According to Lirenel above, Gael is doomed anyway, should the mission fail. The movie made it clear that Ramandu's island was no protection. Merely a temporary pitstop on the way.

2. Stay on Ramandu's Island with Lilliandil. Lilliandil has proven herself a faithful guide, and she is the guardian of Aslan's Table. Aslan's Table is presumably a place which has been set up by Aslan himself. Aslan, in Narnia, is known to interfere specifically to save people in trouble (e.g. sending warriors to rescue Edmund from the WW, raising up the river god to drown the Telmarines). We can assume from this that Aslan will provide for Gael on Ramandu's Island as well, if the Dawn Treader never returns. Perhaps sending another ship. Perhaps having Lilliandil float her home through the sky. Regardless, if the Dawn Treader never returns there is a grown woman set to take care of Gael if necessary - might be lonely, but feasible. Regardless, pretty much the only way Gael will have to stay on Ramandu's Island longer than a few hours is if the Green Mist defeats the Dawn Treader, in which case the Green Mist will probably kill/destroy/kidnap/etc Gael on Ramandu's Island. Otherwise Daddy will be bringing Mommy home to her and there's a happy reunion.

This is probably the best solution if you insist on removing Gael from the ship at all. I thought Lucy's own idea of keeping her below decks was a rather better idea myself. At least Gael was used to Lucy, and would do as she asked. On the whole, whilst on board the ship Gael did stay out of trouble and out of the way, so why make a fuss about the few times she did contribute something to the story or her mere presence?

As you say, Lirenel, they are all doomed anyway, if the Dawn Treader fails to defeat the Green Misty Dark Island. Even Gael on Ramandu's Island. By the way didn't Edmund ask how the travellers were to know whether they could trust Lilliandil or not, lovely strange lady though she was? And wasn't Lilliandil already minding three other charges, grown men vegetating there? Three men, three so-called warriors, less capable of looking after themselves than Gael, herself, is?

As a matter of interest, does Lilliandil stay put on Ramandu's Island? It doesn't even seem like that. Did she offer to take on Gael? And would she consent if asked? Or would Gael consent to stay with her? Why didn't the scriptwriters make her do that then? Because the way they wrote the character, there was no way they could do that without departing from the book even more than having her on board in the first place.

Um, do the families of his sailors not count? If Caspian had this sort of laissez-faire "Oh, this is a fun holiday adventure!" attitude, why didn't he bring along all the wives and children of his sailors? Why not build a gigantic cruise liner and have a long pleasure excursion?

I'm sure that every military person around the world will be delighted to know that recklessly taking small children into combat is just fine and dandy, just as long as the child has a good excuse. Heaven forbid the adults be adults and put their foot down. A child's desires and demands must always be succumbed to, even if it puts them and others in danger.

Please don't give me that stuff about military people not taking wives and families into combat, because they did in medieval times. Even some seafaring explorers like Freycinet took their wives or lovers along with them, in Freycinet's case because Rose Freycinet insisted on it. Today, children in combat zones is a frequent occurrence, horrifying as it is, whatever your respectable non-political views on who should be in combat and who shouldn't be, and who you would term a civilian.

Yes, I can agree with Lirenel that the aunt should have made sure that she and Gael were seen farewelling the Dawn Treader, but then in that case why have Gael around at all, anyway?

And I am not missing the point. You are.

This is beginning to remind me of the Wagga vs. glumPuddle debates over the Susan/Caspian kiss.

On the whole, whilst on board the ship Gael did stay out of trouble and out of the way, so why make a fuss about the few times she did contribute something to the story or her mere presence?

Ok, let's list all the ways Gael contributed to the story.
1. She pulled at the heartstrings of all the overly emotional females in the audience who can't stand to see a cute little girl in distress. Except, that didn't really contribute to the story.
2. She gave the Dufflepuds the opportunity to say a very, erm, creepy line.
3. She gave Lucy the opportunity to say, "Aslan is our all-powerful slave, and will find your mom. I promise."
4. She spotted the blue star, something anybody else could have done.
5. She gave Lucy the opportunity to say, "Don't have any role models, just be exactly who you are and never change." (That "be just like you" moral lesson could have been phrased so much better.)
6. She raises the "For Narnia!" rallying cry by about 2 decibels.
7. She wastes about 1 minute of Lucy's time when the ship is being attacked by an evil monster and Lucy is the only one on the ship with a projectile weapon.

