Finally Home (Third Book of Witch's Daughter)

3

"Since you left, the Giants of the North surrendered unconditionally," Caspian says as he points to a large map in Caspian's Quarters, "then we defeated the Calormen armies at the Great Desert."

"There is peace across all of Narnia, thanks to him." I nod to Caspian. We fill in the Pevensies of what our latest conquests have been.

"Peace?" Edmund questions loudly.

"In just three years." He says. I smile as I look down at the map. Wait a minute.. if everything is so peaceful then why are they here?

"And have you found yourself a queen in those three years?" Lu says, I hear a tone come from her that I've never heard from her before. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it. As the words leave her mouth, I look up at Caspian to await his answer.

"No. Not one to compare with your sister." They both smile and as do I, but before the moment could last any longer Edmund interrupts.

"Hang on. If there are no wars to fight and no one is in trouble... why are we here?" I stand up straight.

"That's a good question."

"I was actually wondering the same thing as well." I add, "Do you not want to be here?"

"That isn't what I mean.. it's just that every time we are called here there always seems to be a disturbance but there isn't anything this time." He pulls me into an embrace. "Though I would much rather be here with you, than at England without anything to do. Anyways where are we sailing to?"

"Before I took the throne from my uncle, he tried to kill father's closest friends and most loyal supporters," Caspian says turning to the drawings behind him. "The Seven Lords of Telmar. They fled to the Lone Islands," I point to the Lone Islands on the map. "No one has heard from them since."

"So you think something has happened to them?" Edmund questions, admiring the drawings.

"Well, if it has.. it is my duty to find out."

"Well, what's east of the Lone Islands?" Lu asks openly.

"Uncharted waters," the Captain says, "Things you can barely imagine. Tales of Sea Serpents and worse." Lucy looks at me afraid and I look at Edmund who just smiles and questions the idea of Sea Serpents. I roll my eyes at his tough guy act and reach out to hold his hand, which he quickly takes and squeezes.

"Alright, Captain, that'a enough of your tall tales." Caspian says. I snort as I watch the Captain give Caspian and Ed the eye.

~

It was after lunch when I finally decided I should take Edmund up to the Crow's Nest. I let him climb the ratlines first just in case he loses his footing and I have to catch him.

When he makes it up there, he lies down and takes deep breaths. "Are you alright?" I say kneeling down and looking at him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Is it not a demanding task to climb up and down those ropes so often?" He tries to say in between ragged breaths. I chuckle.

"Well I've gotten pretty used to it." He sits up and puts his arm up sideways, signaling that he wanted me to sit by him. I smile and lean into his broad chest and shoulders. "Tell me about your life in England." I smile up at him. His beautiful chocolate eyes looking forward at the sea, while his hair is being blown out of his perfectly sculpted face.

"Well there's a war going on back in England, but I'm not old enough to participate in it. I'm just a normal boy back home, that's why I love coming back here and spending time with you and the Narnians. I also don't have my lovely wife there, so it really does suck back in England." I shake my head and laugh. We interlock hands as soon as he stops talking.