WARNING: The next three chapters will be fairly dark, especially chapter 8. They are all much darker than the book, and (I think) slightly darker than the movie. So be prepared, especially for chapter 8. I tried to not make it too dark, but if it is, please let me know so I can see what I can do about it.

As usual, the little * indicates direct quotes, in this case from the movie. For the next three chapters I literally watched, paused, rewound, and watched in slow motion the following scenes to get everything just right. I won't do that for everything, I promise, but some lines are just too good to pass up. Like Eustace's "I've got it! I've got it! Don't worry!" HAHA. That just cracks me up every time; he's so serious when he says it.

Also, I did a few things to correct some stuff. I noticed, that many people seemed to be confused as to why they took Eustace onto the Lone Islands when they themselves were suspicious of it; well, I've given them a reason to bring him along. Also, I did not like the fact that Caspian gave away that he was King, he never should have done that. So he doesn't (read on to find out why though ;) )

That's all for now. Hope you enjoy!

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 2: The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 7

Ava and Lucy joined Caspian and Edmund on the main deck; they all had swords strapped to their sides, and Caspian had a crossbow on his back. The land that had been spotted was the Lone Islands, but its appearance put Caspian on edge. The Lone Islands had been a territory of Narnia for nearly two centuries, but Narnia had not heard from them or received their monetary tribute for several years. And now, Caspian could not see a Narnian flag anywhere on the island. A small party had been put together to go ashore. Caspian turned to Ava as she approached.

"Is there any chance you'll just stay here?" he asked hopefully. Ava just stared at him. He sighed. "That's what I feared. Promise me you'll be careful."

"Caspian, I'll be fine," Ava assured him as she placed her hand on his shoulder. He smiled weakly. They were about to board the long boats when Eustace walked over and joined them.

"Where do you think you're going?" Edmund asked.

"I'm not staying on this blasted ship!" Eustace exclaimed.

"Pardon me?" Ava asked.

"I mean…uh— please, you can't just leave me here!" he practically begged. There was an intense pause while they all looked at each other.

Ava sighed. "Maybe the boy should come with us."

"Ava?" Caspian questioned.

"Maybe it will do him good; he'll see that he really isn't in his world anymore."

"What do you think Caspian?" Edmund asked, turning to his friend.

"He's your family, Ed. It's your decision," Caspian replied. Ava gave Edmund a pleading look.

"You stay with us," Edmund finally instructed Eustace. "Don't wander off."

Caspian, Edmund, Eustace, Lucy, Ava, Reepicheep and four crewmen filled one long boat, while Drinian, Kobar the Minotaur, and five other crewmen filled the other. Tavros and the remaining crew members stayed on board. The two long boats rowed to shore as quietly as they could. Reepicheep was the first to jump ashore when they reached the docks; his excitement was too much to contain. Caspian was next, closely followed by Edmund. Both kings then turned to Lucy and Ava to help them out while the crew secured the boats to the dock.

Lucy was the first to point out the eerie silence that surrounded them.

*"Where is everyone?"* she asked. The group fell silent for a moment as they looked around, but that silence was broken when Eustace stumbled out of the boat.

"Do him some good, you say?" Edmund whispered skeptically as he looked at Ava.

"Give him a chance, Edmund. He might surprise you," she whispered back before following Caspian up the stairs.

As Caspian moved toward the ramp leading into the walled city, he pulled his crossbow from his back and held it before him. There was something wrong on this island. It was much too quiet; Narrowhaven was supposed to be a bustling port city that served as a center for trade and commerce. The port city now, showed no signs of life apart from the stray gull that squawked overhead.

DONG!

A bell rang from inside the city walls, scattering a flock of crows and sending a chill down Ava's spine. Caspian quickly raised his bow towards the sound and Edmund, Lucy, and Reepicheep all drew their swords; Ava, however, did not. Everyone looked around for the source, but saw nothing.

*"Reepicheep, stay here with Drinian's men and secure the place,"* Caspian ordered. *"We'll head on. If we don't come by dawn…send a party."*

*"Yes, Your Majesty,"* Reepicheep replied as he sheathed his sword and scurried over to Drinian.

