Here's a little mid-week update for you. Just because. I hope you enjoy! And thank you so very much for all the reviews and alerts.

The Water is Wide

Chapter 4

Wide Waters

"Good morning," Lucy said cheerfully as she walked in carrying a tray of food. "I brought you some breakfast; I thought you might like to try eating something today."

As though on cue, my stomach gave a great growl. "Thank you," I said softly, slightly embarrassed. Lucy giggled.

"Mine has an aptitude for doing that as well." Her stomach replied in kind.

I tried sitting up slowly. My body was stiff and sore from all that it had been through and from days of lying still. My bones cracked, my muscles ached, and my head swam with pain from the effort. There was a strange groaning through the cabin. It wasn't until Lucy rushed to my aid that I realized the groaning was coming from me.

"Are you all right? You should take it easy and lie back down."

I shook my head. "I've been lying still long enough. I'll never gather my strength if I don't fight against the pain. More so, there is a greater pain I have felt, than the physical one that ails me now."

Lucy was silent for a moment, and her eyes were so full of sorrow I couldn't bear to look at them.

"I admire your courage," she said after I had diverted my gaze. "Very well then. I do believe some fresh clothing will help you gather your strength faster. Can you stand?"

"I think so." I tried to stand but my legs were weak and shaky, and I couldn't manage it on my own. Lucy kindly helped me to my feet, but once there I had to lean against the bed post to remain upright.

"Yes, I thought so," Lucy said looking me over.

"Thought what exactly?" I asked.

"You appear to be the same size as me, or close enough in any case. You should be able to fit into my clothes easily enough." Lucy rummaged through some drawers for a brief moment before handing over a pile of fresh clothing, but I did not take it. "What's wrong?"

"I can't wear those."

"It's all right; I don't mind. Really, I insist. You'll feel much better in fresh clothing."

"But they're…they're a man's breeches."

"No they're not," she giggled lightly. "I know they look like them, but these were specially tailored for me, for a girl. They're made…differently, I suppose. I assure you, they're far more comfortable than wearing a man's breeches that are too big for you."

"But they are breeches, man or woman's, they are still breeches?"

"Well, yes…"

"Then I can't wear them. I know I have done some things in the past that Mama would not approve of, but I cannot go that far."

"Oh…I…I did not mean you offense. Sometimes I forget that things can be different. Would you…Would you like me to find you a dress?"

"Yes please," I said very eagerly. "I mean, if you do not mind."

"No, no not at all. I am sure Susan packed more dresses than just ones of silk and lace. Surely there must be a nice cotton one. Ah yes, this will do."

Lucy pulled a dress from a tall wardrobe and held it out before her. It was a deep blue with a wide gold band around the neckline, sleeves, and around the hem of the skirt. It had a criss-cross tie up the back and its form was made to be flattering on any girl without over doing it. I looked very comfortable.

"It's beautiful."

"I know it may be a bit much for a sea voyage, but it's the simplest one I could find. I'm sure Susan probably only put it in here as a last resort, in case I refused to wear any of the others."

"Susan?"

"She's my…sister…"

There was silence for a moment. "Sister? I…I didn't know you had a sister. How many do you have?" I asked as I tried to keep my tears at bay.

"Just the one," Lucy replied hesitantly, as though she knew how difficult this must be for me.

"And one brother too?"

"Two actually. I have two brothers; the oldest of which is still at home with Susan. Only my brother Edmund is with me here."

"Susan, is she younger than you?"

"No, she's older. They're all older. I'm the youngest. I only just turned seven and ten years."

I nodded slowly. "There are five of us, including me. I too am seven and ten, but I'm the oldest. It was my duty to look out for them, and I've…"

"They're safe," Lucy jumped in. "I know they are. And I know my brother is doing everything he can to find them. He has already sent the scouts out again today; they left at the first light of dawn. Here, take this." She held out a white piece of cloth. "It's to wipe your eyes."

I only then realized that I had been crying. I accepted the cloth and quickly wiped my tears away.

"We should get you dressed, and then you should try eating."

