» Beware and remember; until you lay down the seventh sword, evil has the upper hand, « Coreakin's final warning looms over the Dawn Treader like an ominous shadow,

» It will try to tempt you, be prepared, be strong. « Right now, there is a literal shadow upon them, taking the form of yet another storm. It tosses the freshly repaired Dawn Treader from wave crests into water valleys trice as deep as the mast is high – like a pancake, as Eustace likes to describe the dire situation.

At first, no one gets seasick. Then, the waves grow higher and higher, breaking not only on the ship's bow but over the deck, seeping into every crack between the wooden planks and soaking into every piece of clothing within moments. Even some of the seasoned sailors' faces take a greenish colour. Luna ventures out to collect Reepicheep from his favourite spot before he will go overboard.

» Stubborn rat, « Rynelf curses as Luna explains in short words why she is outside. As usual, the man doesn't mean to insult the tall mouse. He keeps an eye on the Crown Shield in case she collapses once again. Luckily, nothing of that sort happens. Sure, her head feels lighter than it should, and her stomach won't tolerate anything – being food or drink – but all in all, she stays on her own feet. After she takes a protesting Reep to a safe place, she feels strong enough to stay on deck. Drinian eyes her warily as she reports for duty. However, they can use every additional hand to help haul in the sails. As she climbs the rigging, Caspian and Edmund join the working crew as well.

~

Another wave breaks over the middle deck of the ship. The icy water sloshes around everyone's' feet, dragging and shoving at once. Luna has lost her balance twice already, but it doesn't matter – she is soaked anyways.

» The footing's never as tricky as on a stormy deck, « Rynelf told her a few times on this journey. She never quite believed him, knowing the difficulties of learning to stay on your feet in a fight. This, however, is a force of nature that makes the warrior feel like she knows absolutely nothing. Cas and Ed, too, struggle to hold on at times. It was Anaru who nearly got dragged overboard and into the sea, though. The poor boy cried and held onto the roughened railing until the minotaur Vigilhoof hauled him up on solid ground. Even though his knees were a bit wobbly afterwards, he kept on working, refusing to go back down in the galley.

» Check the truss! « Drinian's commands booms over the decks, competing with the rolling thunder,

» Down with the yard or she'll rip our mast off! « She is referring to the howling storm, Luna has no time to wonder why so many things are referred to as female in seafaring. Heavy rain pounds on her head and back as she makes over to the mast. She still feels the cold, but it doesn't bother her anymore, the only thing that matters right now is to focus on the tasks ahead. Grabbing one of the ropes of the truss, the halyard, like the sailors showed her, she follows Tingel's lead to untie the knot. Together, seven sets of hands give more and more rope to lower the yard. Luna marvels at the strength necessary to hold the rope tight and steady, especially as the yard is a long wooden beam that carries the main sail. The dripping wet purple fabric, darker than usual, adds to the weight. Cold sweat mixes with the water of rain and sea as Luna's already irritated hands grow tired, her arms burning. She clenches her jaw, blinking against the rain and splashes of seawater. Determinedly, she stems her feet against the planks, relying more on her weight than on her remaining strength to hold her rope as she should.

» Easy! « Tingel yells,

» A few more inches, lads! « Luna puffs her cheeks, holding on as well as possible. However, her fingers start to cramp, allowing the rope to slip through more than it should. Maybe she should call for help. The warrior isn't used to this, most of the time, she is on top of her game. Now, she is out of her depths and in someone else's, literally. Just as she lifts her head, to look out for someone to help her, a hand grips the rope in front of Luna's fingers, soon followed by its counterpart.

» Need a hand? « She sighs in relief as Elrik grins at her, helping the others to heave the yard down the rest of the way until it hovers about three inches over the railing. The crew must duck under it to cross the middle deck now, but it is safer from the storm here as farther up the mast. After the ropes are securely tied around the right cleats, Luna relaxes a bit.

» Thank you, « she smiles slightly at her friend. He bows mockingly, nearly losing his footing as the Dawn Treader is rocked to starboard,

» At your service. « Luna shakes her head amusedly.

