For those of you who know The Silver Chair, you've had plenty of warning. For those of you who don't...please don't hate me. It's harder than it looks.

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 3: The Naiad Queen

Chapter 21

Her scream shattered the peace in the air.

Rilian knew at once that his mother was in great pain. He leapt to his feet and grabbed his sword. "Rhea!" he called out for his sister while rushing to his mother's side. He saw the bite on her right hand and as he looked up he just saw the tail of a great serpent slither into the forest. He chased after it, but after a few minutes of futile searching he knew he had lost it.

"Rilian!" Penelope called out desperately.

Rilian gave up his search for the green serpent and rushed back to his mother. "Rhea!" he called out again. Rilian had received very little of his mother's magic, if any at all, but he and Rhea shared a special bond. They didn't know what it was; they only knew that they could always sense each other. Though Rhea was nowhere near the party at the moment, Rilian knew she would hear his calls.

Rilian broke through the forest and dropped to his knees at his mother's side. He grabbed her left hand with one of his own and placed the other to her cheek. She was struggling to speak and tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. The star around her neck glowed a faint blue.

"Mother?"

"R-r-r-r…"

"Shh, don't speak, Mother. Don't. It's going to be alright. Stay with me. RHEA!"

"What?" Rhea shouted as she emerged from the fountain. "I came as quickly…Mother!" Rhea saw her mother laying on the ground and Rilian kneeling over her and she understood his urgency. Rhea rushed over and fell to her knees across from Rilian.

"What happened?" she asked.

"A serpent bite," Rilian said with a shaky voice as he fought against his tears.

Rhea picked up the bitten hand and pulled water from the fountain behind her. She tried to heal the wound but it would not seal. Ava's necklace began to glow brighter.

"R-r-r-r…"

"Shh, Mother. It's alright. Rhea is here," Rilian soothed.

"We need to get her back to the castle and quickly." Rhea said. "Does anybody have a bit of spare cloth I can wrap this wound in?"

Before anyone could say 'no,' Penelope took out her dagger and cut a strip form her dress. "Here you go, Your Majesty."

Rhea placed a thick film of healing water over Ava's hand and wrapped it with the cloth. Rhea moved aside as Orlich stepped in and scooped Ava into his arms. He followed Rilian to his horse and handed Ava over once the Prince was settled in his saddle.

"Ride fast, Rilian. Faster than you ever have before," Rhea said. "I will go ahead of you and prepare Father. Now go!"

Rilian kicked his horse into a full gallop, not even waiting for the rest of the party to mount. Rhea watched him leave and whispered a silent prayer to Aslan before heading back to the fountain. Rilian galloped over the Narnian terrain with his mother cradled safely in his arms. He could hear her fighting for her breath and he fought past his own tears to keep riding. Whatever happened he had to keep going. He had to keep riding. He had to get her to the castle on time.

"Stay with me, Mother. I'm going to get you to the castle and Rhea will heal you. She has to. Don't give up, Mother. You'd never let me give up when I thought I'd never learn to shot a bow or handle the sword; I won't let you give up now." He coughed out a sob. "Stay with me, Mother."

XOXOX

Rhea raced through the halls of the castle, thankful there weren't many bodies about. Her heart was racing wildly. "Please just hold on, Mother. Aslan save her." Her thoughts were running rampant; her emotions were never this wild, but then, her mother had never been threatened like this before.

The guards outside the throne room bowed their heads to her as she approached; she ignored them and reached for the doors. She knew the court was in session, but that mattered little right now. She pulled the door open and rushed in. As suspected, the focus turned to her sudden entrance. The lord who had been speaking stopped mid-sentence.

"Rhea? What's the meaning of this?" her father asked from his throne.

Rhea hastened to him. She curtsied lightly before him before stepping up beside him and whispering in his ear. Caspian's face paled with the news. He gripped the arms of his throne with all the strength he could muster. He tried to speak but found that his voice had left him. He stood with shaky legs.

"Thi—this court is adjourned," he managed at last, his voice weak.

Caspian left the throne room in great haste, leaving a slew of stunned and confused lords in his wake. Rhea rushed out after him followed by the lords Drinian, Rhince, and Trumpkin.

"Princess!" Drinian called. "What is it? What's happened?"

Rhea slowed to speak with the three lords as her father disappeared around a corner. "Mother has been bitten by a poisonous serpent. She is not well. Rilian rides with her here."

"Surely she will be alright? You can heal her?" Rhince asked a hint of desperation in his voice.

"I…I…" Rhea faltered over her words. "Make sure she is taken to the Royal Chambers at once where she will be comfortable," she addressed Rhince. "I must go to the Treasure Vault for Queen Lucy's cordial." Rhea turned her attention to a nearby ladies' maid. "Aleisha, have a bowl of water prepared and have it at the Queen's bedside."

"Yes, my Lady," Aleisha bowed and they all turned to leave.

