Chronicles of Narnia: The Warrior of Narnia (Completed)

Chapter Seven: A Stormy Battle

As the ship drew nearer to the shadows of Dark Island, the plan of attack was spread among the crew. Their focus would be to find Lord Rhoop and the Eternal he carried. The ship slowed as they neared the very outskirts of the shadowed veil surrounding their destination. Fear seemed to radiate from the black clouds, spreading through all on board the Dawn Treader.
Sensing this, Caspian had stepped to the top of the stairs, gazing down at everyone. "No matter what happens here, every soul who stands before me has earned their place on the crew of the Dawn Treader. We have traveled together. Together we have faced adversity. Together we can't do it again." His voice rang out throw the crowd, he stood facing the crew and Eustace (who has Reepicheep on his head) flew in front of the ship. Lucy was with Gael and her father while Edmund and Nora stood shoulder to shoulder. With swords, archery, and armor for the battle. "So now is not the time to fall to fears and temptation. Be strong and never give in. For our Narnian lives depends on it. Think of the lost souls we are here to save." Marina gave Gael and Rhince a sympathetic look. "Think of Aslan, think of Narnia."
"For Aslan!" The crew cheered, the name of the Lion bolstering their spirits. "For Aslan!"
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There was silence throughout the ship as the Dawn Treader slipped past the first cloud into a fog of black. Little light slipped in with them, despite time nearing late morning. The lamps were lit, but still darkness shrouded the ship, making their path exponentially dangerous. Of land there was no sign save for a few low rocks rising above the water, eerily illuminated by a sheen of poison-green mist.
Those not involved in steering and rowing kept on high alert, ready to be attacked, ready to rush repairs, pull sails, whatever was needed. But until the need arose, they had to wait, and waiting in the tense darkness was nearly unbearable. The silence grew oppressive, and the air grew colder. Much colder, in fact. It was not long before the dim glow of the lanterns reflected off each puff of breath by the crew.
The longer they sailed, the better everyone's eyes adjusted to the dark and the more they began to see of the black line of the island's coast. However, they could not leave the depths surrounding Dark Island; the barriers of rocks offshore were too dangerous for longboats. As they followed the coast – they must be rounding the eastern side by now – the icebergs lessoned, but the chill remained. The sheen of green mist, however, was steadily thickening into a fog, blinding them as much as the darkness. Shades of venomous green snaked around the men on deck, permeating the boards and slithering around those who slowly propelled the ship with oars. The pool of fog served to separate the men, and one woman, from each other, leaving them all nearly blind and vulnerably alone.
But the cure was quickly discovered by covering their ears with small bits of fabric. When the fog had rolled in, Reepicheep, from his perch atop Eustace's head, had realized the danger and quickly pulled the dragon's ears back so that they were plastered against his head. This had annoyed Eustace, but better an annoyed dragon than one entangled by dark dreams.
As a result of this action, the dragon and the Talking Mouse were collected enough to try and figure out a plan to fight the seemingly unbeatable green mist. Eustace soon started burning the fog away from the ship, but he made not to spark it up to a flame by accident. The crew sent up a cheer as the mist finally retreated, leaving them in simple, oppressive darkness (and able to take out the frankly uncomfortable earplugs, it must be said).
But Edmund and Nora both held their own council on the matter of the fog's retreat – that the mist had been recalled to its master, who had decided to fight instead with a weapon not so easily dispatched by a dragon.

