Chapter Twenty-Nine: When Everything Crumbles

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~ Narnia ~

Lucy watched her brother, Caspian, and Arran warily. After the unbalanced moment in the cavern, she didn't trust them, especially with their swords, which Rynelf had carefully hidden to retrieve later. Edmund and Caspian seemed more confused than Arran, asking her what exactly had transpired. Lucy knew that everything had been happening too fast for her to pay much attention to detail, but she tersely told them that they might have killed each other if she hadn't done what she had. If everything else was a muddle, what they had said to each other wasn't, and Edmund could not look at Caspian, nor the king him, without quickly turning their glances away, knowing that what they'd said was wrong, but in the whole, carrying some fragments of truth.

Every time Edmund thought about it, all he could do was berate himself his moment of insanity. "What an idiot I've just been, acting as if I really cared about some measly golden pool," he muttered under his breath as they came down to the boat beached on the shore.

Arran stopped and stood still as they came to the shore. Since he'd talked with Lucy, he had not uttered a word, nothing of apology, asking no forgiveness for what he had started in the cavern. Eustace walked past him, saying something which involved supplies aloud to Lucy who was standing with Rynelf.

"Eustace." Arran motioned for the boy to come to his side.

"I don't really trust you right now, so make this quick," the boy said curtly, briefly meeting the Star's gaze and then looking away.

"This morning, when we first stepped on shore, I gave you a dagger. Why, Eustace, why did I give you a dagger?" Arran asked, his voice sharp with clarity, something it had been lacking in the cavern.

"Because you have an odd habit of giving weapons to the defenseless, I suppose?" Eustace scoffed sarcastically. "I don't know, Arran, and I don't have time for your weird games; you won't do to me what you did to them." Eustace started walking down the slope.

"Eustace, how did I sound when I began talking; what did I say; what have I done?" Arran asked, grabbing the boy's sleeve, his voice taking on a hint of urgency. Eustace turned back to Arran, a scowl on his face, when he realized Arran genuinely did not know what had happened. His face, his eyes, betrayed him.

"I know what I did down there, I-I remember that, but of before, I have no recollection," Arran admitted desperately. "Something had gotten hold of me, something dangerous."

"What, are you saying that your state of odd abasement was because something was, without physical being, fighting you? Arran, you're a really wonderful liar; the kids at my school would love to hear you tell stories!" Eustace said in a degrading tone, done with the Star's tricks and deceit.

"No, oh, for but a moment I wish you were a dragon once more; then you would understand!" Arran declared, scowling deeply. He turned away slightly but stopped, pulling the brooch from his pocket and staring at it. With a sudden swing of his arm, he sent the object hurtling toward the water in a long arc.

"Why ever did you do that?" Eustace asked, slightly frustrated; there was no reason to get rid of the object in such a dramatic way.

"Because it is cursed; it is deadly," Arran said in curt explanation, staring hard at the spot where the golden trinket had sunk beneath the water.

"Come on," Eustace muttered, grabbing the pirate's sleeve when he noticed Lucy motioning. The boy could not wait to return to the ship and sail as far away from here as possible.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Susan was waiting when they returned to the Treader, along with Gavan, Zephyr and Serene. But the group was oddly silent, and everyone went their own way after coming on board. Susan came up to Lucy after she and Rynelf returned from retrieving the swords. "What happened?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

"Let's not talk about it here; just give Drinian the orders to sail; this place is dangerous," Lucy replied, taking the swords, with Rynelf's help, to a safe place until they were far away from this island. Susan stared at her sister oddly but gave the order.

Gavan knew there was something wrong; he'd seen his brother and noticed the change in him. He came up to Lucy where she was standing, watching the island fade into the background. "Something happened back there, and it has to do with Arran, doesn't it?" he asked calmly; he knew what Arran was capable of.

"Gavan, your brother, Edmund, and Caspian nearly tried to kill each other over some pool of water that turned things to gold; it was awful," Lucy said, her voice fading to a whisper.

"Don't be so worried; Coriakin told us we would be tempted; it's happening. They'll be all right once we return to open water; will they trust each other is the question now," Gavan pointed out wisely.

"That's what I've been debating. You should have heard them! Edmund going on about subduing Caspian's people, Caspian talking about Edmund taking orders better than giving them; I've never seen a worse argument, ever." Lucy closed her eyes briefly, trying to rid herself of the image of her brother facing Caspian, angry enough to try to kill him.

