Chapter Thirty-One: To Sit At His Table

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~ Narnia ~

The days glided passed. The stars grew brighter and the constellations stranger with each passing day and night. Lucy and Gavan would talk often of them, Gavan telling her that this was more than likely the most they had ever been seen by mortals since the creation of Lumea. Sometimes, the weather was so pleasant in the evenings that they would all rather sleep on deck than in the cabins or sleeping quarters.

Caspian and Edmund talked occasionally on these nights, but it wasn't as companionable as before, it was more strained than either one was willing to admit, than either one wanted to notice. Though their willful ignorance did not make their argument on Deathwater Island go away, only continue to widen the rift between them, it helped them to converse with one another. Caspian confided his worries in the Just King and Edmund in turn told him to keep his mind on Aslan, telling him that to become concerned with failing was to be tempted in an off-handed way.

As always, Caspian listened, wondering how Edmund could have such faith after all they had undergone. But then, Edmund had lived a nightmare to tell the tale; he should have faith that would astound even the most devout priest.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

As the sun rose the following morning, Zephyr was standing on deck, staring at the horizon, wondering what lay beyond the sun, past the sky, when he saw something low and dark between them and the edge of the sea. Narrowing his eyes, he took several steps forward, trying to determine what the object was. Instantly, his blue eyes widened, and he stepped back. They had found the island that the Lords had failed to discover. Ahead of them, still unknown to the mortals, lay Ramandu's Island.

He turned sharply, running toward the stairs leading below decks to tell Arran what he had seen. By his guess, the island would not be visible to a human eye for at least a day; tomorrow morning everyone would know. The Stars' goal of protecting them would become harder by a wide margin.

"You've just seen the island?" Arran jumped to his feet, blonde hair flying as he brushed past his brother and headed for the stairs.

"Yes, this should become interesting after what Coriakin told us. You truly think that Caspian will do it, that Susan will do it?" Zephyr asked as he followed after his brother.

"Of course they'll do it; don't be stupid! To protect Narnia, Caspian would do anything, even die, I'd think," Arran replied snappishly, his temper rising. He and Zephyr had been clashing on many subjects of late, Gavan always barely keeping them from getting into a battle that might kill one of them.

"I wasn't being stupid! I was merely pointing out that Caspian's a father and a king; Susan is not just a woman, but a mother; they might react differently to the information they'll be told than we Stars are expecting. Don't bite my head off for seeing other options," Zephyr retorted stubbornly.

"What I wouldn't give for unlimited space and quite a bit of fire!" Arran hissed under his breath, scowling as he made it to the deck.

"I'd destroy you first," Zephyr muttered, pushing his brother roughly as he walked past.

"I'd like to watch you," Arran tossed back, turning on Zephyr.

"Oh, shut up. Cool your temper and go look at the island. I don't want to fight like this here," Zephyr muttered, turning away when a sailor began watching them curiously. Arran said nothing before walking to the bow. Once there, just as Zephyr had said, he could see Ramandu's Island between the ocean and sky, the last safe haven before the End of the World. The beginning of the end. He smiled dryly at that.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

"Your Majesty, Caspian, land on the horizon!" Drinian shook his friend and king awake, his voice cultivating an undertone of urgency.

"Drinian…" Caspian slowly moved to a sitting position, "What was that? I didn't catch it, forgive me." The king closed his eyes, running his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his face as he tried to keep from yawning, before looking at the Lord. He had not slept well these past nights; nightmares and dreams of his father gave him little peace.

"Arran says we have arrived," Drinian said quietly, moving back a step as Caspian came to his feet.

"And he has led us true even after Deathwater and everything else," Caspian pointed out, noticing Drinian's stiffness when he mentioned the pirate. "I thought you liked him," he added, pulling on one of his boots.

"I don't know what to think, except that I missed the chance to hang the liar when I had it; I won't do that again," Drinian replied, his eyes moving from Caspian's to stare at the floor beneath him.

