Hi there everyone! I'm going to the beach for a little bit this weekend so I won't be able to put chapter 20 up until Sunday or Monday, but this chapter is a doozy so it should hold ya.
As usual, the * indicates direct quotes from the movie and the ^ indicates direct quotes from the book. The "un-dragoning" scene in this chapter is my own little take of blending what happened in the book with the movie. I just think that the symbolism of the un-dragoning is too great to overlook.
The Naiad Trilogy
Part 2: The Naiad and Her King
Chapter 19
"Prepare yourselves men!"
"Hold fast!"
"Steady now!"
Drinian, Tavros, and Caspian shouted orders to the crew. The men stood with their crossbows, bows, and swords ready to fire their attacks at the monstrous sea serpent. But just before the serpent came in for an attack, Eustace and Reepicheep flew in. Eustace breathed fire on the serpent before latching on to its face with his talons. Reepicheep jumped off of Eustace's head and began hacking away at the serpent while Eustace clawed and bit at it. The serpent fought back violently though, shaking its head from side to side trying to dislodge the dragon. On a couple of instances the serpent slammed Eustace into the side of the Dawn Treader causing it to shake viciously; Eustace held on though.
Reepicheep was the first to be dislodged and he was tossed back onto the ship. Eustace stayed on for a bit longer still fighting hard, but eventually he too was tossed aside. Eustace nearly crashed into the sea but he caught his wits and took flight. He headed in for another attack on the serpent and would have been successful, but the serpent was ready for him and caught him by his neck. The serpent dove into the water pulling Eustace along with it.
"No! Eustace!" Ava shouted as she rushed to the side of the ship. Could dragons breathe under water? She looked overboard for any sign of Eustace or the serpent. There was some minor tossing of the waves as if a struggle was taking place, but Ava could not see the creatures.
"It's trying to drown him," Ava concluded. She looked over to Edmund, Lucy, and Caspian and knew that they had come to the same conclusion.
"Ava, you have to save him," Lucy pleaded.
Ava knew what the young queen meant and she quickly unbuckled her sword and container. She handed them over to Edmund while Caspian helped her up onto the railing.
"Be careful," Caspian urged her quietly; Ava nodded and jumped overboard.
Ava instantly let her magic take over and she transformed into her Naiad form. The water was dark, really dark; she could hardly see anything, but she could feel and she felt the struggle through the water. Ava blindly followed that feeling and found Eustace fighting to break free of the serpent's grasp. She knew she had to act quickly because she didn't know how much longer Eustace could hang on.
The first thing Ava did was form an air bubble around Eustace's head so that at least he would have some air to breathe. Eustace noticed the bubble immediately and took a visible gasp of air before turning his head and seeing Ava. Next, Ava knew she had to break the serpent's hold on Eustace and she knew she would never be able to pry it off. Her best chance would be to cause a distraction and make the serpent release Eustace of its own accord. Ava began to create a funnel of water just as she would if she were returning to the ship after a swim only this time she kept the funnel completely under water. Ava then carried the funnel over to the exposed portion of the serpent's head. The serpent's head was immediately sucked into the vortex at the center and it released Eustace with a screech. With Ava's aid, Eustace and Ava swam back to the surface and sought refuge on one of the many rock formations.
"Eustace! Eustace, are you alright?" Ava asked as he let his large dragon head droop against the rock.
Eustace didn't have a chance to give Ava any indication though, because as soon as Ava left the water the vortex dissipated and the serpent broke free. Ava heard the splash behind her as the serpent reared its ugly head and screeched loudly. The serpent came in for another attack but this time it was aiming for Ava. She quickly raised a wall of water and turned it to ice; the serpent crashed into it with a thud. The serpent's attack was deflected, but its head was hard and left a large crack down the center of the ice wall. Ava was already beginning to feel weary and she knew she couldn't keep up her defense much longer. She screamed as the serpent came in for another attack and the ice wall shattered.
Eustace heard Ava scream and knew she was in trouble; he reacted the only way he knew how. He quickly covered Ava with his wing shielding her from the serpent's bite. He roared in pain as the serpent's fangs sunk into his fleshy wing. Then he let out a breath of fire so huge it consumed the serpent's head. It was the serpent's turn to screech in pain as it tossed its head back and forth before diving into the water again.
