˗ˏˋCHAPTER THIRTEENˊˎ-

***

WREN WATCHED EDMUND and Caspian sword-fight on the main deck from next to Lucy, who was squinting to see as the sun shone brightly overhead. The two kings were grinning as their weapons clashed together. Lucy shifted to curiously gaze at the older girl. "How do you like it? I mean, living in Narnia."

Wren glanced her way. "Well, it's much better than living in your world, to say the least. But you knew that already. Why do you ask?"

"Don't know..." She shrugged. "Just missed it here, is all. And you live on a boat! Isn't that wonderful?"

"I actually hated it at first," Wren admitted. "I mean, I never got seasick or anything but, it still made me woozy. I got used to it, I suppose. How's life in England?"

"It's never compared to Narnia," Lucy answered as the boys finished their duel. "So you and Caspian, eh?"

Wren snorted. "I thought that much was obvious."

"Well, yeah," Lucy shrugged again, "I mean, it's clear as day how much he cares about you. I've read it in books, but I had truly never believed love like that existed. It's all in the eyes."

"Are you giving me love advice?" Wren quirked a brow. "I've already managed to make him propose, I think we're doing-"

"I know that... But I saw both of your reactions when I brought it up earlier. Why haven't you gotten married?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Wren replied, trying to ignore the flicker of disappointment in her chest when she thought about it. "It could have to do with how often we travel. There's hardly any time to plan a wedding. And I think... Well, I don't know what to think, but I'm okay with it. I don't want to rush into things."

"Hey," Edmund greeted, swallowing the water from his cup before he settled down against the chest next to them.

"Question," Lucy said. "Do you think if we just keep sailing to the end of the world we'll just tip off the edge?"

Wren laughed. "I don't think that's how physics works."

"Yeah, and don't worry about it anyway, Lu. We're a long away from there."

"I see you're still talking nonsense, the two of you," the whining boy from earlier, who Wren learned to be named Eustace stated, climbing up from the hospital quarters. He was a very stern looking boy, she realized. With his lips pulled into a frown and narrowed eyes, it was hard to see how he was related to the Pevensies.

"Are you feeling better?" Lucy asked, clearly trying to take the high road and be mature about the situation.

"Yes, no thanks to you," he responded sharply, crossing his arms. "It's lucky I have an iron constitution."

"As effervescent as ever, I see," Reep said from above, and Wren glanced up to see him sliding down a rope. "Find your sea legs?"

"Never lost them," Eustace said defensively. "Simply dealing with the shock of things." Edmund's face scrunched up in a mix between disgust and annoyance, Wren ducked her head to hide her laughter. "Mother says I have an a cute disposition due to my intelligence."

The boy spit his water back into his cup with a snicker, and Reep grinned. "I don't think he has 'a cute' anything."

"I'll have you know, as soon as we find civilization, I'm contacting the British Consul."

"Good luck with that," Wren interrupted. "There's no technology in Narnia, and you're currently standing on the boat that has any sort of police authority."

"You're all going to be arrested for kidnapping!" He insisted, glaring at them, before he ran straight into Caspian's chest.

"Kidnapping, is it?" He quipped. "That's funny. I thought we saved your life."

"You held me against my will!"

"You passed out like a wimp," Wren muttered, and Edmund laughed again.

"Did I?" Caspian asked, and Eustace whirled around to point to the trapdoor that led to the lower deck.

"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?" Reep commented.

"He's just warming up," Edmund said dryly.

"Fantastic," Wren retorted, and Caspian caught her eye from over Eustace's shoulder, wearing a grin on his face.

"Land ho!" Jace yelled from the foremast, and excited chatter started to break out through the crew.

It was sunset by the time Wren could actually see the buildings on the island, and she peered around the edge, eyes scanning the structures that were completely made out of stone—although the town looked to be quite...bare. This thought continued to linger in her mind as they got closer to docking, and became more of a worry when she realized that the streets seemed to be empty, and not one Narnia flag was to be seen.

She turned to Caspian, who had appeared next to her not thirty seconds before, noting that his face held the same expression that she felt. He caught her stare, and quickly covered it up, though she could read him all too well and knew it was just to reassure her. "Certainly everything is fine, perhaps they're all just inside, it is close to nightfall. Don't worry, love." It was obvious he was avoiding the one main factor, but she chose to ignore that.

"Not worried," she lied, and she could tell he knew it, too, but he allowed her to peck his cheek anyway as she stalked off towards Lucy, and he want to meet Drinian to figure out a plan.

