This story is not all written out in my head so updating may take some time in the future Set during and post The Silver Chair. I wanted to look at what life may have been like for Rilian after he was disenchanted. What must it be like to realize that you have spent the last ten years of your life in service of evil and then return home to rule a country without the guidance of either of your parents? How do you forgive yourself for wasting ten years of your life?

I added a character, her name is Adelaide and this chapter is from her perspective. I tried to make sure that she didn't actually interfere with the events in The Silver Chair or tamper with the plot too much. I hope I've done a good job of weaving her in seamlessly.

I own nothing except Adelaide. Everything else is all C.S. Lewis.

Here I sit on a ship, at the bedside of King Caspian X, knowing he has but a few precious moments left to give me before he leaves this world. He is just barely conscious and struggling to stay that way, for we have been told that Rilian awaits his return back in Narnia.

I believe I fear Caspian's death more than he. In fact, I don't think he fears it at all. He feared what would happen to Narnia when he was gone, but now that Rilian has returned that fear has been put at ease and replaced with a bubbling joy. His only other concern was how I would fare without him, but he is convinced Rilian won't leave me alone.

But I am still afraid. I can't imagine my life without Caspian. He has been like a father to me for the past ten years. Letting him go may destroy me from the inside out. And quite frankly, I'm not so sure I'm ready to embrace friendship with Rilian again.

I hold Caspian's hand and think back to the day I first came to live at the castle.

Ten Years Ago

"My name is Adelaide, daughter of Lord Drinian! Please let me speak with the king! My father was a good friend of his!" Guards don't have nearly as much compassion on little girls as they ought.

"Young lady, this is no place for you. The king has important business to attend. You should go home to your mother now and leave the king to his work."

"Kind sir, if this is no place for me then I have no place! Please, sir! I need to see the king! I am an orphan. If I can't see the king I will be forced to live in an orphanage among strangers. I'm desperate! I need the king's help!"

"An orphan? You said yourself you are the daughter of Lord Drinian! He was here not a month ago. I do suspect you're bluffing, young lady. Now begone!"

How I wish one of the guards who knew me were here. I believe this one hasn't had his job very long. If he knew anything, he would've known that I am the daughter of Drinian and my mother is long dead.

I hang my head in despair and begin to walk away. What am I to do now? There's an orphanage not too far from here. I suppose living there wouldn't be all bad. Though most of the orphans I've met from that place are very ill-behaved. Perhaps it is because they haven't any parents to teach them better. I do wonder if I shall become that way in time. Oh, I am simply desperate! I mustn't go there. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I do hope the element of surprise will save me.

I turn quickly and kick the guard in his shin. I run as if my life depends on it. The king is most likely in council at the moment. If I can just make it there then perhaps King Caspian won't let the guard drag me away and perhaps he will hear me out. I make it to the center of the room and suddenly realize that all this was a terrible mistake. Every eye is on me and I can feel myself blushing. Everyone is stunned at the presence of an eleven-year-old girl in council. Should I speak now or wait 'til I'm addressed? I haven't the nerve to speak now. The king breaks the silence.

"Adelaide, what are you doing here?" Much to my relief he doesn't seem angry, more amused than anything.

"I'm terribly sorry, Your Majesty. She-"

"-All is well, Arrin. Hold your peace," King Caspian tells the guard. "What brings you here, Adelaide? Where is your father?"

"Um, well... Your Highness... Might I speak with you in private?" A look of concern crosses the king's face.

"Gentlemen, would you excuse me for a moment-"

"-It will take more than a moment, Sire. I will wait my turn. I just needed an audience with you." I kick myself. Father told me it was never polite to interrupt anyone, especially a king. But Caspian is a very gentle king and is not easily angered so I don't think my interrupting him was much of a bother.

"Very well," he says. With that council is resumed and I wait while they talk of wars and taxes and rot.

I do wish Rilian were still here. He was always good company. Most sixteen-year-olds only like being with people their own age, but Rilian was never that sort. I daresay he could converse and have a jolly good time with most anyone. I do miss him and I hope, wherever he is, Aslan is taking good care of him.

Finally they are done with their long and tiresome adult conversation. The lords all begin to leave and King Caspian descends from his throne. He gets on one knee (which is no easy task for a man of his age) in order to meet me at eye level.

"Adelaide, what's wrong?" he asks in a voice that very much reminds me of Father's. He himself reminds me very much of Father. I bury my face in his neck and begin to cry against my will. I need to be strong and speak clearly, but I can't. He hugs me and rubs my back in fatherly sort of way until I can compose myself.

"Father left." I begin. "He kept saying that everything that happened with Rilian was all his fault." The king looked away and I could see he was trying to hold back tears himself. Rilian is a very painful subject for him.

"Where did he go?" he asked, making eye contact once again and I can see in his eyes that he is dreading my answer.

