I included a deleted scene from the movie in this chapter. :)


Chapter 3: Providing Some Answers

After the announcement, the three royals and Ana went to change out of their wet clothes. Lucy borrowed an outfit from Ana as she was the only one even close in size. While she had been offered the dress, Lucy chose the trousers and found a matching tunic and vest. She didn't wear them as often as Ana did, but she was comfortable enough in them. As their hair was drying, Ana found a pair of boots for Lucy and herself. She also found a place for their wet clothes to dry.

The swim had left them feeling exhausted so Ana loaned Lucy her bed to rest in until further arrangements could be made. She knew Caspian was likely working on it as well and went to find him. But he wasn't in his cabin or the Stateroom. Hesitant to go too far from Lucy in case she woke up and went searching for her, Ana double-checked all the rooms on the stern side. Confirming that Caspian wasn't in any of them, she returned to her quarters. One of the sailors brought a plate of food and she placed it on the table. Then Ana sat down and began to methodically sharpen the blades of her daggers while Lucy slept.

The young Queen awoke a few hours later. After a bite to eat, the two girls decided to join the others. Lucy pulled her hair back into a sideways ponytail and a few loose strands fell into her face. She tucked them behind her ears and smiled at Ana as they two finally made their appearance on the main deck. Caspian was talking with Drinian when they arrived. They climbed up the stairs to join them and he smirked at Ana. She frowned a little, unsure why.

Dismissing the Captain, he turned to look at them. "Feeling better?" he asked.
"Yes," Lucy answered. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. Those are Ana's if I'm not mistaken." He gestured to her clothes before turning to Ana. "Is that all you brought?" His face was serious but his eyes held laughter. She knew he was trying to tease him.
"Why?" Ana questioned, smiling. "Did I need something else? Your Majesty neglected to mention I needed more formal attire."
"I doubt it would've mattered. You seem to prefer this to typical women's clothes."
"I dress for the occasion. You try guarding the Kings and Queens of Narnia in typical women's clothing," Ana retorted. "But to answer your question, I did pack others. Her Majesty just saw the practicality of these better."

Lucy smiled and Caspian seemed a little exasperated. "Where's Edmund?" she asked, scanning the deck for her brother.
"He went below deck a while ago," Caspian answered. "He wanted to rest after changing and to check on your cousin. I haven't seen him since." They all knew he couldn't have gotten far on the ship so none were too concerned.
"How is Eustace?"
"Still asleep last I knew. Hit his head kind of hard, but I've been assured he'll be fine," Caspian answered. "Is he really your cousin?"
Lucy could only nod in response and Caspian sent her a sympathetic smile. Could he be that terrible? Ana wondered.

Patting Lucy on the shoulder, Caspian headed down to the main deck. Ana assumed he meant to go in search of her brother, but he didn't have to. Edmund chose that moment to come up from below. Caspian raised his arms as if to grasp Edmund's shoulders and smiled brightly.

"Much better," Caspian grinned. Edmund smiled and glanced up to where Lucy and Ana were standing.
"Ready, Lu?" Edmund asked.

At the sound of his voice, Lucy appeared directly behind Ana. Allowing her to go first, they descended the steps. Caspian leaned over to whisper something in Edmund's ear before grinning at the two ladies.
"Ah, excuse me, lads," he teased. "You wouldn't have happened to see two young girls around here?" he said.
"Alright!" Lucy responded, punching him in the arm.

Caspian chuckled and Edmund smirked. Ana was astonished that he dared to make a joke like that. Rolling her eyes, she looked at Lucy. She planned to return the favor eventually. After all, she now had two things to pay him back for.

"That's two," she whispered, to everyone's confusion. It took Caspian a minute but he did figure it out. Chuckling, he brushed past her and gestured for everyone to follow him.

Edmund sent Ana a puzzled glance before following Caspian. Lucy smiled at her before skipping after them. Both siblings were trying to figure out just what that interaction meant. Feeling in much higher spirits, Ana chuckled to herself as she followed them inside. Already she was working out how she was going to get back at Caspian without causing too much trouble.

꧁ π‘½π’π’šπ’‚π’ˆπ’† 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π‘«π’‚π’˜π’ 𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 κ§‚

Caspian guided them to the Stateroom first. It was a large and airy room on the ship with lots of windows to let in natural light. It had murals painted on the panels depicting various Narnia creatures and scenery. They told a painted story about Narnia's rulers. Ana noted the mural of the lamppost and a faun around one of the smaller windows. There were phrases written above some of the murals in gold lettering, one of which read: 'Once a King and Queen of Narnia, Always a King or Queen.'

There was a large table in the center of the room and beautiful cushioned chairs surrounding it. A Dwarf-made silver lamp hung just above the table. To the left of the stained glass doors was an ornately designed fireplace. Hanging above it was a circular, golden carved image of Aslan.

