“No!” Lucy protested, her face ashen as she crossed her arms over her chest. Huddling with her brothers and sister in a small drawing room inside Miraz’s old castle after the weeklong celebration of Caspian’s coronation. The younger Queen was devastated, “He couldn’t have!”
“It’s alright, Lu.” Peter gave them a small smile, “Su and I will be just fine. Aslan knows what He is doing. If He says it’s time for us to live in our own world, then it is.”
“He is not a tame lion, after all…” Susan murmured, seeming to work hard to keep the tears out of her voice.
“But, He is good.” Edmund muttered automatically, finishing the well-known phrase with his eyes burning holes in the thick carpet.
“Well, this doesn’t sound very good to me!” Lucy retorted, stepping back; she began pacing.
Edmund trailed her with his eyes, biting his lip hard, then turned back, “I’m awfully sorry about this, Pete, Su…Narnia won’t be the same without you.”
“Nothing to be sorry about!” Peter gripped his brother’s shoulder, giving the younger King the impression that he was working too hard to maintain a buoyant attitude, “By the Lion, Su and I are going to have another adventure now!” His eyebrows furrowed with regal authority, “And we expect a full report from you two when you get back from your next trip!”
“Of course, of course,” Edmund flashed him a knowing smile then raised his eyebrows at his older sister, “You’re rather quiet, Su?”
“Peter’s right,” she shrugged, “It’s on to a new adventure for us now.”
“Still…” the younger King countered gently, “If you ever need to talk it over, I’ll be there. Just like when we kings and queens back at Cair Paravel.”
“I just don’t understand.” Lucy rejoined the huddle, “Why…? You guys can’t be too old! Why, last time, we grew up to be older than this!”
“Lu…” Susan looked strained, “It’s okay. Leave it alone, please. Just leave it alone!”
Suddenly a knock sounded on the wooden door and all four jumped for it, relieved to have something else to think about. Lucy reached first and flung the door open.
Gasping in shock, she could have sworn the Faun standing before her was the spitting-image of Mr. Tumnus. It nearly knocked her to her knees as tears welled up in her eyes.
“H-h-have I done something wrong, your majesty?” the Faun stammered, his face reddening with befuddlement and fear.
“No, no,” Susan pulled the younger Queen back, “You’re fine, Mr-ah, um-I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name…”
“Tux, your majesty,” he answered proudly, remembering to bow, “My name is Tux.”
“An excellent name.” Peter took over, “What can we do for you, Tux?”
“Oh, well, um…” Tux couldn’t quite take his eyes off Lucy, biting his lip as he pranced nervously in place.
“Oh, don’t mind me.” the younger Queen did her best to smile, “I was just being silly. Y-you reminded me of a very dear friend from long ago.”
“Oh, I see.” Tux ducked his head, still nervously prancing in place.
“What can we do for you?” Edmund prompted again.
“Oh, right!” Tux reddened again, “H-his majesty, King Caspian, has something he wants to tell you. He sent me to get you.”
“Excellent!” Edmund quickly herded his siblings into the hallway.
“As long as it’s good news.” Susan hissed into her younger brother’s ear, jabbing him sharply in the ribs as he caught up with her after closing the door.
Caspian had a tiny sparkle in his eyes when they entered his apartments a few minutes later and the ancient tetrarchs couldn’t help but wonder what he had in mind.
“Um, ah, Aslan told me about your imminent departure.” he sobered up quickly as they settled onto couches and chairs and Tux disappeared through the door, “I’m truly sorry.”
“Thank you, Caspian,” Susan took the lead, “It-it’s not what we were expecting when He pulled Peter and I aside this afternoon, but He knows what He’s doing.”
“Yes, He does.” the new King smiled slightly, “And, actually, He’s permitted me to make a little change in that plan, but, uh, ah, first I need to tell you a story. It-it’s not pleasant, I’m afraid.”
“Well, I’ve always said,” Edmund replied, as a magical feeling unexpectedly raced up the Pevensie’s spines “It’s best to just come on out with hard news and get it over with.”
“Many years ago,” the new King’s voice dropped to a whisper and his face turned crimson with shame, “Dr. Cornelius told me the story of a grand old tall ship that was sunk somewhere off the coast a ways south of here. The story holds that the ship was once moored in your old harbor at Cair Paravel.” He paused for a long minute, then gritted his teeth to continue, “As you know, when my ancestor, Caspian I, tried to ascend the throne he had to fight the good Beasts who didn’t believe that he was your rightful heir, b-but what I don’t think you’ve heard is the part where, after he won, he had the rebel leaders that were still alive herded onto the ship.”
He cleared his throat roughly when his voice started cracking, “The Telmarines were somewhat less afraid of the sea back then and the story holds that the King had some of his men sail out with the prisoners. Then they made the ship unseaworthy and sailed away in the dinghys…living the good Beasts to their fate.”
“What?” Lucy gasped, clasping her hand over her mouth with one hand and reaching for her dagger with the other, even though she wasn’t wearing it.
“Why do you tell us this now, when Aslan was going to send us home tomorrow?” Peter’s tone had an edge.
“I’m sorry…” Capsian’s face flamed again, noting Susan and Edmund’s dark glares, “I-I didn’t mean to hide anything. I only meant to say that ever since Dr. Cornelius told me about it, I’ve always wanted to go and look for it and-and-give the poor souls a proper burial.”
“Obviously,” he continued, his jaw working back and forth for a moment, “Uncle wouldn’t even let me even discuss it. He said it was all a lie and Dr. Cornelius reprimanded me for being such a fool as to bring it up, b-but I’ve never forgotten.”
