Starved Hearts ~ Caspian Fanfiction

Chapter 4

"Um, Lucy can we-" Alice's words broke off abruptly as she approached the younger girl, to find her chatting and giggling with the large mouse Alice had been so amazed to know existed, just when she thought she was managing to get to grips with this world, she is reminded that Narnia will always be full of surprises. She was sure she would never be able to overcome the idea creatures can speak, neither will she be able to look at a cat the same at home, suspicious they could actually understand her, "I-I'm sorry for interrupting... I don't believe we've properly been introduced," she smiled kindly, bracing herself on the side of the ship.

The mouse, whose name she could recall due to its uniqueness, scurried closer to her side with a sideways smile of his own, "Ah, I'm Reepicheep, lady...?"

"Alice, I mean Heartley... it doesn't matter," she brushed the mistake off with a wave of her hand, "and please, I'm not important enough to be titled a lady," she giggled, "It's a pleasure to meet you," she held her hand out.

Reepicheep chuckled, "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Alice," eyeing her hand with odd amusement, it took a moment to click before Alice had never felt so idiotic, feeling a tremendous blush colour her cheeks.

"Oh silly me, " she began to retract her hand, but Reepicheep merely patted her finger, making her chew her lip clumsily, "Sorry."

"Do not fret my dear Miss Alice, easy mistake, I'm quite flattered you may see me as equal to yourself, " he chuckled, now stroking his tail, and consciously adjusting the feather at his ear.

Politely, Alice replied, "It's never about what you are or how you look but what's inside," she breathed, glancing to Lucy, "And you Reepicheep, appear like one kind soul, isn't that right Lucy?"

"Oh definitely, " Lucy grinned, "But I already know, you Alice, have a lot to look forward to."

Alice chuckled, leaning against the side of the ship, her pale skin warm in the beating sun, weather like this in Britain was like, well, finding speaking animals, there never was any apart from here; Alice took the chance to relish it now, with the sound of the crashing waves against the ship toa company her.

"I do look forward to it," she smirked wistfully.

"What do you think is past the Lone Islands, Reep? " Lucy asked, turning to Reepicheep uncertainly, gripping into the wooden beam ahead of her, whilst Alice listened intently, any opinion was an extra piece of information to figuring this place out.

"Well, I've been told the furthest east one can sail is to the end of the world. Aslan's country," he explained, now following Alice's example to watch the sea.

Ashlan's country? Alice smiled, a talking lion had his own world, how extraordinary that sounded.

"If such a place existed, it will exceed all my wonders," Alice whispered, and Reep grinned easily, "it can't be possible for such a magical world to have a gateway to even more, it would be unfair to my world," she joked, shaking her head, her curls drifting wildly in the light breeze. A sea of chocolate.

"Well, Miss Alice, we have nothing, if not belief."

Her smile dimmed, chewing subconsciously her plump bottom lip, "I suppose it was my lack of belief that kept me trapped in a meek world for so long," she uttered to herself, thinking of home and how closed-minded she had seemed towards any idea of magic.

" Do you think you could actually sail there?" Lucy piped up, suddenly bubbling with unkempt excitement and glee.

" Well, there is only one way of finding that out. I can only hope I will one day earn the right to see it. Your Majesty," Reep nodded, scurrying happily along the side of the ship after excusing himself.