Chapter 11

CASPIAN'S POV

Light had been completely restored to the Dark Islands, no sign of the green mist was anywhere to be seen. The stolen citizens were pulled on board at Caspian's command and were now lounging around the Dawn Treader, chatting merrily with the crew. They had found Eustace on Ramandu's Island, restored back to his human form by Aslan. He was astounded at his first meeting with the great lion. He told them of his experience as they sailed on further east, towards uncharted waters.

"It was amazing! I wasn't sure if he was trying to help or hurt me at first, because he only stared at me. I was in excrutiating pain from the sword, but he just breathed on me and it pulled out and all of the pain from it went away. Then he started scratching and pawing at the sand on the ground and as he did, the scales and wings went away and I was a boy again!" Edmund and Lucy smiled and congratulated him, but Caspian was interested in something else.

"Did he say anything about Edmund and Lucy?" Lucy turned to look at him, worry in her eyes. She still looked more hopeful than she had been before, but he had never had a chance to ask her what she meant by telling him that there may be a chance. A chance for what? He felt as if he should speak with Aslan himself. Beg to let her stay with him. Eustace looked a little confused as to what he was saying next.

"He said to keep sailing east, to his country?" Reepicheep's head popped up at his words, his eyes were full of excitement.

"Finally, maybe he will let me see it!" The little mouse exclaimed, rushing off below deck to prepare. Caspian's heart sunk, they did not have much time. Edmund was looking back to Ramandu's Island getting farther away in the distance as they sailed. When collecting Eustace, he was able to see Lilliandil one more time. She had been hoping that Edmund had come to be with her, but he was saying goodbye. He tried to be discreet, but both Caspian and Lucy saw the quick kiss he gave to the star. They also saw the pained look on his face while they were making their way back to the ship. Caspian felt horrible for him. Lucy did as well, Caspian could tell, for she wrapped an arm around him as they walked. Now, standing on the ship and getting closer and closer to Aslan, Caspian could not stop staring at Lucy. Trying to memorize every freckle and curl, and permanantley imprint her vision in his mind so that he would have something to hold onto when she was gone. At Drinian's hollar, they were signaled that they were close to their destination. They could see lilies floating all around in the distance and a thin strip of land just beyond it. Behind the land, water rushed up towards the skies. Caspian knew that there was little time. He asked Lucy to join him below deck for a moment, taking her hand and tugging her with him. He led her to her cabin, closing the door behind him. He turned to speak with her but was caught off guard when she threw herself into his arms.

"Caspian," She murmured into his neck. He had lifted her easily off her feet and held her suspended in the air. He kissed her forhead several times before setting her down, but not breaking the embrace. He could feel her silent tears on his skin.

"Oh Lucy-love, I can't lose you." He felt her smile against his neck. His heart sped up when he felt her place a small kiss there. She pulled away, looking up at him with slightly watery eyes.

"I don't want to lose you either, Caspian. I don't know if I have to though. Aslan spoke with me earlier-" Before she could finish he pulled her at an arms distance and looked at her seriously.

"What did he say?" He was frantic, searching her eyes for an answer. He held her arms tightly. She re-wrapped her arms around his waist lightly, attempting to calm him.

"Well I asked him if I could choose my own fate. And he said yes. That's all he said, nothing more. I called for him, I wanted him to explain it further. But he was gone before I could finish asking. I don't know." She looked worried, but hopeful still. Caspian did not know if this was enough, but nodded to her. He pulled her close again, kissing her head before tucking her into his chest. Caspian had a leap of faith. Maybe if he told her how he felt, she would choose to stay with him if Aslan let her decide. He took a deep breath, catching her attention.

"Lucy, I lo-"

"Lucy? Caspian?" They jumped apart as Edmund entered the room without knocking. He looked at Caspian angrily, and stepped forward to take Lucy's hand.

"We're here." He stated, pulling Lucy along with him out the door. Caspian sighed, following them.

XoXoXo

LUCY'S POV

Oh gosh, he was starting to tell me that he loved me! I can't believe it. Actually, I can. And I think I love him too...Lucy thought as she walked alongside Edmund towards Aslan, standing in front of the rising water. They had gotten into the boats and sailed to the strip of land, Lucy feeling tears in her eyes as she stared at Aslan in front of the. The lion stared at her with golden eyes, giving her a knowing and saddened look. Reepicheep seemed as if he was the only one in good spirits. He sprang forward eagerly, looking to the lion hopefully. Aslan grinned, as if he already knew the mouse's question.

"What is your wish, noble mouse?" Aslan asked, still grinning at the eager look in Reepicheep's eyes. The mouse stood tall before bowing down before the great lion.

