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TWENTY - SIX | ONE FINAL ADVENTURE

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The New Age of Narnia was truly thriving!

Three Years had passed since the Coronations of King Caspian X and The Princess of the Shuddering Woods and Narnia felt like a completely new place. For the First time in forever there was peace and harmony amongst most of the land, Narnians and humans alike relishing in each others company and learning to live among each other like they had in the golden age.

King Caspian X had truly proven himself in those three years, doing his best to undo all of the crimes of his predecessors and bring Narnia to a brighter future. The Narnians loved him, the Telmarines loved him and the land thrived under his rule.

However as one ruler thrived, another merely fell.

"Your highness, the King wishes to speak with you."

"No need to bow Ares," Angelina sighed as she smiled meekly at the fawn, Ares smiling sheepishly at her in return. "we've been friends for three years now."

"My apologies..." The Fawns smile grew before his voice fell into whispers. "but I must set an example when others can hear."

"Quite right." The Princess sighed as she rubbed her eyes, Ares passing her a pitcher of water.

"Any development?" Ares asked as he watched her slowly sip her water, the Princess shaking her head at him.

"There is no such cure." She promised as she passed the pitcher back at him, stretching her arms as a groan left her lips.

"There's still hope."

"There's always hope," She agreed before a bitter laugh left her lips. "but sometimes too much hope does more bad that good."

The Princess rose from her bed as Ares sent in her Lady in Waiting to help her change into her garments, Angelina relieved to have the aid as she struggled to fiddle with the buttons on her gown due to the gloves that stayed practically attached to her hands. Sighing, Angelina allowed herself to open her eyes and look at herself in the mirror once again finding herself displeased with what she saw.

As the days went past she began to look more like a shell of the girl she once was and with yet another week of being bedridden she was beginning to also feel like time was falling short. Her eyes, once so bright and full of spunk and anger and adventure had fallen hollow and dull, her hair that favoured the golden sun was beginning to pale, a pale luminous green soaking the bottom of it. Her skin was slowly losing its rosiness, harsh runes, scars and bruises encapsulating them to the point where she feared to go outside unless fully covered.

Truly, Angelina wasn't the girl she was three years ago.

Nonetheless she still did what she always did and tried not to let it get to her; showcasing that she despite it all was still strong and healthy and ready to rule despite the ticking time bomb that was inside her. Truthfully she knew her façade didn't always worked, for the Narnians weren't quite as blind as Angelina had hoped them to be, but nonetheless she was grateful that they chose not to bring it up and treated the Princess all the same. Perhaps that had been Caspian's doing, for he had ensured that all of her 'episodes' as he would call them were kept secret from their people.

One of the many, many reasons that she loved Caspian dearly.

"Lina!"

As if her thoughts had willed him into existence, her dearest friend had entered the room with a huge smile on his face and his arms outstretched waiting for a hug. Excited to see him, Angelina turned her head away from the mirror and practically jumped into his arms. The King of Narnia chuckled as he felt her relax into his arms, lightly drawing circles on her back to soothe her and let her know that he was there for her and he could be trusted.

"Cassie!" She had practically squealed as she buried her face in his chest. "Its been too long."

"Its been a week..." Caspian teased her as he softened his grip on her, Angelina moving her head from his chest to finally look up at him.

"Well maybe I've just missed your face." The Princess teased back as she pushed him back lightly, Caspian catching himself as he leant against the wall and gave her a dashing smile.

"I bet you say that to all the handsome Kings you meet."

"More like the most annoying ones."

The two laughed together like old times. It was funny how the years had changed the land around them so much yet the two of them had barely changed at all. They were still Cassie and Lina, still the same Prince and Outcast yet now they both held fancier titles. They were still best friends who could confide in each other, learn from each other, look after each other and just have fun together.

But most of all, they loved each other endlessly.

"I hear you've been bedridden," Caspians smile slowly faded as his gaze hardened on hers. "I promise I meant to come and see you."

"It's nothing," Angelina insisted as she brushed off his concern, turning to look away from him as she shrugged her shoulders. "it's just a fever..."

The floor creaked beneath Caspians boots as he quickly moved to grab her arm, pulling her back towards him as his grip on her tightened.

"You and I both know it's more than that."

Angelina sighed as Caspian let go of her am, the conversation dropped for the moment as he held the door opened for her and beckoned for her to follow him forwards. A smile graced her face as Caspian started sprinting down the hallway in a flurry, Angelina kicking her shoes off before she lifted her skirt and sprinted after him. Their laughter echoed through the halls, members of staff chuckling at the two as they passed as if this were a daily occurrence.