It didn't take much time before they were on the longboats, and Wren anxiously wrung her hands, trying her best to pretend the gut wrenching feeling in her stomach that was screaming danger. Caspian lightly interlocked their fingers from without tearing his eyes away from the city in front of him, and she slightly relaxed at his touch.

"Onward!" Reep said eagerly once they reached land. "The thrill of the unknown lies ahead."

Wren laughed, allowing Sterling to take her hand as she stepped off the boat, boots crunching loudly on the sand. Caspian landed closely behind her, placing a warm hand on her back as a gentle reminder that everything was fine.

"Couldn't this have waited til the morning?" Eustace asked, still seated.

"There is no honor in turning away from adventure, lad," Reep told him.

"Listen," Lucy commanded, making them fall silent as Caspian took the lead. "Where is everyone?"

"Exactly my worry," she replied, shooting her king a look which he avoided meeting.

"Come on, jelly legs," Reep insisted, offering a hand to Eustace.

"I'm capable of doing it myself!" He insisted, before falling onto the stairs. Wren suppressed a chuckle as Caspian gave a once-over, raising an unimpressed brow.

"And you're sure he's related by blood?"

Lucy glanced towards her cousin almost bashfully, and the four of them continued up the steps. The town was dead silent, and Wren subconsciously gripped her sword hilt, and sidled up next to Caspian, who drew out his crossbow. Suddenly, a bell tolled from one of the churches, and they all flinched, glancing around in confusion.

"Reepicheep, stay here with Drinian's men and secure the place," he ordered, and the mouse firmly nodded his head. "We'll head on. If we don't come back my dawn, send a party."

They climbed up the ramp to the entrance of the city in silence, each readying for an ambush of some sort. Wren turned to look at Eustace, who was lagging behind. "Go look in one of those windows. See if anyone's home."

"Me?"

She refrained from rolling her eyes. "Yes, you."

Eustace scurried away to the closest house and peered through one of the boarded windows as the others continued to scan the area. The blonde boy rushed back over to them. "Yeah, looks like nobody is in. So do you think we should head back?"

Edmund shot them an annoyed look, before turning to Eustace. "Do you want to come here and guard...something?"

"Ah, yes! Good idea, cousin. Very um, logical."

He stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking at them expectedly, Caspian sighed under his breath, and went to hand him a knife. Wren pulled out a bobbi-pin from her hair and began to pick the lock to the large doors that laid in front of them. It took her less than thirty seconds before the lock clicked, and she pushed open the heavy door.

The room was very dark, with dozens of dusty statutes and a number of large bells that hung from the ceiling, the entire situation was weird, and put Wren off. It bothered her so much, in fact, that her knuckles turned white from the hard grip on her sword.

"Ready to go when you are," Eustace called from outside.

Edmund flicked on his flashlight as the four of them gathered around a weird rock pile in the center of the room, an open book placed there. Wren tilted her head to the side as she struggled to figure out what was going on.

"Who are all these people?" Lucy wondered, staring at the page with all of the lines marked over their names.

"Why have they all been crossed out?"

"I don't like this," Wren announced. "We need to leave."

"We'll be alright," Caspian assured, meeting her eyes, and nodding, but he couldn't fool her; she could tell he was just uneasy as she was. "I know what this is. Slave traders."

The bells rang again, and they jumped as men started to slide down from the ropes. Immediately a battle broke out, and Wren was grateful that she'd practiced fighting on the Dawn Treader, because these men were definitely experienced. She swung her sword into one man's chest, just narrowly avoided getting stabbed herself. With lightening fast reflexes, Wren flipped out one of her daggers, and flung it at an upcoming solider who had attempted to sneak behind her.

A high pitched scream echoed off the walls, and they spun to see Eustace being dragged in with a blade to his throat. "Unless you want to hear this one squeal like a girl again," the man said in a thick accent Wren couldn't recognize. "I'd say you should drop your weapons."

"Like a girl?!" Eustace repeated in offense.

"Now!" Weapons clattered onto the ground, and Wren watched as the man nodded his head in her direction. "Check her. She's got more than one."

"Don't touch her!" Caspian sneered, but his voice was outspoken by their leader. Wren felt almost naked without any of her daggers strapped to her.

"Put them in irons. We'll take these two to the market, and her as well. Send them to the dungeons."

"Let go!" Lucy writhed in her captives's hands, just as Wren headbutted the man who had his grip on her.

"Listen to me you insolent fool!" Caspian screamed, fighting against his restraints. His voice was filled with such venom—something Wren had never heard from him before. "I am your king!"

Wren watched in horror as Edmund was punched in the face. "You're gonna pay for that," he spat.

"Actually...someone else is going to pay. For all of you."

authors note

not them disrespecting caspian like that🙄🙄