Okay, not too long a wait, right? :P

I'm still feeling a little 'eh' so again, I apologize if I come across as painfully sarcastic :P

NymphadoraLupin98 - Hahaha I do apologize, I just couldn't resist XD
Ah yes, a little silliness was overdue, wasn't it?
A little? Haha well, better than a lot I suppose :P But don't worry, there can still be cutifulness ;)
Good to hear from you again! :)

WriteToEscapeReality1309 - Well thank you very much! :D
Haha I'm glad you enjoyed that! I could see a mental Nikki racing around in my head...or maybe in my mug of coffee...eh, same difference :P
And again, it seems I have the easiest time writing the creepy stuff...weird, right? But hey, as long as you readers enjoy it! :P But thank you, I'm glad it was so vivid! :D
Gracias for the review!

Evy201 - Haha work in couple-cutesy with terror - this is my style! :P
And thank you, I do as well. Otherwise writing these chapters in the span of days won't be so easy anymore :P Anyway, thank you! :) And also for reviewing! :)

Garideth - Haha out loud? XD I'd have loved to be there if so! :P
Yes, the false hope is painful, isn't it? :/ But it's all part of her madness, see. Relapses, as it were. :]
Nice hearing from you! :)

Disclaimer - Figure it out, people of Earth and all other dimensions. You're smart. :)

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 19

Nikki POV:

The instant I hear that scream, I'm flying back into the cabin, all thoughts of procrastinating my training gone. I thought she was getting better. Was I wrong? Or was there something to trigger the madness?

No matter, the only important thing is that we help her right now. I barely notice the door, I crash through it so quickly. I locate Laurah within seconds, head thrown back and frightening sounds coming from her mouth. She would have hit the floor on her back, but Caspian's supporting her back, somehow managing to dodge her frantically-flailing arms.

I'm beside them in a moment, supporting Laurah from behind so Caspian can let her go. Maybe it'd be best if she was lying down until this passes.

"What happened, Caspian?" I whisper in a lull between the screams.

"I'm not sure," he whispers right back, looking to be in something of a shock.

I wave it off, focusing only on what could calm my best friend down right now. Racking my brains, I still come up with no ideas.

"Any brilliant plans, Cas?" I hiss, my panic starting to escalate. This bout is even worse than the first one we saw, back when she first came on board.

The poor guy starts to shake his head, but suddenly stops. So he does have an idea! Wonderful!

"Spill the beans Your Highness!"

Dismissal and fear register on Caspian's face, and he waggles his head back and forth vehemently. I won't have any of it. If he has an idea, however crazy it may be, darn it all, we're going to try it, or my name's not Nikki Kathleen Alice Stevens!

"Cut the crap and just do it! She can't get any worse, gosh dang it!"

He hesitates a moment more, but one of those do-it-you-idiot looks from me must do the trick. And well, he just does. It's a strange moment for me, kind of, because I'm still supporting Laurah from behind and all, and I have to look to the side because I really don't want a close-up view of Caspian kissing my best friend. Okay, so it's only a peck, but the point stands.

Well I wasn't expecting that to be his plan, I'm not gonna lie. But hey, it probably just popped into his head. And since Laurah stops screaming the moment he…well you know, I'm not complaining. In fact, she bolts upright with a deer-in-the-headlights kind of look, barely missing ramming heads with Caspian as she does. Luckily for his royal noggin, he moves just in time.

"Chica! Good gods above, you scared me! Please please please do not ever scare me like that again!"

She whirls around to face me, her face confused and frightened. Her expression practically screams 'What the heck just happened?', so I take a moment to compose myself and answer her question – mostly.

"You were screaming real scary-like, and then Caspian…well, he just sort of…brought you back to your senses," I respond, not really sure if she knows that he kissed her or not. And if she doesn't, I'm not gonna be the one to tell her.

But I discreetly shoot Caspian a thumbs-up, because he did actually return her to her sort of-right mind. Though I do wish I'd had some warning so I didn't have to be so close by, but still, the point is that Laurah's not having her screaming fit anymore.

His eyebrows look nonexistent, they're so far shot up. Is he just surprised it worked at all? Now that I think about it, I am. Had I known what he was going to do, I'd have expected Laurah to have either socked him in the face or hurt herself trying to scurry away. Well that just proves she's not as far gone as she could be, right?

