Close Your Eyes

08

The seas had calmed by the next morning, much to Clara's delight, as though the storm had never occurred. The only evidence of the storm was the disaster on the deck. The crew was clearing the deck. Clara noticed the green mist coming from the mops and cloths. Drinian was watching his crew closely and every so often, they would look up and glare at him.

"How much longer?"

"Where are we?"

Clara saw Caspian and Edmund walk from the study and walked up to them. "What is it, Drinian?" Caspian asked wearily.

"The storm has blown us off course."

Edmund thought a moment before speaking. "So keep heading east."

"And when we run out of rations?" Caspian questioned.

Edmund had an annoyed look, which piqued Clara's curiosity. She figured something had happened with his cousin.

Drinian let out a sigh. "I don't like the looks we're getting. Something's got into the men."

One crew member made his presence known and asked, "What's going on?"

Caspian noticed the angry look in his eyes as more crew members began making their disdain known. "Where are we?"

"They got us lost."

"Look, just order them," Edmund told Caspian.

Clara saw Caspian's eyes flash and took his hand. He was nervous and doubtful, a look she rarely saw. She didn't blame him for his uncertainty. They were in uncertain times, on a dangerous quest.

Another crew member asked, "Your majesties, what some of our have been wanting to ask for some time now is how are we going to get home? We'd like to know what hopes we have of seeing Narnia again."

Caspian looked to Edmund and the younger boy glared at the king. "Gentlemen, I understand how you feel. But our mission is to continue east."

"No."

"How much longer?"

"We wanna go home. Turn us back."

"What's the matter with you all? This is just your fear talking," Rhince said.

"We demand you turn us back."

"Are you threatening mutiny?" Drinian asked angrily.

Clara spoke. "I understand your fear. I feel the same. Yet we have a duty we are sworn to do. Your king is on a quest to save us all from the evil lurking. I, alongside your king, will fight for my land and for Aslan. The Great Lion has saved us countless times before. He has not failed us yet, and he will not fail us now."

The men nodded, seeming to feel better about the quest they were pursuing. A man up in the crow's nest yelled, "Land ho!"

Everyone turned to see that there was indeed land looming closer to them upon the horizon.

"Well? Land ho!" Drinian repeated, motioning for his crew to get back to work. They did so, with one last glance of appreciation to the Graceful Queen.

Drinian walked closer to Caspian, Clara and Edmund. They had since made our way to the main deck. "And not a moment too soon," he stated, taking the wheel.

Caspian glanced to Clara and said, "I've always loved seeing you interact with our people."

Clara returned her husband's smile. "As have I you, my love."

Edmund smiled and said, "She is Queen Clara the Graceful after all."

Caspian took Clara's hand and kissed the back of it. "My graceful queen. My dear, you lifted their spirits in a way I could not have."

Clara looked up at her husband. "You're doing a wonderful job leading your people. This mist is testing us all. We must be braver than our fear. We cannot let it overcome us."

The group boarded a boat and Clara sat next to Lucy, opposite Caspian. Reepicheep caught their attention by yelling out from the second boat, "I doubt the lords stopped here, my lieges. There's no sign of anything living."

"Right. Well, once we get ashore, take your men and search for food and water. The five of us will search for clues," Caspian shouted back.

"Hang on, you mean the six of us," Eustace piped up. Everyone turned to look at him. "Come on; please don't send me back to the rat." Lucy and Clara exchanged a soft laugh.

"I heard that," Reepicheep said.

"Big ears," Eustace muttered with a roll of his eyes.

"I heard that too."

Everyone laughed quietly as Eustace huffed and looked down with a mix of slight shame and annoyance.