The crew of the Dawn Treader stopped overnight at Ramandu's island, replenishing their food and water supply while also picking up the four now awake lords. Caspian bravely faced up to his responsibility of explaining to Ramandu that he cannot marry his daughter, laying his feelings for Lucy out for the resting stars scrutiny. Caspian could do nothing but be honest to himself and Ramandu's daughter. He loved Lucy, but he didn't want to hurt the feelings of Ramandu's daughter.
"Good sir, I fear I must decline your daughter's hand in marriage." Caspian said quietly as he held council with the resting star and his daughter. She really was stunning with big blue eyes and long blonde hair that was sure to be thick and silky. Her body was firm and curvaceous, tempting Caspian to forgo his love for Lucy for a tumble between the sheets. Lust ran hot through Caspian, and the pain of it snapped him out of his lust induced mesmerism. 'This is your first test Caspian; you must succeed if you wish to see Lucy ever again.'
"Who has changed your mind, my young king?" Ramandu asked quietly, his daughter watching on with solemn eyes. Caspian felt regret at the fact that he was causing someone pain, but he would not lie about how he felt. A virtue a king was gifted to have is honesty, and he was a fair king who was a model for all his subjects.
"Lucy, sir." King Caspian replied. "Queen Lucy the Valiant. She is my other half, my soul mate. I miss her so."
Ramandu and his daughter looked coolly at Caspian for a long moment before she stood on tiptoe and walked serenely away. Caspian turned his attention to Ramandu, about to apologize to the older man, but the expression in his eyes told Caspian that he understood. That reassured Caspian that his choice was the only true on for him, and his destiny.
"You have passed the first test."
"You know of the tests?" Caspian asked in surprise.
"Aslan mentioned your trials to me, and your challenges will only become harder." The resting star nodded affirmative.
"Harder?" Caspian echoed, praying it wasn't true. He knew Aslan could be cruel when necessary, and Caspian wasn't eager to experience it.
"Aye." Drinian approached. "To obtain you desires, you have always had to fight hard for what you want and already have. Your life, your kingship, and now Queen Lucy."
"Your words have truth Captain Drinian." Ramandu spoke. "Nothing worth having comes easy."
"Can you possibly tell me what the other two tests are?" Caspian asked, knowing he would more than likely not say.
"That is for you to find out King Caspian." Ramandu said evenly.
The next morning the Dawn Treader sailed west from Ramandu's island with the lords Travillion, Argon, Madramor, and Rup aboard. Caspian though was nonsocial and brooding, trying to figure out what the next test could be. He couldn't risk failure, the ache to have Lucy in his life already becoming nearly unbearable. He needed her in a way he had never needed a woman before. It was more than the physical. It was all of her, the inside and the outside. Sighing Caspian looked west, lost in his memories of Lucy.
* * *
Lucy dreamed of Caspian as she slept. He stood in a thin, billowy shirt with scarlet embroidery around the neck and scarlet buttons along the cuffs. He wore black breeches and black knee high boots to finish off the look. As always, strapped to his side was his sword, Narnian jewels glittering in the sunlight. A salty breeze ruffled his golden curls and whipped his loose shirt against his lean chest. Lucy's heart hammered.
"Lucy, Lucy, can you hear me?" The voice was so clear, so tangible it was as if she was back in Narnia. Lucy wanted to reply to his voice as it drifted over the breeze, but she couldn't speak. "Soon I'll see you; I only have two more challenges left, then we'll be together."
Lucy sat ramrod straight in bed, sweat beading on her skin. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silver gleam upon the room. Shuddering Lucy curled up underneath her blankets, heart pounding madly. The dream had been so realistic that Lucy swore if she had reached out her hand she could have touched Caspian's hand, to feel the strength of his grasp. Tears leaked out of her eyes and onto her pillow.
Why did Aslan have to be so cruel? She knew Aslan's ways were mysterious and she wasn't supposed to understand, but did it have to hurt so much? The longing to be with Caspian in Narnia was nearly a physical pain, the ace settling deep into her bones. Squeezing her eyes shut Lucy sank in into the pain, letting it blot out everything else.
