The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 12

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 2: The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 12

Ava stood on the high deck looking over the port side. The eastern horizon was just beginning to glow with the early morning sun, casting the island before the Dawn Treader into a dim grey light. After healing Rynelf from his high temperature, Ava had slept for the rest of the day recovering. Ava was beginning to worry. It was becoming harder for her to access and use her magic, and it took more out of her to do even the simplest of tasks. Healing was not an easy thing to do, but it had never taken her a whole day to recover from a single treatment. What was wrong?

After waking, very early mind you, Ava tried to remain in bed so as not to disturb Lucy, but as she lay there she began to feel a strange pull. She could not describe the sensation. She slowly and carefully climbed out of the bed and made her way outside. As she walked she realized that the ship didn't have its usual rock; they were standing still. Ava followed the strange pull all the way to the high deck, where she now stood, and saw the reason for their stillness: an island.

Ava had no idea how long she had been standing there nor how long she continued to stand there, but when she had begun the sun had yet to begin its rise and when she was drawn from her trance like gaze the sun had fully risen.

XOXOX

"Yes, Drinian? What is it you needed to tell us?" Caspian asked as he and Edmund joined the Captain on the main deck.

"This is really something you have to see for yourselves," Drinian said before leading them up to the high deck.

"Ava! I see you're feeling better," Edmund said upon seeing the Princess. Ava did not respond but continued to stare, unblinking, upon the island.

"Ava?" Caspian questioned.

"She's been like that since I got up here," Drinian said. "I've tried calling to her several times; I've even touched her shoulder once or twice, but she's been completely unresponsive."

"Ava, what's wrong?" Caspian asked, stepping forward. Ava continued to just stare. "Ava?"

Caspian reached out and placed a hand on Ava's shoulder. She suddenly jumped at his touch and looked around, as if confused. Then she saw Caspian and smiled warmly.

"Good morning, Caspian." When none of the guys responded, Ava continued. "What are you all staring at?"

"What were you staring at?" Edmund asked.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Are you feeling all right, Ava?" Caspian asked.

"Yes. I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You were just staring at that island. Drinian says you've been at it for awhile," Edmund answered.

"Island? What island?" While she had been speaking with them, Ava had turned away from the island, but now that Edmund mentioned it she looked over her shoulder at the island and fell silent once more.

"Ava?" Caspian once more had to reach out and touch Ava's shoulder to get her attention. "Ava?"

"Caspian," she whispered. Ava looked back and forth between Caspian and the island and blinked several times; she was trying to fight off the pull. "That island...there's something strange about it. Caspian, have any of the crew been on it yet?"

"No. We were going to explore it this morning."

"Good. I would like to be among the party that goes."