XII. ASLANS TABLE

.ใ€€*ใ€€.ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€ใ€€. ใ€€ยฐ ใ€€. โ— ยฐ .ใ€€
ยธ .ใ€€ใ€€โ˜…ใ€€ยฐ :.ใ€€. โ€ข ยฐ ใ€€.ใ€€*ใ€€:.ใ€€โ˜†

Tears rained violently down Anna's cheeks like an avalanche as she shook and trembled sitting on the edge of the bed. Her heart ached painfully in her chest. She barely noticed when Lucy kneeled in front of her resting a hand on her knee as she pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to her.

Anna weakly smiled at her friend and took the handkerchief from her friend and dabbed at her cheeks from removing any sign that she had cried over him.

"He's just a stupid boy!" She growled to herself in an attempt to pull herself together.

"But you really like him. I know you do and you didn't even have to tell me," Lucy told her with a knowing smile.

Anna's expression went sour at the thought. She was aware of the whole Susan and Caspian fiasco and she hadn't told Lucy because of it as she didn't want to offend her.

"I would have told you. . . It was just that I knew about Susanโ€“โ€“"

"You should never have to explain the feelings of your heart, Anna. Anyways, Susan has that navy officer of hers and all her parties."

"Oh, but still, I didn't want to offend you in anyโ€“โ€“"

"Anna, just breathe and stop worrying about everyone else when you should only worry about yourself. This is your own grand adventure, remember?"

Anna stared back between the handkerchief and Lucy before the younger one laughed, her hand closing around Anna's who held the tear-stained handkerchief, "You need it more than I do."

Afterall there were more pressing matters to attend too โ€“โ€“ for example, they had finally made it to Ramandu's Island.

โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€ โ™ก๏ธŽ โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€

The sun settled with vivid hues of varying pinks, oranges and yellows, casting down on the longboats with an illuminating glaze as they moved towards the shore. Anna clung to Lucy like a lifeboat, although her appearance was well kept and neat as she wore a brighter smile than the setting sun there was a slight pink that etched around her blue eyes the only proof that she had been upset moments prior.

Once they made it to the shore as the nighty truly settled in, it was strange to many have no comments stirring from Anna. They scoured the island with Edmund in front, his torch providing light that enabled them all to see for the crew of the Dawn Treader make their way across the stone structured paths.

The air was humid and hot, clearly very tropical as a varying collection of birds chirps and Anna let out a delighted cry that escaped her lips when she saw the glittering and cleaning waterfall in the moonlight and a pretty carved stone bridge.

Anna gripped the hilt of her sword much more tightly with her left hand as they came towards a tree which made a natural archway dangling with vines. Edmund had moved in first, followed by Caspian and then Lucy and Anna and everyone else.

There was a small clearing within the trees and at its centre was a long fancily engraved stone table with matching benches that were aged and covered in moss and was riddled with fresh and very tasty looking food.

Tavros hummed under his breath before Captain Drinian barked under his breath, "Wait."

"It's probably a booby trap," Anna softly told the minotaur with a light smile. It was the first time she had spoken in far too long and the majority of the crew including the minotaur wondered if she was broken or even possibly sick.

Her blue eyes glanced over towards the end of the table with a terrified gasp. Vines and such had grown over the figures shrouding all around them. Caspian's hand, warm and gentle wrapped around her own and pulled Anna back quickly behind him as he drew his sword and pointed it towards the figures who sat remaining still like statues.

Caspian stepped forwards glancing back and forth as if he was unsure. Edmund shone the light on the face of the grey-bearded men and Anna peered around Caspian's side to get a better look as he pointed with his sword to the crested ring the man wore.

"Lord Revilian. . . Lord Mavramorn. . . Lord Argoz," He muttered under his breath in recognition.

From the other side of Lord Revilian Lucy lifted his grey hair and only to find the statued Lord to let out a gasping breath with made the Queen jump. Anna peered over Caspian's shoulder murmuring under her breath, "How very strange. He's somehow still breathing."

