The Queen's Tales

Chapter 29: Aslan's Country

Water was quickly filling the dead creature's mouth. Chloe had taken a deep breath before ripping the sword out from the roof of the serpent's mouth and making her way to the teeth, prying them apart and kicking out into the sea. She quickly swam toward the surface before turning back, the monster was sinking to the bottom, slowly morphing back into the mist. By the time the mist reached the sea floor, there was nothing there.

Looking back to the surface the girl propelled herself up, "She's alive!" "Get her back up here now!" Ordered were spouted as they ran from the side of the ship to get some rope.

"No need!" She called to them, before projecting a stream of water and lifting herself up and back onto the deck. She was taking deep breaths, spitting out sea water as men bombarded her with towels, "I'm fine. Really," she insisted.

Edmund had barreled into her, hugging her tighter than he'd ever done, "Never do that again," he breathed, "I thought I lost you."

"I told you I would be alright," she reminded him.

All of a sudden, a beam of light appeared from the heavens. Then another, and another, "The spell...it's lifting!" Lucy realized. The dark clouds over the island were revealing the longboats that held all the prisoners that had been sacrificed.

"Narnians!" The crew realized, cheering as the long boats slowly approached the ship.

Rhince had retrieved Gael from her quarters and the little girl frown out into a smile, "Mummy!" "Helene!" Before anyone could stop them, the both of them jumped ship and swam the rest of the way to their mother and wife.

Chloe looked to Edmund with a smile, he beamed at her, wrapping his arm around her waist and bringing her closer to him.

"Let's have them on board! Clear the decks!" Caspian called, the men immediately went to clean the deck so the lost Narnians could join them.

Lucy was beyond happy, "We did it," she smiled to her friends, "I knew we would."

"It wasn't just us though..." Edmund remembered.

Caspian raised an eyebrow, "You mean-"

"Hey! I am down here! Lucy!" The young voice we haven't heard in a while called from the sea. Eustace was a boy again, "I'm in the water!"

The four of them ran to the other side and gasped at the sight, having heard his voice, Reepicheep scurried over excited, "Eustace! I see your wings have been clipped," he laughed before jumping into the water to join his friend, "Where sky and water meet! Where the waves are ever sweet!" The mouse stopped singing to taste the sea water, "I-it is sweet! Look!" The mouse swam onto Eustace's shoulder, pointing.

Beyond them was what looked like land, but it wasn't, it was a sea of white lilies, "Aslan's country," Caspian realized, "We must be close."

"Well...we've come this far," Edmund shrugged.

"We can't bring the ship with us," Chloe told them, "The crew have done all we've asked of them, and then some. Let's send them back to Narnia. We shall take a longboat," there was mutual agreement.

After saying good-bye to the crew of the Dawn Treader, and thanking them for their service; Caspian, Chloe, Edmund, Lucy, Eustace, and little Reepicheep climbed into a longboat. Rowing was unnecessary as Chloe allowed them to have a pleasant slow stroll through the lilies into Aslan's Country.

As the Dawn Treader grew smaller in the distance, Eustace recounted how he'd arrived back on Ramandu's Island and Aslan himself changed him back to a boy. Giving him the opportunity to place the last sword on the table.