"They are kings, and Edmund has a harder time of it than most. But then, so does Caspian. They will come to an understanding; it's my brother I worry about. He's misled your friends and family once; how many more times will he do it?" Gavan wondered aloud, looking grim.

"I almost wonder if he wasn't tempted too; he was so unlike himself," Lucy tried to defend Arran, because he had been acting odd.

"Or perhaps you're finally seeing him in true form," Gavan replied, glancing down at her.

"I don't know; I'm just glad we're all still alive," She said, feigning cheerfulness. Her conscience was deeply troubled, and she was beginning to doubt her trust in her brother and friends. They had been so willing to kill one another for a small body of magical water; what would they be willing to kill for next?

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Drinian watched the group come aboard and noted that they all seemed to be acting rather unusual; he wondered what the problem was, especially when he noticed Rynelf return to the island and then come back to the ship with a bundle of swords. Most unusual. He couldn't obtain straight answers from anyone, not Susan, the Stars or even Rynelf, who remained stoically mum even when questioned.

"I wonder what happened," he queried aloud, glancing back to see the island in the distance, looking all the more lonely than before. The only deduction he could arrive at that held the slightest plausibility was temptation, and that made him uneasy. The idea that even his brave leaders could succumb to the smallest obstacle in life was worrisome. It made him doubt.

As he pondered temptation and its many winding, twisted paths to ruin, Rhince came up beside the helm. For several minutes, it was quiet, Drinian in his thoughts and Rhince waiting to gather the words he wished to speak.

"Have the kings or the queen told you why Rynelf brought back their swords separately?" he asked finally, his voice low and quiet.

"I was just pondering that, because no, they haven't seen fit to inform me yet," Drinian replied after a moment's pause.

"I thought as much, but I wanted to ask nevertheless." Rhince leaned against the rail in front of the helm, staring out across the ocean.

"It bothers me that they're keeping silent about it; it makes me think that something unsettling happened to them, something rather disarming," Drinian commented after a bit, when he noticed Rhince was not going to continue.

"I thought the same. I also thought that it might be dangerous to continue if things pursue this risky path. My wife is dear to me, but she would not wish I find and rescue her at the sacrifice of so many lives. If things become too perilous, we must think about taking matters into our own hands and turning back to Narnia and safety. Aslan will protect us as he always does," Rhince declared.

"I was thinking in kind," Drinian agreed with a nod.

"I had best be taking my watch then," Rhince remarked a few quiet minutes later, straightening and going down the stairs. Drinian pondered what he had said, himself now thinking about having to take up matters if the monarchs became mentally unable to.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

"I have brought all of us here because I must know what transpired on that island, and we must name it anyhow. I cannot do that without all of you," Susan declared, motioning to them as she spoke.

After putting Rilian down for his nap, she had gathered Lucy, the Stars, Caspian, Edmund, Serene, Reepicheep and Eustace to talk. She would have retrieved Rynelf, but he was occupied with a sailor's task and could not abandon it. Susan had received no explanation for the odd events of a few hours earlier, and since no one was offering answers, she was going to get them. Even if she had to force the issue.

"Goldwater," Arran muttered. The pirate stood in the back of the room, arms crossed, leaning against the wall. He had been the most silent of the group and had not tried to beg out of the meeting unlike the others.

"What Arran?" Susan looked at him. Several others did too, namely Edmund, who scowled, and Eustace, who seemed puzzled.

"Oh, call it Goldwater and be done with the whole messy, bloody business," Arran retorted with sarcasm, looking angry and uncomfortable.

"What do you mean?" Susan raised a dark eyebrow curiously. "You seem the only honest, talkative one of the shore party; please explain," she added. Now it was Caspian's turn to scowl.

"Keep silent if you know what's good for you," Edmund whispered, glaring at the pirate.

"None of you have told her then?" the pirate glanced at them, surprised. Edmund closed his eyes, hand covering his face as he inhaled sharply. Caspian merely stiffened, staring blankly at another corner of the room.

Well, we got into a bit of a row, about gold. More specifically, water that could turn things into gold. It was my fault; I started going on and on about the uses for such things; I can't say truthfully what came over me. I got them fighting, and we would have perhaps spilled blood if it hadn't been for Lucy and Eustace. Lucy has great power," Arran added in an offhand manner, his eyes falling on the girl.

The room was silent, and Susan seemed shocked for several moments. "You tried to get my brother and husband to fight?" she asked, frowning slightly as she tried to understand.