Caspian led the way through the stone city with Ava and Lucy close behind him, while Edmund and Eustace brought up the rear. Everywhere they went the cold grey stones were silent. There was no one out on the street. There was no one anywhere to be seen. The cold silence churned Ava's stomach and chilled her to the bone. The dimming light of day did nothing to help ease the feeling of impending doom that was growing within.

They reached what appeared to be a stone wall with tall iron doors set in the middle. There were a couple of drain holes to the right of the doors; the wall beneath them had been stained brown from tainted water. Caspian, Edmund, Ava, and Lucy approached the doors with caution. They all thought Eustace was right behind them, until they heard him shouting from across the street. They turned to find him standing near a house of sorts, claiming nobody was in and that perhaps they should be heading back now. They knew they couldn't leave yet.

*"Do you want to come here and...guard…something?"* Edmund suggested. Eustace accepted the task and quickly ran over. Ava, Caspian and Lucy all exchanged wary glances. They were about to head through the doors when Ava nudged Caspian softly.

"Caspian," Ava said whispered. "If the boy is to guard, shouldn't he have a weapon of sorts?"

"I'm not sure what good it will do," Caspian whispered back quietly before walking over to Eustace and handing him a dagger. Eustace looked at the dagger and blinked several times, not quite knowing what to do with it.

*"I've got it. I've got it. Don't worry,"* Eustace assured them before turning around to watch the road. Somehow, Eustace's words didn't provide any comfort to Ava.

The iron doors groaned and creaked as the four them stepped inside. Caspian and Edmund flanked Ava and Lucy on instinct. Caspian still held his crossbow before him and Edmund and Lucy still had their swords in hand. Ava kept her sword in its sheath on her hip, but her hand rested on the hilt in wary precaution.

Ava looked about the room as they entered. There were ancient statues on either side creating an aisle down the center. Giant iron bells and knotted ropes hung from the rafters; this was the bell tower that had called them. Ava looked over the rafters with a little more attention. There were many dark corners in which someone could easily hide if they wanted to. Ava did not at all like the knot which had formed in her stomach.

In the center of the room was a lone circular structure, beckoning them forward. As they approached Ava stayed between the two kings, she knew it was safest there. Edmund withdrew his torch and shinned its light on the structure. Ava saw now that it looked like the remnants of an old well that had long since been drained dry and boarded up. It was now covered with piles of books and parchments.

They all stepped onto the platform on which the old well sat and looked down at the only open book. The pages were split into five columns: Name, Age, Sex, Buyer, and Crescents. Both pages were full. Many of the names had red lines through them.

*"Who are all these people?"* Lucy voiced what they were all thinking.

*"Why have they been crossed out?"* Edmund wondered.

*"It looks like some kind of… fee."* Lucy added. Ava thought on this for a moment. She remembered something her father had told her once, before the departed the Cair.

"A fee? Or a price?" Ava wondered aloud, not liking the conclusion she was coming to. Then Caspian confirmed what she feared.

*"Slave traders."*

Suddenly the bells began to ring and men began to slide down the ropes and come out from the dark corners of the tower. Ava fell frozen with fear. Her sword training had really only been in theory. She had never actually fought someone before; unless you counted that time in the armory of the castle at Beaver's Dam three years ago, which she didn't. Would she be able to fight someone now?

"Ava, look out!" Caspian shouted, freeing her from her fear.

Ava gripped her sword hilt tightly and pulled it from the sheath. She spun on the spot, the skirt of her red dress swirling about her ankles, and raised her sword just in time to block an attack. She was past pondering if she could fight; now, she had no choice. Ava put into practice everything that Caspian had taught her. She kept her sword up, never letting it drop to her side. She used the follow through of one attack as momentum for the next. And she attacked with all she had, knowing that the smallest mistake could end in a fatal disaster for her, or, more importantly, her friends. She could not let that happen.

"AHHHH!"

There was a scream so terrifying that everyone immediately stopped fighting and turned to the iron doors to find the source of the scream. Ava's heart plummeted. A slaver had caught Eustace and held him from behind with the dagger Caspian had given him at his throat. Ava had never felt more horrible; she knew this was her fault. Eustace would still be on the safety of the Dawn Treader if it weren't for her.

