Chapter 11

Susan and Peter left two days after the Dawn Treader set sail, heading west to Beaversdam. They had planned to travel from there to the Lantern Waste, with hopes to visit a lamp post. It's all very strange, traveling that far to see a lamp post. Although, I suppose it's even stranger that a lamp post is in the middle of nowhere in the first place, thought Georgie upon hearing the siblings' travel plans. From the Lamp Post, Susan and Peter would travel towards Anvard, in hopes to make it there before the annual festival. On the way they would stop at the Dancing Lawn for a large outdoor feast in honor of their travels being held by several of the Narnians who had fought alongside the Pevensies and Caspian during the Second Battle of Beruna.

Susan had begged Georgie, "Please come! You can put aside your 'Narnia lessons' for a while and travel down! The outdoor feasts are always such fun. Lots of food and dancing. Promise me you'll come!"

Georgie eagerly accepted the invitation, excited to experience her first real Narnian celebration. Once Susan and Peter reached Anvard, Georgie would travel to meet them for the annual festival and then the three would spend the next month (or two, as the King of Archenland secretly hoped) visiting with the king and queen and enjoying several large parties which had been planned.

Georgie's Narnia lessons had started the day Susan and Peter left, Trumpkin declaring, "Cobbles and kettledrums! There is no excuse for a Lady such as yourself to be ignorant of Narnia!" He had decided the best method to learn about Narnia's rulers and how it came to be in its present state was to start with the most recent history. "If you don't know where the people you know today came from and what happened to get them here, then who gives a care to those who came before?"

He currently had Georgie reading records of how Caspian had beat the giants that lived towards the northern frontier, defeating them so soundly that they currently paid tribute to Narnia. She had read texts and reports of Miraz's defeat during the Second Battle of Beruna and of Caspian's illustrious coronation. Trumpkin told her of how Caspian had used Queen Susan's horn and called the Kings and Queens of Old. He also explained, albeit somewhat sheepishly, of his first encounter with Aslan, Georgie laughing loudly at his recounting of the tale.

Remembering something Edmund had once told her, she searched through the library until locating an old and dusty text on a high shelf, near the back of the library. She pulled it out and opened it, its yellowed and musty pages delicate with age. Scanning the text, she quickly found what she had been hoping to read for weeks. It was the history of the Pevensies's first reign in Narnia. She read how Peter, Susan and Lucy (Where was Edmund? thought Georgie confusedly) had traveled across Narnia with two Beavers, meeting Father Christmas on the way after the White Witch's spell began to break. There were also recounts of the defeat of the White Witch, Georgie gasping when she read of how Edmund was stabbed after breaking the White Witch's wand, and the knighting of both Peter and Edmund (although both were made Knights of Narnia at different times). The text described the next fifteen years of their reign, their travels throughout Narnia and surrounding countries, of skirmishes in which they participated. And finally, of the White Stag. Georgie's eyes grew large as she read of the Pevensies's desire to capture the stag and their eventual disappearance. 'The Kings and Queens of Narnia were said to be traveling near Lantern Waste before disappearing, never to be seen in Narnia again,' Georgie read.

Peter and Susan are traveling there! Would they disappear again? Georgie thought, fear beginning to settle into her. She closed the book and replaced it on its shelf. I need to get some air. She left the library and began to walk to the cliff overlooking, where she found herself increasingly visiting.

On the eighth day word was received from the Dawn Treader stating that it had safely landed in Galma and that its members were to stay a week, for the Duke of Galma had planned a tournament celebrating the kings' and queen's visit. Caspian had sent correspondence to Trumpkin advising him on various tasks and instructing him on upcoming matters of state. Included in Caspian's letter were two letters for Georgie, one from Lucy and the other from Edmund. Excited to hear news from her friends, Georgie raced to her bed chamber to read her letters, where she could be alone with whatever emotions came from reading them. When she entered her room, she hurried to her bed, hopping onto the foot of it to sit while she read.

