Summary
In Prince Caspian, Caspian pledges to Aslan that he will seek out the seven noble lords who were exiled on a perilous mission across the sea by the usurper Miraz. For the Narnians, making a vow by Aslan is an extremely serious matter; to actually swear directly to Aslan in person signifies a matter of great urgency. Therefore, after taking a few years to stabilize Narnia following the civil unrest from Prince Caspian, Caspian embarks on a journey eastward in pursuit of the lost lords.
Caspian was a brave and honorable young man in Prince Caspian; by the time of The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader," he has matured into a tall, broad-shouldered figure, embodying the ideal image of a king. He entrusts Narnia to the care of the Dwarf Trumpkin, who is affectionately known as the "Dear Little Friend" of Lucy, Peter, Susan, and Edmund in Prince Caspian. Trumpkin's honesty, loyalty, and wisdom will be invaluable in governing Narnia, allowing Caspian to fulfill his vow to Aslan. The ship, the Dawn Treader, is crewed solely by volunteers; the Telmarine humans of Narnia have long feared the eastern seas, so these volunteers are exceptionally brave, particularly Reepicheep, the Chief Mouse.
The Dawn Treader first sails north to the bustling seafaring community on the island of Galma, then heads east to the Seven Isles, where pirates are known to lurk, and finally turns south toward the Lone Islands. On their way to the Lone Islands, the ship encounters three people in the water, and the crew rescues them, discovering Queen Lucy, King Edmund, and their cousin Eustace, who is notorious for his troublesome behavior. The three children had been looking at a painting of a ship on the sea when they were magically drawn into the painting and into the sea. This is just one of the many marvels that King Caspian and the crew of the Dawn Treader will experience in The Voyage of the "Dawn Treader."
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