It's time for something new...and yet...not so new. It's time for the Spin Off to The Naiad Trilogy! :D
First off, I want to say Happy New Year! to everyone! May 2012 bring you many happy memories and good times. Secondly, I want to welcome back all the familiar readers who followed me over from The Naiad Trilogy! And I want to greet those who may be joining us for the first time, for, though this is a spin off it is not entirely necessary to have read the whole trilogy to follow along (although, there may be some references to characters and events that might be better understood by having read the trilogy). Thirdly, I want to say that this is primarily a Rilian/OC story but it follows the OC and is told entirely (or mostly entirely) from her perspective.
And finally, I just want to say that this story, while mostly moving forward, will jump around in time as there will be many, many flashbacks. I will always try give you the approximate time the chapter occurs though. I know this first scene may seem very familiar to those who have read The Naiad Queen, but it is vital to the whole story. That's why I have included it as the the prologue, that is also why I am immediately posting chapter 1 after this.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Chronicles of Narnia, Rilian, Caspian, or any of the landmarks of Narnia. Nor do I own the song which inspired this story and the primary character's name; although, I do suggest you find a video of it on youtube to listen to. It's simply beautiful. Only Penelope, her siblings, and a few other characters not from the books or movies, are mine.
This story and the primary character's name were inspired by Penelope's Song by Loreena McKennitt. Each chapter is named after one of the lyrics of the song.
Story Summary: Rilian lives. He will return to us; this I had to believe. And I would wait for his return. "I cannot tell you how long that wait may be," the King told me. My reply was simply this: "I will wait."
She swore to wait for his return. She vowed her heart would always be his.
"And in the night when our dreams are still / Or when the wind calls free / I'll keep your heart with mine / Till you come to me"
Now, let's get started with the story.
Character ages: Penelope-19, Rilian-21, Rhea-25, Caspian-56
I Will Wait...
Prologue: Penelope's Song
One Year Missing
2346 June 18
Rilian. Dead? He couldn't be dead. I refused to believe he was dead. But that is what his father, the King, had just declared. He said there had been too many lives forfeited for his missing son. He said he could not ask his people to make such sacrifices for him anymore. He said he could no longer bear to be the reason for such grief that was spreading through his kingdom like wildfire. So he had put an end to all searches and declared his son as good as dead.
Rilian was not dead.
I would not believe it; I couldn't. To believe he was dead would be to believe that my very heart had died. It ached too much to be dead. And believe me; I should know something of death. I was there the day the Queen was bitten; I stood in the hall the moment Lord Drinian had announced her death. I sat by my great aunt's side when she took her last breath. I even lost my own father; he had been among the many knights to die looking for the lost Prince. In a way I suppose you could say that Rilian had been the reason for my father's death, but was I ready to call the Prince dead?
No. He wasn't dead. I wouldn't believe it, and I wouldn't blame him or hold my father's death against him. Daddy knew what he was doing. When he left, there had already been several knights to go before him. Daddy knew the possibilities as well as any of us did. He knew he might not return, and he went anyway. My dad was brave, and noble; I would not mourn him for it, and I would not blame Rilian.
XOXOX
That night, I found myself in a place I didn't expect to be. It had been a year since I'd been in that room, but that night I felt a tug, a want, a need I couldn't refuse. It was exactly as I remembered it to be. The curtains were open so the moonlight illuminated the interior. The bed was still made and covered with soft blankets, welcoming his return for a good sleep. His clothes still hung in the wardrobe. The comb for his hair still sat on the mirrored vanity. Though it hadn't been used in a year it was free of dust, indicating that the servants were still sent to clean.
As I looked around the familiar room, memories of our time together flooded my mind. Daddy would have been furious if he knew I had been in this room alone with him. Of course, nothing had ever happened. Nothing more than kissing at least, other than that one time; he was too much of a Prince for that. Rilian wouldn't even step foot into my room.
Rilian.
I felt a stab of pain as his name crossed my mind. I had been trying so hard to not let his name come into my thoughts as of late. I knew if it did it would unleash a flood of hurt that I could not contain. I was right.
Rilian.
Rilian.
Rilian.
I grabbed the heart pendant that still hung around my neck and sat on the sofa as I tried to catch my breath and ease the pain.
Rilian.
Rilian.
Tears burst forth from my eyes and I fought harder. I was the kind of girl that never cried. Rilian had only seen me cry once. And there it was again!
