Chapter 17

Still Waters

There is a saying, old and often used, but more than appropriate: Still waters run deep. That's exactly how I felt staring at the almost glasslike surface of the sea, reflecting the island that oozed that scent, that feel of danger.

"I've got a really bad feeling, Hawken," Fishlegs whispered. We were all on the ship again, everyone in full battle gear and the Vikings standing tensely by each of their dragons. Even Ruff and Tuff were avoiding arguments, which told everyone just how bad we all felt. I was just myself at the moment, but ready to change at the first sign of anything. Only Eustace and Reepicheep weren't present, the two of them scouting the island from high above.

As we entered the first drifting fingers of fog that rolled off the land, Tuffnut leaned toward me and whispered (as much as one of the Twins can whisper), "So, what do you think is in there?" "Your darkest dreams and nightmares," I replied, my expression darkening as thoughts of what could lie ahead raced through my mind.

Caspian walked up to the front of the ship, standing on the raised platform there that led to the stairs in the prow. "My friends," he stated loudly, "we are all standing here in the face of a great danger, but I know that every one of you here has proven their worth to me, no matter be they my crew or our allies. You are all strong, you do not grow weary under pressure, so stand strong here with me, and do not give in to your temptations, your fears." He stepped up the steps a short way, and glanced toward the gloom ahead.

"I do not know what we may face or what the outcome will be, but if we must fight, then fight for the reasons you came here. Think of those men, women and children we are here to save, or avenge. Think of our leader and friend Aslan. Think of Narnia, for which we will fight to protect."

As he stepped down, a cheer went up through the crew, stopping him. "For Narnia!" the crew all yelled out unanimously, as the Vikings and I simply gave our battle cries and joined them, raising our weapons above our heads as the dragons roared behind us. Then, as the cheers died down, we all stood once more at the ready.

The fog began to close in around us, deepening and replaced with a blackish cloud that clung to the rocks and columns surrounding us in the water. It blocked out the sun that had shone in the clear sky before, plunging the ship into permanent twilight. The only illumination came from the unnerving greenish flashes that appeared in the fog, many times emanating from somewhere deep in the center of the main island. Distant shrieks and hissing noises kept everyone wide awake. We could not see anything at all clearly, however, as the fog was far too thick.

"Hawken, there's something moving up there!" Cami hissed, pointing above us to where a blanket of black clouds billowed out, blocking the sky between the arches of rock. Thin tendrils of the green mist we'd become so accustomed to seeing were wriggling toward us through the air, whispers filling our ears. The soft sound of rattling scales began as I covered myself in Night Fury skin, and my eyes glowed that famous translucent green.

The mist dropped down and onto the deck of the ship, I watched the men turn to face it as it slid past, forming randomly into figures no doubt familiar and taunting to them. One went up to Hiccup, and the face of his father appeared, a deep scowl written across the expression.

"You're a failure," the faux voice of Stoick hissed, glaring at Hiccup. "You've only been lucky, but a handful of battles don't change who you are." "Leave me alone," Hiccup hissed back, waving away the taunting demon with his sword. "You know it's true," it growled. "You disappoint me, your father, and you are only around still because your friends favor you. You would have died long ago otherwise, pathetic and weak as you are."

"He said leave," I snapped, swiping a tail through the figure. The spirit appeared to flinch, and whirled on me, but only hissed and disappeared. Hiccup glanced at me, and a hardness appeared in his eyes I'd rarely seen. "Don't listen to them, Hiccup," I tried to reassure. "They prey on what they know you hate to hear, don't let it get to you." He nodded. "Hard to when you lived through nearly a decade of belittling," he muttered. "I went through it too, you know," I said. "Yeah, and what a shining example you came out to be." "Yeah, very funny."

Behind me, I heard Edmund arguing with another apparition. "You're dead, go away." "Oh, you could never kill me," a feminine sounding voice taunted him. "I'll always be here, alive, in your mind, silly boy!" "I said GO AWAY!" Edmund yelled.

"Edmund, are you alright?" Susan asked. The others couldn't see the spirits, I realized, just the ones being tormented. "He's being taunted like the rest of us," I said. "They've found us, and it probably won't be long before they actually try to-"

"Nooooooooo!"

