A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks so much to TheLostHeroinesOfOlympus, SailingAwaySoftly, shippolove844, Amri Ishvique, Carlypso, Psyche101, Evy201, TennisQueen12, and Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 for reviewing! I hope everyone enjoys this chapter :)
Chapter XXIV
"The water really is beautiful," Lucy remarked, entranced. She was leaning over the edge of the boat, her face dangling just feet above the placid surface.
Beautiful, perhaps, was not the best choice of words. However, the more she looked at it, the more Elise began to agree with the young girl's sentiments. The water was such a dark shade of bluish-green that it appeared to be almost black. The abyssal quality that it emitted was extremely hypnotic, and after a while it did indeed appear lovely.
"Don't get too close," Peter warned.
However, the youngest Pevensie didn't seem to hear him. Elise watched in bewitched wonder as Lucy extended her hand and allowed it to hover mere centimeters above the water. Slowly, she placed her palm in the surface.
Before there was even time for ripples to appear, something green and plant-like shot out and wrapped itself around her wrist; she screamed. It was at this moment that her eyes became startlingly clear and she was ripped out of her trance.
Thinking fast, Peter drew his sword and severed the slimy cord. "I told you not to get too close!" he scolded angrily.
"I-I'm sorry," she stammered in fearful shock, "I don't know what came over me – I just couldn't help myself."
Elise remained unmoved by this turn of events and her eyes remained fixed on the river.
Caspian saw this, and, gripping her shoulders, instructed, "Hey, don't look at it."
The physical contact brought her back to her senses, and she looked up at him worriedly.
"That was so odd – I couldn't stop staring."
"I could tell," he said solemnly. "Everyone, don't look at the water for too long," he announced to the rest of the party.
Now fully alert, she heard a faint, echoing noise in the distance; it sounded like singing.
"Do you hear that?" she asked Caspian.
He strained his ears to listen, and it became apparent that the sound was growing louder.
"Yes, I do," he said nervously. "What's that noise?" he demanded of the ferryman.
"They are the daughters of the river," he said ambiguously.
"'They'?" Edmund questioned.
"Ellie, look!" Robbie exclaimed from the other side of the boat. She rushed to her little brother, afraid of what might try to snatch him from her.
Susan, who was near the younger d'Orsay, did not seem very concerned. "It's just a mermaid," she said coldly, "We've seen them loads of times before – it's nothing to worry about."
"Not like this, we haven't," Edmund contradicted – he was staring intently at the water, and it soon became clear that a head had risen.
It – or rather she – was strikingly gorgeous in a very morbid sense of the word; long, silken green locks framed her angular face, and a pair of the most vivid blue eyes (which reminded him of Elise's, Caspian noted silently) peered up at them seductively. However, there was something very inhuman – apart from her coloring and the pair of pointed, gill-like ears that poked out from underneath her hair – about her beauty.
Her plump lips parted into a mischievous smile, only to reveal a row of pearly-white, fang-like teeth. She was gone in a flash, but her voice could still be heard from above the water. Her melancholy song contained no words, or at least no words that were recognizable to human ears.
Suddenly, three more appeared; they looked similar to their companion, but had decidedly different features. However, they were all equally stunning in appearance.
Edmund, determined to get a better look at the creatures, leant precariously over the side. The closer he got to them, the further away they moved. Just as he was about to overstep the railing, Peter gripped the collar of his shirt and hauled him back into the boat.
"Bad idea," he stated gruffly.
One of the mermaids giggled melodiously, before giving Peter and flirtatious pout. She brought one of her hands (if they could be referred to as such) out of the water and beckoned for him to come closer with a long, bony finger.
Having had the misfortune of making eye contact with her, he became ensnared in her trap. Like Edmund, began to drift further and further over the edge of the boat.
"Pete?" the younger Pevensie brother questioned.
No response.
"Peter!" he exclaimed.
But it was too late. Just as Peter realized what was happening, the mermaid's hands shot up to grab either side of the neckline of his tunic and pull him into the green abyss.
Luckily, Edmund was able to react and grab is ankles, initiating a sort of tug of war over Peter's body.
"Help!" he shouted to his other companions.
Instantly, Caspian was by his side, helping to pull the blonde-headed king back into the boat. Eventually, Peter was able to break free from the mermaid's grasp by clocking her in the stomach (he felt a bit guilty for hitting a girl, but he reconciled himself with the fact that they weren't really girls).
