I awoke disoriented, lying in a bed that wasn't my own, clothed in strange garb, in a world which rocked rhythmically back and forth. I sat up, my head turning, taking everything in, my fingers caught in a strangle hold, twisted in sheets that smelled of masculinity, salt and soap. My head pulsed with a steady ache and my body felt heavy, as if I was clothed in bags of sand. Fighting my fatigue I stood, nearly toppling over as the room swayed precariously. Why was the world moving? I didn't understand, floors didn't normally move, did they?

I walked across unfamiliar carpet to a thin door, my steps shaky, my breath shallow, I felt the walls closing in, this was a prison! I wouldn't stay here! I couldn't! I reached out, my fingers encircling the cool silver of the handle, taking comfort from its immobility. I braced myself, collecting courage in my chest, as I quickly turned the handle and forced the door open, letting it slam against the wall outside of the swaying room. I surged forth, into the light, and blinked, adjusting to my surroundings.

I was surprised to see Lucy and Edmund sitting, most comfortably might I add, at a large table with Eustace and two men I didn't recognize. They seemed thoroughly startled by the loud bang of the door, but the younger of the two strangers stood, recovering the most quickly. "Ah, Lady Lorraine, did you sleep well? Are you feeling better?" I took a step back, looking around for something I could potentially use as a weapon.

"Who are you?" I growled. The young man seemed perplexed and possibly a little hurt.

"I'm Caspian, don't you remember?" I faltered and looked at Lucy's face for confirmation. Worry was etched deeply in her blue eyes. Closing my own I gripped my head and tried to think back to the last thing I remembered. We were sitting in Lucy's room having tea and Eustace started threatening the painting… the painting! Everything came back in a flood and I blushed, dropping my aggressive stance and swaying a little dizzily. I let out a relieved and embarrassed laugh before meeting his gaze shyly.

"Of course, dahlin'. Ah was just a bit confused there for a tick." I noticed the food on the table, and my stomach rumbled like thunder. "Ah must apologize if Ah have interrupted your breakfast." Caspian laughed. It was a warm, cheeky sound that, while not very dignified, made my toes curl pleasantly.

"No fault, Miss Lorraine! Please sit, you must be famished. You have been asleep for three days!" I walked slowly, attempting to gather the shattered pieces of my dignity, and sat tentatively beside the king, attempting to maintain composure.

"Did Ah hear you correctly? Did yah say three days?" Lucy heard the panic in my tone and she took my hand, rubbing it soothingly.

"You drowned, more or less. It's normal that after trauma like that you'd need some time to… recuperate. Are you feeling better now?" The concern in her tone touched me and I smiled at her.

"A little banged up, Ah suppose, but its nothin' that ol' daddy time won't heal." I lied, my eyes tightening a little bit as pain roared against the confines of my skull. She nodded at my response but pulled a small crystal vial from her pocket. The brilliant surface had been cut so that the facets shone and sparkled gaily in the wan morning light. "Well that's a pretty little thang." I commented softly as her small hands undid the delicate stopper. She held up a small tea spoon and put a drop of golden liquid in it before closing the crystal flask and returning it to her pocket. Then she offered the spoon to me.

"Here, take this. You'll feel much better." I took the tiny spoon gingerly in my fingers and placed it in my mouth, letting the small drop of liquid fall onto my tongue. My eyes snapped open. It tasted like all things good, like the warmth of a wood fire in winter, like a mother's hug, like pure sunshine. That warmth which had manifested on my tongue spread outwards, slowly at first but with increasing speed and intensity until it seared my fingertips. I had never felt more alive. I wanted to run and jump, to grow wings and fly, but settled for a pleased and surprised laugh which made Lucy smile.

"Tastes funny, doesn't it? Personally, I couldn't stand the stuff. Almost made me sick it did. What they need are some good, standardized vitamins," said Eustace from across the table, his arms crossed defensively about his skinny chest, his nose wrinkling with distaste. I took him in fully and bit my lip concerned. He did not look like he had tasted the rejuvenating nectar. He was paler than normal, with puffy purple circles around his grayish eyes, and lips cracked and chapped from salt spray.

"Eustace…" I ventured slowly. "Are you feelin' alright, sugah?" He scoffed but his ashen cheeks reddened a bit.

"I wasn't the one incapacitated for three days, was I?" Edmund growled at his tone but I took the caustic remark as a sign that he was in relatively good humor, well, relatively good humor for Eustace.

When I was comfortable Caspian sat beside me, his arm warm against mine. He busied himself in filling a gold plate with various fruits, breads, and sweetmeats before placing the arrangement in front of me with a flourish. My mouth watered and I gingerly speared a piece of apple with a heavy silver fork, lifting it to my mouth and inhaling the crisp, sweet scent. The first tentative bite was heaven and soon the rest of the slice followed. I chewed quickly and swallowed hard, the large chunks almost making me choke, the angles roughing up my throat, but it didn't slow down my pace. More apples followed, along with plums, grapes, pears, a couple of rolls with an interesting array of seeds on the outside, and everything else that had moments before inhabited my plate.