The slaver stepped into the tower with Eustace, and slammed the door behind him. He ordered them to drop their weapons, and when they did not react immediately, he threatened Eustace. Ava could not let the boy pay for her mistake, so she quickly dropped her sword. As the other slavers came forward and began to place chains around their wrists, Ava looked about her. Caspian was the closest one to her and he had his eyes focused on her. She could see the clouds of worry swimming in his ocean of brown. He seemed to be thinking only of what would happen to her.

Ava's eyes flickered over to Lucy, who was struggling with her captors, and suddenly she understood Caspian's worry. Ava knew, with a sinking feeling, what scum like slavers would do with a young, beautiful girl like Lucy. She could not let that happen to her friend. Ava had to keep their attention away from Lucy no matter what it meant for her. After all, Lucy was a Queen of Old; Ava was just the Naiad Princess, a Narnian like any other, in service to her Kings and Queens. Ava took a deep breath, gathering up all her strength and courage, and began fighting against her captors.

"Unhand me you fools!" she royally commanded. "Do you not know who I am? I am Princess Ava!" The room seemed to fall silent once more as all eyes turned to her. Ava held her head high and squared her shoulders, putting ground to her claim.

"What's that? A princess you say?" the salver holding Eustace said; he seemed to be the one in charge. He looked at Ava's companions with skepticism in his eyes. "And am I to believe that this is your royal guard?"

"Indeed," she replied with her most royal and authoritative voice. "And I command you to release us at once on pain of death."

The man chuckled at her command. "Am I also to believe then, that they allow little girls onto the royal guard?" He pointed to Lucy and smirked; his followers laughed. Ava didn't let it discourage her though, and replied with a smugness of her own.

"Surely you do not think that a Princess would travel anywhere without her trusty lady's-maid." From the corner of her eye, Ava could see Lucy already playing her part as she held her head low in the manner of a servant. The slaver's eyes hardened but his smirk remained.

"Come forth," he instructed as he lazily tossed Eustace over to another slaver.

"Please, my Lady, don't do this," Caspian insisted as he fought against his restraints.

Ava glanced at Caspian briefly and saw a pleading look in his eyes; she knew that his simple request was really a command of its own, but she chose not to listen and hoped he would forgive her later. She shook off her captors and regally stepped forward to where the slaver stood waiting. He said nothing at first, but took his time and circled her, looking her over like a collector of fine jewels inspecting his latest piece. Ava stood her ground and waited.

"A princess indeed," he said at last, a lustful growl in his throat. "What is your purpose here?"

"Ours is a peaceful mission of our own business. Release us now and I will plead with My King to spare the life of your men."

"And what of my life?"

"I'm afraid My King will show no mercy to the man responsible for my bonds. Now, release us." Ava held her wrists out for the slaver to unlock the chains binding her hands. His smirk widened, showing his nearly toothless mouth.

"You think I fear your King?" he sneered, breathing in her face. Ava barely contained her gag. "Let him come, so that I may run my sword through his heart."

"Do not make the mistake of under estimating him like so many have before you." Ava's veiled threat seemed to have no effect on the vicious man.

"Maligor," he called to one of Ava's original captors. "Take Her Majesty away and show her the finest royal treatment you can afford her."

"With pleasure." A man with colder eyes, and a crueler look, and a nastier stench grabbed Ava roughly by the arm.

"You dare to lay a hand on me?" She struggled against his hold.

"Yes, I dare!" the head slaver spat ruthlessly before he struck Ava's temple with the hilt of Caspian's dagger. She fell limply into Maligor's arms, and he tossed her body over his shoulder.

"NO!" Caspian and Edmund shouted together fighting against their captors.

*"You'll pay for that!"* Edmund shouted.

"Actually," a new voice said, stepping out from the shadows. All present turned their attention to him. "Someone else is going to pay; I believe she shall fetch our highest bid yet." The man slowly made his way over to where Ava dangled over Maligor's arms. He lifted her head and ran his fingers along her jaw.

"That is, if I don't decide to keep her for myself." The man turned his attention to the head slaver. "Take those two to the dungeons," he said of Caspian and Edmund. "Her, and him we'll sale at the market tomorrow. As for her highness here… see what you can get out of her."