"More or less, but I wasn't trying; something on that island was dangerous, and I think we have made it worse falling for temptation," Arran said, looking off with a thoughtful frown himself. "It was ill," he whispered under his breath, playing with a tassel on his hilt like he was apt to do when thinking.

"It seems that the place was nearly the death of too many of our party; why not call it Deathwater Island?" Reepicheep spoke up from the corner he had been standing in. Everyone turned to him, having forgotten he had come, so quiet he had been.

Now, Reep wasn't normally this quiet, but he had been during the whole episode because he wanted to observe his old friend and the monarchs. What he saw bothered him so much that he had been lost in thought for a while. Remembering that they should name the island even though it was the place of such horrors and near-death experiences, he blurted out the first idea that came to his mind. Deathwater Island had a macabre appeal to it that he knew most people would like the name, and he was not far off in that assumption.

Slowly, Susan nodded her head, followed by an agreeing little bob of her own from Lucy, even though the mention of the island caused her hand to fly to her dagger in reflex. Caspian and Edmund shared glances, still not talking to one another. The name would be an ugly reminder for all eternity of what had transpired between them; they would never forget.

Slowly, tiredly, as if it took too much energy to think of, Caspian agreed. "Dea– Deathwater Island it should be." He stumbled over the word, realizing that if things had gone differently, he might have killed Edmund or Edmund him.

"I don't think any other name will fit it now, even if we wanted it to," Edmund muttered, moving to go; he was tired of this, and he wanted to get out of the cabin.

"Yes," Caspian agreed in a low, absent voice. Neither one looked at the other for a moment; the whole room was silent, the tension charging the air strong enough to choke on when Edmund's eyes finally met Caspian's. They said nothing, but Edmund nodded and then walked out the door. Lucy glanced at Susan, and all the Queen could think was, 'here be dragons.'

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Caspian stared blankly at the wall in the cabin the following morning from the chair he sat in, thinking. In fact, he had stayed up most of the night going over what he had told Edmund and what Edmund had in turn told him. The king had no idea in the world on how to atone for what he had said; Edmund never took orders, to be utterly truthful; he gave more to Caspian than the king was willing to admit, good ones, too. Edmund was, in everything but looks, his senior, and Caspian had ridiculed him and baited him without cause.

He sighed, resting his elbows on the table, his head in his hands. Sometimes he felt like such a boy again, and in his mind he would replay the words he had told Aslan that day at Beruna: 'I do not think I am ready.' Ready to grow up, to take responsibility, to have answers, to decide. He didn't understand! He was supposed to be the man with the answers, but he stood there with just as many questions as the little boy who had listened to his professor tell him fairytales of Narnians, far too many questions and too few answers.

This was why he wanted to go to the end of the world, to find some sort of reassurance that he could somehow get the answers he desperately felt he needed.

One of the answers he already had; he must go apologize to Edmund. But he didn't know how he could without it seeming forced; he was still too offended himself over Edmund's words.

"Words, what dangerous little things; said without forethought, they can send a kingdom toppling and break an alliance in an hour," he mused to himself.

"I suppose everything I learn is taught to me by Edmund or Peter. For here's yet another lesson." He smiled mirthlessly, wondering if he'd lost a friend.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Arran lean back in a hammock belowdecks, thinking about all that had transpired. A frown settled on his face as he sifted through his thoughts. Absently he was pulling apart a braid near his face, the pain when he hit a small tangle keeping him focused. He was trying to determined what had caused him to act as he had in Deathwater Island.

Deathwater.

What a brilliant name. Trust Reepicheep to bring up deathwater. Another time Arran had erred greatly. He had hoped to forget it; now it would be branded onto every map until Aslan brought Narnia to her end.

"How are you?" The small, calm voice brought Arran from his thoughts. His frown deepened.

"Right now I believe I could wring your neck and feel little to no remorse," he murmured, glancing at the mouse who was balancing above him on a rope that ran the length of the ceiling, which was where sailors hung blankets or clothes to dry.

"That's… disappointing, I suppose. But I reasoned that you would say something like that. I suggested Deathwater for your own good, Arran, and you know it," Reep replied, his voice firm and fatherly, which Arran was beginning to feel growing resentment towards.

"Oh, be quiet with all this wisdom; you have lived a middling amount of years and are ready to die, while I will never pass from life! I shall deal with that name to the end of all things; you have no idea the burden that is! I shall have to open a map, have to see that name, knowing what I did, a reminder of what I have done now multiplied twofold every time I read that name in ink!" Arran shouted, before his voice quieted, his anger spent for the moment.

