Helena Pevensie (Caspian Love Story)

22. The Blue Star

The sighting of the Blue Star the following morning filled all of them with a sense of foreboding and excitement and as Helena got on the boat and stared at the bright star, she couldn't help but think about the journey that was to come and the battle. They pursued the star with Eustace flying along for several days but the current was working against them, allowing the boat to move not an inch.

Despite many protests, Helena joined in the rowing, attempting to help move along the ship. It was there that she was for the second day in a row with an oar in her hand and one of the men beside her. Sweat dripped from her and she had long ago cast aside her coat and rolled her sleeves to her shoulders. As they were working, there was a sudden jolt. Helena fell back, the oar behind her hitting her head painfully.

Sitting up, she rubbed her head and moved with the others to see what had caused the boat to jerk so. Being smaller than the men, she was able to slip out on deck as Caspian cried, "What did we hit?"

"Eustace, that's brilliant!" Edmund cried. Everyone looked to the front of the ship. The dragon had wrapped his tail around the front of the ship and was pulling them forward with his wings.

"Oh thank Aslan," Helena said with a weary sigh, wiping sweat from her brow.

"Have fun?" Caspian asked teasingly, approaching her from where he had been at the side of the ship.

"Oh ha ha," she replied with a grin, taking a step closer to him. There were three feet between them. "It was my choice, Cas." With a small laugh, she said, "What a wretched sight I must be. Aunt Alberta would have a fit."

"No," Caspian said with a growing smile. "You're as beautiful as ever." There was a light to his eyes for although they remained the same chocolate brown, Helena could see happiness in them.

Turning half away from him to hide her smile, Helena replied, "Well, forgive me if I doubt your flattery."

"Do you accuse me of being disingenuous?" Caspian replied with an amused smile, taking a step around to face her again.

"No," she said, looking up at him. "Merely blinded by emotion."

"And what emotion would that be?" he asked, taking a step closer to her. Bitting her lip, Helena attempted to hold back a smile as she averted her gaze back to the deck.

Quietly, she said, "You know what emotion, Cas."

Raising an eyebrow, he inquired, "A recipricated emotion?"

"As much in fantasy as in reality," Helena said, still not looking at him.

Taking another step closer, he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Helena."

"Yes?" she replied, distracted by the feeling of his thumb against her cheek.

"Caspian!" Edmund called. Quickly pulling away, Caspian turned to see Edmund standing at the doorway to the captain's office. Without another word, he followed after the younger king, leaving the door open.

.

The island at which they had landed was beautiful, Helena supposed, in its own way, but as dusk pulled the sun farther and farther from their sights, she couldn't help but notice the crumbling architecture and wonder what could have happened since to cause such defamation. The group moved in silence as they wandered along the path through the woods until they reached a stone bridge. "Wait here," Caspian said to the group, beginning to move forward. When he had reached the center of the first pass, he shifted his weight, putting more and less pressure on it to test its strength. Glancing back, he said, "I think it's safe."

Although she wasn't entirely sure, Helena thought she saw his eyes flicker to her. As they came to a large archway of branches, she said, "It's quite beautiful."

"If not a little creepy," Lucy replied. Helena shrugged. Passing under it, they came to a large stone table covered in gold plates, goblets, and silverware. Along the table, there was a feast to fit a king or a great emperor. Helena went to the right side of the table behind Caspian and followed along, admiring the set up. As they neared the end, she turned, fixing her eyes on something in the middle of the table.

Edmund shifted his flashlight, showing the very end of the table. Helena turned, freezing in place the moment she spotted the figures. Drawing his sword, Caspian partially stepped in front of her, pushing her more behind him with his other hand. When there was no movement from the men, he slowly lowered his sword and moved his hand from her waist. Pointing his sword at a ring on one of the men's fingers, he said, "Lord Revilion." Looking to the other two, he said, "Lord Mavromorn. Lord Argoz."

Leaning forward, Helena noticed the steady rise and fall of their chests and said, "Cas, they're still breathing."

"They're under a spell," Edmund said.

His eyes widening, Caspian cried, "It's the food!" Everyone dropped the food in their hands as a few of the men who had eaten some covered their mouths and stared at each other with wide, anxious eyes.

Edmund, who had been studying the table with his flashlight, suddenly fixated on a short, cruel-looking blade in the center of the table. His brows furrowed. After another second, he cried, "Hey, it's the Stone Knife. This is Aslan's Table."

"Their swords," Caspian said as he began digging through the vines. Each began to help until six swords glimmered on the table. "We're still missing one." Helena watched in blended amazement and confusion as the blade of each sword began to glow a brilliant blue. From above, the same brilliant blue light streamed across the sky and finally in a flaming ball to rest on the ground. From the light, the figure of a woman emerged. Her blond hair and pale skin were cast in a blue light and the ground she walked on was slightly scorched.

"Travellers of Narnia, welcome," she said cordorially. Glancing down the table, she saw that none of the food had been touched. Frowning, she asked, "Are you not hungry?"

"Who are you?" Edmund asked. Glancing over at him, Helena saw that he was completely entranced.

"I'm Lilianduil, daughter of Ramandu," she explained. "I'm your guide."

"You're a star?" Helena said curiously, taking a step toward her. She nodded.

"You are most beautiful," Edmund said.

"I-if it is a distraction for you, I can changed forms," she said, her brows furrowed in worry.

Rolling her eyes, Helena said, "Ignore him." Lilianduil smiled at Helena before turning back to the crew.

"Please, the food is for you," she said. "There is enough for all who are welcome at Aslan's table. Always. Help yourselves."

As the men began reaching for the food, Helena asked, "Excuse me. What happened to those men? The lords of Telmar?"

At the mention of them, Lilianduil's expression changed to one of sadness as she explained, "These poor men were half-mad by the time they reached our shores. They were threatening violence upon each other. Violence is forbidden at the table of Aslan, so they were sent to sleep."

"Will they ever wake?" Lucy asked.

"When all is put right," Lilianduil assured with a gracious smile. "Now, come, there is little time."