Edmund ran as fast as he could. The instant he realised that Adeline was gone, he left the others to find her, all while hoping that he was not too late. He knew her better than anyone, knew exactly what the evil would tempt her with. Because he knew her story, he also knew what it would require of her. He refused to lose her like that. They still had time, if only a little.

The sound of footsteps and a voice calling her name made Adeline look up, away from the silver dagger in her hand. William used a finger under her chin to direct her attention back to him.

Don't let anyone take this from you, Adeline. Set yourself free.

He had promised it would not hurt and she was so tired.

You don't have to carry the burden anymore, little sister. Let me take you back home.

The tip of the blade rested at an angle that would let her bleed slowly enough to say goodbye. But there would be no bringing her back from the ledge.

Adeline…

"Adeline!"

With a gasp, the image around her shattered like glass. Once again, she found herself standing in the ruined throne room, face to face with her brother's wicked likeness. She could hear Edmund calling desperately for her, but he sounded so far away still. More determined than ever before, she raised the dagger.

Edmund was on the verge of tears when he saw Adeline on her knees in the middle of a throne room. He crossed the distance, immediately taking her sobbing form into his arms. Above them, her dagger stuck out of a statue, driven deep into its heart. Though he had never met the man, he knew that it depicted her brother William.

"You did it," he whispered into her hair as she buried her face in his neck. "You won."

"He told me I could go home, Ed."

"I know he did, love."

"I just wanted to go home."

"I know, love." He rubbed her back, letting tears of his own fall. "I know."

Though she desperately wanted to know what had happened, there was something so broken about Adeline's demeanour when she and Edmund came aboard the Dawn Treader again that Lucy refrained from asking. Instead, she simply watched as her brother took care of the woman he loved, wondering if she would ever get the chance to find someone who loved her as dearly as Edmund and Adeline loved each other. Dark Island was upon them, as was the many threats it held. There was no telling what they would face.

Tavros was thinking along similar lines as they got closer and closer to the island. "So, what do you think is in there?"

"Our worst nightmares." Edmund held Adeline closer to his side, unwilling to even contemplate which of his worst nightmares the island would target. There were many to choose from, built from the things he had done and seen.

Caspian's mind lingered on the possibilities of what the island would attempt to lure him with. There were many things he longed for. His father's approval. The love of his people. A happy life. All things the evil could use against him. "Our darkest wishes," he said eventually.

Clutching Edmund's hand tightly, Adeline nodded in agreement. "Everything we've ever wanted," she said grimly, "at the most terrible of prices."

"All in all, pure evil," Drinian stated. Then he raised his voice to issue orders to the crew. "Prepare yourselves," he called. "This will be a battle never to be forgotten."

Caspian turned to his friends. "He's right, we should get ready."

It was the most sombre preparation for battle Edmund had ever experienced. While war was ugly business, he had always felt at least some hope that he and his people would make it out alive. Going up against an unknown enemy that could take the form of any of their darkest fears or desires, he did not feel that hope.

"You should know," Caspian said, drawing Edmund out of his thoughts, "that I think of you as a brother." He put on his breastplate, fastening the buckles on the side while contemplating what else he could say to convey how highly he regarded the High King. "I never had much of a family until I met you and your siblings," he confessed. "I'm glad I got to know what that's like."

Edmund tugged on his own breastplate. "You are as much a brother to me as Peter," he said. "I hope you know that, no matter how this day ends, you will always be a part of our family." Family, the people you loved, never left you, after all. Seeing Adeline crumple under the weight of her longing for her family after so many centuries of them being gone had him more sure of that than anything. "We'll always have each other," he promised. "In life and in death."

A knock at the door brought an end to the tender moment. Adeline peeked inside, giving a weak smile and Caspian, realising that she wished to speak to Edmund alone, made his way out. Before leaving, he pulled her into a hug, whispering sweet words laced with brotherly affection to her. She returned his sentiments, expressing that she was grateful to have known him.

