Chapter 12: New Island, New Problem

"Land ho!" Mathew called loudly from the Crow's Nest.

The call was met with calls of relief and excitement, even if the small bit of the approaching Island that could be seen looked barren. It had been a week since the Dawn Treader crew began having nightmares and the storm finally passing over; however, as much as working in shifts had been beneficial in the wake of their nightmares and the strain of the storm, everyone was getting restless at being stuck on the ship for weeks on end.

Caspian, Edmund and Drinian hurried to the far end of the Helm, talking quietly and looking out at the Island through the handheld telescope. On deck, Zahra ran around happily with Gael, dressed in her white dress with off-white dots and red trim that she had worn during her first few days on the ship with white shoes and her anklets. Her hair, which had grown out over the weeks they had been at sea, now reached her elbows and was pulled in two braids with red ribbons intertwined through the bottom half, tied into bows at the end. Aura watched the girls with a small smile as she did the laundry, dressed in her second lehenga set with her hair in a loose braid over her shoulder, the dupatta tied across her chest like a sash. Along with the anklets on her bare feet that she never removed, she was also wearing her bangles on her wrists and her bindi, feeling uncharacteristically homesick for some reason.

"Furl the sail, prepare to drop anchor and man the longboats." Jemain called in his mighty voice, cutting through the idle chatter that filled the air.

Immediately, the crew slipped into action, a measure of excitement filling them even if the Island didn't look like much – it was a chance to get off the boat for the first time in weeks. Though not everyone would be able to go ashore, the excitement was still tangible, and it had Zahra and Gael chattering delightedly while still remaining near their parents.

Aura put the last damp item on the clothesline to dry and turned just as Caspian came up to her.

"Will you come ashore with us or stay on the ship?" He asked softly, taking her hand in his and interlocking their fingers. "And will you bring Zahra if you come ashore?"

"Who else is going ashore?" Aura asked, setting the laundry basket in its place until it needed to be used again.

"Myself, Lucy, Edmund, Mathew, Eustace, Reepicheep, and a few other crewmembers. Mr. Rhince is letting Gael come along as well since she's still a bit clingy."

Aura hummed in acknowledgement. "Yeah, might as well come along." She said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Getting off the ship might do us all some good."

Caspian nodded in agreement. Spending weeks on end in cramped quarters with nearly two dozen other people, including two kids, and only two bathrooms was enough to drive anyone insane.

"Dada!" Zahra cried delightedly, running up to Caspian with her arms out. Caspian beamed brightly like he always did whenever she called him that, crouching down and sweeping Zahra into his arms before straightening up again. "Mama." Zahra said with a toothy grin, looking at Aura.

"Yes, my little Flower Queen. It's Mummy and Daddy." Aura said with a soft smile, bopping Zahra on the nose lightly and earning a delighted laugh in response.

"Mama, Dada, wuvey." Zahra said, reaching up and tugging Caspian's hair with one hand while tugging Aura's braid with the other.

"Ow. We love you too, baby." Caspian said with a wince, gently prying his hair from the toddler's tight grasp. He left Aura's braid alone since it was long enough that she wasn't having her head pulled with each tug Zahra made.

"So much." Aura added, pressing a kiss to Zahra's chubby cheek.

"Caspian, Aura, the longboats are ready." Mathew called from across the deck, already climbing into one of them with Edmund, Lucy and Eustace.

"Coming!" Aura called back. She turned to Caspian, saying, "You go on with Zahra. I'll be right back with my med-kit and her bag."

Caspian nodded and with a quick kiss, the two split up. Aura hurried into the Cabin and grabbed her med-lit and a bag for Zahra that had been kept prepared for that very reason. She quickly met up with the rest of the landing party, letting Rynelf help her onto the boat next to Lucy before he slipped into the seat beside Edmund.

"And away!" Caprius called and at his signal, the longboats were lowered down into the water.

"Wow!" Zahra exclaimed, clapping and laughing delightedly, standing in the space between Aura and Caspian's knees while the blonde woman held her firmly.