A voice hung on the air, weary and harsh and old, but defiant. Words were nearly impossible to make out, but it was a human voice. A real voice, as well, not like the deep resonance of the green mist's deception. On Caspian's orders, the lights in the lamps were strengthened, and the lookouts peered far into the darkness to find the voice's source.
However, it was the superior night vision of a certain Mouse atop of a dragon's head that was first able to pierce the darkness. "There is a man on one of the rocky islets!" He shouted to those still on the ship. "He looks ill-kept, and has a fire, and little else, for warmth."
"Lead us as close as possible," Caspian ordered Reepicheep, and then ordered the crew to prepare a longboat. Perhaps they would not have to go far to find Lord Rhoop after all.
Thanks to Reepicheep's directions, they sailed near enough that they could make out a figure standing on an islet, holding a sword pointed to the ground. The wind still blew and waves crashed dangerously on the rocks, rocks that were now forming an impenetrable barrier between the Dawn Treader and the man. Nora grimaced as Lucy voiced what they were all thinking: "A longboat would splinter before we even got close."
The flapping of leathery wings caught Marina's ears, Eustace was off like a shot. Marina winced as a terrified yell carried on the wind from the man who had been unexpectedly seized by a dragon. Within moments, Eustace had dropped the man on the deck, with suspiciously more gentleness than he had used with Edmund.
As it was, Lord Rhoop had first been frozen in fear and shock, which quickly turned into fear and suspicion. The man – ragged, worn, and half-starved as he was – quickly fell into a defensive position, sword in hand. He snarled at the sailors who tried to approach him. "I will not fall to this new trickery!"
"It is no trick," Caspian calmly countered. "We are a royal ship of Narnia..."
"Mist lies! Servants of the dark power!" Few could blame the poor man for believing them mere figments of his seven-year torment, but the sword he waved was still a danger to the crew that sought to help him.
Edmund began inching towards Lord Rhoop, hoping to find an opening to disarm him, but it was an unneeded move.
Caspian, ignoring the danger, stepped closer to Rhoop and said, softly and yet loud enough to be heard. "The Lady Lilliandil told me to remind you of Carmen."
The crazed look in Rhoop's eyes sharpened to coherency at Caspian's words. "Carmen." His voice was a whisper, and lowered his sword. Then his eyes finally focused on Caspian's face. "I know you."
Caspian's appearance was regal as he answered to him. "I am King Caspian the Tenth of Narnia, son of Caspian the Ninth." And then, more gently. "You have fulfilled your duty, Lord Rhoop. It is time to finish this and go home."
With that, Lord Rhoop collapsed to his knees, hands releasing the last Eternal with a clatter. "My lord." The mantle of duty that held him captive for so long was removed.
Lucy was quick to his side, Caspian near her. "Come, my lord. You may rest in the king's cabin."
Caspian nodded and helped Lucy raise Lord Rhoop to his feet, before having his place taken by another sailor. "Rest, now, my good man. We will take care of what is needed." Rhoop muttered grateful nonsense as Lucy and the sailor helped him go below deck.
"Do not think. Do not let it know your fears or it will become them," Lord Rhoop said, looking at Caspian.
"Oh no," Edmund said, closing his eyes and sighing.
Nora turned to him and looked at him in suspicious dread. "Ed, what did you just do?"
"Edmund, what did you just think of?" Lucy asked nervously.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The way he said it immediately made her feel afraid of what was to come.
"Ed!" She said, lightly hitting his arm.
Edmund didn't say anything to her light scolding. He broke into a run to look over the edge of the ship. Nora followed behind him, doing the same. She saw something in the dark sea waters. It seemed to be a rock in the sea, seemingly moved. Nora's eyes widened as the entire ship lurched to the side, knocking them all of their feet. Edmund hurriedly helped Nora and Lucy both back up.
The serpent's sickly-yellow eyes gleamed. Its mistress had given it orders, which it was anxious to carry out: destroy the ship and all in it. The presence of the terrible sword might prevent the power of Dark Island from interfering directly – and besides, she had another plan to actualize. Her favorite pet, however, was not bound, and could attack at will, lent strength by its proximity to Dark Island. Now, it could destroy. Now it could feed.
Eustace flew at the creature, scratching at its face with his claws. Reepicheep then left from his mount onto the back of the sea serpent, attacking with all his might. His tiny sword could do little more damage that a pin, but even pinpricks are painful. The serpent roared and reared, snapping its mighty jaws at Eustace, while rippling its back to fling Reepicheep towards the ship.
The Mouse was fortunate enough to grab hold of a rope and lower himself to the deck. Eustace, on the other hand, was not so lucky and the sea serpent's teeth dug into his shoulder. His scales mitigated the damage, and caused the serpent to lose its hold, but it was still painful for the boy-turned-dragon. In fact, Eustace was quite sure he did not want to do this anymore, and there was no Mouse shouting in his ear to make him face the monster.
"I'll kill it!" yelled Lord Rhoop, still crazed and had ran out of the room.
"No! The sword!" yelled Caspian.
Lord Rhoop threw his sword at Eustace. The sword sank into Eustace's shoulder and he roared in pain. The pain on his shoulder was too much for him to handle and he flew away, knowing what must be done. He has to return to the Island... if he can.
"No, Eustace! Come back!" yelled Lucy as Eustace disappeared into the dark fog.
"Turn this ship about!" Lord Rhoop went for the wheel, but Drinian had managed to knock him unconscious.
Eustace flew away towards a small, empty island that was outside of Ramandu's Island. Eustace landed on the beach with a crash and didn't move.
Glancing among the scattered crew, Nora was relieved to spot Caspian stumbling to his feet. Lucy, too, had made her way from below deck – and she was now armed not only with her sword, but with Susan's bow and arrows. Edmund gave her a grim nod as she moved to help steady Caspian on the still-rolling ship. They should have remembered the bow before; while not as proficient as Susan, Lucy was still an expert archer. Nora was glad she had thought to arm herself with her sword while Marina had armed herself with her archery equipment too. Her younger cousin is better at archery than she is.
There was little time for ruminating on it, however, as the sea serpent continued to squeeze its prey. Wood groaned and broke beneath its hold. Men shouted, a panic beginning to overtake them. Posts were abandoned, and some of the crew seemed to be contemplating jumping overboard, taking their chances in the sea.
"Hold fast! Hold your ground!" barked Caspian, his tone furious and his dark eyes blazing. "Find a weak spot in its hide!" Given an order, given a task, the crew followed the command and, led by Reepicheep, used daggers, swords, and arrows to work at the armored skin. But none of the mentioned weapons hadn't worked.