"Don't let a moment of weakness on Arran's part ruin a possibly good friendship; I nearly did that with High King Peter. You will regret it if you allow it to happen," Caspian said wisely, resting his hand on Drinian's shoulder before moving to wake Edmund. Drinian nodded, though the king couldn't see it, before turning and going back above deck.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

By the time everyone had spilled out onto the deck, the sun was rising in the east, giving backlighting to the island ahead of them, in its path. Even from this distance, it was beautiful. The only sound that could be heard was the crash of waves against the hull and the distant sound of waterfalls which shone as silver in the rising sun's rays as they fell upon the island. It was mountainous, but not as Dragon Island or Deathwater Island had been. Most of it, they would come to find, was hills and gently rolling, grass-covered slopes.

As they sailed closer, Edmund sometimes thought he could glimpse some sort of ruins among the plants and vegetation, but then he would always look again and see nothing. The island was so quiet; the sound of gulls could not be heard as they sailed around the formidable shores. But strange cries, like those of jungle fowl, Eustace declared, could occasionally be heard echoing from the high cliffs and forests. It took most of the day to find a safe port to weigh anchor at, and even then it was little more than in indention in the island, and the water further in was too shallow to draw the Dawn Treader up, which meant that they had to lower the longboats to reach the shore.

By the time they finally had settled enough to begin speculating on going to the shore, the sun was falling into the west. But it was finally reasoned out that if Aslan wanted them to come to this island, they could not pause for even a moment; who knew what that sort of momentary hesitation could mean if the dark magic was as strong as Coriakin and the Stars hinted?

Edmund took his torch and wore the blade Lord Bern had given him, while Serene and Lucy carried the other two. Slowly, since evening was settling in and none of them knew what strange animals might lurk on the island, they made their way inland. The island must have been hundreds of years old, Edmund surmised later, touching the great trunk of a tree that towered over the small party and covered the darkening sky, blotting out most of the setting sun's rays. They moved further inland with care.

Not more than twenty minutes from the shore they came upon the first of the ruins. Two columns stood covered in ivy and the roots of the age-old trees grew around their bases. The columns had been carved into two women, with their hands raised toward the heavens. Their faces bore dignified smiles, and the chipped, darkened carvings that made for their clothes and the diadems gracing their brows were in the style of queens.

"Stars," Zephyr breathed. As he whispered the word reverently, murmuring something in his peoples' tongue, everyone else peered closer at the columns that they passed, and noticed it too.

"Who were they?" Lucy whispered to Gavan, suddenly feeling that she mustn't speak aloud; the same feeling one gets in a cathedral when faced with beauty of centuries passed.

"They are part of the Elder, great Stars among the heavens, but you might know them as some of the brightest stars in the sky, part of The Leopard or The Spearhead. Lady Sarav and Lady Vesi are our names for them," Gavan explained as they walked between the two columns. Lucy nodded her thanks, staring off into the darkening landscape of trees and vines that had overtaken the place. As they followed the faded stone path, almost nonexistent in the vines and ferns covering over it, Lucy turned to catch a parting glimpse of the columns, wondering what this place had looked like before time had seen fit to erode it.

With Edmund now in the lead, using his torch to light the way, Caspian beside him, they came to a large tree that had grown over the path in a natural arch, green lichens and moss on its bark and hanging from its branches. Briefly Edmund flashed the beam of light over a crumbling statue of a gryphon with its head bowed, beak wide to eternally release a silent screech; its mate on the right of the path had long ago crumbled away. They passed a bit hesitantly through the tree and stopped at a bridge, underneath which ran one of the many streams that seemed to spread in a complex network over the island.

Edmund glanced at Caspian, before resting his free hand over his hilt, tightening his grip, and walking ahead of the party. The misty spray from the waterfall fell lightly over the group as they crossed the ancient, rail-less stone bridge. But soon enough they were passed it and walking down another old stone path.

"I'm beginning to wonder what went on here to cause such ruin. I see no sign of any battles of the past, but it lies as if torn down in siege," Edmund remarked under his breath as they passed several small statues of various Narnian beings, most, however, were Stars.