As you say, Lirenel, they are all doomed anyway, if the Dawn Treader fails to defeat the Green Misty Dark Island.

Even if this is the case, you'd still rather Gael be killed instantly? Even if the green mist takes over Narnia, what's the worst it's going to do, given its track record? Gobble up some more people and hoard them in a bunch of boats without them getting so much as a scratch?

Please don't give me that stuff about military people not taking wives and families into combat, because they did in medieval times. Even some seafaring explorers like Freycinet took their wives or lovers along with them, in Freycinet's case because Rose Freycinet insisted on it. Today, children in combat zones is a frequent occurrence, horrifying as it is, whatever your respectable non-political views on who should be in combat and who shouldn't be, and who you would term a civilian.

I think I'm finally starting to understand the logic behind your arguments.

It has happened in history before --> It must be right thing to do!

Are you really suggesting that children in combat zones is a good thing? The guerilla wars being fought in Africa and the Middle East are appalling. Does their mere existence justify their morality?

Really what would've been the point of leaving Gael behind? They already tried to leave her on the Lone Islands. She snuck on anyway. If Rhince couldn't trust her own aunt to keep her safe why would he trust the blue, glowing woman he just met? He could've stayed behind with her, but he wanted to find his wife and as bad as it sounds, yes if the Dawn Treader had failed they would've all died anyway. Is it not better to willingly take Gael on the ship, and know exactly where she is, than to be surprised by her presence in the middle of battle. That wouldn't go well at all.

When my youth group would go on mission trips, my youth pastor had a rule when flying. He tried to make sure that family members were on the same plane so that if something should go wrong and one plane went down, well at least all the family went down together so they wouldn't be completely heart broken. Not saying this was Movie!Caspian's logic. But I'm quite sure Caspian knew what it was like to be the only one left in your family. And if Movie!Caspian thought about it I'm sure he wouldn't have wished that on Gael.

Sure, Caspian could've told Rhince to stay behind with Gael, but I don't think that really fits with his character. In The Silver Chair, he made no move to tell Rilian not to search for the snake that had already killed his queen. He clearly knew it was dangerous, and he had to notice how worn down Rilian was becoming, yet he never told him to stop. He must've know Rilian wouldn't stop until he'd defeated the snake or died trying. Of course we know Rilian gave up searching for the snake because of the enchantment. But one must wonder why Drinian was the one to tell Rilian there was no true vengeance on a witless brute and not Rilian's father. Perhaps in this case, he felt Rhince wouldn't stop until he'd saved his wife or died trying, so why tell him no?

Also, take into consideration that Caspian had left his own kingdom behind to find these lords he barely remembered, out of a sense of duty. Caspian felt he owed it to these lords to find them or avenge their deaths, even if it meant possibly dying on the voyage and leaving his kingdom with no blood heir. He felt a sense of personal responsibility to the lords even though Book!Caspian could never even remember all their names. How much more does Rhince have a responsibility to find his wife or die trying. If Caspian is the type to leave his kingdom behind and go on a dangerous quest to find the lost lords because of a sense of personal responsibility, why would he tell Rhince he had to stay behind with his daughter instead of finding his wife? Yes, bad things could happen to Gael if her father goes on to Dark Island. But bad things could've happened to Narnia while Caspian was away. If he had died in the book what would've become of Narnia??? Would it have been ruled by Trumpkin? Would Little Miraz Jr. have been next in line for the crown. In the movie, PC, Miraz Jr. went through the door into our world. But it doesn't say what became of him in the book. What if he'd taken the thrown later and become a tyrant like his father? One could call Rhince irresponsible for leaving Gael behind and searching for his wife, but one could also call Caspian irresponsible for leaving Narnia behind, even though all was peaceful when he left.