Eustace didn't have time to enjoy his brave accomplishment though because he felt a sharp pain just above his left arm. That pain, combined with the poison of the serpent left Eustace feeling like he was going to die. And he thought if he was going to die, then he knew he didn't want his family and friends to see it happen. Eustace quickly took flight and left the rock; he ignored the cries of his cousin and Ava for him to come back.
"Ava!" Caspian called.
Ava looked back at the Dawn Treader and saw that the oars were being put out; they were about to leave. Ava knew she had to get back to the ship, but how? The serpent was still in the water and Ava had no idea where exactly. It could be waiting for her and she'd be too weak to fight it off. Then again if Ava stayed on the rock then her chance of survival was even less. Ava could feel the beginnings of fear creeping in; soon she would be locked in her own nightmare.
Suddenly a great white albatross broke through the dark clouds flying on a beam of light. As it flew around the ship and around the rock, Ava felt a flood of confidence envelope her like two large paws holding her in a warm embrace. All at once Ava thought there was nothing to be afraid of as her fears vanished.
"Aslan," she whispered quietly for she knew he was behind the albatross and her feelings. Ava quickly dove into the water once more and swam safely back to the Dawn Treader.
XOXOX
"Ava, are you alright?" Caspian asked as he helped a soaking wet Ava back on board.
"Yeah," Ava said wearily. "Thanks to Eustace; he shielded me from the serpent's bite."
"I'm sorry I was ever cruel to him."
The four friends all fell silent for a moment before Ava spoke softly, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Yeah…" Edmund agreed half-heartedly.
"Meanwhile, the sword. We have to get it to Aslan's table," Ava said.
"One problem, Eustace has the sword," said Lucy."
"What?"
"Lord Rhoop didn't know Eustace was on our side and he threw his sword at him."
Before this new information could even begin to sink in for Ava, a loud screeching drew their attention to the stern of the ship. The serpent had returned with vengeance on its mind; it was angrier than ever before. It was taking great bounds through the water and rapidly approaching the ship.
"We don't have time to worry about that now; we still have a sea serpent to defeat," Caspian pointed out. The serpent made one last great leap before disappearing. Caspian suspected the next time they saw the serpent it would be as it was attacking them, and he warned the crew accordingly. "Brace yourselves!"
Caspian was right. The next time the serpent leapt out of the water it jumped over the deck of the Dawn Treader from port to starboard. As it leapt over the ship it did not clear the deck entirely and took out a good portion of the railing. The serpent then swam back under the ship and leapt over the deck again; it was wrapping itself around the body of its prey preparing to squeeze the life out of it. Ava could hear the hull moan and groan under the pressure of the serpent's body and she knew it was beginning to crack.
Without speaking a word to each other the group of four broke apart to perform separate but necessary tasks. Lucy rushed to the State Room where her sister's bow and arrows sat on display. They had been a gift to Susan from Father Christmas himself on their first visit to Narnia, and he had hinted at the fact that the bow was infused with magic that would not allow it to easily miss a target. Lucy only hoped that now it would be of some use for her in this battle. Caspian rushed to take over the helm, for Drinian's arm had been injured in one of the serpent's wraps. Edmund stayed on the main deck dodging the serpent's body and helping those crewmen who found themselves pinned beneath it.
Ava rushed below deck to the oar room where she found what she had suspected would happen. The serpent was squeezing the ship and causing the hull to crack under the pressure. Water began to spill through some of the larger and deeper crack, flooding the ship. Some men had already found some spare wood and began to seal off the cracks, but it was no use. Ava grabbed the board from one man and tossed it aside before using her magic to seal the crack with ice.
"Well that's one way of sealing it I suppose," Rhince said.
"I don't know how long it will hold, though. You men row, and I'll seal!" Ava shouted before returning to her work. Around her, the men picked the oars back up and began to row with every ounce of strength they had.
XOXOX
Back on the deck, while Caspian commanded the wheel he looked out over the sea and was struck with an idea.
