I know that many of you have been asking for a little Lucy + OC stuff. I tried my best - it didn't seem to come too naturally though. But here is the finished result. Hope you enjoy - oh and don't forget to leave a little review at the end.


Chapter 29 – A Queen and a Captain

Lucy

The plan was set. The two of them mounted their horses and rode as silent as shadows into the black night. Lucy and Lune would ride in the tunnel that stretched from Narnia's mainland to Sorugyn's stronghold on an island in the east, many people considered this tunnel the only good deed that Sorugyn had ever performed for Narnia, as it meant that it was no longer necessary for people to risk going over the sea to get to the islands in the east.

The entrance to the tunnel was but a few miles away from Cair Paravel and it was not long before the two of them stood before what looked like a simple cave entrance. Several guards paced around it and Lucy and Lune trotted hesitantly up to them.

"Who are you and what is your business here?" A guard asked, clearly of Telmar origin.

"We have business with Sorugyn, the true ruler of Narnia," Lune growled through clenched teeth. "You would do well not to hinder our progress to his castle."

"You know as well as I do that Sorugyn is no longer residing in his castle," the guard said, hand on hilt. "He prepares for battle."

"We have been ordered by him to retrieve something of great importance from his abode." Lucy answered quickly, improvising lies as she went along.

"And he sent you, a woman." A dwarf answered back, sneeringly.

"Do not ask questions of our Lord Sorugyn." Lune said menacingly, drawing his sword and pointing at the dwarf. Using a trick he had learnt long ago he slid a bag of money down his sword into the hands of the guard who wordlessly stood by to let them go. As soon as they were out of sight, Lucy let out a sigh of relief.

"That was close." She whispered not daring to make too much noise.

"And I fear that we will meet many more such difficulties on our path." Lune said, worry creeping into his voice.

Lune looked over at his queen who was riding erect on her horse. He could not help but smile at her face; he could not imagine pain nor fear ever crossing those beautiful yet simple features that she bore. She always seemed so jolly to him, her spirit unsinkable, her joy unconquerable. But who was he to think such thoughts, he was but a captain and she a queen.

The horses continued at a fast pace and the two were carried into the tunnel, at one point the air became so thin that they thought they were going to suffocate. Lucy almost fainted but Lune quickly gave her some water and she returned to her normal cheery self. They laboured on, talking occasionally; Lucy asked about Lune's life and soon found out about him being a werewolf.

"You are not shocked?" Lune asked questioningly when Lucy showed no reaction when he told her.

"No," She smiled, almost as if to herself, "My life is such a jumble of things that seem to make no sense, and nothing shocks me now. Being transported from world to world is weird enough; something like that just shakes the shock out of you."

The tunnel ended and rose up again to the surface, before them stood a grey castle dominating the whole island, the sea encircling it on all sides. It rose up tall, an unwanted landmark in the middle of a silvery ocean. They urged the horses on through the cobbled streets. Lucy looked around her and saw on the side of the street, in the gloomy shade of the houses, haggard men and women sitting or lying on their backs, motionless. Their mouths had a curious blackish look, as if they had been bruised, and around their lips flies swarmed and gathered in clusters. At first Lucy thought they were dead but looking closer she saw their chests heaving as if each breathe were painful to take. One of them opened their eyes and Lucy gasped, she had thought them all old, but now looking upon them again saw that they were people her age. Their eyes were haunted. One girl held out her hand to Lucy and slowly stood up, she attempted to walk towards the queen, but the girl seemed to be assailed by imaginary phantoms and fell back down to the ground, cracking her head open on the hard ground.

Lucy quickly dismounted her horse but Lune grabbed hold of her arm and set her back on her steed.

"No, do not touch them." He warned, his eyes filling with pity as he looked upon the people littered at the edge of the street.

"What is wrong with these people?" Lucy asked, her eyes searching his.

"Sorugyn gave them Polil, it numbed and soothed them, and let the body be free of the mind. And the mind roams free. But when it returns to the body it needs more Polil. The craving grows, and that is how Sorugyn kept them loyal to him, for all supplies of Polil are in his power, and they fight for him, mindless, powerless, but their hunger for Polil keeps them strong. But it is a poison; life is short. First there is a trembling, later paralysis, and then death."

Lucy looked back at them, the girl had not risen and none of the others that sat in the shade moved to help her.

"Come on!" Lune said, leading Lucy up the street.

The soldier lead his queen into the streets which were glowing in the rising sun, he lead her past market stalls selling clothes and fruits of all various colours.

"How is it possible to do something that cruel?" Lucy said slowly as if shock. "How could Sorugyn treat his people like that?"