Call me a little too modern but, boy or girl, a child is a child, where I'm concerned. I wouldn't send a 13-year-old out to battle anymore than I would a 7-year-old girl. Sending either would be a stupid thing to do IMO. But this is not the real world; this is Narnia. This is fiction. Gael was going on a dangerous mission, as children do in Narnia, only she had her father with her. Normally, kids in Narnia don't get that luxury.

If Caspian had given Gael a harpoon and said "The fate of Narnia depends on you!" I could see the big problem. That would be a stupid decision. As it is she was below deck. They knew where she was. Yes she was in harms way, but only if the Dawn Treader failed. And if the Dawn Treeader failed she would've been eaten by the mist anyway. Why not take her and keep her below deck?

How exactly did Gael prove to be a bad desicion? What harm did she cause? What harm was done to her? She came out perfectly unharmed. It looked to me like Caspian and his crew did a perfectly fine job of keeping the little girl safe.

Since children fight battles all the time in Narnia, and said children are generally in a lot more danger than Gael was at any given point in the film, and since Gale was unharmed by the end of the battle, I am not even sure why Gael on Dark Island is even being discussed as a mistake on Caspian's part. You can say it was wrong because C.S. Lewis never had a young girl fight. But the VDT film never had Gael fight. Lucy was given a dagger when she was what two years older than Gael? (That's a stupid decision. Who would give a nine-year-old a dagger??? But it's fiction. It's not the real world.) But she didn't fight with it. Gael was never even given a weapon. Gael was never expected to have to fight at any point in the film. Jill was in the room when the snake attacked Rilian and the boys had to fight it off. Jill wasn't fighting it, but she was in the room with it thus she was still in danger. Gael was in the boat the sea serpent was attacking, but she wasn't expected to fight it.

If C.S. Lewis had written Gael's character I don't think anyone would question her going to Dark Island. Somehow, it's ok when C.S. Lewis writes about endangering a child, but not when the filmmakers do it.

I'm afraid I must agree to disagree with those of you who have an issue with Gael on Dark Island. I respect your opinions, but I disagree. I just don't see a problem with it, as it is fiction. And if you ask me to pretend like it isn't fiction, well then I have a problem with all of Narnia. I have a problem with 13 year old boys fleeing their homes because of power crazed uncles, I have a problem with 16 year old girls fighting in the Narnian Armageddon, I have a problem with 12 year old boys fighting witches, I have a problem with young boys being turned into dragons and having their skin clawed off. And yes, I have a problem with 7 year old girls going to an island where nightmares come true. BUT this is fiction, so I am fine with all of the above.

Now that we've agreed to disagree let's all be friends

No I'm not. I am suggesting it is downright hypocritical to be so fussed about the fate of Gael at the Dark Island, when we already know the premises and have some insight into the story, when there are real life situations far more dire, and which deserve our condemnation far more. Besides, Gael actually chose what she wanted to do, as a film character, as far as I could see. I posted at the same time as Aslanisonthemove, but that doesn't mean I disagree with anything he/she has to say.

Even if this is the case, you'd still rather Gael be killed instantly? Even if the green mist takes over Narnia, what's the worst it's going to do, given its track record? Gobble up some more people and hoard them in a bunch of boats without them getting so much as a scratch?

I expect the Green Mist would sink the rowboats, people and all, much as I read about the much bigger battle ships being sunk in books about the Atlantic raids in World War 2 in 1953. Did I mention my brother-in-law was an able seaman on one of the ships involved in the D-Day landings?

I also expect that if the 'Green Mist' as a film device, really took over in VDT, that it would be the end of Narnia, even if the Fox franchise decides to run another movie. It would be a premature 'Last Battle'. Perhaps I am too influenced by current events. But consider this:

Yes there are Australian soldiers dying in Afghanistan, a lot more than I would like, as a voter. And yes, these situations unfortunately do involve civilians, and yes, mere children, some no older than Gael, a most evocative name, particularly horrible when I am married to a 'Gael'.