*"Ed! Ed!"* Caspian called out to his friend below. Edmund looked up at him expectantly. *"We'll ram the serpent. Smash him on the rocks!"* He nodded his head in the direction of the rock he was referring to.
*"Steer her to port! I'll keep it on the prow!"* Edmund called back before rushing off to the front of the ship.
Edmund quickly climbed up the dragon's neck and entered into its mouth. He pulled his torch and Peter's sword out. He flashed the light of the torch into the serpent's eyes to gain its attention; it worked like a charm. The serpent swiftly positioned its great ugly head at the prow of the ship. It let out a screech of protest as Edmund shined the light right in its eye.
*"Try and kill me! Come on!"* Edmund taunted. *"Come on, I'm here!"*
The serpent reared back its head as it prepared for the attack. Edmund held his position until the last possible second before retreating deeper into the dragon's mouth. The serpent came in and clenched its jaws around the top half of the dragon's mouth and snapped it off. Edmund remained unharmed, tucked into a corner. As the serpent spat out the splintered wood, Edmund climbed out of the dragon's mouth and onto its head. Edmund laughed boldly in the face of the serpent and taunted it for missing him.
Meanwhile, Lucy had emerged from the State Room with bow and arrow and climbed to the poop deck in time to see the serpent strike at the dragon's mouth. She had cried out in fear, somehow knowing her brother was inside; she visibly exhaled when she saw her brother climb back out unscathed. While Edmund continued to keep the serpent's attention, Lucy prepared her bow. She hoped she might be able to impair it if she took out an eye and so that's what she aimed for. With precise timing that would rival the Gentle Queen's, Lucy let an arrow soar through the air; it hit its target cleanly.
After sealing off of all the cracks she could find, Ava returned to the main deck in time to see a red tipped arrow fly through the air and land squarely in the serpent's large round eye. The serpent screeched in pain much as it had when Eustace had consumed its head in flames. As Ava watched the serpent thrash its head about she noticed the large cropping of rock dead ahead. She knew at once what the plan was and quickly rushed to the mast to secure herself for the impact.
*"Brace yourselves!"* Caspian shouted just before the ship and serpent slammed into the rocks.
The serpent absorbed most of the blow but the crew was still jostled about. Just before they struck, however, Edmund half leapt and half fell from the top of the dragon's head. He struck hard on the serpent's body before rolling onto the deck. The serpent uncoiled its body from the ship and the Dawn Treader began to pull away.
"Edmund! Edmund, are you alright?" Ava asked as she rushed to check on her friend.
Edmund grunted as he sat up. "Yes, I think so."
Ava helped him to his feet as Lucy and Caspian came to check on him as well. Ava stepped back to survey the damage. There were four great big gaps in the railing where the serpent's body had been and derby was scattered everywhere. All of the crewmembers were nearly completely soaked; Lucy seemed to be the driest among them for her brief stint in the cabin. A mixture of sweat, sea water, and blood ran down many of the faces.
Ramming the serpent on the rocks had not defeated it as Caspian might have hoped; it only served to anger the creature even more. While the Dawn Treader moved steadily away, the serpent screeched and howled, and for anyone watching it began to glow around its core. The serpent raised up its body, appearing to grow larger. A strange cackling sound, it was later described as laughter, drew all attention back to the serpent. Suddenly, along the glowing seam down the center, the serpent's body spread open to reveal row upon row of venomous fangs. Caspian quickly took note of the serpent's position; it was centered with the ship, and to Caspian's horror Ava was in its direct line of attack.
"Ava, move!" Caspian shouted.
Before Ava could react, Caspian closed the short distance between them with a short run and a small jump. He threw his arms around Ava and his momentum carried them away just as the serpent's body came crashing down. Caspian carefully cradled Ava to his chest and rolled so that he took most of the blow. Caspian landed roughly on his shoulder and immediately rolled so that he was covering Ava with his body.
Ava wrapped her arms around Caspian's neck as his body slammed into hers. She shut her eyes tightly and braced herself for the landing. She had expected to feel sore and perhaps a little winded from the blow. She had not expected to feel the immense pain in her leg that she did. At first it was like a sharp puncture wound as if from the blade of a sword, but then it quickly became much more. Ava felt a liquid begin to fill the wound; it was both icy cold and boiling hot, all at once. Ava tried to cry out in pain but she could not find the breath to do so. She gasped for air but each gasp sent shockwaves of pain through her entire body.
