Chapter Sixteen: Uncharted Places
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~ Narnia ~
Everyone once again congregated on the foredeck to listen to the continuation of yesterday's stories. Arran stood next to Drinian at the helm, listening, yet they were clearly both having a conversation that was more animated and directed toward sailing and the ocean. If one had been curious, they would have found Arran talking with Drinian of the captain's ancestors, many of them seafaring men. Arran was discussing the overhaul of Captain Neverall's ship in the year 2218, and Drinian spoke up about the man being in his family ancestry, so they were arguing – like gentlemen – over Arran's capture of the merchant vessel and his quick disposal of Captain and crew onto the Island of Delmal.
"I merely did what any decent pirate –"
"There are no such things!"
"Well, Master Drinian, I beg to differ, in my day, there were many!" Arran tossed back snidely, grinning in a manner that was infuriating, for, his day – Arran's – was truly a time Drinian could not rival against, for he knew nothing about it.
"We are a fine example to crew and country of men above the law and men below," Drinian commented, after pausing to think of a reply.
"I should think so, though, I am not so twisted as you might think," Arran answered, looking thoughtful.
"I know, it's just, well, all my life I was taught that pirates are cruel men, who care for nothing, and no one truly cares for them. You turn all those things on their ear," Drinian said.
"Hmm, while that is rather true, you think too much of me, Drinian," Arran murmured, gazing down at the dancers and musicians about the foredeck.
"What are they going on about now?" Drinian asked, nodding to the seemingly raptured audience, it appeared that Rhince was beginning the telling his tale.
"Perhaps we should listen, time enough tomorrow night for conversations about seafaring men and our great differences," Arran declared, turning his attention on the story.
"Indeed," Drinian concurred.
~|:Xo0oX:|~
Rhince, meanwhile, had gathered an eager audience about him, the crew and the monarchs (and friends, such as Eustace) all having waited the day to hear this tale finished. Though, some had attention more on one another than the story. But, let's hear that tale first before we talk of others.
Susan once again held Rilian, though, this time she leaned partly against Caspian, her head on his shoulder, while he leaned against the rail. Edmund and Serene sat around on the burlap or the cartons, Serene smiling as if thinking of something memorable. Gael sat at her father's feet, looking up at him with an expression only a child, and a daughter, can use. Lucy too, sat cross-legged on the deck, smiling happily. She had always loved a good Narnian tale.
"Now, where were we? Oh yes; 'Our sailor had been talking to the sea maid, and she was telling him how he might free himself and his men from death in these dark waters... Oh, many things, she answered. While they conversed, his men became wary, thinking he was becoming bewitched by the creature of the sea. Tell me one, he demanded. If they wished to live and tell this tale, they must steal the Sapphire of Edantura, she replied. Tis an easy task, he mocked. Nay, not so easy as you might think, for this gem is kept somewhere in the heart of Divandandia, she answered. That was the name of the Fae island they had discovered.
"He asked where this fabled gem might be found, and she told him she could tell him naught. He was angered, and said that she had led him into believing in such a fanciful hope that they might escape imminent death, but she laughed mournfully. You are a sad man what thinks in like manner, she replied, shaking her head. Have you never thought that I, too, wish to be free? What holds you back, you have the length and depth of the ocean to roam, and you are not bound except by the land.
"I am prisoner to this island, as long as the Sapphire remains lost, so shall all the creatures of this place be bound to it, she said. What must I do? Our adventurer asked after a pause. You must go into Divandandia, that I can tell you, and you must search for the man who bears a length of golden chain, then a woman who is not all she seems, and finally, you must find the green gemmed blade, and return it to the halls of those who go before. Then, you shall perhaps, find the Sapphire. But there is a great evil that has taken hold of this stone, and I know not if it shall be parted easily with it, the mermaid finished, disappearing under the water.
"Our man leaned out over the side, hoping that she would return to give him more knowledge concerning this great evil she spoke of, but she returned to the surface no more. He looked to his men, and shouted orders that they were to turn back, and go to land, for a quest was theirs to finish. Some of them men muttered amongst themselves that their captain had become possessed by the spirits of the dead the hovered in the waters, while many went about their tasks without complaint.
"They returned to the shores where they had walked, and our lad took seven of his most trusted with him, into the heart of Divandandia. The others he told to stay with the ship and to never leave it, unless something greater happened to cause such an idea. They walked –"
"Have you made this up? Or have you heard tell of it from another?" Zephyr interrupted suddenly, while Gavan nodded in agreement next to him.
