⋆  . * •°⁎✧⁎°• * .  ⋆

I FIDDLED WITH MY CROSS THAT HUNG from my neck as I sat on the emerald banister on the starboard side of the ship, leaning on a part of it that curved upward to lead to the stern. It was wide enough to sit on without worrying about falling off if there wasn't too much movement, and I had my right knee up to my chest, my foot on the flat surface of the banister, and the other leg hanging off of the left side so I could easily slide off to stand on the deck again.

     I idly watched out to my right as the limitless water flowed past, splashing up against the wood and sparkling under the light of the sun.

About four days had passed, and it had been an uneventful four days, so I decided to lounge around some of the time and hang out with the different crew members and my friends, and Caspian as well. I was starting to like him quite a lot, and Lucy could tell.

I began humming to myself a random song I liked, occasionally glancing down to read the inscription on the front of the cross on my necklace.

     I guess now was a good time to mull over all the strange events that had been taking place over the course of the last four days. I've never really had a chance to actually go to the beach, let alone be stranded in the middle of the ocean. Despite the fact that we were safely on a sturdy (and quite beautiful) ship, I still found myself dreading ever going back into the water, regardless of whether I thought it was a breathtaking view or not. It was a gorgeous sight, but I'd rather view it from a distance.

I'd never actually been afraid of the water before, but now that I had thought I was gonna drown four days earlier, that newfound fear had been unlocked. The fact that I couldn't swim didn't help me in that sense, either.

     I sighed, gripping my cross tightly in my hands. I silently hoped and prayed that, if the time came where I'd be plunged into the deep and seemingly endless water, either I'd figure out how to swim or someone would come to my aid.

My thoughts were interrupted by a presence to my left as someone joined me in leaning against the banister. I turned to see Caspian in front of me, his hands on the banister just a few inches away from my foot.

He smiled a little, glancing over at me. "I would be careful if I were you," he said, gesturing to where I was perched.

     I'd heard his voice numerous times the days before, but never really thought about his unique accent until now. It sounded like a Spanish accent, with a little British mixed in. It was nice.

I shrugged, small smile on my face. "So long as the ship doesn't jerk around, I'll be okay. It's wide enough so I don't fall, and it's not too uncomfortable."

He chuckled. "Just making sure you know what you're doing." He looked out at the water, and I studied his face for a moment before I, too, looked out to sea.

"Well," I started, regaining his attention after a beat of comfortable silence. "I've heard about you from the others a couple times, but I still don't know much about you."

He tilted his head, turning to face me with one elbow leaned on the banister. "Well, what do you know of me?"

I tilted my head, putting on an overexaggerated thinking face as I hummed.

     He chuckled through his nose, but waited patiently.

     "I know you're a Telmarine, and that the Telmarines were bad guys. All of them were, except for you. I know you fought to protect Narnia with my best friends at your side, earning your rightful place on the throne. I know you had a crush on one of them," I grinned, and he looked down with a small smile.

"A brief one, but yes," he clarified, tilting his head at me. He seemed to be trying to make clear the fact that he was over her, which was true.

     I wondered if the reason was possibly the one I was thinking, but I continued. "I know you're kind and generous, and highly respected." I waved my hand, gesturing to the bustling crewmembers doing their jobs around the ship.

     He smiled again.

     "I know..." I dragged out, thinking for a moment. "...that you like apples."

     He laughed, nodding.

     "You're brave. You do what you need to despite the repercussions. You seem to always be friendly and outgoing."

He seemed to be a little flustered at all the compliments I was dishing out. He knew I meant what I said, he could tell. "I try to be."

"I bet." I paused. I decided to say it before my confidence waned. "Caspian," I muttered, loud enough for only him to hear.

     His head perked up at his name.

     "Beautiful name for a beautiful man."

He froze, gaping at me for a long beat. Then, he lowered his head onto the banister and draped both his arms over it to hide his face. "Oh no," he dragged out dramatically, his voice muffled. "Payback, isn't it?"

