Chapter Twenty-Six: These Small Hours

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~ Narnia ~

The following day, when everyone woke, no one wanted to speak of what was to be done. Serene and the Stars had talked, and tried several spells or incantations, but nothing worked to change Eustace's dragon form. It only made everyone in a darker mood when they came upon no way for him to possibly come with them. Eustace came to the understanding that he had been an unmitigated nuisance since first he'd come aboard, but now he was doubly so. The only good that came of the day was exploring the island, or Dragon Island as everyone agreed it should be called.

It was a large island, almost large enough to be called a continent. Everyone had battered about on what to call it, but in the end, it was Eustace who hit upon the perfect idea to name the land. He chose it, and everyone agreed he had the best rights over all of them. So Dragon Island it was. When Drinian and Caspian removed their maps from the Treader's chart room to mark off the land, Eustace came forward and helped with the rest of the island, since he had flown around it several times, hoping to be able to help with exactly this. The day would have been wonderful, everyone agreed as they got ready for the coming night, had they found a cure for their dragon.

Since Eustace was a dragon, he was of some small use now. He could haul heavy loads, and start fires. This new Eustace was eager to be of service. He had changed considerably in the past few days, and everyone saw it and remarked upon it. It was good to see him so chipper and eager. Also since he had become a dragon, he watched everyone more closely now, and sensing small things. He understood better, and perceived more than he had before. He had never accepted Susan as his cousin, and had always thought Edmund and Lucy daft for suggesting such a thing. But now, now he agreed and believed it. He accepted it.

As he was watching them, Arran came up beside him. Over the two days they'd been on Dragon Island, the Star had become slightly more comfortable around him, and they talked more – if you could really call it talking. "Who are you watching?" Arran asked as he stopped beside Eustace, his hand easily resting on his tasseled sword hilt.

"My cousins and Caspian. I never thought about it before, but I suppose that Susan must have loved him very much to stay here in Narnia," Eustace reflected, watching Susan sit next to Caspian and the King put his arm around her.

"Yes. Love is a remarkable thing. You finally accept that she is your cousin?" Arran wondered, turning to glance sidelong at Eustace.

"I realized that I was rather an idiot up to now. I just didn't want to see what was true. Sorry?" Eustace lifted his head from the ground and looked up at Arran, his eyes asking forgiveness.

"For what?" Arran questioned, trying to keep himself indifferent. "You acted true to form; scared to death of a strange land. The only ones I've ever seen who are not afraid of the unknown are Stars and your cousins. We accept what is, but your cousins, they are unshakable, and they believe that even the smallest of actions has the power to change something." Arran's voice inside Eustace's head seemed to hold awe and respect, a tone the dragon-boy had never heard the pirate use until now.

"What happened to you in Midalin; why do you fear dragons? Reepicheep won't tell me," Eustace asked after the conversation had lapsed into silence for a time.

"With good reason; how came you to know of it?" Arran glanced at Eustace as he asked, but his gaze had hardened and his shoulders had gone ridged.

"Reepicheep told me last night about his encounter with a dragon and a battle in a port called Midalin – his mistake was mentioning your name – when I could not sleep. And I realize that though you are brave, and hide it well, you fear me," Eustace replied casually, his dragon's wisdom bringing the subtle facts to his observance, changing the flow of his words, making him sound more Narnian-like.

"Let me show you, Eustace," Arran answered. He began pulling the billowy, white shirt-sleeve of his left arm up. Slowly, several black scars became visible on his skin. Eustace noted that there were one or two others as well, but they were a silver color, unlike the rather wide, jagged black ones. "These are small compared to the ones on my back, chest and shoulders. Your claws are not long enough or strong enough to cause damage to my skin, as you are so young. But Mezelzaz, he was over a hundred thousand years old. His claws were as long as my blade, and his wings could envelope the Treader easily. As black and slick as obsidian when it has been polished, the claws were tipped with iron." Arran stopped speaking, taking in a ragged breath.

"The only thing I know about iron is that it nearly killed you that day on Felinor – wait – Felimath, wasn't it?" Eustace said observantly, wishing he had paid attention when something crucial had been said before.

"Iron breaks and iron binds us to our fate. It kills without mercy and it imprisons for life," Arran declared sarcastically, absently running his fingers over the scars, which made him flinch.

