I am sorry for the lateness of this chapter, but I have just spent days staring at the blank word document, not feeling in the mood to write, even with the film up on iTunes.
This is a HUGE chapter (over 4000 words) so I hope you enjoy reading it!
Eustace flew about in the air as the Dawn Treader drew ever closer to Dark Island.
I stood by the helm with Drinian, Tavros, Edmund, Lucy and Caspian, watching as the island grew bigger.
"So, what do you think could be out there?" Tavros asked, trying to break the ice.
"Our worst nightmares," Edmund responded, taking my hand in his,
"Our darkest wishes," Caspian added, staring ahead.
"Pure evil," Drinian said, looking at us, before back out at the island.
After a moment, he stepped away from the helm and towards Tavros.
"Tavros, unlock the armoury," he ordered to the Minotaur, and to the crew; "Archers, prepare yourselves!"
The men looked at him for a moment, before moving below deck to get their armour and weapons.
"Light the lanterns!" Tavros yelled as he made his way down the steps to the deck.
"Let's get ready," Caspian turned to us.
I grabbed my belt off the side and buckled it around my waist, feeling the comfortable weight of my sword against my hip once more.
I had pulled my hair into a braid, and tugged at it until it hung down my right shoulder.
My armour consisted of my brown boots and grey breeches, my white shirt with my usual leather corset. However, I had some shoulder plates on and a set of arm braces, made from the same silver-coloured metal my shoulder plates were made of.
Lucy stood in front of the mirror, fastening her belt, whilst Gael sat on the chest of drawers opposite.
"When I grow up, I want to be just like you," Gael spoke softly, looking at Lucy.
Lucy looked up at Gael through the mirror, slightly startled at the comment. With a smile on her face, she turned and began to walk towards where the younger girl was sitting.
"When you grow up, you should be just like you," Lucy replied, sitting beside Gael and wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a hug.
I smiled at the two, leaning on one of the bedposts with my arms crossed. Lucy glanced at me once, before her eyes widened and she stared at me openly.
"Alena," she breathed out, looking shocked.
"What?" I asked her, standing up straight and looking around. "What is it?"
Instead of answering me, the youngest Pevensie grabbed my left hand and held it before her eyes. For a moment, I wondered if she had gone insane, but I then remembered the beautiful engagement ring I wore on my fourth finger.
"It's lovely," Gael said, peering over Lucy's shoulder at the ring.
Lucy seemed to be in some form of shock, as she looked up at me, then at the ring, and then back at me and at the ring once more.
"Did Edmund...?"
I nodded, a smile slowly forming on my face.
"What did you say?"
"Lu, I think the ring speaks for itself."
With a squeal, Lucy threw herself at me in a hug, which knocked me off balance so we fell onto the bed.
"Now you can be my proper sister!"
I laughed and hugged her back, before untangling myself from her arms and slipping off the bed.
"Come on, I think we've spent long enough down here," I said with a sad smile on my face.
Lucy nodded, got to her feet and took Gael's hand as we began to leave the room.
Once I stood on deck, I looked around for Edmund and saw him, standing by the helm, fiddling with his armour.
I took the steps two at a time and stood before him, taking a few steps to stand beside him.
"Hey," I smiled gently, rolling on my feet nervously.
He looked up and returned my smile when he saw me, before grasping my wrists and pulling me into a hug.
"Is it okay to say that I'm scared?" I asked him, my voice muffled by his shoulder.
"It's perfectly alright," he replied, trying to sound brave but the tightening of his arms around me told me he was nervous as well.
When we parted, I saw Rhindon was at his waist.
"I thought..."
"Caspian gave it to me," Edmund told me, and I could detect the pride seeping into his voice as he spoke. "He believes that Peter would have wanted me to have it."
"I'm sure Peter would have as well," I replied, squeezing his hand.
Just then, Caspian appeared on deck and the crew hushed immediately, waiting for their King to speak.
Caspian stood, in all his power and kingliness, at the bow of the Dawn Treader, fitted in his armour.
"No matter what happens here, every soul who stands before me has earned their place on the crew of the Dawn Treader. Together, we have travelled 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."