Rhince looked slightly confused for a moment, before replying; "No, I did not make it up, an old sailor told it to my ancestors, nearly two thousand years ago, what makes you so interested?" Rhince asked.
"King Edmund wears the sword you mentioned, that green gemmed blade," Arran suddenly spoke up, jumping down from where he had stood next to Drinian.
"King Edmund, your blade, show them," Reepicheep said, leaning off the rigging, looking eagerly toward the dark haired king. Edmund stood, and, as requested, unsheathed the blade, its green gems glinting in the firelight; as all eyes focused on the blade, Arran spoke once more.
"Along his journey through Divandandia, or, as our people call it, Dedathazura, in the Star tongue meaning, 'Dark Island' he woke a young dragon, named Mezelzaz, the last of the black dragons from the Western Wild. This adventurer, as you call him, found the blade, and returned it to the shores of the reach between worlds, where Aslan sent it to rest in the tomb of the Guardians," Arran looked to Rhince as he spoke.
"How did you know?" The sailor asked, looking surprised.
"Because that story was very much real, and that dragon was once very much alive. The captain, your adventurer, his name was Xander, and the sailor who told your ancestor was one of his crew. The Island still roves the mists of the sea, and can be found. My people know the story well, for it was us who watched it take shape and form, and we who keep it alive in the hearts of men," Arran finished, turning slightly to look at those gathered around.
"What are you saying exactly, Arran?" Caspian suddenly asked.
"That these are uncharted waters, and we don't know what we'll find."
~|:Xo0oX:|~
"Well, it seems my story has greater meaning than I had first believed," Rhince eventually spoke, smiling slightly. Others slowly picked up on the words and added their comments.
"I know much of old Narnia, but not this," Serene murmured, looking thoughtful.
"I'm glad we had a Star on board who knows something of it," a sailor remarked.
"How can we trust them? He's known to lie and they only ever show up once in a while, like now. Perhaps they mean to lead us on some foul quest!" Another sailor argued angrily.
"I could have your head for that! We are not magicians, wizards or enchantresses, but we can tell you of some things you would be wise to heed," Arran hissed, whirling on the man, "Some – not I – can foretell the future, while others, can influence the past. I am only telling you what I have heard from my people, and my people are great, for we are the unlimited heavens," Arran whispered sharply, walking off.
"I must ask forgiveness Rhince, it seems I have turned your story on its ear," Zephyr apologized ruefully, watching his older brother walk away.
"No, no of course not, I forget you are Stars, and know more than many of the wisest men on Lumea. I was tiring of the storytelling anyway, I'm not one for such tricks, and I really don't much like telling them. I only did it because you all seemed to enjoy the old stories so, otherwise, I would not have spoken," Rhince admitted, shrugging slightly.
"You tell a story well though," Zephyr remarked with a frown.
"But not as well as some," Rhince pointed out.
"You sound like my brother. Gavan hates telling any stories, yet he is by far the best at telling them than any of his siblings," Zephyr laughed slightly.
"Should we have him forced to tell one?" Rhince suddenly suggested, smiling.
"Let's round up some volunteers to get started," Zephyr answered, grinning widely before walking off.
Rhince sighed in relief as he watched the Star go. Better Gavan telling a story than him, he didn't relish being the center of attention that a story required. He walked off to see if he could persuade any of his fellow shipmates to beg Gavan for a tale.
~|:Xo0oX:|~
"But I don't know anything worth telling!" Gavan complained, trying to get out of the hole they'd dug for him.
"You know you do, you've spent more time reading and studying than any of us, and besides, you would spend more time with the Elders than we ever did," Zephyr contradicted.
"I will not stand in front of an audience and tell a single tale," Gavan balked, crossing his arms.
"Well, then, pretend you're talking to Arran and me," Zephyr said.
"I'm not listening to you," Gavan turned away from his brother.
"Fine, Queen Lucy's sitting in the front, pretend you're talking to her then," Zephyr coaxed, knowing that was something he could use in his favor.
"As if the Queen of Old means anything," Gavan scoffed, though he didn't look at his brother.
"Tell the story of Neanacunatilano, then. That means more to you, Arran, and Durken then the other stories," Zephyr suggested, stepping back from his brother, motioning for him to go back and join the group.
"What makes you think I'll be any good at telling how Stars came to be called by name?" Gavan asked, finally looking up once more.
