Adoration

ix

Narnia 2307

They were about to load the boats when Lucy drew their attention. "Where's Eustace?" she looked around, frowning when she was unable to see - or hear - him.

"I believe he's out, not helping us load the boats." Repicheep answered from one of the boats.

Everyone looked around, in search for him. When he didn't reply to Lucy calling his name, she turned to Edmund and Peter. "I've got a bad feeling."

Edmund rolled his eyes, "I'll go find him."

Caspian hesitated for a second. "I'll come with you."

Peter looked between the two as he lifted a supply of food onto the boat. "Play nice you two."

Caspian passed Lucy the spare sword before following after Edmund, who had already walked off, not bothering to wait for him. The three remaining siblings exchanged a look before they joined the crew in the boats.

"Eustace!" they both yelled until they stumbled across a gorge full of gold. Caspian glanced at Edmund, keeping his hand secure on his sword hilt in case something went wrong.

"Trouble," Caspian muttered as they made their way down into the gorge, glancing at Edmund every now and again to make sure he didn't look entranced by the treasure.

After searching for a while, Edmund spotted one of Eustace's shoes, half burnt and falling apart at the sole. He fell to his knees beside it, picked it up and flipped it over in his palm, inspecting it.

"Eustace," he gasped desperately, raking his eyes around the gorge for his cousin.

He stood and looked around, blanching when he saw half a carcass, coated in Eustace's clothes. "No, no," he muttered as he stumbled slightly.

Caspian felt a pull in his chest, furious with himself for allowing this to happen on his voyage. He placed a hand on Edmund's back, looking at him with sympathy. "I'm sorry."

"He was just a boy," Edmund found and picked up the small diary that he remembered Eustace always writing in. "He was only 9, I never should've left him. What could've happened to him?" he choked out.

"In this place?" Caspian responded. "Anything." He turned and walked over to a skeleton opposite them. "And he wasn't the first, it's Lord Octesian. We should find his. . ." he looked around frantically.

Edmund had drawn Lord Octesian's sword, passing it to Caspian as he pocketed the diary.

* * *

"Did you find him?" Peter questioned, helping Caspian and Edmund onto the Dawn Treader. Edmund shook his head as Caspian walked off, not wishing to intrude on their conversation.

"Caspian," Susan gasped as she saw him walking towards her. "Did you find Eustace?" She looked behind him and, when she couldn't see him, lowered her head, and sighed.

He pulled her into him, holding her there. "I'm sorr –"

A thunderous noise echoed from the island, which was drifting further away. The crew looked towards it, frowns on their faces.

"What was that?" Lucy asked to no one in particular.

"Is it the volcano?" Gale asked Drinian desperately, her voice quivering in fear.