She gags slightly and I can't help but think that surely Caspian isn't that bad of a kisser. However, I, or my slightly-humor-colored thoughts, shut right up when I notice the thin wisp of green mist coming out of her mouth. What in the name of…?!

"Caspian?" I squeak, motioning to the mist with my eyes.

However, he's no help – he's ever bit as shocked, horrified, dumbstruck as me. Go figure. In fact, he almost looks as if he's going to keel over any second, after he finishes dumping whatever breakfast he had over the side of the ship from pure shock.

My eyes never leave the stuff as it leaves Laurah and wafts into the air. I don't know whether to steer clear of that mist or try and trap it or wave it away with my hand, but Caspian seems to know exactly what to do. In a moment, before it can go very far at all, he swings a punch at the stuff, which effectively gets rid of it.

When he turns back around, I can see the barely-contained fury in his eyes. Thanks be to heaven, it's directed at that mist stuff rather than at me or Laurah. Still, it is a little surprising to see such ferocity in Caspian's – Caspian, of all people's! – eyes. I guess that's what it looks like when a man in love sees something hurting his beloved – or in this case, beloved and betrothed. Gosh, that's such an old timey word: betrothed. No normal 21st century girl uses that.

Meh, who cares. I'm not in the 21st century at the moment; I happen to be in Narnia. Just in case that's not readily apparent. What the heck am I even thinking?!

I turn my attention back to Laurah immediately, who's looking wide-eyed at Caspian and almost shrinking in fear at his expression, though it's not aimed at her. But upon seeing her fright, he instantly softens and comes back over to crouch beside her. It seriously makes me want to cry when she shies away from him.

But I thought they were doing a bit better, I thought she was doing a bit better…not anymore, maybe. But maybe it's just a temporary thing, while she gets her bearings. Yes, that must be it.

"It's okay chica, he was only helping get that awful mist away from you," I croon into her ear, rocking her back and forth.

She calms down a little, but still eyes Caspian warily. He, for one, can't seem to speak. If I can read people at all, he's begging her, without words, to not be afraid.

"I'd suggest saying something," I whisper to him, giving him a slight nudge on the shoulder for good measure.

After a moment, he nods and clears his throat ever so slightly, sitting down to look as non-threatening as possible.

"Remember what I told you, Laurah? I promise, I spoke true. You have nothing to fear from me."

"You're going to make me cry, dammit," I mumble, swiping at my eyes with one hand. I always had a soft spot for cutiful or touching moments, and this certainly qualifies in my Nikki-mind.

My eyes truly do water up when Laurah doesn't move at all, only searches his face for a sign to see if he's lying.

"You can trust him, chica," I whisper, soft enough that only she can hear.

She nods once, still apparently trusting my word implicitly even after this latest fit. And I have to suppress a relieved sigh when she relaxes and moves one hand a fraction of an inch toward Caspian. Of course, he notes this right away, and moves to take her hand in his, though slowly. Heaven knows he doesn't want to scare her any more.

She lets him, and she doesn't flinch away this time when he takes her tiny fingers into his, nor when he kisses them lightly. And this is another of those moments I'm more than happy to let them have to themselves.

"Okay y'all, I think I'll take a little stroll on deck and annoy MopMan. See ya later, amigo y amiga!" With this excuse, I gently transfer Laurah to Caspian, though she seems to be able to sit up on her own now, and leave them to whatever other happy, or at least nice, moments that they're bound to have.

Laurah POV:

Whatever happened to draw me away from the snake, I can't remember. I know something did, but the memory seems to be shrouded, or not even there. But from King Caspian's face, he had something to do with it.

Nikki just left, and I have to wonder why she's so eager to leave the king and me alone together. I actually miss her already, because she's the person I'm most comfortable with. While I am getting used to the king's company, Nikki's is still more familiar.

He slowly lowers my hand from his lips, but never looks away from my eyes. I don't want to be frightened of him, but that look in his eye a minute ago…I couldn't help my fear. He says I have nothing to fear from him, but that look, that face, is something that's already haunting my mind. My shattered, fragmented excuse for a mind, that is.

I'd like to know what happened, what it was that drew me away from the snake and back to this cabin. It all happened so quickly…and it's threatening to come back now. I can't help the shivers of fear traveling along my spine, the trembling of my entire body in apprehension. I remember being skinned alive – I must look so hideous now.