"I'm garnering that means that metal can kill a Star? I am guessing this has something to do with the silver blood and the magic that flow through your veins." It was not a question; Eustace's dragon-earned wisdom told him it was true.

"Enough of it will, yes. Mezelzaz did not have enough to but scar me. All my other injuries healed like these silver ones here – which I earned in a dagger competition – but being cut multiple times by iron permanently etched them into my skin. No amount of magic or spell casting can remove them. Yet another reason why my family and my kin in the heavens do not readily accept me," Arran's voice faded softly in and out in Eustace's mind, and the dragon-boy understood that Arran was hurt by what had transpired in the port, actions that had made him an outcast even more so than he had been before.

"Then they must be fools. But what I have observed of you makes me think your family cares otherwise. I have only ever seen your brothers' concern that you might do something foolish, or you might kill yourself. You are scarred, but that is not what makes you. I am a dragon now, but Reep told me that is just what I look like on the outside. How I see myself on the inside; that is what matters. We can choose what we want. At least, that is what my mind tells me to tell you." Eustace rumbled low in his throat, the dragon equivalent of a chuckle. Arran smiled slightly, the tension sliding from his shoulders.

"The wisdom of dragons. It was nearly twenty years before I'd met Azalea, but Mezelzaz told me she would come into my life and my heart would be torn. I laughed at him before I killed him. But he was correct. She does not love me; she hates me, but I cannot forget her, nor can I forget my love of the sky. Torn two ways. It is madness and beauty, this thing called love. And what do you think, Eustace, am I foolish for hesitating to choose between a mortal and the sky?" Arran waited, looking at Eustace expectantly for a reply.

"Like you said, Arran, I'm a young dragon, and what wisdom I garner from this body is deep, but not vast. In human form I'm only twelve years old. I don't know much about love, and I don't think I can tell a Star who is two hundred or so years older than me anything on the subject. But I do know that my cousins are good examples. Susan has given everything of England up to stay with Caspian, and Edmund has not seen Serene in centuries, yet their love is strong. Wisdom, I can't give you, but them as examples, well, there you have it." Eustace turned to watch his cousins and Caspian as they sat around the fire, which Rhince had just built up from the embers of the first fire Eustace had lit.

"One thousand," Arran said quietly.

Beg your pardon?" Eustace focused his blue-green gaze on the Star.

"I am just a thousand years old. I lied about my age. We all do, frankly; a Star ages every ten years or so, and then we keep a look of score and four for over twenty thousand years. My father was a Star long before he met my mother. I am immortal, what else is there in this life but to play pretend and keep from receiving appalled stares or glances when we mention our exact age?" Arran raised an eyebrow, his words holding some truth.

"Point taken," Eustace said, the rumble returning to his throat, deepening as he laughed. "But to say 'just a thousand' I find that amusing. 'Just a thousand'. I shall spend hours chuckling over that. I suppose that is the dragon coming out?" Eustace shook his head in amusement as he whispered the words in his mind.

"Who knows if it is the dragon or the new you?" Arran laughed, a high, clear sound, which made Eustace think that if he spoke, sung, dressed, and lived like a true Star did, than he would be flawless to behold. Eustace mused over that thought long after Arran had left his side.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

The third evening, everyone was lying on the beach, either falling asleep, or talking softly to those who wished to do so. The Stars had walked off, and because they did not sleep; they went a pace down the beach to marvel over the constellations of their people, and watch the stars 'dance' as they said. Since Susan slept on board the Dawn Treader with Rilian, Caspian and Edmund had been able to talk more than they had on Edmund's last visit to Narnia. This night was no different.

Edmund lay back, gazing upward. Caspian had been leaning against a log next to him, staring into the flames as he and Edmund talked of life, and what to do about Eustace's situation. It was silent for a moment. "You know, I've never seen these constellations before," Edmund remarked thoughtfully, his voice quiet.

"Hmm?" Caspian looked upwards as well. "Neither have I," he admitted after a bit, his voice sounding awed as he took in the heavens. "We must be a long way from home." Edmund nodded slightly in agreement with Caspian's statement from his laidback position. As his mind drifted off, he rested his hands over his stomach, trying to see if there were any interesting patterns in the stars.

