ELECTRA OF THE LONE ISLANDS

Disclaimer: The characters of Peter Pevensie, Susan Pevensie, Edmund Pevensie, Lucy Pevensie, and Aslan are all property of Disney® and C.S. Lewis, as is Narnia.

The Great Lion

Waiting was harder than she originally thought it would be. There were some moments when she wished to simply take either Damin or Darit's sword and plunge it deep into her heart. Other seconds she wanted to fight them off and run. Most of them she wasted wondering how long she had left to live.

She didn't bother even looking or speaking to the two of them as she was being held there. They didn't deserve her gaze, and they didn't deserve her wasting her breath on them. She had been afraid the two of them would turn out this way, and here was the result right in front of her. Darit, however had a more innocent presence about him. He acted as he did for the sake of his brother. Damin was just a pure pirate through and through.

The sound of more shouts came to her ears outside the deck, though these made her heart stop. While she knew most of the voices from the crew, these voices were familiar in the sense that they didn't belong there. Electra rushed toward the door, but was stopped as Damin and Darit's arms grabbed hold of her.

"Let me go!" she growled. Electra felt the small portion of her that was still ruthless and fearless fight to break free. But could she even call it that? She was fighting because she knew the voices she had heard were now prisoners aboard the ship, they could be nothing else.

The door suddenly opened as one of the crew members came inside, an evil grin on his face. Damin and Darit pushed Electra through the door and outside. All of the crew was now on the deck watching her, as were King Peter and Edmund. Electra fought to get away from the two tyrants holding her, but they refused to let go. Lucy and Susan were not there. This meant thankfully that they had escaped. Electra didn't want to think about the possible alternatives. They were few, and horrible fates.

"Ah, yes, the traitor," the captain growled with a smile.

Electra suddenly fell to the ground as the two shoved her at the Captain's feet. The feeling of cold metal under her chin caused her to stop from any sudden movements she had been thinking about. It pressed against her chin and she moved upward until she was freely standing. She never lowered her glare of hatred once.

Around her many of the men were already taking the ship out to sea, pulling away from the dock. Electra knew why, but she said nothing.

Behind her she could hear the sound of someone trying to fight off another. She knew it was either Peter or Edmund, and she prayed that they stopped. Them fighting only made things worse.

"Got spirit in you, do you?" Trinity's voice sounded off. Electra only pulled her eyes away from the captain to look at the female pirate. She was gazing at Edmund with a deep hunger in her eyes. "You'll be fun to play with, that's for sure."

Letting out a snarl of rage, and completely forgetting the sword at her throat, Electra lunged at Trinity, her hands clawing at her hair and grabbing her neck. Trinity let out a shriek and the two women went toppling to the ground. It took both Damin and Darit to pull Electra from him. Trinity stood back up, glaring back at Electra with the upmost loathing, her cheek bleeding from Electra's nails slashing across her face.

A sharp pain hit her on the side of the head, and she fell to the cabin floor. Her head hit the solid wood, forcing everything to go black.

Electra blinked. The hard wood of the floor wasn't underneath her head anymore, but the soft sand. Slowly she looked up and around her. She was on the shoreline outside Cair Paravel. It was twilight, and the sky was cloudless. The air was no longer bitter and cold, but warm and welcoming. The stars twinkled and danced above her head from the heavens.

"A beautiful night, isn't it?" a voice asked from beside her.

Electra turned her head, for the first time noticing she wasn't alone. The body of a great lion sat on the beach next to her, watching the space where the sea's horizon met the star-filled sky.

"Aslan," she breathed.

Aslan smiled, though didn't pull his eyes away from the horizon. Similarly, Electra couldn't seem to pull her eyes from him. There was something stirring within them, something she couldn't seem to read no matter how hard she tried.

"Do you know what lies beyond the horizon?" Aslan asked her. Electra shook her head, prompting him to go on. "It's my country, the country of my Father. It's a beautiful world that I hope many can venture to see one day."

Electra took in his words, wondering why he was telling her this. "Am I dead?"

Aslan let out a soft chuckle standing up before turning to face her. "No," he replied. "you're not. Nor will death befall you this evening."

"Then where am I?" she asked. "Am I dreaming?"