Eustace tried to stand up but failed; the sword was still in his shoulder. But he soon caught sight of a magnificent Lion. His mane caught the morning light and his brilliant amber eyes sparkling like the golden sun of the rising golden dawn and held many secrets than any animal ever had. One look from his face and she'll know that the Lion could speak and with the wisest knowledge of any animal. His face showed greatness, royalty, and wisdom.
The Lion clawed at the sandy ground, his marks appeared on Eustace and it caused to cry out in pain. The Great Lion roared, and the boy rose into the air. His wings vanished, toenails, and fingernails replacing claws. His horns and spikes retracted and his muzzles shortened as did his teeth, torso, and tail. His legs muscles shrank as did his bodies. His tail vanished completely and his eyes went to his normal position and became round. When the transformation stopped, he landed in the clearing of Ramandu's Island with a new white tunic. He got up and ran towards the Table with Lord Rhoop's sword.
He was just about to reach the glowing swords when the Green Mist pulled them back. He started fighting against the Mist with drawn and glowing Swords. But then he soon felt the Mist started to weaken. Eustace slammed the glowing Sword with the other Swords. A blue and mysterious light flew straightly into the sky and the Mist disappeared from the Island. 

When he was nearly two-thirds of the way to the crow's nest, however, Caspian stopped in his tracks. Too far away to help, Caspian could only watch in horror as Edmund stumbled and Rhindon was flung away from him until it teetered on the edge of the crow's nest, above and to the left of Caspian. Caspian's heart leapt to his throat, however, when Edmund did immediately grab for the sword, despite the fact that the sea serpent had its jaws open to attack at any moment. And then Caspian could only scream his brother's name as Edmund rose and lunged, not just at Rhindon, but at the mast itself, even as the sea serpent struck, its rows of giant teeth ready to close over the king.
Then, everything froze. It lasted only a moment, as if the world itself had held its breath, as if each raindrop waited in anticipation. The wind flattened, the shouts of men were silenced, and the waves were becalmed.
And then the island exploded, the Dark Island is gone for good.

But as he turned around and the three Lords waking up, he all saw a glowing, golden figure of a certain Great Lion walking towards him. His golden eyes shone with warmth and pride at the young boy.
"Aslan," said Eustace.
"Greetings young protector of Narnia," Aslan rumbled.
"Aslan, would I be able to change back into a Dragon?" asked Eustace hopefully.
Aslan smiled and blew a sweet and delicious breath on him. "I have only taken temporarily away your transformation. Once you return to your world, Eustace you can transform into a dragon there as well."
"Thank you Aslan," said Eustace.
Aslan smiled warmly and nodded lovingly to them. In a flash of light within the sun, the Great Lion disappeared and the birds started singing everywhere from the island.