"You know," Caspian paused, clasping his hands around his knee, "after Professor Cornelius told me his tales, I used to dream of going to the end of the world, and finding my father there." his gaze slowly left the sky and looked toward the east, which would be as dark as onyx if not for the stars that shone in it.

Edmund thought about that, thought about what he hoped to find at the end of the world himself. Who knew? – Perhaps all their questions would be answered, all their troubles resolved. So Edmund said the only thing he felt was right for the situation. "Maybe you will."

Caspian glanced down at Edmund. "Thank you."

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Eustace could not find a comfortable position, no matter how he tried to shift his wings or fold his legs. Sighing, he opened his eyes and stared off across the water, wondering what would happen to him. About an hour before, he had flown away from the camp on the beach so that he would not disturb his friends; now he was alone with his thoughts. A snarl of frustration rose in his throat as he thought about the coming morning. Everyone had been speaking of going on, and that they had to before the year and a day were up. Many had been hoping to catch only a glimpse of Aslan's Country.

He turned his head when he heard something behind him. He wished it wasn't so dark so that he could see better, but the moon had long ago been blotted out under passing clouds. He was startled to see the lion walking toward him, surrounded by what appeared to be moonlight, though there was no moon to be seen. It was silent, as Eustace expected it would be, as it came closer. Eustace was terrified; there was something about the majestic creature that made him remember just how horrible and ghastly he'd been since he'd fallen into Narnia.

Staring at the lion, not a single thought of killing it entered his mind. He feared the beast but couldn't find it in himself to run from it. In a manner any true dragon would have been ashamed of, Eustace curled himself up and closed his eyes tightly as the lion came close and stared into them, trying to become as small as possible, hoping it would go away.

"Son of Adam, rise and follow me."

Eustace opened one eye slowly, risking a peek. The lion had moved a few paces away but was still staring at him intently with golden eyes, eyes that seemed to hold all the beauty, knowledge and pain of the world.

"Son of Adam, follow me."

Without fully comprehending why he was obeying, Eustace rose to his feet. His claws scraped against the stone and rock of the little bluff he had been sleeping on as he loped after the lion and into the woods. They passed over mountains, through caves, over plains, but it was never dark, and Eustace never lost the path, for the moonlight glowed about the lion ahead of him, beaming out and alighting on everything nearby with a soft glow. Slowly, they began the ascent of a mountain Eustace had never seen in all his flights.

When they reached the top, the lion padded gracefully into the most beautiful, enchanted garden Eustace had ever seen. There was nothing to match its beauty. Flowers, bushes, trees and black, well-tended earth surrounded the dragon-boy. A wonderful scent filled the air, and Eustace wondered if the lion would think him weak to cry over the breathtaking wonder. In the midst of this was a well, or, more like a marble bath, wide and full, with water bubbling up from the unseen bottom. There was a vine-covered pavilion that arched up atop it, and shallow, wide marble steps leading into it.

How badly – like any dragon who loves water I expect – Eustace wanted to crawl down into the water and swim. He dared a glance at the lion, but he found the animal staring at him.

"Of course you may swim. But you cannot dirty the water; you must remove your filthy garments."

Eustace didn't even stop to think about how the lion was communicating to him; he just wanted to get into that refreshing-looking water and have a good swim. He was confused about removing any filthy garments, since he was a dragon and didn't wear clothes. But the new-found wisdom that he now possessed aided him in finding the answer. He realized that dragons, like snakes, must be able to cast their skins, so, with a great deal of will power, he began working at scraping all his scales off. After a while, he found he managed to scrape not only the scales off, but a nasty layer of his skin, which looked dark and evil in that beautiful place.

He finally felt a bit better, so he began crawling toward the pool, but he stumbled momentarily. Looking down, he realized he had stumbled over his own claws. And also, with a great deal of chagrin, he realized that his skin and scales were still as ugly and dirty looking as before. So he began scratching and clawing, but after three times, with similar results, he became discouraged, thinking he would never get to enjoy the wonderful water not many feet away.

"You cannot do it alone. I must help you. Will you let me is the question."