"Whoa! That never gets old." Mathew commented once the boats were on the water and the rowers began rowing.

"Says the guy who throws up every time he goes on a roller coaster." Aura remarked dryly.

"I've heard about roller coasters." Lucy said before Mathew could retort. "Everyone says they're incredibly thrilling."

"Father says that they're a waste of time." Eustace pitched in.

"They're amazing." Aura said dreamily.

"How many are there by your time?" Edmund asked curiously.

"Loads." Mathew replied. "Every amusement park has at least a dozen, if not more."

"That sounds incredible." Caspian breathed, as always listening with rapt attention to the stories about his friends' native world.

"I actually found out I was pregnant because of one." Aura remarked offhandedly.

"What do you mean, Dr. Aura?" Rynelf asked curiously.

"I enjoyed the ride itself, but five seconds after getting off, I threw up." Aura replied. "It was the first time in my life I had ever thrown up because of a roller coaster so we knew something was wrong." She looked down at Zahra, a small smile forming at the sight of the happily babbling toddler between her and Caspian's legs. "Turns out, there wasn't anything wrong per se; I was pregnant." What remained unsaid was the 'things went wrong after'.

"I doubt the Lords stopped here, my liege." Reepicheep called from the other boat, drawing everyone's attention back on topic as the Island drew nearer. "There's no sign of anything living."

"Wigging." Zahra repeated, trying to say 'living' but not quite managing it.

"Right. Well, once we get ashore, take your men and search for food and water with Mathew." Caspian called back. "The four of us and Zahra will look for clues."

"Cyuos!" Zahra cheered happily, beaming brightly up at Caspian before returning to playing with Aura's braid.

"Hang on, you mean the five of us and Zahra." Eustace pipped up. Everyone turned to look at him, identical looks of incredulity on each of their faces. "Come on, please don't send me back to the rat." He begged at seeing their expressions.

"Wat!" Zahra repeated.

"I heard that." Reepicheep called nonchalantly.

Eustace made a face at him and looked away. "Big ears." He murmured under his breath.

"I heard that too." The Mouse called exasperatedly.

"Too!" Zahra repeated happily.

Aura and Caspian looked at each other and burst out laughing, the petulant expression on Eustace's face at Reepicheep's news combined with Zahra repeating everything she heard was just priceless. Zahra looked between her parents and started laughing as well, clapping happily at the same time. It wasn't long before their laughter set everyone else off, the peals echoing off the clear, calm waters while Eustace pouted petulantly.

The laughter eventually faded to a stop as they approached the Island and pulled the boats up to the shore. As had been agreed, while Reepicheep, Mathew and the crew members unloaded the baskets and split up in pairs to search for food, Caspian, Lucy, Edmund and Aura set off in another direction, Zahra tied to Aura's chest with the makeshift sling fashioned from her dupatta.

Aura took in the scenery which was nothing but rocks that pressed against her bare feet and a few volcanic mountains coughing up puffs of smoke. It was very plain, especially when compared to the previous Islands they had stopped at.

"Look!" Caspian called after several minutes of quiet surveying save for Zahra's babbling. He hurried to an outcropping that had a rope tied around it, the end hanging down into a deep crack in the earth. "We're not the first ones on this Island."

"The Lords?" Edmund assumed.

"Could be." Caspian agreed thoughtfully, peering down into the crevice lit by only a slim ray of sunlight. He picked up a pebble and lightly dropped it into the hole, watching as it clattered down the rocky wall before disappearing from sight completely.

"There's some sort of glowing light at the very bottom." Aura said, cocking her head to the side to get a better look into the hole. She looked up at her companions, all of whom were taller than her. "What do you think could be down there?"

"Let's find out." Edmund suggested excitedly.

"Someone should stay up here in case Reepicheep or one of his men come by." Lucy suggested practically. "Or someone else for that matter."

"I'll stay, with Zahra." Aura offered. She gestured to her dupatta-turned-sling as she added, "This sling isn't exactly the safest for rock climbing."

