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WALKING IN THE WIND
v. SEA SHANTIES AND KIDNAPPINGS

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  "DON'T BE DAFT, HOPE," Odette said as she forced Lucy by her shoulders into a chair in their private quarters. There were only two bedrooms for the rulers on the Dawn Treader, one for the Queens to share, the other for Caspian (though that would likely change now that Lucy and Edmund were back). "Those are far too large for her."

  "She's not a little girl anymore, you acorn," Hope replied as she laid out a set of clothes for the Valiant Queen. "It's not like we have many options anyway. These will do perfectly."

  Odette glided a brush through Lucy's chestnut hair. "If I had it my way, the entire crew would be in corsets and gowns, with matching gloves," said Odette. She gathered Lucy's hair into a side-lying ponytail.

  "Yes, and they would anchor them all the way to the bottom of the sea when they fail to help them float," Hope retorted. "At least trousers are easier to move around in."

  "I'm amazed you weren't born a man," Odette scoffed, making a grimace at Lucy in the mirror.

  Lucy giggled. "It's alright, Hope. I agree with you. Trousers are far more practical," she said, "though I suppose they aren't very womanly."

  Hope shook her head, sitting beside Lucy. She cupped her chin in her hands. "Oh, with a face like that, you could wear a potato sack and be the fairest in all the seas. Don't you agree, Ode?"

  "Ha-ha," Lucy sarcastically said. "If only you could see Susan. I'm sure America's made her even more of a doll than she already is."

  Odette's face brightened into a pink. "...Is that so?"

  Hope snickered. "Is that so?"

  "Shut up! Go kiss your stupid husband for all I care." Odette pretended to melt, squeezing Lucy between them on the small bench. "Oh, Edmund, is it really you?"

  It was Hope's turn to blush madly. "You're just jealous you didn't fish the Gentle Queen out of the sea instead."

  "My lady is too graceful to be fished," Odette boasted. "She would've climbed up the ship without any help — certainly not a man's help!"

  Hope tossed the damp towel at her, cackling. "My lady, is it?"

  "Enough of you!" Odette groaned.

  Between them, Lucy just laughed and laughed. After being stuck with her brother and cousin for so long, she'd forgotten how nice it was, the comfort of having a sister (or in this case, sisters) by her side.

  They reunited with Caspian and Edmund on the main deck, who were both in freshly changed clothes.

  Caspian hummed as Lucy's boots tapped the deck. "Ah. Excuse me, lad," he said. "I don't suppose you've seen a young girl around here anywhere?"

  With a scrunched nose, Lucy smacked his arm. "Alright!" she whined.

  The kings laughed. Odette was right. The white shirt was a few inches too long on Lucy, but it wasn't the worst problem in the world, in Hope's opinion. It became more obvious when she stood beside Odette, who was still a few inches taller than her and wore the exact same top. On the other hand, Hope's shirt was a pale blue, like the sky.

  In the breeze, her hair lifted, and Edmund's gaze shifted toward her eyebrow. He touched the scar that ran through the arch with his thumb, inquisitive. "Where'd this come from?" he wondered.

  Hope shrugged. "Pirate ambush."

  "Pirates?" Edmund asked, either startled or amazed. This was Narnia, after all. Nothing like England.

  "Yes, they caught Hope when she still held a massive grudge against the seas," Caspian mentioned as he led them into the Stern Cabin, where Captain Drinian was waiting. "I never thought our Bright Queen could ever be so menacing until we set sail."

  As they passed through the door into the the Stern Cabin, Hope knew at once that Lucy fell in love. It was a tiny room, but spotlessly clean at all times. In the golden daylight, the brightly painted panels of birds, beasts, vines, and crimson dragons came to life. The square windows looked out onto the water astern. Sometimes, while Hope was working, Caspian and Odette sat on the cushioned benches and simply watched it from the shaded room.

  Lucy gasped, rushing toward the mantel. "Susan's bow and arrows!"

  "Lucy," Caspian called, holding out a box.

  Her face lit up. "My healing cordial and dagger!" She went to take them, then paused. "Oh, may I?"

  "Of course, they're yours."

  Edmund turned, taking in the room as best as he could. He stopped. "Peter's sword."

  Hope took Rhindon from where it was leaning in the corner in offering. "Yes, I've taken good care of it while you were away. It's certainly seen quite a few adventures, just as I promised Peter. Here."

  "No, no, it's yours," Edmund insisted. "Peter gave it to you."

  Hope hummed. "Well, what's mine is yours." Keeping the sword, she skipped toward a cabinet. "I did manage to keep this safe for you!" She withdrew the silver torch he left behind after their last visit, tossing it to him.

  Edmund softly laughed, switching it on. "Thanks."

  Odette summoned the group toward the tables, where the maps were always laid out. "We have so much to catch you up on, goodness!" she said. "Since you left, we've reestablished official relationships with Archenland and Calormen. And the Giants of the North surrendered unconditionally."