"I know," Caspian whispered in reply, the sleeve of his shirt brushing against a small stone statue in an overgrown, ivy-covered niche; it was of a man aiming a spear that had long ago been broken off near the tip, as he walked abreast of Edmund.

Edmund swallowed as he walked over yet another bridge; this one, however, was far wider, and curiously more elegant than the last, with stone balustrades and intricate carvings, even statues erected on pedestals every few feet. When they crossed the rather large expanse, Edmund's light found two thick pillars which trees had wrapped their roots around and taken over. Shining his light over them to check for animals or snakes, he noticed that at the bottom of both pillars was the carving of tales covered in plates of armor or dragon scales wrapping around the base. He said nothing on the matter and moved on, though his curiosity was piqued as to why dragons had been included in the designs.

The path had widened considerably, but again Edmund said nothing of the fact that this way they traveled had been made for four to walk abreast with space for another to go between. Many things in Narnia had been made that way during his rule, so it had almost escaped him until he realized that this ruin was thousands of years too old to have been made in readiness for him, his siblings, and Aslan to walk down the pathway.

"Edmund," Caspian's voice could barely be heard, and Edmund knew he was lucky to even have noticed it at all. He glanced at the king to his right. "Look." Caspian pointed with the tip of Rhindon, raising the sword a bit from his side at the direction of the ruined hall they were walking into. So Edmund looked, his light going ahead to illuminate what lay before him, though the moonlight and starlight suddenly seemed bright enough for all to have clear view.

Before the party of the Dawn Treader lay the most glorious feast Edmund had ever seen, rivaling and surpassing even the bounty and majesty of the feasts Peter had spread on his tables in his courts as High King. It was the most wonderful, queer sight Edmund had ever thought he'd see, stranger than a whole country in a wardrobe, even stranger than a painting coming to life and nearly drowning him. He stared in fascination before moving forward almost without his own volition. And, without question, without raising his voice and telling him to consider his actions, Caspian followed.

Those behind the two kings followed also.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

The table, which stretched from end to end in the long, roofless hall, was set to perfection, something Susan had always overseen when she had been residing at Cair in the Golden Age. Every napkin, every setting, had to be placed just so, else it would never had done for the Gentle Queen. She, like Edmund, had always been a good ambassador, because she knew that first impressions mattered. But this table, oh, this table, was more elegantly set than even Susan could have attempted. The dark red cloth that covered the carved stone was rich and expensive, golden brocade sewn around the edge, silver thread embroidered into it in Old Narnian fashion, telling tales simply with spidery pictures.

The food seemed surprisingly fresh, melons, pineapples, peaches, nectarines, grapes, figs. Some of the bounty was Narnian and some so beautifully strange the party knew it must have come from some land far beyond the sun. It all decorated the table on tiered stands. Cakes, tarts, pies, custards, both for dessert and dinner, were spread along the length of the table; molded into designs of ships, dragons and beasts so strange that the names of which were all but lost in the eyes of their beholders. Venison, beef, pork, pheasant, peacock, turkey, and mutton also lay spread before them. And the wine; cases made of cut glass were filled with dark and light liquors both.

The silverware and the dinnerware were stunning in and of themselves, goblets, glasses, tumblers, all made of gold, silver, or glass, all so carefully wrought and designed that they could only have been made by a skilled smith. Forks, knives, and spoons, also, were of the fine metals. It would have made the wealthiest of men cry to see such beauty. But this party was not so easily brought to tears, nor was it quick to lay into the sumptuous feast before their eyes. Caspian glanced at Edmund as they each walked one side of the table. Without a word, Edmund drew his blade, his cautious guard rising. Better for a man to be prepared than to die without warning, caught staring at a dinner he could surely not eat.

They all were standing on the flagged stones when Edmund shone his light towards the end of the table. When everyone, already alert because of the strangeness of this place, set their eyes on the last chairs, they jumped like startled deer, each and every one of them pulling swords, daggers or dirks and pointing them at the table's end. Susan, standing near Serene at the back of the group, looked over shoulders and past heads to see what had set off her friends and family so. She, too, nearly jumped at the sight before her eyes.