Caspian, Lucy and Edmund nodded in agreement, seeing her point; like she had said to Reepicheep the first day she had been on board the Dawn Treader – being a Mum comes before being an explorer, or anything for that matter. And as Caspian was beginning to learn, the trade off was almost always worth it.

Slowly and carefully, Edmund climbed down the rope. Lucy, Aura and Caspian watched with trepidation, their hearts in their throats.

"I'm at the bottom!" Edmund called up.

"Be careful." Aura whispered nervously as Caspian gripped the rope.

"Promise." Caspian said with a smile, pecking her lips quickly and lightly

"Dada bye-bye." Zahra said cheerfully, waving at Caspian.

"Bye-bye." Caspian said, a soft smile on his face before beginning the climb down.

Like with Edmund, Aura and Lucy watched him descend until he was out of sight before the teenaged Queen began climbing down as well. Aura absently played with one of Zahra's braids, shifting restlessly from foot to foot as Lucy disappeared from sight as well.

Finally, after a few, very long minutes, Lucy called up, "We're at the bottom!"

"Thank Aslan." Aura breathed in relief. She looked at Zahra, the toddler grinning brightly back at her. "Now, we just have to wait for the three to come back up. And we have no way of knowing what is going on down there."

She let out a breath and removed Zahra from the dupatta before untying it and letting it drape around her shoulders. She sat down next to the rock, leaning back against the rocky edge and put Zahra in her lap, letting her play with a few of the rocks. Looking up at the sky and letting Zahra play with her bangles, Aura began singing softly to pass the time.

"When the cold wind is a'calling

And the sky is clear and bright

Misty mountains sing and beckon

Lead me out into the light

I will ride

I will fly

Chase the wind

And touch the sky

I will fly

Chase the wind

And touch the sky."

Zahra laughed delightedly, clapping her hands in time to the song as she leaned back against Aura's chest. Aura wrapped her arms around her daughter, securing the little girl in the warmth of her mother's embrace, a warmth can never be found in the arms of anyone else. Zahra played with Aura's bangles, chiming musically in time to the song.

"Where dark roots hide secrets

And mountains are fierce and bold

Deep waters hold reflections

Of times lost long ago

I will hear their every story

Take hold of my own dream

Be as strong as the seas are stormy

And proud as an eagle's scream

I will ride

I will fly

Chase the wind

And touch the sky

I will fly

Chase the wind

And touch the sky

(Na na na na

Na na na na

La na na na

Na na na)

And touch the sky

Chase the wind

Chase the wind

Touch the sky."

By the time she ended the song, Zahra had wriggled off of Aura's lap and was sitting beside her instead, playing with the rocks. She was trying to stack them, becoming more and more determined to succeed each time her tower fell.

"What are you doing, my little Flower Queen?" Aura asked with a light laugh.

"Towew." Zahra explained, pouting when the stack of pebbles fell over again. Her pout quickly faded, and a determined frown took its place, her tongue sticking out from between her teeth as she tried again.

Aura watched with a look of fondness and unconditional love, a smile on her face that reached her brightly glittering silver-grey eyes.

"Dada!" Zahra cried happily, looking up from the rocks with a bright, toothy smile.

Her call drew Aura's attention and she looked up to see Caspian pulling himself up and out of the crevice. She smiled happily but it faded when she noticed his expression, a mixture of guilt, sadness and shame. A similar look was on Edmund's features while Lucy just looked annoyed.

"What happened?" Aura asked, getting to her feet and brushing the dust off of her clothes. She noticed the sword Caspian was holding, a near mirror to Edmund's. "The Lord?" She asked, picking up Zahra's bag and shouldering it.

"Dead." Caspian said softly, lifting Zahra into his arms and perching her on his hip. At the same time, he handed the recently retrieved sword to Lucy so it was out of the curious toddler's reach.

"I'm sorry." Aura said quietly, slipping her small hand into his larger one. Caspian automatically interlocked their fingers as they began walking.

"He fell to temptation." Edmund revealed after several minutes of silence. "And if it hadn't been for Lucy, I would have as well."