I've no doubt my country would fulfil its obligations to the International community , regardless of recent natural disasters. But when at Christmas, I read about Churchill and Douglas MacArthur, I am not impressed by their concern for the average Australian soldier, their family obligations or even John Curtin's legitimate demands for our own Australian troops to be returned here, to defend this country, in 1942. I am only here, answering on this thread, because my father actually survived the Darwin bombing of 19th February 1942, by exactly the same Japanese force that wreaked so much havoc at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, and which has received so much more publicity especially in America.

Somehow or other, I just see Caspian as a more humane and believable leader than some who actually hold power. Even if it is an idealisation. Yes he might make decisions that maybe in the same situation you would not make, but at least Caspian has always been a fair dinkum sort of leader to me.

No I'm not. I am suggesting it is downright hypocritical to be so fussed about the fate of Gael at the Dark Island, when we already know the premises and have some insight into the story, when there are real life situations far more dire, and which deserve our condemnation far more.

I am not being hypocritical. This topic is for discussing Narnia, not condemning all the crap that goes on the real world. Ranting about that would be off-topic.

Besides, Gael actually chose what she wanted to do, as a film character, as far as I could see.

She only ever made one decision, and we don't even see her doing it.

I expect the Green Mist would sink the rowboats, people and all, much as I read about the much bigger battle ships being sunk in books about the Atlantic raids in World War 2 in 1953.

Except, the Green Mist wasn't sinking the rowboats. It was hoarding them with the most tender loving care, as far as we can see, since the people in the boats don't seem to be hungry or harmed in any way.

Did I mention my brother-in-law was an able seaman on one of the ships involved in the D-Day landings?

No, you didn't.

I commend what your brother-in-law went through, but I don't see why that makes your point stronger when you only referenced reading about the events, something that I can do. (By the way, my grandfather was a marine and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.)

I've no doubt my country would fulfil its obligations to the International community , regardless of recent natural disasters. But when at Christmas, I read about Churchill and Douglas MacArthur, I am not impressed by their concern for the average Australian soldier, their family obligations or even John Curtin's demands for our own Australian troops to be returned here, to defend this country, in 1942.

Rhince wasn't a soldier. He wasn't drafted, or forced to to go in any way. He willingly volunteered to join Caspian on a mission that could potentially kill him. He even had the original common sense to not drag his little daughter along with him, and leave her in the care of another family member.

I am only here, answering on this thread, because my father actually survived the Darwin bombing of 19th February 1942, by exactly the same Japanese force that wreaked so much havoc at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.

My other grandfather, coincidentally, was actually a survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. Fortunately, my mother wasn't anywhere nearby. Otherwise, I wouldn't exist.

I'm sorry if you feel like the Darwin bombings are under-publicized in the Americas, but there's not much I can do about that.

I don't know your family's intricate history and if there might be some hidden reason that makes your points valid. But since I don't know the hidden reason/motive, whatever it may be, I don't understand.

Yes he might make decisions that maybe in the same situation you would not make, but at least Caspian has always been a fair dinkum sort of leader to me.

Being a fair, yet stupid leader is just as bad as being an unfair, yet smart one. That's what this whole topic is about..."Stupid decisions by Caspian".

It was irresponsible of Caspian and Rhince to take Gael along. I think that she should have been left with Ramandu's daughter or something.... I think it would have been fine to trust her considering they are trusted her with the information on Dark Island.

It may have not been the ideal solution, but I think it was the best option they had at that point. Taking Gael into DI was not the best option because they had other choices.

When my youth group would go on mission trips, my youth pastor had a rule when flying. He tried to make sure that family members were on the same plane so that if something should go wrong and one plane went down, well at least all the family went down together so they wouldn't be completely heart broken. Not saying this was Movie!Caspian's logic. But I'm quite sure Caspian knew what it was like to be the only one left in your family. And if Movie!Caspian thought about it I'm sure he wouldn't have wished that on Gael.

I don't quite agree with your youth pastor's logic. I'd rather live and loose a family member then die with all of my family. The way you said it, it would seem like it's okay to kill yourself if you loose a family member.

And what if you had family members at home? Would your family members at home be happier to find at least one of you survived rather then you AND your dad/brother/sister all died?

