He positioned himself in front of the boat, where Julia had focused the Reinforce spell. He raised the hammer high above his head, and then brought it down with all his might, a blow that would have shattered an ordinary wooden plank.

  The impact was surprisingly muted. There was a dull thud, a sound of force absorbed, rather than a sharp crack of splintering wood. The boat shuddered slightly, but the reinforced section held firm, showing no visible sign of damage.

  Roland repeated the test, striking different areas of the boat, each time with the same result. The Reinforce spell, combined with the physical repairs, had significantly increased the vessel's durability. It wasn't indestructible, but it was far more likely to survive the pounding fury of Hammer Falls.

  A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Their gamble, their desperate plan, had a chance. The boat, once a symbol of despair, was now a beacon of hope, a testament to their ingenuity, their teamwork, and their unwavering determination.

  It was late afternoon by the time they finished their preparations. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the riverbank. With their plan, traveling down the treacherous Hammer Falls in the darkness was out of the question, they needed visual cues to advise Julia where to apply the reinforce spell. They would have to wait until morning, when visibility was at its best.

  They decided to make camp near the riverbank, a short distance from the boat. Roland, despite his earlier exertions, initially insisted on taking the first watch. But, knowing that Roland, Jett and Julia were crucial for tomorrow’s journey where they navigate the rapids, Caspian volunteered for the first shift, with William volunteering for the second. This way, the most skilled members could at least be in peak condition when they start the journey down Hammer Falls as navigating the rapids would be no easy feat.

  Caspian's shift passed uneventfully. The forest remained eerily silent, the absence of animal life a constant reminder of the looming threat. He kept a watchful eye on the surrounding woods, his senses alert for any sign of movement, any hint of danger.

  Half and hour before his shift was due to start, William awoke. He'd managed to get a few hours of much-needed sleep, his body still aching from the previous day's exertions, but his mind sharp and alert. He found Caspian sitting near the dying embers of their campfire, his gaze fixed on the dark, swirling waters of the river. He decided to keep the prince company, a silent offering of camaraderie.

  "Looks like I didn’t need to wake you for your shift. Couldn't sleep?" Caspian asked, turning to William with a small smile.

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  "Not really," William admitted. "Too much on my mind, I guess."

  They fell into a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the crackling of the fire and the gentle lapping of the water against the riverbank. Then, Caspian spoke again, his voice hesitant, almost shy.

  "William," he said, "about this… this whole situation… I have to admit, I'm scared."

  William nodded, understanding. "Me too," he said. "It's a lot to take in. The journey has barely started and we’ve met obstacle after obstacle."

  Caspian chuckled softly, a sound devoid of humour. "It's all so… different from what I'm used to. Books, libraries, scholarly debates… that's my world. Not… this." He gestured vaguely towards the darkness surrounding them.

  "But you're doing great," William said, offering a reassuring smile. "You're adapting, learning, contributing. You even volunteered for guard duty."

  "It's a necessity," Caspian said, shrugging. "We all have to do our part. But…" He paused, his gaze dropping to his hands, his fingers fidgeting with the hem of his tunic. "The fate of Aver, of the entire kingdom… it rests, in part, on our shoulders. On this… this desperate mission. It's a heavy burden, William. A terrifying burden."

  William looked at him, seeing the fear, the uncertainty, the vulnerability that lay beneath the prince's scholarly facade. He didn’t want to offer any fake words of encouragement, nor could he promise that everything would be alright. He didn't have the answers, didn't know what the future held.

  "I know it's scary," William said, his voice sincere. "But we've faced a lot already, and we've overcome every obstacle, every challenge. We've done it together, as a team. We just need to keep doing that. Take it one step at a time, one problem at a time. And trust in each other."

  Caspian looked up, his eyes meeting William's. He saw the genuine concern, the quiet strength, the unwavering determination in the younger man's gaze, and it gave him a flicker of hope, a renewed sense of courage.

  "Thank you, William," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I… I needed to hear that."

  He took a deep breath, his shoulders straightening slightly. "I should probably try to get some sleep." he said.

  "Of course," William said.

  Caspian nodded, then curled up in his bedroll, his back to the fire. Within minutes, his breathing deepened, and he drifted off into a restless slumber. William remained awake, his mind racing, his senses alert, his gaze fixed on the darkness, guarding his companions, and preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead.

  About two hours into his shift, as the forest began to stir with the first hints of morning, he heard it. A faint rustling sound, not the natural rustle of leaves in the wind, but something more deliberate, more purposeful. It was coming from the direction of the path they had taken to reach the river, the same path that led back to Sharwood, the same path that the Goblin King's army was likely to be using.

  William's heart pounded in his chest. He knew, with absolute certainty, that they were no longer alone. Something, or someone, was close. The question was: what? And how many? Have they been found?

  He had a decision to make, a crucial choice that could determine the fate of their mission, perhaps even their lives.