"As would I." Caspian admitted shamefully.

"What happened?" Aura asked, looking more at Lucy than either of the men.

"There was a pool in the cavern that turned everything it touched to gold." Lucy answered quietly. "Lord Restimer had fallen in while trying to collect the water. At least, that's what we're assuming he had been trying to do."

"I see." Aura said, not needing to be told any more to draw a picture of what had likely happened.

Edmund and Lucy, who had been spending the past several months with Eustace and his parents, felt the stirrings of being cast aside while their elder brother and sister were off in America, no matter how untrue it may be. Edmund had felt it more keenly, being torn between trying to be the responsible older brother towards his sister while feeling that his every action was being criticized by his aunt, uncle and cousin. It didn't help matters that they were living through one of the worst wars of the 20th Century and often had only enough money to get them by. With access to something like the gold pool, they would be powerful enough that no one could tell them what to do or where to live.

The group walked in silence, broken only by Zahra's happy babbling as she regaled Caspian on her building attempts with the rocks and his responses. They reached the beach just as the rest of the landing party was loading the boats.

"What food were you able to find?" Aura asked once the two groups were within hearing range of each other. She looked at the baskets and saw that while each one had something different, not a single one was filled even halfway.

"It's volcanic, Dr. Aura." Mr. Rhince said apologetically, seeing the expression on her face. "Not much grows."

"We'll make it work." Caspian said determinedly, giving him an encouraging smile.

Mr. Rhince nodded, the encouragement working as his disheartened expression became more optimistic. He picked up a basket and carried it to the boats, loading it into one carefully.

"At least you managed to find another sword." Mathew said optimistically, seeing the sword Lucy was carrying.

Edmund and Caspian exchanged uneasy looks. Mathew noticed and wisely decided not to ask for the story behind the retrieval.

"Where's Eustace?" Lucy asked, looking around after noticing the distinct lack of complaining.

"I believe he's out, not helping us load the boats." Reepicheep replied dryly; even he was getting to his wits end with the boy.

"Eustace!" Lucy called loudly, thinking he was just hiding to avoid being given work to do. "Eustace!"

"Eutas!" Zahra screamed, mimicking the teenager. Caspian winced and rubbed his ear, the toddler's scream going directly to his eardrum.

"Eustace, we're leaving!" Aura shouted through cupped hands. She lowered her hands and looked at Caspian and Edmund. The volcano that loomed nearby let out a puff of steam, smoke billowing out and into the sky. "Maybe it's a 'Mum'-thing, but I've got a bad feeling." Aura said nervously.

"Me, too." Lucy admitted.

"I'll go find him." Edmund said rolling his eyes exasperatedly.

Caspian and Aura exchanged looks, seeming to have a silent conversation for several seconds. "We'll come with you." Caspian said to Edmund, gesturing to himself, Aura and Zahra.

Edmund nodded and walked back in the direction they had come from, Caspian and Aura only a few feet behind him.

They searched for over an hour, periodically screaming Eustace's name only for there to be no response. Edmund began to look worried the longer they went without finding him.

At one point, Caspian found and picked up Eustace's sweater vest, a small frown on his face. He passed the sweater to Aura who put it in her back for safekeeping.

"Eustace!" He screamed again, his voice slowly becoming hoarse.

"Eustace!" Edmund shouted, his voice in the same condition as Caspian's.

"Eutas!" Zahra shouted, thankfully not into Caspian's ear this time.

Aura, who had left the shouting to the boys and Zahra in favor of looking for clues, stopped near the edge of hill path they were walking. "Caspian, Edmund, look." She said in amazement, pointing down at the valley that stretched out below them.

It was filled with gold items, from trinkets to utensils, stretching as far as the eye could see.

"Treasure." Edmund mumbled, his gaze becoming unfocused as he stepped towards the edge and looked down at the valley.

"Trouble." Caspian corrected, looking directly at Edmund and knowing where his thoughts were going.

Edmund glanced at the King and shook his head as though clearing his thoughts and stepped back. He shot Caspian a grateful look, silently thanking him and earning a small nod in response.

