That evening Eustace led them towards a lush island with waterfalls everywhere. When it was in sight the winds picked up once again, allowing the dragon to take a break as he was exhausted from the effort. The ship made anchor in the bay while they sent out a few rowboats to check out the island.
...
...
It was night by the time the landing party arrived at the castle ruins on top of one of the cliffs. Edmund used his torch to light the way as they crossed a vine infested bridge. Raelyn walked next to Caspian who was just behind Edmund, her eyes flitting back every so often to check on the small balls of light she had conjured up for the rest of the group. She grinned proudly as she watched the lights bob up and down around the edges of the group, allowing plenty of light to penetrate the overgrown forest around them. Everyone kept their swords out as they walked, remaining vigilant. Raelyn curiously eyed the broken eagle gargoyles that lined the bridge they were crossing.
At the end of the bridge a large tree had grown atop the arch, its roots creating a walkway to the exposed room on the other side. Passing under the tree everyone slowly made their way around the lone dining table that took up most of the floor. Mounds of food lined it, waiting to be taken. Raelyn moved closer to Edmund as they walked, not liking the eerie feeling that surrounded them. The crew marveled at the fresh fruits and pastries on the table, but Captain Drinian gave the orders to wait.
"Did someone know we were coming?" Raelyn questioned, eyeing the treats warily. A table full of food just sitting in an overgrown forest was just bizarre.
"I don't think so." Caspian muttered with a frown. They all glanced around as if waiting for the host to appear. No one did.
"Any bad feelings?" Ed questioned, turning to look down at her curiously. Raelyn shook her head with a frown.
"No…nothing at all. But I still don't like this." she whispered honestly. Edmund nodded and continued on, comforted that he could feel her body heat just behind him. Moving towards the bushes at the end of the table, Raelyn squinted at the shapes. Her yelp of alarm startled the group. Edmund quickly moved his flashlight to shine on the bushes, revealing what she had seen. Underneath all the vines and leaves were old faces framed by long grey hair and beards. Swords were pointed in their direction, but the men didn't move. Edmund and Caspian inched closer. Without touching anything the two leaned in to get a better look. Caspian pointed the tip of his sword towards a ring on one of the men's fingers.
"Lord Ravillion." He explained. Raelyn wanting to be more helpful but unwilling to get closer to the bodies sent one of her orbs towards them. Caspian grinned back at her in thanks and moved his head towards another hand, the orb following dutifully to light them up.
"Lord Mafrimore."
"Lord Argoff." Lucy gently reached forward to brush the long hair away from their faces. The man's eyes were wide open and out of his mouth came a puff of air. Lucy gasped and jerked back in surprise. Caspian frowned and leaned closer.
"He's breathing…" he whispered thoughtfully.
"So are they. How?" Raelyn asked, coming up to peer around Edmund.
"They're under a spell." He suggested.
"It's the food!" Caspian shouted in warning. Tavros and a few of the men dropped the fruit in fright, those that had taken a bite swallowed fearfully.
"Wait….that's the stone knife. This is Aslan's table." Edmund pointed out, finding the old weapon in the center of the stone table under the men.
"Their swords." Caspian muttered, already pushing the vines away to find the weapons. Edmund joined in and grabbed two more from the frozen lords before setting his own on the table. Raelyn and Lucy added to the pile, as they carried the extras. Once all their swords were on the table, crossed over one another, they waited. Nothing happened.
"That's six" Edmund pointed out.
"We're still missing one." Caspian sighed, looking over at the empty space. Raelyn watched curiously as the swords on the table began to glow blue. Her eyebrows furrowed. That light wasn't coming from the swords…
"Look." Lucy pointed up at a large glowing blue light that was making its way down towards them. Raelyn's orbs dissipated as there was now more than enough light in the room. Everyone watched silently and waited while the light delicately came down towards them. As it touched the ground it grew taller and morphed into a beautiful pale woman.
"Travelers of Narnia, welcome." The woman's voice echoed, the light surrounding her pulsing ever so slightly as she spoke. The crew knelt reverently. Raelyn watched with a slight frown, eyeing the woman critically.
"Arise. Are you not hungry?" the woman asked warmly, smiling at the crowd.
"Who are you?" Raelyn called, but not rudely. Edmund shot her a wide-eyed look but she refused to look away from the glowing woman.
"I am Lilliandil. Daughter of Romandu." The woman explained, walking towards her.
"I am your guide." She further explained. Raelyn pursed her lips, still not taking a liking to the woman.