"That was a close one," he said in surprise.
"You're telling me…" Edmund grumbled.
"I think it's safe to say that we should not be looking over the side of the boat," Elise commented wryly.
"I agree," said Caspian.
"Of course you do…" a bitter Susan mumbled under her breath.
The Telmarine King shot her a pained glance, but declined a response.
"We are nearing Apollyon," the ferryman announced.
"Where? I don't see anyth – "
Before Lucy could finish her sentence, they dropped abruptly. The boat was entering a sort of grotto, which hadn't been visible until it was they were already starting to pass through it. They sped down a dark tunnel; the only thing illuminating the cave was the reflection of the sunlight from above bouncing off the walls and the surface of the water. Eventually, they came to a sharp stop.
"Once you set foot on land, the Trials will commence. This is your last opportunity to turn back."
"We understand the risks," Peter stated confidently.
"Very well."
With that, the plank once again descended, allowing the group to step onto a rocky shore. The lighting in the cavern was an eerie blue, and the calmness of the water seemed almost unnatural.
When they were all off of the boat, it sunk once again beneath the water. It soon became increasingly obvious that there was only one direction in which they could move: forward, into an even darker area.
"Shall we get going?" Lucy asked animatedly.
"We need to be careful," Peter warned, "God knows what lies in that cave…"
"It will undoubtedly be something very, very unpleasant," Elise remarked, "Otherwise these wouldn't be called 'the Trials.'"
"Too true," he agreed.
As the light grew dimmer, the group grew closer and closer together; Robbie, in particular, grew closer and closer to his sister. Pretty soon, their surroundings became pitch-black. Elise took this opportunity to discretely interlace her fingers with Caspian's; or at least, what she thought were Caspian's.
"Uh, Elise?" Peter whispered so that only she could hear, "I think you've got the wrong person."
She quickly dropped his hand like he was on fire and was sent into a panicked fit of coughing, whilst the eldest Pevensie fought hard to contain his laughter.
"Are you all right?" Caspian asked in concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she covered, "I think I just swallowed a bug or something." She followed the sound of his voice so that she was now indeed gripping the correct person's hand.
"Ellie, you're acting really weird," Robbie commented.
"Don't worry about it," she assured him, "It's nothing."
All of a sudden, a thick, disorienting mist fell upon them and clouded their lungs.
"It's starting!" Peter called breathlessly, "Just remember: stay true to your morals! Don't believe anything they show you!" But it was too late – his voice was drowned out by the sound of stones shifting.
"It's not real," she told Robbie frantically, "None of it is."
And then they were separated.
She was alone. Utterly alone. In the dark. And she felt woozy and almost as if she was in a dream. Maybe there was something in that mist, she thought worriedly.
"Welcome to the land of Apollyon," said a low, soothing, feminine voice. The sound threatened to lull Elise to sleep. "This is not quite so ominous a place as it may seem. In fact, it can be rather nice."
A beautiful, shimmering figure appeared next to a lucid pool of water. Although she was young, there was something very maternal about her.
"Come," she instructed, "lay down."
A large and luxurious bed appeared out of nowhere. It looked extremely tempting, but Elise remembered what Peter had told her: this wasn't real.
"No, I need to get back to my friends," she said resolutely.
"Why?"
"Because I need to get home."
"Where is home?"
"England."
In the pool of water, an image began to materialize; it was a picture of war-ravaged London.
"Not there, Whitford."
A picture of her house came into view.
"Are you sure this is home?"
"Yes. It's where my family lives. But enough of this – how do I get out?"
"Ah, but much has changed since you've been gone," she continued, ignoring her, "For every month you've been here, a year has passed in England. You grandmother and grandfather are no longer living."
"That's not true."
"But it is, my dear – I can show you."
The image swirled to create a new one; it was of her grandfather walking through town. All of a sudden, he stopped short and collapsed. He writhed in pain for a moment, before he went completely still.
"What? No! Make it stop! This isn't real!" Elise cried.
The woman put her hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her.
"The doctors referred to it as a heart-attack," she said, "And your grandmother dies shortly afterward – I'm sure you don't want to see that. They say it was of a broken heart."
"I don't believe you," she said defiantly through her tears. She really didn't believe her, but any image of a family member dying – false or not – was painful to watch.
