d on the island. She had never had an easy life, but the love of her family was always enough

sleep, exhausted. The two women decided to let her

lizabeth told her friend, as they

she replied, "she reminds me of me wh

ity of not being able to save the child's mother. The tender heart and kindness of Lucy surprised her ev

r shoulders as a sign of comfort. "We'll find them, Lu. We'll find the

We'll find them," she sta

from behind their backs, "I was beginnin

rcastically, referring to the fact that her brother ha

d. "How is the child?" he asked,

beside him. "How are you with that sword?"

he said proudly, showing it to

then asked him, to divert hi

ed, "they are checking the route. Apparently we

Elizabeth, who had not heard

up somewhere wh

d night, as the sun disappeare

✵

e it from a distance it seemed to be an uninhabited land, but it could still be a source of water and supplies. Caspian ordered to l

shone brightly, as she had never seen before. In London it was certainly not possible to see anything

ke. Caspian, in fact, was sitting not far from her, contemplating the sea. Being careful not t

manded her, watching

k, but it seemed to her that he was just trying to hide a concerned expression

ou know that something

over your face." s

ably just overthinking," he

you need to rest." she stat

I can't just switch my mind off

y. Once again, he stared at her as she had gone mad. "Don't give me that look, Cas, you can't be that

thought it was a rather crazy request at first, when the woman's fingers began

im, caressing his head and joki

rely answered, rela

ed woman, and he loved that about her, she was frank and straightforward, but gentle and caring at the same time. She had adapted to a world completely different from her own, never complaining and welcoming the

at the King finally fell asleep, ge

✵

peacefully with his head still on her lap. Her gaze, however, was soon caught by strange marks

of his shoulder, "Cas, wake up," she cal

at her. His sleepy expression became confused at first

ed her, getting up and al

d him, pointing

d with a serious voice, and then hu

Elizabeth remarked, sta

hers. The realization hit them like a bucket of cold water: the girl was gone. They quickly pick

most curious shapes were everywhere around them. They continued to slalom, between spherical bushes, spiral, intertwined, and a thousa

attention, kneeling down to take som

unity to say or do anything, spears were implanted in the ground a few steps away from them. The three jumped to attentio

" ordered a voice, one that

mid-air, pointed at them, while some of

d Caspian to the void, as he held his

with the head of a tiger and the body of a..

er!" another v

ess with us," the fi

asked, not liking

you to death

sk right through yo

u with my teeth,"

ent from what they claimed to be. They were small men, whose stature could recall that of a Hobbit, thought Elizabeth, with only one gre

th my fangs. Grrr!" o

h your fat bellies?" Ed

aimed, appearing confused a moment a

s?" Caspian joked, as ev

, who lost their balance and began to fall

queak?" Edmund roared out, picking up his sword and

the boy's arm, to prevent him from doing something stupid: they were certainly mischievous beings an

d his blade, sighing. "Where is she?" she then asked

" suggested to him one of hi

ion," he mee

inquired, seeing nothin

o take shape behind them. Made by refined grey stone and covered in p

n," the boy murm

ng me behind, I was jus..." a very well kn

three of them both surprised and annoyed to see Eus

" one of the c

come back!" a

" Elizabeth joked shifting her

think that?" the boy

and weirder," Eustace claime

tered. "Look! The Oppressor! The Oppressor!" they

see Lucy walking towards t

nd exclaimed

the newcomer court

riakin," the girl introduced him,

ied out, hiding behind Caspian, "You

ing past the Kings and the woman, "I made you i

ressor!" The creatures kept yelling

d you." he retorted,

if you'd wanted to,

wing something at them,

d Lucy out of curiosi

ell them," he told

hings?" Eustace de

Coriakin ans

rse. Silly me.

t a slight laugh, before follow