Whisked Away

32. Eustace as a Dragon

Shifra's POV
Our small party had just set off into the island when a dreadful smell was brought to us by the wind, but we all tried to ignore it. We were going up a great grassy slope that had become quite wet and damp. I had to fly up suddenly many times to avoid slipping, but the others kept their footing well enough.

When we were at the top of the slope, we all looked around. It was quite clear and we could see a long way off, but down the hill, far to the right from where we had come up, an open valley with a clear fountain bubbled up. Next to that fountain was the body of a dragon. It had great wings and a fat body, but this one looked almost withered as if it had been alive for a long time before it died.

"Casp," I whispered getting his attention. "Look." All five looked and some even gave a start. I was the only one brave enough to start toward it, but the others soon followed. When I had reached the body, I noticed with satisfaction the cave opening, but did not look at it long. I watched as the body remained completely motionless.

"It's dead," said Edmund. "Are there likely to be more?"

"No," said the sailor who had run into many dragons before, "They are greedy creatures and do not like to share, another dragon is unlikely to be hanging around. And anyways, they like to eat one another." We soon left the valley and searched the rest of the island, but to no avail. We were all tired and cold when we finally got back to everyone else. I listened as Caspian told the others what had been found, but with little interest.

I had lain down on the grass and was just getting to sleep when I heard the sound of great wings moving just above us. My eyes shot open and I saw with my own eyes the dragon. I darted up and on instinct drew my sword. When it had fully flown over the tree tops and had landed on the beach, Caspian and I looked at one another, fear in both our faces.

It is an odd thing that these situations frighten me even though I know what is going, or should, happen, but I could never shake the feeling that it wasn't going to. Anyways the situations themselves seemed far more real when I lived it than when I read it. Caspian rushed over to me and whispered, "We need a plan."

"Go and wake Lucy and then we'll figure it out." He nodded and left to do just that. When everyone was up, Caspian gave some orders, but I could not listen to them. I felt the urge to go and see Eustace, but I had no idea how I could. It was still dark and anyone would notice me going. Then I looked around. No one was looking.

I quickly made myself invisible and made my way to the tree line and then to the beach. The site that met me there was the most heart breaking thing I had ever seen. Eustace was clawing at the golden bracelet that was causing him so much pain and tears leaked from his eyes. When I stepped forward and made it so he could see me, Eustace gave a start and ran a good ten feet away from me.

"Eustace!" I called. The caused him to stop short. He walked back to me and looked at me with what I could only describe as curiosity. "I know that you are Eustace, I know you can understand me, and I know that you can't speak. Listen to me, when the others come you must..." When I had finished telling him what to do, I went back to everyone else who, thankfully, never noticed my absents.

When it became light enough, everyone picked up their weapons and started for the shore. When Eustace saw us approaching, he instantly waddled backward into the bay, away from us. Then he began to wag his head as if to say no. I could not help but smile, it was all going brilliantly. "What is it wagging it's head like that for?" Edmund asked, lowering his sword slightly.

"Now it's nodding," observed Caspian. Everyone was very confused by this dragon especially when they saw him crying, but a very strange thing happened. One of the sailors suddenly raised their bow and fired.

"Eustace!" I screamed. He got out of the way just in time and I rushed forward. "Are you alright!" Everyone was looking at me as if I was insane, but I ignored them all.

"What did you just call him?" Edmund asked.

"Oh blast you all," I cried suddenly, "Can't you see that he is no harm to us all?" Everyone was looking even more confused than before, but I called to Lucy, "Lu, can you do anything about his arm?" She helped reduce the swelling, but not much else could be done for him.

At the sight of it, Caspian exclaimed, "Look!" Soon everyone was either thinking he was the Lord Octesian or had devoted him.

"He has not eaten any lords," I said sharply.

"How do you know?" Ed asked, looking skeptical.

I turned back to Eustace and asked, "Are you a human under an enchantment?" He nodded his head violently. "Are you Eustace?" Again he nodded his head. I turned back to everyone else.

"How on earth did you know that?" Caspian asked. I shrugged with a smirk and walked back to him. "I swear you have more knowledge stored in that brain than any scholar who ever lived."

"I'll take that as a complement," I replied as he grabbed my hand. We all continued our work today and it all went much faster now that we had a dragon on our side. Eustace brought us many wild goats and even a tall pine tree for our mast. When everyone was taking a break, two of the sailors were talking about who could fly faster, me or Eustace. "How about we test that?" I asked.

Soon everyone was taking bets and asking everyone else's opinion about who would win. A course was settled upon and soon Eustace and I were at the start. "On you mark!" Called Ed, "Get set! Go!" And we went. We both pushed off and began to fly. Eustace was ahead of me at first purely because of his size, but my wings were as strong as his and with my lighter body mass, I soon got ahead of him.

When we finally got back, I was ahead by a few feet. Eustace was flying in earnest now, but as I flew on and on he was gaining up to me. It was anyone's race now, but just as we got to where we were to finish, I gave a great flap of my great wings and soared just feet in front of Eustace, winning the race. Both of us were breathing heavily and many crew members were exchanging money.

"Good race," I said, out of breath. He nodded in acknowledgement and I even swear I saw a dragonish smile. Eustace took many of the others on rides around the island riding on his back. That night it was very cold and everyone was freezing. No one could seem to get the fire going so Eustace set us a great big fire and even allowed us to sit with our backs against his great, warm sides. Reep told him many stories of people who had fallen into despair and made great recoveries.

It was not as comforting as he thought, but it was very kindly meant. One night, about six nights into our stay at this island, I could not get to sleep. I had been trying, but it just wouldn't come to me. As I had just decided to get up, I saw Aslan. He was staring right at Eustace. He gave me a small shake of the head and I took that as a sign not to follow him, but Eustace did.

Now I was too excited to go to sleep. I waited for hours and hours until I saw Edmund sit up, looking hard at a dark figure. He and I both got up and while Edmund drew his sword, I remained motionless. "Is that you, Edmund?" Eustace asked. "Shifra?"

"Yes, but who are you?" said he.

"Don't you know me? It's me, Eustace!"

"By Jove," Edmund exclaimed, "so it is. My dear chap..."

"It's been ghastly. You don't know...but it's all right now. Could we go and talk somewhere? I don't want to meet the others just yet," Eustace asked.

"Would you like me to go?" I asked, knowing that I had not exactly been his favorite person before his transformation, not that Edmund had been either, but Ed was his family.

"Yes, if you don't mind," he replied, "You were the first one to believe I wasn't a threat and you jolly well saved me from that arrow." We all headed to a group of rocks that stood nearby and waited to hear his story.