Howdy y'all! *clears throat* Sorry, I let a little bit of the Southern Girl in me escape. I think I have her under control now. :)

Finished my Bloodlines book! *sigh* It was amazing! Took all day to read and I had a headache when it was over, but hey, it was totally worth it. Can't wait for the next one to come out now.

Found out some wonderful news today! Killing Bono (staring the lovely Ben Barnes) is scheduled to be released in US theaters on Nov. 4! What a perfect birthday gift! (Nov 3!) That's not why I'm posting this chapter though. I'm posting cause it's been a few days and...I'm going to the beach, the real beach with the ocean and all, this weekend. My brother will actually be here in a few hours to get me. I wasn't going to go, but it's Labor Day weekend and I got invited by my Dad. Thought I should spend a little time with him...

So anywho... Here's chapter 10 and there's a time leap. There's a picture of the teenage Gael on my profile if your interested. I think my chapters are getting longer, hope you don't mind... ON with the Story!

Time Lapse: 7 Years, in the month of October.

Character ages-Ava: 27, Caspian: 29, Rhince/Helaine: 35, Gael: 17, Drinian: 38

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 3: The Naiad Queen

Chapter 10

Ava walked briskly through the halls of the castle, searching briefly each room that she came to. "Where is he?" He wasn't in their quarters; he wasn't in his study. Neither was he in the throne room, the dining hall, nor the stables. "What is that boy up to?" Ava left the current room she was searching and went back into the hall where at last she saw a helpful face.

"Gael," Ava greeted the blue-eyed, auburn hair, teenage girl.

"Hello, Your Majesty," Gael replied with a smile and small curtsey. Ava ignored the formal greeting.

"How is it that you appear more beautiful with each passing day?"

"It's a gift I suppose."

"I would love to have hair like yours," Ava said as she fingered Gael's curled tresses. "Mine is so plain and straight."

"You shouldn't say such things, Ava. Thoughts like that could lead to envy."

"It is perfectly alright to admit you are envious; it is a natural feeling, and one can often not help it. It is when we let those feelings consume us that they become dangerous. That goes for any feeling."

"I will try to remember that. Were you looking for something?"

"Yes, my husband. Have you seen him?"

"I'm sorry; I haven't."

"Where could he be? Ah, what about your father or the Lord Drinian, have you seen them?"

"Father mentioned something about the library."

"The library? What would he be doing in the library?"

"I don't know; reading a book perhaps?" Gael grinned cheekily.

"Really? Books in the library?" Ava and Gael laughed. "Thank you Gael; I will look for Caspian there."

"You're welcome, Ava." Gael turned and continued down the hall.

"Gael, wait! Are we still on for tonight?" Ava asked as Gael turned back to look at her.

"Absolutely!" Gael exclaimed excitedly.

"Alright, then meet me in the east armory around seven. And if you happen to find Caspian before I do, please let him know that I'm looking for him."

"I will."

"Thank you, again," Ava said with a smile, before making her way to the library.

In seven years much had changed, but much had also stayed the same. Gael was no longer the adorable ten year old learning to dance with Fauns on the beach; she was a beautiful seventeen year old who had caught the eye of many young suitors from both Narnia and Archenland. Ava's coronation was held a few days after Lord Bern's speech before the council, and she had been ruling alongside Caspian as Queen in peace ever since. Ava and Helaine's friendship had deepened over the years, while Ava's relationship with Gael had become that of an older sister. Caspian and Rhince's friendship had grown immensely too, as had his friendship with Drinian; the three of them were almost always together. Rhince now served as a lord on the council, filling in the vacant chair Dr. Cornelius left when he retired a few years ago. Dr. Cornelius now fully resided in the hut in Beruna where he and Ava used to live.

For all the things that had changed, there were two that had not. Narnia was at peace with the surrounding lands, and Caspian and Ava were still madly in love.

"There you are," Ava said as she finally spotted Caspian sitting at a small round table in the library with Rhince and Drinian; there was a pile of books and papers before them. Caspian looked up at the sound of Ava's voice and smiled broadly as she began walking towards him.