Eustace stared at the lion, whose eyes did not waver. The dragon-boy's gaze traveled to the lion's claws, which looked far sharper than his own. He was afraid but nodded. "Yes, I need your help," he admitted, closing his eyes and hanging his head a bit in shame, since he had to make someone help him; it seemed he couldn't do anything right here. The lion walked forward, and the first scratch he made in Eustace's thick skin hurt so much he thought the lion had gone too deep. Even though it hurt something awful, Eustace stayed silent, believing the lion knew what he was doing.

After a bit, the skin fell away, and the lion picked Eustace up by the back of his neck and put him into the pool as if he was no more than a kitten. At first, Eustace smarted from the pain of the water since he no longer had the thick dragon-skin covering him, but he soon forgot and began swimming around and having the first truly wonderful time since he'd arrived in Narnia. After some time passed –Eustace did not know if it was hours or seconds – he realized he was a boy once more. He gave a loud cry of excitement and joy, before slouching against the side of the pool.

"How I do wish I could go back and apologize to my cousins," Eustace thought with a bit of melancholy. He had been such a blundering, foolish idiot, and he honestly felt like he should go back to them begging for forgiveness instead of enjoying himself here. He didn't need to cause them more trouble by wandering off again.

"You have changed, Son of Adam. Remember, accept help when you need it, and do not be so hasty as to judge without understanding. Logical thinking does not always apply to every situation. For one day, there will come a situation you cannot control and logicality will not solve. Remember that there is more to what lies within, than the façade of the external. Until I see you again, Son of Adam."

Eustace felt as if he was being wrapped in a robe or towel, and everything seemed to be a bit of a blur. Suddenly, a loud roar filled the night, and things stopped swirling. Eustace stumbled to the forest floor. Coming a bit shakily to his feet, he realized he was wearing new clothes and that he was still a boy. He smiled remembering the lion and what the animal had told him. His eyes sparkled with delight when he saw the beach between the trees and the slight grey of early morning. With a whispered "Yes!" of pleasure, he darted off through the pines.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

Edmund was not certain what woke him, only that he could not sleep any longer. Rolling over, he propped himself up on his elbow to watch the sun rise from the east. He smiled a bit, remembering the first morning after he'd been crowned king. He had been too excited to sleep and had risen the next morning before the sun. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a sound coming from behind him in the direction of the tree-line that wrapped around the bay. He turned around abruptly, coming to a crouch, years of military ambushes and battles fought at night readying him for any sort of attack.

He reached for his sword, thinking "Are we sure we're the only ones on this lonely island after all?" Watching the shadow moving closer for a bit, he walked forward, unsheathing his blade. At first he thought it might be one of the Stars, but a careful glance told him that the figure was too short. He knew it wasn't anyone in his party, since Lucy, Serene, Drinian, Caspian, Rhince and Gael were all asleep behind him.

Edmund reached the edge of the wood as it emerged fully. Raising his sword, he was about to issue challenge when the strange figure spoke. "Ed- Edmund, is that you?"

The king was taken aback; who could possible know him on in this place – unless – what if it was some sort of temptation? "Yes, but who are you?" he said in a whisper, his stance guarded and his sword ready.

"Don't you know who I am? It's me – Eustace!" The boy stumbled out of the shadows, and finally Edmund could get a good look at him.

"By the lion, Eustace! But what the deuce happen–"

"Wait a minute, please," Eustace interrupted breathlessly. He lurched forward, and only Edmund's fast-thinking kept him from pitching headlong on the pine needle covered sand.

"What's wrong, Eustace; are you ill?" Edmund asked, leaning over to look into his cousin's face with concern. He waited and waited for Eustace to reply, until he began to worry that he'd fainted.

"You don't know… it's been ghastly… but it's all right now. Could we go and talk somewhere? I… I don't want to see the others just yet," Eustace said after a bit, slowly righting himself to meet his cousin's concerned stare.

"Well, I do suppose we could sit on the rocks – over there – and watch the sun rise, would that do?" Edmund asked, pointing a distance away at the shore, where it began to get rocky, and the cliffs tumbled down to meet the surf.

"That's good," Eustace agreed, slowly walking beside Edmund as the king sheathed his sword.

"You know." Edmund climbed up to sit next to his cousin, "It truly is good to see you again." He stared out at the waves and the slowly paling sky.