Lune looked at the Queen and felt pity for her; he felt pity for her naivety of the world. He did not answer her, he could not. He did not understand Sorugyn, nor what he did, how could anybody allow such evil to exist.

The road ended and a great set of doors stood before them. Lune pushed them open cautiously, and once he dismounted his horse, he stepped in. He beckoned Lucy and they walked further in. Leaving their horses by the gigantic doors they walked as silently as possible into the big room. At the other end of this building they would come out and there a gryphon would meet them and fly them to the Far East. But that was not to be as before they could get far, several soldiers caught sight of them and walked suspiciously towards the queen and her soldier.

"Papers." Said one of the soldiers holding out his hand. "You cannot go past here without papers."

Lucy's hand crept self-consciously to where a dagger was hidden. She looked at Lune, they had no papers. Lune snuck a glimpse at her and then quickly pulled out a short sword and attempted to stab the nearest soldier to him. However this soldier had been on his edge and rapidly jumped out the path of the sword.

Now all the soldiers withdrew their swords and Lucy withdrew two small daggers which had been hidden in her tunic beforehand. She slashed and she fought and Lune did the same beside her, yet there were too many and they were forced back. Lucy felt herself being forced through an archway and Lune was pushed back into it too, as soon as he was in the other room Lucy slammed the door shut and collapsed onto the floor out of breath. But there was no rest; the soldiers on the other side of the door were slamming all their weight against the door, Lucy knew that they could not hold off the soldiers for long.

Lune leant his weight now against the door and turned to Lucy.

"Go!" He shouted, "The soldiers will soon break through the door."

"But I can't leave you." Lucy protested. "It is desertion."

"If you don't rescue Aslan you will be deserting your country. Don't desert your country, you have to rescue Aslan." He barked, "I'll try to hold them off as long as possible."

Lucy walked up to Lune who was sweating as he leaned his whole weight on the straining door and she quickly kissed him on the cheek. It was chaste and composed, yet she had no idea why she did it. Both of their faces flushed with embarrassment and Lucy turned around before Lune could see her reddening cheeks. She ran across the vast hall that must have once belonged to a great and rich man, yet was now disused and empty. Lucy imagined people banqueting here, and women in flowing dresses of silk and satin, and men courting giggling young females. But now all that was in the hall was dust.

She reached the door at the far side and turned around just in time to see the other door being broken down and the soldiers attacking Lune. She whispered a silent prayer for her soldier and rushed out onto a golden balcony where awaited her the gryphon Arrowspeed. The two of them flew over the sea which shone in all the brilliance of the morning sun, Lucy gripped tightly as the gryphon flew fast, the day grew older yet they saw nothing until suddenly a fleet of ships became visible.

"Go lower, dear Arrowspeed," Lucy commanded, pulling out her bow and arrow. "I believe those to be battle ships sailing towards Narnia."

Arrowspeed, being a dutiful servant of Queen Lucy, swooped down and Lucy saw the fleet of Calormene ships clearly. Putting an arrow to the string she shot and narrowly missed one of the captains of the main ship. Looking back at it, Lucy could not believe that she had done such a stupid action which had only brought unwanted attention to her as every sailor began shooting at her and Arrowspeed had difficulty dodging all the missiles. But apart from that one close call there was little to remark for on that journey, the two of them passed many small islands yet somehow Lucy knew that none of these islands were Aslan's island.

"Where exactly are we heading Your Majesty?" Arrowspeed asked, "As it is but midday and my wings already tire."

"I know not, my dear friend, but we must carry on." Said the determined Queen. "Yet I see a small island up ahead, if your heart so desires we may rest there for a short while, yet we cannot afford to lose too much time."

Arrowspeed gave his thanks and swooped down to the tiny speck of sand that jutted out from the rest of the great blue water. Lucy, restless, walked around the island, impatient to move on. Her thoughts travelled between thoughts of her siblings probably fighting on the battlefield and Aslan and where he was. But she was disturbed from her thoughts sooner than she thought.

"Psst!"

Lucy turned around and saw a mermaid sitting at the edge of the island.

"Psst!" The mermaid said slightly louder now.

This time Arrowspeed turned to look and quickly hurried over to Lucy, eager to defend her from any possible danger, but Lucy dismissed the protective gryphon and walked cautiously towards the sea-creature.

"Your highness," The mermaid said, her voice sounding like waves lapping up on the shore. "Where you wish to go?"

"To the end of the world." Lucy said, intrigued by this magical creature.

"I take you there." The mermaid whispered, and before Lucy could reply or Arrowspeed argue the fish-like woman had taken Lucy's wrist in her own slippery, webbed hand and had dragged her into the water. The mermaid swam so fast Lucy could never remember a time where she had travelled faster, of course with the exception of riding Aslan.