When the door shut behind him, Adeline let all bravado go. Because, as much as they did not know what lay ahead of them as far as the Dark Island went, both Edmund and Adeline knew what awaited them if they lived to see the other side. "I will never forget the day I met you," she said, walking over to help him fasten his armour. "You were a right horrid little thing, questioning everything I said." She looked up at him, holding his gaze. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Edmund pulled her closer, leaning down to press his lips against hers chastely. He refused to let it feel like a goodbye. But Adeline pushed up to meet him, deepening their kiss just enough to momentarily make him forget everything but her. When they parted he rested his forehead against hers. "No matter what happens—"

"No matter what happens."

Lucy stood with Gael and Adeline as Caspian gave his heartfelt speech to the crew. It was heartwarming to see him, the man who had once been an insecure boy in the face of his predecessors, be the king he was destined to be. He had grown so much since their first meeting and she was proud of him. Glancing at Adeline and then at Edmund on the other side of the deck, Lucy concluded that she was proud of all of them. Including herself.

Strangely, she found herself thinking of Adeline's words that night when she had been tempted, about how she wanted people to think of her. At the time, Lucy had wanted to be thought of as beautiful. But, as she stood before what could be her impending doom, she knew better. She was High Queen Lucy the Valiant of Narnia. That was what she wanted to be thought of as. That was how she wanted to be remembered.

And when Caspian ended his speech, she contributed to the calls of the crew.

For Narnia.

As they sailed into the thick fog that was Dark Island, Adeline kept an eye on her dearest friends. She had come face to face with her deepest fears and darkest desires just hours earlier, and she had won the confidence to believe she could do it again. And while she had no doubt her friends would be able to do the same, she knew it would not be easy. She had had centuries to dwell over the inevitable confrontation with her past and had still been overwhelmed. What did that mean for them?

Seeing that Edmund was troubled, she made her way over to him, laying a hand over his cheek and forcing him to look at her. No matter which demon had decided to pay him a visit, it was not real. She hoped to remind him of that. If that did not work, then at least she hoped he would remember that he was not alone. "I'm right here," she murmured, pushing up on her tiptoes to whisper the words in his ear. "No matter what."

Edmund shook himself, gaze clearing up as he truly saw her again. His forehead came to rest against hers as he tried to ground himself. He should have known. Though many years had passed, he had never truly forgiven himself for betraying his family to the witch. Adeline's thumb swept over his cheekbone and he focused on the sensation in hopes of keeping a track of what was real and what was not.

A shout from afar had them jumping apart, both reaching for their weapons.

"Keep away!"

Hurrying forward to the railing, Caspian tried to catch sight of whoever the voice belonged to. "Edmund, your magical torch!"

"It's not—"

"Now is not the time," Adeline interjected, picking it out of his belt and pushing it into his hand. She herself had never come to understand how it worked, but the light it gave was steady and was better than nothing.

With the torch turned on, Edmund let the beam of light trail over the surrounding cliffs. A man, worn and wild, was clinging to the cliffside.

Caspian squinted as he tried to get a better look at the stranger. "We do not fear you," he called, "and we cannot yet leave."

"I do not fear you either," the man replied. "You will not defeat me!" He waved his sword frantically.

"Caspian, his sword," Lucy said, turning to him. "I think it is… it must be the last of the lords."

Immediately, Caspian ordered his men to stand down. "Lord Rhoop!" He looked around for rope, anything at all really, to help him get the man aboard the ship. "Quickly," he ordered. "We must help him!"

Several of the crewmen dove for hooks, only for Eustace to appear out of the darkness to grab Lord Rhoop and set him down on the deck. Clearly affected by his time in Dark Island, Rhoop turned defensive the instant he regained his footing, flailing desperately with his sword in hand to keep everyone at bay.

"We are not here to hurt you, my lord," Caspian said calmly, hands outstretched to show he was unarmed. "I am Caspian the Tenth, King of Narnia." A flicker of recognition in the man's eyes had him relaxing just a little. There was grief and longing, still, and a terror so deep Caspian fought not to flinch. "Your king, my lord."