Not what I meant at all. Definitely not ok to kill yourself It's not like my youth pastor was planning to shoot a plane down or anything. This was a what if type of thing.

I agree the family members that were left behind would have a hard time dealing with the loss of two instead of one, but anytime you send your loved one on a mission trip there is some amount of risk. That's understood.

It would be very difficult to go on with a mission trip if you'd just lost someone close to you. My mom has and sister and I have always said we hope we go together, or in the rapture, or something because we're so close it would hurt a lot if we lost each other. That doesn't mean I would take a knife to my throat if I found out something was going to happen to my sister. It just means if I had a choice of who should go first I would say go at the same time.

Perhaps that's just a random difference between you and I. I don't think either of us is particularly wrong, we can agree to disagree

I posted at the same time as Aslanisonthemove, but that doesn't mean I disagree with anything he/she has to say.

This is off topic but I thought I would point out, I'm a girl. The pic in my sig is me.

It was irresponsible of Caspian and Rhince to take Gael along. I think that she should have been left with Ramandu's daughter or something.... I think it would have been fine to trust her considering they are trusted her with the information on Dark Island.

It may have not been the ideal solution, but I think it was the best option they had at that point. Taking Gael into DI was not the best option because they had other choices.

They'd already tried to leave her behind on the Lone Islands. Apparently, she doesn't take no for an answer. Rhince had left her with her aunt whom he'd likely known for years and with whom he'd built up trust . The Blue Star, on the other hand, was very mysterious. Yes, she'd been a guide for their ship, and yes she told them things about Dark Island, and yes they trusted her with that. But really what other choice did they have but to trust her? She was their only clue as to what to do next. And at what point was there a good time for Rhince to ask her to watch his daughter? She shot right back into the sky, before Caspian would've had the chance to explain that they were indeed going on to Dark Island.

I can see Rhince now, "Hey!!! You up there!!!! Can you fly down here and watch my kid?!?!?!" I mean really how do you get a star's attention and get her to come down out of the sky? Is there some sort of wish you have to do? Some sort of star dance? And they all seemed like they were in awe of her. I can't imagine asking someone so much more powerful and majestic than myself to watch a child even even if I could get her out of the sky. Rhince may as well have asked Caspian to stay behind and watch his daughter. Or Queen Lucy. All these people had things to do and good reasons for being there. And how were they to know they wouldn't need RD's help before they were done on Dark Island? She had already been a great help to the mission. She didn't need to be tied up with babysitting.

Sorry, I didn't notice the signature. And yes, I agree with you. I can't see anyone hailing Lilliandil down for instant childminding services, either.

Come to think about it, I don't remember seeing either Rhince or Gael at Aslan's table. I did see Tavros and a few other sailors who were eyeing the food, until they thought it was enchanted. Then there were those foliage challenged blokes, and a query how they got that way. Yes, Lilliandil, when she swooped down from her starry abode, reassured them of her creds. But the way Caspian - or Edmund - was eyeing her it wasn't really childminding he had in mind.

But just because a lady is all nice and shiny, can change shape and is interested in their creature comforts doesn't give any of them a good reason to trust her more than is strictly necessary. Look in SC for the next time someone from our world meets along the way a lovely shiny sort of lady who is interested in their creature comforts. ..... Very trustworthy, wasn't she? Knows all the best lodgings to stop at, doesn't she? Just listening to the SC CD....

It would be very difficult to go on with a mission trip if you'd just lost someone close to you. My mom has and sister and I have always said we hope we go together, or in the rapture, or something because we're so close it would hurt a lot if we lost each other. That doesn't mean I would take a knife to my throat if I found out something was going to happen to my sister. It just means if I had a choice of who should go first I would say go at the same time.

I still don't quite agree with this...I'll try to explain why.

If I was to hope that the people I was close with would pass away at the same time so that we would not have to bear being without each other, I would have to wish for the simultaneous death of 10 people or more. If somehow my family was involved in an airplane crash, I would rather only some of us die than all of us. There are relatives at home to consider, very close friends, and so on and so forth. I would be more devastated if my cousin's entire family died than if just my cousin died, but the rest of the family survived.

