꧁ Kidnapping, is it? ꧂

That wasn't the way Elizabeth thought she would spend the day off that for a long time Finn had been advising her to take, but she certainly couldn't complain. Besides, now she was wearing new dry robes, spare garment of the crew that, together with Lucy, they had happily accepted. During the change of clothes and a good part of the afternoon, Elizabeth had therefore got to know the girl a little better the girl, who had told her about her life and her family. She had learned that Lucy was the youngest of four siblings, one of whom was Edmund, and that together they had already been to Narnia twice. Eustace, the whiny boy, instead, was here for the first time, just like her.

✵✵✵✵

It was now sunset, and she admired the sun going to take refuge among the waves of the sea with her elbows comfortably resting on the edge of the ship, her gaze lost among the wonderful orange colors of the sky, her brown hair free to the wind and a sweet smile on the lips.

Caspian couldn't say how long he had been staring at her, leaning against the mast, observing every detail of her figure, before having the courage to approach her.

"Ever been on a ship before?" he quietly asked her, resting his elbows on the edge, right beside her.

"Just once, but it was a long time ago." she answered, turning her head a little to look at him.

Observing him in the sunset's light, Elizabeth had to admit to herself that her savior was indeed a handsome man. His dark brown hair, now perfectly dry, fell loose on his shoulders and were therefore victims of the gentle breath of the wind. His hazel eyes were beady and bright, while his full lips surrounded a wonderful smile. He had high cheekbones and a slightly olive skin, probably tanned by the time he spent at sea.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I've introduced myself properly," he started, waking her up from her thoughts, "but in my defense it's been a quite rough day. My name is Caspian, and I believe you are Elizabeth, am I right?" he said, smiling down at her.

"Indeed, you are," she replied, "it's a pleasure to meet you, your Majesty."

"Please, don't. There's no need for that." he told her, shaking his head slightly. "So, you are from the same world of Lucy and Edmund, but from a different time?" he then asked her.

Elizabeth nodded, smiling at the absurdity of the situation, "I am, I live more than seventy years in the future compared to them," she explained.

"How complicated," he ironically stated.

"Yeah, it's quite a mess, isn't it? I mean, people from the past and from th future together in another world. Crazy." she said, chuckling.

Caspian laughed too, "well, I hope not in a completely bad way," he replied.

"Not at all. I'm glad to be here." she assured him.

"Are you really?" he joked.

"Having only seen your vessel, this world seems to me far more beautiful and diverse than mine. I am intrigued." she affirmed.

"Why is that so? Is your world really so different from this? And in what way is it worse?" he asked her, with a little bit of both curiosity and confusion about her words.

Therefore, they stood there talking for a time that seemed endless. Elizabeth told him of her world, how it was not possible to find there mythological creatures or talking animals as devoid of magic. She told him about her life in London, her job and her family, which she usually never talked about, after all there was not much to say: for years she hadn't seen any of her relatives, there was no reason, they had never been on good terms.

Caspian, in turn, told her how it was to grow up in Telmar, the men's kingdom of Narnia, with his uncle. He had lost his parents as a child, and just three years before he had found himself having to fight for his life and for the throne against his only relative, who yearned to take his place. He told her how he had won that battle with the help of Lucy, Edmund, their siblings Susan and Peter, the Narnians and Aslan, the true King of that magic land.

As the sun completely disappeared under the sea, they started to realise how late it was.

"I believe it's time to say good night," Elizabeth started, "and I also understood that you are to thank for the bed," she said. The king, in fact, had ceded his quarters to the ladies.

"It's nothing, really. Now go and rest, you'll need all your strengths tomorrow. No day is easy at sea." he replied, giving her a charming smile.

"Good night then, Cas," she told him, nodding lightly and starting to leave.

"Good night, Liz," he murmured, chuckling at the surname. "Cas", he liked it.

✵✵✵✵

The following morning Elizabeth climbed with Lucy to the bowsprit, which consisted of the enormous head of a green and gold dragon. Clinging to the face of the beast and facing the ocean, Reppecheep hummed undisturbed.

"Where sky and water meet
Where the waves grow ever sweet
Doubt not, you Reepicheep
To find all that you seek
There is the Utter East
Doubt not..." it sang.

The ladies smiled, "That's pretty," Lucy interrupted him.

The mouse gasped, turning towards them, "Oh! Thank you." it said, "a dryad sung it to me when I was just a mouseling. I can't divine the meaning, but I've never forgotten the words." it then continued.

"What do you think is past the Lone Islands, Reep?" Lucy asked him.

The Lone Island was where they were headed, as Lucy had explained to Elizabeth shortly before. Those were old domains of Narnia which had apparently been the destination of seven Lords of Telmar several years earlier, but from which they never returned. Their job was now to find them, or at least find out what happened to them.

"Well, I've been told the furthest east one can sail is to the end of the world. Aslan's country." the rodent told them.

"Do you really believe there's such a place?" the girl retorted.

"Well, we have nothing, if not belief." Reepicheep stated.

"Do you think you could actually sail there?" Lucy then asked him. There was hope in her voice.

"Well, there is only one way of finding that out. I can only hope I will one day earn the right to see it." it said, chuckling. "Your Majesty, Miss Elizabeth." it then greeted them, before returning to its spot.