"You're a star." Caspian commented in awe. Lilliandil turned her head to smile at the man and nodded. Edmund stared at her, along with everyone else, as he made his way over to join Caspian and Lucy. Raelyn followed, still watching her curiously.
"You are most beautiful." Caspian muttered distractedly. Raelyn blinked and turned her head towards the man. She and Lucy shared an amused grin from either side of him.
"I…if it is a distraction for you…I…can change form."
"No!" both Edmund and Caspian instantly negated the idea. Raelyn frowned and subtly elbowed her boyfriend. Lucy rolled her eyes while Caspian shot him a warning glance.
"Really?" Raelyn whispered, hurt that he would react like that. Edmund turned to look at her more fully.
"Sorry, this is all new for me. I got distracted." He admitted.
"What just cause she glows? I can glow, it's not that special." Raelyn whispered harshly, crossing her arms over her chest. Edmund's lip twitched upwards.
"I think it's pretty amazing. Just surprised you weren't the only one." He assured her with a grin. Raelyn deflated just a little at his praise.
"Fine. But I'm keeping my eye on you." she warned. Edmund grinned cheekily and tugged on her hand to bring her closer to his side. They turned back to the conversation.
"Please, the food is for you." Lilliandil insisted. With a flick of her hands the candles on the table were lit.
"There is enough for all who are welcome at Aslan's table. Always. Help yourselves. " She continued invitingly. The crew eagerly began taking a seat at the table of food.
"Wait, what happened to them?" Edmund asked, getting the men to pause and look at the star for answers.
"These poor men were half mad by the time they reached our shores. They were threatening violence against each other. Violence is forbidden at the table of Aslan. So they were sent to sleep." Lilliandil explained.
"Will they ever wake up?" Lucy questioned worriedly. The star smiled at her warmly.
"When all is put right. Come, there is little time." She looked to the leaders of the group before walking off into the forest. Caspian eagerly chased after her while Lucy, Edmund, and Raelyn followed.
"She is really pretty." Raelyn admitted as they followed through the woods. Edmund glanced down at her before looking over at Caspian who was talking with the woman quietly. He shrugged.
"I like my women with a bit more color." Raelyn bit back her grin.
"You really know how to butter people up don't you?" She asked teasingly, bumping into him gently. Edmund chuckled.
"It helps make up for the stupid things I tend to say." He grinned down at her. Raelyn snickered and grabbed his hand, pulling him along as they followed Lilliandil further into the island.
...
...
She led them to a balcony on the edge of a nearby cliff.
"The Magician Coriakin told you of the dark island."
"Yes." Caspian answered as the group circled around her. Lilliandil stared at a large black mass that had cracks of green light throughout it. Raelyn flinched at the sight, taking in slow breaths as she shied away from the island as best she could. Edmund reached out to hold her as he frowned at the dark mass in the distance. Lilliandil turned and smiled at the redhead sympathetically. Raelyn smiled back at her tightly. Maybe the woman wasn't so bad.
"Before long the evil will be unstoppable." Lilliandil hummed with a frown, turning back to face the horizon.
"Coriakin said to break the spell we need the seven swords at Aslan's table." Caspian pointed out.
"He speaks the truth." She nodded.
"But….we only have six of them. Where is the last one?" Raelyn questioned, her breathing evening out. Lilliandil pointed at the evil island before them.
"In there." Raelyn groaned under her breath.
"Fantastic." She muttered sourly. Edmund held her tighter, staring at the island.
"You will need great courage." Lilliandil told them. The other four shared worried looks. It was one thing to have burst of the mist attack them…going into the very heart of it was another.
"Now you must waste no time." She told them, turning to face them all.
"I hope we meet again." Caspian told her with a sad grin. Lilliandil started in surprise before grinning bashfully back at him. She nodded before morphing back into her original form. The group took a step back as the light brightened and shot up into the sky once more. They stood in silence as they watched her disappear.
"You know people say that boys end up marrying women like their mothers…." Raelyn trailed off. Edmund and Caspian shot her odd looks while Lucy snorted in amusement. The redhead shrugged, grinning at Caspian.
"I didn't know my mother." Caspian told her with a frown.
"I know…..but this may mean that you see me as a mother figure. You know, cause she glows and everything. It's been done before." Raelyn grinned devilishly at the king, glowing briefly for effect. Caspian rolled his eyes heavily while Edmund laughed out loud, getting her point now.
"More like an annoying little sister. Don't flatter yourself." Caspian retorted, turning to walk back to the crew. Raelyn giggled.
"Don't worry, I approve. I didn't like her at first but now I'm ok with it." She pointed out. Caspian threw a glare back at her before he continued walking. The other three snickered as they followed behind him.