"We learn things in life, and perhaps it is better to be reminded again and again of something than forgetting it and committing the same error over and over, don't you think? I have not lived as long as you, Arran, but I have seen and done many things in my life, some things I'm not very proud of. You will never die, but you will never be the solitary, disassociate beings that are the Stars of the heavens. Therefore, because you are a Star, you will be forever beautiful, forever alive and forever wise. But because you are human, forever erring, forever involved and forever learning. Life doesn't become perfect just because you live forever, Arran." Reep smiled slightly, looking down at the Pirate.

The Star was staring off into the dark, listening to what had been said. "I know," he whispered hoarsely; but he was not talking of what Reepicheep had said.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

"In Aslan's Country, have- have you talked with Lucian and Lilianna?" Susan asked, coming up behind Serene, who was standing near the bow watching the stars slowly twinkle into being with the coming night. The question was one Susan had been longing to ask the other woman, but she had been hesitant, feeling that the question was awkward and out of place. Now, after all that had happened to them, Susan didn't think it so odd a thing to ask about.

"And what would my answer change?" Serene asked softly, turning her head to catch Susan's gaze in hers for a mere instant.

"I don't know. I do know that I never knew them and that I should like to know who they became, what they were, how they ruled Narnia as the last sibling monarchs," Susan replied softly, lightly running her fingers over the smooth wooden railing in front of her to distract herself.

"You knew the children they were; you have seen their portraits; can that not be enough for now? To know about them, and then to know of them, would that not make it hurt more?" Serene asked gently, trying to show Susan that the answers to her question would only make the ache at their passing and the lack of knowing them greater, not less.

"I know; it's just, I stare at those portraits, those figures so solemn and silent, wondering who they were. Who was King Lucian the Brave; who was Queen Lilianna the Fair? So many documents and histories were destroyed by the Telmarines over the years, so that I am left with speculations. Assumptions. I know nothing of the man who gave his life so that Narnia might live, nothing of the woman, either. So many times I have startled myself, thinking Lucian's portrait Peter's, that I wish I might know him and speak with him, see if he is truly as like his father as I fancy him to be," Susan admitted.

"Then continue to speculate, continue to wonder, so that, someday, you will be dazzled by the fine young man who, as you so elegantly put it, 'gave his life so that Narnia might live.' The dead do not come back; I am a rare – perhaps unheard of besides yourself and your siblings – exception. Someday all your questions will be answered. But, until then, you must know that he was every bit the king Peter would be proud of." Serene comfortingly placed her hand over Susan's as she spoke, steadying it against the wooden rail.

The two women's eyes met, and they shared smiles.

Susan did not move off, enjoying the companionable silence that was so rare now on this voyage. It was comforting to be near a woman who had seen as many years as she, who was a bit wiser, a bit more experienced. It made Susan feel less alone.

"Susan, when I left–" she broke off, inhaling sharply, which caused Susan to look at her, worried that something was wrong. "Oh, Susan, do you see it?" she cried, her voice hardly above a whisper. Serene pointed to something in the evening sky, which was growing brighter. Susan focused her eyes on it.

"Serene it's…" she trailed off, surprise silencing her. "By Aslan, is that a blue star?" Susan whispered breathlessly, turning her gaze on Serene.

"Oh, it is, it is! Susan, the Blue Star! There it is, to lead us to Ramandu's Island," Serene whispered in awe, her arm laced through Susan's in her barely contained excitement.

"We must tell the others." Susan suddenly realized, jerking from her reverie at seeing the glowing sphere.

"Yes, we must!" Serene agreed, turning and running back across the deck like a young girl, Susan not far behind.

In the east, the star rose ever higher, a bright, blue-white pinpoint of light to lead them on and on. To Aslan's Table, to the end of the world.


A/N:

Well, hello again! I am giving ya'll a bonus chapter, because it is imperative that you answer a question in this A/N. Hence, then, early chapter! (yay!) But there should be another chapter coming next Tuesday, don't worry!


So, this is another filler/plot-moving chapter. Really, I do enough of these that I'm amazed at your perseverance to keep reading! The next chapter should have some Gavan/Lucy for all concerned, I've been putting that off and I feel badly about it, but as it didn't really move the main plot (except the subplot of this character/OC pairing) I had to cast it aside in favor of the main plot.


