Disclaimer: I own only the character Raxie and the plotline that proceeds after Ramandu's island.

"I am on a great mission." Caspian was saying as Lucy joined him and Edmund up of the top deck of the ship, Eustace nowhere to be seen. "When the wicked King Miraz murdered my father he banished seven Narnian lords for no other reason than they had been loyal to my father, their old King."

"Seven missing lords." Lucy said to herself before addressing Caspian. "Where might they be?"

Just then a door opened that led to the captain's quarters, revealing a middle aged man dressed in practical clothing. Brown, wind tossed hair topped buy a sun and salt weathered face met her gaze, but when the man was introduced as Drinian, captain of the ship he bowed and smiled, making Lucy realize that this man was one of the most loyal and trustworthy she had even met. Suddenly a thought occurred to Lucy.

"But why are we here?" She asked Caspian. "Did you call us?"

"No, but I'm very glad you came." He smiled down at her, making Lucy warm and tingly again.

"You don't think…" Lucy murmured.

"Aslan. Perhaps he thought we would be useful on this quest." Edmund finished her thought.

"That is the other thought in my mind." Caspian leaned against the rail beside Lucy. "Aslan has always appeared from the east. Might we not find him and greet him in his own land?"

Lucy pushed aside the knowledge that Caspian's arm was warm against hers to concentrate on what he has said about Aslan. What would Aslan's country be like? Even Lucy, who had witnessed Aslan's sacrifice for Edmund at the Stone Table, didn't know Aslan all that well. She only knew that while the lion was indeed wild, Aslan would never hurt an innocent or act harshly against someone unless that person harmed someone else.

"But do you think Aslan's country the sort of place you and just sail into?" Lucy asked Caspian, but Reepicheep was the one who answered,

"I know not, but when I was in my cradle a wood woman, a dryad, spoke this verse over me; 'Where the sky and water meet, where the waves grow sweet, doubt not Reepicheep, for all you seek, there is the utter east.'"

Lucy wondered if there really was such a thing as the utter east, just a continuous circle of east leading into west leading into east, no end and no beginning. Then again Narnia is another reality where dreams become reality and reality becomes dreams. Almost everything known on Earth is either inverted or nonexistent in Narnia. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

Speaking of headaches, Eustace must be green to the gills by now. Poor thing never having been onboard a ship such as the Dawn Treader, wasn't used to the soothing motion of a ship.

"I really must go and see to Eustace. Must be terrible to be seasick." Lucy sighed as she and Edmund explored the main deck. "If only I had my magic flask-"

"What, waste that precious cordial on him? Good thing it isn't here." Edmund groused, obviously wanting Eustace to stay below deck and out of the way.

"But it is." Caspian motioned to Rynalf. "Rynalf, in the locked medicine cupboard, there's a flask-"

"I know the one sire."

Once Rynalf returned with the cordial that contained the elixir that would heal any sickness or injury Edmund, Lucy, Caspian and Rynalf ventured below deck to the men's common cabin. The only illumination came from the lanterns hanging from the support beams and the one Rynalf held. Lucy placed one drop of the elixir on Eustace's lips and moved back. Almost immediately Eustace was up and complaining about how it wasn't fait that Lucy had the best cabin once again. Lucy was so close to screaming at Eustace to shut up, but the knowledge that Caspian would witness the outburst curbed her temper.

Now that Eustace was up and about Drinian took the visitors on a tour of the Dawn Treader. Lucy was absolutely in love with the ship whereas Eustace was complaining right and left. Edmund finally snapped and told Eustace to shut up. Then Ritz, the ship's first mate, a man with dark, unruly hair and beard, offered to show Eustace the ship from the crows nest. Eustace spluttered something about having more sense than that, making everyone laugh.

Eventually Caspian left Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace to their own devices as he dealt with the more technical aspects of the trip. During the time that Caspian was off Reepicheep kept Edmund and Lucy company. Lucy didn't notice that Eustace was missing until it was too late.

"Argh!" Reepicheep hollered, drawing everyone's attention. Eustace was tugging and pulling on Reep's tail through the railing that protected people from falling off the poop deck.

"Let go Eustace!" Edmund commanded as Reep raged about a duel and killing. Lucy ran over to the railing and hit at Eustace, trying to get him to let go of the mouse's tail. Why does Eustace have to be such a bully? Without warning Eustace let go of Reep's, sending the valiant mouse lunging against Edmund who steadied him.

"Draw your sword poltroon! Draw your sword or I'll beat you black and blue." Reepicheep growled pointing his sword at Eustace, blade tip less than a foot away from Eustace's tender belly. Lucy's cousin, who was a coward in the best of times, was shaking like a leaf and as pale as death itself.

"Don't be silly, I h-haven't got a s-sword." Eustace's voice trembled as he backed up against Ritz.

"Eustace, I can lend you a sword." Caspian offered, expression on his face being one of cool regality, tone crisp. Lucy wondered what was going through Caspian's mind, never having seen such a look of ardent disapproval on the king's face.

"I don't want to be lent a sword." Eustace was practically a bundle of nervous fear, and Lucy feared that there would really be a duel. Granted, she didn't have a high opinion of Eustace, but he was family and that meant that she and Edmund would have to defend Eustace if there were a duel.

"Master Eustace must be handicapped sire; he's much bigger than his opponent." Drinian drawled, insincere concern in the captain's voice.

Lucy was about to point out that Eustace had never touched a sword before, much less used one when a voice rang out,

"Land ho!"