The stillness that followed his words left Adeline all the more unsettled. How Lord Rhoop had lived for so long, she did not know. But she was without a doubt. The man was not in a clear, nor whole, state of mind. He had seen things, terrible things. It was written all over his face. "Caspian, we really should—"

"You should not have come here," Lord Rhoop wheezed. "There is no way out."

Adeline grabbed Caspian's arm before he could reach out to steady the old man. "He's right," she whispered. "For his sake and ours, turn the ship about before whatever power this Emperor-forsaken place burrows any further into our minds." She eyed Lord Rhoop warily, distrusting of someone left in all forms of darkness for so long. "He needs a miracle, Caspian, and even the slightest speck of sunshine might be just that for him."

"We have the sword, Edmund added. "Let's just go."

Caspian nodded. "Drinian, turn her about."

"Aye, Your Majesty."

Lord Rhoop grabbed for Caspian, several hands reaching out to hold him still. "Do not think!" He shook off the crewmen, walking up to stare his king right in the eyes. "Do not let it know your fears, for here you will come face to face with them."

A gasp from within the crew. Pittencream closed his eyes, bowing his head. "Forgive me," he said desperately.

"What did you think of, Pittencream?" Drinian stalked up to the man, shaking him slightly.

"The men have been talking, Captain."

"About what?"

"They say these waters are infested with monsters, sir." He paused for a moment. "Sea serpents."

At his declaration, Adeline hauled herself up onto the railing, staring out into the waters. When something suddenly collided with the hull of the ship, she was thrown backwards into Tavros, who caught her. She thanked him breathlessly as he gently set her down before he rushed to help others get back on their feet. "Emperor have mercy on us," she murmured to herself. "May the strength of the crew and their leaders be enough to carry them through." Per instinct, she reached for the dagger at her belt, her heart lurching when she remembered that it was no longer with her. It had served its purpose to her, left in the chest of her brother's statue. Without it, her prayer was not one that would be made heard with magic.

"It's too late," Rhoop crowed. "It's too late!"

"Ready all long-range weaponry," Adeline called sharply. "I very much doubt that whatever this is will give up without a fight, we'll not want to get too close!"

As was routine, Drinian disagreed. "Crew, return to your rowing positions," he ordered, glaring at the blonde. "Oars at double speed!"

"You are a fool, Captain," Adeline spat, "if you believe we can outrun this."

"Gael!"

The girl was sitting with her back against the railing on the opposite side of the deck, covering her ears. Behind her, something shot out of the water, looming over them all.

Lucy rushed across the deck, taking Gael's hand in hers. They barely made it to the other side before the enormous serpent lunged towards the ship. A flash of gold, no more than a blur in the misty darkness. The serpent reared back, shaking its head in an attempt to be rid of Eustace, who clung on for dear life. Reepicheep, ever exuberant in the face of a fight, did his part too, driving his blade into the face of the beast.

As it happens, the creature took great offence to the attack. Furious, it shook Reepicheep off. Eustace hung tightly for as long as he could, but eventually he could not retain his grip. The serpent flung him off, sending him soaring over the Dawn Treader. But Eustace had never been given many chances to be the hero before and, afraid as he was, he was not going to let the opportunity to be more than Edmund and Lucy's irritating cousin pass him by. So he attacked again.

Clearly frustrated with its winged opponent, the serpent snatched Eustace out of the air and plunged into the depths with him in its jaws. When it resurfaced, it shook him like a rag doll and threw him into a cliff. Even though his pain was immense and all-encompassing, Eustace would not surrender. As the beast lunged to finish him off, Eustace let out a stream of fire, setting alight the serpent's head. It dove, disappearing beneath the water.

There was no time to react. Before anyone could stop him, Lord Rhoop pushed himself through the crew, launching his sword at Eustace. It lodged in his shoulder and, unable to withstand any more agony, the dragon flew off.

Lucy fruitlessly begged her cousin to turn back while Adeline incapacitated Lord Rhoop with a punch that had him wheezing and tied him to the mast. He kept shouting as she did so, leaving her sorely tempted to knock him out. But she had no intention of making the already existing damage to his mind any worse. So she silenced him by shoving a rag into his mouth. He was not her lord, after all.