"So are they," Edmund shifted the torches white beaming light to the other Lords before realising, "They're under a spell."

"It's the food!" Caspian yelled turning towards his crew with panicked eyes. Tavros dropped the apple in his hands with a guilty expression.

"Hey! It's the stone knife," Edmund revealed casting his torchlight on it as a confused look danced across Anna's face, "This is Aslan's table!"

"Their swords!" Caspian whispered in cognizance, reaching through the vines and pulling the sword out of Lord Revilian's hilt which leads Edmund and Lucy to do the same.

As they laid down the swords on the table in a circular manner. Anna bubbled with confusion as she counted them all. "That's six," Anna muttered glancing around as if her gaze could magically bring it forth, "Where's the seventh?"

The swords began to gleam and glow a brilliant blue, soaring far above the tree line with a swoosh the blue orb descended to the floor to reveal a mesmerisingly beautiful woman.

"Travellers of Narnia, welcome," She spoke delicately as they all bowed their heads towards her.

"Arise โ€”โ€” are you not hungry?" She asked with a gleaming smile. That was a lie. Everyone was starving.

"Who are you?" Edmund asked very much enthralled by her beauty. Anna and Lucy shared a look.

"I'm Lilliandil daughter of Ramandu. I am your guide."

"You're a star," Caspian realised as she nodded.

"Well no, she's definitely a lantern," Anna grumbled under her breath sarcastically which caused Lucy to elbow the girl beside her to the ribs.

"You are most beautiful," Caspian told her to Anna's frustration as she gave him a bewildered look of shock as if a ton of bricks had just collided with her heart. It was clear that Anna looked very uncomfortable and very jealous. Lucy rested a comforting hand on Anna's shoulder.

The star, Lilliandil, looked evidently distressed, "If it is a distraction for you, I can change formโ€“โ€“"

"Yes please, look at them," Anna grumbled under her breath as she crossed her arms over her chest whilst both Caspian and Edmund protested in unison, "No!"

Lucy rolled her eyes at the theatrics of the boys, then her gaze shifted to linger on Anna who looked very pained and almost appeared to be brewing with insane amounts of jealousy.

The star raised her glowing arms and gestured to the table and the candles suddenly flickered with flames, "Please the food is for you. There is enough for all who are welcome at Aslan's table. Always. Help yourselves."

"Pardon me your radiance, but I would like to ask a question," Anna started and stepped forwards before Lucy could pull her back to stop her from doing something she'd regret even if she proved to Lucy to have her normal Anna facade.

"Yes, of course, what is it?" The star asked with a smile so bright Anna suddenly wanted to be invisible.

"Why are those three of the Lords of Telmar like statues?" Anna pointed to the Lords with curious eyes.

"These men were half-mad by the time they reached our shores. They were threatening violence upon one another โ€“โ€“ violence is forbidden at the table of Aslan so they were sent to sleep."

"Oh, thank you for answering my question," Anna stammered with a clumsy curtsy.

"Will they ever awake?" Lucy asked glancing away from Anna to the star.

"When all is put right," She told Lucy before ordering, "Now come. There is little time."

Anna watched as the Kings and Queen moved to follow the star and she glanced back and forth between them and the food before she ran to catch up with them.

"The magician Corakin told you of Dark Island," The star guessed.

Caspian stood behind beside her as the five of them looked over a stone ledge and out into the distant waters where an Island clouded in green smoke stood, "Yes."

"Before long the evil will be unstoppable," The star, Lilliandil, deadpanned.

"Corakin said to break its spell you need the seven Lord's at Aslan's table."

"He speaks the truth," She said simply turning to meet Caspian's gaze. Anna kept completing whether or not to wedge herself in between the two them.

"But we only found six," Edmund confessed, "Do you know where the seventh is!"