"Because that love means more to you now than before," Zephyr answered, looking to where Lucy was dancing with her brother, Gavan's eyes followed his brother's gaze, and he smiled slightly.
"Fine, but only because you are the seventh person to ask for a story from me," Gavan muttered, striding back across the deck as Rhince suggested another story to be told so the dancers and musicians might have a rest. Zephyr smiled, Rhince's friends must have been good beggars to convince Gavan to do this.
"I cannot wait," Zephyr whispered, walking after him.
~|:Xo0oX:|~
As the dancing ended, sailors laughingly called for a story, several glancing in Gavan's direction. Few others like Serene and Lucy, laughed along with them, but questioningly asked what was so amusing. The sailors, including Zephyr and Rhince, refused to tell them. The noise stopped when Gavan was pushed forward by a sailor to take center stage, or, in this case, deck.
"I am only going through with this because I have no choice, so I will tell this single story and no others," Gavan said to the quiet audience. He looked up for a moment, running his fingers through his hair, the only sign of his nervousness, before he began.
"There is a tale about Stars, how it came to be that we all have names, that is told among out people. Once, at the beginning of time, there was a girl, a girl who stayed up one night to see what happened after the sun set. The first time she saw the stars, she fell in love with them, beings seeming so far away and yet so close. She would dream about stars and paint stars, talk about them and envision all manner of things about them. She would sleep all day so at night she could stay awake and watch them follow their paths through the night sky.
"One night several years later, a Star became curious about this young woman who watched them, how she left the human company of the daylight to spend the night watching stars alone. He observed her from his place in the sky, and marveled at her faith and love to beings that never returned it, save for the fact that they came into the sky each night for her delight. Time went on, and he began to fall in love with her, though they'd never spoken, never met. He wanted to talk with her, wanted to know just what it was about his people she loved so.
"And he did, he left the sky and went to find her. On land it was far different from the heavens he knew so well, where he could see over mountains, down valleys and across plains and deserts. But there was something that told him to go on, though the task was hard and the path daunting. Eventually he found her, at night, on a hill not far from her village, stargazing.
"At first he did not tell her who he was, though she asked all manner of searching questions. Once he had managed to deflect most of them, he asked why she was out there, looking toward the heavens. She replied that it was because of the quiet, fiery beauty, as if the pinpricks of light were thousands of diamonds on dark velvet, or the night sky, like a heavy curtain trying to hind the sun's morning light, could barely conceal the radiance coming from Aslan's Country, and the star shine were the bits of light that broke through.
"He loved the way she spoke of his people, the way she talked of them as if they were friends she knew dearly and held in high regard. He returned to the sky loving her more so than before he had come. He came back often, staying longer and longer each time. She would ask his name, and he always replied;
"A name I have not."
"She too, fell in love, and he returned it, knowing that he would die for her if he had to. One night, when they were watching the stars together, she asked him what took him away from her for so long.
"He felt, that since he knew her love was true, he must tell her, to be entirely honest. When he told her who, what he was, she refused to believe at first, saying that he was mocking her love of the stars. He denied such claims, and proved it to her with his magic. When she realized he spoke the truth, she asked him why he did not just stay with her. He told her about the sky, and the call he felt when he was away for a great while. Time passed, and he stayed with her for as long as he dared before the yearning for the sky became too strong.
"She would jest, before he would leave each time, that one day she would name him, and he would stay with her and her with him forever. He only laughed at the impossibility of the idea, believing that nothing as simple as a name could keep him from the sky. Not many years later, a daughter was born to them. And now the woman begged him to go no more to the sky more than ever, for though she loved the stars, he leaving her was unbearable. They both knew what an impossibility that was, for he had tried to stay, and it had nearly killed him, but to continue leaving her, she would surely die.
"They wondered what to do. While he was away, she thought about it endlessly. Suddenly she knew what must be done and wondered why she hadn't thought it before. She thought over it while her daughter learned to crawl, and then walk, while she tended to her animals and her garden, and she thought long into the night, while she stared up at the stars from her window. Her mind wandered to stories that King Frank and Queen Helen would tell their subjects and their children. She knew, and she was very sure.
"When he returned, she didn't tell him, not knowing whether or not her plan would work, or if he would insist she not try. Once again, the time came for him to leave, and as always, she begged him not to go. He smiled sadly, kissed her and walked down the path from her door. She ran after him, crying for him not to go, but stopped in the middle of the path when he turned back to her. That was when she decided to speak the words that had been on her lips since she first came upon the idea.
