Hey everyone! First of all, I want to give my biggest apologizes to you all! I'm sorry that it's been three weeks since I last updated this story, but everything has just been so crazy that I haven't actually found the time to write the part until today. I've finished school, but I still have exams and revision to do. I will have more free time to write this story, but the updates will most likely have big gaps between them for the next month and a half. I apologize again :( But I'm glad I found the time to give you this part :) I hope you guys all enjoy it and that it was worth the wait. Please review :D

*~To Narnia And Back~*~Chapter Twenty One~*~The Change In Weather~*

I woke up a lot earlier the next day, at least I thought it was earlier than usual from the darkness of the room. Maybe I woke up because the ship was being thrown about on the waves; the storm had finally hit us. I hoped last night that the storm would be heading in the same direction as us and therefore we would never be in the midst of it, but it's very hard to wish for things to come true. And so, we were now on the edge of the storm, and boy was it heavy and violent already.

I sat up in bed, quite tense as I tried to steady myself on the chaise, hoping that I wouldn't fall onto the floor if we hit a rather rough patch in the ocean. But, as I haven't fallen out of bed while I was sleeping, chances are that I won't be falling out while conscious.

"I really hope that this storm passes over soon." I heard Lucy say, and saw that her and Gael were sitting on the window seat across the room, both looking out at the storm.

I got up and headed over to them, sitting on the seat beside Lucy. I looked out of the window and saw just how dark it was.

"From the looks of the clouds, it's not very likely any time soon."

"It's so unfortunate. I was really enjoying the hot weather." She replied, whilst leaning her head on her hand, with a sulky pout tugging at her lips.

"You and me both." I answered. I then looked over at Gael and saw just how quiet she was. "Hey, are you guys hungry?" Gael looked at me and nodded shyly. I smiled at her. I then turned to address Lucy.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" I asked.

"Umm...I can't tell because the sky is completely covered, but I would make a guess of about six, maybe seven."

"Great, I only got three hours' sleep." I mumbled to myself.

"Why were you up until three in the morning? What were you doing?" Lucy asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

I wasn't going to tell her about Caspian. We agreed last night that we weren't going to tell anyone, but I don't know how long I can hold it in from Lucy and Edmund. They probably know from the body language already. "Oh, I umm, I just couldn't sleep, is all. Just one of those nights, I guess."

From the look on her face, I knew that she knew I was lying. I couldn't look her in the eye. I really felt guilty, but I don't want Lucy or Edmund to assume that just because Caspian and I are, well whatever we are, it doesn't mean that I'm going to stay in Narnia with him. I don't even know if he wants me to stay with him-

"Alex?"

"What?" I asked, dazed.

"You just blanked out. Are you feeling okay?" Lucy asked, rubbing me on the shoulder comfortingly.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. So, breakfast anyone?"

Lucy, Gael, and I had spent the entire day in the same place – Caspian's cabin. The storm had gotten so bad that Caspian had basically forbidden us girls to go out onto the deck as the force of the waves crashing against all sides of the ship were constantly sending the crew members off balance. It had been raining so heavily all day, and the sky was showing no signs of stopping the rain any time soon. It had gotten much, much colder over the course of the hours, but there was no hope in keeping any candles alight as they would just fall over from the violent rocking of the ship. I'm glad that Caspian had forbidden us to go up on deck because I wouldn't want Lucy, or Gael, to go up there; it's much too dangerous for them. However, two things were bugging me. One, I didn't like the fact that Edmund was up on deck right now. I know that he is seventeen and is physically and mentally capable of keeping himself safe up there, but he is still my brother and I don't want anything to happen to him. The second thing, was that I wasn't allowed to help. I think I would be able to help, but I have my suspicions that Caspian is being a little bit too protective right now. I know he's doing it to keep me safe, but I just feel so helpless sitting down here. I've been wondering all day whether there is anything that I can do to help, but so far, nothing has come to mind. To be honest, I didn't really like Caspian being up there, but of course he can handle it all; he wasn't made the King of Narnia for nothing.

I sighed, feeling a little bit frustrated. I was sitting on the chair at Caspian desk, with my feet resting on the chair also. Of course I was bare-foot as I wanted to respect his furniture; I bet it cost a lot of money. Come to think of it, when I studying the golden carving of Aslan over on the wall in front of me, I think that it's made out of real gold. It scares me a little at just how much money Caspian actually has. Queen Elizabeth isn't the richest person on earth just because she is the Queen. However, Caspian does seem to be one of the richest people in Narnia, but then, I've only seen this ship so far. I haven't seen Narnia yet, but I hope to seen. At least before I leave...

