High King and Queens of Narnia

IX. All That Glitters

When the group reached the island, Mila expressed her concerns. She pointed to a rope that led down into a cave. "We're not the first to arrive."

"The lords?" Edmund guessed, also seeing the rope.

"Could be," Caspian said as he peeked into the cave. He grabbed a rock and dropped it down. "What do you think could be down there?"

Edmund shrugged. "Let's find out."

He was the first to climb down. Caspian was next, followed by Lucy, then Mila. The Merciful Queen felt uneasy and said, "I don't like this place. Something about it."

Mila was about to suggest they split up, but realised it would be better if they stayed together. Not one of them had any idea what evil this place was capable of.

Edmund walked closer to a golden statue of a man. "What's that?" Caspian asked as the others moved closer to Edmund.

He shook his head. "I don't know. Looks like some sort of gold statue."

Edmund looked around and ripped a branch off of the tree as he attempted to move the statue, Suddenly, the branch seemed heavy and as soon as he lifted it from the water, they saw that it had turned to gold.

"He must have fallen in," Caspian noted, staring at the statue.

"Poor man," Lucy said quietly.

Mila glanced up at their exit. "We should go. This place is tempting us."

Edmund glanced to his sister and said, "You mean poor lord."

"The crest of Restimar," Caspian replied, noticing the shield.

"And his sword," Edmund said as he pointed to the sword.

"We need it," Caspian told them.

Edmund drew his sword and Caspian held onto his arm, bracing the two of them. Mila saw the green mist swirling beneath them and hoped they'd be all right and wouldn't fall to temptation.

"Be careful," Lucy warned. Edmund managed to get the sword without falling in. "Your sword hasn't turned to gold."

"Both swords are magical," Caspian explained. "Here."

Lucy was still focused on the lord. "He mustn't have known what hit him."

"Maybe. Or maybe he was onto something," Edmund stated, placing down his sword.

Caspian was still holding the lord's sword. "What are you talking about?"

Edmund silently picked up a shell. He bent down and dipped the tip of it into the water and dropped it as it turned to solid gold. The greed in his eyes concerned Mila.

"What are you staring at?" Lucy wondered, noticing the same look Mila was seeing.

Edmund looked up at them, the hunger and greed still evident in his eyes. "Whoever has access to this pool, could be the most powerful person in the world." Lucy, Caspian and Mila exchanged a worried look. "Lucy, Mila, we'd be so rich. No one could tell us what to do, or who to live with."

Lucy stepped back, pulling Mila with her.

"You can't take anything out of Narnia, Edmund," Caspian said.

"Says who?" Edmund questioned, still gazing at the shell.

Caspian's expression darkened. "I do."

Lucy stepped back further, once again, pulling Mila with her. Mila pulled away, ready to intervene if she needed to, but she had a feeling the two kings needed to sort out whatever it was.