"You too," Eustace admitted, feeling rather awkward. He never thought the day would come when he'd actually want to see his cousin, and yet, here it was.

"So how was–"

"Could I explain what–" They both started speaking, and both broke off when the other began. They smiled hesitantly at each other. "You go first," Eustace said, motioning slightly.

"No, I was just going to ask if you felt comfortable with telling me what had happened," Edmund admitted.

"I want the others to be here when I tell the full story, but, well, something happened that I'd like you to help me understand, since you're the Wise King," Eustace admitted, giving the older boy a lopsided grin.

"Then speak, I am listening," Edmund said, crossing his arms and shifting into a comfortable position as he smiled benevolently.

"Well, see, I'm not exactly sure what happened. You know, I didn't even know I was a- a dragon until you all kept saying that word. I'd like to tell you how I stopped being one. If you don't mind," Eustace added hurriedly.

"Go on then," Edmund said with considerable patience, motioning with his hand.

"Well, last night I couldn't sleep, and I didn't want to wake any of you, so I flew off to be by myself. Being alone, well, I was faced with all sorts of facts, about how beastly I've been to all of you when you were so nice – by the way, I'm sorry for that."

"I accept your diplomatic apology, but you will be giving it to the others later," Edmund said with a grin when Eustace paused.

"I will," Eustace agreed giving a cheerful laugh, a laugh that sounded different from any Edmund had heard the younger boy utter before. "Before I go on, I'm not sure about this – I think it could all have been a dream. So, there I was, couldn't sleep, didn't know what was to become of me except that I should have to remain here in Narnia on this island for the rest of my days, when I heard some noise. Looking up, there was this huge lion, and he was coming out of the trees. I was so scared – imagine me, a dragon, and the fiercest creature alive – afraid of a little old lion.

"But it wasn't as normal as you'd think; there was no moon last night, but there was moonlight all around this beast; it wasn't dark. It was aweing – and fearfully beautiful at the same time. I remember thinking that he might kill me, and I never thought once about killing him or burning him. I was just afraid of it – if you can understand," Eustace tried to explain, glancing at Edmund.

"I think I can," Edmund said quietly, hand under his chin as he recalled a name that had sent fear up his spine once.

"It simply stared at me, no reproach or disappointment in its eyes, just staring, like he could see into my soul. So I curled up tight and closed my eyes, hoping it would go away. But it only came closer, and then he told me to rise and follow him." Eustace paused to catch his breath.

"You mean he spoke?" Edmund asked, remembering his first encounter, and how He had somehow spoken to his soul, without words, but yet, with words.

"Oh, I don't know, I don't remember thinking all too hard about it, just that I must follow him. I knew I'd have to do it, so I got up and followed, and Edmund, a small part of me just simply wanted to so badly that even now I can't describe the feeling. So it led me a long way into the mountains, farther than ever I'd flown. Then we climbed a tall mountain, but I never thought of flying; I just doggedly followed. I'd never seen this mountain in all of my flights, and when I got to the top… Oh Edmund, it was wonderful. So lovely I didn't know whether to cry or sing for joy. Such a lovely garden it was…" Eustace trailed off thoughtfully, a smile of fond remembrance on his face.

"Do go on," Edmund encouraged after several quiet minutes.

"Well, there were trees and bushes. In the middle was a lovely well – well, more like a bath – with wide, shallow marble steps going down into it. How I wanted to run and climb down into it for a cool, refreshing swim to clear my head. Then, this is the fantastic part – the lion said I could, but I had to undress first, he said I couldn't get the water dirty with my clothes. And just as I was going to say I couldn't, because dragons don't have clothes, I realized we have skins and scales like a snake does, and snakes cast their skins – why not a dragon too?

"So I scratched and scratched. But try as I might, I couldn't get off that ugly stuff. I was doomed to stare evermore at the wonderful looking water just feet away. I tried it again, noticing I was just so dirty. I peeled it off, it felt lovely, you wouldn't believe, but there was another layer. Then, as I was getting discouraged, the lion spoke and said – but I don't know if he spoke – 'you'll have to let me undress you.' I was terrified of his claws, I can tell you, but I was so desperate for a good swim I was willing to try just about anything.

