Thank you for all the reviews, alerts and favorites! It's the nicest thing to have readers excited for a fic, even when only the first chapter has been posted =)
So here's the second chapter. I hope it answers some of the questions raised in the previous one.
As I did in my other Narnia fic, I will respond to anonymous reviewers at the bottom of the page ;)
Peter
"Come on, Ed. Hurry up!" I called over my shoulder before depositing a large cloth bundle into the bottom of the boat.
I did a quick mental review of our supplies. Enough bread, dried meat, and apples for four meals each between me and my brother, a sharp knife, a length of rope, and a couple of bedrolls. It was enough for the short excursion I had been planning for weeks. It had been three years into our reign and I felt as if I hadn't had a free moment since the coronation. Of course, I understood that rebuilding a country ravaged by the White Witch would take time. But I hadn't anticipated just how much time and energy it would require to restore peace and establish stability. But even knowing how important my duties were didn't mean I didn't tire of them.
One afternoon, during a court session involving land disputes between a Dwarf and a Faun, the idea came to me that I would like a break. It didn't have to be much. Just a short piece of time to myself, enough to refresh my mind and rejuvenate my energy. So it was that I began planning a birthday surprise for Edmund. Of course, his birthday was months ago but I hadn't had a private moment with my brother since longer than that, so it was only fair that I made up for it with a camping trip. The girls were more than capable of handling affairs for a day or so while I took Edmund sailing down the coast, and spent the night in the forest before heading back for the castle. Unfortunately, the opportunity for said trip did not arrive until weeks later. So it was a very long overdue, much anticipated outing. And now, Edmund was making me wait even longer.
"Ed!" I shouted impatiently, turning around and crossing my arms.
Eventually, Edmund stumbled out of the castle and down to the beach, dragging his feet through the sand and looking far less enthusiastic than I felt.
"There you are," I said.
Stifling a yawn, Edmund squinted blearily at me. "You do know it's the middle of the night, don't you?"
"It's practically dawn," I argued.
Edmund raised a doubtful eyebrow and glanced up at the dark sky. "No, I'm pretty sure it's still night." He fixed me with a disapproving glare. "And you said we weren't leaving until the morning."
I shrugged sheepishly. "I couldn't wait. It's just that I've been planning this for so long and-"
Holding up a hand to halt my ramblings, Edmund sighed. "Alright, I understand. And it will be nice to get to spend a day without all those boring meetings, history lessons, and etiquette training."
I grinned and thumped him on the back. "My thoughts exactly."
A short while later, we were pushing away from the shore and waving goodbye to the sentries on the ramparts. The sun was just beginning to lighten the sky in the east, the navy blue giving way to rose gold. While Edmund nodded off in the bow, I maintained control of the rudder. I kept the boat fairly close to the shore, watching the beach gradually shift into forest. The current carried us at a leisurely pace, guiding our boat along Narnia's coastline.
Shades of violet and tangerine swirled overhead as the sun continued to rise. I inhaled the scent of saltwater and fresh pine, reveling in the quiet beauty of nature. The water lapped at the sides of the boat, rocking it hypnotically. Edmund dozed on, allowing me the opportunity to study the maturing lines of his face. In three years, Edmund had grown from a sullen, gangly boy, into a confident, athletic teen. Pride warmed my chest and I forced myself to look away before I did something embarrassing, such as blubbering like a sentimental housewife. As I turned my eyes out to sea, I noticed another ship approaching.
The vessel flew no flag, and I couldn't repress the unease that caused me to tighten my grip on the rudder. As I watched, the other ship angled toward mine. Concerned, I kicked Edmund's boot to wake him.
"Edmund," I whispered.
"Leave me alone," Edmund mumbled with his eyes closed as he tucked his feet safely out of reach.
"Ed," I hissed.
"What?" Edmund irritably questioned, refusing to leave the comfort of his nap.
"Look," I urged.
Reluctantly, Edmund did as he was told. Instantly intrigued, he sat up. "Is that an Archenland vessel?"
"I can't tell," I admitted.
"Where's their flag?" Edmund asked, crossing the boat to peer more intently at the other ship.
"I don't think they have one," I said.
"An unmarked ship this close to the Cair? That can only mean trouble," Edmund predicted.
"Perhaps they lost it, or simply forgot to fly it," I suggested weakly.
Edmund's expression spoke as to what he thought of those ideas. I deflated.
"I know. It does seem rather suspicious, doesn't it?" I said.
Edmund hummed in agreement. "Almost as suspicious as them heading straight for us."
Alarmed, I realized he was right. The ship was sailing directly for us. As it drew closer, I could make out the shape of several men on the deck. The early morning light glinted off the drawn weapons in their hands. When I glanced at Edmund, I knew he had seen the same. Without prompting, I reached into the pack at my feet and pulled out the knife.
"That's all we have?" Edmund questioned incredulously.
"I was planning on a quiet day sailing with you, not battling pirates," I said defensively.
"What am I supposed to use?" Edmund asked hotly.
"Hopefully you won't need anything," I answered. "Their boat is larger than ours. We should be safe here in the shallower water."
Edmund didn't look convinced.