"He said he would find Rilian and bring him back to you... or die trying. And he asked that Aunt Aiya and I not mention it to anyone. He said that if you found out you would stop him. You would tell him it was too dangerous because so many have been lost in searching for the prince.

"Time passed by and Aunt Aiya became very ill with a fever. She - she didn't survive her illness. So I went searching for Father," King Caspian listens closely while he wipes a tear from my eye. I continue. "When I found Father he had been bitten by a snake." At this the king freezes. "And... and he had met his death." The king embraced me and we wept for what seemed like hours but still wasn't enough to ease the pain.

"What should I do now? Where will I go? I have no family! I'm alone!"

"You will not be alone. Would you like to live here, with me? I will raise you as my own." All I had hoped for was the king's assistance in finding a new home, maybe with one of his servants. I would have never dreamed of asking to live with him in his castle!

"You'll really let me stay here, in your castle? Thank you, Sire. I promise not to be any trouble!"

"I know you won't be, Adelaide. You may call me Caspian."

I hug him. "Thank you, Your - Caspian!"

Caspian saw that my father had a proper funeral and I began to adjust to my new life in the castle. Caspian never actually adopted me, but as far as we were concerned I was his daughter and he was my second father. So it has been for the past ten years.

Now Caspian lay on his deathbed. I cannot help but feel that Rilian is partly to responsible for this. Had he just stayed here, perhaps my father would still be alive and Caspian wouldn't have grieved himself into the state of illness he is currently in. Perhaps if he'd had a stronger will to survive all along he would've been able live through today. Of course, I mustn't let Caspian know I feel this way. It would break his dying heart!

Caspian squeezes my hand and pulls me from my thoughts.

"Will you fare well without me, child?" he inquires. What can I say honestly?

"Aslan willing, I shall." My words were meant to sound strong, brave, and poetic. Instead, they came out sounding like something between a moan and sob. The tears follow the sound.

I feel Caspian's hand wiping tears from my cheeks. He's done this countless times over the past ten years. I lean my head on his chest and weep while he strokes my hair.

"We will meet again, in Aslan's Country," he says.

"I will miss you terribly!" I sob.

"Well, if you didn't it would mean I was a poor excuse for a friend. I will not tell you to be glad over my parting, nor will I try to stop your tears. But I do pray for your peace and comfort, my child, and that you will find your strength in Aslan."

"I will." I manage to stop crying and kiss his forehead. "I want to thank you for all the good you've done to me these past ten years, Caspian. I regret that I was never able to repay you for all your kindess."

"Oh, but you have, Adelaide. You have been one of the very few bright spots in my life, dear, my reason for living this long." He coughs. "When I first took you under my wing, I thought you needed me, that I would be helping you." He smiles. "As it turns out, I believe I needed you more than you ever needed me. Who could've known the difference one little girl could make in an old man's life. Thank you, Adelaide, for helping me keep the faith all these years."

"It has been my pleasure, Caspian." He drifts off to sleep and I lay my head at his side and begin to find a peaceful slumber myself.

A few hours pass and Caspian's condition worsens. The doctor on board says he won't last the hour. We pull up to the dock where Rilian is waiting. A few men carry Caspian out to meet him, for he is too weak to stand. He asks me if I would like to go with him to meet Rilian.

"No. This is surely a special moment and the two of you should share it alone." I do not wish to see Rilian at the moment but I won't tell Caspian such a thing.

"Very well," says Caspian.

I begin to regret my decision. These are probably his last moments in this world. I don't want to miss them. I should be there for him. I start towards the ships exit but freeze when I hear silence where there had once been musicians playing to honor the king's return. I wonder what the meaning of the silence could be. I have a sick feeling in my stomach. All my fears are confirmed when I hear music again. This time it is the most dreadfully saddening tune I have ever heard. It could break the merriest of hearts. I look up and see the flag being lowered. King Caspian has died.

I go ashore and pray that it's all a nightmare but I know it's all too real. Now I see a site that breaks my heart more than I knew it could be broken: Rilian.

He no longer has the appearance of the young wiry teenager he was when he left. He is much paler and stronger than the last time we met. But those aren't the things which stun me. For now, I see him looking very much like a child. His head is buried in his father's chest. There are many tears shed among the crowd over the king's death, but of them all, Rilian's are the most heart-felt and heart-wrenching. The wails escaping his throat are the most devastating I've heard, second only to Caspian's when he received the news that his queen had died. I can barely make out what he's saying through his sobs. After a moment I can understand him a very little bit.

"Father! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

At those words, every ill feeling I have towards Rilian melts away. As much as I hated him for not being here, I can see he hates himself far more in this moment than I ever have. I cannot be angry with him, for he is just as lost as I.

I place a friendly hand on his shoulder, kneel by Caspian's bedside and weep along with Rilian and all Narnia.

Chapter 1! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know what you think :)