"Have you been looking for me, love?"

"I have." She placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it lightly. He shrugged and kissed her hand. "I haven't seen you in a library since you were taking lessons."

"You saw me taking lessons in the library? I never saw you."

"It was my job to be invisible."

"How did you find me now?"

"I asked Gael where her father was. What are you three doing in here?" she asked, picking up a spare book. "Terebinthian Law?"

Ava looked at the three guys suspiciously. Drinian and Rhince cast wary glances to Caspian but remained silent. Ava walked around the table and pulled out the fourth chair; she sat down and looked across the table at Caspian.

"Alright, no secrets. What's happened?"

Caspian sighed. "Terebinthia has a new King, as you know."

"Yes, I remember hearing about that. It was very sudden, wasn't it? Unexpected? King Malachi wasn't but a few years older than yourself."

"Right," Caspian replied with a nod.

"He had children didn't he? A son?"

"Two sons," Drinian replied. "Both tragically died soon after."

"That's awful. So who's King then?"

"The Lord Galvin," Caspian said.

"Galvin?" Ava repeated the name and let it run through her thoughts. It was only vaguely familiar. "He wasn't a member of the royal family, was he?"

"Not directly, no," Rhince said. "He was a distant relation though."

"Was there none closer?"

"There were," Caspian said.

"So you think there's more going on?"

Caspian shrugged. "We don't really know what to think at the present moment."

"I see." Ava looked to Drinian and directed her next question to him. "Does Terebinthia pose a threat to Narnia?"

"Alone? No," Drinian replied. "But if they get the Galmians involved then that might be a different story."

"And Galma is their province so that is very likely." Drinian nodded slowly. "Well, this certainly seems like something we should keep our eye on, but…after dinner." Ava stood and held her hand out to Caspian.

"Is it time for dinner already?" Caspian asked as he stood and took Ava's hand.

"It is the very reason I came to find you, dear." She pulled him close and linked her arm through his as they began to the leave the library. "And Caspian, don't keep things like this from me, please. I'd much rather know about things from the start then to find out about them after they've escalated."

"I'm sorry, Ava. I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily. It may turn out to be nothing."

"Hmm, I love you too." Ava tilted her head up slightly and kissed his cheek.

Dinner was nothing out of the ordinary. Ava and Caspian shared it with their closest companions just as they did every night. There was laughter abound and talk of the happenings of the day. The possible troubles from Terebinthia were pushed from thought and sat temporarily forgotten in a far corner of the mind. After dinner, the five adults took their traditional stroll about a few of the gardens and courtyards.

At the agreed time, Ava went to the east armory where Gael was already waiting. Gael jumped up excitedly as Ava entered; this was always one of her favorite times of the day. Ava snickered at the younger girl's enthusiasm and walked briskly to the storage closet where she unlocked the door and pulled out the practice pads and wooden swords. After both girls were dressed they resumed Gael's sword training from where they had last left off.

XOXOX

Later that night, Ava stood before a full length mirror in the royal suites. Her hands rubbed over her belly; her face scrunched up as she tried to imagine what it would look like. Caspian walked out of their bathroom dressed in a plain shirt and pants, his hair still damp from his early bath. He gave Ava a quizzical stare, but she did not see him.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

Ava sighed heavily and dropped her hands as she spun around to face him. "I want one, Caspian."

"One what?"

"A child, Caspian. Even if it's just one; I want to be a mother," she said longingly.

"You will be, Ava." Caspian walked over and put his hands on her hips, tugging her forward. "You will be a mother, a great mother. I promise."

"It's been seven years, Caspian, and still we have none. I don't understand."

"Don't lose faith, Ava."

"I'm not." Ava's eyes flashed up to meet his. "I'm not losing faith, just patience. I want a child now, or soon at least. I'm ready to be a mother. I want to hold them in my arms. I want to hear their feet padding across the floor as you chase after them in laughter. I want to see their smile and hear them laughing."