"Ava? Ava, what's wrong? Ava?" Caspian saw Ava trying to gasp for air and he quickly moved off of her, but even when she was free she continued to gasp for air. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes and slid slowly down her face. As Caspian stared into her round, watery eyes he saw the evident pain she was experiencing, and it filled his heart with pain not knowing what to do.
"Caspian her leg!" Lucy shouted.
Caspian immediately looked down at Ava's leg and saw that one of the serpent's fangs had managed to get her; apparently he had not pushed her far enough out of the way. The serpent was beginning to rise again with its fang still imbedded in Ava's leg. Caspian quickly looked around and grabbed a loose sword. He hacked the fang off and the serpent reeled back in pain. The fang turned to green mist and dissipated at once and Ava took in a lung full of air with an audible gasp.
"Ava?" Caspian dropped the sword and held her face in his hands. Ava took in another deep breath as she looked into his eyes. They were moist with tears he fought to keep back, but as one escaped Ava reached up to wipe it away. She smiled faintly as she sat up.
"I'm fine, Caspian," Ava said weakly; she only lied a little. The icy, boiling liquid and the immense pain were gone, and she could breathe again. Now she only felt dizzy, weak, and a little nauseous. "The poison is gone; I'm fine, really."
"Are you sure Ava?" Lucy asked as she and Edmund joined them. "There could still be traces of the poison in you. Perhaps you should take a drop of my cordial; it's in the cabin."
"That's a good idea, Lucy." Ava nodded. "I'll go do that now." She stood up and began to stumble to the State Room.
"Here, let me come with you," Caspian said as he placed her arm around his neck to support her weight.
"No," Ava said firmly as she pulled her arm back. "Stay here Caspian. Fight. We can beat this creature. Don't worry about me." Caspian reluctantly let Ava stumble off alone.
"She's right, Caspian," Edmund said. "We need to tackle one demon at a time." Edmund and Caspian looked up at the sea serpent. It was currently tangled in the rigging and battling the sail; it was trying to pull the ship over.
*"We can beat this,"* Caspian repeated Ava's words.
*"We need to get it closer."*
*"All hands to the main deck!"* Drinian shouted.
*"Ready the Harpoons!"* Caspian ordered while Edmund headed for the fighting top.
XOXOX
After flying off the rock and away from the Dawn Treader, Eustace really had no idea where to go but he knew he couldn't die in front of his family and friends. He felt bad for leaving Ava alone on the rock, but he knew Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian wouldn't let anything happen to her. He felt like he was flying in circles; there was nowhere to land and no way to leave this retched dark cloud. Then suddenly, as if out of nowhere, there was a shinning white albatross flying next to him. Eustace didn't know why, but he somehow knew he was meant to follow the albatross and so he did.
Eustace followed the albatross right through the clouds and they left Dark Island almost at once. A short distance away Eustace saw none other than Ramandu's Island and he landed on the beach with a crash, tossing a wall of sand everywhere. The albatross landed a few feet away. Through half closed eyes, Eustace saw the albatross glow a bright gold as it morphed into a lion, a lion much larger than any ordinary lion. Now Eustace knew he must be dying because things like that were just impossible…weren't they?
The Lion began to approach Eustace slowly and when it was two feet from him, the Lion spoke to him. He told Eustace to follow him; for reasons Eustace did not understand, he followed the Great Lion. After wandering a bit off the path they came across a large bubbling well. Once again the Lion spoke to Eustace and told him to undress and bathe in the well. At first Eustace was confused; he didn't know how he could undress when he wore no clothes, but then he thought perhaps the Lion meant he should shed his dragon skin.
Eustace began to scratch and a few scales began to fall off. He scratched deeper and before long he had shed his whole skin. He went to bathe in the well, but the moment he stepped forward he knew he still had his dragon skin on. So, he began scratching again and he shed the second time. As he peered into the water he saw his dragon skin reflection; he shed a third time, but still he remained in his dragon skin.
