Final Sail - E. Pevensie [3]

9 - The Advisor

I held my hand out for Lucy and helped her climb into the longboat. Eustace came after her but refused my hand politely. Lucy sat beside me and Eustace sat behind us, Edmund and Caspian rowing in front of us.

I squinted over to the island we were heading towards. "It looks uninhabited," I said.

"But if the lords followed the mist east, they would have stopped here." Caspian replied.

"It could be a trap," Lucy added.

"Or it could hold some answers." Edmund shrugged.

"We'll spend the night on shore, scour the island in the morning." Caspian said, repeating his orders that he had given Drinian earlier. We all nodded.

As we slid onto the shore, Lucy and I helped the crew unpack the supplies. Edmund laid our blankets out, Caspian's on the other side of his. Lucy spread out a large one for herself and Gael to share a little ways off from the three of us.

Since the sun had already sunk below the horizon, most of the crew headed straight to bed, while the others built a fire and lounged around it.

I lied down and looked up to the stars. Edmund joined me.

"The stars are so much brighter here than in Finchley." I mumbled.

Edmund nodded with his eyes glued to the sky. "I miss it. I miss living next door to you." He said. I turned my head to look at him.

"The air is quieter without you lot." I smiled weakly. He smiled back and rolled over so he was facing me. I did the same, resting my head on my hand.

"Come to Cambridge when we go back. I don't want to have to say goodbye to you again." He said, lifting his hand to stroke my cheek softly.

I shrugged. "My mother is strict on letting me leave home because of my spells." Edmund let out a scoff.

"Yeah, well I'm getting kind of taking care of you and your head anyway."

I sat up and looked at him, my eyebrows furrowed. "What did you just say?" Edmund's expression matched mine as he looked up at me.

"I said I would always take care of you, love. Are you okay?" I squinted at him, my eyes widening again as I noticed a cloud of green mist slithered away from Edmund and through the sand. I sighed and laid back down, cuddling close to him.

"Yeah, sorry." I whispered. Ed kissed my forehead softly and lowered his hand to lace our fingers together. I closed my eyes and prayed that I would for once be at peace while I slept.

I woke up to the sound of lulling waves, the water crashing gently against the shore. I opened my eyes and observed my surroundings. It was barely dawn, the sun not even above the line of the horizon yet. I sighed and turned over, hoping to get another hour of sleep at least.

I let out a soft groan when I realized that I would indeed not be getting any more shut-eye. I sat up, stretching my limbs, before tiredly stumbling to my feet.

My arms shot out my side, hoping to keep my balance. Moving carefully, I crept over Edmund successfully. I paused and took a deep breath, then continued.

A small gasp escaped from my lips as I tripped over Caspian's sword. "Woah there." I whispered to myself as I caught my balance.

Caspian stirred at the noise, but rolled over and continued to drool. I giggled and continued my way towards the ocean, my pace quickening once I no longer had sleeping bodies to tiptoe through.

When I reached the water's edge I removed my socks and boots before digging my feet in the sand. The cold of the water bit at my toes as it softly washed over them, retreating and returning again and again.