"Hmm," Caspian closed his eyes and pulled Ava closer to his body. "Those are nice images you've conjured."

"These images have plagued me for awhile now. I can usually keep them well under control, but this news of Terebinthia has started me thinking. If things turn sour and there is trouble, then…" Her eyes misted over and her hand grazed over his cheek; she could not finish her thought.

"Shh," Caspian grabbed her hands and kissed the backs of them. "Do not let such thoughts even enter your mind. These happenings with Terebinthia are just curious. We are far from war yet."

"You are right; I am sorry. I shall try not to think on these things again."

"I love you, Ava, with my whole heart. Now do you see why I did not wish for you to know? Because I knew your thoughts would lead you here."

"Yes I know and I understand, but I still wish to know such things. Yes I am your wife, and yes you should protect me. But I am also your Queen and we rule together. You are not alone, Caspian, so do not take the whole burden yourself. I can carry some of it."

Caspian sighed as he nodded and rubbed his hands over Ava's arms. "I know Aslan has a purpose behind all He does, but I too long for our children." He lifted his eyes to meet hers and they began to glisten with desire.

"Just because we place the arrival of our children in Aslan's paws, does not mean we cannot still try for them."

Ava grinned and slid her arms around Caspian's neck while his wrapped around her waist and pulled her to. "No, it does not," Ava replied softly while leaning in to place her lips against his.

XOXOX

"Good morning," Ava greeted the servants in the hall as she walked to breakfast.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," they replied.

"Good morning, Ava," Helaine said.

"Good morning, Helaine. Rhince," Ava replied as she hugged them.

"Is Caspian already at breakfast again?" Rhince asked.

"I certainly hope that is where he is. He is always up at the crack of dawn; I have never understood how he does it."

"We are hoping Gael is at breakfast too," Helaine said.

"Oh! That reminds me. I've been meaning to tell you that Gael is progressing in her lessons quite nicely. She is very enthusiastic about them and she is learning quickly."

Rhince and Helaine looked at Ava in confusion. "What lessons?"

"Her sword fighting lessons, of course. What other lessons would I be talking about?"

"Sword fighting?" Helaine gasped.

"Yes. We've been…" Realization slowly dawned on Ava. She closed her eyes and sighed. "You didn't know."

"You've been teaching our daughter how to use a sword?" Rhince asked, anger lining his voice as he tried not to lose his temper with the Queen.

"Yes," Ava replied calmly. "She promised me she had your permission. I never would have done it otherwise."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Nearly every night for the past month, month and a half."

"A month and a half?"

"I'm sorry, Rhince. I promise you, I did not know."

"She came to us asking about two months ago, but we told her no," Helaine said.

"She told me you said yes."

"She is in so much trouble," Rhince said angrily.

Rhince turned swiftly and marched furiously to the dining hall just around the corner; Ava and Helaine followed closely behind. They entered the hall to find Gael sitting at the table with Caspian and Drinian. The three of them were laughing over something. Gael sat with her back to the door where her parents and Ava had entered, so she did not see them. But the moment she heard her father's voice, Gael's eyes grew wide and her cheeks lost their color.

"Gael!"

The young girl gulped before turning in her chair and smiling. "Morning, Mummy. Morning, Daddy."

"Don't play coy, Gael."

The young girl locked eyes with Ava; she was staring back with a mixture of hurt and remorse in her eyes. Gael knew then. Ava had told her parents.

"I—I can explain," Gael said shakily as Ava walked to Caspian's side and placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him seated.

"Explain? Explain how you went behind our back? How you lied to Ava? Explain how you've been learning to fight after we explicitly told you not to?" Rhince fired off his questions one after the other.

"Daddy, please. I'm sorry," Gael said as she stood up. "But why can't I learn? Why shouldn't I be able to defend myself? Ava knows how, and so did the Queens of Old. Why should I be any different?"

"Because you are different, Gael! You are my daughter and you are too young to…"

"I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm seventeen. Queen Lucy and Queen Susan were much younger when they learned to fight, and Ava was only nineteen!"

