Narnian Princess - Caspian

Chapter 13

When Diana woke up the next morning, she felt lighter. It had been more than a few days since she had slept so peacefully, even the ship didn't feel as cold that morning. She thought of the night before. Going to bed after helping Walt, her dream about her brother, Caspian. How she had cried in his arms and ended up sleeping with him. God, she cringed, that sounded bad.

The girl yawned as she stretched, she'd find another time to feel embarrassed about it. Quickly she dressed and was just about to walk out the door when Lucy came in.

Like the rest of the crew, she was sporting purple half moons under hair eyes. Diana did not know how she managed to pull them off so well. Despite the obvious lack of sleep, Lucy looked lovely and happy. Too happy.

"Have a good night's rest?" The girl asked as innocently as she could.

Diana looked at her friend strangely. "Yes, as good as it could be."

Lucy pressed her lips together to keep from smiling to widely. When she'd gotten herself under control she asked, "You sure?"

"I am sure," Diana told her carefully before her eyes widened. "Wait. Lucy, oh my god, Lucy!"

The girl only giggled as she wiggled her eyebrows up and down. Diana groaned as she felt her face grow hot. Feeling almost sorry for her friend, Lucy put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, Dee. I'm the only one who knows, I saw him leaving earlier."

As Diana let out a sigh of relief, Lucy spoke again. "Well, Edmund and I."

"Edmund?!"

Lucy sent her friend a sheepish smile and squeezed her tighter. "Yes?"

Diana groaned, she was not getting out of this one. "Lu! He's never going to let that go."

"Well," Lucy began with repressed giggles, "At least it wasn't Tommy Wagner."

The brunette looked at her friend with a deadpan expression, "Ugh, I hate you."

"Yeah, I love you too."

Not even an hour later, Diana found herself playing with a piece of rope as Walter taught her a new type of knot. Or attempted to at least. It was a nice day, nicer than they had seen in quite a while. The sky was a gorgeous blue and there weren't many clouds in the sky. Diana could only hope it stayed that way, she never disliked storms as much as she had the past few days.

Diana looked over at the rope on Walt's hand before looking back at her own, she grimaced. His weathered hands expertly weaved the rope, quite honestly it was mesmerizing. When he held the rope it looked like an art form, as if he had magic that made it dance. The rope in her own hands, however, looked lifeless and a tangled mess. "Give it up Walt, I'm never going to get it."

The old man chuckled. "It's alright, child. Not everything is meant for everyone."

The brunette let out a sigh as she turned her head up. She was glad it wasn't storming that day, in fact, the sun was right on top of them. It was shining brightly, enough to hurt Diana's eyes as she looked at it. She smiled softly, the warmth felt nice against her skin.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier this morning?" She asked turning back to Walt, "I don't think you've ever let me sleep in so long."

"I would have, but His Majesty requested you were not bothered this morning."

"Oh," Diana responded, doing her best to keep her expression blank.

"You know?" Walt began, "I reckon the king has grown quite fond of you."

The brunette laughed, if a little awkwardly, "What can I say? I'm positively charming."

"'Suppose you are, kid. Don't let it get to your head, eh?" Walt told her as he ruffled her hair. Truth was the old man himself had grown quite fond of the girl.

Diana gasped, dramatically putting a hand over her chest. "Of course not, Walt. You know me always, humble."

"Alright, less talking and more working."

Remembering the rope she held in her hand, Diana deflated a little bit. She was never going to get it.

And the girl was right. Or at least for that day. The only thing she managed to do was get her hands tangled in the rope leaving them red and raw.

Thankfully, soon enough she was no longer learning to tie knots but was instead sitting in a little boat as they rowed to an island. It was the first time they'd seen land in a long time and everyone was itching to get out of the water. The island they were rowing to looked bare, there was really no other way to describe it. As far as Diana could see there were not any plants or animals, only sand and stone.

Looking at it, the girl thought back to a film she had watched not too long ago. It was an American film and it had been about cowboys looking for gold in the dessert, that's what she remembered them to be doing at least.

Even though it looked like no one had stepped foot on it in years and appeared very uninhabitable, finding land had lifted everyone's spirits. Well, everyone except Eustace. He was as grumpy as ever grumbling every now and again about things that weren't quite to his liking.

Diana giggled softly, listening to the boy and Reepeechip argue. Their now familiar banter seem to be a calming presence to the group. It was amusing to say the least, but it was also familiar. And in a place where they did not know what to expect, they all found comfort in familiarity.

Another laugh escaped her lips. She felt freer being closer to land, even if she wasn't sure what they'd find. She could only hope that whatever it was, at least it'd be visible this time. As her lips quirked up once more, she felt eyes on her. Looking to her right she was met with warm brown eyes looking at her, Caspian smiled at her, and Diana felt her cheeks grow warm.

It definitely did not help when upon reaching the island, the young king helped her off the boat. His hands lingering at her waist a little too long. The girl was infinitely grateful for the sun shining harshly above them, a blush could be played out as a sunburn.

It was hotter once they were on land. And dry, very dry. Diana doubted anything, or anyone for that matter, could survive long there. She could see traces of someone having been there before them, but she could only hope they hadn't been there too long.

Diana, Lucy, and Caspian followed the older Pevensie sibling as he followed a rope they'd found. It seemed odd for it to just be lying there, but it seemed as promising as anything else that would lead them to answers. The group heard a noise a ways away from them that non of them could quite make out. Distracted, Edmund would have walked straight into a hole on the ground if not for Diana pulling him back at the last moment.

"Woah," the brunette breathed out taking a few steps back, her arms still firmly around the boy. "Careful there, don't want you to break an ankle today."

"Or worse," Edmund let out a dry chuckle, calming his nerves. "Thanks, Diana."

The girl nodded stepping around the boy to look into the whole he'd almost fallen into. Peering in, she saw it was deep. And as her eyes follows the rope down it, she suddenly understood.

"Well, what do you lot say we find out what's at the end of the rainbow?"

Getting blank looks from her three companions, the girl rolled her eyes. "Alright then, don't laugh at my joke."

As she went to reach for the rope an arm stopped her. Caspian took it gently from her hands. "Maybe I should go first. Make sure it's safe first."

"Alright, Your Majesty." She bowed and sent him a wink with a teasing smile. "Lead us to the pot of gold then."

And to the gold he led them indeed.