"And Drinian," Rhea called back. "Father…" Rhea's voice cracked and she couldn't continue. Drinian nodded his head in understanding before continuing on.

As everyone rushed off to do what was assigned to them, Rhea was left standing alone in the hall. Once more she could feel her heart racing and fear setting in. She could heal her right? She had to for Narnia's sake, for Father's sake. But…what if she couldn't? What if too much poison had entered her system? What if…what if she was already too late?

"Oh Aslan!" she cried out. "Please give me the strength." It was a desperate plea from a desperate daughter.

Then, whether Rhea actually heard it or if it was just in her head she didn't know, but suddenly she heard a gentle lion's roar and the words, "My child, you have the strength." If that was the strength to do what she wanted to do, or the strength to accept what she could not change Rhea did not know.

With her new strength, Rhea uprooted her feet and hurried to the treasure vault. Again the guard by the door bowed to her; the only acknowledgement she gave him was a command.

"Unlock the door."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but I am under orders by the King to never unlock this door unless by his request," the guard replied.

Rhea did not have time for this. "Unlock the door!" she shouted in a manner that was very unlike her. "Now."

"I'm sorry, Princess, but I cannot."

"Under orders of my father the King, unlock this door. His Queen lies dying and I must get to her in time."

"The Queen is…"

"The door! Sir."

The guard quickly scrambled around for the proper key and finally unlocked the heavy wooden door with shaking hands; Rhea hurried down the stairs. The treasure vault, as with the rest of Cair Paravel, was an exact replica of the original complete with the original statues of the Four Kings and Queens of Old. Rhea went to the statue of the youngest queen. She bowed to the statue before reaching for the treasure she sought.

"I must borrow this, Your Majesty." Rhea paused momentarily as she looked at the gift in her hand. It was a diamond, heart-shaped bottle a third-full of magic healing cordial that could cure most any injury. Rhea prayed it would be of use today. With cordial in hand, Rhea made her way back through the halls to the Royal Chambers. Aleisha was there with the bowl of water but no one else was. Rhea walked to the bowl to warm the water and make her preparations.

Rhea wasn't in the room long before there was a great bustle in the hall and the doors opened. Caspian walked in first, followed by Selenius with the Queen in his arms. The aged Satyr gently laid the Queen on the bed. Caspian knelt at her side and held her unbitten hand; tears were already present in his eyes. Rilian too had tears as he stood at the foot of the bed looking over his mother. Drinian stood by the door.

Outside the room there was a slew of people waiting anxiously. Rhince stood with his arm around Helaine while she wept into his chest. Likewise, Orlich held Gael in comfort. Penelope, still in her torn dress, stood with her three siblings; Lorna, the youngest, cried openly. Penelope though, refused to cry for Rilian's sake. She knew he couldn't see her now, but she had to be his strength nonetheless. There were many others waiting in the hall as well. By now word had spread through the castle that the Queen had been involved in some sort of accident. Many did not know how dire the situation was. Work in the castle had come to a standstill while all waited for word on the Queen's condition.

Inside the Royal Chambers, Rhea stood frozen in horror as she looked upon her mother while she lay on the bed. Ava was pale, unbelievably pale. She seemed to have no color left in her face at all. Her cheeks were shrunken and shallow. Her body trembled though there were beads of sweat around her hairline. Her breathing was labored and came in pants. And her eyes were distant and cloudy. But now, surrounded by her family her lips turned up in the faintest of smiles.

"C-C-Caspian…" Ava whispered, raising her shaking hand to stroke his cheek. Caspian grabbed the hand again and kissed it.

"Shh, Ava," he soothed. "You're going to be alright now. Rhea will cure you." When no one moved Caspian's eyes flashed up to his daughter. "Rhea!"

Rhea jumped at her father's shout; everyone did. Unfrozen, Rhea grabbed the cordial and uncorked the bottle. She climbed onto the bed beside her mother and tipped the bottle over her lips. Three drops fell in and Ava swallowed roughly. Rhea studied her mother's appearance carefully and when she saw no improvement she reached for the bitten hand. When she removed the cloth and film of water she had to pause to catch her breath. The bite was both crusted and oozing, and the hand was tinted green. With a shaky hand Rhea tipped the ancient bottle over the bite and applied the magic healing cordial directly to the wound.

Again Rhea studied. Again there was no change.

Rhea handed the bottle to Aleisha who took it with her own trembling hands. Rhea called a handful of water from the bowl and engulfed her mother's hand with it. Perhaps the combined effects of the Star's gift, the Valiant Queen's cordial, and Rhea's own Naiad magic would be enough to combat the poison.

Ava turned back to her husband. "Caspian, I love you." Her voice trembled.

"Shh, Ava, my Queen. Save your strength. There will be plenty of time for that when you are well." Caspian's eyes looked back up to his daughter.

"I'm trying, Father," Rhea said, the threat of tears on her voice. "But the poison, there's some magic behind it. It's counter acting my magic at every turn, working faster than I can heal."

