So I redid Ana's nightmare and switched it to something I felt was more realistic than what I had originally (any guesses as to what her darkest/greatest fear is? ;) ) But as a result, the following chapters will also have to be adjusted. So unfortunately chapter 12 is the last chapter I have done. Which means after I post that, you may not see any updates for awhile. We'll see what happens.


Chapter 11: Coriakin Talks About Dark Island

"W-what do you mean?" Lucy asked, a little hesitant.
The man chuckled. "My spellbook... The only way the spells work is if they're read by myself or a young girl."
"They said they couldn't read..." Ana muttered.
"That is true," the man said, obviously hearing her. "But I couldn't let just anyone reverse the spell. Very few young girls come this way."
"They tried to kidnap us! And threatened our friends!" Lucy contended.
The man frowned a little. "Dufflepuds are mostly harmless creatures. They're very full of themselves and rather foolish. They didn't mean any harm. They only wished to undo the spell. They're under my protection and unfortunately disapprove of some of the decisions I've made on their behalf."

Ana and Lucy stared at each other for a moment before looking back at the man. His explanation seemed to align with what Ana thought of the creatures: they weren't particularly dangerous. But they still didn't know who this man was. She assumed he was who the creatures—Dufflepuds, she reminded herself—referred to as the Oppressor. However, the man didn't seem very dangerous, threatening, or even oppressive. Her magic would normally be on edge if that was the case but Phoenix was calm.

As if reading their thoughts, he spoke again. "My apologies," the man said. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Coriakin. This is my Island, home to only myself and the Duffers."
"I'm Lucy," she introduced and gestured to Ana. "This is Ana."
"Your Majesty. Lady Ana." Coriakin bowed to both of them. They exchanged another look, wondering how he knew who they were. "Now, I know you have questions but I think it is best if we find your friends. They believe you to be missing, no?"

Lucy nodded and the three made their way outside. Ana nearly chuckled at the sight before them. The crew of the Dawn Treader were collecting their weapons. She assumed they had been disarmed by the previously invisible creatures. Now, dwarf-like creatures stood in their place. They only had one foot and supported each other, making them appear taller than they were—at least when they were invisible. In their hands were spears and clubs, weapons that weren't particularly good for anything. Ana smiled a little as she realized that her assumption about them pretending to be dangerous was true.

When the Dufflepuds saw Coriakin emerge from the mansion, they almost panicked. Shouts of 'the oppressor' could be heard as they backed away. The others turned to see what had frightened them. A look of relief flashed across the faces of Edmund and Caspian. Both ladies knew the Kings had been worried about them.

"Lucy..." Edmund said, relieved.
"Your Majesties," the magician greeted with a bow to the two Kings.
"This is Coriakin," Lucy introduced. "It's his Island." Caspian and Edmund both bowed in return, out of respect.
"That's what he thinks!" the Chief of the Duffers shouted. Ana could tell by his voice that he had been the one giving orders earlier. "You have wronged us, Magician!"
"I have not wronged you," Coriakin answered, walking past the Kings to speak to them directly. The rest of the creatures began to back away even more. "I made you invisible for your own protection."
"Protection? That's oppressive!" one accused.
"Oppressor!" shouted another, all still backpedaling as the magician kept walking forward.
"I have not oppressed you," Coriakin argued.
"But you could've!" the Chief protested. "If you wanted to!"
"Begone!" he ordered, throwing something at them. They screamed in fear, saying it was a spell, and hopped away.

"What was that?" Lucy asked.
"Lint," the man answered, heading back towards the mansion as Ana realized it was much too large to be described as a 'house.' "But don't tell them."
"What were those things?" Eustace asked distastefully.

Everyone looked at him as if he was the only one who didn't know. But Ana knew most of the crew didn't know what they were either. It was the way he had asked rather than what that caused everyone to stare.

"Dufflepuds," Coriakin supplied.
"Right, of course," Eustace replied. "Silly me."

"Come," the magician said, gesturing to the royals. "I've been expecting you."

Caspian handed Ana her weapons that had been dropped in their scuffle with the Duffers. She collected her displaced dagger as Edmund returned Lucy's to her. Then, with a glance to the Captain, they followed the man inside.

As they passed through the doors, Caspian sent Ana a curious look. She didn't quite know what it meant but assumed he was confused. None of them really knew how Coriakin seemed to know who they were. Nor why he knew they were coming.

"He's a magician," Ana whispered, shrugging. Caspian nodded, smiling slightly at her explanation.

Drinian ordered some of the crew members to stay outside. Eustace tagged along, not wanting to stay with a bunch of people he didn't know. That was Ana's assumption anyway; he couldn't be interested in what Coriakin had to say if he didn't care about what was happening normally.

