The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 13

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 2: The Naiad and Her King

Chapter 13

Ava watched as an invisible door closed behind Lucy and she disappeared. Once the door closed the voices said they didn't need to stay around. The next thing the Narnians knew, the spears were pulled from the ground and turned invisible once more, and a great thumping surrounded their party. The thumping and the chattering voices slowly faded into the distance.

"They're gone," Ava said curiously when she could no longer feel the presence of the voices.

"Are you certain?" Caspian asked, his chest vibrating against Ava's body; she was still wrapped in his arms, but not for long. She could hear the doubt in his voice and she pushed away from him.

"I am most certain!" she said angrily. "I am glad to see that those who have sworn their friendship trust me so little! At least I can say that Lucy trusts me fully!"

"Well, you did lead us into this mess," Drinian replied; he was being a little nastier than usual because everyone was beginning to feel the stress of the voyage.

Ava had begun to walk away, but at Drinian's comment she turned back around with tears in her eyes. She wanted so desperately to unleash all her anger and all her hurt upon him, and maybe three years ago she would have. But she remembered the last time she voiced her anger before thinking, and she remembered how disappointed Aslan had been with her for it. She never wanted to disappoint the Great Lion again. So, she took a minute or two to think things through before responding.

"My magic led us here, Captain," Ava said at last, slowly. "My magic is all I am. If I cannot trust my magic, then what can I trust?" Ava felt a few tears fall and she quickly wiped them away.

"Ava," Caspian said softly as he stepped forward and reached out for her. Ava shook her head and cringed away from him; she did not want his comfort now.

"No. You stay there."

"Where are you going?" Caspian asked as she began to walk away once more.

"I prefer to spend my time waiting for Lucy in the company of those who respect me."

Caspian watched in horror as Ava walked away from him, with tears in her eyes, and took a seat on the ground next to Eustace of all people. What had he done? How did he let this happen? He hurt her! He doubted her, and he hurt her! How could he do this to her? And what did he have to do earn her forgiveness? Could he even earn it? What if his doubt had caused him to lose her friendship, her companionship forever?

XOXOX

Lucy was sick and tired. She was tired of being seen as the "cute little girl" or the "younger sister of Susan" or even as the "youngest Pevensie." She missed being grown, being older, being beautiful, more than she would ever admit to anyone. She remembered what it was like to have suitors come and call on her. She would pretend, before Peter and Edmund, that she disliked the suitors coming for her because she felt she was supposed to in order to remain their baby sister. In secret, the idea of suitors thrilled her; for a few moments it was all about her and her beauty, not Susan's.

Lucy wanted to feel like she did when she was in Narnia the first time. She wanted to feel important, valued, like she was of some use. But more than anything, Lucy wanted to feel beautiful again. She wanted boys to see her the way they saw Susan. Or rather, she wanted one to look at her the way Caspian looked at Ava, with pure adoration and love. That's why when she had a glimpse of the beauty given by the Infallible Spell, she knew she needed more.