I glanced at Edmund and saw he was looking at Caspian with pride showing in his eyes. He swallowed hard as he looked upon the man he saw as a second brother and a close friend.
"Our world, our Narnian lives depend on it. Think of the lost souls we're here to save; think of Aslan, think of Narnia."
Caspian ended his speech and began to descend the stairs, when one of the crewmembers cried out.
"For Narnia!"
The crewmembers all joined in with the cry, throwing their arms and lifting their weapons into the air. Caspian looked up at Edmund and me, before back at the crew, hope beginning to fill the air.
"Ed," I turned to my fiancé and tugged gently on his hand.
As he turned, I stood on my tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips, twisting my arms around his neck as he gripped my hips.
"I love you," I whispered to him, once we parted.
"I love you too," he replied quietly.
With Eustace flying around her, the Dawn Treader sailed further into the mist that surrounded Dark Island, and the hopeful atmosphere dropped. The only light in the darkness was the light from the lanterns at the bow and stern of the Dawn Treader. Tendrils of the green mist curled onto the deck, like searching fingers, and crept around the crew, making them shuffle on their feet nervously. Seeing Lucy hug Gael, both of them looking scared, Edmund and I moved down deck to stand near them. Lucy gave her older a brother a small smile, thanking him for being there.
"I can't see a thing," Drinian said to Caspian, who had moved to stand by the helm. "This fog's too thick."
"No!"
I jumped when Edmund yelled out, and saw he was looking troubled as Lucy walked up to him. However, as I looked over the side of the ship, my heart froze as I saw the White Witch floating above the water, shrouded by the green mist.
"Alena dear, you know you want to join me," she held out her arm, her fingers outstretched towards me. "I can make sure Edmund stays with you; why would he want to wait for you when you go back to your time? He'll find a new love."
"Leave me alone!" I shouted, backing away with my head in my hands.
"Alena!"
I felt the familiar embrace of Edmund, and turned to bury my face into his chest, hugging him close to me as I tried to block out the memory of the White Witch.
"Is she alright?" Lucy asked.
"I think the mist is playing tricks on us all," Edmund replied.
Before anyone else could reply, a cry was heard from deeper within in the mist. All on the ship began to search for where the cry was coming from. I untangled myself from Edmund's arm, but kept close to him.
As we peered over the side of the ship, the cries became clear to understand.
"Keep away! Keep away!" the voice yelled, before it broke off into coughs.
"Who are you?" Edmund yelled.
"We do not fear you!" Caspian was quick to shout out.
"Nor I, you!" the voice replied.
As the Dawn Treader sailed past some rocks, a movement caught my eye on the largest.
"Edmund, can you see something moving?" I asked him, pointing at the rock.
"I'll get my torch," he muttered, grabbing his torch off some ropes and turning it on.
He shone the beam of light along the rock, until it rested on an old, thin man.
"Keep away!" the man yelled, once he realised he had been spotted.
"We will not leave!" Caspian told him.
"Who are you?" I tried, wondering if the man would listen to me.
"You will not defeat me," the man, who must have been half-mad, held up his sword in defence.
One of the seven swords of Aslan.
"Caspian, his sword!" Edmund shouted to the King.
"Lord Rhoop," Caspian realised after a moment, rushing down to where we were standing.
"You do not own me!" Lord Rhoop shouted, moving to another side of the rock.
"Stand down!" Caspian ordered, causing the archers to lower their weapons. "Let's get him on board."
Three members got three grappling hooks ready and began to spin them around to get the momentum going, before Eustace swooped out of nowhere, grabbed Lord Rhoop and deposited him on deck.
"Be calm, my Lord," Caspian tried to reassure the lost Lord, but he was having none of it.
"Off me demons!" he exclaimed, swinging his sword about.
I jumped back so I wasn't sliced in half by the mad Lord, who seemed to be shocked that he was standing on a ship.
"No my Lord, we are not here to hurt you," Caspian spoke once more. "I am your King, Caspian."
