A/N. Yes, I do realize how long it's been and I feel terrible for making you wait all this time! It's that I just entered my senior year and too much is going on in my life right now. Plus, I only got my computer back three days ago.

Okay, hope I still have my readers, and without further ado-here's the new chapter!)

Chapter 24.

When Edelle and Lucy made it to the upper deck, everyone was already there, listening to Caspian. He was standing in front of the crew, giving one last inspirational speech, before they entered the abyss of the Dark Island.

"No matter what happens here, every soul, who stands before me, has earned their place on the crew of the Dawn Treader. Together we have travelled far, together we had faced adversity, together we can do it again."

Edelle made her way to Edmund's side and also lifted her gaze to Caspian. The determination and resolve in the way he spoke just made everyone want to follow him to whatever awaited.

"So now is not the time to fall to fierce temptations. Be strong, never give in!" he said.

From the corner of her eye she saw Edmund give a hardly-noticeable nod, which made her wonder if there was a temptation she didn't know about.

"Our world, our narnian lives depend on it." Caspian continued "Think of the lost souls we're here to save."

At that many eyes landed on , whose main reason for joining them was his lost wife.

"Think of Aslan. Think of Narnia." He finished and, as he went down the stairs, some sailor's cry "FOR NARNIA!" had erupted a whole wave of determined cries, which echoed through the entire Island.

Caspian smiled, proud of his brave and supportive crew and friends.

With each passing second they were closer to the evil cave on sea, and finally, the ship was slowly coated by blackish-grey mist, as they advanced into the darkness. And almost instantly, the grey mist changed color, and became the green one. The one they should fear the most.

Edelle felt slightly sick as it came closer, it had quite a revolting smell- the body-shivering mix of rotten soil and something she couldn't name, but what could only be described as evil. She glanced at Edmund, but his face was frozen, as if he was using every ounce of his strength to concentrate on staying in his right mind.

As the mist hovered over some sailors, she could swear she saw some of them smiling at something and looking at the mist in front of them, as if seeing something only they could see. Some were smiling and looked positively hypnotized, while some, on the contrary, looked somewhat frightened.

"Can't see a thing." Edelle vaguely heard Drinian's hoarse voice, which was considerably muffled by the strange moaning sound the mist was making. "The fog's too thick."

"Hey, Edelle!"

She heard Edmund's voice from her right side. "That's funny." She thought "I could swear he was standing on my left."

"Yes?"

"Enjoy my company while you still can."

"What?" she rapidly turned her head to her right and saw his form in the mist.

"You heard me." He chuckled "Do you really think I would be with you when we're back in England?"

At that moment she realized what was going on. Somehow, she didn't notice herself slowly shifting away from the real Edmund and now she was facing his misty impersonation-her worst nightmare.

"Get out of my face." She said sternly "You're not real."

"Aren't I?" the figure laughed "Is there a reason for me to stay? I already got what I wanted from you. Twice."

Even though she knew this was just the mist terrorizing her, hearing those words coming out of his mouth, in his voice, still hurt like hell.

"GO AWAY!" she shouted and flung her sword in its direction.

"Edelle!"

Just then she felt the real Edmund shake her shoulder, looking troubled himself. He'd just been snapped out of his own nightmare by Lucy.

"You alright?" he asked in a gentle voice.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Fine, yeah."

Suddenly they all heard a man's cry from outside the ship, which was very surprising, since they didn't expect to find any people here.

They quickly walked to the barks of the ship and started looking around, trying to figure out the source of the voice. It was clear that they were getting closer to it, because now they could make out the words the voice wailed.

"KEEP AWAY!" it screamed, sounding as if it was mere feet away. Unfortunately, it was too dark and misty for them to see a thing, so Edmund took out his flashlight and focused the light on a rock-reef, considerably sticking out from under the water.

In the light, they saw an old man with a long beard, dressed in rags and looking quite insane.

"KEEP AWAY!" he shouted madly.

"We will not leave!" Caspian said.

"Caspian, his sword!" Edmund exclaimed. Indeed, the sword the mad man was holding was one of the seven. The last one they needed to get.

"Lord Roop!" Caspian recognized him "Don't shoot!" he told the crewmen. "Get him on board!"

The men started spinning around ropes, getting ready to throw them, when a huge dragon unexpectedly grabbed the lost lord and, in a second, carefully landed him already on the ship's deck.

Edelle grinned "I was beginning to wonder if he's still with us." She thought.

The man instantly sprang to his feet, aiming his sword on the men around him. "GET AWAY, DEMONS!"

"My Lord, we will not harm you." Caspian tried to calm him down. "I am your king, Caspian."

At that, the lord visibly tensed and turned around, studying Caspian for a minute.

"C-Caspian?" he stuttered "My Lord…you shouldn't have come! There is no getting out of here!" he turned to face the crew "Quickly! Turn around before it's too late!"

"We have the sword, let's go!" Edmund said.

Caspian nodded "Turn around, Drinian!"

"Aye, Your Majesty."

Just when Caspian turned around the man shouted again "DON'T THINK! Don't let it know your fears, or it will become them!" he quivered.

Suddenly Edmund shut his eyes tightly "Oh, no." he said and all pairs of eyes landed on him.

"Edmund, what did you just think of?" Lucy cried.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Edmund uttered and rushed to the bark of the ship.

Edelle threw her head back "Just great!" she groaned and followed him to the bark.

They leaned over and watched in bewilderment and dismay, as the reefs above the water slowly disappeared in its depths. Pretty much like a giant serpent…

So, as you can see, this story is nearing its end. *sniff* I'm not sure if it's gonna be one or two more chapters…two, I think..but anyway, hope you liked this chapter and please let me know if you did! Love you all*