'Curse fate. I BELONG with Caspian, I was meant to be by his side!' Lucy inwardly cursed, praying the end would come soon.
"Good sir, I fear I must decline your daughter's hand in marriage." Caspian said quietly as he held council with the resting star and his daughter. She really was stunning with big blue eyes and long blonde hair that was sure to be thick and silky. Her body was firm and curvaceous, tempting Caspian to forgo his love for Lucy for a tumble between the sheets. Lust ran hot through Caspian, and the pain of it snapped him out of his lust induced mesmerism. 'This is your first test Caspian; you must succeed if you wish to see Lucy ever again.'
"Who has changed your mind, my young king?" Ramandu asked quietly, his daughter watching on with solemn eyes. Caspian felt regret at the fact that he was causing someone pain, but he would not lie about how he felt. A virtue a king was gifted to have is honesty, and he was a fair king who was a model for all his subjects.
"Lucy, sir." King Caspian replied. "Queen Lucy the Valiant. She is my other half, my soul mate. I miss her so."
Ramandu and his daughter looked coolly at Caspian for a long moment before she stood on tiptoe and walked serenely away. Caspian turned his attention to Ramandu, about to apologize to the older man, but the expression in his eyes told Caspian that he understood. That reassured Caspian that his choice was the only true on for him, and his destiny.
"You have passed the first test."
"You know of the tests?" Caspian asked in surprise.
"Aslan mentioned your trials to me, and your challenges will only become harder." The resting star nodded affirmative.
"Harder?" Caspian echoed, praying it wasn't true. He knew Aslan could be cruel when necessary, and Caspian wasn't eager to experience it.
"Aye." Drinian approached. "To obtain you desires, you have always had to fight hard for what you want and already have. Your life, your kingship, and now Queen Lucy."
"Your words have truth Captain Drinian." Ramandu spoke. "Nothing worth having comes easy."
"Can you possibly tell me what the other two tests are?" Caspian asked, knowing he would more than likely not say.
"That is for you to find out King Caspian." Ramandu said evenly.
The next morning the Dawn Treader sailed west from Ramandu's island with the lords Travillion, Argon, Madramor, and Rup aboard. Caspian though was nonsocial and brooding, trying to figure out what the next test could be. He couldn't risk failure, the ache to have Lucy in his life already becoming nearly unbearable. He needed her in a way he had never needed a woman before. It was more than the physical. It was all of her, the inside and the outside. Sighing Caspian looked west, lost in his memories of Lucy.
* * *
Lucy dreamed of Caspian as she slept. He stood in a thin, billowy shirt with scarlet embroidery around the neck and scarlet buttons along the cuffs. He wore black breeches and black knee high boots to finish off the look. As always, strapped to his side was his sword, Narnian jewels glittering in the sunlight. A salty breeze ruffled his golden curls and whipped his loose shirt against his lean chest. Lucy's heart hammered.
"Lucy, Lucy, can you hear me?" The voice was so clear, so tangible it was as if she was back in Narnia. Lucy wanted to reply to his voice as it drifted over the breeze, but she couldn't speak. "Soon I'll see you; I only have two more challenges left, then we'll be together."
Lucy sat ramrod straight in bed, sweat beading on her skin. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a silver gleam upon the room. Shuddering Lucy curled up underneath her blankets, heart pounding madly. The dream had been so realistic that Lucy swore if she had reached out her hand she could have touched Caspian's hand, to feel the strength of his grasp. Tears leaked out of her eyes and onto her pillow.
Why did Aslan have to be so cruel? She knew Aslan's ways were mysterious and she wasn't supposed to understand, but did it have to hurt so much? The longing to be with Caspian in Narnia was nearly a physical pain, the ace settling deep into her bones. Squeezing her eyes shut Lucy sank in into the pain, letting it blot out everything else.
'Curse fate. I BELONG with Caspian, I was meant to be by his side!' Lucy inwardly cursed, praying the end would come soon.