It was nice.

Moments like this reminded Angelina of how luckily she was to be alive, to have the friends that she did and had the time that she had left. Often she laid in bed regretting her decision to accept her quest three years ago, wondering if it just would have been better to just keep fighting and let the inevitable be over sooner or if she should have just accepted Aslans offer and ventured to his country.

But she didn't.

She didn't because she wanted to keep fighting in hopes of finding some cure, some other solution that even the Great Lion couldn't predict. She wanted a reason to actually live, to do the things she's always wanted to do without restrictions and to protect those around her that she loved. Like her father Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, Reepicheep, Caspian or Edmund.

Edmund.

A small smile grew on her face as she thought briefly about the raven haired King who altered her lifes trajectory. Though she hated to admit it, he always plagued her mind in everything she did. I mean, how could he not? Angelina had experienced her fair share of unfairness in her life that as the Princess all she wanted was for people to be treated fairly whether that be in public or facing trial.

Even outside of her royal duties he haunted her. Every time she entered a crowded room her eyes immediately scanned around looking, yearning and craving to catch his eyes. Never before had she thought that someone could be so intoxicating, so addicting that she felt inclined to look for them everywhere she went. Edmund Pevensie had surely made a lasting impression on her that her mind just couldn't forget him, making every day harder and harder for her to cope without him.

It was like she couldn't stop grieving his loss without him really being dead.

Snapping herself out of it, Angelina continued to follow Caspian through the maze of castle halls before he suddenly stopped at the Castle gates. Angelina furrowed her eyebrows at him as he pulled a blindfold out of his pocket and passed it to her to put on. If it had been almost anybody else she would have flat out refused but she trusted him enough to lead her anywhere. After what had felt like hours of walking, although really it was only a matter of minutes, Caspian had stopped her in her tracks and instructed her to take her blindfold off.

And she gasped!

Never before had Angelina ever seen something as beautiful and majestic as the grand ship that graced the shore. She feared that her eyes were deceiving her as she ran forward on the docks to get a closer look, Caspian laughing behind her as she continued to just stare in awe at the prow of the ship which was shaped like a dragons head and the stern which was placed like a tail. It was so lively and fierce and absolutely breath taking!

Most of all, it begged for an adventure!

"Tell me Cassie," Angelina started as she turned towards her closest friend with a smile. "what's with the ship?"

"The Dawn Treader!"

"Okay, what's with he Dawn Treader?" She repeated herself, her smile only growing.

Giving that time is running short, I figured we'd need one last adventure." The King sent a tight lipped smile her way, trying his hardest not to let himself feel sad over his words as he knew there was no use dwelling over them.

"Is this about your father again?"

"His seven lords went out to sea and never returned." Caspian explained as he placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "It's said they tried to travel to the end of the world."

"And you want us to follow them?"

"Exactly!"

"And you thought that sailing across the seas was the best option in my current state?" Angelina questioned him as she turned to him a raised her eyebrows, challenging his logic even if she desperately wanted to board the ship.

Caspian merely smirked.

"Are you suggesting that your illness would stop you wanting to go on an adventure?"

"No," The Princess scoffed as she nudged him lightly, her smile growing again. "I'm just suggesting it's not wise and as a King you shouldn't suggest such things."

"Just because I'm a king doesn't mean I'm wise Lina."

Simultaneously their gazes both fell back onto the ship again, smiles remaining on their faces before they both found themselves looking to each other at the same time.

And they laughed.

"You're mad."

"Bonkers?" Caspian asked her, though he already knew the answer.

"Completely off your head."

"So you're in?" He asked hopeful, Angelina pretending to contemplate before she linked her arm in his and jumped giddily.

"You know I'd never shy away from an adventure."

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A mere two weeks later and the ship was ready to depart!

Caspian and Angelina had ensured that they had the very best crew accompanying them on the voyage so that they had the very best chance of succeeding on their voyage to find the seven lords. Specifically joining them on their voyage was Ares the faun, Angelina's personal messenger and in harsh times her doctor which both Caspian and Angelina agreed could be useful on board. Truth be told Ares was wary of the Princess' decision to join the voyage, having warned her that even with his presence he wouldn't be able to give the best care possible on a ship compared to on land but Angelina wanted t go regardless.

And Ares, as much as his head told him not too, would follow the Princess anywhere.