"Well, the very first tear he made went so deep, I thought he'd cut me to the heart; it hurt so. The only thing that made it bearable was the pleasure of feeling the nasty stuff peel right off. You know – if you've ever picked at a scab. It hurts, but it is such fun to see it cleaning up."

"I know exactly what you mean," Edmund said, smiling to himself, remembering how he had felt after his redemption.

"Well, there was that nasty skin lying there on the ground, looking all the nastier and uglier. I was cleaned up now, a good deal smaller than I'd been. Then he caught me up and tossed me gently into the water like I was a cub or a kitten. I didn't like that at first, being so sensitive now that I'd got no skin. But after a bit, it was lovely and simply delicious to swim around in. It was then I realized I was a boy again; I felt so overjoyed, and I'd never been happier in my life to be me.

"You'd think me an absolute phony now though, and I know I'm not that strong compared to you or Caspian; but still, I do so like being myself! Then, I wished that I could go back to all of you and ask forgiveness, realizing how silly I'd been. He must have dressed me; at least, that's what it felt like. He said a few important things to me, and, here I am, dressed in these clothes and back with all of you. Which is what makes me think it was a dream," Eustace admitted.

"It… wasn't a dream," Edmund disagreed, shaking his head slightly.

"Why not?" Eustace asked, glancing at his cousin curiously.

"Well, there are the clothes you're wearing for one. And you have been, er, un-dragoned, for another."

"What do you think it was then?" Eustace muttered aloud, not really expecting an answer to his voiced thought.

"I… I think you've seen Aslan," Edmund admitted with a secretive smile, as if he knew something wonderful.

"Aslan is a lion? I heard all of you mention that name, but I didn't really dwell on it. I hated it. But I was hating everything then."

"Everyone has seen Aslan, I don't think you could come to Narnia and not see him. But of all of us, Lucy's seen him most; I don't understand why, but I think it's because of how she believes. After all, she was the one to find this place." Edmund paused. "I was rather callous to you myself, Eustace; I didn't realize how similar we are in character; I was blinded by frustration. But you should be thankful. You were only annoying, I was a traitor my first time here." Edmund stared off over the waves, the wind ruffling his dark hair slightly.

Eustace watched his cousin, shocked by the words he had uttered. Edmund, a traitor? It hardly seemed possible! Edmund, the one who never lost his head, always admitted the facts, who was pretty wise when it came down to making decisions, or looking at something with realism? Eustace watched his cousin in the silence, yearning to know the details but knowing that was probably something for another day. His time as a dragon had changed him, so he said after much consideration, "Well, I don't think I want to hear it then."

"Perhaps that is best," Edmund conceded, nodding slowly. "But if ever you enter Narnia again with someone you find annoying or stubborn, don't act as I have; cast aside your differences and try to understand them. Do this for me, could you?" Edmund asked, the corners of his mouth quirking slightly as he turned to look at Eustace.

"Well, I don't know, I still have a bit to work on; but I'll try," Eustace complied, grinning brightly when he noticed the sun peeking over the rim of the ocean in the east.

They talked until everyone began waking. They talked of the Golden Age, of Edmund's last adventure in Narnia, helping Caspian, and many other things, subjects ranging far outside of what Eustace had ever believed his cousin capable of discussing. Eustace was shown a new side of Edmund in those small hours of the morning. He realized that Edmund was quite a wise person, wiser perhaps than anyone he'd ever met. He could ask Edmund the most complex questions he could think of, and he'd answer them blithely, as if it was something simple. He didn't even realize what Eustace was doing until he'd answered the hardest question Eustace could put to him and made the younger boy all but incapable of speech.

"What's wrong?" he'd asked.

"You! I-I mean nothing really, just, well, you're smarter than I'd thought," Eustace managed with a slight stutter.

"It's the air here; it does something to us when we come back. Live in it, and you never really notice. Leave, and you remember for all your life. Things in England I can't recall, well, I remember them perfectly here. When I go back to England, I don't think you'd be able to ask me all those questions; I couldn't answer them." Edmund smiled, brushing off the praise easily enough, but Eustace wasn't taking that as an answer.

"I can see why you'd make a brilliant lawyer. No one could win against you!"

"High praise, coming from someone who said a few months ago that no such thing was possible," Edmund joked, looking pointedly at Eustace, his voice light with merriment.