The ship rocked precariously as the serpent, back with a vengeance, smashed into the hull again. Below, the rhythm of the rowing crewmen was thrown, but Reepicheep quickly had them back in order. When the serpent shot out of the water, throwing its body over the ship and wrapping tightly around it, Lucy immediately pulled Gael in the direction of the captain's cabin.

With the Dawn Treader seized by the serpent, they were running out of options. Caspian looked out over the ship from the helm, seeing his men and his friends struggle against their adversary. Adeline was being pulled to her feet by Jemain, visibly disoriented after being knocked over by the body of the monster. Others were still down, while some barely managed to keep themselves standing. Lucy appeared from the captain's cabin with Susan's bow and quiver. Every minute they remained stuck in the beast's grip, their chances of surviving ran lower. Glancing around the ship, out over the waters surrounding them, Caspian saw a solution.

"Ed, we have to ram it against the rocks!"

"What?!"

Caspian pointed to the sharp rock sticking out of the water. "If we ram it against the rock, we can force it to let go of the ship!"

It was a split-second decision. One that would either cost him his life or leave him to be scolded by his sister for the rest of it. "I'll keep it on the prow!" Armed with only Rhindon and his beloved torch, Edmund dove towards the figurehead. He climbed up, turning on his torch as he steadied himself in the dragon's mouth. Then he turned the torchlight on the serpent. It worked in an instant. "Try and kill me," he taunted as the serpent turned its attention to him and him alone. "Go on, I'm sure you can do it!"

On deck, both Lucy and Adeline watched, unable to do anything to stop it, as the monster dove for Edmund, twisting parts of the figurehead into splinters with its jaws. Lucy screamed. Adeline found herself unable to breathe. Even when Edmund reappeared, seemingly unharmed, neither was fully able to reconcile what they had just seen.

Acting on instinct, Lucy nocked an arrow and aimed. The many lessons she had been put through with her siblings played through her mind as she held steady and waited. Edmund was in her line of fire. If she was not careful, if she did not wait until the perfect moment, her brother would get hurt. All she needed was a fraction of a second.

The ship tipped dangerously, but it was enough. Lucy fired, watching as the arrow met its mark. Caspian did not waste the opportunity, steering the ship just right to drive the serpent into the rock with the Dawn Treader's full force. The beast threw its head back with a roar. It was so painfully similar to victory.

Then the serpent did something that had even the most steely of resolves wavering. It opened up its torso, revealing what was either legs or ribs.

Adeline fought the urge to be sick, several thoughts running through her mind. All things could be defeated. There was nothing that could not in any way be destroyed. That applied to the monster too. "It is weak."

Jemain looked confused. "Pardon?"

"The monster, it's weak!" She turned around, just in time to see Caspian shove Edmund out of the way as the serpent dove over the ship again, using its odd limbs to grip and do more damage. "Caspian, we have to do something now," she called. "It waited until its weakest moment to expose that part of itself, which has to mean something!"

"So it pulled out its hidden defence, how does that help us?!"

"It helps because we know that our greatest weapons can sometimes be found at our most vulnerable points!"

Edmund's mind went to the silver dagger that had been Adeline's companion for centuries. "It's armour," he said, understanding dawning. "If we consider everything else as a sort of armour—"

"Then we can consider whatever that is—"Adeline pointed to the leg-like things on the serpents underside— "the parts of the armour that leaves the body exposed!"

The ship lurched as the serpent tore free and instead lunged towards the sails. Snapping its jaws around the wood, it tugged and tore.

"Drinian, have the men ready the harpoons!"

Adeline grabbed a harpoon of her own as Drinian issued the orders to the crewmen. "All we have to do is keep it occupied long enough for the last sword to be placed," she called. "Until then, we cannot kill it, it is far too strong even at its weakest!"

"How can you be so sure it'll be placed?"

Drinian saw the glance that passed between High Queen Lucy and Adeline. As though they knew something he did not.