The faun had been helping Angelina load her bags onto the ship when they were approached by all their friends and family, ready to say goodbye before they departed on a voyage they ahd no idea if they'd returned from. The Princess could feel her heart sink with every hug, every smile and every goodbye and she couldn't muster the words to say 'see you soon' because she knew there was no guarantee of that. She had never been to sea before and didn't really know the dangers of it and what was to come.

But she knew more than anything that she had to go.

Angelina's heart sank in her chest as she had one last goodbye to make, her smile becoming a frown as she saw the Lord Regent approach her with an equally sad expression. Tears already began to spring into her eyes as she willed herself to look away, Ares squeezing her shoulder before stepping back and bowing to her.

"May I excuse myself your majesty?" The faun asked her, Angelina smiling gratefully as she nodded.

"Yes, thank you!"

The Faun bowed again before departing from the docks, giving the dwarf and the Princess their privacy to say their goodbyes. The first thing the two of them did was embrace. It was warm and very much needed, the two finding no greater satisfaction than in when each others embrace just as they had done for the last nine years of knowing each other. Trumpkin had dreaded this moment for a long time; to finally let his daughter 'flee the nest' as the books on parenting would say because he didn't want to live a life without her.

"So this is it?" The dwarf questioned as they pulled away from each other, tears welling up in his eyes that he refused to let fall just yet.

He needed to be strong for her.

"We don't know that this is really goodbye." Angelina insisted, Trumpkin scoffing at her words.

"You've been unstable for half a year, your condition isn't improving." The Dwarf sighed as his fatherly instincts kicked in, shaking his head at her as a frown plague his features. "You shouldn't even be out of bed yet alone sailing the sea."

"I need to do this Dad."

"I know..." Trumpkin mustered the words to say as a tear escaped from his eye. "and it'd be stupid to stop you."

"Dad..."

It broke Angelina to see him like this.

"You're not a little girl anymore pumpkin, I can't make decisions for you." He sobbed, taking slow deep breaths as he tried to contain himself for her sake. "Just promise me something."

"Anything."

"If you get so low that you think..." Another set of tears fell from his cheeks, his sobs become loud as desperate as Angelina too began to sadden.

"Pa, please don't cry." Angelina took her handkerchief and passed it on to the dwarf, Trumpkin quickly using it to dry his eyes before he sighed again.

"If you get so low that you think time may be up," The dwarf dug through his waistcoat pocket and fished out an old, tea stained envelope. "open this and not a second sooner."

"Papa that's not..."

"Promise me." His voice was sterner now, demanding as he forcibly placed the letter in her hands and giving her a knowing look.

"I promise." Angelina knelt down again to hug her father, the two sobbing into each others shoulders as the emotions ran High. "I love you dad."

"I love you too pumpkin," Trumpkin whispered into her ear, running his hand through her hair. "no matter what happens."

It was hard for the two to let go of each other and admit that it was really time to go. Since Angelina joined the Narnians nine years ago she had never been away from the dwarf for longer than a week. Angelina wished she could write him letters on her voyage but there was no guarantee that they would make it to each other especially with her current condition. It frightened her to imagine such a life without her father. Even being a Princess and having her royal duties she made sure to see him every single day even just for a bit if breakfast. She knew she would have Caspian and Ares and Reepicheep but she knew this would leave a hole in her heart she could never fill.

Nothing could replace family.

"It is time Lord Regent." Caspian interrupted the two, bowing to Trumpkin before helping Angelina off the floor. "Are you quite sure you can handle everything?"

"I can whip the place into shape for your return." The dwarf insisted with a nod to the King, quickly beckoning his closer so he could whisper to him. "Look after her."

"You have my word." Caspian promised before he stood back and linked his arm with Angelina's.

"You ready your highness?" She asked him mockingly, Caspian nodding before he used his thumb to wipe a stray tear from her cheek.

"As I'll every be Princess." He replied as they border the ship and waved goodbye to their country, their friends and the family for an unknown amount of time.

As the ship began to flee the shore everything came into perspective for the Princess of the Shuddering Woods. No matter what was to come, no matter how much her condition worsened over the next few months, she would not let herself fall. As she watched the sun set off the soft azure her gaze wandered upwards to the sky, wondering what he was doing right now. She wondered if he even remembered her, if time had even changed in his world or if she was ever on his mind. Selfishly she hoped he thought of her often and grieved her absence as she did him.

But given that time was running short, she knew this would be her last adventure.

And as she looked to the sky, she just wished that it would be with him.

"Please come home Edmund Pevensie," She muttered as she clutched the gold chess piece that she always kept in her pocket, a tear falling freely from her left eye. "before it's too late."