My free hand flies to my face and I'm dreading to find out what my face must look like, but I can't not know. I want to know how monstrous I look. I want to know how ugly and repulsive I am. But my fingers touch…skin. My skin? But wasn't it ripped off?

I probe my face, looking for visible signs of the snake's torture. But, somehow, I can find none. No scars, no tears or gaping wounds or chunks of missing flesh.

The king's hand covers my own, and warmth spills from his hand onto my skin. He must see my confusion, because he speaks soft words of comfort.

"Whatever you saw, it wasn't real. I can promise you it wasn't. See? Whatever that snake did to you is just an illusion. You're alright, you see?" he croons, holding my face in both his hands and kissing away tears I didn't even realize were dripping down my cheeks.

My eyes search his brown ones, looking for any hint of anger or ferocity. They find none, and I start to wonder if I merely imagined that look that frightened me so. It wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility, knowing me. Maybe this thought is why I lean into his hands on the sides of my cheeks. There's no reason for me to do this, really, other than that it simply feels right.

"I said I would look after you, did I not?" His voice catches, and I let one of my hands fly to his throat, asking what's the matter.

The king just shakes his head, either unable or unwilling to say why his voice is failing. My hand remains at his throat, shifting to rest lightly against the side of his neck. I don't want it to seem like I could choke him if I wanted. Not that I could anyway, but still.

Suddenly I wonder if this is out of place, out of line. I'm about to ask this very question with my eyes or mime it, but King Caspian seems perfectly alright with the turn of things. And that again brings up the question of what happened to rescue me from the snake, and what the king had to do with it. Why help me?

"I care for you, Laurah," he whispers, answering the question he must have seen written in my expression. But…why care for me?

I don't miss that his eyes briefly flit to the ring on my finger and back up to my eyes. Is the ring somehow connected to that second question? How? Why does it mean something to him? Do we actually know each other from long ago, and I've somehow forgotten?

I don't expect him to read all these many questions from looking at me, but I can't find the will to speak them out loud either. Speaking is something foreign to me, and I'm not ready to give it a go just yet. I suppose my questions aren't pressing enough to warrant the use of speech to communicate them. And besides, King Caspian said he would tell me about the ring, just a bit later. I can wait.

Footsteps sound outside the door, and a bald man with creases around his eyes walks in, boots sounding heavy and maybe even frightening on the wood floor.

"You Majesty, we are approaching Ramandu's Island."

"Thank you, Captain."

So that man is the captain. He looks stern, at least judging by first impressions. But he leaves just as quickly as he came, and the king and I are once again alone.

"We should go on deck," King Caspian says softly, helping me up.

Or he tries to, at least. My knees give out almost the same moment I'm finally standing on my own two feet. I have to suppress the groan of frustration pressing at my lips back down my throat. I can complain about my weakness to myself later.

The king sweeps me up and starts to carry me as he has before, in spite of my silent protests. I don't want to be babied. Then again, I can't argue with the king, can I? It's not my place. So I hush up and stop fighting him. It wasn't doing much good anyway.

The noon sun is bright in my eyes, and I can barely see. I have to squint from the excess of light and shield my eyes with my hand. Why is the sun so bright here? It's almost painful to look at really, especially to one so used to dark as I.

"Aw chica, you can't stand again? I'm sorry," cheeps my best friend in my ear, hidden from my sight by the murderous sun. "Here, I can take her. It looks like the good Captain Sparrow wants to chat with ya."

I feel a vague shifting, like I'm moving from one person's arms to another's – which I am actually, so that makes sense. Nikki doesn't even seem to be bothered in the slightest by my weight. It's almost like I literally weigh nothing with how easily she holds me up.

"You know what? Let's get some more food in you – heaven knows you could use it."

My hand still over my eyes, I allow Nikki to lead me by my wrist back off deck and back to the cabin, thankful for the significantly dimmer lighting inside.

"Sun too bright for ya? Yeah, me too. You know, it's great for tanning, but it can be such a pain on the eyes."