I laughed. "Yeah, definitely," I smiled, thoroughly amused by the satisfying reaction I got. He basically just did the same thing I did when he called my name and I beautiful days ago. My smug smile melted into one of genuine happiness. "And I mean it."

He looked up at me, staring for a moment, trying to study my face to see if I was lying. All he saw was genuineness in my expression, and he chuckled, looking down at the water and shaking his head a little. "I meant what I said, as well."

     I bit my lip, unable to hide the wide smile that his words caused.

     He looked at me with curiosity etched into his face. "Your turn."

"Hm?" I hummed, tilting my head.

"What about your backstory?"

I tilted my head, sifting through the somber memories of my parents and the jocular memories of my best friends. "Well, what do you know about me, based off of what my best friends have told you?"

He thought for a moment. "I know that you have known them for basically their entire lives, and that you're a few years older than Peter. Eighteen, right?" I nodded. "I'm the same age as you."

"Thank goodness there's at least someone my age," I stated sarcastically, laughing as he did. "I'm joking - I've never minded being older than them. They always seemed like they were closer to my age, especially Peter. I love the others and Lucy's always been my favourite - don't tell Edmund I said that - but, at the same time, I've always felt the closest to Edmund. He's always had a hard time, due to his father being away all the time, thanks to the war. I've always helped him through it, along with his other siblings. He's always appreciated it, though he never really knew how to show it much, so, I guess he's maybe seen me as an older sister kind of figure? If that makes any sense?"

"Yes, it does." He smiled at me. "I know you're very gracious, and that just proves it further."

That reminded me of the name he gave me. "Alright - speaking of gracious - who came up with that name for me?"

He looked down at his hands for a moment. "Uh, Lucy and Edmund did, and they told me about it. They mentioned that your middle name means 'graceful', and that you've always lived up to it and wanted to give you a name of your own - one similar to theirs. Even though I haven't known you for a week yet, I thought it fit. Especially after how you've acted with Tavros, Reepicheep, and the others. Mainly them two."

I hummed, nodding. "My middle name is 'La Grâce', and it does mean that." I smiled at their thoughtfulness. I'd have to ask them about it, later. "Okay, so, what else do you know about me?"

"I know you like singing, and cats." He grinned at the latter. "I know you like animals in general, which is probably why you took to Reep and Tavros so well."

"Well, yes, Reep is adorable - don't tell him I said that - and brave, and Tavros is really sweet and gentle, but also because they're some of the nicest souls I've had the honour of meeting, and they're not even human. Most of the people where I come from are far from that, more so heartless animals than people, so it's kind of... a welcome change, I guess."

He nodded. "Yes, they, along with the rest of the crew, have their moments, but I couldn't have asked for a better alliance with anyone."

I smiled. "What else?"

He gazed at my face for a beat before he looked down at the cross held securely in my hands. "I know that that necklace means something to you, just by the way you hold it."

My smile faltered a little, and he noticed. He furrowed his eyebrows and stood up straight, about to backtrack before I stopped him. "It was, um, a gift from my father. It is a rueful memory, but I-I try to look on the bright side of things. He fought in the war and was close friends with the Pevensies' father, and he had an amazing relationship with my mother and I. He was my rock; he let me lean on him, he listened when I needed him to, he... he kept me company, took me places we loved so we could, uh, spend the day together." I paused, my stinging eyes glancing down to my beloved cross. "He-... he gave me this for my fifteenth birthday. Mailed it because he couldn't come home," I whispered.

Caspian stepped closer to me, placing a hesitant hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry I brought it up-"

"No," I cut him off, a little more firmly than I intended. "I, uh...." I cleared my throat. "Don't apologize for that, you didn't know. Now you do, but I-... I don't really mind." I looked up at him silently for a moment before I inhaled harshly through my stinging nose and looked back down at my cross. "He, uh, he was killed in action a few years ago. My-... my mum and I were devastated - I'm not really sure who was more affected, but it doesn't matter. My mum, uh... was ill with tuberculosis."

