Apologies for getting the chapter out so late. Aside from having computer issues, I spent most of the weekend sick. I'm much better now but I wasn't able to post Monday because I hadn't done any editing. Or writing for that matter. So this is the last completed chapter for now but I'm hoping to get chapter 17 finished soon. In the meantime, enjoy!
Chapter 16: Arrival at Ramandu's Island
Shortly after returning to the ship, they lost the wind. It made sailing difficult and they didn't move as fast as they could've. They had to rely on the rowers to keep the Dawn Treader moving. Unfortunately, this task was tedious and exhausting.
"The wind has left us," the Captain observed.
"So, how do we get to Ramandu's Island now then?" Edmund asked.
"My guess is something doesn't want us to get there."
Their supplies were quickly dwindling and many began to worry they would run out of food. Ana knew they had very little supplies before their last stop. And Deathwater Islandβwhich Caspian rightly named due to the treacherous watersβhad only provided them with enough to last a few more days.
The crew grew worried and as time passed, Ana could sense them becoming restless. Although they worked hard as rowers, the ship just seemed to move too slowly. It felt as though they would never make it to the Island before all their supplies ran out. As it was, their food rations were very low and everyone was hungry. Which meant they were also very irritable.
"If I get any hungrier..." one of the sailors growled and looked to the sky. "I'm going to eat that dragon!"
"Don't worry, Eustace," Reepicheep placated from atop his head. "They'll have to deal with me first."
Drinian climbed the steps to the poop deck to join the royals. "If we don't find land by tonight, they may as well eat that dragon."
Eustace growled a little and flew towards the front of the ship. While the crew went about their business, the ship lurched. Most of the passengers fell to the deck by the sudden jolt, including Ana. She frowned, wondering if they had hit something. Rynelf helped her to her feet. While several of the crew rushed to the ledge, Ana noted that they had sped up.
Caspian helped the Captain to his feet. "What did we hit?" he asked as both leaned over the edge to peer into the water.
Ana was focused on finding Eustace and spotted him at the same time Edmund did.
"Eustace!" the Just King praised. "That's brilliant!"
Several heads turned towards the sky. Following Edmund's gaze, they were able to spot the dragon. Eustace had flown to the front of the ship. He wrapped his tail around the mouth of the carved dragon and was pulling the Dawn Treader forward. With the help of the rowers, they were finally picking up speed.
Reepicheep scampered off his back and onto the dragon's head. Drawing his blade, he pointed it towards the sky. "Onward, ho!" he shouted and the crew cheered. Eustace was starting to prove himself to be very useful and Ana couldn't help but smile at that.
With the increased speed, the crew started to relax a bit. They were still a bit moody and irritable due to the lack of food. But they seemed to be in higher spirits now that they were sailing quickly again. One issue was resolved so the royals retreated inside, likely to discuss the others.
Caspian and Edmund disappeared into the Map Room. Ana briefly thought about joining them but talked herself out of it. She still felt like things were awkward between them and she wasn't sure she could face them both at the same time. Fortunately, Lucy wasn't with them so she could make good on her promise to Edmund.
She approached the Stateroom doors and knocked softly. The conversation on the other side quickly stopped and Lucy permitted her entrance. Her face lit up as soon as she saw Ana and turned to Gael.
"Do you think you could give us a moment, Gael?" Lucy asked her. Gael merely nodded and stood up. She hesitated in vacating the room but eventually did so of her own accord. Lucy didn't have to convince her to leave. The door shut quietly behind her and silence fell on the room for just a moment.
"I didn't mean to intrude," Ana began, feeling a little guilty that Gael had been forced to leave.
"It's alright," Lucy smiled. "We were just talking about her mother. I suggested we ask Aslan for her safe return."
Ana nodded but hesitated in speaking. She was trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say. The Valiant Queen noticed her reluctance.
"Is something wrong, Ana?" She did not bother to hide her concern.
"No," Ana assured her. "I just... I just wanted to ask if you were alright."
"Me?" Lucy was a little confused. "Why wouldn't I be? I wasn't the one abducted by a dragon. Or the one who shut themselves in their room for days. I'm perfectly fine." She wasn't angry when she said this. Lucy had just pointed out the things that indicated someone wasn't alright.
Lucy was a little hurt by her actions though and Ana looked away in shame. But the way Lucy spoke told Ana that something was on the young Queen's mind. So she resolved her courage and looked her in the eye. She studied Lucy for a moment and saw how she shifted under her gaze.
In general, Lucy looked fine. She was no worse for wear than the rest of them. A little tired and hungry, but otherwise healthy. However, there was a sadness in her eyes and something a little off in her demeanor. As if she was hiding something and Ana had a feeling as to what it was regarding. And she knew she had to be careful.
"Lucy..." Ana began. "I know you. Just as you know me. Most of us had a nightmare that night and I think you did too. I was just so caught up in mine that I didn't notice at first. And you... You were so concerned about me that you wouldn't let yourself focus on it. Am I wrong?"