The last chairs were not empty.

They were not alone.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

At first, everyone wondered what sort of creatures they were, so wrapped up in hair and thorny, dead vines. Edmund and Caspian walked forward slowly, glancing at one another, unsure if they were being foolhardy or wise to approach the silent beings. As everyone moved a bit closer, they could slowly see that the strange creatures were, in fact, human beings. But time and age had added the frightening appearance to them. Their hair and beards grew long and weaved among the objects on their end of the table, along with the vines and thorns that twined around them.

Edmund shone the light on the one nearest Caspian, knowing that if they were the Lords, he would know. Nodding a fraction in thanks, Caspian leaned over the table a bit, still cautious in case some sort of enchantment lay over the men. The hand of the first man was laying on the table, long, untended nails and thin, tapered fingers looking ghoulish in the light from the torch.

"Lord Revilian," he declared with a sigh, pitying their fate but at the same time relieved to have found the last missing Lords. He looked towards the next unkempt man. "Lord Mavramorn," he paused, looking away when Drinian carefully sheathed his blade. The excuse was small but enough reason to allow him to compose himself and to not have to stare that the ghastly sight of the three men. Lucy brought him back when she pushed the hair and vines out of the man's face on Edmund's side. "Lord Argoz," he informed her.

Everyone stared at the men, but Lucy jumped back with a light cry of surprise. Edmund whirled, wondering what had startled his sister. Caspian leaned over the table, staring intently at the other men with something of morbid fascination on his face. "He's breathing." He glanced at the other men, his mind lost in thought as he tried to comprehend what could have possibly done this to the Lords.

"So are they," Edmund remarked, shining the light on the two other men sitting at the table. "They're under a spell," he declared momentarily, the answer coming to him faster than the others, he having seen several spells in his life, many his own, but the most dangerous Jadis's.

Caspian stared at Edmund and Lucy; the queen glanced at the table, and not seconds after, Edmund's eyes followed before returning to meet Caspian's gaze. They said nothing, but what they were thinking was clear in their eyes and on their faces. "It's the food!" He shouted, turning to his men when he heard the sounds of dining ware being touched. The sailors recoiled from the table, dropping a few fruits from their hands, paling in fright.

"There's too much magic about here; I say we turn back and out oars for Narnia," one sailor whispered uneasily to another man beside him who was trying to control his own nerves.

"It could be a trap, and we've fallen into it; make no mistake," Cruickshanks the dwarf muttered, running his hand down one of the braids in his great red beard.

"Quiet; let Their Majesties think," Drinian ordered, before he himself turned and walked down to join the monarchs at the far end of the table as they deliberated.

"Well, we can't eat the food," Edmund remarked, staring at the table spread.

"Even if we could, I wouldn't touch it to save my life now," Drinian declared, coming to stand beside Caspian.

"There is powerful magic here," Serene agreed, looking about.

"We should all just go back to the ship." The whisper was picked out of the many fearful hushed voices of the sailors.

"Yes, back to ship, back to ship." The murmurs of the worried sailors were eerie in the darkness, and made Eustace glance behind him every so often out of fear.

"Well, I think that on the matter of crew and company, they should indeed return to ship," Reep spoke up, darting toward them from among the feast on the table until he was standing in the midst of the Sleepers. "But I will stay here to see what comes with morning light or the witching hour of midnight. It shouldn't be that I return to Narnia knowing I did not unravel a mystery such as this." The Mouse's words were brave, and made Edmund and Caspian smile a bit.

"Why on earth would you do that?" Eustace exclaimed, staring incredulously at Reep.