I smile in agreement as my eyes adjust to the light in here and Nikki grabs the remaining half of the loaf from somewhere across the room. The faint smell of the bread wafts into my nose, and I can't help but think that it does smell kind of good. My stomach even growls a bit at the sight of the golden-topped loaf, which is new. I can't even remember the last time my stomach growled – I'm so used to going without food I suppose I forgot what hunger is.

I try not to take the bread greedily, because I don't deserve it. Come to think of it, why am I even accepting it? Well, probably because Nikki wouldn't take no for an answer if I tried to refuse. And I do remember her frowning at my skin-and-bones frame, and I don't want to upset her by still not eating.

She places a piece in my palm, and my fingers close around it of their own accord. It's a little hard from being left out overnight, but still, I'm not complaining. Or, my stomach isn't. The part of me that feels hunger is more than happy with it. The crust crumbles a bit in my fingers as they clamp down on the bit of bread and bring it to my mouth. I'm still remembering how to chew, so my bites are slow and hesitant. It feels foreign, having something between my teeth. Even swallowing feels a little strange.

The bread is heavy in my mouth, weighing like glue on my tongue. Not because it's too dense, but because I can't help but think that I shouldn't be taking this, accepting food. Don't I deserve the discomfort going without brings?

"No chica, you don't," Nikki states, as if she heard my thoughts. I've lost count of how many times she's done that. I suppose she's just very good at reading me, especially considering how long she's known me.

"Come on, one bite of bread isn't enough. Shoot, I'd love it if you ate whole loaves at a time, but MopMan is worried it'd make you sick, all that food at once. I think he said something about shocking your system or the like. Which of course, this one time I actually listened to him," Nikki chatters, motioning for me to keep eating.

I force another bite down my throat, ignoring how unpleasant the weight settling in my stomach feels. It's strange, how even two bites of bread feel odd and out of place. I'm hoping Nikki won't notice my discomfort, because she really doesn't need anything else to worry about. But just yesterday, I was perfectly content to gobble down half the loaf. Then again, that was before the snake's recent visits.

"Chica? Stay in the here and now, por favor. I do like it much better when you're not having a fit."

Nikki's words are serious, but she manages to keep the tone light, though I'll never know how she does. Was I ever like that, so happy and easygoing and silly yet mature?

"Laurah? Earth to Laurah," she continues, waving her hand in front of my face and snapping her fingers inches from my eyes. I do manage to pull myself from my maze of thinking, much to her relief. "You had me worried for a sec, chica. Chillax, all is well in the world. Well, other than the most unfortunate lack of coffee around here. I wonder if coffee beans even exist here. I don't know about you, but I might have to start a riot if there aren't, ya know?"

A grin inches its way across my lips, and I can't help but nod in total agreement. Coffee does sound nice, all warm and energizing. It'd probably have the same effect on me that energy drink did. Which, needless to say, was quite an effect. I actually don't remember much, other than laughing a lot and King Caspian getting hammered with potatoes and Nikki squeaking out "Oopsie" about four times in the space of five minutes or less. It was a good time, I'll admit that.

At Nikki's prodding, I manage to eat another half of the remaining loaf before I just can't eat any more. I'm full and tired of eating right now, and the weight in my stomach is almost unbearable. Besides, weren't we getting close to Ramandu's Island? Another set of footsteps enters the cabin, and I look to up to see Sadrian – or MopMan as Nikki calls him – trotting on over. He can't resist throwing Nikki a sarcastically cheeky glance as he shoos us up on deck.

"Forgive the intrusion, m'ladies, but many of the crew are beginning to board longboats to go ashore on Ramandu's Island, and King Caspian thought you might wish to join the party."

"Okie dokie, we's a-coming!" Nikki calls as she gently but firmly pulls me to my feet.

My legs start to give out again, but with steadying hands from her and Sadrian, I manage to stay upright. Determined to walk on my own, I shake my head when they offer to carry me. I want to do this on my own. I want to be at least that strong.

I force my legs to stop shaking and practically lock my knees in place, though I'm still relying on their arms for support at the moment. Slowly, I ease off of Sadrian, managing to only lurch a little. I can do this, I think. So I let go of Nikki too, in spite of her protests. I almost fall, but I catch myself. Not Nikki, not Sadrian – just me. I keep myself from falling. And while it may seem like a small thing at first, it means so much more than the face value.