"What are they doing?" I wondered aloud, watching a flurry of activity taking place on the pirate ship.
My answer came in the form of a grappling hook the pirates launched from the mechanism they positioned on their deck. The metal hooks gripped the side of my royal skiff and, as the pirates rewound the chain it was attached to, reeled the boat out of the shallows and into deeper water.
"Peter," Edmund called in warning.
Readjusting my grip on the knife's hilt, I considered our options. We were overwhelmingly outnumbered, and with only a single blade between us, we had no chance of fighting our way out. The sea was empty of other ships, leaving no chance of outside support. The best course of action would be for us to jump overboard and swim for the shore. Before I could relay this information to Edmund, something hit the other ship, causing a jolt to reverberate through ours.
"What was that?" Edmund asked.
Another bump came, causing us to hold tightly to the side of our boat to avoid being thrown off. This time, I had glimpsed the distinct glitter of silver scales.
"Mermaids, Ed. It's the mermaids," I answered.
Edmund's eyes lit up and he grinned. "Looks like we've got some help after all."
I shared his excitement. Together, we watched the mermaids slice through the water and slam into the pirates' ship. There was a commotion on the other deck as the men scrambled to combat the unexpected threat. It wasn't long before one of them managed a lucky swing of the sword and I cringed at the cry of the mermaid he struck.
"We've got to help them," I said, turning to Edmund.
"How?" he asked. "There's still a good bit of water between us and them, and all we have is a single knife. How do you propose we come to the rescue of our rescuers?"
I knew he was right. His rational thinking always calmed my impulsive reactions. But it still didn't sit right with me to remain idle while my people were harmed. On the other ship, the pirates had apparently reorganized. Most of them focused on fighting off the merfolk, while a couple restarted the grappling mechanism. Edmund and I felt the distinct tug of the chain as it pulled us closer. All too soon, we were nearly right alongside the foreign vessel. I lifted my knife threateningly at the pirates. Suddenly, a loud crack sounded and the pirates began shouting and cursing.
"Yes!" Edmund cheered, for the mermaids had rammed the ship until it broke.
Water was now flooding the pirate vessel at an alarming rate. Chaos erupted as the pirates struggled to fix the damage, fend off the still attacking mermaids, and hold onto our skiff all at the same time. Flashes of silver darted out of the waves, striking the pirate ship with deadly precision, and widening the hole. Apparently realizing their boat was doomed, four of the pirates leaped off of it and onto ours. Edmund and I lost our balance as the ship rocked precariously from the force of their landing. Before we could regain our feet, we found swords at our throats.
"Gorrim," said the pirate standing over me. "Begin the spell."
"Aye, captain." A heavily tattooed man nodded his head and took a pouch from his belt, scattering the contents along our deck.
I caught a glimpse of bones and a strange gem before my attention was pulled back to the captain. He was tall, with a weather-beaten face half covered beneath a braided beard. His dark hair, which hung past his shoulders, was ornamented with glass beads and gold clasps.
"So, king, how do you fancy taking a voyage with us?" the captain mocked me. He glanced over at one of his crew. "Cul, cut us free."
The underling was quick to obey, hacking at the wood planks of our boat until the grappling hook was accessible. With a strong kick, he dislodged it from our boat and we bobbed unfettered in the waves. The water soon began pulling us away from where the mermaids and the rest of the pirates were engaged in a skirmish.
"Who are you?" Edmund demanded.
The pirate holding him prisoner kicked him in the ribs. I surged up, desiring to go to his aid, but the captain's blade prevented me. Although I could no longer see him, I heard the one called Gorrim begin a chant.
"Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."*
The words were foreign, yet I did not have to understand them to know they were evil. The sky began to darken, thick clouds appearing from nowhere and blackening rapidly. Electricity crackled through the air, causing the hair on my neck to stand on end. Beneath us, the water grew choppy, stirred by an invisible hand.
"Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."
The clouds burst, pelting us with large raindrops that stung. A wind rose from the west, howling and moaning as it caught our sail and propelled us with alarming speed further from the mainland. Frothy waves piled on top of one another, making the sea treacherous.
"Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."
As the captain and his men looked around in smug wonder, I took a chance. In one swift move, I grabbed the captain's wrist and twisted it fiercely, causing him to drop his sword. With the sweep of my leg, I knocked his out from under him. As he tumbled to the deck, I scooped up his fallen sword. Before I could do anything more, a harsh voice froze me.
"One more move from you, Narnian scum, and I'll slit his throat."
My eyes cut to where the remaining pirate had a hand fisted in Edmund's hair and the blade of his sword pressed against his neck. Unwilling to risk it, no matter how Edmund's eyes burned in the growing darkness, I slowly lowered my weapon. The captain pushed himself up, chuckling.
"A bold move, your highness. Foolish, yet bold nonetheless." He calmly reclaimed his sword from me. "But I can't allow you to do so again. Cul, find something to bind him with."
The buccaneer soon discovered the pack with my supplies and drew out the rope. Eagerly, he wound it about my wrists while the captain's sword kept me immobile. A wave slammed against our small ship and we all stumbled. Thunder rumbled overhead and Gorrim raised his voice to be heard above it.
"Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."
The sky was now pitch black, shattered every few seconds with a brilliant bolt of white lightning. The brief illumination revealed the waves were increasing in strength and height. At the mercy of the angry sea, our boat spun aimlessly through the water. Satisfied that I was restrained, the captain turned his attention on Edmund.
"So this is Narnia's traitor king," he sneered.
"Hey!" I snapped.
Edmund's face never changed, though I saw the tick in the muscle near his left eye, the minute tightening of his jaw. I didn't know who these men were, or where they had come from, but they had no right to bring up the past. Edmund had long since been forgiven, and his actions accordingly forgotten and no longer held against him.
"He would fit right in as one of us, don't you think, lads?" the captain taunted.
His followers guffawed in amusement. The captain abruptly snatched Edmund by the chin, turning his face this way and that. He released him soon after, only to backhand him with enough force to send him reeling. He would have collapsed if not for the pirate who still held him by the upper arms.
"Do not dare touch him again!" I roared. "That is my royal brother and you shall pay for your actions!"
"You mean you forbid me from doing this?" the captain questioned in faux innocence before striking Edmund once more.
I lunged forward but Cul grabbed me and halted my movement.
"Listen well, king," the captain growled, whirling around to face me. "You have no crown here. You have no authority. You have no power. You are mine now. And I will do with my property as I see fit." So saying, he drew a dagger from his belt and advanced on Edmund menacingly.
"Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."
At that moment, a giant wall of water rose from the depths, outlined by a lightning strike. It seemed frozen a moment, poised just over our vessel. The captain's mouth dropped open.
"Brace yourselves!" he warned, reaching for the single mast of the boat.
As if his word had been the signal it was waiting for, the wave crashed down on us. I found myself pinned beneath the weight of Cul, who flung himself to the deck as the water descended. Once the surge receded, I sought Edmund's eyes. But he was nowhere to be seen. The pirates were picking themselves up from where they had fallen, but my brother was not among them.
"Edmund?" I called.
Gorrim resumed his chant, though his voice was less certain than it had been. "Deam maris. Potestas tenebrarum. Audite me. Da mihi locum."
The rain lashed us with terrible strength as the storm raged on, gaining intensity.
"Edmund!" I screamed, realizing he had been washed away with the wave.
I stepped to the edge of the boat, intending to jump overboard to find him. But Cul's beefy arms hooked around my torso and restrained me again.
"Where do you think you're going?" the captain asked, shaking his head to dislodge the water from his hair.
"My brother-" I started.
"Is gone," he interrupted cruelly. "And I'm not about to lose you as well. Half the prize is worth more than no prize."
"D-deam maris. P-p-potestas tenebrarum. Au-" Gorrim's stuttering words were drowned out by the explosion of the loudest clap of thunder I'd ever heard in my life.
"Gorrim! What's happening?" the captain roared, although I could detect the fear in his voice.
"I-I'm not sure. I can't seem to quite c-control it any longer," Gorrim replied.
Our ship rose and sunk in quick succession, helpless against the elements. I took advantage of the situation, driving my elbow into the gut of the pirate behind me. Already unsteady from the rocking motion of the boat, he easily fell to the deck, releasing me from his grip. Without hesitation, I moved behind him and slung my looped hands around his neck. With the rope against his throat, I pulled up and back on my arms, causing the rope to tighten. Cul flailed desperately but I avoided his unskilled attempts to reach me. Sheets of rain continued to pour from the dark clouds, obscuring my actions from the rest of the pirate band. Only once Cul's body went limp did I unhook my arms. I dropped to my knees, searching by the unpredictable illumination of lightning for the fallen man's sword in order to cut my bonds.
Thunder rumbled so savagely I felt it reverberating in my chest. The wind was driving us at an incredible speed, yanking at our clothes and flinging the rain into our faces. The pirates were swearing, the captain yelling futilely at Gorrim to employ more magic to manage the storm. He broke off suddenly, then cursed and flung himself overboard. His minions followed his lead. I glanced up in time to see a burst of lightning reveal a collection of jagged rocks only seconds before the ship crashed into them.
*Goddess of the Sea. Power of Darkness. Hear me. Guide me (according to Google translate at least, haha!)
NarniaGirl: Wow! I had no idea! Would it be okay if I clarified that in the A/N for the next chapter?
ForNarnia: You're welcome :) You deserved it!
Girl Yaas: In case this chapter didn't clear it up, yes this is set early in the Golden Age. I'm picturing them somewhere around 21 and 19 respectively. But of course, I follow movie ages, not book ages so feel free to imagine them younger if you're more traditional than I am ;)
DorothyDryad: You certainly are curious, haha! I hope this chapter satisfied you a bit.
AslanLover: Please do!
Melanie45: Thanks!
Guest: Great!
ChildofGod: *fumbles to catch flowers and candy without dropping laptop* (the laptop I'm still typing away on since this story isn't quite finished yet...)
Robinangel9: I certainly plan to!
MarryMePeter: Thank you for the idea! It's intriguing and I'd like to write it. I'm just not sure when I'd actually have the time to :/
CinnamonRoll4Lif: Those are my favs too!