"Enough, Gael," Helaine said. "This is not about age. And we will talk about this later."

"Orlich thinks it's a great idea that I learn. He even wants to spar with me when next we see each other."

"Orlich? Who is Orlich?" Rhince asked, suddenly confused.

"Gael! I said we would talk about this later."

"Yes, and until then you are confined to your room. You will go there now and wait till we come."

"Arr! But that's so unfair! I didn't do anything too terribly wrong!"

"Gael! Listen to your father and go to your room. Now!"

"Ahhh! This is unfair!" Gael yelled as she began storming off. "Should I fetch my own shackles on the way, or will they be coming to me shortly?"

"They will stay longer if you do not drop this attitude!" Rhince called back.

Gael gave another huff of annoyance before leaving and slamming the door behind her. Ava flinched at the harsh sound. The dining hall fell into a strange silence now that the yelling had stopped. Helaine stood with her hands clasped before her, head bowed, and eyes closed. Rhince stood beside her with one arm folded across his mid-section and the other pinching the bridge of his nose. Both were breathing heavily.

"My apologies, gentlemen. We did not mean to disturb your breakfast," Helaine said quietly.

"That's alright, Helaine," Caspian replied.

"My friends," Rhince began, "never have a teenage daughter."

"I believe that is a part of growing up and all teenage girls go through it," Ava said.

"I hardly believe you were ever like that, Ava. I have never seen you raise your voice or lose your temper like Gael has."

"I have," Caspian and Drinian replied simultaneously. "You should have heard her when Caspian tried locking her in the cabin when we came upon those pirates. Everyone on board could hear her."

"What's more," Ava continued. "When I was sixteen I was convinced that Father cared more about Caspian than he did me, and one night I succumbed to jealousy and doubt. I lost my temper with him; I yelled at him and told him that I wished for a different father. I did not speak to him or even go to see him for three days.

"If you will allow me, I will go and speak with Gael since I was once a teenage daughter."

Rhince nodded slowly. "She owes you an apology anyways. Go to her; perhaps she will listen."

Ava bowed her head in acknowledgment before beginning to leave. Caspian called her back and tossed her an apple. "Eat," he said. Ava took a bite of the apple before continuing on.

As she left she could hear Rhince ask his wife, "Who's Orlich?"

"He's that boy form Archenland that visited over the summer. They've been writing each other."

XOXOX

Ava swallowed the last bite of her apple before knocking softly on Gael's door.

"Go away! I don't want to talk!"

"Not even to a sister?" Ava asked. There was a minute of silence, as though Gael was thinking, and then the shuffling of beet before the door opened. Ava stepped in quietly and closed the door behind her while Gael retreated back to her bed.

"Have you come to yell at me too?"

"No, I have not come to yell."

Gael huffed and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Gael, why did you lie to me?"

"Because I knew they would never let me learn. If I were a boy I would already know everything there is to know about fighting. I would have been trained a long time ago. But because I'm a girl he refuses to let me fight. It's so unfair! Why shouldn't I be able to know how to defend myself? Maybe then I could be of use if the Terebinthians attack instead of running and hiding."

"How do you know about the Terebinthians? I know your father did not tell you."

"I overheard Caspian and Lord Drinian speaking about it this morning."

"You're eavesdropping too? That is most unbecoming of a Lady."

"I wasn't eavesdropping. They were already at breakfast talking about it when I came in; they didn't see me."

"And you did nothing to make your presence known, did you?"

Gael dropped her head and mumbled something indistinctly.

"What was that?"

"Not at first. I didn't mean to do it, but the way they were talking I knew it was important. And then I heard your name and something about the possibility of a war and…" Gael trailed off.

"My name?"'

"Caspian said you were upset last night over it, because if there was a war he would have to go and fight. Would you go too?" Gael asked after a short pause.

"No," Ava said with a sigh. "I would have to stay here."

"But why? Wouldn't you want to be out there fighting for your country? I would."