The two ladies smiled again, reflecting on his words. Reepicheep was a true source of wisdom and an exceptional orator, who had always ready the appropriate phrase for the opportune moment. Few would have known how to match his skill.

Something in the water caught their attention, distracting them from their thoughts. Protruding slightly beyond the edge, they could admire a female figure jumping out of the water cheerfully and waving to them. Elizabeth thought she saw a ghost, because the creature's body was entirely translucent, it seemed almost made of water.

"Is it a mermaid?" Elizabeth asked Lucy, never e shifting her gaze from the shape.

"No, it's a Naiad," she explained, "a water spirit."

"It's beautiful," said the woman, waving back at it.

"Yes, it is," the girl agreed, "everything is beautiful in Narnia," she told her, smiling, before turning to the deck, drew by the cheers of the crew.

In the middle of the ship Edmund and Caspian were competing in a friendly duel, surrounded by sailors who watched, intrigued and fascinated, the skillful moves of their Kings. Neither could prevail over the other, both equally agile, fast and meticulous in every swing, block, jab and parry.

"I knew this would've happened sooner or later," Lucy said, sighing.

"What would've happened?" the woman asked her, now lifting her gaze from the water to move it in the same direction as the girl's. She smiled seeing the boys apparently having the time of their life, and followed Lucy among the crew, to be able to observe the challenge more closely.

The duel ended with crossed blades and the applause of the sailors.

"You've grown stronger, my friend," Caspian told his opponent, smiling and putting an hand on his shoulder.

"Seems I have," the boy joked.

"All right, back to work." ordered Captain Drinian's thundering voice to the men, who did not wait for a second warning.

Edmund, after having gratefully accepted a glass of water offered to him by a sailor, joined the two ladies, who had taken place on crates attached to the ship's flank. Caspian would've followed him a few moments later.

"Good match." Elizabeth greeted him.

"Thank you, Liz," he replied, a proud grin forming on his lips.

"Edmund," Lucy called him, "do you think if we keep sailing to the end of the world we'll just...tip off the edge?" she asked.

"Don't worry, Lu, we're a long way from there," he reassured her, not really knowing how to answer that question.

"I see you're still talking nonsense, the two of you. And with crazy strangers, of course." Eustace stepped in, who had just come out of the hold and, not knowing where else to go, had decided to join his cousins. It wasn't a pleasant idea, but it was the best solution he could come up with.

"Liz is no stranger, Eustace," Lucy retorted, "are you feeling better, by the way?" she then demanded him.

"Yes, no thanks to you." he sharply answered. "It's lucky I have an iron constitution." he claimed right after.

"As effervescent as ever, I see," Reepicheep remarked, climbing down a rope near to Elizabeth. "Find your sea legs?" it then asked him with irony.

"Never lost them," he was quick to respond, "simply dealing with the shock of things. Mother says I have an acute disposition, due to my intelligence." he explained, making everyone chuckle and almost choke Edmund with water.

"I don't think he has "a cute" anything," the mouse joked.

Eustace sent him a glare, "I'll have you all know, as soon as we find civilisation I'm contacting the British Consul. Have you all arrested for kidnapping!" he cried out, deciding to walk away but bumping into Caspian.

"Kidnapping, is it?" the King asked him, "That's funny. I thought we saved your life," he said, smirking.

"You held me against my will!" the boy yelled back.

"Ha!" exclaimed Reepicheep, which was enjoying the comedy of the scene now comfortably leaning against Elizabeth's shoulder.

"Did I?" Caspian sarcastically asked, moving a few steps forward.

Eustace didn't give up, "In, what I must say, are the most unhygienic quarters. It's like a zoo down there!" he continued.

"Well, darling, if you prefer, we can always throw you back into the sea." Elizabeth said with a wry smile, as everyone burst into laughter.

"He's quite the complainer, isn't he?" the mouse then remarked, turning towards Edmund and Lucy.

"He's just warming up!" the boy told him.

"And you said he's your cousin, right? Lucy?" Elizabeth then rhetorically asked the girl.

She sighed in resignation, "Yes, yes he is," she answered.

"I am so sorry. For both of you." the woman said, sounding sorrier than it needed.

"Thank you, really, I appreciate it." Edmund replied in a serious tone, before letting out a chuckle.

"Laugh now if you wish, because you won't do it anymore when I finally found the British Consul!" Eustace complained again, tired of being ridiculed.

"Ah, is that so?" the woman asked him, raising her eyebrows.

"Of course! You'll be locked up into an asylum! That's where mad people go, people who claim to be from the future." he exclaimed.

"You better shut your mouth!" Edmund roared out, taking a few steps in his direction.

"It's all fine, Edmund," Elizabeth stopped him, "our friend here is probably just shocked by the situation. He doesn't really mean it." she said in a calm voice.

"But I do!" the whiny boy cried out again, seeming desperate for their attention.

"Which doesn't make it fine." Caspian stated, ignoring the kid's last comment.

Before anyone else could speak, the group was called by the watchman.

"Land-ho!" the sailor yelled from the mast.

Caspian ran up the stairs, took the telescope and looked at the horizon. They had finally reached the Lone Island, his quest could now really begin.