"Because this seems that it might be a very great adventure, and I will not know of myself to abandon it because of silly fears. If I trust in Aslan, I shouldn't fear a single, solitary thing!" The Mouse declared, pulling his small blade and brandishing it high. Caspian had to grin at the Mouse's enthusiasm; he was correct; if Aslan wanted them to come here, why should they suddenly allow their fears to prevail? Slowly the others nodded in agreement, but before they could continue on the subject, the sailors began shouting and pulling their weapons, the hands of some unsteady as they wielded their blades.

"In the name of Tash, what is that?"

"Get back, everyone get back!" a faun cried, pushing some of his fellow sailors towards the edges of the hall, away from the table.

"What's wrong?" Edmund's gaze traveled quickly over the huddled group of sailors standing in the shadows.

"Look!" Susan noticed it seconds after the sailors and pointed upwards at the rapidly falling blue sphere. As they had talked, the strange constellations overhead had grown brighter, and a single star had begun falling toward them; the sailors had only noticed it when they realized it was the same blue star that had led them here. Everyone watched it in startled awe, knowing they should move but wanting to see what would come of the strange happening.

Instead of hitting the ground and causing an explosion, it slowly stopped. When the first tendril of blue light that emanated from it touched the flagstone of the hall floor, it slowly grew and took shape in nearly unbearable blue-white light. Everyone was forced to close their eyes and look away when the vibrant flash of light flooded the open space; when next they looked, a young woman stood in the sphere's place. Both sailors and monarchs lowered their weapons, feeling that, as strange as this was, she must be someone of importance.

Her long wavy hair was pale gold, and her eyes were crystal blue, not unlike Arran's or his brothers'. Her clothes, which reminded Eustace of the Greek styles he'd seen in a few history books, were pale silver-blue and white; the garment was sleeveless, leaving her arms bare, so you could see the bracelets and armbands of intricately designed silver she wore. She bore the unmistakable ethereal beauty of the immortal Stars. The blue light that emanated from her never seemed to dim or pulse; it was consistent and calming, as was the smile that spread across her face when she gazed at all of them in turn.

"Travelers of Narnia, who have come far to find Aslan's Table, are you not hungry? Do you not drink because it is that you are not thirsty?" She asked, her voice soft but seeming to echo into fathomless whispers. For a moment she seemed genuinely concerned, as if the fact that they, being mortals, were not eager to partake of the bounty before them was disappointing.

"It is not that we do not hunger or thirst, Alaara, but that we fear the food before us to be enchanted; it is too marvelous to be without some sort of magic." Arran quickly spoke for his friends, knowing it might take them more than mere seconds to break away from the surely entrancing, immortal beauty of the Star.

"You. I know you are no mortal man; for you call me 'lady' in the tongue of those that dance in the heavens." The girl stared at him with a searching gaze.

"I am not a mortal man; neither are my brothers. We are half-Stars, voyaging with our friends so that they will not be always at the mercies of the cruelty of this magic ocean and the wild lands of the End of the World," Arran agreed.

"It is good that they may rest safe, knowing you three shall keep watch over the darkness," the Star admitted. Arran nodded, ending the topic of discussion.

"This table is not enchanted, Travelers. This food is to be for you; there is enough for all who are sent or come in Aslan's name to his Table. Please, eat," she coaxed, raising her hand toward the table in a beseeching manner. As she did, some magic, perhaps hers or perhaps it belonged to the hall, lit the candles up and down the table, startling the less brave souls that decided to come back into the hall.

"Wait!" Edmund's voice stopped everyone again from moving closer. "If there is nothing the matter with this food, then what happened to them? What are you, for I look at you and should wish to believe everything you say, but there was a Witch I once knew who could evoke the same sentiment – how can we trust you or know you're a friend?"

The silence that hung over the Stars and the company was long. "I'm afraid you cannot know," said the girl. "You can only believe – or not." The smile that followed, however sweet and gentle, was not comforting after such words, and for a moment everyone looked at each other, wondering what they should do next.

~|:Xo0oX:|~

"Sire," Reep's voice could be heard, but the Mouse was not seen until he had jumped upon the table, standing in the midst of the feast. "Sire," he began again, motioning to Caspian, "of your courtesy, please fill this goblet I hold with wine – for I've not the strength to lift the flagon that contains it – so I may drink to the lady."