"I've heard of that disease, but I don't know much about it. What does it do?"

I guessed that this disease wasn't very common, here, so I nodded before elaborating on what it did to people. "What it does is eat away at your lungs. It can take several years for it to kill you, and we never were financially stable, so we- uh, couldn't afford the cure." I took in a shaky breath, and felt his hand tighten on my shoulder.

"You don't have to tell me about your parents," he stated firmly once more, "I can see that it's bothering you."

"I-I want to tell you. It's just... not-so happy memories, that's all." I chuckled mirthlessly. "My mum was sick with it a couple years before my dad passed, and it... got way worse after he did. Her depression from his passing negatively impacted it, made it worse. She, um," I swallowed thickly, "suffered with it for a couple more years before she eventually passed as well, and I was forced to live with my grandmother. She wasn't the kindest, but it was enough to get by. I had a lot to focus on, anyway; school, singing to myself whenever I wanted (along to whatever played on the radio on occasion), art, hanging out with my best friends and occasionally spending, like, a week at their house. At least I felt welcome there."

Rubbing my shoulder, Caspian smiled sympathetically. "I'm glad they made you feel good."

I inhaled through my nose again and nodded at him with a forced smile. "Yeah, I have them to thank for a lot of the happiness in my life."

Caspian was silent for a moment, before he decided to speak about his past. Just to make it fair. "Uh, well, I assume the Pevensies have told you about Miraz?"

I nodded. "Big bad Telmarine guy from the last time they were here, right?"

He laughed shortly at that, but nodded. "He was my uncle. When we went to overtake the castle, I found out he was the one who killed my father to usurp the throne. He, uh, wanted me killed as soon as he had his own son, so I hid and ran away. My teacher and mentor, Dr. Cornelius, had taught me about Narnian tales my whole life, so I trusted him with everything. I went to find him before I ran, and... and he told me to run. I came back for him when the Narnians and I took over the castle, and I managed to save him. Then, the fights, the killing of Miraz to trick the Telmarine army into advancing, and the whole battle and Aslan at the end, and what not - you know the rest of that."

I nodded, glad that we had come to a deeper understanding. I know I had only met this guy four days ago, but I couldn't help but feel this overwhelming urge to share everything with him, let alone the fact that the Pevensies trusted him with their lives. So, what reason was there not to trust him myself?

     "Well, I, uh, I'm happy that you shared your story as well," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

     Caspian nodded, sending me a small smile. "It feels nice to share that with someone, even though this person is one I only met four days ago."

     I let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I thought the same." I paused, looking past him to see if I could spot Lucy anywhere. "Have you seen Lucy?"

     He looked around behind him. "I saw her a little while ago, but I'm not sure where she is now- oh wait, I think I see her heading toward the bow."

     I did indeed see her walking up the steps, and so I turned my body and slid off of the banister. I looked up at Caspian and smiled at him. "Thank you for listening, it was nice getting to know you more."

     He nodded at me with a smile of his own.

     "I'll see you later?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

     He nodded, and I smiled before heading away to catch up with Lucy.

     She seemed to be going toward the dragon head, where I noticed Reep was looking out at the water, holding onto the horn on the end of its nose. She noticed my presence and turned with a smile before climbing the neck of the dragon, climbing up to stand between two large horns. That's when I started hearing singing.

"To find all that you seek," Reep sung, "There is the utter East. Doubt not-"

"That's pretty," Lucy called out, scaring the poor mouse.

     I smiled at his reaction.

"Ooh! Oh, thank you," he said, slightly out of breath. "A dryad sung it to me when I was just a mouseling," he said as he came over to us. "I can't divine the meaning, but, uh, I've never forgotten the words."

"What do you think is past the Lone Islands, Reep?" Lucy asked, and the question piqued my interest.

"Well," he replied thoughtfully, "I've been told the furthest east one can sail is to the end of the world - Aslan's country."

"Aslan has a country of His own?" I inquired, looking between the mouse and my friend.

"Oh, yes, I believe so," Reep confirmed excitedly. "I've wanted to see it for myself for ages."