There were several small beautiful cabinets with glass doors which allowed some of Narnia's precious artifacts to be safely displayed. Peter's sword, Susan's bow and arrows, and Lucy's healing cordial and dagger. A replica of Queen Susan's horn was also present as the real one had been left in Narnia in case of trouble. They would rush home immediately if they heard the hornβ€”assuming they could that far at sea. Ana didn't know exactly how Susan's gift worked. Caspian had also held onto Edmund's torch that they had found after his departure.

When Caspian opened up the doors to the Stateroom, the two royals peered around in awe. Ana followed Caspian as walked over to one of the cabinets with books. The two stood near it as they watched Lucy and Edmund take in the room. The Stateroom was also the royal cabin, so it was obvious to Ana that the King held this room in high regard.

The gold carving of Aslan drew Lucy's attention first. "Aslan," she whispered and reached out to touch it. Afterwards, Susan's bow and arrows caught her eye and she walked over to them.
"Look," she said. "Susan's bow and arrows."
Caspian smiled and walked towards the cabinet that held her gifts. "Lucy," he stated, holding them out to her.
"My healing cordial and dagger!" She approached Caspian and reached to out grab them. Then she retracted her hand. "Oh... May I?" she asked
"Of course! They're yours." He handed the box over to her.
"Peter's sword," Edmund observed walking towards it.
"Yes. Looked after as promised," Caspian answered, picking it up and offering it to Edmund. "Here. Hold it, if you wish."
"No. It's yours," Edmund told him. "Peter gave it to you." Ana noticed something strange in his voice, but couldn't tell what it was. Caspian didn't seem to notice though and she wondered if she imagined it.

Still holding Peter's sword, Caspian approached another cabinet and opened the door. "I did save this for you though," he smirked. Then he tossed Edmund's torch at him.
"Thanks." Edmund smiled as he caught it. Then he accidentally made the light shine in his face and he shook his head.

Smiling, Caspian then guided them out of the Stateroom and to the Map Room. This room was rather small but spotless and bright. Like the Stateroom, it also had a small table with a Dwarf-carved lamp above it. In this room, there were only three windows that overlooked the water from the back of the ship. One wall was covered with maps of Narnia and the surrounding areas. There were also pictures of the Lost Lords. A large map of Narnia and the Eastern Ocean was spread across the table. Caspian approached it and the others followed. Some places on the map were crossed off.

"Since you left us, the giants of the North surrendered unconditionally. Then we defeated the Calormen armies at the Great Desert," Caspian explained, pointing to each location on the map. "There is peace across all of Narnia."
"Peace?" Edmund asked.
"In just three years," Caspian confirmed.
"And have you found yourself a queen in those three years?" Lucy asked, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. She cast a glance to Ana who only frowned and mouthed 'What?'
Caspian caught the exchange between the two and shook his head. "No," he said. Then smiling he added: "Not one to compare with your sister."

"Hang on..." Edmund stated with some confusion in his voice. "So if there are no wars to fight... and no one's in trouble, then why are we here?"
"It's a good question. I've been asking myself the same thing," he said. It was at this moment that the Captain walked in.
"So where are we sailing to?" Edmund asked, redirecting the conversation.
"Before I took back the throne from my uncle, he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters: the seven Lords of Telmar," Caspian explained and he turned to the pictures on the wall.

"They've fled to the Lone Islands and no one has heard from them since," Ana continued.
"So you think something has happened to them?" Edmund surmised.
"Well, if it has, it's my duty to find out," Caspian answered a little solemnly.
"Well, what's East of the Lone Islands?" Lucy asked. She traced her hand across the map as she did so.
"Uncharted waters," Drinian answered. "Things you can barely imagine. Tales of sea serpents and worse,"
"Sea serpents?" Edmund repeated, skeptical.
"Alright, Captain... That's enough of your tall tales," Caspian ordered, biting into an apple.

Ana was always skeptical of the Captain's tales. But he knew more about the sea than she did. The last time she had been sailing was well over 1300 years ago. Drinian had obviously been much more recently. Although he was a Telmarine he learned the unusual arts of sailing and navigation. He disappeared shortly after the death of Caspian's father and returned once Caspian took the throne back. So he had several stories to tell about his adventures.

Ana was the least interested and the one he tried to convince the most. She usually just laughed and tried to ignore his antics, which only made him try harder. Being half phoenix, Ana didn't doubt that there were some strange or mysterious creatures in the open sea. She just wondered how much of what Drinian said was true and how much was an exaggeration.

Caspian was rather amused by his stories most of the time but didn't want Drinian to scare the crew. So he had been warned not to mention such things in front of the others. But what the Captain said about 'sea serpents and worse' made Ana a little leery. His words gave her a strange feeling in her stomach and she only hoped she wouldn't have to find out why.

Little did Ana know that she would find out sooner than expected.