The golden eyes of the lion sparkled mysteriously, almost in the same way she'd seen Edmund's eyes sparkle before. She couldn't help but smile back, though she was still completely confused.

"There is something I must ask of you," Aslan said, turning away to walk up the beach. Electra quickly stood to follow him. She'd never felt safer in the world than she felt with Aslan. And now more than ever she felt the need to be safe.

"What is it?" she asked.

"You must understand," he continued, "it is difficult for me to do this. To ask you to make a choice. One of the most difficult choices you will ever make in your life."

Electra watched him closely. "What is it?" she asked him again.

Aslan's eyes were no longer bright and mysterious, but sad, almost in pain. "I created this world, Electra. I brought the Sons of Adam, Peter and Edmund, and the daughters of Eve, Susan and Lucy, to this world. To save it, make it better than it once was. But not to last for only four years. If this ends, Narnia will be shrouded into darkness." He looked up at Electra with sad eyes. "I don't want my people to suffer."

"Lucy and Susan are safe, aren't they?" Electra asked worriedly.

Aslan nodded. "For now. But without their brother's protection it won't last. The Daughters of Eve are strong and brave, but they need their brothers. If anything happened to them, they would die of a broken heart."

Electra felt the pain that Aslan was revealing to her. If anything happened to her new family, Susan, Peter or Lucy… if anything happened to Edmund…

"What must I do?" she asked.

"Do you know the story of the stone table?" he asked.

Electra nodded. Lucy had told her once before, and she remembered her words. Lucy and Susan had followed Aslan to the stone table where he had given himself up in Edmund's place to, save him. He had then risen the next morning. It was a story that lightened Electra's heart and made her want to be brave. It was then she realized what Aslan asked of her. He wanted her to chose death over life. He wanted her to die to save the two Kings. The thought tore at her. She was only in her mid teens; she didn't want to die.

She then thought of Edmund. Him dying would be beyond unbearable. She wouldn't let such a fate befall him.

"If I must die to save them," she said much braver than she felt, "then so be it."

Aslan shook his head stopping in his steps. "As I said before, death will not come to you on this night. I will keep you protected. But I ask you to chose, not the easier path, but the right path. The harder path. I need your help in keeping Narnia safe."

Electra couldn't help but smile at his words. Though she would have gladly taken Edmund's place as Aslan had, taking in the idea that she wouldn't have to die was relieving. "I'll do what I can," she promised.

A sharp light caught her attention above her. Thousands of falling stars shot against the sky, illuminating the mirror-like ocean below. She turned back to Aslan, who had positioned himself in front of her.

"I will keep you safe," he promised one last time. He then opened his mouth and let out a soft breath on Electra. The feeling warmed her inside, relaxing her muscles. Electra couldn't help but smile, feeling as though she'd arrived at the most peaceful place in her life.

She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath. The air she sucked in had suddenly turned cold and the sound of the tide on the shore had suddenly disappeared, as had the presence of Aslan.

When she opened her eyes the first thing she noticed was the intense pain in her head as well of the small trickling of blood down her temple. It took her a minute to regain her surroundings. Edmund seemed to be struggling harder than ever. Two rough hands pulled her back to her feet. How much time had passed since she blacked out?

The sound of ripping met her ears. It took her a moment to realize that someone had run a knife down the length of her dress and was ripping it from her body, leaving her only in her undergarments. The cold air stabbed at her skin, and she was too caught up in the moment to be embarrassed with herself.

"Put the cat in the water," she growled. "She's not safe enough to be allowed back on the crew."

Electra stopped struggling and allowed the words to sink in. Was she being given another chance with them? They weren't about to condemn her to what they had done to the others? She glanced over at the two imprisoned kings before turning back to the Captain, Tritan.

"Where do your loyalties lie?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest.

Electra watched him closely, her mind racing at a mile a minute. If she stayed, she'd live. But for what? Being a pirate meant nothing to her anymore. Closing her eyes she allowed her body to relax. After a moment she opened them again and stared right at the captain.

"Long live the Kings and Queens of Narnia," she said softly. "And long live Aslan."

The captain's smirk lowered to a frown before it turned into a growl. This was not the answer he had been expecting. Had this been what Damin and Darit went through before they decided to stay? Had Alec and Veil been given the same choice as her before their demise? She didn't care.