The star pointed to the island with green smoke swirling around it in the distance, "In there. You will need great courage."

"How splendid," Anna mused to herself, despite that the others could hear, "Although it does seem right. Of course, it wouldn't be so easy, we have to be tested."

"Now waste no time," The star ordered.

"I hope we meet again," Caspian confessed in an overly friendly tone. Anna snorted then her whole body tensed when the King glanced at her with a confused look as if he didn't understand her.

Anna suddenly wanted to scream in frustration, so she turned harshly on her heel and stomped back down the path to Aslan's table and plumped herself on the stone seat next to Tavros.

She nudged at the minotaur's shoulder in absolute misery, "Can you please pass me an apple?"

The minotaur merely chucked in response and passed her the red and shiny apple.

โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€ โ™ก๏ธŽ โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€โ”€

The wood was hard against her back as Anna started up at the bright starry night. She was tainted in jealousy and brimming anger. All he did was call her beautiful, it didn't mean anything really did it? But then again he did confess to the star girl about how he wished to see that her again.

Anna brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them as if to hold herself together. She dreaded going back to her sleeping arrangements and deal with the two young girls that slept like bears.

The candle beside her flickered gently in the gentle salty breeze. Footsteps thudded against the main deck and Anna narrowed her blue eyes and lifted the candle holder. The light from the candle was dim but she could see the figure coming towards her closer and closer.

Her body tensed.

"Who goes there?" She echoed into the night, brushing a few blond tresses behind her ear as she rose and stood. She reached to her right hip and patted it. There was no dagger. Nothing. What if it was something bad?

His voice washed over her like waves, slowly then all at once, "Calm down, Anna. It's only me."

"Oh. It's you," Anna mumbled, her heart honeycombed with tremendous relief but dizzying worry over the possibility of the revelation of her feelings.

"Yes," He grinned in the darkness with a slight huff as if he had been running around searching for her, "It's Caspian."

The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them, "You should be asleep, Caspian."

"I could say the same to you."

Anna's patience was thinning rapidly, like sand running through her fingers. "Please," She whimpered, her facade blowing away in the wind as she turned to face him, "Just go back to bed. My heart hurts. It aches so much every single time when I see your face and I hear your voice."

"What are you talking about?" He asked, confusion riddled in his voice.

"The way you looked at her. The way you spoke to her. It made me so insanely jealous. But I know my place. . . and I don't know how much time I have. But you make me feel things. Emotions that I have never felt so strongly. It makes me hate you but then only want you even more."

Anna suddenly felt exposed right down to her bones as they starred at one another, blinking in a daze.

In the darkness, a brilliant blush moved across her cheeks before she spoke again, "I'm sorry I know it was a lot of words and it's such a terrible time to say such things. You were here and it slipped out. Oh, goodness! I've ruined everything, haven't I?! Just pretend I said nothing. It's much better that way."

She laughed nervously before smiling brightly and moved to walk away but words fumbled out his lips at an alarming speed which halted Anna in her tracks, "What if I don't want to pretend you said nothing?"

Anna whirled back around and met his dark gaze in disbelief, "P-Pardon?"

With the lulling sounds of the crashing waves, Caspian stepped forwards, the distance between the two diminishing as he cradled her cheeks within his palms and gently pressed a delicate kiss as soft and light as a feather to her lips.

"Don't ever underestimate how much I truly feel for you, Anna โ€”โ€” you are everything I've ever wished for and much much more," He whispered huskily, tucking a few tresses behind her ear with a warm and dashing smile that gleamed in the moonlight.

The candle and its holder fell from her grasp, in a mess of hot, liquidy wax and onto the wooden floor of the deck as she moved to wrap her arms securely around his neck, pressing her body even closer to his. And with a daring heart, she courageously brought her lips to meet his in a passionate rage under the glistening moonlight.

Bแบกn ฤ‘ang ฤ‘แปc truyแป‡n trรชn: AzTruyen.Top