They'd already tried to leave her behind on the Lone Islands. Apparently, she doesn't take no for an answer.

I don't see the logic behind this. If this were the case, we shouldn't bother to try and tell somebody who has disobeyed us to do anything because they'll just disobey us again. We should just let the disobedient people have their way in life.

And at what point was there a good time for Rhince to ask her to watch his daughter? She shot right back into the sky, before Caspian would've had the chance to explain that they were indeed going on to Dark Island.

This is due to the torrid pace of the movie...it really doesn't make sense why Lilliandil would only spend 3 minutes with the crew before leaving them to complete the potential suicide mission that she gave them. But Caspian still could have thought to say something...

I can see Rhince now, "Hey!!! You up there!!!! Can you fly down here and watch my kid?!?!?!" I mean really how do you get a star's attention and get her to come down out of the sky? Is there some sort of wish you have to do? Some sort of star dance? And they all seemed like they were in awe of her.

They were in awe of her in the wrong way...for her physical beauty.

And how were they to know they wouldn't need RD's help before they were done on Dark Island? She had already been a great help to the mission. She didn't need to be tied up with babysitting.

Well, from what we can infer from the movie, Lilliandil doesn't really do anything while she's a star except guide the Dawn Treader to her island. After that's done, her star form serves no purpose. I'm not sure why she would even change back into a star at that point, really.

But at the very, very least, even if they absolutely had to bring Gael along, they should not have had her on the top deck to watch. As I said earlier, she wastes about 1 minute of Lucy's time when the ship is being attacked by an evil monster and Lucy is the only one on the ship with a projectile weapon.

It would be very difficult to go on with a mission trip if you'd just lost someone close to you. My mom has and sister and I have always said we hope we go together, or in the rapture, or something because we're so close it would hurt a lot if we lost each other. That doesn't mean I would take a knife to my throat if I found out something was going to happen to my sister. It just means if I had a choice of who should go first I would say go at the same time.

I still don't quite agree with this...I'll try to explain why.

If I was to hope that the people I was close with would pass away at the same time so that we would not have to bear being without each other, I would have to wish for the simultaneous death of 10 people or more. If somehow my family was involved in an airplane crash, I would rather only some of us die than all of us. There are relatives at home to consider, very close friends, and so on and so forth. I would be more devastated if my cousin's entire family died than if just my cousin died, but the rest of the family survived.

No one said we had to agree. If we all did that would make this a very dull forum. But along the lines of this subject LAST BATTLE SPOILER!!!
So having Gael and her father both on the ship where they may both be killed is not entirely un-Narnian.

They'd already tried to leave her behind on the Lone Islands. Apparently, she doesn't take no for an answer.

I don't see the logic behind this. If this were the case, we shouldn't bother to try and tell somebody who has disobeyed us to do anything because they'll just disobey us again. We should just let the disobedient people have their way in life.

No. This is not what I am saying. Of course you shouldn't give in to someone just because they don't want to listen. BUT in this case, where you have a determined child who will sneak on the ship, it may be better to take the child along. At least that way they already know where she is and she doesn't get in the way of battle. At least that's one unexpected element they wouldn't have to worry about.

And at what point was there a good time for Rhince to ask her to watch his daughter? She shot right back into the sky, before Caspian would've had the chance to explain that they were indeed going on to Dark Island.

This is due to the torrid pace of the movie...it really doesn't make sense why Lilliandil would only spend 3 minutes with the crew before leaving them to complete the potential suicide mission that she gave them. But Caspian still could have thought to say something...

He could've thought to mention it, but I wouldn't call it stupid or unreasonable that he didn't mention it. As it was he'd just seen the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen in his entire life, and he was just told that he had to go to an ominous looking island where he'd most likely be killed, leaving his kingdom completely heirless. He probably had a lot of things weighing on his mind at that point.

And it isn't really Caspian's job to find a babysitter for Rhince's child. For all he knew Rhince wouldn't have wanted the eerie blue lady watching his child anyway.