Lucy spoke of their voyage to Galma, disappointed that it was so short, "But," she stated, "we'll be back on the ship soon enough and our real adventures will begin!" She also wrote of how the Duke had hoped Caspian would marry his daughter, but that Caspian had quickly rejected the idea, claiming the two were simply not a good match and that he would make a very poor husband to be leaving on such a voyage so soon after the wedding. "Poor girl," Lucy wrote. "She was terribly plain, except for a face full of awful freckles. She squinted a lot as well, so much in fact that you would almost think the sun was perpetually in her eyes. I mentioned to Caspian that she in no way matched Susan's beauty, to which he shrugged and walked away. I think maybe he misses her? Poor Caspian, I intend to get to the bottom of this mystery!" She also mentioned her disappointment with the tournament and how she was not able to compete. "Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I couldn't outshoot half of those archers, blindfolded!" Georgie finished Lucy's letter, smiling at her friend's description of visiting Narnia's nearest island.

A pang of sadness washed over her as she opened Edmund's letter to begin reading. As much as she missed Lucy and Caspian, it was Edmund's absence that caused her the most sadness. She had begun to realize how much she relied on his presence each day, his smiling face and witty personality lifting her spirits whenever she saw him. He had truly become her closest friend. She unfolded his letter and began reading.

Dear Georgiana,

As I told you before I left, I will be thinking of a new name to call you. You simply aren't "Georgie" to me. So, in this letter, I will write to "Gigi" and see how that feels. (It was here that Georgie laughed at the ridiculous nickname Edmund had decided to use. "Gigi indeed," she scoffed.)

Well, Gigi, we landed in Galma the day after we left you at Cair Paravel, docking near sunset. If you ask me, which I know you will, sunsets hold no comparisons to our sunrises. After being shown to our rooms and relaxing for a few moments, we joined the Duke of Galma and his family for a private dinner. I struggled throughout the dinner, trying to act kingly in front of our hosts, due to the Duke's beastly daughter attempting to be flirtatious with Caspian. Apparently the Duke had hoped Caspian would be a good match for her, but she really was quite repulsive. Her looks were passing, not what one expects of a queen of Narnia however, but her personality was a dreadful bore and she prattled on about the dullest of subjects. Whenever we would attempt to add input, she would sniff rudely and ignore our comments, continuing with her prattling. Or informing us we must not know what we were talking about. Poor Lucy looked as if she was either going to cry or yell at her for snubbing the kings and queen of Narnia (although Caspian offered little conversation, as he was more focused on ignoring the girl).

We were entertained by a tournament yesterday, which Caspian and I both entered. I was persuaded to enter the jousts along with Caspian, but I declined. I've never understood the purpose of galloping towards another man trying to unseat him with a big stick. If I want to unseat someone, I'll simply lop off their head and move on to the next. Of course, that behavior is typically frowned upon during the jousts. (Georgie's laughter filled the room at reading Edmund's jest.) I instead entered the sparring contest, winning nearly every match. The only one that didn't end up in a win was considered a draw. I suppose that'll show Peter that he's not the best in the family! Poor Lucy wanted to enter the archery contests, but was unable to, as she is a girl. Instead, she sulked until I had to take her aside and remind her that she isn't Queen Lucy the Crybaby.

We set sail for Terebinthia soon, which I am looking forward to. There's always something exciting there and it's always good fun visiting. By the way, I realized soon after we set sail that I will be turning 18 soon, and will still be on this voyage. Please tell that sister of mine that I expect an extremely large celebration for it upon my return, one that will outshine Caspian's 18th. Tell her I also expect wine. Lots of wine.

And so, dear Gigi, I must end my letter, for it's very late now. As excited as I am for this voyage, I can't help but miss my friend. I hope you are doing well and are staying busy while we are all away. Take care of yourself for me.