My face must be wearing some pleased and maybe even proud sort of face, because Nikki looks so happy she'll bust and fly apart into a million energy-infused pieces. And then maybe put herself back together in five seconds, but hey, that's just Nikki.

Shifting from one foot to the other, I lean my head toward the door and start off. Slowly at first, but at least I'm doing it on my own. I resist the urge to grab onto the table nearby for balance. I want to say I did this all on my own.

I make it to the door with Nikki and Sadrian behind me, though they manage to sprint ahead to open it for me. It's not necessary, really, but it's sweet nonetheless, and I'll accept that much help. Even if I don't deserve it, because they don't deserve the sadness my refusal would inflict.

However, the unevenness of the wooden deck does pose more of a problem than the smooth cabin floor. But Nikki catches me before I can even trip.

"Whoa there chica, maybe I can give you a hand now? Well, figuratively speaking. I'd really rather not have to chop off my hand and give it to ya, you know what I mean?"

I grin at Nikki's innocently sarcastic tone, marveling at her good spirits that never seem to flag. How she does it, I will never know.

"Laurah, Nikki, there you are!" the king greets us warmly as if he hasn't seen us, especially me, for days. But I am slightly happy from the earnest happiness, and even some of my fear of closeness with the king wanes.

"Hola, Cas! Shall we see if the Lords of Meditation are awakened from their yoga coma yet?"

King Caspian can't seem to help the laugh that slips past his throat.

"Nikki, need I remind you that they are Lords of Telmar, and not Meditation?"

"You can remind me til the cows come home, but to me they shall always be Lords of Meditation!"

Everyone laughs then, including me. And the king's discreet though pleased expression isn't lost on me either. It's not such a big deal, really. But maybe to him it is.

"Are we ready, Your Highness?" asks Rhince, who I think I heard referred to as the 'first mate,' whatever that means.

"Yes, thank you Rhince. Laurah?" The king holds his hand out to me, and it takes me a minute to realize why. Oh! The boat, he's offering to help me into the boat, or so it seems.

Naturally, I accept with a smile and a duck of my head that is my way of communicating a thank you. Several other crewmen are already in the boat, but I'm nervous around them because I don't know them, so I sit on the other end. Thankfully, they don't seem to be offended.

Nikki clambers in and takes a seat next to me, and Sadrian and King Caspian are the last ones in. My stomach gives a little lurch of fear when the boat suddenly begins to drop, but Nikki reins in my fright with a reassuring pat on my back.

"Hakuna matata, they're just lowering the boat onto the water. Boats tend to move best when they're on something other than air."

As per usual, Nikki's humor-tinted comment lightens my face and eyes.

I notice the king and Nikki in particular keeping an eye on me though, most likely worried I'll try to jump out of the boat. I can't say it isn't tempting, but I won't. Besides the obvious defiance it would entail, I know they'd be able to have me back on the boat inside a minute. It would be a waste of an effort on my part.

I do drag my fingers in the water for a moment though. But I can't keep them there long – anything strange frightens me, and cold sea water rushing over my fingertips is foreign, and hence strange. Luckily, the ride in the boat isn't too long, and I can step out onto land soon enough. It's a strange texture though, and I turn to Nikki to know what it is. It's certainly not rock – it shifts under my feet, and my shoes leave behind footprints in the stuff.

"That's sand. I guess since we never really went to the beach back home it'd be easy to forget. But it's basically powderized rock and don't get it in your mouth, because it's gritty and…well, sandy," she explains patiently. She's a saint, this best friend of mine.

The king leads the way, as is appropriate, but he does want me close behind him. Of course, I oblige, still keeping Nikki with me though. Between the two of them and Sadrian, who stays close to Nikki much like a younger sibling might, I'm kept from falling flat on my face. The ground is quite uneven, and I'm still not steady enough on my feet to manage this terrain on my own.

"Oh, and heads up chica, you might want to just close your eyes when we get to the bridge and let me lead you across, okay?"

I frown in confusion at this odd suggestion, but I trust Nikki so I nod. What is it that she doesn't want me to see though? It must be frightening, or maybe she's worried it might be a trigger, or maybe it's both. Whatever the case, I'll take her suggestion. I don't want to have the snake come back when I'm in a place I don't know.

"Stay behind me, if you would," King Caspian offers. I guess Nikki's worry seeped into his mind too.

