Alright, back to your places. I hope I can heave a mouse up without help." The sailors agreed and Reepicheep began climbing up the rope slowly.
When he was on deck the five of us all got around him. "Don't tell. Not a word," said Drinian hushed. That didn't stop Reep.
"Sweet! Sweet, sweet!"
"It sounds like he's gone mad," I said, earning a well deserved growl from Risa.
"What are you talking about?" Drinian asked crossly. "And you needn't shake yourself all over me, either."
"I tell you the water's sweet. Sweet, fresh. It isn't salt."
My brain started dancing and singing. Yes! Yes! We're Almost There! Almost off this ship! WhooHoo!
"Where they waves grow sweet,
Doubt not, Reepicheep,
There is the utter east."
Then everyone else, beside me and Risa, understood.
"Let me have a bucket Rynelf," ordered Drinian. Rynelf passed me the bucket which I passed to Drinian and he lowered it into the water. The water in the bucket was like glass.
"Perhaps your Majesty would like to taste it first?" Drinian asked Caspian. Caspian agreed and took the bucket and drank, his eyes and everything about him became brighter.
"Yes, it is sweet. That's real water, that. I'm not sure that it isn't going to kill me, but it is the death I would have chosen if I had known about it till now."
"What do you mean?" asked Edmund.
"It- it's like light more than anything else."
"That is what it is, drinkable light. We must be very near the end of this world now."
Lucy stooped down a drank a handful. "It's the loveliest thing I've ever tasted, but oh—it's strong. We shan't need to eat anything now."
I tasted next. It was delicious. I love water, but if I could have, I would have drowned myself in that stuff just by drinking so much. It's an indescribable taste. I wish I could describe it, but if this stuff is in Heaven, no wonder people don't leave.
Then Risa had a drink. Now the drink is calming to everyone else. Unfortunately it was like giving Ritalin to someone without ADD and then adding pure sugar. It made her nuts. She was bouncing all over the deck and singing and twirling. She was finally restrained. It turns out that Drinian knows a lot about herbs, and some of them—if put together—make sleeping draughts. She slept in the sun until about dinnertime the next day, when she was finally a bit calmer.
While she was asleep, everything was still above deck and no one said a word. The sun was just as bright, but it was tolerable now. Finally Drinian was the first one who spoke at dinner.
"I can't understand this. There's not a breath of wind. The sail hangs dead and the sea is flat, yet we drive on as fast as if there were a gale behind us."
"I've been thinking about that too. We must be caught in a current."
"Or it's just these waters," I put in, but no one paid any mind.
"Hm, that's not so nice if the world really has an edge and we're getting near it," said Edmund.
"You mean that we might be just—well, poured over it?"
"Yes!" Reepicheep cried, clapping. "That's how I've always imagined it. The world like a great round table and the waters of all the oceans endlessly pouring over the edge. The ship will tip up, stand on her head, for one moment we shall see over the edge and then down, down, down—the rush—the speed-"
"And what do you think will be waiting for us at the bottom, eh?" asked Drinian.
"Aslan's country perhaps, or perhaps there isn't any bottom. Perhaps it goes down forever and ever. But whatever it is, won't it be worth anything just to have looked for on moment beyond the edge of the world?"
"I don't know Reep, it doesn't sound as good as you would hope," I said.
"Besides, this is all rot. The world's round—I mean round like a ball, not like a table," said Eustace.
"Our world is, but is this one?"
"Do you mean to say that you come from a round world and you've never told me? It's really too bad of you because we have fairytales in which there are round worlds and I always loved them. I never believed there were any real ones, but I've always wished there were and I've always longed to live in one. Oh, I'd give anything—I wonder why you can get into our world and we never get into yours? If only I had the chance! It must be exciting to live on a thing like a ball. Have you ever been to the parts where people walk about upside down?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble Caspian, but it's not like that. No one walks upside down. That would be so cool if they did," I answered.
"There's nothing particularly exciting about a round world when you're there," said Edmund.
A/N: Extremely long chapter, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The last chapter didn't get as many reviews, and it would be nice to get much more before this story ends.