Jesus' girl 4ever was my Beta again! Round of applause for her, I do so love her help! (More than I can express, just know that.)


So, finally, the Blue Star! Ok, questions for my readers! (Oh I love doing this, so much fun to get input from ya'll! Not that I don't already, but this is more!)

Question for Readers: Ok, in the film, Liliandil is the only one we see on Ramandu's Island. Do you want me to do just movie-plot/my-plot, or do you want me to go more along the lines of book-plot/movie-plot/my-plot? What other suggestions for this scene do you have to offer, in other words, what would you like?

That's what I've been doing so far, but I was wondering. I love the book and was thinking that I'd go for that. Of course, this means another (probably long) chapter before the climax and plot!twist. (I can't remember if that's how you do that or not, forgive me.)

Yes, there will be a plot twist that has nothing whatever to do with the movie or the book. strictly My-plot with a few movie/book elements thrown in. Feedback please! :)


That moment with Caspian, how he's talking about feeling like a child, is something my dad told my brother and me once. I made it fit Caspian, of course, but, generally, it's the same. I found the concept and the whole idea very useful and interesting.

I felt like I just had to have Susan ask Serene about Lucian and Lilianna; because Susan was the one person who could calm Peter and keep him stable after returning to England (refer to Star Crossed). I just think that underneath all her stoic, up-building demeanor, she really wanted closure and information about her niece and nephew.

She wanted to sleep easy knowing that the fears Peter felt, the uncertainties she carried, were unfounded. That Lucian was a good king and that he and Lilianna had not suffered much by The Four's leaving. But Serene can't tell her that, she lived through that time. She might have even felt their suffering because of the magic Aslan gave her.

She doesn't want to hurt Susan by telling her that Lucian and Lilianna did, indeed, do well, but had been angry at the loss of the Pevensies as guides and teachers in their rule. She wants Susan to remain unburdened, because Serene has seen the King and Queen after the pain of ShadowNarnia, but Susan wants to know of that life only. Serene could not begin to describe Aslan's Country to her, and the old, yet made new, people who live there.

So she gave her one bit of hope to go on, and knew she best leave it at that.


ILoveFanfiction:

Oh, such great questions! I'm so glad your not bored, *whew* what a relief!

I know, that's sort of what I was going for with the tag game, just a reaction and relaxation moment.

I think you shall be pleased with TLB, it will (hopefully) be epic and meticulously done! (Can you believe we're almost there?) I can guarantee that book 3 will have more than flashback scenes; I think you will enjoy it!

I will work on that thought for TSC (book 3)! That is very good and I can always use such input! (Especially now, mostly now, probably it would be good to bring that sort of thing up now) I can't remember if he did or not, I don't think so, but I will go read and find out! All right? Good.

Really? Seriously? The next script is finished?! Fantastic, let's all throw a minor over-the-internet party! Chips and salsa all around, Chardonnay, anyone? (sorry, I kinda have a thing for wine, Chardonnay and lemonade in particular.)

I'm glad you're still enjoying Durin's Price, isn't she a great writer?

I understand about having a life outside of FFN, so, you don't need to offer up any excuses and/or reasons why you didn't have time to read this.

I'm so glad you liked the fight scene! *dance of happiness* Yay! Though I never thought it would be seen as that good... Awesome! I know I said that Caspian wanted the pool, not Edmund, but I had to do it this way because Edmund would have been able to follow Arran's train of thought faster, since he is the Just King for a reason.

But Caspian wanted it too, no denying that. He was simply trying to keep Edmund from having it. Yeah... Arran's got some problems. *glares at him over shoulder* Don't worry though, I think he'll get better! We'll see... *won't we, Arran?*

Yes, Caspian does indeed use two swords because Edmund taught him swordplay with two back at the How (I think you were the one who brought this to my attention in a much earlier review). That's what he means by 'everything he knows is taught him by Peter and Edmund' (not a direct quote, but, you got it).

I know what you mean about Lucy, that's what I'm going for too! I think that she wasn't allowed to show in full just why she was called valiant. It's disappointing, but, it can be fixed! I believe we shall indeed learn more of this Lucy in my Prequel/companion? book on the Golden Age and post Dark Age. (I call the Telmarine invasion the 'Dark Age.' It's on my profile if you need to know more.)

I promise you now, Gavan/Lucy is coming, believe me! So glad you hear from you again!


Happy reading, ~ WH