"It sounds magical," I said, earning a nod from Reep.

"Despite having not seen it myself, I wholeheartedly believe that it is everything I've ever imagined. I just... I hope to see it someday."

"Do you really believe there is such a place?" Lucy asked, tilting her head. She seemed to pick up a somber tone at his last sentence.

"Well, we have nothing, if not belief," he responded, his expression faltering for a moment.

"So you think you could actually sail there?" Lucy asked after a beat of silence.

"Well, there is only one way of finding that out," Reep said, "I can only hope I will one day earn the right to see it." He let out a small chuckle, bowing a little. "Your Majesty." He turned and jumped back onto the ship.

Lucy and I leaned forward to look down at the water, and we spotted what looked to be mermaids made entirely out of water.

     They propelled themselves out of the water, creating large splashes once they fell back into it. One of them broke the surface, swimming as fast as the ship, to wave at us.

     Lucy and I shared an excited look before waving back.

     The mermaid turned her body and went under the water before leaping out once again, along with the second one we saw before they both disappeared under the surface.

"That was so cool," I exclaimed, earning a laugh from Lucy. "I-I have never expected to see mermaids before, let alone the other marvelous creatures on the ship!"

Lucy nodded, smiling widely. "I know, it was like a dream come true for me when I first stumbled into Narnia. It's still almost surreal, to be honest."

"It is surreal," I said, moving my hands around wildly. "I'm still not sure if I'm dreaming or not!" I sighed, shaking my head with a smile. "We should head back and see what the others are doing."

     Lucy nodded, and we both climbed down to join the rest of the crew.

I stood on the sidelines with Lucy and grinned, watching Caspian and Edmund spar with their respective swords. It was quite exhilarating to watch, and I wondered how the boys felt since they were the ones sparring.

Edmund and Caspian traded swings and blocks, the loud clangs ringing out every time a sword collided with the other. I could feel my heart pound every time one of those sounds rung out, and I bounced on the balls of my feet, unsure of who to root for.

After having traded swings up high and walking Caspian backward, Edmund swiped lower down and his opponent blocked it. Caspian reeled his sword back, before swinging it swiftly as Edmund ducked.

The crew was cheering and shouting jovially, excitement buzzing between every soul watching.

They only stared at each other for a few seconds, attempting to gauge the other's movements. Edmund swung from above, his sword colliding with Caspian's as the latter blocked, causing Edmund to spin around from the impact and duck down to swing at Caspian's feet. Caspian jumped out of the way, just as Edmund swung from above again, and the swing was blocked. Caspian went to hit Edmund from the side, his sword colliding with the other yet again. It was like a dangerous dance; going to make a move as your opponent moves out of the way, moving your feet in a calculated effort to stay upright, the excited shouts and cheers from your onlookers similar to music playing.

The two stared at each other for a moment, wicked grins on their faces, before Caspian swung at Edmund a few times, having been blocked every time. They crossed their swords in attempt to go at each other simultaneously, before Caspian spun around, his sword gliding against Edmund's with a sheer scraping sound that rung in everyone's ears. Caspian maneuvered his sword against Edmund's as Edmund pushed back, attempting to push his away, before ultimately ending up with a sword to his neck. He had his sword against Caspian's chest, as well, so it ended as a draw.

The crew cheered, clapping, and I grinned at the boys' friendship. I'd never seen Edmund actually fight using a sword, having been told of his endeavours from the tales he and his siblings told me, but it was so exciting to see how good he was. Apparently, Caspian agreed with his skill as he placed a hand on the younger boy's shoulder.

"You've grown stronger, my friend," Caspian stated, spinning his sword around in his hand.

"Seems I have," Edmund replied, a wide grin on his face.

Amongst the clapping, Captain Drinian spoke up loudly. "All right! Back to work!"

Crew members began turning back to their own respective jobs, and Lucy and I watched Edmund make his way over to us with a drink in his hand that a crewman handed him.

I heard a chittering noise and looked