"Electra," a voice whispered behind her.

She didn't pay attention. She knew whoever it was didn't want her to die. It was the voice of someone urging her to rethink her response. Instead she yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Long live King Peter! Long live Queen Susan!" Rage filled the captains face until it turned a dangerous shade of maroon. She did not stop though, as she knew what she was condemning herself with. "Long live King Edmund! Long live Queen Lucy! Long live Asla-"

The force of a fist coming in contact with her face caught her before she could finish her cry forced her back to the deck floor. Only this time she didn't black out. She felt herself being pulled back to her feet and heavy metal chains wrap loosely around her.

"Let her go!" she heard Edmund shouting, but she knew it was of no use.

"Shut up," Trinity snarled, watching Electra with a satisfied gleam in her eye.

"Do anything to harm her, and it will be the end of you," Peter's sharp voice rang through the bitter air.

"Like you really have any say about it," another pirate spat.

Electra felt herself being dragged to the side of the ship dock. The ship wasn't completely far from shore, but it was far enough away that help was beyond reach. Electra didn't bother struggling, she knew it was useless.

"Any last words?" Tritan growled holding her by the scruff of the neck.

Electra said nothing. Instead her eyes focused away from him and toward the dark haired king. His eyes were watching in horror, he shook his head barely from side to side. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked at him, trying to tell him everything was going to be okay.

With an annoyed huff the captain pushed her, forcing her over the side of the edge. The added weight of the chains increased the momentum of her fall, but it seemed she hung in the air suspended as the wind whipped around her. Her eyes closed, forcing herself let Edmund be the last thing that she saw before the icy ocean overcame her. Her heart stayed with Aslan, trusting every word he had told her.

She was oblivious to any noise that had been made, or words spoken after her fall. The silence was only cut by the sound of the waves crashing against her ears as she plummeted into the dark abyss. The water was so cold it hurt, and Electra felt the need to scream as she saw red. Already her lungs felt they were going to burst from lack of oxygen.

The weight of the chains dragged her down, but it was more than that. They were sliding from around her. Someone had locked the chains too loosely. Feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline, she kicked her feet upward as best as she could, thrashing around. It wasn't long before the chains wiggled free and Electra was kicking hard toward the surface.

Her face broke the water and she took a sharp breath, gasping for air. It was as though she were breathing for the first time. The cold night air bit at her skin where her head poked from out of the water. The ship had moved several dozen feet, but not far enough. Her hands reached for one of the ropes that was still there, and she pulled herself up onto the ship. An odd tingling was surrounding her skin.

Using the rope, she pulled herself upward and out of the water. She knew she should have been frozen by now, her hair was plastered to her face soon forming frost and her breath was shaking. It was odd, but something kept her going. She wasn't cold anymore, but warm. Was this the effect from Aslan breathing on her?

Electra climbed as far as a side port hole and clambered inside. She was surprised no one had caught sight of her by this time. Electra pulled herself into the brig of the ship, shivering slightly. She knew she didn't have much time. Moving quickly, she went up a single flight of stairs and into the crew sleeping quarters. There she pulled on a shirt and a spare skirt before grabbing hers sword. It was still here after all this time.

Electra knew she would have to be quick if anything she could do was going to work. Taking the back ladder, she ascended to the upper decks. Luckily the hole to the top was surrounded by a back cabin, so no one saw her approach. There was one guard in her way, and she quickly silenced him with a slice to his throat.

This room led to the back deck, which thankfully was completely abandoned. Moving silently along the side of the room that was attached to the captain's cabin, she stopped just out of view of anyone. Electra was thankful to see that nothing harmful had been done to the kings yet. Moving back around to the back of the deck again, she climbed the last flight of stairs.

Three men were standing there, one at the wheel and the other two watching below. With the stealth of a pirate, Electra moved up behind the one at the wheel, immediately gutting him with her sword. The sound made the other two pirates turn.

"Hey!" one shouted, unsheathing his weapon.

Electra the other had been too surprised to see her to draw his sword yet. She quickly gutted him before he had time to react before turning to block the one who had shouted. He was dead, however, in a matter of seconds, and Electra moved to the edge to face the main deck. All eyes had fallen upon her. The ones she sought out, however, was the captain's and they were full of fire.