"I was an idiot, remember? I thought I was so important!" Eustace laughed, remembering his arrogant self with embarrassment and amusement.

"You are important, just not in the way you thought. Aslan called you here for a reason, so find it," Edmund pointed out, standing.

"I guess you're right," Eustace agreed, jumping down the rocks behind Edmund. As they walked back up the beach, Eustace ran ahead of the older boy, marveling over things he had before not taken time to look at. His laugh rang out over the shore as he reveled in being human once more. The sun rose fully from the water, rays dancing across its surface, bathing the waves in golden-silver light, like diamonds reflecting fire; it was a sight nearly too dazzling to behold.

A/N:

Well, I like this chapter, very much.

First Things First:

I had a lovely Beta for this chapter; Jesus' girl 4ever, to whom I am eternally grateful! She has helped me with all the punctuation (which was immense, I'm amazed she could stay so on point about it. She was thorough and quick, which also surprised me!). So, a shout out to her, if you will.

Hopefully she'll be helping me in the future.

IMPORTANT: I noticed that my chapters are far too long, so, I will be shortening them to about 3-4,000 words from now on. Perhaps 5,000 if I think the events/plot cannot go any other way. Hopefully they won't be so overwhelming to read (A/Ns don't count in the word count).

I liked writing the end of this chapter, I got more of a brotherly feel from Eustace and Edmund, like I always got when I read the books after Eustace changed, I always felt this subliminal current, emotional-type feeling, that they grew close, you know, more like brothers after sharing this adventure together, and being so similar and all. That they bonded a bit from their conversation on the beach.

Also, as I was writing the Edmund-Eustace scene, I realize that Edmund might be slightly OOC. But that's because I'm trying to make him seem older. As he says, Narnian air does something to him, it ages his memory and character. We don't really know how Edmund might act as a Narnian adult, or even as an adult from our world, because C.S. Lewis didn't give us that image, he made them forever young, but forever mature. I'm taking rather a creative license in this area here.

Eustace might seem OOC, but he's not, the majority of his lines in this segment are from the books, with my personal twist to sort of (I don't know a better way to say this) make them my own, yet still give them the film/C.S. Lewis-iness too.

I think - as I've probably mentioned before - that when you use both film and novel characters in this writing, you really can't miss your mark. I sometimes watch the movies, and then read the books directly after (or at the same time), and think about how much they contrast/compliment each other, and that to blend them would make them my own, while still keeping them IC.

On another note, I believe the mentioning of Arran's age was a bit of a surprise for everyone. I'd been tossing about the idea of them aging every ten years, but recently, I've come back on it and elaborated it, making it that once they reach a certain age, they stop 'aging' so to speak for a couple thousand years, and then slowly age again. It's an ongoing process, which I will work on. Any discrepancies will be ironed out in the future.

ILoveFanfiction: You are wonderful to have kept on reading this story after so long, thanks! I'm so glad you caught up, I promise to not do such agonizingly loooong chapters again {if I do shorter chapters, there'll be more of them, but at a faster rate!}. Not that I'm going to shorten them much.

I will fix the errors as soon as I can!

Yes, 'Before The Mast' {BTM} will finish out Arran and Reep's story {progress is slow, but it's coming, believe you me, it's coming}. But I'll mention things in this Cycle every now and then {I'm calling it a 'cycle' now because quintet was the wrong tern for a 4-book series}.

I thought that the whole justice thing really fit Edmund. I hate reading a guilt-tripping Ed, but one who carries a small bit of it? Fine, just as long as he's not too OOC. So this makes sense that he'd kinda blame himself, right? I dunno, you tell me.

You were spot-on with the quotes pretty much!

The first one is for... **thinks about this for the first time really, really deeply** ...basically a bit of everyone. Caspian, Susan, Edmund, Serene, Lucy, Eustace, Reep, Gavan, etc... You get it I'm sure.

Yes, Durin's Price is fabulous! I love it, never read something so IC before, especially a "What If" {at least that's what I call stories like that}. It's not all about the romance, nor all about the action, it's just like the films, and I'm really enjoying it! {surprisingly, it's rather inspiring, not to mention good incentive for me to get on the stick and write my own stories}.

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