The name 'Caspian' must have triggered a lost memory of the Lord, as he muttered the name once, before turning around and looking at Caspian in shock and hope.
"My Lord," he went on his knees for a moment, before he realised something no one else on the ship knew. "You should not have come here! There's no way out of here. Quickly!" he spun around look at the crew. "Turn this ship about before it's too late!"
"We have the sword, let's go!" Edmund said.
"Turn her about, Drinian," Caspian ordered, and the crew sprung into action.
"Aye aye, your majesty."
Suddenly, Lord Rhoop thought of something else and lurched towards Caspian, with his arm outstretched.
"Do not think! Do not let it know your fears, or it will become them!"
The crew fell silent, before Edmund tensed up and spoke the two, disastrous words.
"Oh no."
"Ed...?" I looked at him with worry.
"Edmund, what did you just think of?" Lucy demanded, with fear seeping into her tone.
"Oh I'm so sorry," Edmund said, before darting to the other side of the ship.
I followed his gaze, and stood beside him as he looked out onto the dark waters.
"The rock's are moving!" I shouted, pointing at the two lower rocks, which began to form into something else before my eyes, and slide under the water, as a serpent's body would do.
Suddenly, the ship lurched to the side, knocking everyone off balance. With a yell, I stumbled back and fell heavily onto my side, nearly winding myself.
I managed to pull myself to my feet as Edmund and Caspian looked at the water's on the other side of the Dawn Treader.
"What is that?" Caspian asked, looking into the water.
"We're too late!" Lord Rhoop cried out. "It's too late."
I stood on the opposite side of the ship, holding onto some rope, as the crew looked over the other.
Suddenly, Lucy and Edmund spun around with horror on their faces, just as something large spurted out of the water behind the side I stood on.
"Alena!"
"Gael!"
I looked and saw the Sea Serpent had risen out of the water, and that Gael and I were in its range of reach.
Gael shrieked as the Sea Serpent drew closer, moving clear of the mist so everyone could see how horrifying it looked.
I rushed forwards to Gael, grabbed the smaller girl's hand and pulled her away from the danger. Lucy hugged Gael close to her, as I moved to stand in front of them. Edmund darted forwards and stood in front of me, holding his sword in the air at the Sea Serpent and stretching his left arm in front of me to keep me back. I held onto his arm clinging onto the fabric of his shirt.
Suddenly, Eustace flew out of the mist and blew fire at the Sea Serpent, causing it to throw back with a scream of agony. As the creature threw its head from side to side, Eustace bravely clung onto the creature, even when it caused him to hit and damage some parts of the Dawn Treader.
Eustace was thrown off the creature, but instead of falling, he flew through the air above the deck and around the other side of the ship to attack the Sea Serpent once more. However, as soon as he came around the prow of the Dawn Treader, the Sea Serpent lunged, grabbed Eustace in its jaws and dived under the water.
Immediately, everyone rushed to the other side of the ship to see how Eustace was faring.
He wasn't doing too well.
The Sea Serpent resurfaced, with Eustace still in between its jaws, and threw the dragon at a nearby rock.
"No," I murmured, seeing Eustace lying feebly on the rocks.
As the Sea Serpent tried to lunge for him, though, Eustace breathed fire so it hit the Sea Serpent in the face.
With a scream of agony, it thrashed about for a moment, before diving back under water to put out the fire that was burning on its face.
"Out creature!"
I spun around as Lord Rhoop shoved Caspian out of the way and threw his sword at Eustace.
"No! The sword!" Caspian screamed, as it struck Eustace on his shoulder.
"Eustace!" Lucy cried out, as Eustace began to fly away. "No! Come back!"
"We're all doomed! Doomed! Turn this ship about!"
Lord Rhoop shoved whoever was at the helm away and tried to turn the Dawn Treader around. He made the ship jerk, before Drinian punched him so he fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Oar crew! To your rowing positions!" Drinian ordered, taking his place at the helm. Oars at double speed."
I watched as some of the crew ran below deck to the oars, whilst others stayed on and checked their weapons.