"I know that I am hardly worthy, but I have always dreamed of seeing your country with my own eyes. If it would not be so much trouble-" Aslan stood tall, nodding to the mouse.

"It is no trouble at all, go if you please." Reepicheep's eyes lightened and he stood, excitedly. Lucy let out a little laugh at his excitement and walked up to her mouse friend. She wanted to say goodbye to him properly.

"May I?" She questioned, getting down on her knees so that she was closer to Reep. The mouse looked taken aback, but after looking into Lucy's eyes he nodded gently. Lucy leaned down, wrapping the little mouse in her arms and picking him up, hugging him to her for a few moments. After, she set him down, setting a stray curl behind her ear.

"I'll miss you, Lucy." Reepicheep said. Lucy smiled at his affections.

"I'll miss you too, Reep." She gave him another small hug before he said his goodbyes to Caspian and Edmund, and nodded to Aslan in thanks. He dropped his sword, for there was no need for it in Aslan's country, and made his way towards a small boat that appeared before him as if by magic. He pulled himself in, and with one last wave, rowed himself over the high waters to what lie beyond. Lucy sighed, rising to her feet and looking at Aslan expectantly. She knew what was coming next. Aslan walked forward to Edmund and Lucy, looking upon them proudly.

"You both have done well, you should be proud of yourselves. Unfortunately, you two, like your brother and sister, have grown too old to travel back and forth to Narnia. It is time for you to leave." Edmund nodded, looking down. Lucy let out a little gasp before realizing that she had tears in her eyes. Aslan looked at her expectantly.

"But," Lucy and Edmund's heads shot up. "It is your choice. I don't believe Peter or Susan decided to tell you that I asked them whether or not they wanted to leave Narnia. Now is the time, though, to decide. If it is your wish to stay in Narnia, you will not be able to go back to your world. If you choose to go back to your world, you may never return to Narnia, and you will see me not until you join me in my country." Edmund's eyes had widened drastically, and Lucy turned excitedly, to look at Caspian. He looked more hopeful than ever, his eyes prodding her to tell Aslan that she wanted to stay. Edmund's words broke the silence.

"Aslan, I want to go back to England." Lucy gasped and turned to her brother, horrified.

"Edmund, why?" Edmund turned away from the lion and took Lucy's hands.

"I don't think I belong here, Lucy. I have friends, people that I love. And I have plans to go to University, I want a job, and to give mother and father grandchildren. I want to go home, Lucy." Lucy was crying, she was torn at this point. She looked from her brother, to Caspian. Caspian looked torn as well. Lucy knew that he would never make her stay with him over being with her family. She knew he wanted her to be happy.

"Edmund..I-I want to stay." Edmund let go of her hands, taking a step back. Lucy hurried to finish. "But then again I don't! I don't know what I want! I was so sure you would want to stay here with me. But now, if you go, I won't see you again. Or Peter or Susan! Or mother and father! Mother and father don't know of Narnia," She turned to Aslan desperately. "What will they think happened to me?" Aslan looked her her sympathetically.

"Naturally, they'd think you've gone missing. They cannot be told of Narnia. Eventually, when you don't turn up, they'll assume-"

"Oh!" Lucy cried out, tears poured from her eyes, she did not want Aslan to continue. She threw her arms around her brother's neck, sobbing into it heavily. Lucy did not know what to do. She looked over Edmund's shoulder to see Caspian staring at the ground. He too, had tears in his eyes. This made her cry harder. He looked up at her, worry etched all over his face as he saw her tears. He raised one arm in invitation. Lucy pulled away from Edmund and ran to wrap her arms around Caspian's waist. He had her in the tightest grip he had ever before. He murmured soft words of comfort into her hair that only she could hear. Nothing he said calmed her though, she needed to know something. She pulled away, finding that he fought for her to remain against his chest but she managed to break free. She looked up at him, tears staining her cheeks. He raised his hands to wipe them away, bending down to kiss her forehead several times. She shook her head, she was desperate.

"Before, when we were in my cabin. Before Edmund came in. What were you trying to tell me?" Caspian's eyes snapped up to hers, he had a pained expression on his face.

"Please, Lucy. That will only make it harder." He stroked her cheeks gently, his voice ragged as he tried to regain his composure. She shook her head once again, the tears falling harder.

"Please, tell me. Please Caspian." He wore his pained expression, but looking at her tears, and her desperate eyes, he could not deny her. Caspian tucked curls behind her ears before wrapping one arm around her waist, pulling her close. He left the other hand resting on her cheek. He kissed her forehead one more time softly. She sighed at the contact, feeling her heart race quicken.