I have to fight the sudden urge to cling to him, the sudden craving for the simple closeness in an embrace. Where did that come from? It's not like me, not as far as I can remember. I don't need any man, right? Then why do I suddenly just want to be with the king, especially when I have no right whatsoever to even be in his presence. The only reason I am is because he wishes me to be.

The path starts to incline, and I'm grateful for the distraction that this added challenge for my lack of coordination poses – it keeps my mind off the king. Even with help, I can't help but stumble and fall several times. I'm still a little weak and without a vast supply of energy. So I don't really protest all that much when Caspian just picks me up like I weigh nothing.

Well, I protest as much as I have energy for, but that isn't much. I don't want his help really. Why would a king help me? I have to remind myself that he did say he cared about me. Or rather, cares – plural tense. Using the past implies we have a history, which I am almost completely certain we do not.

It occurs to me as the party continues up the path that I'm much more receptive to the king at night. Or perhaps more accurately, right after the snake visits. When I'm most vulnerable, perhaps? And I don't know if this is a good thing…or a bad thing.

But wouldn't needing someone be bad? Because what happens if something happens to them? What then? No, it's far better not to need anyone. But I'm just frail enough to still need physical help, but maybe I can start learning to deal with the snake on my own. But it hurts so much…

"Laurah!"

The king's and Nikki's simultaneous call startle me a bit, because I was so buried in thought. I look up questioningly, asking why they needed me.

"You were starting to tremble, chica. We were just making sure you're okay is all. Though you might want to just look at the ground now, we're coming up on that thing you might not want to see."

I oblige, casting my gaze down to the path, King Caspian's boots occasionally entering my line of vision. In spite of myself, I can't help but wonder if it's a statue of a snake. The dirt path turns to a stone one, though the roots stretching themselves over the walkway don't change. I'm tempted to look up, but I manage to stop myself. If it is a snake, I don't want to know. Or even if I do, I can't know right now, not with Nikki and the king here.

We continue on, and then Nikki tells me it's alright now, just don't look behind us. I don't. Well, I'm a little more interested in what's in front of me at the moment. Beyond this somewhat-narrow doorway that King Caspian has to set me down to get through is a long table filled with impossible amounts of food. And at the end sit three very old men, covered in their own hair and dressed in tattered clothes, talking with a glowing young woman. She seems familiar, though I can't place it. But I know I've seen her before.

Nikki POV:

The Lords of Meditation and Liliandil look up as our little party comes on in. Some of us, myself included, head straight for the best part of this entire island – the food. Caspian starts off in the direction of the four, and I have to grab a very firm apple just in case. Hey, sometimes one smack isn't enough.

I'm pleased to see that Caspian seems mostly past the initial adoring puppy-dog stage of meeting a star, and their conversation is almost to brief to be called anything other than a cordial exchange. His Royal Hineyness goes over to the Meditation Dudes, no doubt to ask if they learned yoga here as well.

Laurah sticks right by me, looking afraid for all the new things here. But still, she is getting better. I do need to remember that from time to time. And I don't know why the phrase 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth' just popped into my head, but it did. Why would anyone want to look in horse's mouth anyway? I mean, just a dog's mouth is plain and simple nasty. Imagine a horse's, with the fermented hay and strange-smelling grain stuck in their teeth…not a pleasant whiff to get in the face.

I break from my strange meditations on the smelliness of animal mouths to realize that Laurah probably would appreciate a little explaining. After all, she is looking so confused and unsure. So I start off on the long story.

"Alrighty chica, this might be a lot to take in, but kindly bear with me. Okay, so the whole reason Caspian and crew are out at this neck of the woods – or water, as the case may be – is because they were on a mission. Kind of like Mission Impossible, but minus the secret agents and Ethan Hunt sexiness. But anyway, they were trying to find the Seven Lords of Telmar…"

I need to bring back my love of cliffies...I miss them and cackling at my computer about my evilness! :P Haha so I shall endeavour to bring those lovely things back for you ;)

And I'm sorry to say that I, at the moment, have NO willpower whatsoever :P So please forgive me if the next chapter is a day or so late...However, reviews do help :P

Leave some feedback if you can! (Though if you're busy figuring out the next ingenious Starbucks frappucchino flavour, please use your time for that instead XD) Hehe review! :)