The magician led them past the stairs and down a fairly dark hallway. There wasn't a lot of natural light and the hall had to be lit with candelabras. Doors, paintings, and artifacts lined the walls of the hall. Ana wondered why he needed so many rooms. After all, it seemed he was the only one living in it. She doubted the Duffers stayed in the mansion if they were afraid of the magician.

The hall, much like the one on the upper level, opened up to a large room. It was to this room that Coriakin was leading them.

"What did you mean when you said you made them invisible for their own good?" Lucy asked as they walked.
"It seemed the easiest way to protect them," Coriakin answered. "From the evil."
"You mean the Mist?" Edmund inquired, walking forward a bit so he was closer to the magician.
"I mean what lies behind the Mist," he said, stepping aside to let the others pass.

This room was also a library of some kind. Ana assumed most, if not all, of the books in this room were to do with magic. Books lined the shelves and when she looked up, she noted that some were floating in what appeared to be constellations. There were stars shining in a bluish-purple space. She realized they could've been books regarding the constellations or contained various maps given where they were.

When Ana turned back to the magician, she noticed he held a scroll in his hand. Coriakin tossed the scroll, allowing it to unravel itself and she realized it was actually a map. As it settled on the ground, they all approached and stood along the map's edges. The outline of the map held moveable drawings depicting important moments in Narnia's history. One such scene was the First Battle of Beruna. The map itself appeared as though you were there, standing above the water. Ana knew the scene could probably change to show you any place in the world.

"It's quite beautiful," Eustace muttered in awe as they examined the map. His statement caused everyone to look at him and he corrected himself. "I mean for a make-believe map of a make-believe world!" Edmund scoffed and Lucy rolled her eyes, smiling a little at his response.
"Here is the source of your troubles," the magician said, pointing to the map. The landmarks moved and changed until a black and green-colored island appeared. "Dark Island. A place where evil lurks." He began to walk across the map, talking directly to each of them. "It can take any form. It can make your darkest dreams come true. It seeks to corrupt all goodness... to steal the light from this world."

Everyone grew tense and Ana could feel a sense of unease in the air.

"How do we stop it?" Lucy asked.
"You must break its spell," Coriakin answered before turning towards Edmund and pointing to his sword. "That sword you carry... There are six others."
"Have you seen them?" Edmund inquired.
"Yes."
"The six lords," Caspian surmised, "they passed through here?"
"Indeed," Coriakin answered.
"Where were they headed?"
"Where I sent them."

The map began to shift and he walked across it as another island was revealed. Coriakin raised his hand above the map as blue light appeared. Seemingly guiding it above the island, he continued to explain.

"To break its spell... you must follow the Blue Star to Ramandu's Island. There, the seven swords must be laid at Aslan's table. Only then can their true magical power be released."

Caspian looked over his shoulder to Drinian in a silent question. Ana didn't know what he was asking but knew everyone was concerned. She could see the worry and slight fear in their eyes. Lucy seemed particularly afraid and Ana tried to send her an encouraging smile. But Lucy wasn't paying any attention to her. As scary as it seemed, at least now they knew how to put a stop to the mysterious darkness behind the Mist.

"But beware..." the magician warned. "You are all about to be tested."
"Tested?" Ana asked, frowning. She wasn't sure she wanted to find out.
"Until you lay down the seventh sword, evil has the upper hand. It will do everything in its power to tempt you," he explained, approaching the two ladies. He leaned forward as if to whisper. "Be strong," he told Ana. Then he turned back to the others. "Don't fall to temptation."

Ana noted the look of concern that flashed across the faces of the Kings. Worried about me or the temptation? Ana wondered. Lucy seemed equally shaken, but it wasn't directed towards Ana. The young Queen hadn't passed her a glance since they entered the room.

"To defeat the darkness out there," Coriakin continued, directing his warning more to Caspian, "you must defeat the darkness inside yourself."

Caspian exchanged a look with Edmund and then both glanced back at the magician. He told them that they could take whatever the crew needed for their journey. Nodding his thanks, Caspian turned to leave the room. Drinian was directly behind him, always close by in case of danger. Edmund made eye contact with Lucy and gestured with his head for her to go first. The two siblings followed after the Captain, with Eustace quickly trailing after them. Ana was the last of their party to leave and as such caught Coriakin's final words.

"I'm afraid Phoenix, yours has already started."

She stopped in the doorway and glanced over her shoulder. The man held sadness in his eyes as if he knew exactly what she was going to face. Ana wanted to ask what he meant but feared the answer. Was it related to the dreams? Or was it something to do with the memories she was having?

Instead, she turned away and quickly fled the room. Ana really didn't want to find out what the future had in store for her. She was starting to wish that she had never come on this journey.


I may decide to add to this chapter in order to make it longer. But for now, this is all I have.