Every person jerked at the nearly inhuman sounding wail. Ruffnut and Thuggory heard it clearest, and both ran over to the side of the ship, peering through the gloom. "Keep away!" the voice wailed again. "Over there!" Ruff yelled, pointing toward a dark outline in the haze. Drinian turned the wheel and steered the ship toward it, and an outcrop of sharp rocks slowly came into focus. It was too dark, however, to see anything on it.

"Keep away!" the voice sounded again, this time yelling more than wailing. I turned toward Edmund. "Ed, you still have your flashlight on you?" He nodded and pulled it out, shining the beam across the rocks. Standing on a tiny indent in the outcrop was a man, covered in torn and dirty rags, a wild look on his face and a clean, gleaming sword grasped tightly in his hands.

"Keep away!" he yelled again, wielding his sword. "We will not leave," Caspian yelled back. "We do not fear you!" "Nor I you!" the man snapped back. "You will not defeat me!"

"Wait, wait, that's the sword!" Thuggory yelled. "That's the seventh sword, we need it!" At hearing this, the little man dropped his arms slightly in confusion, and backed up to a higher point on the rocks. "Let's get him on board!" Caspian said. "It must be Lord Rhoop!" The crew grabbed mooring hooks and were about to throw them over to bring the ship in, when the flap of wings and a roar stopped them.

::I've got him!:: Eustace yelled, coming into view from out of the dark and swooping down to grab Rhoop. He lifted the frazzled man up and flew to the ship, dropping the man as gently as he could to the deck before backing up into the fog above. Quick as lightning, Rhoop jumped to his feet again and swung his sword, forcing everyone to back up.

"Back, demons!" he yelled. "No! Stand down!" Caspian yelled, waving his men off. "We are not here to hurt you, Lord Rhoop. I am your king, Caspian."

That broke the ice, finally. As Eustace turned away to scour the area gain, Rhoop stood up slowly, the manic look fading as he turned to take in Caspian. "Caspian?" he whispered, standing up straight finally. "My Lord? You have come for me?" His eyes flicked to the dragons. Stormfly waved an awkward paw in hello. "Then-then what are those things doing here?!" "Calm yourself, they are friends, not like what you may have encountered before, or here," Caspian reassured.

Rhoop raised a suspicious eyebrow, but then slowly turned toward the crew. "You should not have come," he said shakily. "This place is far too dangerous. Turn this ship around before it's too late!" "We have the sword," Snotlout spoke up, "so let's go, we have what we need!" Caspian nodded, and turned to help navigate the boat away, but Rhoop stopped him, grabbing hold of his shoulder.

"Do not think!" he yelled. "Do not let them know your fears, or they will become them!"

A sudden silence ensued, as every person had that thought sink in. Then, two unanimous voices spoke up: "Oh, no." I turned slowly, to see both Edmund and Hiccup standing stock still, staring at each other with wide, guilty eyes.

"What, did you two just think of?!" Astrid exclaimed, eyes widening as she looked at Hiccup. He and Edmund glanced at each other again, before racing to either side of the ship. "Oh, I am so sorry!" Hiccup said, panic lacing his voice. "No, you need to tell us, what is it?" I asked, more than just a cold shiver running down my spine this time around.

"Uh, guys, there's something moving over there," Fishlegs observed, pointing to a line of low rock outcrops outlined by what little light did filter in. I peered closer, before yelling back to Fish, "I don't see anything, are you sure?" I glanced at him, and as soon as I did so, his eyes widened. "Look again," he squeaked. I turned my head, and peered into the gloom.

They were not rock outcrops. The humps outlined in the dark were disappearing one by one, sinking into the waves that were beginning to stir and pick up. Worse, the wake left behind by each one suggested they were moving toward us.

"Oh, no," I whispered, before yelling out, "There's something in the water! Brace yourselves, it's coming this way!"

All of the humps were gone now, instead replaced by a massive wake and a dark shadow that cut through the water. "It's gone under the boat!" one of the crew members cried. "No, it's coming back around!" Ruffnut yelled, pointing at the waves. The wake had passed us and circled, and headed again in a beeline straight toward-

BAMMMM!

Something incredibly huge slammed into the ship, sending everyone sprawling and the vessel spinning across the surface of the darkened sea.

A/N-And so it begins...

I plan on having the next chapter out this weekend, and everyone keep an eye out, I have this upcoming week off so there may be a bonus chapter later! Leave reviews to encourage me to make that happen!

Also, I have more than half of Book 4 typed up, so while that one will probably come out one chapter a week, you can expect regular updates for a while yet!