Chapter 7: The Story of Rilian

Eustace frowned. "So, what happened to your son?"

Caspian shrugged. "It all happened ten years ago, when my wife went riding with my son. After a time the Queen felt sleepy, and they spread cloaks for her on the grassy bank, and Prince Rilian went a little way from her, that their tales and laughter might not wake her. And so a great serpent came out of the thick wood and stung the Queen in her hand. All heard her cry out and rushed towards her, and Rilian was first at her side. He saw the snake gliding away from her and made after it with his sword drawn. It glided away into thick bushes and he could not come at it. So he returned to his mother, and found them all busy about her. She died shortly afterwords.

They carried the dead Queen back to Cair Paravel, and she was bitterly mourned by me and my son, and by all Narnia. She had been a great lady, wise and gracious and happy. My son took his mother's death very hardly, as well he might. After that, he was always riding on the northern marches of Narnia, hunting for that venomous worm, to kill it and be avenged. No one remarked much on this, though my son came home from these wanderings looking tired and distraught. But about a month after the Queen's death, some said they could see a change in him. There was a look in his eyes as of a man who has seen visions, and though he would be out all day, his horse did not bear the signs of hard riding. His chief friend among the older courtiers was the Lord Drinian, he who had been my captain on that great voyage to the east parts of the earth."

"What happened then?" Jill asked.

"I can answer that," Drinian said. "One evening I said to the Prince, 'Your Highness must soon give over seeking the serpent.' The Prince answered me, 'My Lord, I have almost forgotten the serpent these days. I have seen there the most beautiful thing that was ever made.' I then asked him if I could ride with him and he told me that I could. The next day we saddled our horses and rode a great gallop into the northern woods and alighted at that same fountain where the Queen got her death. At noon I looked up and saw the most beautiful lady I had ever seen; and she stood at the north side of the fountain and said no word but beckoned to the Prince with her hand as if she wanted him to come to her. And she was tall and great, shining, and wrapped in a thin garment as green as poison. And the Prince stared at her like a man out of his wits. But suddenly the lady was gone, and we returned to Cair Paravel."

Eustace frowned, thinking.

Drinian continued. "The next day Prince Rilian rode out alone. That night he didn't come back, and from that hour no trace of him was ever found in Narnia nor any neighboring land, and neither his horse nor his hat nor his cloak nor anything else was ever found. Then I went to Caspian and told him the story."

"I'll bet that snake and that woman were the same person," Eustace said.

Drinian nodded. "That's what I think too."

"Very well, then. Pole and I have got to find this Prince. Can you help us?"

"Have you any clue, you two?" asked Caspian.

"Yes," said Eustace. "We know we've got to go north. And we know we've got to reach the ruins of a giant city and look for the words 'UNDER ME.' "

Caspian and Drinian looked at each other in fear.

"What's wrong?" Jill asked.

Drinian gulped. "Ever since Caspian made peace with the giants, there has been a truce. But I have heard rumors that some giants in that part have gone back to their old ways. You had best avoid them."

"Nevertheless, they must go," Caspian told him. He turned to Eustace and Jill. "I know someone out in the marshes who can help you; his name is Puddleglum. I give you my blessing, in the name of Aslan, that you may complete this quest and rescue my son."

Eustace smiled. "Thank you, my king."

Caspian grinned. "No; thank you."

Jill and Eustace bowed and looked up at Caspian. He sobbed quietly, tears of joy falling from his face.

"I wish you the best of luck, to both of you."

With that, he turned around and went back in his cabin.