"Dada, shoe!" Zahra said pointing at something down below.

Caspian, Aura and Edmund frowned and followed Zahra's finger. Edmund's heart raced as he climbed down into the rocky valley. Reaching the bottom, he ran to a familiar, brown shoe that lay innocuously next to a gold bucket. He picked it up with shaking hands, noticing the charred pattern along the top.

"Eustace." He whispered, a lump in his throat as guilt and fear warred for dominance deep inside his heart. Behind him, Aura and Caspian carefully climbed down into the valley, Zahra held securely in her father's arms. The toddler was silent, her silver-grey eyes wide. Edmund looked around the valley and ran to the pile of smoking and charred clothes. He picked them up with a shaking hand, noticing the burn pattern on the fabric. "No." He breathed in horror, seeing Eustace's diary beneath the clothes. Caspian and Aura crouched next to him, offering silent support to the grieving teenager. "Oh, cousin."

"I'm sorry." Caspian said quietly, keenly aware of the pain the younger King was feeling.

"Unca Emund." Zahra said softly, holding her arms out to the Just King.

Edmund looked at her for a moment before lifting her out of Caspian's arms and holding her close. He breathed in her scent, letting the toddler give him comfort that only a child could give.

"He was just a boy." Edmund said sadly, looking at the diary that was never far from Eustace's person. He had it in one hand while his other arm was curled around Zahra, the toddler silently watching as she comforted her pseudo-uncle. "I never should have left him." He said guiltily, placing the blame of what had happened on his shoulders as the eldest of the Pevensie/ Scrubb family.

"No, Edmund." Aura said firmly, knowing just what such a burden could do to a person. "All of us are to blame for what happened, including Eustace. We should have kept a better eye on him, especially since we know how he is. And Eustace should never have wandered off on his own."

Edmund looked at her for a long moment, seeing the adamance of not letting him blame himself in her silver-grey eyes. "What could have happened to him?" He wondered aloud, looking back at the charred remains of Eustace's clothing.

"In this place? Anything." Caspian replied, looking around the valley. "And he wasn't the first." He rose to his feet, moving away from Edmund, Aura and Zahra. They watched as he approached a nearby skeleton propped up against the rocky wall of the valley. "It's Lord Octesian." Caspian looked around the immediate area surrounding the skeleton. "We should find his…" He trailed off when he noticed Edmund carefully picking up a sword from amid a pile of gold with one hand, keeping a firm grip on Zahra with his other arm. "Sword." He finished as Edmund handed the sheathed blade to Aura to keep it away from Zahra's undoubtedly curious hands.

"Let's get out of here." Aura said quietly, an uneasy feeling building in her gut the longer they stayed. "This valley is giving me a bad feeling."

Edmund and Caspian nodded in agreement. The trio plus toddler carefully climbed out of the valley and began the trek back to the beach. They walked in silence, all of them lost in their thoughts, even Zahra remaining quiet. Edmund had her perched on his hip, taking in her comforting weight in his arms.

"Edmund?" Aura asked after a while, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?"

"What happens to us on Earth, if we die here?"

At the question, Caspian looked at Edmund curiously as well. "No idea." The Just King replied. "Guess we'll find out when we're sent back." He said with a heavy sigh.

"We need to break the news to Lucy." Aura said softly as they approached the beach.

"Yeah." Edmund agreed quietly, not looking forward to telling his sister that they're cousin was gone.

"I will tell her." Caspian offered, wanting to ease some of the weight on the younger King's shoulders.

Edmund nodded in agreement, shooting the older man a grateful look. Caspian reached out and put a comforting hand on his shoulder as Aura hurried to the longboat.

"Dada, dwagon!" Zahra exclaimed cheerfully, pointing up at the sky behind Caspian and Edmund.

The two men turned and sure enough, a massive dragon was flying towards them. Both Kings ducked, Edmund curling around Zahra protectively as the orange-toned dragon flew over them.

"Aurelia!" Caspian screamed in warning as the dragon approached her.