Before they can continue, a strong gust of wind sweeps over the deck, curling around the yard. The force rattles the beam, the ropes creak. The sound draws the attention of the captain. Snap! In the very moment, Drinian barks an order, one of the three furling gaskets that hold the sail together rips and the right part of the mainsail unfolds, hurtling downwards. It's only a short distance to the deck now that the yard is lowered.

» Look out! « Someone cries. Sailors dive left and right, out of the way of the heavy sail. Luna was looking up, reacting a tad slower than Elrik. His arms wrap around her as he draws her with him to the side and down on the planks just in time.

Luna groans as her back hits the planks. Elrik landed half on her, half on the ground. Quickly, he lifts himself up, wiping water from his face. Luna does the same while sitting up. They both sit not quite ankle-deep in the water from waves and rain that remains on deck and can't drain. Her eyes are wide as she notices the sail crashed down right where they stood a moment prior. Immediately, the wind catches in it, tearing and pulling into the fabric. The sail stretches dangerously, surely unable to hold long without ripping apart.

» Furl sail! « Drinian bellows, the first and second mate echoing the command. Sailors spring into action, King Edmund among those who climb the tackle. Elrik is on his feet, readying himself to continue work. First, he holds a hand out to Luna. She accepts it and is hauled to her feet. She doesn't get to thank him – again – as both are called by Fandir. Elrik nods at her, pulling her with him by the hand. Luna lets him lead her while her eyes wander over the deck, especially wary of the of the sail. There, she spots the familiar figure of Caspian.

The king saw what happened and was making his way over until he notices the closeness of Luna and Elrik. Something sparks within him, letting his feet come to a sudden halt. As his gaze crosses hers, he starts to move again. Her eyes are still widened, and even from the distance he can see her tense posture. Regardless of whatever whispers disturb his thoughts, his heart rushes him to get to her. However, the howling storm doesn't let him, not yet.

~

Sometime after the sail incident, the wind quiets, and the waves calm, allowing the crew a breather. Cas and Ed are with the captain at the steering wheel. Luna was just about to check on the ropes that secure barrels on deck as Pittencream shoos her away. So, she joins the others. Drinian is peering up into the sky.

» This ain't over, Yar Majesties, « he attests,

» The last howl will be tough. «

» Tougher than so far? « Ed follows the captain's gaze to see whatever he sees. Drinian only nods, expression unreadable. He gestures for Tavros to take over the wheel and leads the three down on the middle deck. After giving a few orders, he steps towards the railing, pointing out a certain formation of clouds. They are dark and bulky, coming from the east, so they didn't pass them yet.

» The darker a cloud the more rain it carries, « he explains,

» These are dangerous on sea and land, but do ya see the yellow-ish in the middle? « The captain pauses, glancing at the three companions.

» What does it mean? « Caspian squints against the rain.

» Buggers may bring ice. « Hail. At sea. As far as weather goes, that is one of the most dangerous conditions.

There, the ship jerks, racing down into a wave through that opened suddenly. Everyone holds on for dear life. Luna lost her footing as she couldn't get hold of the railing. She was standing behind Drinian, so it was too far. She tumbles to the ground, skidding over the planks. Shouts sound around her, the storm howls, the ocean roars. As the Dawn Treader reaches the bottom, Luna finds herself on the other side of the middle deck, right next to the hen coop. The poor animals cackle, fluttering is heard as if they tried to get out. However, the warrior doesn't pay them much attention. Disregarding her aching form, she staggers to her feet, looking up. The Dawn Treader rocks at the bottom of a wave possibly as high as the watch towers of Cair Paravel. If thatwill roll over them, the force will smash the ship to pieces. Fear claws at her heart; fear, and complete and utter helplessness. Tearing her gaze away from the blue mountains, Luna staggers back towards the others. Ducking under the yard, she finds Caspian calling for her. As he lays eyes on her, he releases a sigh of relief.

