Early in the morning, the crew was awoken in order to face the last and most sinister island. Everyone was on deck looking ahead of them as they sailed right into the surrounding fog.
"So what do you think is in there?" Tavros asked.
"Our worst nightmares," Edmund answered.
"Our darkest wishes," Caspian added.
Drinian looked over at them. "Pure evil."
Elizabeth stood next to Caspian and looked up at him. While she was terrified at what they were about to face, she was confident that she at least had Caspian by her side through it. A part of her was convinced that the events of the previous night were only a wonderful dream. But the kiss that Caspian had delivered to her that morning reminded her that it was all true.
Drinian walked over to the minotaur. "Tavros, unlock the armory."
"My lord."
Tavros went off to complete his orders as Drinian looked out at the other men. "Archers, prepare yourselves."
"Light the lanterns!" Tavros ordered.
Caspian looked at Edmund. "Let's get ready."
Lucy and Elizabeth went to the State Room while Caspian, Edmund, and Eva went to Caspian's chambers.
As Lucy put her dagger and healing cordial on the belt she tied around her waist, Gael said behind her, "When I grow up, I want to be just like you."
Lucy froze for a second and then turned to the girl with a smile. She walked over to her and put her arm around her. "When you grow up, you should be just like you."
Elizabeth smiled. "Lucy, thank you for being so kind to me all this time. You have no idea how much it means to me."
"I'm glad you were brought here, Elizabeth. It's been nice to have you with us."
Meanwhile in Caspian's chambers, Caspian, Edmund, and Eva began putting on some armor along with their weapons.
"In case we don't get through, whatever this is…" Caspian started. "I want you to know I think of the both of you as my brother and sister."
"Me too," Edmund said.
"Me three," Eva added with a small smile. She was terrified about what was about to happen, but she was determined to see it through. She would save Narnia with the help of the others, just like before.
Caspian began to help Edmund put on his armor as Edmund did the same for Eva. "You gave up your sword," Caspian said.
"It wasn't mine to keep," Edmund replied.
Caspian went over to his cabinet and took out a very special sword. "Use this."
"But it's—"
"Peter would want you to have it."
Eva smiled broadly. "There's no one more deserving."
Edmund took the sword and put it around his waist. Caspian left the two of them alone in the room.
"I have to be honest," Eva said. "I'm scared."
"I know. We all are."
"There's no one I would rather have by my side than you."
Eva wrapped her arms around him and kissed him firmly on the lips. She felt his arms go around her waist and gently pull her towards him. They stayed together and cherished the seconds they had since neither of them knew what lay ahead.
Hands intertwined, they returned to the deck where everyone was gathered to listen to Caspian.
"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 traveled far. Together, we have faced adversity. Together…we can do it again. So now is not the time to fall into fear's temptations. Be strong! Never give in. Our world, our Narnian lives, depend on it. Think of the lost souls we are here to save. Think of Aslan. Think of Narnia."
"For Narnia!" Drinian yelled as Caspian descended the steps.
"For Narnia!" everyone else joined in.
Eva threw up her and Edmund's hands. "For Narnia!"
Elizabeth smiled broadly as she met Caspian's eyes. "For Narnia!"
By now, the ship had entered the island and the fog was as thick as blood. Eva looked around and saw the green mist begin to float around them.
"I can't see a thing," Drinian said to Caspian. "This fog's too thick."
Caspian flinched next to Elizabeth. "Caspian?" she said as she gently put her hand on his shoulder. He looked back at her and sighed. Knowing what he was facing, she said softly, "I think he would be proud of you."
Elizabeth looked at the mist that surrounded her, and her heart sank as she saw it materialize into an all-too-familiar face.
"You think this man actually loves you?" her former owner taunted. "Who could ever love someone like you, you worthless piece of garbage?"
"Elizabeth!" Caspian said urgently.
Elizabeth gasped as she turned to him. She looked back to find that the mist had disappeared from her.
"He will not hurt you anymore. Don't listen to what he's saying."
Elizabeth took a deep breath as she nodded slightly.
This was going to be harder than they thought.
"Go away," Edmund said. "You're dead."
Eva looked at him. "Edmund, it's all right," she said gently.
He turned and looked up where the steering wheel was. "No!"
"Edmund!" Edmund spun around and looked at Eva again. She took his hand in hers. "She can't hurt you. Not if you don't let her."
"Yeah…"
Suddenly, an eerie moaning echoed throughout the air. Everyone ran to the side of the ship to try to find out what was making the noise. The archers all loaded their crossbows and prepared to fire.
"Keep away! Keep away!"
"Who's there?" Edmund called.
"We do not fear you!" Caspian yelled.
"Nor I you!" the mysterious voice yelled back.
Edmund took his flashlight and shined it out on the nearby rock to reveal a very unkempt man who looked like he had lost his mind. On this island, he probably had.
"Keep away!"
"We will not leave," Caspian said firmly.
"You will not defeat me!"
The light from the flashlight reflected off the object he was holding. "Caspian!" Edmund said. "Caspian, his sword!"
"Lord Rhoop!" Caspian quickly came down the steps to the side of the ship.
"You do not own me!"
