The Just and the Wise

Chapter 3

After we all get changed into dry clothes, I follow Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian inside, and I look about the beautiful interior of the ship's cabin. Small windows let in golden sunlight, making the room glow a golden-brown color. On the wall, a golden emblem of Aslan hangs above a small fireplace and mantle, upon which rests Susan's horn.

"Aslan," Lucy smiles, running her hand over the image. "Look! Susan's bow and arrows!"

"Lucy," Caspian grabs her attention, presenting her with her gifts.

"My healing cordial! And dagger! Oh-may I?" She asks hesitatingly before reaching for them.

"Of course, they're yours," Caspian smiles at her.

"Peter's sword," Edmund exclaims.

"I looked after it as promised," Caspian says proudly, offering the sword to Edmund, "here, hold it if you wish."

"No, no, it's yours," Edmund shakes his head at Caspian's offer, "Peter gave it to you."

Disappointment briefly shadows Ed's face, and I know it stung a bit knowing that his older brother didn't leave his greatest possession to him in his absence. I love Peter. He was and is a great brother and king, but he never gave Edmund the recognition he had earned as he matured. Ed has become a very smart, brave, and strong man, especially since our last visit to Narnia. He still has his moments, as we all do, but I've seen Edmund grow into a mature man in the last few years. He's not the same sixteen-year-old boy he was last time we were here.

"I did save this for you, though," Caspian smirks, turning towards a wooden cabinet beside the mantle.

He open the case, pulling out Ed's beloved torch.

"Thanks!" Edmund flashes the light in his eyes on accident as Lu and I laugh.

"So, how much has changed since we were last here?" I ask Caspian.

"Since you left us, the Giants of the North have surrendered unconditionally," Caspian starts, unrolling a map and putting it on the table in front of us, "And we defeated the Calormen armies at the Great Desert. There's peace across all of Narnia."

Caspian smiles proudly as he says it, but I furrow my brow at his statement.

"Peace?" I ask surprised.

"In just three years," Caspian nods as I continue looking over the map.

Lucy tucks her hair behind her ear and looks at Caspian with wide eyes.

"And have you found yourself a queen in those three years?" She asks with a smile.

I raise my eyebrows slightly at her flirtatious look, and Caspian chuckles and looks back at her.

"No," he shakes his head with a smile, "not one to compare with your sister."

I pout my lower lip at the bittersweet look that crosses Caspian's face, but he looks up and glances between Edmund and me.

"And are you two still...?" He trails off with a raise of his eyebrows.

"Very much so," Edmund smiles and pulls me to his side, "all three years."

"Glad to hear it," Caspian laughs, "I'm not sure how you've put up with him."

"Someone's got to," I say with a laugh and an eye roll as Edmund gives me an annoyed look, "but Caspian, if there are no wars to fight, and no one's in trouble, then why are we here?"

Edmund looks from me to Caspian.

"That's a good question," Caspian scans the map, "I've been asking myself the same thing."

"So where are we sailing to?" Edmund inquires, placing his hands firmly on the table and leaning over it.

He chews his bottom lip in concentration as he studies the map.

"Before I took back the throne from my uncle, he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters," Caspian gestures to the sketches of men hanging on the board behind him, "the seven lords of Telmar."

I walk to the board and look over the images, studying the faces of the wise-looking men before me.

"They fled to the lone islands," Caspian continues, "no one's heard from them since."

"And you think something's happened to them?" Ed asks.

"Well, if it has, it's my duty to find out."

"Well, what's east of the Lone Islands?" Lucy runs her hand over the blank space on the map.

"Uncharted waters," Caspian's captain Drinian chimes in, "things you can barely imagine."

We all look at him in confusion, and Drinian holds a serious yet mysterious gaze.

"Tales of sea serpents, and worse."

Lucy tilts her head, considering his words, and I nod solemnly, thinking of what a Narnian sea serpent could look like, and thinking of what could be worse.

"Sea serpents?" Edmund laughs nervously and raises his eyebrows.

"Alright, Captain," Caspian laughs, "that's enough of your tall tales. Let's get you all settled in shall we? I'll show you to your quarters."

Caspian leads us down a narrow hallway, stopping in front of a small door.

"Here's one room," Caspian says, "I don't know what...erm...sleeping arrangements you all might want. This room has one larger bed, the next one has two smaller bunks, and there's another cot in my room as well."

We glance awkwardly at each other, and I nod to Ed and Lucy.

"I'm ok with anything," I offer.

"I say we put Eustace below deck," Edmund says jokingly as he grabs my hand and pulls me toward him. "Lucy, are you alright with your own room?"

"I guess so," she says, uncomfortably shifting her weight.

"Lu, I'm happy to share a room with you if you'd like," I look at her sympathetically.

"No it's alright," she smiles, "I understand."

"Perfect," Edmund says smiling ridiculously big and pulling into the room after him, "she's with me then."

"I guess I'll see you two later," I call out to Caspian and Lucy, and Edmund shuts the door behind us.