When I finally bothered to glance upwards everyone at the table was staring at me. Edmund, Drinian and Caspian looked impressed, Eustace had his usual scowl on his face, and Lucy's lips had curved slightly downward in disapproval. "You're going to make yourself sick." She stated dryly. I felt a blush creep up my neck and blotch my face as my tongue darted out to wipe sweet pear juice from my lips. Caspian laughed heartily.

"Nonsense, Lucy, she has to make up for lost time." I cast him a grateful glance and his gaze turned thoughtful. "You know, Lorraine, I can hardly recognize you. Your appearance really has… changed in the last few days." I blinked, blushing, hoping it was for the better.

"He means your hair," stated Eustace with a scoff. "It looks like it's its own, separate entity." Blushing I glanced up at a small mirror conveniently hanging on a nearby wall and winced. My hair, normally tamed by various conditioners and creams before being confined into a tight braid was wild and loose, corkscrewing outwards from my face in a fierce tangle. The unruly mass of pale, lemon-yellow curls hung in a frizzy cascade down my back and past my hips. It was terrible! Tendrils stuck out here and there, threatening to swallow me whole. "It's dreadful really, no wonder you always spent so much time on it at home. It's a mess! An eyesore! I-" Eustace let out a scream as someone, I suspected Lucy, kicked him under the table. "What did you do that for?" he protested, glaring at his cousin.

"I for one think it is lovely," rumbled Drinian softly, much to everyone's surprise. He glanced up, my eyes meeting his own for just a split second before he stared at the table again. "Like a lion's mane." Caspian's eyes lit up like someone had just flicked on a light switch somewhere in his head.

"Now that you mention it, Drinian, you know you're right! I do believe Lorraine has a head of hair to rival Aslan himself." I blushed, realizing that, even if I didn't fully understand it, this was a very high complement. Edmund and Lucy smiled encouragement and Eustace pouted, his face looking more and more like that of a large, pale, blubbering carp. I spoke my thanks and the meal continued until everyone had eaten their fill.

I noted that Eustace hardly picked at the prepared dishes, simply nibbling on bread, too afraid to eat anything else. I felt bad for the boy and was about to encourage him to try something else when a couple of sailors knocked on the door and walked in to clear plates, marking the end of breakfast.

I stood stiffly and wobbled, but Caspian caught my arm, steadying me. "How would you like a tour of the Dawn Treader? I've already shown the others around, and it might help you find your sea legs." I nodded and let him lead me out of the cabin, my arm in the crook of his, my fingers brushing the softness of his shirt. The wood was warm beneath my toes, the salt spray cool against my face. The ocean glimmered with beauty and promise, but I had not forgotten the lesson I had learned two days ago and I stayed towards the inside of the ship at all times.

Caspian occasionally offered bits of friendly conversation but seemed respectful of my awe, letting me soak everything in as we walked in amicable silence. The ship was a great beauty, far grander than any vessel I had had the pleasure of sailing on. The wood was dark and sleek, polished to perfection and glinting warmly in the sunlight. The sails were swollen and fully extended, the white fabric bloated becomingly as we sped along, the wind whipping my hair into a frenzy. The masts were very tall and thick, clothed in rope. As we passed by the middle mast I threw my head back to locate the top and was blinded by sun, my eyes never reaching their goal. Brass fixings shone, gilded with gold, silver and crimson. We walked ever nearer the figurehead, a stylized dragon head, jaws open wide revealing bloody gums, ivory teeth extended over a vicious scarlet tongue. Actual gems, larger than my skull, glittered in its eye sockets, changing color as the ship crashed into wave after wave.

Sailors saluted as we passed, and while at first they seemed greatly confused as to whom I was, a quick southern greeting from my lips and they remembered the drowned rat of a girl from a few days previous. We were doubling back when we caught sight of a sleeping faun leaning against a couple of barrels. After a few moments I recognized him vaguely as the faun who had winked at me before. He was all in all a very golden person. His skin was bronzed and tan, his hair on his head sparkled like treasure in the hot sun, the curls dripping down his youthful face, and his small, fragile looking, and yet wickedly sharp horns poked shyly from his lustrous head. His breath was soft and as he exhaled, a soft whistling noise could be heard which was, as far as I was concerned, most pleasing to the ear.

Caspian's eyes twinkled mischievously and he turned to me. "Want to have a little fun?" I nodded wide eyed and tiptoed after him, impressed as always with his finesse. We crept up on either side of the sleeping faun and Caspian motioned for me grab a hold of his right arm and leg. I couldn't help shivering in pleasure as my fingers sank into the fur around the faun's ankle, it was angel-soft and warm, growing directly over a glossy hoof. He was heavy but together we hoisted him into the air, incredibly without waking him.

"What now?" I asked curiously, waiting for instructions. Without warning Caspian began swinging the poor faun. I strengthened my stance, a little panicked for it was all I could do just to hold on. Then just as abruptly as he had started swinging him, Caspian released him. I gasped as the faun slipped from my fingers and went flying over the rail and into the ocean below.