With Lucy's help I changed out of my ragged dress, torn from my struggles at sea and from years of wear, and into the blue dress she had found. It felt as comfortable as it had looked. After that, we sat down at a small round table together to eat the food she had brought in. It was a few slices of bread, some cheese, an assortment of fruit, and a pitcher of water. I didn't feel like eating after our talk of siblings, but after taking the first few bites my hunger overcame my sadness. Before long, we had both cleared the plate of all its food. I'm nearly certain that I had eaten most of it, but I also think that Lucy was holding back so that I may eat most of it.

As I was swallowing the last bite, there was a knock at the door.

"You may enter," Lucy called out.

The door opened and in stepped Lucy's brother, Edmund I supposed. "You're up; I'm glad," he said as he walked towards us. His boots fell so lightly on the wooden floor I could scarcely hear them at all. "And I see you have eaten breakfast. I do hope my sister left some of it for you; she eats more than her looks let on."

I realized the last bit was a question of sorts. "Oh yes, I ate quite well. Thank you."

"Do you need more? I can have some brought in."

"Oh, no, I'm all right. I'm sure I can manage until diner."

"I would like some more, brother."

"And I'm sure you can manage until dinner as well, Lucy." Edmund waved his hand and two Fauns I had not met came forward and began clearing away our plates. Lucy and Edmund both thanked the Fauns by name. I noticed Lucy smile triumphantly as one of the Fauns slipped an apple into her hand; Edmund noticed too, but pretended not to. I looked on in silent awe, wondering who Lucy and Edmund were to have so many Narnians in their service.

"Are you all right?" Edmund asked me. "You look…contemplative."

"Oh, I am well. It's just…the Fauns. Though not unheard of, they are not common place where I am from, and here you have three aboard your vessel."

"Five actually. There's Negranes, he prefers the night shift and so he sleeps during the day. And then there's Mr. Tumnus. He's been busy helping to lead the search."

"Mr. Tumnus is a dear friend of ours. I'm sure you'll love him just as dearly once you meet him," Lucy said.

"That's actually the reason I've come to you today, on behalf of the search."

My heart jumped. "You have news?" I could not hide the excitement in my voice.

Edmund looked to his sister who nodded for him to continue. He did not answer my question, however. "I'm here under the advisement of my sister and the afore mentioned Mr. Tumnus. Thus far our scouts have been flying blindly. We knew neither where you were going nor where you came from. We did not know where to look."

Edmund held up a roll of parchment I only just realized he was holding. "I have with me a map. If you could look at it and perhaps give us some indication as to the direction of your voyage, it might be of great use to our scouts. Even the smallest indication might help. Are you willing to try?"

"Yes," I said quickly. I didn't need a moment to think. If there was any chance I might be able to find my siblings, I had to do it.

"All right then, come take a look."

Edmund walked over to a long table and rolled the map out; he placed a stone at either end to keep it flat. I walked over as quickly as my aching body would allow. The map was nice, very detailed, and the parchment was nicer than any I had seen before. I paid little attention to these details, however. My eyes quickly found the plot of islands I called home and I placed my finger there.

"We left Narrowhaven a week ago, and we sailed for Terebinthia." I moved my finger along the map as I spoke. "We were here—" my finger stopped "—when the storm came upon us. We battled it for near two days before…" I paused as the sudden image of a burning mast filled my vision. "Where did you find me?"

"Oh…here." A hand reached around me as Edmund placed his finger on the map as well. "We found you here, and we have maintained our position since then."

I stared at the position of our hands and the distance between them.

"What is it?" Edmund asked softly, as though knowing my sudden unease.

I looked over my shoulder to find him much closer than I realized. His eyes were not just dark as I had noted before; they were a very deep and a very rich brown. They were fierce, and yet they were full of worry: worry for my sake. They locked with mine and they held me in place. I could not break free of their gaze…and a part of me didn't want to.

"What's wrong?" Lucy asked as she walked up beside us. Edmund blinked, breaking our contact, and turned his eyes to the map where he marked the spot of my finger.

"The waters are wide between us," I said. "We tried to maintain our course, but our vessel was small and our hands few. The storm tossed us about like we were nothing more than the foam that floats on that floats on the waves. The best we ever could have hoped for was just to survive and when the storm passed, find our way again. But we couldn't…we didn't survive."

Lucy stepped in to take a closer look at the map while I turned away. "What does that mean exactly, that our points are so far apart?"

"It means my siblings could be anywhere. It means…it means you may never find them."