^"You will have to let me undress you,"^ the Lion said.
Eustace, though he was frightened, lay flat on his back and let the Lion scratch away his dragon skin. It was a pain more terrifying and yet more satisfying than anything he had ever felt, but once the Lion was done the dragon skin was completely gone and Eustace could bathe in the well. When Eustace emerged from the well he was no longer a dragon; he was a boy again!
The Great Lion was gone, but lying on the ground beside the well was a pile of clothes and the sword of Lord Rhoop. Eustace quickly put the clothes on and grabbed the sword. He made a mad dash for Aslan's table; he had to place the final sword with the others, he only hoped it wasn't too late. As Eustace approached the long banquet table, he saw the other six swords glowing brightly and rattling. It was as if they knew their brother was nearby. Just as Eustace was about to lay the sword on the table he was pulled back and enveloped by a cloud of the Green Mist. Eustace fought his way through the mist; there was no way he had come this far to fail now. He sliced the sword through the air to disperse the mist and at last he lay the sword down with the others. Instantly, a beam of light shot into the air.
XOXOX
On the Dawn Treader, Caspian and his crew had managed to harpoon the sea serpent and bring its head within range of Edmund who stood on the fighting top with his sword ready. Just as Edmund was preparing to jam Rhindon into the serpent, a cloud of Green Mist came up beside him and formed into the White Witch distracting him from the task at hand. Edmund's distraction allowed the serpent to break free of its restraints and knock everyone off their feet.
*"Just give in,"* The White Witch urged.
All of a sudden Rhindon began to glow. Edmund knew what he must do. He turned his back on the White Witch and called out to the serpent. The serpent screeched and without hesitation, it opened its mouth wide and launched at Edmund. Edmund ducked under the serpent's teeth and stabbed it in the roof of its mouth. The serpent screeched loudly one last time as lightening shot out of its head and chest, before falling into the sea, never to rise again. The dark clouds surrounding the ship and island began to break apart and beams of light shined through. The spell of Dark Island was lifting.
Lucy brought attention to this phenomenon by calling out, *"Edmund! Caspian! Look!"*
Edmund and Caspian looked on in wonder and awe as the dark clouds gave way to blue skies. From the foggy haze that still lingered, longboats full of people began to emerge. The crew erupted with cheers at the sight. When Edmund finally reached the main deck again, he gave his sister a warm embrace.
"Help them on board! *Clear the decks,*" Caspian told the crew as he joined Edmund and Lucy. He gave Lucy's shoulder a gentle squeeze and she smiled up at him.
*"We did it,"* she said.
*"It wasn't just us though,"* Edmund replied.
"Eustace must have found a way to place the sword at Aslan's table," Caspian said.
"But how?" Lucy asked.
Suddenly Lucy heard Eustace call her name. "Lucy! Lucy! I'm over here! I'm in the water!"
Lucy and the kings walked across the ship and looked over the port side to find Eustace treading water; how he had gotten there he didn't know, but he was glad to be back. Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian were all glad that he was back too, so was Reepicheep. In fact, Reepicheep was so pleased to see Eustace again he leapt into the water to greet him.
"Won't Ava be thrilled to see this!" Edmund exclaimed.
"Ava! Ava, come and see this! Eustace is a boy again!" Caspian called out, but there was no response. "Ava?" he questioned as he looked about the deck. There was no sign of the Naiad Princess. "Where is she?"
"The last I saw her she was going to the cabin for the cordial," Lucy said.
Caspian felt a new wave of dread settle over him. It was not like Ava to hide, so for her to have missed the rest of the battle something must have happened to her. He quickly darted over to the State Room, Eustace's transformation forgotten, with Lucy hot on his tail. Edmund desperately wanted to go too, but he knew he had to see to Eustace and Reepicheep returning to the deck.
Caspian burst through the door of the State Room to see his fear realized. Ava lay unmoving on the floor.
I know, I know...another cliffie. But there is only one more cliffie left before the last chapter (for this part at least). On a side note, I have written the first chapter of part 3 and I love it! I can't wait to share it with you. Also, I have added a summary for Finding Home on my profile; check it out if you're interested.