Your friend,

Edmund

P.S. I don't like Gigi. I'll work on something new.

Smiling, Georgie laid back onto her bed, clutching the letters to her chest. She was happy Lucy and Edmund were enjoying their visit in Galma and were looking forward to continuing their voyage. She was happy that they were safe and that they had not run into any trouble. But mostly, she was happy that they were thinking of her and missing her as much as she missed them. Especially Edmund, she thought, smiling wider over his words to her, rolling onto her stomach to reread his letter.

The next month passed quickly for Georgie. She had decided to learn to use a sword and so Trumpkin arranged for Captain Perth (who had once overseen the fortification of the western castle wall) to instruct Georgie how to use one. Being unable to lift the heavy swords found in the castle's armory and there not being any lighter swords available, Trumpkin offered her his own sword. "It's shorter than what you'd most likely use, but near the same weight," he said. Georgie spent nearly every afternoon with Captain Perth, who said that she was coming along fine but needed to work on her footwork as it wouldn't do in a duel to trip over her own feet every ten steps.

Susan and Peter had sent word that they had reached Beaversdam and were currently spending time with its inhabitants. They would leave there to travel to Lantern Waste and then to the Dancing Lawn, making their arrival date there in just under three months.

Georgie received Lucy's and Edmund's next letters during the middle of her sword training with Captain Perth. She quickly dropped her sword, much to the annoyance of Captain Perth that she could be so easily distracted, and ran to the messenger who had come to deliver the letters.

Georgiana!

You will never believe our adventures we have had! We sailed from Galma towards Terebinthia only to find that the island was playing host to a nasty sickness and we were unable to dock. After sailing around the island and leaving to head towards the Seven Isles, a pirate ship confronted us! Caspian and Captain Drinian believe it to be Terebinthian. We fired upon it and it fled, thank goodness! We then reached the Isle of Brenn, where we currently are now in its city of Redhaven. The people here are very kind and have treated us extremely well. I would like to come back here one day; it's such a busy city with so much to see! I think you would like it! I miss you so much and wish you were here. Or at least be able to write back to me. I wonder every day how you are and how your enjoying your Narnia lessons with Trumpkin. Hope you are well!

Lots of love!

Lucy

Dear Giana (Oh, that one will never do. I shuddered just writing it.),

I suppose Lucy wrote in her letter about our pirate attack. Really it was only a mild skirmish, a few arrows fired and then they ran. Nothing exciting. I'm currently writing you from Redhaven, which I have liked extremely well. They certainly know how to treat a king of Narnia. I cannot remember the last time I ate so well, and so much for that matter. I believe if I lived here, I would have to be rolled on my side to travel through the castle!

Captain Drinian believes if we are lucky to catch a good wind, we should reach the Lone Islands by the week's end. I must say, I'm quite excited to be visiting them. When we were here before we visited them often and always had wonderful times. Perhaps one day I'll have to show you them. I will let you know how their sunrises compare to ours; although I imagine watching them alone will diminish their magic.

Will write to you soon if I am able. I hope you are well. Take care of yourself for me.

Your friend always,

Edmund

Georgie was preparing to travel to the Dancing Lawn to meet Peter and Susan when a messenger arrived with letters from the Dawn Treader. There were two, one addressed to Peter and one addressed simply to "G." Turning the latter over, she saw above the seal a note reading "Yes, Georgiana. This one is for you." Smiling, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

G,

Please deliver my letter to Peter when you next see him. It's of the utmost importance he receives it. Also, I am trusting you to calm him down once he reads it and try to prevent him from doing anything foolish and rash.

Yours,

Ed

P.S. I like "G." Very much.

AN: This chapter was torture to write, and I apologize if it's sort of slow/completely awful. It's really a bridge between what happened and what's going to happen, so it was necessary, just not very fun. I promise to step it up with next ones! BTW, don't hate on "G"; I like it and so does Edmund :)