"Mama!" Zahra screamed.

Aura turned at the sound of the shouts only to gasp in shock as she felt a massive paw curl around her slim waist, the grip firm yet not breaking her delicate skin. She screamed as she was lifted clean off the ground, Lord Octesian's sword and Zahra's bag slipping from her hands and landing next to the boat.

"Let me go!" She screamed, hitting her curled fists against the paw curled around her and the arm attached to it. The dragon grunted, its wings flapping powerfully as they flew over the glistening waters. Realizing what was below them and just how high up they were, her eyes widened in alarm. "On second thought, don't let me go!" She screamed. She may be a good swimmer and equally good diver, but with the height they were at and the angle she was being held in, she was more likely to break every bone in her body as soon as she hit the water instead of being able to swim.

The dragon flew over the Dawn Treader, the ship's crew staring in wide-eyed horror at Aura's tiny form in the creature's massive paw.

"Aura!" Mathew yelled, standing at the Helm with Lucy and Gael.

"Mathew!" Aura screamed. "Mathew!" The dragon swung around the ship's mast and headed back towards the Island, leaving the crew to shout after her. It flew Aura over the mountains and the intertwining valleys, the sudden turns and dips making Aura groan involuntarily. "I think I'm gonna be sick." She moaned dizzily.

Without warning, it dove through the plumes of rising smoke, causing Aura to cough involuntarily at the sudden blast of hot air that hit her. The dragon roared and gestured to something on the ground and Aura looked down. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped in complete shock.

There, writing in large, flaming letters was a message. It consisted of only three words.

'I AM EUSTACE.'

Aura looked up at the dragon and then back down to the message, repeating the action several times as she tried to comprehend it.

"Are you serious?!" She finally managed to exclaim once she had found her voice. The dragon nodded in response. "Well, at least you can understand what's being said." Aura commented practically. She shook her head and sighed. "Can you take me back to the beach. We need to let the others know what's going on."

Eustace just turned around and flew them back through the valleys and mountains, landing quietly on the rocky ground of the beach five minutes later. He gently let go of Aura who stumbled for a few seconds before falling face-first on the ground with a groan. She rolled over onto her back, waving her hand in reassuringly at Eustace when he prodded her carefully with his claw.

"I'm okay." Aura mumbled, letting her hand drop down on the ground beside her. "Just a little woozy."

"Aurelia!"

"Aura!"

"Aura!"

"Mama!"

The shouts came from two different directions, from the water as Mathew, Lucy, Drinian, Mr. Rhince, Gael, Jemain and a few crewmembers frantically rowed to shore and from the valley as Edmund and Caspian ran towards her with Zahra. The separate groups congregated on the beach, all of them drawing their weapons on the dragon. Thankfully, with Aura in front of him, no one made a move for fear of accidentally harming her.

"It's okay!" She called loudly, getting to her feet. She stumbled for a second before finding her footing and looking at the group. "I'm okay!"

"Aurelia, slowly move away from the dragon." Caspian said calmly, only the tight grip he had on his sword belying his emotions. He shifted slightly so he was in front of Edmund who was holding Zahra, the little girl's eyes wide with fear.

"The dragon's not a dragon!" Aura said quickly before anyone could launch an attack. "It's Eustace!"

The group as a whole stared at her in shock for several moments before turning to look at the boy-turned-dragon.

Edmund was the first to find his voice. "You have got to be joking." He breathed in disbelief, staring at his cousin with wide eyes.

Mathew bypassed the dragon entirely, running forward and sweeping Aura into a tight hug. "Regardless, I'm just glad you're okay!" He breathed in relief, pulling back and running his eyes over her from head to toe. Not seeing any signs of trauma or injury, he stepped back completely. Aura turned and went to Caspian, easily slipping into his arms as he hugged her tightly in relief.

"Mama, Eutas?" Zahra asked, looking around curiously and not seeing the boy they had been searching for.

"Eustace is a dragon now." Aura said with a sigh, holding her arms out to Edmund and he passed the toddler over. She hugged the girl tightly before perching her on her hip, Caspian putting his arm around her shoulders and holding them both close to his side.