  "No thanks to you," Hope taunted.

  Caspian traced a finger along the map. "We defeated Queen Titania's efforts at having Hope officially tried for treason. Then, we defeated the Calormen armies at the Great Desert after their attempt at a small rebellion," he explained. "There is peace across all of Narnia."

  Edmund examined the maps. "Peace?"

  "In just three years," Odette said. "Not too shabby for a bunch of wannabe rulers, eh?"

  Lucy tucked her hair behind her ear and asked Caspian, "And have you found yourself a queen in those three years?"

  Caspian shook his head. "Afraid not. Though these two have been throwing suitors at my door for ages now."

  "The Princess of Galma was nice," Hope insisted. "Though I suppose it would've been more romantic had Caspian won the Galma tournament instead of me..."

  Odette grasped her own temples. "She was nice, sure, but she had a forehead large enough to feast on!"

  "Well, what about that jeweler's daughter?"

  "Too scrawny."

  "That baker that was visiting from Archenland?"

  "Babe, that girl was not interested in men in the slightest."

  Caspian waved a hand. "Hope's too much of a romantic for Odette's refined tastes," he explained.

  "Hang on," Edmund chimed. "If there are no wars to fight, and no one's in trouble, then why are we here?"

  "It's a good question," Caspian said. "I've been asking myself the same thing."

  "We could always feed you to the sharks if you're so miserable," Hope suggested, propping her arm on Edmund's shoulder. "Tell them about your father's friends, Cas."

  "Yes, before I took back the throne from my uncle, he tried to kill my father's closest friends and most loyal supporters," Caspian explained. He stepped aside, revealing Hope's drawn portraits. "The Seven Lords of Telmar. They fled to the Lone Islands. No one has heard from them since."

  Edmund inspected the portraits, fighting a smile. He knew in a heartbeat Hope drew those. "So, you think something's happened to them?" he asked.

  "Well, if it has, it's my duty to find out," Caspian mumbled.

  "Our duty," Odette assured him. "The Telmarines are the closest we have to Wysterian descendants. It's our responsibility to see to their safety." To that, Caspian gave her a smile. Odette coughed, "Even though we had to drag Hope tooth and nail aboard."

  Lucy grazed the map. "Wait, what's east of the Lone Islands?"

  At once, Caspian, Odette, and Hope spoke.

  "Aslan's Country."

  "The sun."

  "Probably sea monsters."

  Drinian cleared his throat, clarifying, "Uncharted waters. Things you can barely imagine. Tales of sea serpents and worse."

  Edmund swallowed hard. "Sea serpents?"

  "Alright, Captain," Caspian laughed. "That's enough of your tall tales."

○ ○ ○

  "I do believe this is an unusual occurrence," said Drinian from behind the helm. At his side, Hope joined him. She was terribly determined to understand seafaring. Perhaps it would null her disdain for the sea. "Are you... smiling, Your Majesty? On the open seas?"

  "Hey, I smile," Hope scoffed, even though it was true. Below them, Edmund and Caspian were sparring. The whole crew was watching them, grateful for a distraction from their duties. In the distance, Reepicheep was singing another one of his shanties at the head of the ship.

  "Not like that, you don't," Drinian replied. "Haven't seen you so gleeful since we left Cair Paravel." The Captain was a very stoic man, often expressionless unless it was to tease or scold the crew (which tended to include Hope, despite her position as a royal). "Careful, Captain. Keep swooning like that, and we'll have to hoist you back onto the ship."

  "Is that humor, I'm sensing, Captain?" Hope asked. "Strange, I didn't know you knew how to do that."

  "If you weren't so busy forgetting our lessons, we might laugh more."

  "There's far too much vocabulary!"

  "The Captain of the Royal Guard ought to be able to navigate the seas," Drinian reminded her for what must've been the millionth time.

  "Hey, you have your methods, I have mine," Hope said, which she didn't. In the slightest, actually

   Applause erupted from the crew below them as the duel ended. A whistle came from below. Edmund and Caspian were looking at up at her, with Caspian offering his sword. Hope raised an eyebrow.

  "Care for a spar, my love?" Edmund called in a taunt that automatically made Hope defensive.

  "I don't know, darling," Hope replied. "I would hate for you to face defeat so soon after your return to Narnia. Your people might not believe you're the best swordsman in the kingdom if we do."

  The crowd echoed with oohs.

  "I suppose you're right," Edmund said. "We wouldn't want our men to doubt the capabilities of the Captain of their Royal Guard, now, would we?"

  Hope's jaw fell. Before she knew it, she was skipping steps down the stairs to claim Caspian's sword. He just knew exactly how to push every one of her buttons.

  The crew parted to give them space. Edmund beamed at her as she attempted to stay collected.