Rilian.
Rilian.
I gave up the fight. I clutched my pendant even harder and curled myself into a ball on the sofa, where I let my tears run without hindrance. It felt like hours had passed before my tears finally subsided. I remained curled in a fetal position.
"Rilian, oh, Rilian. Why did you leave me?" My voice sounded weak and distant as I whispered into the silent darkness of the room.
"Penelope…help me…Penelope…"
I sat up in a flash and looked around. Rilian! I knew his voice anywhere. He had called for me. I knew it was him.
"Rilian? Rilian, where are you? Rilian?"
"Penelope…" His voice was fainter this time.
"Rilian! Don't leave. Please, Rilian, come back!" I begged. I pleaded.
"Penelope," a new voice called my name, a voice that did not belong to Rilian, but to his father. "Penelope," the King said again. I felt someone shaking my shoulder lightly.
Suddenly my eyes flew open to find King Caspian leaning over me. I had been dreaming? I hadn't even realized I'd fallen asleep. It felt so real. I unfolded my legs and sat up straight on the sofa.
"You were crying in your sleep," the King said.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I said hoarsely. I had been crying awhile, hadn't I?
"Do not apologize for crying, Penelope. You have every right to be upset. I would like to know how you got in here though."
"The door was unlocked," I said as I tried to avoid eye contact.
"No it wasn't. I locked it myself before I left this evening, and only I have a key for it. Penelope?" His voice turned stern.
I sighed. I'd forgotten that I was speaking with the King for a moment and I pulled up the skirt of my dress where I hid my key around my knee. I untied the purple ribbon and slid the key off and held it out. Thankfully, the King hadn't forgotten he was king and he had politely turned his eyes away. I resisted the urge to blush at my foolishness.
"Here, Your Majesty," I said, still holding the key out. "Rilian gave it to me after we'd been courting for nearly a year. He'd said it was so I could visit him whenever I wanted."
"You've been in here with him before? Alone?" the King asked in a very disapproving, fatherly tone.
Another foolish mistake. Of course he would think the worst of me now. "Yes, Your Majesty, but please don't tell my grandfather; he wouldn't understand. I promise, Your Majesty, nothing ever happened. Rilian was too good for that. He wasn't like the other boys." I could feel tears threatening to escape again as I said his name. I quickly brushed away the ones at my eyes and stood up.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'll leave now and I promise I won't come back in here." I made for the door as quickly as I could, but it wasn't fast enough.
"You loved him, didn't you? You really loved him."
"NO! Your Majesty," I said without hesitation. The King obviously wasn't expecting that answer; the confusion was evident on his face as I looked back at him. "I still love him," I emphasized. "There is no past tense, not when it comes to love."
"You are right about that," The King said quietly. Was he thinking of his late Queen at that moment?
I could have easily slipped out then, while he was distracted, but I didn't. Somehow I knew that he was thinking of more than just his Queen; he was also thinking of his son, Rilian. I'm not sure what made me confess it, but I knew I had to.
"Your son is alive, Your Majesty. Rilian lives. I believe your daughter; I will not believe he is dead. I would know it if he were. I would feel it in my heart. I think it would hurt differently. No, Rilian is alive, and he will return to us. And I shall wait for him."
"I cannot tell you how long that wait may be." So he didn't believe he was dead!
I could think of nothing else to say, so I repeated, "I will wait."
The King looked me full in the eyes. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I knew he currently had many thoughts running through his mind. Perhaps he was looking for weakness. Well if he was, he wouldn't find it my eyes. I knew I loved Rilian, and I knew I could never love another more. Rilian was the only man for me. Whatever it was he was looking for, I guess the King found it; he nodded softly and walked over to me. He took one of my hands and folded it around the key I had given back.
"I cannot take from you what Rilian has given. Use it if you need to, but only if you need to. His disappearance has left a hole in your heart. Do not fill it with empty hopes and dreams, but with His love. Cherish what you had together, but do not dwell on what could have been. After the Queen's passing, I was blinded by grief; do not make the same mistake I made. You are too young to have to feel this pain, Penelope. I am sorry I could not do more."
And with that, the King slipped quietly out of Rilian's room and left me to ponder his statement.
A short little start huh? Now, head on over to chapter 1 to really get this story started. And thank you for joining me! :D