"Dwagon?" The toddler repeated, cocking her head to the side. She turned and looked up at the massive dragon, her silver-grey eyes now sparkling with curiosity rather than fear.

"He must have been tempted by the treasure." Edmund commented as Eustace tried to remove the gold cuff attached to his right arm, with little success.

"Anyone knows a dragon's treasure is enchanted." Caspian said as though it was common knowledge.

"I didn't know that." Aura said as Eustace growled at the King.

"Me neither." Mathew added.

"Well, anyone from… here." Caspian amended.

Lucy rolled her eyes exasperatedly and went to Eustace. Slowly and carefully, she reached out and grasped the cuff attached to his arm and pulled firmly. He roared loudly as soon as he was free from its tight grip, shaking his paw out as blood flowed properly through the limb once more.

"Is there any way to change him back?" Edmund asked, looking at Caspian.

"Not that I know of." Caspian said apologetically, shaking his head. "Drinian?" He asked, turning to his Captain.

Drinian shook his head in response. Eustace whimpered at the response, his large, glassy blue eyes swirling with emotion.

"Maybe the enchantment will fade with time?" Aura suggested optimistically, absently tightening her grip on Zahra when she began wriggling in her arms in an effort to get down.

"Or maybe he'll turn back if and when we return to Earth." Mathew added helpfully. He looked at Lucy and Edmund, adding, "I mean, you guys de-aged 15 years, maybe Eustace'll de-dragon."

"Aunt Alberta will not be pleased if we go back with a dragon instead of a boy." Edmund groaned.

"Mama, dwagon!" Zahra exclaimed, tugging on Aura's ear to get the older woman's attention. "Dwagon Eutas!" She wriggled in Aura's arms, trying to be let down.

"Fine, you can got play with Eustace." Aura said exasperatedly, setting Zahra on the ground. The toddler wasted no time running to Eustace and climbing onto one of his mighty paws.

"I wonder where she gets that from?" Mathew said sarcastically, looking pointedly at Caspian and Aura.

Over the past few weeks, he had been regaled with stories regarding the young King, his curious and explorative nature. It was so different from Telmarines as a whole, who tended to shy away from the ocean because of the ancient tales that said Aslan would come from the sea. The behavior was just one of the many things Aura and Caspian had in common, another being their daredevil attitudes that sent everyone around them into frenzied panic attacks.

Aura and Caspian glared at him for the comment. Aura picked up a rock and threw it at Mathew's head, the blue-eyed Brit laughing and ducking expertly.

"Is Zahra the only one unconcerned by our situation?" Jemain asked before Mathew could further infuriate the feisty blonde. He looked at Zahra who was now happily climbing onto Eustace's paw before jumping off with a delighted laugh, only to climb back on and repeat the process.

"Yes." Caspian and Aura said in unison, both sporting expressions of fond exasperation.

"Sorry about the hand, old boy." Reepicheep said apologetically. "I can be a little overzealous at times." He explained sheepishly.

Eustace growled softly and bowed his head to the Mouse, trying to show that he accepted the apology. Reepicheep smiled, understanding what he was saying.

"The boats are ready, Sire." Jemain called loudly.

"We can't leave him alone." Aura said adamantly, thinking of what she would do if it had been Zahra in Eustace's position. Lucy and Edmund nodded in agreement, after coming so close to losing him and actually thinking him dead, they weren't about to let their cousin out of their sight. No matter how annoying he had been.

"Well we can't bring him on board." Drinian countered, thinking of the entire crew and the ship itself that wouldn't be able to carry a 10-tonne dragon.

Eustace keened quietly, his head bowed. If only he hadn't wandered away from the group, if only he had listened when he was told something, if only….

"Drinian, you and the others take one boat back." Caspian ordered, passing Lord Octesian's sword to the Captain. "The rest of us will stay here till morning and… work out what to do."

"But you have no provisions except for what is in Zahra's bag, and no means of staying warm, Your Majesty." Mr. Rhince pointed out worriedly.