Caspian shook his head slightly; but did as Reepicheep asked. Once this had been done, the Mouse raised the golden glass between his paws and turned to the Star. "Dear Lady, might I know your name?" he asked with a whiskered, mousy smile

"Of course, I am Liliandil. Daughter of Ramandu." She smiled back.

"Very well then," Reep raised the small glass as he spoke. "To the fair Liliandil, daughter of Ramandu, our faithful guide appointed by Aslan." He swallowed all the cup contained and then moved down to a chair and began eating a small portion of peacock and fruit fit for any Mouse leader. Not long after, when the sailors began to see that nothing happened to the Mouse, they, too, came forward and began serving themselves and eating.

"Please, what has happened to them that cause them to sleep?" Lucy asked, gesturing at the Telmarine Lords. She and her siblings and friends were not yet eating, since excitement and the mystery of the place had kept them from feeling especially hungry.

"Many years ago, they arrived on these shores. Their vessel was fit to be no more than driftwood, but once it was very fine. They found the table, and, before eating a single thing, began talking. The talking turned to words said in anger, and they began arguing that they should not stop here but should go on. One turned away. In his blind rage he reached for the Stone Knife, intending to kill his comrades. Violence is forbidden at Aslan's Table, and so they were sent to sleep. And sleeping they shall remain until the enchantment is broken," Liliandil explained.

"Stone Knife?" Susan asked, repeating the words slowly. They were hauntingly familiar.

"The Knife of Stone, don't you remember?" the Star asked softly.

"I-I think I do, at least, something about it I can recall," Lucy admitted, frowning as she tried to remember.

"It is the same knife that the White Witch used to slay Aslan upon the Stone Table long ago," Liliandil clarified. "It was brought here to be kept in honor while the world lasts."

At her words, Edmund looked away, head bowed. The pain he felt upon hearing those words was still sharp, and he felt as if some old wound had been reopened and ached twofold, just when he thought it had begun to heal. Serene came to his side, resting her hand comfortingly on his arm. "It is not something you should still feel anguish for; what's done is done, as a wise one once said." She smiled up at him.

"Why is this called Aslan's Table?" Caspian asked, lifting his gaze from the object in question to meet the Star's blue eyes.

"It was set here by his bidding, at least this is what I was told," said Liliandil, "for those who sail this far. Many of my people, and many others still, call this island the last haven, or the gateway to the World's End, for though you can sail further, this is the beginning of the end."

"But, um, how does the food keep?" Eustace asked practically as he ate some turkey and drank a bit of sweet wine.

Liliandil smiled benevolently at the blonde boy. "It is eaten and renewed every day; this you will see."

"My Lady," Caspian still was slightly uncomfortable with addressing her by name, "We were told that we must lay seven swords at this table, and put an end to the green mist that plagues the ocean, threatening to overtake all light. How also could we release these men from their enchantment?" he asked.

Her face grew grave at his words, and the light that glowed around her seemed to shine ominously for but a moment, as if something angered her. "My father will shed light on this dark path you must follow," she replied softly, turning and motioning into the darkness towards what seemed to be a wall of earth, rocks, roots and grass at one end of the long hall.

While they had been talking, the stars and the moon had grown fainter, revealing the grey lightening of the sky in the east. As the sun's rays, weak at first, began pulling it up from the waves, they could finally see the door in the hillside.

"Look, he comes now," Liliandil said in answer to the cries and shouts of curious exclamation.

A/N:

Well, hello! I haven't been able to UD on Tuesday because the website kept bringing up a 503, I just can't stand those… Anywhoo, I'm back now! (Perhaps my internet will be fixed and we can get back to our normally scheduled program!) You know, this story is so close to being over, it's, just, Wow! I feel so excited and nervous at the same time, I'm going to be starting the third book in this series! Ok, ok, I'm going to calm down and get down to business.