As I've already mentioned, they didn't really have a reason to trust her beyond what is absolutely necesessary. Yes, she did a fine job guiding them to the greatest evil Narnia had ever seen and pointing the way to their potential deaths. Is that supposed to make them trust her? I don't really find that comforting. Yes she gave them food from Aslan's table. Anyone who's ever read a fairytale knows that witches often offer their victims food and no good ever comes from it. You know that if you've read LWW.

There are already three lords under some enchantment which makes them appear dead. No one said this wasn't her doing. She claimed that they were under the enchantment for a good reason, but really the only ones who knew that for sure were herself and the three lords. They really had no way of knowing she was actually trustworthy.

I can see Rhince now, "Hey!!! You up there!!!! Can you fly down here and watch my kid?!?!?!" I mean really how do you get a star's attention and get her to come down out of the sky? Is there some sort of wish you have to do? Some sort of star dance? And they all seemed like they were in awe of her.

They were in awe of her in the wrong way...for her physical beauty.

I never said they were in a good type of awe. But awe is awe, no matter what kind. Either way it kind of makes you lose your senses for a moment or two and you sort of forget whatever it is you were going to say, even if it was important.

And how were they to know they wouldn't need RD's help before they were done on Dark Island? She had already been a great help to the mission. She didn't need to be tied up with babysitting.

Well, from what we can infer from the movie, Lilliandil doesn't really do anything while she's a star except guide the Dawn Treader to her island. After that's done, her star form serves no purpose. I'm not sure why she would even change back into a star at that point, really.

Maybe she changed back into a star because she was afraid Caspian was about to ask her to watch Rhince's child and she didn't like kids.

They had no way of knowing she was completely done. If you're on a place called Dark Island you may want to know there's a star to guide you out again in case you need to retreat and regroup.

Little is known about the Stars and their dealings in the heavens. It seems kind of rude and presumptuous to say, "Hey you've got nothing better to do. Cancel all of your plans in the heavens and come watch this child for us." Caspian is the king of Narnia, not of the heavens. Lilliandil isn't his subject so he can't just asign her a duty.

But at the very, very least, even if they absolutely had to bring Gael along, they should not have had her on the top deck to watch. As I said earlier, she wastes about 1 minute of Lucy's time when the ship is being attacked by an evil monster and Lucy is the only one on the ship with a projectile weapon.

Well, in keeping with some of the opinions on here, it didn't really matter if Gael took some of Lucy's fighting time away. Since Lucy was a girl, she probably should've stayed below deck with Gael anyway. "Battles are ugly affairs, especially when women get involved." Lucy should've been kept out of harm's way. That's not my actual opinion though.

It did take a minute of Lucy's time, but only a minute. I don't see that as too terrible since Lucy was not the only one with a projectile weapon. The rest of the crew had harpoons and crossbows around was well.

And how were they to know they wouldn't need RD's help before they were done on Dark Island? She had already been a great help to the mission. She didn't need to be tied up with babysitting.

Well, from what we can infer from the movie, Lilliandil doesn't really do anything while she's a star except guide the Dawn Treader to her island. After that's done, her star form serves no purpose. I'm not sure why she would even change back into a star at that point, really.

She returned because as you can see from when she first comes upon Caspian and everyone you can see her blue reflection in the swords on Aslan's Table. When Eustace places down the last sword at Aslan's Table the blue reflection reappears and it's basically Lilliandil's light that helps destroy Dark islands darkness.

Are I and my mom the only ones to notice this from the first viewing of this film? I thought it was pretty obvious.

Now that is a very good point. When I saw the film, I thought the beam of blue light went upwards from the swords. But now you mention it, it may very well have been the opposite way. It might well have been directed downwards towards the swords. In that case poor old Lilliandil already had her hands full in her star role, never mind the Aslan's table old warrior's retirement home, or Gael's childminding issues.

Nice spotting! I can't wait to see a DVD of VDT so I can confirm this

The beam of blue light went upwards from the swords.

The exact shot appears in trailer #4.

Go to 1:56.

I'm pretty sure the blue light went from the swords up. Even if Lilliandil was involved, then I would be upset because it takes Aslan furthur out of the picture....