Post by Peter//Suri on Dec 23, 2006 18:19:52 GMT -5
Island of Dreams
“’Nevertheless, you will fly from here,” he gasped. ‘This is the Island where Dreams come true.’… ‘Do you hear what I say? This is where dreams – dreams, do you understand – come to life, come real. Not daydreams, dreams.’ There was about half a minute’s silence and then, with a great clatter of armor, the whole crew were tumbling down the main hatch as quick as they could and flinging themselves on the oars to row as they had never rowed before… For it had taken everyone just that half-minute to remember certain dreams they had – dreams that make you afraid of going to sleep again – and to realize what it would mean to land on a country where dreams come true.”
-- The Dark Island, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
As the crew hastily made their way below deck and Drinian took up the tiller and everyone was making themselves useful, only one figure remained unmoved.
King Edmund grips the starboard railing, his head whirling with thoughts as he tries desperately to calm himself. As soon as the lost Lord had said that they were at the Island where dreams come true, he understood what the man meant. For now that he is back in Narnia, there is nothing left for him to daydream about. And yet he is still plagued by dreams… or, rather, nightmares as they were called in England.
One hand moves from the railing to his stomach to clutch at an all too familiar aching, a cold sweat forming on the young King’s forehead. He vaguely hears the crew members shouting.
“I can hear them crawling up the sides of the ship!”
”It’s just going to settle on the mast!”
Edmund’s breaths grow haggard and fast, and in a hushed whisper he says, “No, she’s right here on the deck.” For as his eyes reluctantly wander to his side, he sees the Witch right beside him, a malicious smirk splitting her lips. And as his gaze locks with hers, he tastes the Turkish Delight that he has grown to hate, he feels the wretched chills creeping down his spine, he hears the agonized pleas of his siblings, and he sees the destruction of the magical land he loves. And he knows his worst nightmare is coming true.
And then, just as soon as the dream began, it disappears. The Witch vanishes from his sight, and the only thing he can hear is the crew’s desperate cries of how they’ll never make it out of the darkness. But their pleas are drowned out by the silence that a single speck of light brings. And as the light grows nearer, Edmund sees that it’s a white bird. It circles his sister once before turning starboard and flying rather slowly. Drinian follows the bird, and soon enough they are out of the darkness and back to a world of color.
And as the pain in Edmund’s side slowly begins to ebb away, he knows it is the second time Aslan has saved him from the White Witch.
“’Nevertheless, you will fly from here,” he gasped. ‘This is the Island where Dreams come true.’… ‘Do you hear what I say? This is where dreams – dreams, do you understand – come to life, come real. Not daydreams, dreams.’ There was about half a minute’s silence and then, with a great clatter of armor, the whole crew were tumbling down the main hatch as quick as they could and flinging themselves on the oars to row as they had never rowed before… For it had taken everyone just that half-minute to remember certain dreams they had – dreams that make you afraid of going to sleep again – and to realize what it would mean to land on a country where dreams come true.”
-- The Dark Island, Voyage of the Dawn Treader
As the crew hastily made their way below deck and Drinian took up the tiller and everyone was making themselves useful, only one figure remained unmoved.
King Edmund grips the starboard railing, his head whirling with thoughts as he tries desperately to calm himself. As soon as the lost Lord had said that they were at the Island where dreams come true, he understood what the man meant. For now that he is back in Narnia, there is nothing left for him to daydream about. And yet he is still plagued by dreams… or, rather, nightmares as they were called in England.
One hand moves from the railing to his stomach to clutch at an all too familiar aching, a cold sweat forming on the young King’s forehead. He vaguely hears the crew members shouting.
“I can hear them crawling up the sides of the ship!”
”It’s just going to settle on the mast!”
Edmund’s breaths grow haggard and fast, and in a hushed whisper he says, “No, she’s right here on the deck.” For as his eyes reluctantly wander to his side, he sees the Witch right beside him, a malicious smirk splitting her lips. And as his gaze locks with hers, he tastes the Turkish Delight that he has grown to hate, he feels the wretched chills creeping down his spine, he hears the agonized pleas of his siblings, and he sees the destruction of the magical land he loves. And he knows his worst nightmare is coming true.
And then, just as soon as the dream began, it disappears. The Witch vanishes from his sight, and the only thing he can hear is the crew’s desperate cries of how they’ll never make it out of the darkness. But their pleas are drowned out by the silence that a single speck of light brings. And as the light grows nearer, Edmund sees that it’s a white bird. It circles his sister once before turning starboard and flying rather slowly. Drinian follows the bird, and soon enough they are out of the darkness and back to a world of color.
And as the pain in Edmund’s side slowly begins to ebb away, he knows it is the second time Aslan has saved him from the White Witch.