Disclaimer: I own only the character Raxie and the plotline that proceeds after Ramandu's island.
Winter passed without major conflict, the season cold, but not as cold as it would have been had they been in Narnia. Every morning the fare was hardy oatmeal sweetened with wild berries, and lunch was light as the men continued to refurbish the Dawn Treader with new wood. New spars and crossbeams were painstakingly hewn from the heart of trees, slowly curing in the cold temperatures. Christina and Lucy would spend days weaving spare garments for the men and for Lucy, knowing how a trip across the sea could ruin garments quickly if they were not properly made. Supper was a boisterous and familial affair with all the crew, Ramandu, Christina, Caspian and Lucy all sitting down to eat at the stone table. Christmas was a day of unending feasting and frivolity, and Lucy was sad to leave when spring came.
Spring did come quickly, the world around them awakening from its slumber, turning green almost overnight. Anticipation filled the air, exciting Lucy and the crew with the knowledge that they would soon be retuning home. None too soon they would turn west and head home to family and friends and country to tell the tale of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader to all who would listen. Lucy was keen to see Narnian shores once again, having only been a little over a year since she last saw the sea from her balcony at Cair Paravel. While it had only been a year to Lucy, to Caspian her tale was centuries old, a legend. All was ready on the Dawn Treader, and the only thing that was missing was a warm western wind to carry her people home.
Three days later the wind arrived and with it the time to say their farewells to Ramandu and Christina. For the crew it took them less than half a day to pack the tents and what was left of the supplies that hadn't already been stored away. Caspian, Lucy, Ramandu and Christina stood on the shore of Star Haven Island watching the men work.
"It has been a pleasure to host you." Christina handed Lucy a wrapped bundle made of the finest white satin Lucy had ever seen. Curious Lucy opened the square of cloth to reveal a necklace consisting of large cabochon cut stones the color of the rising sun set in a delicate gold setting.
"Fire opals from the opal mines on the sun." Christina explained as Lucy stared at the sun opals burning up at her from the white cloth, winking in the sunlight. With a smile Christina took the necklace and draped it around Lucy's neck, fastening it securely. It was a bib style necklace, with the largest stones set up close to the neck in a choker style. Draping down the bib where opals that gradually gradated to a smaller size covering her collar bone and upper breastbone, dripping don into her cleavage. At the very bottom laid the largest, pear shaped opal Lucy could ever imagine seeing as it nestled at the top of the hollow between her breasts. Lucy thought she looked like some firedrake come alive in her dark red velvet dress and fire opals.
"They're stunning." Lucy was in awe of such beautiful and unique stones.
"For a stunning woman." Ramandu smiled, kissing Lucy's forehead before shaking Caspian's hand. "Remember us fondly."
"We will." Lucy smiled, feeling as if Ramandu were a beloved and cherished grandfatherly type.
"Farewell, King Caspian." Ramandu turned his attention to the young king who also was clothed in dark red. "Try to return."
"We will try." Caspian nodded. "Farewell."
Caspian and Lucy boarded the Dawn Treader and turned to wave at Ramandu and Christina until neither could see the island any more. Lucy sighed and snuggled against Caspian, who in turn wrapped his arms around her.
"I can't wait to see Narnia again." Lucy closed her eyes and rested her head on Caspian's chest, basking in the beautiful simplicity of the moment.
"Neither can I." Caspian kissed the top of her head. "I feel the pull of home so strongly that I wish we were already there."
Pulling back Lucy smiled up at Caspian, pleased at the knowledge that he felt the same compulsion that she did. They truly were two halves of the same whole.
"Now you know what I felt every time I had to return to Earth. I knew that that wasn't my true home and I would pray that I could return quickly."
With a small smile on his lips Caspian leaned down and gave her a gentle, chaste kiss that was more profound and meaningful than any passionate kiss could have been at that moment. Lifting his head he tucked her back into his chest and they stood together watching the ocean slip by. The crew gave them their time together, knowing that on a ship full of men, time together was short and rare, and yet all too soon Caspian was called away from Lucy's side. She nodded to him to go on, and he gave her another kiss before joining Drinian and Ritz.
The trip to Dufflepud Island was, thankfully, uneventful with no major storms, food rationing or Eustace to stir up trouble. Lucy spent most of her time on the prow deck, either mapping or playing chess with Caspian. When they were together they would share their thoughts about their future and anything else that came to mind. She told him the truths behind many of the legends he grew up with.
"So the others truly didn't believe you when you told them about Narnia?" Caspian asked one night as they played chess, still a few hours away from Dufflepud Island.
"Not only did they not believe me, but Edmund teased me about it, and Peter and Susan thought I was going mad." Lucy had put Caspian in check, but Caspian managed to maneuver out of her check. "Either that or I was lying, but they were doubtful of that because I rarely lie."
"Yes, but you often skirt around the truth." Caspian took his attention off of the board and locked it onto her.
"How so?" Lucy forgot the game, studying Caspian instead.
"On the whole trip east you constantly hid you thoughts, it was as if you were afraid of something." He rested his chin on his fist, watching her closely.
"I was under the belief that I was going back, and I didn't want to burden you with how I felt." Lucy spoke the truth, glad to be able to get her feelings off her chest.
"Lucy." Caspian sighed. "I could see in you eyes that something was wrong."
"Oh." Lucy felt terrible that she had caused Caspian grief.
"It hurt me that you wouldn't confide in me." Another sigh. "I wanted to reach out and take you into my arms, demanding that you tell me what was troubling you."
"Caspian, I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you and then leave, hurting you." She rubbed her forehead. "It was bad enough that I was hurting, I didn't want you to hurt too."
"Thank Aslan that we didn't have to find out." Caspian took her hand, turning it palm up and began to trace the lines on her palm. Lucy shivered with heat.
"Land ho!" They had reached Duffelpud Island.
Corriarkin met Caspian and Lucy on the shore without any dufflepuds due to the fact that they were getting the house ready for the royals stay. Caspian and Lucy were given rooms across form each other and Lucy fell asleep almost immediately.
"Good morning." Caspian met Lucy in the connecting hallway as they ventured downstairs to eat breakfast. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, but I chafe at not being at sea and heading home." Lucy threaded her arm through his as they entered the dining room. Corriarkin, upon seeing Caspian, nodded his head ever so slightly, making Lucy wander what was going on between the two. Lucy pushed the thought aside, trusting in Caspian and concentrated upon inhaling her breakfast. Pancakes, biscuits, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes and all sort of hearty breakfast fare filled the table and Lucy stuffed herself senseless, eager for something besides fruit sweetened oatmeal.