Drinian is barking commands at the crew. Now, the captain's eyes glimmer, showing a shred of fear that is fought by his unwavering determination to bring this voyage to the utter east and back to the known shores of Narnia. Ed found his balance again, staring up at this monster of a wave, a queen among its own kind, crowned with white foam. His heart races as he thinks of his little sister and his cousin below deck. Then, the king shakes his head, trying to breathe regularly. Aslan knows of their predicament; He will be with them. Sending a silent prayer to the Great Lion, the King of Old feels his fear diminish. It's not in his hands but in far more capable ones.

The momentum of her fall drives the Dawn Treader forward, right in the way of the monstrous wave ahead of them. The ship moves up on its flank, spray and foam already dripping on the deck from above as the wave's crown curls, readying itself to rip the Narnian ship into the depths of the ocean. There, Drinian witnesses something he has never seen before – not in all his years of sailing the seas. The water valley they were tossed in, closes with a mighty roar, lifting the Dawn Treader up, towards the crown. The captain stares at the decreasing distance to the high wave ahead, nearly not believing his eyes. Just a little more and the wave will – of course – break over them but probably not do much harm. With a growl, he grips the steering wheel in the middle while Tavros and Rynelf take their stances left and right of him,

» Alright, fellas, brace yeselves! «

The captain's call is barely audible over the howling sea and storm. However, everyone heard enough to grab onto something rivet and nail proof. Luna and Caspian nearly reached each other in the centre of the middle deck. Wide eyed, Caspian reaches for her, their fingers brush. In that moment, wave and ship meet. Water engulfs it as if they were sailing below the surface. Everything that isn't secured tightly, is lifted from the deck, Luna, and Caspian as well. Quick-wittedly, the king reaches for her once again, holding on with an iron grip. Luna does the same, so they cling to each other. Hearts beating fast, air running low. They need to find something to hold onto or they will be pulled into the sea as soon as the ship emerges! The Dawn Treader tilts larboard as the last of the wave pours over her – to their luck. With the water gone, gravity pulls Luna and Caspian from where they were hovering over the deck. Due to the slight tilt, Caspian gets a hold of the railing as the two tumble down, barely able to stop their fall.

~

A gush of wind lets her shiver, but it is welcome. Slowly, Luna lifts her head, spluttering water and eagerly allowing fresh air into her lungs. She is curled up on the planks, between the inside of the railing and a body. Caspian has one arm slung around her, the other holds onto the railing. For a moment, her heart stops as she listens for his breath. Frantically, her hands shift from his arms to his chest and neck, feeling for a pulse. His eyes are closed, and a whimper escapes Luna. There, he coughs, followed by erratic breathing.

» Cas?! « Luna's voice is no more than a whisper. Clearing her throat, she tries again. She lifts a hand, brushing hair and water from his face,

» Cas, are you alright? «

» More or less, « his voice is raspy but accompanied by a chuckle. His eyes flutter open, finding her staring up at him, emotions for once not clouded as a Crown Shield is supposed to. At his chuckle, she slaps his shoulder,

» Not funny! I thought- Are you mad? « He shouldn't have come towards her in the first place, he should have found something to hold onto, save himself. And then he has the audacity to joke. Luna can't say more as her emotions swirl in her heart; worry, the feeling of duty, relief, her feelings for him...

Caspian, however, is tempted to affirm the question but she would probably slap him again for it.

» Would you've preferred to end up as fish bait? « He mocks, smirking at her. A smile tugs at the corner of her lips. He senses the turmoil she is in, though, deciding to leave the joking for another time. Carefully, he takes his burning arm from the railing, cupping her cheek,

» I couldn't live with myself if I'd let something happen to you. « Luna smiles slightly, even though a crease flickers over her brow.

» Thank you, « she whispers. Instinctively, they lean their heads forward until their foreheads touch. A feeling of nostalgia hits them both as they remember the first years of their friendship. They used to do this a lot, simply placing their foreheads against the other. The gesture always had a calming effect. Still has, as it turns out. Caspian smiles again, gently brushing his thumb over her cheek as they gaze into each other's eyes.

Around them, the sailors get up and rush back to their stations. As Drinian said, the storm isn't over. So, the first ship's mate gathers the landlubbers and sends them below deck to warm up and rest.