"Keep trying, Sister," Rilian pleaded with a weak voice. Rhea fought against the poison harder.

Ava knew what was happening, and she fought to hold on long enough. "My children." Her voice was faint, barely above a whisper. She held her good hand out. "Rilian, my Son, come here."

Rilian walked over hesitantly, fearfully, to stand at his mother's side. Tears slipped from his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mother," he wept.

"Don't be, my Son." Ava placed her hand on his. "My necklace, take my necklace."

"Ava, don't," Caspian urged. "Keep it on; you need its magic."

Ava ignored him. "Take it, Rilian." At his mother's request, Rilian carefully reached around his mother's neck and unclasped the Star's gift. Ava folded Rilian's hand around the necklace.

"Give it to your Queen, my Son. May it protect her as it has protected me these many years. Do not mourn for me, but hold my love in your heart and you will be a great King when the time comes. I love you Rilian, King's Son."

"Ava, stop this! Stop this foolishness!" Caspian commanded. "You are not saying goodbye. Don't you dare say goodbye! I—I cannot lose you." Again Ava ignored the pleadings of her husband and turned to her daughter instead.

Rhea was crying as she continued to try and fend off the poison. "Rhea, my Daughter, stop."

"Mother, I can't. If I stop you'll…"

"Stop, my Daughter. Stop."

Regretfully, Rhea let her magic stop and the water return to the bowl. Rhea's shoulders sagged and she slumped forward to lay her head on her mother's lap; sobs escaped her throat.

"I'm sorry Mother. I'm sorry Father. I tried to help; I tried."

"You have helped my daughter." Ava stroked her daughter's hair with her good hand. "Because of you I feel no pain. I feel…only love." Ava's breathing began to be more labored. With each breath she slipped further away. "My daughter…you are everything…I hoped you'd be…and more…. I love you, Rhea, Queen's Daughter."

Ava turned her head back to face Caspian; it was time for her final words. Caspian had his face buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking with sobs. Ava ran a finger softly over his hands and he lifted his head. His eyes were rimmed in red and tears flowed freely down his bearded face. He took her hand in his and held it to his lips in a lasting kiss.

"Caspian…my King, the day has come." Tears slipped from her eyes, but still Ava smiled. "We prayed it never would…and yet, we knew. ...There is nothing to say to you…that I have not already said…except for this. ...Do not let this destroy you. ...Be strong. …We will meet again. ...I will wait for you. ...I love you, Caspian."

Caspian could not respond. He did not have the strength to speak. He could only bend over and place a tender kiss to her lips. He left his lips against hers for as long as he could; he did not want the kiss to end, for fear of what he might see.

"Aslan!" Rhea gasped. She quickly sat up and looked towards the center of the room.

Caspian snapped up and looked over his shoulder at the Mighty Lion. His heart swelled with joy and hope flooded his veins. He looked back to Ava and smiled.

"It's alright, Ava. Aslan is here. He can save you."

"Father," Rhea hesitated. "Father, I do not think that is why He is here."

Caspian looked back to the Lion in confusion. "What do you mean?" And then he saw.

The Great Lion was weeping. Great lion tears fell from His golden eyes; each tear sparkling like a diamond, but each one far more precious. Aslan walked forward slowly, a sad smile on His lips.

"No, Aslan, please no." Caspian dropped to his knees. "Please don't take her from me. I need her. Take the crown if you must, but leave her. Or else take my life too, Aslan; it is yours for the taking. Please, do not part us."

"Be still, my Son," Aslan said. "I still have work for you. You are needed here." Aslan gave him a lion's kiss on his forehead before walking past him to stand by Ava's bedside. Ava smiled a peaceful smile and placed her hand in His golden mane.

"I am ready, Aslan" she whispered with firmness.

As suddenly as He came, Aslan was gone again.

Caspian rushed back to the lean over Ava. She lay perfectly still. Her eyes were closed and a smile was on her lips. If he did not know otherwise, Caspian would have thought she was only sleeping. He placed a hand to her cheek; it was already turning cold.

"N-n-no," he whispered; his lips trembled violently and tears spilled from his eyes. "No, Ava. NO!" Caspian let out a great and terrifying cry as he collapsed to his knees. He took her left hand and held it between his as he lowered his head onto the bed and wept unmercifully. Behind him, Rilian backed into the wall and slid to the floor as his tears rained down his face. He clutched his mother's necklace to his chest, but there was no healing power it could give him. Rhea fell back onto the bed and laid her head in her mother's lap.

Across the room, by the door, Drinian closed his eyes to steady himself before quietly stepping out. He spoke not only to the guards, but to all who stood waiting.

"Sound the trumpets. Lower the flag. The Queen…the Queen is dead." And then he lowered his head and wept.

Go on. Throw your tomatoes and rotten fruit. I don't have the strength to doge them. Chapter 22 will be up in a few days. :'( Does anybody have a hanky I can borrow? :'(