"Lucy, I was trying to tell you that I love you. I wanted to tell you that you are absolutely everything to me. Ever since meeting you as a fiesty pretty little girl when you stopped your brother and I from fighting, I've always felt the need to protect you, and to take care of you. I always thought that it was just because we're best friends, and that it was natural to feel that way when it comes to you. But now I know that it's because I'm in love with you. Lucy, you are absolutely perfect. The most beautiful girl in the world, and you don't even see it. You always put everyone else before yourself. You take care of people, it's just instinctive for you. You take care of me. Oh, Lucy-Love, I love you so much." Caspian pulled her into his arms tighter, kissing her hair. Behind them, both Aslan and Edmund smiled. Lucy pulled away, a smile spread across her face, her eyes still watery. Caspian studied her face, as if trying to read her mind, he looked worried. Lucy only laughed. How could he even have a doubt? She threw her arms around him once more, smiling into his neck.

"Caspian! I love you too!" She heard him gasp, she knew he was smiling widely. He picked her up, swaying her in his arms and laughing. She looked into his eyes, seeing them looking back at her adoringly. He stroked her hair from her face tenderly before leaning in.

"Ahem." They jumped apart, blushing madly. Edmund, who too was blushing at the sight before him, was the source of the noise. "Save it," He said to them with a smile. Lucy nodded, as did Caspian, but he still had an arm wrapped around her waist. Lucy saw Aslan looking towards her expectantly with a touch of pride. She pulled away from Caspian, walking slowly up to the lion.

"The love I see before me is very strong. There is no hint of doubt in my mind that you two would be happy together. That is, however, only if you stay. You need to decide, dear one." Lucy nodded, eyes watery as she turned to Edmund. He looked as if he was holding back tears. She walked towards him hesitantly, opening her mouth to speak. He held up a hand to silence her.

"You need to stay, Lucy. Like Aslan said, I don't think you're going to find something like this back in England. Besides, I wouldn't be able to take hearing you whine consistently of how you miss Caspian," He joked with her on the last part. Lucy nodded, tears falling slightly harder. Edmund sighed, pulling her close.

"You'll tell Peter and Susan, that I'm okay and that I'm happy?" She asked him worriedly, she felt awful for abandoning her family. Edmund smiled, stroking tears from her cheeks.

"Of course," She nodded, turning to Aslan.

"As soon as your parents reach my country, dear one, I'll tell them all of this," Lucy smiled, this gave her some comfort. She ran and wrapped her arms around the lion's golden mane.

"I want to stay," She told him, feeling him nod as she hugged him. She let go. Aslan looked over towards Edmund.

"It is time, my son." Edmund nodded, making his way to Caspian. The men hugged, and Lucy saw Edmund say something to Caspian, Caspian nodding in agreement. She felt that she had an idea what it was about. Edmund then turned, tears had escaped his eyes finally as he wrapped his sister in a tight embrace. They held eachother for a while, crying softly, before Edmund pulled away.

"I'll see you again," He looked over to Aslan, who nodded in agreement. Lucy smiled softly before giving her brother one last kiss on the cheek. "I love you, Lucy."

"I love you too," Edmund gave her hand a squeeze before looking to Aslan. He walked up to the great lion, giving him a hug. Aslan smiled at him, nodding towards the water, indicating to him that he needed to walk through it to get back. Edmund turned, giving Lucy one last look before disappearing through the waves. Lucy felt her heart drop, Aslan looked at her sympathetically. She shook her head at him with a watery smile, she was happy with the decision she made. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind, and she sighed and turned around to embrace her love. He held her there for a few moments before they realized that Aslan had gone. Lucy looked up at Caspian, who was smiling down at her lovingly. He leaned in once more, tightening his hold on her. His lips caught hers in a gentle kiss, and she felt her body weaken and her knees buckle underneath her. Caspian smiled into her kiss, holding her even more firmly to support her. Lucy marveled at the feeling of his lips on hers, molding into her own perfectly, as if made for eachother. She wrapped her arms around his neck, jumping a little so that he would lift her into the air. The kiss hardened, turning more passionate. Neither of them could get enough. Lucy tangled her fingers in his tousled hair as he used the hand that was not supporting her to hold her head firmly in place. After a few more moments of bliss, Lucy realized that the Dawn Treader was not far away, and that the crew was probably getting a show. She pulled away, smiling as Caspian moaned in protest and tried to pull her back. She giggled, nodding towards the many men who were wolf whistling and hollaring at them from the boat. Caspian chuckled, shaking his head as Lucy blushed. He kissed her once more very gently, before showering her face with kisses as she laughed. The calls got louder. Caspian laughed.

"Oh now you're just messing with them!" Lucy giggled, putting a hand on his chest for him to stop. She looked into his face for a moment before standing on her tip toes to kiss his lips one last time, before taking his hand and leading him to the small boat that would lead them to their embarassment.

They're finally together! Thanks for reading!