» Don't ye show up uncalled, « Rynelf tells them,

» Could get nasty with that last bit. « He nods towards the dark clouds looming in the distance, yet closer than before. As the three head into the belly of the ship, he watches them go. One eye twinkling at the king's hand on Luna's back, the other warily observing.

» Hm, « the sailor grumbles, deciding to keep a closer eye on them. Drinian lifts an eyebrow at him, and the old sailors exchange a gaze, silently agreeing to watch out for their lassie and the king.

~

The three return inside. Lucy awaits with a stack of towels and blankets. Eustace would have helped, but he has his head over a bucket, emptying his already empty stomach. Reep is with the boy, both on the floor of Lucy and Luna's cabin. Luna accepts one of the towels, looking forward to a change of clothes. Like the kings, she is wet to the bone, fingers clammy. They are all tired, however, there is no way to tell what time it is. The dark clouds block any light from above, making it seem like the middle of the night. It probably is. Thunder rolls over the sea in regular intervals, leaving everything made from glass tremble for a moment longer. Due to the ship's violent movements, there can't be any open fire – so, no lighted fireplace, no candles, as little oil lamps as possible. The only light source is the occasional claps of lighting, exploding over the dark sky like sprouting vines.

After changing into dry clothes, Lucy lighted a single oil lamp in the study.

» Here, « the queen offers them cups with a brown liquid

» This'll warm you. « By now, Luna doesn't need to smell it to know what it is. Rum. She lifts the cup to her lips, taking a small sip. The potent scent of alcohol fills her nose and mouth – and her stomach churns. It feels like it can't accept anything right now. Still, Luna forces herself to swallow, lowering the cup while the rum burns down her throat. It isn't a particularly uncomfortable burn. Right now, everything that even hints at a feeling of warmth is welcome.

» Down with it, « Ed toasts towards her. Caspian places his empty cup on the table. Taking the towel from around his shoulders, he rubs his damp hair.

» Once it's down, it settles your stomach, « he gifts her a small smile. Luna sighs, looking down at the cup in her hands. She swallows, trying to ignore the sick feeling, and gulps the rest of the liquid down.

A short while later, everyone settles into a seat, nestled into a blanket. Edmund is so tired; he doesn't even suggest a game of chess. Luna feels the leaden tiredness as well, only intensified by the lingering cold in her limbs. However, she doesn't want to fall asleep. Something within her is unsettled – and it isn't just the storm raging outside.

Soon, Ed decides to get Eustace to their cabin so they both can go to sleep. As Lucy and Caspian are engrossed in conversation, Luna accompanies the King of Old. Eustace sits next to his bucket, listening to one of Reepicheep's stories about his pirate days.

» Come, we'll go to bed, « Ed tells his cousin, and helps him stand.

» I'll go empty the bucket and join you then, « Reep says, promising to finish the story later. Eustace smiles weakly, letting Edmund lead him. Luna wouldn't dream of letting her dear friend out on deck, especially not alone. So, she goes with him. Before they leave, Cas and Luna exchange a glance. Reep must have noticed it, he gets lost in thought for a while. For once, this goes more or less unnoticed by Luna as her head is somewhere else as well.

As the Crown Shield returns to the study, she finds Caspian alone. Lucy has gone to check up on everyone, she learns, just as the queen has taken to do every day before she goes to bed.

» So, « Luna mumbles, picking up her blanket. She is tired enough to not think about it much and settles down next to Cas on the sofa.

» So, « he repeats, smiling gently as she wraps herself in the blanket like a caterpillar in its cocoon,

» Still cold? « Luna nods,

» It lingers. «

» Come here then, « his voice his quiet as he offers this, lifting an arm so she can cuddle up to him comfortably. She hesitates for the blink of an eye before scooting closer. While he drapes his arm around her, she leans against his shoulder. For the first few minutes, both are a little tense. Gradually, they relax and are fast asleep in each other's arms while the storm and the sea continue to howl, trying to overdo the other. Let them roar, these two hearts are on the right way towards each other.

Hi everyone!

Now, that was one kind of a storm ^^

News: What would you think of a one shot-like prequel? In German, it already exists (one of my very first stories), but I'm itching to (re-)write it in English.

And the Character overview got updated!

Yours,

Lola