Eustace curled his hand around Zahra protectively before letting out a large ball of flame at a nearby dry log. It lit up immediately, crackling merrily.

"Wow!" Zahra exclaimed, clapping excitedly.

"You were saying?" Reepicheep asked, looking up at the sailor.

Everyone started laughing, Eustace sporting a bright, proud grin. Maybe he wasn't so useless after all.

Drinian acquiesced, albeit reluctantly, and returned to the ship with his men while Mr. Rhince, Gael, Caspian, Aura, Zahra, Mathew, Edmund and Lucy stayed with Eustace. Aura took Zahra and moved away slightly so she could change her diaper while the others set up camp, the dragon building a better fire with Gael and Lucy.

"I've never seen these constellations before." Edmund said quietly, laying back on his bedding and looking up at the now completely darkened sky. It was studded with tiny silvery white stars, glittering beautifully against the midnight blue canvas.

"Me neither." Mathew agreed, sitting next to the teenaged King on their shared bedding.

"We're a long way from home." Caspian said softly. "When I was a boy, I used to imagine sailing to the end of the world. Finding my father there."

"Maybe you will." Aura said optimistically, laying on her side next to him and gently patting Zahra as she suckled her milk bottle.

Across from them, on the other side of the fire, Reepicheep sat with Eustace, talking quietly to the boy-turned-dragon and comforting him.

"I miss my Mummy." Gael said quietly, looking at her pendant necklace that had a drawing of her mother.

"I miss mine, too." Lucy said comfortingly.

"Me, too." Aura said quietly.

"What happened to them?" Edmund asked curiously, sitting up and looking over at Aura. "Every time you talk about your family, you differentiate between your parents and your birth-parents."

Aura was quiet for several minutes, looking down at Zahra and running her fingers through the toddler's dark curls; she had untied the braids after changing her diaper and getting her ready for bed. "They were murdered when I was a kid." She said finally. She laughed dryly and shook her head, leaning into Caspian's embrace when he put his arm around her comfortingly. "Killed by a desperate man, all for the sake of a few baubles my mother had been wearing and the money my father had in his wallet. Afterwards, my father's brother and his wife took me in and raised me as their own alongside their own children, who eventually became my siblings rather than my cousins." She smiled sadly, her eyes filled with the pain of loss. "Not once, in all the years that they raised me, did they let me feel the loss of my birth-parents or make me feel as though I wasn't their child. But they died last year." Aura sighed, shaking her head and looking at Gael. She smiled reassuringly at the little girl. "Anyway, my sob story aside, you will see your mother again, Gael. Don't worry."

"How do you know?" Gael asked.

"You just have to have faith about these things." Lucy said wisely. "Aslan will help us."

"But Aslan couldn't stop her from being taken." Gael pointed out; the words spoken in innocence yet showing the telltale signs of shaken belief.

"We'll find her. I promise." Caspian vowed, looking at the little girl who showed more courage and strength than most children did at her age.

Gael looked at him for a long moment and Caspian met her gaze steadily. Seeing the same determination in his brown eyes that was in his voice, Gael nodded silently.

"Get some sleep." Aura said softly.

"Can you sing something?" Lucy asked, turning on her side and looking at Aura.

Aura smiled and nodded. Opening her mouth, she began to sing a gentle and soothing song, a lullaby that she often sang to Zahra during the long nights when she had been colicky, or just restless.

"Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand

Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry

For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always."

Slowly, everyone settled back in their beddings and let the sweet song wash over them, letting themselves drift closer towards sleep. The tears that had silently fell from Eustace's eyes dried as he rested his mighty head on his forearms, Reepicheep curling up next to him in silent support. Gael curled up on her side next to Lucy, feeling the first stirrings of renewed hope blooming in her heart.

"Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all

And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know

When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more

Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always."

By the time she had sung the last note, everyone was fast asleep. Aura smiled and laid back on her bedding, Zahra curled between her and Caspian. Between one heartbeat to the next, the feisty blonde woman was asleep as well.