Lucy almost denied it but she sighed and nodded her head. "I woke up Edmund, telling him I couldn't sleep. But I didn't tell him why."
Ana stepped closer. "And I won't ask. But I want you to know you can tell me. If you want. I'm not ready to discuss what happened with me so I won't press for details from you. I just want to make sure you're alright."
Lucy smiled. "I am, truly. I saw Aslan... He helped me understand what happened. I've just been thinking about how wrong I was. I never should've touched that spell..."
The last part was said quietly, almost as an admission to herself. But Ana heard it and her interest was piqued. She wouldn't press though and merely nodded in response. Lucy looked at her and sent Ana a grateful smile.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Better every day," Ana answered. "Ever since that night... well it's been quieter."
Lucy nodded as if she understood. Ana couldn't say for certain whether she did or not. But neither one pressed the issue. They had a nice conversation about things unrelated to the events of the last few days. Then, as the sun began to set, both made their way back onto the main deck.
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The island had been spotted in the distance. Eager to have reached their destination, the decision was made to explore that evening. So as usual, the longboats were loaded up and they headed for shore. Eustace met them at the shore, but he could go no further. The island was covered with trees and vines. He wouldn't be able to navigate them and chose to remain behind while the rest explored.
Edmund led the way, using his torch to guide them. Since the sun had set, it was difficult to see. The trees blocked out most of the natural light and they wouldn't have been able to see much better in the daytime. But what they could see made the place seem eerie. It felt too dark to be the place where Aslan's Table was located.
Ana could feel strong magic in the air and it pulled her in the direction they were headed. It felt light, yet dangerous. Much like what she often felt in Aslan's presence. Some of the others must've sensed something as well, but it wasn't the same as what she felt. While Ana had been relaxed by the feeling in the air, the others seemed on edge. They had all sensed a change in the atmosphere but it had a different effect on Ana than on the rest. She suspected it had something to do with her connection to the Deep Magic. There was some kind of ancient magic in this place.
They crossed a stone bridge and followed a path that opened into a clearing. In the middle was a long table that appeared to be carved from stone. There was plenty of seating on either side of it and candlesticks were spread out along the center of the table. It was also covered with all kinds of delicious foods, the smell of which made everyone hungry. Trees and bushes lined the edges of the table. The branches seemed to have overgrown one end of the table.
"Mmm..." Tavros murmured, "food." He took a step forward but was halted.
"Wait," Drinian warned.
"Huh?" the minotaur questioned.
Ana and the royals pressed further into the clearing. As they approached the end, she noted what appeared to be a figure or two entangled in the branches. But it was until the light of Edmund's torch found them that the others noticed as well.
Lucy gasped and took a few steps back, startled. The two Kings raised their blades and the others unsheathed their blades. But the three men didn't move. Their eyes were open but unseeing. Caspian pressed closer and pointed his sword at one of the figure's hands. There was a ring bearing a crest.
"Lord Revilian," Caspian pointed out. Edmund moved his light to the man across from him. "Lord Mavramorn."
Lucy walked to the end of the table. She parted the man's hair to reveal his face. They recognized him as one of the last lords.
"Lord Argoz," Ana said before Lucy retracted her hand and stepped back in shock. Caspian stepped closer to observe him better.
"He's breathing..." he stated in disbelief.
"So are they," Edmund observed as he moved his torch onto them.
"They're under a spell," Lucy concluded.
"It's the food!" Caspian declared, turning towards the crew.
"Huh?" one of them questioned.
Ana turned just in time to see Tavros drop an apple. It hit one of the plates with a soft clatter before hitting the ground. The others were whispering to themselves and smelling their hands. Against the Captain's orders, they had handled the food. Though she couldn't blame them since they all had to be hungry. The food was tempting.
Ana glanced back at the table just as Edmund's light hit an object. Both noticed it at the same time. There, near one of the lord's hands was a blade. A knife carved from stone to be exact. Ana held back a gasp. According to Narnian legend, the Stone Knife belonged to the White Witch. It was the blade she used to kill Aslan. The knife disappeared after her death and somehow ended up at this table.
"Hey, it's the Stone Knife," Ana pointed out, noting the strange and evil shape.
"This is Aslan's Table!" Edmund stated, looking a little pale.
"Their swords," Caspian said, pulling one of their blades from the entangled branches. Ana found another. "On the table," he told them
Edmund had already set his sword on the table. Caspian placed the sword he found and added one of the blades from Deathwater Island. Ana set the sword she pulled from the branches and Lucy withdrew the third. She also placed the other sword they had found on Deathwater Island in the pile. Then they realized there were only six blades. There was a lord they hadn't found yet.
"That's six," Edmund observed.
"Still missing one," Caspian confirmed.
Just as he said this, the blades started glowing blue. A blue light filled the sky above them and Ana glanced up at the same time as Lucy. Both looked wide-eyed as the Blue Star descended from the sky. Everyone drew their weapons, unsure if this was some kind of threat. The magic here felt strange to them, felt different. But Ana still felt a sense of peace and the star didn't change that.
However, what happened next shocked everyone.