The Dawn Treader ploughed through the water as we tried to put distance between us and the Sea Serpent. However, it resurfaced, and looked twice as angry as it did before.
With a shriek, it threw itself across the deck of the ship, smashing parts of the sides and throwing some crewmembers overboard.
I ran across the deck, ignoring the water being thrown everywhere, but had to skid to a stop when the Sea Serpent threw itself over again.
With a jolt of horror, I realised that it was drawing itself in tight loops, loops tight enough to crush the Dawn Treader.
"Ed!" Caspian yelled from the helm. "Alena! We ram the serpent, smash it on the rocks!"
"Steer it to port!" Edmund yelled back. "I'll keep it on the prow!"
I began to run after Edmund, as he began to run to the figurehead at the front of the ship, but the Sea Serpent dived across the Dawn Treader for a third time, causing me to leap backwards. However, I realised that it had unwound itself from around the front of the Dawn Treader, so it only had one coil of its body around the centre of the ship.
I saw a Faun had fallen down as well, so I reached out a hand and helped him up. He nodded his thanks, before running off to the helm.
I looked back up, but realised I couldn't see Edmund from where I was, so I tried to run back to where Lucy stood with Caspian, but realised I was blocked, due to the fact that the Sea Serpent had wound its body around the Dawn Treader. However, I followed Caspian's gaze, and realised that Edmund was sitting inside the mouth of the figurehead.
I saw a beam of light hit the Sea Serpent and figured out that Edmund was using his torch to distract the Sea Serpent.
The creature looked at the figurehead for a moment, before lunging forwards and locking its jaws around the head of the wooden dragon.
"Ed!" I screamed, worried for the safety of my fiancé.
"No!"
"Edmund!"
The cries of Lucy and Caspian also joined mine, as we watched in horror.
Luckily, when the creature threw the piece of broken wood into the sea, I saw Edmund climbing over the top of the figurehead – meaning he had survived.
Edmund turned and faced the creature once more, yelling at it and taunting it. As the creature froze to look at him, I saw one of Susan's arrows fly towards it, narrowly missing its tail (which fell landed on the deck and crushed more of the sides) and hit the creature above its eye. I looked over my shoulder and saw Lucy had made the shot – one that had probably saved her brother's life.
"Brace yourselves!"
I looked behind the Sea Serpent, and saw that the Dawn Treader was seconds away from crushing it against the rocks.
With an almighty jolt, the Dawn Treader crushed the Sea Serpent against the rocks, causing it to scream in pain, and thrash its head about.
I watched in horror as Edmund was thrown backwards, due to the force of the impact, and fell off the figurehead. He hit the serpent's tail, before bouncing off it and hitting the deck, hard. He rolled and hit some of the broken sides, ropes and rigging, before lying still and unconscious.
"Edmund!"
I sprinted forwards, past some of the crew, and skidded onto my knees beside him.
"Ed!" I begged him to wake up, and he did.
I sighed with relief as his eyes blinked, trying to regain consciousness, and brushed some of his hair away from his forehead.
"Alena," he murmured, reaching up and stroking my cheek.
"Come on, this isn't over yet," I told him.
I grabbed his arms and helped him to his feet, making sure he was alright. Caspian ran over to us to check on us both.
"Oh my..." I looked up at the Sea Serpent, and watched as it glowed green, before it split in the middle, showing hundreds of extra pincers.
"Move!"
I didn't understand the meaning of Caspian's words, until I saw the Sea Serpent lunge for Edmund again. I ran at Edmund and tackled him to the deck, just as the serpent snapped at the air where Edmund had been standing milliseconds before. As the creature began to retreat, Caspian grabbed his sword and sliced one of the pincers off. The creature shrieked and pulled back quickly, as the pincers evaporated into green mist, which floated harmlessly into the air.
"We can beat this," Caspian said, staring at where the pincer had been.
The creature, in its rage, snapped at the main sail, and began trying to break it off with its teeth.
"We have to get it closer," Edmund said, standing up.
"We can, if we get harpoons into it; the men can pull it down," I added, climbing to my feet.
Caspian nodded at my idea, just as Drinian shouted at the men.