“After this week, I only remembered again when Aslan told me about, er, uh, about your leaving,” his eyes suddenly gleamed again, “and, well, I asked Him if you might be allowed to stay a little longer to help me look for it and do right by those good Beasts. I mean, I’ve never even seen the coast before so how could I even hope to find it without your help?” A slight smile suddenly tweaked his mouth upwards, “He said yes.”
“Y-you mean we don’t have to leave Narnia tomorrow?” Susan finally let her tough façade slip a tiny bit.
“No, your majesty,” the new King’s smile widened across his face, “You’re not leaving Narnia tomorrow.”
“Oh, splendid!” Lucy bounced up, her face suddenly radiant with joy, “I can’t think of anything better for us to do together! Oh, those poor Beasts! I can’t even imagine…”
“It’s a bad business, alright.” Edmund looked grim for a moment before a satisfied smile appeared, “But, by the Lion, I’m glad Aslan is going to let us come along.”
“I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do for my final adventure.” Peter looked wistful for a moment before a sparkle lit his eyes.
“It will be wonderful to sail on the Eastern Sea again.” Susan turned to look out the window, a faraway look in her eyes.
“Oh my, yes!” Lucy agreed, “Remember the Splendor Hyaline?”
“I don’t remember a bad voyage on her!” the High King replied.
“I used to dance with Mr. Tumnus on the poop deck,” the younger Queen’s voice was daydreamy, “Sometimes he would play his flute and I would dance. Other times we would both dance and sometimes we danced together.” She sighed, “Then when we finally stopped for a rest, we’d sometimes climb up into the rigging and look for constellations together. That’s how I learned the stars in this world.”
“I used to think you’d break your neck.” Peter snorted.
“That’s why the Eagle always flew so close.” she threw him a sideways grin, “What was his name again? Oh, Sharpsight! I sometimes thought he would knock me out with his wings, he always hovered so close. But I never doubted that he’d catch me.”
“And don’t forget the feast we had!” Edmund chimed in, “We used to wine and dine the heck out of our guests, didn’t we?.”He snorted, suddenly laughing, “Remember when I threatened to throw that Tarkaan into the drink after he insulted Mrs. Beavers cooking?”
“Oh, I do!” Susan cracked up, “He was a total idiot. Even their ambassador thought he was nuts. He told me that he would look the other way and let his own man drown.”
“That’s why I decided against it.” Edmund made a face, “Never trust a Calormene.”
“Our musicians were the finest in the world too.” Susan remembered, “Lu and I sometimes got them to climb up into the rigging and hide behind the sails so it sounded like the music was coming right from the heavens.” She sighed, “We used to do it too when we practiced playing.”
“Yeah, squeak…squeak…right from the heavens.” Edmund smirked, “Oh, yeah. You had everyone fooled.”
“Oh, Ed!” Susan made a face, “We weren’t that bad the whole time.”
“Ahhh…maybe, you could say that.”
“Well, at least,” Lucy laughed, “the real musicians sounded beautiful.”
“They did indeed.” the younger King finally consented.
“What great memories we have.” Peter sighed, closing his eyes for a minute before raising his eyebrows at the new King, “But, wait, do you have a ship? I thought the Telmarines never went to sea nowadays.”
“Oh, I do indeed!” Caspian beamed, “Thanks to King Nain.” His eyes twinkled, “Archenland is still a true friend of Narnia. He sent word to me a few days ago that he built one for me—something about Aslan in a dream. I don’t remember how long ago he said. I meant to tell you but…well, everything has been pretty crazy. It’s due to arrive tomorrow, which is perfect timing, and he is even sending a crew to man it until Narnia can get her sea legs again!” He flushed with pride, “I’m eternally grateful!”
“Wow! Aslan does know what He’s doing!” Lucy clasped her hands gleefully, “Of course, Anvard would come to our rescue again! It’s just the same as what King Lune did for us when we first came. He and his sons, Cor and Corin, and dear Aravis were our best friends! Oh, I do wonder if Cor and—”
“Oh, please don’t, Lu!” Susan stiffened, tears suddenly springing into her eyes, “It’s all too much—Corin…”
“I’m sorry, Susan…” Lucy’s eyes widened, “I didn’t mean…”
“I know, I know,.” the older Queen gave the younger a soft smile, “It’s just so strange to be so deliriously happy about something one minute and then something reminds you of something and you just want to curl up into a ball and cry.” She let out a long shuddering sigh, trying to maintain control of herself, “But, I am glad we came back! I am!”
“I suppose we ought to be getting to bed.” Peter rose to his feet, offering his hands to his sisters.
“That’s a great idea, Pete.” Edmund rose as well, “What time do we need to be up tomorrow, Caspian?”
“Pretty early, I’m afraid.” The new King opened the door, “We’re to meet the Archen delegation at that coast at first light for a short ceremony to bless the ship and then I’ve made arrangements to have our breakfast onboard.”
“You’ve been busy. All that since this afternoon?” Peter whacked his shoulder, “Well done.”
“That’s why I’m telling you kinda late.” Caspian grinned.
“Do you know where the wreck site is?” Edmund turned in the hallway, “Even approximately?”
“Well, no…” Caspian’s face flushed again, “but Dr. Cornelius will join us onboard. I believe he’ll be able to help with that.”
“Well, I’m not at all worried.” Lucy bubbled with delight, “Have you ever met the merfolk or the naiads? Oh, I suppose not—but they will help us too. You’ll see.”
“She’s right!” Susan grinned at the shock on Caspian’s face, “Don’t worry. You’ll love them!”
“That’s right.” Edmund’s face glowed, “Cannonball time!”
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