Word meanings for the Star language:

Alaara: Lady, my lady, ladies, etc. Plural form depends on the situation. Usually the plural is 'Alaaral'

Sarav: Ocean, nightfall, twilight.

Vesi: silver, light, stars.

Jesus girl 4ever was my Beta (as usual) and she fixed all the errors in this chapter (I wrote this one in a whirl, not sure if it's good even now, but there were quite a few silly mistakes that she kindly pointed out to me for me to fix). So, as usual, rounds of applause all around for her!

So, this chapter did not type up like I planned (for some reason Caspian, Susan, and Liliandil refused to cooperate and do what I wanted. Well, I guess that's the way it is sometimes), but I'm okay with that now. It's still not bad, all things aside. I mean, I don't think it was the best it could be on all fronts, I have written better, but it's gonna have to work; I'm simply dying to get started on the third book! (I've got some ideas written down but nothing on Microsoft Word, yet.)

So, the ruins and the dragon thing… well, I got a bit, um… what's the word?… wistful? No, but it'll do for now… Anyway, I was sort of wandering, just letting my imagination go off thinking of how I pictured the ruins in my head when I had read the book and all... So what you've just read is what I saw (in my head, I mean).

Arran and Zephyr get on each other's nerves, apparently; quite frankly they're getting on mine, too. Sometimes they act extremely childish for their age. But I can handle it, can't I, guys? **glances at them over shoulder** At least until the end of this book, then I won't have to deal with their shenanigans anymore. I'll have a whole new set to deal with... (please note my sarcasm)

Small Author's Secret: I'm thinking of doing something with my Star history in the future, something to connect all these bits and pieces that I touch lightly in this Cycle. Perhaps someday, perhaps never, this chronicle will come together. Depends greatly on the insistence from you readers.

So, umm... I loved the Liliandil moments of this chapter the best, mainly because, of, well, reasons. Frankly, (give me some slack for what I'm about to write, it's 1:57 a.m. and I've drunk - snitched, as she insists - my sis's coffee) I love working with female Stars, they're a lot less insistent (pushy) and stubborn, mulish, block-headed, annoying, aggravating, etc, you get the idea. Besides that, I think that Liliandil (Ramandu's daughter for the purists) never gets enough face time, both in the books and in the film.

That's about it, anymore questions, please ask and I shall be sure to answer as best I can!

ILoveFanfiction:

I'm glad you're well! Always so nice to hear... good health and good days; the two most wonderful things to hear of from a faraway friend.

I'm so happy you think the chapter is good! I love it when you say that, it's really up-building to know that someone thinks my derelict junk that I create from my wild (possibly disturbed, since I've read sooo much) imagination as something worth time to read!

I know, I know, the Withermere thing was patchy, and not my greatest. I realized that that was flimsy, but I was being lazy and didn't want to go fix it. Withermere (you know by now): Arran's father, a full Star.

I'm going to try to put in more Lucy/Gavan before the end of this book, though that's looking to be tough (for a bit). Yes, you'll just have to see what happens with Lucy/Gavan, but, actually, it's no. I'll leave it at that, (Who knows what I'm saying 'no' about?) lol.

I know, I feel really cruel about my choice for Edmund and Peter, but, well, that's the way this went in my head; once I took that path there was no coming back, I'm afraid. But everything will work out. Pity everything isn't always roses and sunshine. Don't know where I heard that phrase from, but I like it...

I can't believe how close we are, either! I mean, it seems like only yesterday I started this story! You know?

I wish they had cut the whole scene, because that was so odd, sticking that little bit right there. Oh, Ed's line:

"Maybe this is all part of the test! Remember what Coriakin said, 'seek the blue star, stay true to it's course; never yield, and never falter.' They (the Lords) were tempted- and they faltered."

I think it should have been whole scene or nothing; not some little bit of something that is meaningless to the whole of the film.

Now, thank you for your wonderful encouragements, they keep me going! Here's something else for you to read; I also thank you for putting up with me and my insanity, WH

Thank you for reading and reviewing,

W.H.1492