Chapter 16.

Edmund found my dream even more disturbing than I did. We agreed not to tell anyone about it, but to keep encouraging Caspian to press forward.

A week and a half later, things weren't looking so good for us. We got caught in a terrible storm and there still wasn't the slightest sign of land. Edmund, Caspian, and Drinian had met in the cabin to discuss our options, for the millionth time. I tried to eavesdrop but I couldn't hear. So I went and waited for Edmund to give me all the details.

Sure enough, he told me what I'd missed. Captain Drinian was reluctant, but had agreed to keep pressing forward. Unfortunately, our food rations could only hold us for another two weeks.

"Things aren't looking good, Edmund," I said with a sigh. It was late and the storm was violent as ever. The crew was on deck, trying to keep control of the ship for the night.

So, of course, I took advantage and snuck down to lay with Edmund in his hammock. He was now sharing a room with Caspian, which was a lot nicer than where the crew slept.

"We'll be okay," he answered me confidently.

I gave him a look as the hammock gave a rough sway, nearly knocking me off.

"I promise," he insisted, gripping my arm to keep me from flying.

I rolled my eyes. "You're not psychic, you don't know that."

"Come on, try and have a little faith," he complained.

"Lucy said that to me a couple weeks ago," I said thoughtfully.

"Well, we're right," he pointed out. The ship rattled violently, making me glance around worriedly.

"The crew can handle it," he assured me. "Come here."

Unable to resist, I snuggled up closer to him, and he held me tight. We were silent for a while, long enough for me to drift off.

"You won't succeed, you do realize that, don't you?"

I was standing before the White Witch who was on her throne looking at me greedily.

"Of course we will," I hissed. "Get off your fucking high horse and accept the fact that you're dead. You have no power over anyone anymore."

She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

I gritted my teeth. "Yes, so leave me alone and go back to the hell hole you crawled out of!"

"Edmund!" she suddenly called. "Our guest is a little . . . confused. Please jog her memory."

I turned around just in time to see Edmund stab me with his sword.

I woke up, flailing and screaming.

"Rose, Rose, it's okay! It was a dream!"

I opened my eyes and realized I was on the floor. I saw Edmund leaning over me, trying to restrain me.

"Stay back!" I shrieked, tears pouring down my cheeks. "Don't touch me, you monster!"

Hurt reflected in his eyes, but he didn't let go. "Rose, you're safe! You had a nightmare."

I stopped flailing and stared at him, my mind slowly recollecting itself. I

"Oh, God," I choked out. "I'm sorry!"

He sighed with relief and pulled me into a tight, comforting hug. "It's alright," he murmured, patting my back. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"I know," I whispered. "I'm sorry."

He pulled me to my feet and he carefully helped me back into the hammock.

"Was it her again?" he asked, holding me in his arms.

I nodded. "Yeah, only this time . . ."

"What?" he urged me.

I bit my lip. "She had you stab me."

"That'll never happen," he said fiercely. "These dreams are just trying to scare you, and tear you away from me."

I nodded. "Yeah, I know."

He opened his mouth to reply, but Caspian suddenly came in, looking beyond exhausted.

He stopped when he saw the two of us snuggled up in the hammock. "Damn it, Ed," he said with an exasperated sigh.

"I'm scared of thunderstorms," I said automatically, feigning a look of innocence. I faked a sniffle and said in a childish voice, "After all . . . I'm only a girl."

I could feel Edmund shake with silent laughter.

Caspian rolled his eyes when I batted my eyelashes, bringing my bottom lip out into a pout.

"Go to bed," was all he said before getting into his own hammock.

Edmund and I stayed silent, though neither of us slept. We were both wrapped up in our own thoughts.

Around an hour later, Caspian suddenly cried out, "Father! Father!"

If that weren't weird enough, Edmund looked over and slowly lifted his head, watching something intently.

Suddenly, he jerked to a sitting position and yanked his sword out and pointed it at something. Where the hell did that come from? I knew he was in love with the damn thing but I didn't realize he slept with it too! I sat up, ready to slap him if necessary.

"He'll never stay with you," a voice whispered in my ear. I looked around wildly but saw nothing.

"You're just another thing he'll leave behind in Narnia for the real world. You do know what that is, don't you?"

"Shut up!" I snapped, looking around for the culprit.

"You'll always be trapped in your fantasy world, no matter how hard you try to escape."

"Edmund? Rose?" a voice whispered. Edmund and I both jumped with a gasp. We both looked to see Lucy standing next to the hammock. "Oh, Lucy," he said with a relieved sigh. I swallowed thickly, shaking like a leaf.

Suddenly, Caspian jolted awake with a small gasp.

"Good morning, sunshine," I greeted him before looking back to Lucy.

"I can't sleep," she admitted. Edmund exchanged a look with me and I nodded. He glanced between Lucy and Caspian.

"Let me guess," Ed said. "Bad dreams."

Lucy and Caspian's faces confirmed it.

"So either we're all going mad," Ed continued, sounding slightly pissed, "or something's playing with our minds.

He laid back down, looking almost lost. I hesitantly laid back down too and looked at Lucy and Caspian, who were both looking down in an almost state of shock.

"Lu, are you okay?" I asked her gently. Caspian was a big boy—I'm sure he was fine.

She nodded and forced a smile. "I'm alright. I better get back to bed now, in case Gael wakes up."

I smiled sadly. "Yeah, I guess so. Goodnight, hon."

She left and Caspian fell back asleep shortly afterwards.

I knew Edmund wasn't asleep, but I didn't want to say anything.

Turns out, I didn't have to.

"I saw her," he finally said, opening his eyes and shifting his head to look at me.

"She's very persistent, I'll give her that."

He rolled over slightly so that he was facing me. "These are showing us our "darkest dreams", right? What is it that you're so afraid of?"

"I don't know," I admitted.

He nodded slowly. I leaned forward and kissed him deeply before tucking my head in the crook of his neck.

"We need try and sleep," I said, closing my eyes.

If the White Witch Bitch came back, I would lock her in a room with Eustace for ten minutes. That should keep her away for good.