"'David, do not leave me, I love you, as the Stars need the sky, so do I need you.'"
"She had never before called him by any name; it startled him, realizing she had named him. He walked back to her, amazement in his gaze. She smiled though tears streamed down her cheeks, not knowing if it would work, but hoping against hope that it might.
"'If any man thinks he needs something more than pure, faithful love such as yours, he is the stupidest of fools. I do not need the sky as much as I need you,' he spoke quietly, as if a realization had suddenly come clear. David never left again, he didn't need to, their love was far stronger, far better, than anything the night sky had to offer. Her love for him was far more constant, far brighter than the Stars. Perhaps it was well and good then, that her name was Constance.
"And so, that is the story my people tell of why Stars are bewitched and charmed by humans, and why we have names. In your Narnian version, which is by far the simpler of the two, it explains why there is the constellation of Constance, the girl with her head tilted up, as if she is looking towards something above her," Gavan finished.
Looking up, he found that he had enraptured his audience, and with some, such as Susan, having tears in their eyes. He resisted the urge to frown and say anything about the story not being good, because he knew there would most likely be those in the audience to refute the words, so he simply moved off, wishing Rhince had finished his story instead.
Wiverne led the group back into some songs and a few more short tales, while Gavan watched from a distance. He tilted his head slightly when Lucy sat down next to him, but did not offer any other sign of acknowledgement.
"That was a lovely story, I am sure you know more," Lucy said, her voice sounding light. Why, such as now, he wondered silently to himself, was it so difficult to ignore her draw?
"I am afraid my brothers speaks far too highly of me, all I know, I know from hearing others, stories they have all heard as well," Gavan replied.
"Your brothers told me nothing, I could just tell from the way you told it that you knew many of them, because of the way you told that one," Lucy protested.
"Why do you continue to talk to me? After all I have said, still, you persist. I must know, I find it curious," Gavan suddenly asked, changing the subject.
Lucy was taken aback, not understanding what he meant. She turned her head away, confused. Perhaps she did care for him, but, that aside, why should she not talk with him? Serene talked with him and his brothers, Susan and Caspian, Edmund and Drinian, why not her as well? "I don't know what you mean," She finally said, glancing back at him.
"I mean that, you seem to seek me out and talk, as now, when there are others who would hold conversation with you, and yet, you turn to me," Gavan elaborated.
"Perhaps it is because I wish to know you and your brothers better. Narnians, mortal and mythical I know, Stars, not so much," Lucy finally answered.
Gavan was now only listening with half a mind as she spoke; he was remembering what he'd told her on the Lone Islands, and what Arran had told him not long ago. "You think you care, Gavan? Then test it, give her what she wants, what she dreams at night and envisions during the day.See if you can make it real." "Arran can do that for Azalea. Make this real, because he loves her." He frowned, thinking it through, before he realized that she was talking.
"Lucy, come with me for a moment, to the rear deck," Gavan asked, standing and holding out a hand to assist her from her seat. She looked up at him, utterly confused now. Still though, she took his hand and followed him. He stopped in the middle of the deck.
"Wait one moment," He requested, stepping back. She nodded in answer, and watched him.
Her eyes widened as the scenery changed, as it had on the Islands, to a Narnian landscape. She looked around for Gavan, but this time, it seemed as if she was alone. She gasped when she felt a breeze against her face, and could smell the freshness of the air, unlike the last time he'd done this for her. Looking down, she realized she was wearing a Narnian dress as well. Smiling slightly, she brushed her fingers down the soft fabric, but quickly looked back up.
"Gavan?" She asked aloud, wondering what sort of trick this was, the magical performance was not nearly as fascinating as it had been when she was sure of his presence alongside her. She moved off a ways, walking towards several trees, looking for him.
"Gavan, I do not want to be here alone, where are you?"
"I'm here," His voice came from behind her, and she turned sharply. He had been watching quietly until she asked for him, wondering how she would respond.
Lucy was not one of those fairytale princesses, so she refrained from running to him, though she wanted to, and instead waited while he walked down to her.
"Why did you do this again, and, how? You told me you couldn't," Lucy asked, looking up at him in confusion. He stared back at her, his eyes holding a depth of emotion he would never be able to say.
"I did not think I cared, and I did not think I loved you, I am still uncertain, though this puts many doubts to rest. I told you, in Narrowhaven, that I could only make something real if I cared deeply for the person I was performing the feat for, and now I am afraid to think that I care in that way for you," Gavan said.
