Whisked Away

38. The Dark Island

Shifra's POV
When we had been sailing for thirteen days, I woke feeling very happy. I had gotten my breakfast and was on the fighting top with Edmund, looking out. As we were standing, we began to talk. "Which of these lands has been the most mysterious to you?" Edmund asked.

I thought before answering, "I know not which one. They all have a rather spectacular facade of mystery, but it is strange. I have felt that these islands, which I have never before seen, were almost familiar to me. Almost as though I had seen them before, but I couldn't have. I'd remember a voyage like this."

"Well," he started slowly, "Maybe you have. You have always seemed to know what was going to happen before it did. Even when we were young kings and queens of Narnia, you always seemed to just know. Perhaps this is much the same."

"Perhaps," I replied softly, looking out over the horizon. "I say, Ed, what is that?" For I had just noticed a spot of darkness on the horizon, not like land, for it was much too dark and almost smooth looking.

"By Jove," replied Edmund, "It appears to be a sort of land or mist. Not one we've ever seen, mind you."

"Caspian!" I called.

He joined us on the fighting top and asked, "What is it?" I made no answer, but pointed at the mass of darkness I had spotted.

"What do you reckon that is?" I asked in little more than a whisper. For some reason I felt terribly wary of it. Chills swept through my body causing me to wrap my wings around me for warmth. Caspian motioned for the ship to be held back, for we had been rowing for everyday days. "Do we go into this?"

"Not by my advice," said Drinian. Several agreed with him, but I felt a slight tug at my heart towards the island. A strange buzzing filled my hears as I looked out over the island. I heard muffled voices speaking, but I could not hear them. I found myself leaning forward to look at the island closer.

The buzzing or ringing had not stopped, in fact it was now so loud I could not hear the others. It suddenly got much louder, making me wince in pain. I held my ears in my hands in a vain attempt to block out the sound. I shut my eyes tightly and when I had opened them again I saw images flashing before my eyes. I saw men positioned on the ship, ready to fight. I saw an old, wizened man being brought unto the ship, I saw a table with a stone knife laying atop it, I saw Caspian moping in what used to be his cabin.

I saw a green serpent, I saw a blade coming towards me, I saw myself, laying on the ground. Blood poured out of a wound on my stomach, and my wings were torn, damaged, and broken in places. My cheeks were sunken and had a yellow-grey tinge. A man was crouched over me with fervent tears falling from his wise, grave eyes. I saw a much older Caspian being carried on a bed from a great ship. I watched as a young man approached him. They both cried and I, the other me, cried with them and embraced the man. Then I watched as that Caspian took his last breath. Stumbling back I gasped, back on the fighting top of the ship.

I stumbled back into Caspian, taking in short, panicked breaths. "Shifra? Are you alright?" Caspian asked. My breaths soon steadied and I turned to face him. "What did you see?" he asked fearfully.

"H-Horrible things, I c-can't...n-not now, please," I begged, "We need to go to that island." Everyone nodded, still very confused, but not arguing with me. We all armed ourselves with our weapons and armor, but my fingers shook too much to clasp my armor.

"Here," Caspian offered. He gently took my hands in his, pulling them away from the armor. His warm hands moved back to clasp it for me. I saw once again the dead Caspian and a lump formed in my throat and tears filled my eyes. I tried to turn away so he wouldn't see, but his warm hands cupped my cheeks and he wiped away my tears. "What's wrong?"