  "I know it's been some time for you, so just a reminder," Hope said. She gestured with the blade. "You'll want to stick me with the pointy end."

  Edmund whistled. "Who taught you such disparage? Where's the sweet little dove that would never hurt a soul?"

  "The sea makes her bitter," Hope replied, then she swung her blade.

  Shing! Edmund parried. With a cool and even tone, and that insufferable little smirk, he said, "Striking your High King is an act of treason."

  Hope thought about it. "And what's the punishment for mocking your High Queen? Beheading?"

  "You'll have to help me decide once I win."

  "You know, the Narnians have sayings about me now," Hope warned. "My personal favorite — Hope is good, hope will never distrace. But make no mistake, hope will hit you in the face!"

  "Practice that one in the mirror, dear?"

  "Oh, you'll pay for that!"

  And they went sparring up and down the main deck, with a roar of excitement in their ears from all directions. They swung and they ducked, parried and feinted. Edmund was always the better swordsman. Better than anyone in all of Narnia, alive or dead. He was taller, certainly stronger, and had more audacity than blood in his veins. But Hope was trained by her father, Edmund, and Peter, and she refused to let her husband forget that.

  With a clang!, the spar ended, with both of their blades pointed at the soft spots of their bodies. Hope's sword pressed against his stomach, and Edmund's threatened her neck. A tie.

  Hope didn't seem to hear the applause around them as her chest heaved. Grinning, she asked, "Well?"

  Edmund didn't respond, lowering their sword-wielding hands to kiss her. "I've missed you endlessly," he said against her mouth. "Why did I ever leave you?"

  From above, Drinian clapped his hands. "Alright, BACK TO WORK!"

  The crowd dispersed, and Caspian took their swords. One of the crew members offered Hope and Edmund water, which they accepted with utter gratitude.

  "So, how did they convince you to come aboard?" Edmund wondered.

  "Loads and loads of begging," Hope said. "If I could've convinced them not to leave, I would've. But I can tell this means a lot to Caspian, seeking his father's advisors. In the end, I knew it would bring me more peace of mind to join him and Odette than kill myself with worry back at Cair Paravel."

  As they joined Odette and Lucy at the railing, Odette greeted, "Ah, I was just telling Lucy about my theory about the edge of the world."

  "Edmund..." Lucy hesitated. "Do you think if we keep sailing to the end of the world... we'll just..." She gave a nervous laugh. "...tip off the edge?"

  "Don't worry, Lu. We're a long way from there," said Edmund. The hatch that led to the lower deck squeaked open. Eustace appeared for the first time since he passed out.

  "I see you're still talking nonsense, the two of you," Eustace grumbled, arms crossed.

  "Are you feeling better?" asked Lucy.

  "Yes, no thanks to you!" Eustace snapped. "It's lucky I have an iron constitution."

  Reepicheep crawled along the mast. "As effervescent as ever, I see. Find your sea legs?"

  "Never lost them," Eustace said. "Simply dealing with the shock of things. Mother says I have an acute disposition, due to my intelligence."

  Edmund spat his water back into his cup.

  "I don't think he has a cute anything," Reepicheep admitted.

  "He sort of reminds me of Odette," Hope added. "He's a bit... prissy, don't you think?"

  "Hey!" Odette said.

  "I'll have you all know, as soon as we find civilization, I'm contacting the British Consul!" Eustace griped, walking away from them. "Have you all arrested for kidnapping!" He smacked into something hard with a thud!

  "Kidnapping, is it?" greeted Caspian, grinning. "That's funny. I thought we saved your life."

  "You held me against my will!" said Eustace. "In, what I must say, are the most unhygienic quarters. It's like a zoo down there!"

  "He's quite the complainer, isn't he?" Reepicheep observed.

  "He's just warming up," Edmund replied.

  "You know, there's only one person who ever could handle prissy people such as Eustace and myself," Odette said. She threw an arm around her best friend. "I say, we leave him with our shining star for babysitting. Bore him with lessons on Narnian history and cartography."

  "You're going to be furious once a whale swallows this ship whole, and I refuse to save us out of spite," muttered Hope.

  "Are there whales large enough to do such a thing?" Lucy gasped, her face paling. "The Dawn Treader is quite magnificent, after all."

  Hope gave her a wicked grin. "You haven't heard Drinian's bedtime stories."

  "Oh, Drinian doesn't know any more about the uncharted east than any of us," Caspian dismissed.

  "All I'm saying is, we're going to run into a sea serpent one of these days, and I'm going to laugh in your faces," Hope said.

  "I don't think you'll be laughing when it eats us all," Edmund pointed out.

  "I don't know," Odette admitted. "The girl can hold a grudge better than her wine."

  "That was one time—" Hope hissed.

  But they were interrupted as a shout came from one of the crew members. "LAND HO!"

  The group turned, squinting at the blob in the distance.

  There it was. The Lone Islands.