"Ar-are you saying, you love me?" Lucy asked hesitantly, surprise in her voice.
"I don't know, is this real, or not? Perhaps I am confusing fancy with love, but, Arran has told me many times that I cannot do this for just anyone," Gavan said, turning away from her and staring at the view. Feeling uncertain about this, yet believing it was right, she walked to him and lightly rested her hand on his arm. He looked down at her, smiling sadly.
"What a fine thing I've turned this out to be. If I cared half as much as I say I do, then I would not be leading you on, making you care. Lucy, no other mortal can replace the feeling I give you, and that is not something I say with pride," Gavan whispered, sliding his arm around her waist. "I can't tell you what does that, be it our magic, or our immortality, but humans somehow find themselves irresistibly drawn," he continued softly.
"But you are also drawn to me; as you said that night, remember?" Lucy asked, looking up at him with wide brown eyes.
"Yes, there is that, making this slightly in our favor," he mused. She smiled, then, giving something that he could not tell if it was a sigh, or an agreement, she rested her head on his chest, and watched the sun as it slid slowly below the distant mountains to the west of Narnia.
~|:Xo0oX:|~
"Come on, we must get back, to see if we are needed, or before anyone needs us," Gavan said, moving his hands to her shoulders and pulling her away from him.
"I so love this view of Narnia, it was always my favorite," Lucy murmured, turning to look around at the landscape in the dusk.
"It is beautiful; perhaps I may bring you back. Come on," He said, holding out his hand. She slid hers into his and watched as slowly the grass under her feet changed into the wooden boards of the ship, and the fresh mountain air was replaced with the salty tang of the ocean's. Surprisingly though, she still wore the dress. She looked up at him curiously.
"Why should you not keep it?" He asked, grinning.
"Thank you," Lucy whispered, once again brushing her hand down the skirt and the soft red and gold fabric.
"Of course; Lucy, you must know, this will only become more difficult, or easier, and I could not tell you which way yet," Gavan said, turning.
She watched him go, concerned because this seemed harder for him to accept than for her. Though, she also wasn't sure if she loved him or not, in fact, she really wasn't sure what she felt, and she knew he must be having the same experiences. Lucy bit her lower lip, she needed to talk with Susan, she would understand, though, the idea of including her sister in this complicated issue bothered her. She walked back to the cabin she shared with the queen, wondering how she could possibly tell her sister in a way that she would understand, and not become angry.
A/N:
Ok, well, I'm not so sure how I like the ending of this chapter, I think it extends a bit farther than I was wanting, but, I'll leave that up to you, if you think it far too much, then I shall gladly rewrite (it won't take long to do so, merely an hour, or a day, whatevs).
On another note, Gavan has said some important things, ect. But I'll let you guys discover what he's told our Valiant Queen in previous chapters (sorry, my A/Ns only go so far into explanations).
I know it was rather odd the way I cut Rhince's story off, but, I was reading the finished draft of it, and I realized that it would give my entire plot away, so, we all voted, and Zephyr decided he'd be the one to interrupt the story. Arran, of course, decided to be the one with all the answers (he has a nasty little habit you see, that I can't help him out of).
I think you all can very well guess what the title of this chapter is pertaining to, so I'm not gonna say anything on the matter.
Yes, yes, yes, I promise I shall go into the black dragons of the west (not now though, they'll be explained in 'A Country Without A King', the prequel to this quintet, only in reference in this one, and, some others, so sorry). And yes, we shall hear more of this Mezelzaz, I promise that too.
The next chapter will hold something to whet your interests I'll wager. Adventures! So don't go away yet, this is finally picking up! I'm starting to think that this might be a lot longer than Star~Crossed now.
Before The Mast and 7s7l are going to explain just why Todd's green blade and Mezelzaz are so important to Arran and all. {If you haven't checked out those stories, then I suggest you do so, even though they are unfinished, they might help in the way of things}
{ILoveFanfiction, you once asked why I had Serene refer to Todd as "the first and last guardian", it will not be long now before you know that reason, even though I claimed Jaddai to also be the last guardian}
Last warning; Things are about to get interesting!
Again, if there is anything I missed, {explanations, punctuations, grammar, misspellings, plot-that-doesn't-make-sense, something that I failed to clarify on, etc...} Please tell me so I can fix/tell you about it in a PM/Author's Note.
Happy reading,
W.H. 1492