serendipity - narnia [EDITING]

chapter 42

Chapter 42
Waves

The longboat glided through the layer of white lilies covering the surface of the water, giving Dahlia the feeling that they were sailing on the clouds as she guided the vessel along. She sat close to Caspian on one of the benches facing the others - Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace. Reepicheep was with them as well, but he was leaning against the bow of the longboat gazing off into the distance.

"So what was it like when Aslan changed you back?" Edmund asked his cousin. The boy had informed them that after he'd escaped Dark Island, Aslan had appeared and transformed him back into a human. The great lion was also the reason Eustace was miraculously transported to Ramandu's Island to lay down the seventh sword.

"No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't do it myself," Eustace replied with a shrug, staring thoughtfully out over the sea of lilies. "Then he came towards me. It sort of hurt, but it was a good pain. You know, like when you pull a thorn from your foot." The boy smiled to himself, glancing around the boat at each of them. "Being a dragon wasn't all bad. I mean, I think I was a better dragon than I was a boy, really," he admitted, looking up at Dahlia. "I'm so sorry for being such a sop...and for scaring you when I was a dragon...and for being the reason you got kidnapped," Eustace added sheepishly. Dahlia just laughed in response, leaning forward and patting his knee.

"Don't worry about it. I mean for the most part, you were a pretty good dragon," the mage said, grinning at him. Reepicheep squeezed himself between Caspian and Dahlia, drawing his sword and pointing it dramatically behind him.

"My friends, we have arrived." Dahlia looked over her shoulder, and was filled with about a dozen emotions she couldn't describe. She did, however, feel the instant presence of magic. The longboat beached on a long strip of sand, and in front of it was an endless wave miles high. The water flowed and curved like any wave, but never broke. They'd reached the border into Aslan's country.

Reepicheep leapt off the bow and bounded eagerly forwards, leaving the others to trail after him in awe. The five of them fell into step with each other, Dahlia's hand remaining in Caspian's after he helped her out of the boat. This magic was just as strong as the Dark Island, but it felt welcoming in every way Dark Island had felt foreboding. Something beyond the wave beckoned to Dahlia, pulling her towards it. It felt oddly like home. The mage then felt another presence join their group, and before she even turned to address it she heard a gentle, rumbling voice in her head that she hadn't heard in years.

You've done well to bring them this far, Dahlia. Now you know what must come to pass. The mage turned to face Aslan, and if that lingering sinking feeling in her stomach had been a weight it would've pulled her down. The rest of the group turned to follow her gaze when they realized she'd halted and the great lion smiled as he faced them.

"Welcome, children. You have done well, very well indeed," Aslan said as he stood between them and the wave. "You have come far, and now your journey is at its end." Dahlia forced herself to glance at Edmund and Lucy, but she was unable to look their way for long without feeling tears well in her eyes.

"Is this your country?" Lucy asked, glancing up and down the beach that seemed to go one forever. Aslan shook his mane, gesturing to the wall of water behind him.

"No, my country lies beyond." Dahlia drew her eyes to the top of the wave, and she noticed the peaks of rolling mountains just out of reach. A thought suddenly struck her, and it seemed to strike Caspian at the same time.

"Is my father in your country?" the king asked hesitantly, subconsciously tightening his grip on Dahlia's hand.

"And my parents?" the mage added, her voice timid as she tried to see through the water to the lands beyond.