"Stand down." The archers held up their crossbows. "Let's get him onboard quickly!"
Some crew members prepared to throw across some harnesses so they could get close to the man, but Eustace flew up behind him and swept him up in his claws before placing him onboard.
The man quickly stood up and aimed his sword at them.
"Be calm, my lord," Caspian said cautiously.
"Off me, demon!"
"No, my lord. We are not here to hurt you. I am your king, Caspian."
"Caspian?" the man muttered. He turned around and smiled. "My lord?" He quickly began to turn frantic once more. "You should not have come. There's no way out of here. Quickly, turn this ship about before it's too late."
"We have the sword. Let's go!" Edmund said.
"Let's turn her about, Drinian!" Caspian ordered.
"Aye-aye, Your Majesty," Drinian answered as he went up to the wheel.
"Do not think!" Lord Rhoop yelled to the crew. "Do not let it know your fears, or it will become them!"
Edmund closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "Oh, no."
"Edmund, what did you just think of?" Lucy asked.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
He and Eva ran to the side of the ship, and to their horror, they saw movement in the water. Suddenly, the ship jolted to the side and all of the crew members went tumbling to the deck.
"Look!" Caspian exclaimed as he pointed to the water. "What is that?"
"It's too late," Lord Rhoop muttered. "It's too late!"
Lucy turned around. "Gael!" she screamed to the girl who had gone to the other side of the deck.
The creature shot out of the water to reveal the head of a terrifying sea monster. Eva looked at the creature in disgust as she became even more frightened than before. How were they possibly going to defeat something like this?
Lucy grabbed Gael from the side of the ship and clung onto her as the men pointed their swords and crossbows at the thing. Eustace came behind the monster and breathed fire on it. Then he flew back and landed on the sea monster's head as he tried to sink his claws into its face. The sea monster knocked into the ship several times as it tried to get Eustace off.
"Eustace, hold on!" Elizabeth screamed.
Finally, the sea monster flung Eustace off its face which sent him flying over the ship. When he started flying back over, the sea monster grabbed him with its mouth and plunged into the water.
"NO!" Elizabeth screamed.
The sea monster came back up with Eustace still in his mouth. Then he flung Eustace into the nearby rock. Eustace breathed fire on the sea monster's face again as it came for him which forced the creature to go back into the water.
"Out, creature!" Lord Rhoop yelled in a frenzy. He threw the sword in Eustace's direction.
"No, the sword! The sword!" Caspian yelled.
The sword sank deep into Eustace's flesh.
"Eustace!" Elizabeth and Lucy cried.
Eustace started to fly away from them.
"No, come back!" Lucy pleaded.
Lord Rhoop went up the steering wheel. "We are doomed. Doomed! Turn this ship about."
He pushed away the helmsman and began trying to steer the ship himself. They all lurched as the ship turned sharply. Drinian punched Lord Rhoop in the face to get him knocked out and calmed down.
"Now, crew, to your rowing positions. Oars at double speed," he ordered.
The sea monster shot back up out of the water and started wrapping its body around the ship with the intention of crushing it.
"Elizabeth!" Caspian yelled. He tossed her a sword for her to use to defend herself.
Lucy grabbed Gael and rushed her into Caspian's chambers. She grabbed Susan's bow and arrows and Elaine's staff.
"Now you must stay here until someone comes and gets you, okay?" she told Gael before running back to the deck.
"Ed! Eva!" Caspian yelled from the wheel. "We'll ram the serpent. Smash him on the rocks!"
"Steer her to port!" Edmund yelled. "We'll keep it on the prow!"
"Eva!" Lucy cried.
Eva turned and Lucy tossed her Elaine's staff. She looked at the weapon as her fingers wrapped around it. Determined to make its original owner proud, she held it firmly and ran after Edmund.
Edmund squeezed himself as far out as he could go on the bow and turned on his flashlight to signal the sea monster. "Try and kill me, come on! Come on, I'm here!"
The sea monster lunged for him and snapped off the portion of the bow he was sitting on.
"No!" Lucy screamed.
"Edmund!" Caspian and Eva yelled.
Edmund climbed onto the top of the bow and held onto one of the ropes. "I'm still here!"
Eva climbed to where Edmund was and used the staff to hit the sea monster which caused it to let out a loud growl.
An arrow suddenly came flying past them and lodged into the sea monster's eye. Eva whipped around to find Lucy with Susan's bow in her hand. She nodded to the girl who nodded back.
"Brace yourselves!" Caspian shouted.
The ship rammed into the rock making the sea monster shriek in such a way that was sure to give Eva nightmares for weeks to come.
Edmund and Eva lost their perch on the bow and came crashing down on to the hard deck.
"Edmund!" Eva cried as she quickly went over to him. She shook his shoulders and placed her hand to his head. "You're okay! You did it!"
"We both did."
She helped him back up onto his feet again as Caspian came over to them.
The sea monster looked at all of them before its body opened up to reveal many squirming tendrils. It was utterly disgusting.
"Move!" Caspian yelled. He ran over and tackled Edmund and Eva before the sea monster killed them. He then grabbed a sword and cut off one of the tendrils. The tendril turned into the green mist and disappeared. "We can beat this."