𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕝𝕕𝕖𝕟 𝔸𝕘𝕖 - ᵖᵉᵗᵉʳ ᵖᵉᵛᵉⁿˢⁱᵉ

꧁Cʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 15 - Nᴀʀɴɪᴀ꧂

The four Pevensie sibling had spent the whole day by the docks and even Susan, who hated sleeping in the outdoors waited at the docks that night for Katherine. Lucy and Susan had fallen asleep quickly. Edmund had then fallen asleep around midnight and Peter who had been awake for over 48 hours by now eventually closed his eyes too.

As the four royals slept blissfully under the stars, something was astir. The stars had broken off from their usual dances and instead were joint together with the moon to light the way of a small boat, far off from Narnian shore.

Katherine had been sent off by Althea, Odele and Kyros earlier on in the afternoon and had been rowing back ever since. She could not count how many times she had made a silent thanks to Oreius for teaching her about the Narnian skies so early on. However the rowing was probably one of the hardest physical experiences she had endured in her lifespan. She felt her thighs burning, her upper body aching and her ab muscles were engaged throughout.

She might have found it an easier feat if she was still wearing her clothes from Akómi, but she had had to exchange the comfortable shorts and shirts that the Akóminese favored for the dress that she had arrived. Katherine was glad to take the dress back and she understood the reasoning as to why she had to leave the clothes behind, but rowing in a tight, purple ballgown was not Katherine's idea of fun.

Still, she never stopped for breaks, relishing the cool night air over a hot sunny day and vowed to make it to Narnia before midday heat caught her. She found her strength in her company of stars that seemed to create a tunnel in the sky for her to follow. And then the most miraculous thing occurred.

Something stirred underneath the boat. Peering to look over Katherine heart fluttered in relief at the sight of a beautiful face in the water. It was a mermaid. At least two or three more joined her and although Katherine could not fully understand their language they were friendly. Smiling and waving gently. The boat then jolted forward from behind and Katherine looked back to see two of the mermaids behind signaling her to move forward.

When she looked back the two remaining mermaids had joined her on either side of the boat. Grabbing up the oars again Katherine pushed on and found the boat moved with at least double the speed it had before. As they shot across the dark waters Katherine saw land in the distance. She watched as the sky slowly started lightening as she got closer to shore and the docks began to come into view. The mermaids, giving her one last push, waved her off as she doubled her efforts on rowing.

Edmund was the first to stir with the sun's wakening rays. Yawning and rubbing his eyes he stared off into the distance watching the sun rise. Until he noticed the shadow in the sun. Quickly he shook his siblings awake.

"Get up! Get up! There's something on the water!"

Peter got up rapidly but Susan and Lucy took a little more time.

"Well what is it Ed, next thing it's a bird" Susan laughed.

"Wait" Lucy said as she pointed, "Look"

And soon they could all see it clear as day. A small rowing boat was moving swiftly towards the docks, a lithe brunette in a purple ballgown manning the boat.

"Aslan's Mane it's her!" Peter exclaimed before promptly diving off the docks.

"Peter!" Susan cried indignantly as Edmund laughed at his brother's antics.

"Could one of you two help me?" Lucy called out and the two turned to see her untying one of the rowing boats left by the pier.

"Five people won't fit on that single boat!"

Meanwhile Peter was already halfway to the boat, his swimming skills paying off immensely as he surged through the water and Katherine, body aching thought for a minute she was hallucinating as he made his way through the water. She soon knew it not to be true.