I immediately got up and walked slowly over to one side of the cabin towards a tapestry, refusing to think about leaving Narnia. I've thought about it too much already and I don't know how much more pain I can take.

The tapestry was absolutely beautiful. It was a painting of a battle. The figures were small, but not small enough so that you couldn't differentiate them from each other. Two separate armies were charging towards each other from each side of the painting. The one of the right looked larger than the one on the left. But the army to the left seemed like the good guys, I don't know why I thought that, but something about the knight on the pure-white unicorn leading the charge told me that they were fighting for the good side.

"That's Peter."

I jumped a little as I didn't hear Lucy come up and stand next to me. I soon recovered. I looked back at the tapestry and studied the figure on the unicorn closer. "That's our Peter?"

Lucy smiled and nodded as I looked at her. "That's the Battle of Beruna Ford. Peter lead the charge against the White Witch." She was talking softly, with a hint of a smile and comfort in her voice. "Aslan had sacrificed himself at this point, and Peter and Edmund had no choice but to go to war."

I smiled at the tapestry. "They're both very brave warriors. I don't think I could imagine being in Peter's position; knowing that the King of the Land was dead, and it was up to you, when you're barely sixteen years old, to lead an army into a battle against a much stronger force." I gently touched the tapestry, running my fingers over Peter's figure, smiling once again, and feeling my heart tug. "It's been so long."

Lucy put her hand on my shoulder furthest from her, and then leant her head against my other shoulder. I pulled my hand back from the tapestry and grabbed her hand, that was resting on my shoulder, tightly.

"At least it will be a shorter wait for him." Lucy said, and I nodded. I turned to look at her, and she was biting her lip, and had tears rushing down her face. Lucy never handled being apart from Peter and Susan well, and I think she was feeling it more now because this was the first time she was in Narnia without her brother and sister. I turned and wrapped my arms around her. She mirrored my actions. It was the best source of comfort that I could offer her at the moment. I didn't want to say that 'We'll see them soon' because I didn't know when will be the next time we see them, because even if we go back to England over the next few weeks, Peter and Susan may now return from America and Professor Kirke's house for months.

It was the next day, and it was the same situation once again. We were cooped up in this same cabin, with the same surroundings to try to distract ourselves with. Last night had been awful because it really wasn't easy to get to sleep when you're being majorly rocked about in the bed, or in my case the smaller chaise, and all you could hear was the violent crashing of the waves and the rain pounding against the windows. I think I had managed to grab a few hours' sleep though, so I guess that's better than nothing. And it's not like I really need much energy when all I'm doing is sitting around all day trying to amuse myself, and Lucy and Gael.

I had no idea where Eustace was still; he had only shown his face once yesterday, and that was just to get some food for dinner. I think he must have found somewhere in the ship where no one will both him so that he can rant to himself about how much he doesn't want to be here.

Back in the cabin, we had got some form of entertainment this morning as Caspian had sent Edmund off-duty as he had been working all night. After Edmund changed into some dry clothes, he came and sat with us in Caspian's cabin. We insisted that he should get some sleep as he had been on deck all day yesterday and all night without any sleep, but he said that he felt fine and didn't need any sleep. Lucy and I knew not to press the matter further as all he would do was argue his point and get his own way – a regular occurrence with Edmund. He'll probably suffer from sleep deprivation later anyways. However, I'm glad he did stay and sit with us, because like I said, he provided us with some entertainment. He is generally a very funny person, and he is always the one in the family to say all the jokes, and to cheer us all up even if we're in the most depressed of moods. I don't know what it is, because he used to be a jerk (especially to Lucy as she was younger than him) but he seems to have a natural ability to make people laugh. And so, we were sat in a circle on the floor, with him telling jokes, and then telling funny stories from our childhood. I think Gael was really enjoying herself because she was laughing a lot, and telling funny stories of her own and about her parents; I think this was good for her because it distracted her from worrying about where her mum was at this moment.

Later on in the afternoon, I decided that I would try to offer my help. I excused myself from Edmund, Lucy, and Gael, and headed out of the door and up the stairs to the deck. I opened the door, but it slammed right back, making me almost fall down the stairs if I hadn't gotten a good grip on handle. I composed myself, and shoved my shoulder into the door, making it bang open fast. I stepped out, and the door then slammed closed once again, and so thankfully I had quickly jumped out of the way.

