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

Once at sea the change in Eustace became quite noticeable. No grousing, no bad temper, and no picking on Reepicheep or anyone else. He was pleasant and polite, even going so far as to help with basic maintaince. Apparently Eustace's stint as a dragon seemed to have knocked some sense into his head.

"He seems different, you know." Caspian said one night as he and Lucy played chess on the upper deck, most of the crew having retired for the night, including Edmund and Eustace.

"His time spent as a dragon did him some good." Lucy replied, automatically blocking Caspian's every move. "And it's about time."

"See," Caspian countered her block by taking her pawn. "Being in Narnia has done him some good."

She simply smiled, unable to speak because Caspian had just flashed her one of his genuine and heart stopping grins. She loved it when he was able to relax and just be a young man, no crown to worry about or a royal attitude he must maintain. She was glimpsing the true Caspian, not the King of Narnia.

"Have you gotten in contact with Aslan yet?" Caspian asked leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms, ignoring the chessboard.

"Not directly, no."

"Directly?"

Lucy looked away from Caspian, unsure if she could divulge her knowledge of the truth. She and Susan had sworn not to tell anyone, even on the pain of death. The feared that if anyone found out what Aslan had done for Edmund, then the people would see him as an unfit ruler. But that day is long over. Ever since they stepped back through the wardrobe the last time that age had ended. But old, ingrained secrets were hard to relinquish.

"What I am about to tell you has never been told to another soul." Lucy gazed out at the black satin of the sea. "Of course, you know the tales of the Golden Age, but what do you know of our fight with the White Witch?"

"Only that you came through a door in the forest, were aided by beavers to Aslan's Howe, and killed the White Witch in a great battle." Caspian answered, attention fixed upon her.

"She fell to her death." She murmured. "Aslan roared, making the earth shake, she fell off a cliff and supposedly died. When we first met though, the old hag with the werewolf was the White Witch."

"Really?" Caspian's manner turned earnest as he rested his elbows on the edge of the chess table. "How could you tell?"

"Her voice and the werewolf." Lucy replied. "Her secret police were wolves."

"What about Aslan?" This brought Lucy to the main reason for her tale, and the reason she was hesitant as well.

"As you've already been told part of the tale, I will tell you." Lucy leaned across the table in a similar manner to Caspian, bringing them closer together and lowering her voice. "When Edmund first came to Narnia he was following me. Since I was with Mr. Tummas, Edmund began to wander in the woods. The White Witch came upon him, and I'm not quite sure what took place, he has never told us, but I'm sure it wasn't a good experience. Later though, when we were having supper with the Beavers, Edmund slipped away."

"He went to her, didn't he?" Caspian whispered in quiet disbelief.

"Yes, but once we reached Aslan one of the White Witch's wolves attacked, when Peter killed him in combat, the others ran back to her, too afraid to continue without their leader. Aslan sent the flying creatures after them to retrieve Edmund and bring him back to the Stone Table."

"Aslan's Howe." Caspian corrected.

"The next day, the White Witch appeared demanding that we turn Edmund over to her, since all traitors belonged to her in accordance with the Deep Magic. Aslan spoke to the Witch alone and away from camp for some time before returning." Lucy sat in somewhat of a trance, the events of the past playing in her mind like a slideshow, lost in the past. Vaguely she knew Caspian was watching her, letting her tell the tale that she had kept inside for not only a year, but hundreds of years. Caspian only knew it as legend, but to Lucy it was as real as the ship they sailed in.

"And?" Caspian prodded.

"Aslan said that everything was taken care of, that the White Witch had renounced her claim on Edmund." Lucy's voice became distant to her ears.

"I sense that something was kept hidden." His eyes narrowed and a frown marred his brow.

"You'd be right." Lucy affirmed. "Neither Susan or I could sleep that night, so we decided to go and act on our feelings by speaking to Aslan. He was standing alone in the moonlight, sad and alone. When he began to walk we followed, but soon he told us to join him only if we would stop and let him go on alone when he commanded us to, telling us that no matter what happened to not let ourselves be seen."

Lucy's voice broke, remembering that horrible night. The anguish of not being able to help, to do something to stop the madness of the White Witch and her followers. The terror of being seen as the evil ones pounced on Aslan like ravenous beasts that they were before running into the night with flaming torched, howling like unholy creatures. Even the hopelessness at removing the bonds that held Aslan fast to the stone altar and then the unbearable joy and hope at seeing him rise again.

Lucy was pulled out of her musings of the past as warm hands came to cover her own. Looking at Caspian her heart warmed along with her hands; concern filled the King's eyes with the desire to take away her pain if only she would allow him.

"You don't have to continue." Caspian whispered. "You don't have to tell me."

"Yes, I do." She replied just as quietly, taking a deep breath. "Aslan had ordered us to stay hidden for a reason. After the meeting with the White Witch he ordered us to move our camp into the forest and away from the Stone Table. That night he returned with us watching him from our hiding place in the shadows. Aslan was to take Edmund's place as her sacrifice. The Witch and her followers bound Aslan to the Table that later Susan and I were unable to free him. They first muzzled him and then shaved his mane to add to the shame of the event. And then, to our horror, the Witch, using an ancient stone dagger, pierced Aslan's heart, killing him before our eyes."

Lucy sniffed, tears clouding her vision, the pain still very real and powerful. Caspian handed her a handkerchief. After blowing her nose indelicately, garnering a small smile from him, she continued with her story.

"Susan saved me, keeping me from rushing in and getting myself killed. I was in an emotional rage. Only when everyone, including the Witch left we came out of hiding. We were able to get the muzzle off, but we weren't able to free the ropes. A swarm of mice did that job for us. All night we kept vigil over Aslan's body, and at dawn we looked out upon Cair Paravel, our backs to Aslan. That was when a loud thundering crash rent the air, startling us and making us turn back to Aslan. His body was no longer there and the Stone Table was broken in two right down the middle."

"How could stone break like that?" Caspian wondered aloud.

"Magic." Lucy said, returning Caspian's attention to her. He reached out a hand and wiped away her tears with a brush of his fingertips, the tender touch making her heart melt. It was such a warm and intimate gesture that it broke Lucy's heart, making her long for another life. Reluctantly Lucy finished her tale.

"Aslan stood beside the Stone Table, utterly whole. He told us that there was a magic even stronger than the Deep Magic, one that if an innocent willing gave up their life for another that the Stone Table would break and Death itself would be denied."

Silence followed, stretching for some time as Caspian absorbed what Lucy had just revealed to him, studying her face. Lucy, in turn, sat gazing out at the dark sea around them, not wanting to meet his gaze and show him that Aslan's sacrifice meant so much, so deeply to her. She could practically hear Caspian's mind processing the details of the story she had just told him.

"Aslan sacrificed himself for Edmund?" His tone was quite and reserved.

"Yes. Only Aslan, Susan and I knew."

"And now you told me."

"The danger has long since passed where Edmund might not be seen as a fit ruler of Narnia and her people, and you can be the only one who knows the whole truth." Lucy stood with a yawn. "Tonight's game was effectively derailed."

"Get some rest, we can finish the game tomorrow and continue our talk." Caspian stood as well. "I'll make sure that this gets put away."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Caspian nodded. "I'm a king, not an invalid."

Laughing Lucy shook her head and retired for the night. As she slept she found a deep peace, knowing she wasn't the only one in Narnia to share her secret.