~By the Lion's Mane: The Call~

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The too-bright sun streaming in through the small cabin window woke me. I was momentarily confused; I hadn’t slept until morning in a long time. And then I blinked a few times, taking in my surroundings. I was cradled in Edmund’s strong, tanned arms, his bare chest against my bare back. I took in a sharp breath, remembering.

I sat up, waking Edmund as I did. His brown eyes slowly blinked awake. It took him a moment to remember, just like me, and when he did, he slowly sat up next to me. He looked around him, sighed, and then asked me with a half-smile, “How are you?”

I thought. I was a bit stiff and sore, physically. But on the inside… I was at peace. I had everything I wanted right beside me, and it was perfect.

But then reality had to set back in. We couldn’t just lay here together for hours; we had to get up and get busy on deck. And the others, who were up and busy probably for hours by now, would know. They would know when we both appeared, the only two still in bed. I was no longer whole. They would know what we had done, and it was wrong.

I wiped the sleep from my eyes, and then climbed out of bed. “Come on. We need to get up on deck,” I said softly to Edmund, letting my loose hair fall down and hide my face from his gaze.

When we emerged into the sunlight and whiteness on top, what little talk there had been ceased. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me as I strode across the deck to where Caspian and Drinian were standing at the helm. I pretended to ignore the comprehension on the crew’s faces, including Caspian, Drinian, and Lucy. Eustace seemed to be puzzled, because although he could detect the tension in the air, he didn’t know exactly what had transpired.

“Good morning, Drinian, Caspian,” I said. “What’s the reading today?” I desperately wanted to dive into my bed and hide from all of the stares. Especially Caspian’s. His dark eyes were burning a hole into my forehead. But I kept my spine ramrod straight and my face devoid of shame.

His gaze flicked back and forth between me and Edmund, who was behind me now. I couldn’t see his expression, but judging from Caspian’s, it said “drop it.” Drinian was busy looking at everything but me, now pretending to be completely unaware of the tension in the air.

“It’s only about thirty feet deep now. We won’t be able to sail much further on board the ship,” Caspian answered at last.

He stared at me once more, and then turned away, back to Drinian, his expression still blank. And with that, conversation among the crew began again, picking up where it left off before.

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At about two in the afternoon, Drinian gave the order to pull aside of the current which had been carrying us steadily. The water had grown too shallow for the Dawn Treader now, and we had to stop for fear of running aground. Caspian stood on the deck, rubbing his slightly scruffy chin and gazing out thoughtfully over the lilies. He stood there for quite a while, and I waited tensely for what was to come.

Finally, he turned back to us and called out, “Lower the boat and call the men aft. I must speak to them.”

I called the men to the back of the ship, and they stood below us on the main deck, waiting curiously for what Caspian was to say. When silence had fallen over the Dawn Treader, Caspian spoke.

“Friends, we have now fulfilled the quest on which you embarked. The seven lords are all accounted for and as Sir Reepicheep has sworn never to return, when you reach Ramandu’s Island you will find the Lords Revilian, Argoz, and Mavramorn awake. To you, my Lord Drinian, I entrust this ship, bidding you to sail to Narnia with all the speed you may…,” he continued, and I listened with growing alarm.

What was Caspian talking about? He couldn’t be thinking that, could he? He was mad.

“But Sire, are you abdicating?” asked Drinian incredulously.

“I am going with Reepicheep to see the World’s End,” he answered.

The sailors began to shout and argue, shaking their fists and heads in rebuttal.

Caspian spoke louder, over the crew, “We will take the boat. You will have no need of it in these gentle seas and you must build a new one on Ramandu’s island. And now-”

But Edmund interrupted, shouting over all of the others. “Caspian! You can’t do this.”

Reepicheep agreed from where he had scurried up to the rail to perch next to the king. “Most certainly, his Majesty cannot.”

“No indeed,” added Drinian.

Caspian looked sharply from Edmund to Reep to Drinian. “Can’t?” he barked.

I realized that his expression suddenly reminded me of Miraz, and this frightened me.

“Begging your pardon, Caspian,” I said, not calling him by his title, “but if one of us did the same, it would be called deserting.”

My king glared at me, and I caught a look of more than just indignation. He was suddenly furious at me, though I knew it couldn’t have just been from what I’d said, since the others had said worse. No, this was more than that.

“You forget yourself, Rose,” he growled menacingly, glaring daggers.

“No, Sire, she’s right!” Drinian said.

Caspian turned to address everyone again, bellowing, “By Aslan’s Mane, I thought you were all my subjects, not my schoolmasters!”

“I’m not,” Edmund said, his face expressionless, “and I say that you cannot do this.”

“Can’t again,” said Caspian. “What do you mean can’t?”

I spoke again, braving his fury. “If I may speak, my King, we mean shall not. You are the King of Narnia. You break faith with all of your subjects, and especially with Trumpkin, if you do not return. You shall not please yourself with adventures as if you were anyone else. As it is, you are our King, and therefore serve a responsibility to your subjects.” I paused, and then went on in a less formal manner, threatening, “And if you won’t listen to reason, Caspian, then I and every other man on board will disarm and bind you to the mast until you come to your senses!” He glared at me, but I met his gaze with my own steady one.

Edmund chuckled and said under his breath, “Just like Ulysses and the Sirens.”

Now Caspian had had enough; he whipped out his sword. I immediately drew mine, taking a defensive stance and with my blade gleaming in front of me. Edmund stepped beside me, matching my position, all humor vanishing from his now stony expression.

“Stop it, all of you!” shouted Lucy shrilly, her hands on her tiny hips, just as we were about to engage in fighting. She turned to Caspian and began to lecture him, just like a mother would a child. “What would all of your friends think if you never came back? Trumpkin, and Glenstorm, and Cornelius, and Trufflehunter! They would be heartbroken that you had chosen not to come back to them!” Caspian stood irresolute for a moment, his face unreadable. But I knew that Lucy had struck a nerve; he loved all of them as family.

Finally, he shoved his blade back into its scabbard with an angry stab and shouted to the ship in general, “Fine! Have it your way! The quest is ended. We all return. Get the sails up again, and get the damned ship pointed home.”

Reepicheep protested, saying, “Sire, we do not all return. I, as I have explained before-”

“Silence!” Caspian erupted. “Will no one silence that Mouse?”

I was shocked, he had never addressed Reepicheep in such a way.

The Mouse was clearly hurt as well. “Your Majesty promised to be good to the Talking Beasts of Narnia,” he said sternly.

“Talking beasts, yes, I did. I said nothing about beasts that never stopped talking,” Caspian said as he stormed down into his cabin, slamming the wooden door behind him with a resounding bang.

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A/N: Phew! I'm so glad you guys responded positively :) Thanks for the comments and the love <3