Up on deck, it was absolute madness. The ship felt as though it was rocking much more violently up here, and I had to hold onto the wall for support. I was getting sprayed by the gushes of wind carrying the rain all around the boat. I was still under a slight cover from the upper deck, and so I hadn't experienced the full force of the rain yet. I'm not sure that I wanted to either as I saw the state that the rest of the crew were in; they were absolutely drenched. And that's a massive understatement. Their clothes were completely plastered to their bodies, and their faces and hands were constantly dripping with water. It was also freezing up here, and I was shivering so much already. The crew members must be completely numb from the rain and the cold.

I pushed myself off of the wall, and headed out into the rain, giving a slight screech when the rain and cold hit me like a brick wall. I can't begin to tell you just how cold it was. The best way I can is to say that it felt as though someone had locked you in a freezer and then had poured freezing cold water onto you. But this was probably worse because you also had to watch your balance and also maintain a ship.

The sky was thundering at us, and I instinctively ducked when the sky and ship lit up from the crash of lightning, and the sound of thunder rolled all around us. I was deathly afraid of thunder storms, and all I wanted to do was to run back in doors, but I felt so helpless and selfish sitting downstairs enjoying Edmund's jokes in the warmth when all of these guys were suffering.

I felt one of the crew members help me to stand back up again, and he didn't let go of me. "Miss Alexandra, what're you doing out here? It's too dangerous for a lady like yourself!" He shouted at me, as it was the only decibel that would allow us to hear each other because of the noise of everything around us.

"I just need to find Caspian!" I shouted back, gripping his sleeve tightly, as the ship was hit with yet another strong wave.

"He's over the other side of the ship! But, please Miss, I'd feel much happier if you were to go back inside!"

"I can't, this is important! But thank you!"

I let go of him and he allowed me to make my way towards Caspian. I grabbed onto the main mast to steady myself, as I scoured urgently round for Caspian. I caught sight of him on the port side of the ship, helping a crew member to attach some ropes to the edge of the ship. I pushed off the mast and ran over to him, careful not to lose my balance.

"Caspian!" I yelled, and he turned round to look at me. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, shouts were emitting across the ship and Caspian I looked to the side, and a huge wave had risen high above the ship, ready to crash down onto us.

"Move!" I heard Caspian yell, and the next thing I knew, was that someone had crashed into me, sending me falling face-first to the ground, and someone sprawled out over my back. I then felt the crash of the water rattle the entire ship, and I gasped loudly when it hit me. After I finished coughing frantically, I looked up and saw that Caspian had secured us to the floor whilst holding onto a rope, making sure that the wave hadn't carried us after with it.

Caspian jumped up quickly, and helped me up, not letting go of me. He was almost carrying me as he rushed us across the other side of the side, back to the doors to the lower decks. He stopped outside the doors and held me tight.

"What're you doing out here? I told you that it's not safe for you here." He wasn't angry at me, he actually looked quite scared.

"I'm sorry, but I can't see why I can't help in some way. I feel so selfish sitting down there doing nothing." I said, my fingers woven in his dripping wet hair.

"I can't have you up here. It's way too dangerous."

"Is it really? Or are you just being over protective?" I said, looking him straight in the eye. The ship then rocked suddenly once again, and I crashed into his chest as he was pushed backwards. We soon composed ourselves and he pushed me towards the door, but I wouldn't let him open it. "Are you?" I repeated, wanting an answer.

He looked me back in the eye, and replied, "I can't handle you getting hurt. I just can't." Caspian had completely revealed his vulnerability to me at that moment, and I saw his true feelings take shape. I couldn't help myself. I stretched up on my toes, and kissed him firmly on the mouth, wrapping my arms around his neck as he snaked one of his arms around my waist, whilst holding onto the door frame with the other. I didn't pull away for several seconds, as this was the most I had seen him in two days, and I wasn't liking it at all.

He rested his forehead against mine, and cupped my cheek with his free hand. "Please just, stay with your sister below deck. I want you to be safe." I nodded against him. If it was going to cause him worry and pain with me being out here, the best thing I guess I can do is sit below deck as I was.

"Okay." I whispered, not knowing if he could hear me or not. "Just be careful. For both yours and my benefit." I squeezed his hand gently as it slipped from my face. I turned and opened the door with less difficulty than before, and heard it shut behind me.

I really missed him. It was hard being away from him for just a day, with the space between us only being about twenty or thirty metres. Just another reminder presented to me that I was in no way going to be able to handle going back to England, knowing that we would probably never see each other again.