She nodded solemnly, before continuing, "And your mother has resorted to a horrible life, what with no family and such. Her drinking has gotten worse, if you can imagine it."
"You're lying."
"But no, my dear, I'm not allowed to lie. Everything you see is real. So, then, why would you want to return? Surely your home is here, with your beloved."
"My beloved?" she sniffed.
"King Caspian, of course."
The image changed to one of said king, walking beside her joyously.
"If you leave, he will be heartbroken. And many horrible things will befall him."
The picture swirled again, to Caspian riding his horse. This image was much less cheerful, and there were fiery arrows shooting through the air – it was clear that he was at war. All of a sudden, one of the arrows struck him in the chest and he was sent falling from his horse.
"No!" Elise screamed desperately. This time, she shoved her hand into the pool and reflection shattered like glass.
"This has nothing to do with me staying," she said angrily. She stood up and shrugged the woman's hand off her.
"I'm finished with this. Show me the way out, or leave me alone," she demanded.
"As you wish," the woman said – there was a hint of resentment in her tone.
A doorway appeared at the far wall of the chamber, and she stepped aside so that Elise could pass through it.
"You may move on to the next Trial. But rest assured, it will be far more difficult than this one, and the third will be even more impossible. You still may turn back."
"No thank you," she said harshly. Without another word, she walked through to the next chamber.
(Meanwhile)
Edmund stood his ground firmly as an aged figure approached him. In front of the old man was a large oak table, illuminated by candlelight.
"Come, King Edmund, come," the man said in a calm, kindly tone.
Edmund began to move forward before he even realized what he was doing.
"You mustn't go on with this mission, my boy."
"And why not?" he asked petulantly.
"It will be the death of you."
"Nonsense. This is the first trial, is it? I must say, I'm a little disappointed – I'd thought it would be a bit more difficult."
The old man smiled tiredly, and a projection appeared on the table. "See for yourself, if you do not believe me," he instructed.
Edmund could do nothing but watch as an image of himself fought what appeared to be the White Witch. All of a sudden, the Witch took her icy sword and plunged it through his stomach. Edmund flinched at the sight of this, and subconsciously put his hand on the spot, as if to make sure that he was all right.
Finally, when the horrible scene was over, he said, "That's a clever trick, old man, but my siblings and I have already defeated the White Witch."
He'd meant to sound confident, but the picture he'd just seen had disturbed him more than he would have liked to let on.
"You know better than most that it is possible for her to return. Do you no remember what happened the last time you were in Narnia?"
His thoughts raced back to the time when the werewolf had almost brought her back.
"We still defeated her. You're showing me lies."
"I cannot lie, my boy, I cannot. All that you see here is true. That is your future, if you choose to remain in Apollyon."
"I choose to remain. Now show me the way out."
"As you wish," the man said emotionlessly. Behind him, a door appeared; Edmund crossed the threshold without looking back.
(Meanwhile)
"Ellie?" Robbie called meekly into the dark.
"Yes, Robbie, I'm here," her voice rang musically.
He spun around to see the figure of his sister standing beside a mirror. He rushed over to her happily, and hugged her around the waist.
But he quickly realized that something was wrong. She was hugging him back, but her body was extremely cold.
"You're not Ellie," he accused, releasing her mistrustfully.
"No, I'm not, darling. But I am what your mind finds most comforting."
"How do I get out of here?" he asked.
"Why do you want to leave?"
"Because I have to – I have to get back to my sister."
"But don't you want to stay here?"
"No."
"Are you sure? Think of what you could accomplish."
Suddenly, Robbie's reflection in the mirror started to change. He grew older and older, until he appeared to be about Peter's age. There was a magnificent, jewel-encrusted crown atop his head, and he was holding a golden scepter.
"You can rule here, Robbie. You can't do that back home, can you? There's nothing left for you there."
"I've got my mum and grandma and grandpa."
"But you don't need them. You are strong – think of the adventures you could have."
"No. I need to find my sister. How do I get out of here?" His short attention span was wearing thin.
"Are you sure you want to leave?"
"Yes. Show me the way out!"
"Alright, if that's what you truly want…"
The mirror disappeared and turned into a doorway. Robbie ran through quickly, eager to get away from his impostor-sister.
A/N: Thanks for reading everybody! I hope you all liked it. Please review :)