"All hands to the main deck!" Drinian ordered.
"Ready the harpoons!" Caspian yelled.
As the Sea Serpent pulled at the sail once more, the ship tilted dangerously to the side. Edmund ran and jumped into the air, grabbing onto a rope so he swung around and landed on the rigging.
"Where's he going?" I asked Caspian, spinning around to look at him.
"To the crow's nest, I'm guessing," he replied. "Why?"
"I am not going to lose him," I said, before running and grabbing onto the rigging closest to us, the one opposite to Edmund.
"Alena! Get back down here!" Caspian ordered, but I ignored him; there was no way I was letting Edmund go through with this on his own. "Alena!"
"As his fiancé, it's my job to look after him!" I screamed back down at Caspian.
"His what?"
"I'll tell you later!"
Ignoring the rest of Caspian's yells, I was determined in reaching the crow's nest to help Edmund.
As I drew closer to the top, the crew on deck threw the harpoons so they pierced the creature's skin. The men immediately grabbed the ropes and began to pull the creature closer to the ship.
However, the Sea Serpent jerked back, causing the ship to tilt. I clung onto the ropes as I slipped, before I regained my footing and carried on climbing.
Just as I reached where the crow's nest was, I saw Edmund hit the ropes when the creature lunged at him, and nearly slip down.
"Ed!" I cried out, darting forwards and grabbing his arm.
"Alena! What are you doing up here?" he demanded.
"I'm not leaving you!"
Suddenly, the creature hit the mast, causing me to lose balance and slip off the crow's nest with a shriek.
"Alena!"
As I grabbed onto a rope hanging from the crow's nest, I heard Edmund cry out my name, as well as Lucy and Caspian.
Time suddenly seemed to slow down then, as I hung from the rope, and the sound around me all quietened down until they were nothing.
I looked up and saw the green mist had taken on the form of the White Witch, and she was floating around the air near Edmund, speaking to him.
"Edmund, what are you trying to prove, Edmund? That you're a man? I can make you that. I can make you my king. Just take my hand," the White Witch held her hand towards Edmund.
"Edmund! Listen to me! Ignore her!" I tried yelling up to him.
The White Witch looked down at me with a smirk on her face, before back at Edmund.
"You know she'll just leave you; she'll return to her time, and forget all about you. But I can make her never forget, I can make her stay with you forever," the White Witch said. "That's what you want, isn't it?"
"Edmund! I'll never leave you! Just ignore her; she's trying to tempt you!" I screamed up at Edmund over the din of all the sounds coming back, trying to hold onto the rope, which was becoming slicker with the amount of seawater the serpent was throwing everywhere.
Suddenly, Rhindon lit up a bright blue, snapping Edmund back into reality, just as Caspian yelled up at Edmund.
"Do it now!"
Edmund spun around to the opposite side of the crow's nest and pointed Rhindon at the beast.
"Come on!" he taunted.
The Sea Serpent lunged forwards, ready to grab Edmund in its massive jaws, but instead, Edmund ducked and thrust his sword up into the roof of the Sea Serpent's mouth.
As it screamed, so did the White Witch, who vanished into nothing.
Lightening began to pour out of the Sea Serpent, and hit several parts of the sky, before the creature fell backwards and sunk into the water, finally destroyed.
"Edmund!" I shouted up to him when I felt myself slipping.
Just as I was about to let go of the rope, Edmund's hands grasped my wrists and pulled me up. Once I was standing on the crow's nest, he pulled me into a tight hug.
"Never do that again," he murmured into my ear.
I didn't reply, but just buried my face into his shoulder and clutched him even closer.
"Edmund!" Lucy's cry made us both break apart, and we both smiled at what we saw.
The green mist that had imprisoned Dark Island for so long was fading away, and light was pouring onto the sea where we were.
Finally, the darkness had been defeated.
I pulled Edmund in for a kiss as the rest of the mist vanished, and the light took over all.
So then, that's the end of chapter 25. I have a feeling that there will only be two more chapters left of my story now, but that could change.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have enjoyed it!
Alexandra.