We were in complete silence as we sailed to Dark Island. The only thing that could be heard was the occasional groaning of the ship or the lap of the waves against the wood.

Edmund and I had returned to our normal relationship. Although he was more attentive with the compliments and the gestures of gentlemanlike behavior, I suspect he still felt guilty about his reaction to the beautiful star.

"So, what do you think is in there?" Tavros asked. It was odd to see a minotaur so on edge. They were such great big creatures. Half man, half bull.

"Our worst nightmares," Ed said, squeezing my hand in our old and current sneaky way of affection.

"Our darkest wishes," Caspian added.

"Pure evil," Drinian added from the helm. I didn't suppose he was too far off from that statement. He moved from the wheel and ordered, "Tavros, unlock the armory."

The minotaur nodded and obeyed with, "My lord."

Drinian shouted to the crew, "Archers, prepare yourselves."

Tavros shouted, "Light the lanterns." As the light began to fade and give way to a terrifying darkness.

"Let's get ready," Caspian said to Edmund, Lucy, Greg, and me.

Lucy and I took to our cabin and suited up. Lucy pulled tightly on my hair to braid it back. I winced every so often as I was not used to my hair being pulled back so tight. It had been a while since my last real battle, and even longer since I had hair long enough to warrant this kind of treatment.

Gael watched us.

"When I grow up, I want to be just like you two," she said, watching Lucy and me get ready. Lucy stopped her rough treatment of my scalp and tied it off quickly.

She walked over to the little girl while I massaged my sore head. "When you grow up," she said, sitting down next to her on the bed, "you should be just like you." Lucy gave Gael a small hug and I smiled. Then I remembered something. I turned quickly and searched about in the drawer.

"But you're so brave. And I…I'm scared," she whispered.

"Gael," I said softly. She turned her head to me. I produced a shiny silver knife. "Come here a moment." She obeyed and walked over to me as I sat in front of the mirror. I handed her the knife. "Can you read?"

She shook her head.

Quietly I read the inscription on the blade, "Aslan gives us only what we can bare." I looked at her, "Aslan must think you're very brave to be here for this." I handed her the knife. "When I was your age I was most definitely not brave enough for this."

"I don't feel very brave," she whispered looking at the knife in her hands with a frown.

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality," Lucy said joining us at the mirror.

"Who said that?" Gael asked.

Lucy shrugged, "Will did, at the battle of Blunder Valley."

Giving a small shake of my head I said, "Someone back home said it first. I just remembered it for the speech you made me give." I remembered Lucy shoving me in front of the army, telling me to say something inspiring. All I could remember was that.

"Who was it then?" Gael asked.

I shrugged, "Someone back home. Whoever he was, he was very wise."

We were soon told to join Caspian on the deck.

Quickly, before we left her bellow deck, I instructed Gael not to leave the cabin. And if worse came to worse, be ready to fight. Lucy and I then left her there with my knife and words of comfort.

I managed to find Edmund and stood next to him. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lucy seek out Greg and shyly stand next to him. If the situation weren't so dire I would have smiled. They really did make an adorable couple. If they had met under different circumstances I wonder if they would have had the same life as Edmund and I.

"No matter what happens here," Caspian told us from the helm, "every soul before me has earned their place on the crew of the Dawn Treader. Together we have traveled far. Together we have faced adversity. Together we can do it again. So now is not the time to fall to fear's temptations. Be strong. Never give in."

Edmund turned his head and gave me a small kiss on the temple.

"Our world…our Narnian lives, depend on it. Think of the lost souls we're here to save. Think of Aslan."

That did it. My whole body filled with warmth and joy like it did the first time I heard that name. So many years ago in the dam of the beavers. The name filled me with hope and warmth and light. And today it did the same. Today I felt strong enough to face whatever it was the personification of evil threw at us.

"Think of Narnia," Caspian finished and walked down the stairs to join us.

"For Narnia!" Drinian shouted.

"For Narnia!" we bellowed. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Greg raise his sword with some of them men, in a sort of salute.

Edmund gave Caspian a smile. Pride shone in his eyes. I looked to Edmund and watched him smile. It took a moment before he noticed I was looking at him. "What?" he asked.

Taking a shallow breath I stood on my tip toes and gave him a kiss on the corner of his mouth, "I love you, Edmund Pevensie."

His cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink at my sudden display of affection.

"I love you, Willow Janice Pevensie," with that he leaned down and forwent the usual policy of PDA we kept on the Dawn Treader. He kissed me full on the mouth.

Around us I could hear whistles and cheers from the men and the faint "that's disgusting" from Greg. But I didn't care. We were going into battle once more, there was no way I was going into it without telling my husband how I felt. How I always feel…about him.

For Narnia indeed.