"I would too, but I know I wouldn't be fighting for my country; I would be fighting for my husband."

"Is that so wrong?"

"For most women, no, but I am more than a wife. I am a Queen. Sometimes I must put the needs of my country before my own. Narnia would need me here."

"Do you think there will be a war?"

"I honestly do not know, Gael. None of us know much of anything at this point. We only know that King Malachi and his sons are dead, and that Lord Galvin has been made King. But if there is a war, and even if there is not, we must place our faith and trust in Aslan."

"You will be a good mother. You are very wise."

"Thank you, Gael. That means a great deal to me. And please, Gael, do not harbor any ill feelings for your father. He cares a great deal about you. Yes you are seventeen now, but you will always be his little girl. Allowing you to learn how to fight means you are old enough, and being old enough means you are growing up; he does not want to admit that. My own father still wishes that I would never be near a sword again, and I am twenty-seven. And now you have sprung Orlich on your father, and I'm afraid you have only exacerbated the matter."

"I didn't mean too. It just sort of slipped out."

"Things have the tendency to do that when we are angry. That is why we must always strive to keep our emotions in check."

"I know; I will try to do better."

"Good, I am glad to hear it." Ava tucked a strand of Gael's hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead.

"Since you mentioned him," Gael bit her lip and her cheeks flushed lightly with excitement. "I got another letter from Orlich. It arrived yesterday. Would you like to read it?"

"You know I would."

XOXOX

After reading Gael's letter and talking a little more, Ava left. She found Helaine and Rhince outside in the courtyard just beyond the Lord's Quarters, and she stayed to talk to them for a moment. Ava tried apologizing some more but Helaine would not hear it; she insisted that it was not Ava's fault. Ava thought otherwise, but was relieved when Helaine said she and Rhince were not angry with her.

The three friends were not talking long when their attention was drawn across the courtyard to the gates. A tall slender girl clothed in a rustic-brown dress with wild red hair strewn with cherry blossoms came running in calling for Ava. It was, of course, Ava's friend the Dryad Chérie.

"Chérie? What's wrong?" Ava asked as she took the Dryad's hands.

"It's your father, Ava," Chérie replied. "He has fallen ill, terribly ill I'm afraid. He hasn't much strength left. You must go to him."

Ava swallowed roughly, her heart pounding in her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breath. "Thank you, Chérie. Go quickly home to him and stay by his side until I arrive. I will ride at once. Rhince, please go to the stables and prepare the horses Regina and Strider. Helaine, find my husband and tell him the news. Have him meet me in the stables. I will fetch our cloaks."

Chérie ran off as quickly as she came. Rhince placed a hand on Ava's shoulder and squeezed; he offered a few words of solace before rushing off to the stables. Helaine pulled Ava in for a quick hug before going off on her task. Ava was left standing in the courtyard.

"Aslan, please, allow me to get to him," she whispered as she felt a tear roll down her cheek.

Ava hurried through the halls, weaving and swerving around the servants at work, to her rooms where she grabbed two cloaks. She knew Caspian would be riding too. With cloaks in hand, Ava resumed her weaving and swerving to the stables. Caspian was already in there attaching a satchel to his horse Strider. Ava called out to him; he turned around at once and came to her. He grabbed her face, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and kissed her lips tenderly.

"I'm here for you, Ava. Let me bear this burden with you."

Ava nodded but could not find the words to speak; Caspian understood. He took the cloaks from her and threw one over her shoulders. Ava slipped her arms through the holes while Caspian tied it about her neck. He kissed her once more before putting on his own cloak. Ava walked over to her horse and stroked the neck of the chestnut mare.

"Ride hard, Regina," Ava whispered before mounting. She looked to her left to see Caspian mounting Strider.

"A troupe of men and myself will follow shortly with supplies. We will arrive tomorrow," Drinian said.

"Thank you," Ava replied softly with a nod of her head. Then she gathered the reigns lightly in her hand, and with a final look to Caspian she gave a gentle kick and urged Regina into motion.