Hi Everyone! It's Friday, so you know what that means! Update time! I think I've figured out how many chapters there will be, but I'm little hesitant to say right now in case it changes (again!) Hope you all enjoy!
And happy Veterans Day! Thanks to all those who serve our country(ies) on a daily basis. We are grateful for all you do.
The Naiad Trilogy
Part 3: The Naiad Queen
Chapter 25
The hours went on with no word from the party. Hours turned into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months. Rilian was nowhere to be found. Neither cloak, nor lock of hair, nor any trace of his horse was ever seen. Many brave knights, both Son of Adam and Narnian alike, went in search of the lost Prince, but none returned alive and many did not return at all.
After a year of endless searching and still no trace of Rilian, Caspian had to do the unthinkable. Too many lives had been sacrificed. Too many families had suffered loss. Caspian could not continue to bring such unending pain to his people. Though it caused him great pain to do so, Caspian had to call of the search for his son. After that day, no one was allowed to search for the lost Prince again.
XOXOX
After Caspian gave the announcement and most everyone had left the throne room, Rhea still stood breathless. It had been a year since Rilian disappeared, and her father had commanded that the search end. He had declared her brother dead. Dead. Rilian could not be dead; Rhea refused to believe it.
When all those who were leaving had left, all that remained were Caspian, Drinian, Rhince, Penelope, and Rhea.
"I don't understand, Father," Rhea said quietly. Caspian turned his saddened eyes to look on his daughter while she slowly walked towards him.
"How could you do this? How can you give up like this?"
"Rhea, I had little choice. Our knights were dying; families were suffering. I could not continue to be so selfish," Caspian replied.
"I know, but Father, do you…do you really believe Rilian to be dead?"
"I do not know what to believe."
"Well I don't believe it! I won't believe it."
Caspian nodded his head slowly in agreement. "I do not wish to believe it either."
"What will become of Narnia now?"
"What do you mean, Princess?" Rhince asked.
"Father, it is not something I wish for, but I know it is unavoidable; though, I hope it is many years away still. One day you will join Mother in Aslan's Country. What will happen to Narnia when you do? With Rilian gone, who will the people turn to?"
Caspian glanced warily to his friends. They had discussed this very issue for hours the night before. They could come to only one suitable conclusion.
"They will turn to you, as their Queen," Caspian replied while he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Me? Queen? But, Father, I am no Queen. I am their Princess, the Naiad Princess. I cannot be Queen, and you know why."
"I'm afraid there is no other option. I know you are the Naiad Princess, but you are also my daughter, my first born, and the only child I have left. That makes you the heir-to-be."
"You would have me forsake the magic? Abandon the water? To sit on a throne and wear a crown?"
"I would have you rule your people. To place their needs above all else. To do what is right by them. If you do not take up the heirship then there is no one. Narnia needs you, Rhea."
Rhea was silent and tearful. From the time she was ten and she first learned of her heritage she dreamed of being like the Naiads. It was her one desire, her one wish to spend endless days in the river. She was certain she could love nothing more than the feel of her magic. And yet, she knew her father was right. Being the Queen's Daughter made her Naiad; being the King's Daughter made her royalty. Now that she was considered the sole child of the King the crown, and all that came with it, would pass to her one day.
Rhea nodded slowly. "I understand, Father. I will accept my duties for our people."
Caspian gently bit down on his lips. He could clearly see how much this was paining his daughter to say these things. He knew to be Queen was the last thing that Rhea desired, and yet she was too much like her mother to refuse the good of the people. In that moment, Caspian desperately wanted to take it all back. He wanted to promise her that she'd never have to take up the crown. He wanted to promise her that she could remain the Naiad Princess for the rest of her years. "You shouldn't promise things you cannot keep, Caspian." That's what Ava would have said at that moment. And so, Caspian held his tongue and did not make the promises that he longed to make.
"But…" Rhea continued without pause. "I will pray every day that Rilian will return before it is too late."
"I will pray the same," Caspian said. And he would. "We will begin your training tomorrow."
"My training?"
"There are many things you must know to rule a country, and one of them is how to fight well with a sword. I would have had you learn a long time ago, but you were never very interested in fighting and your mother insisted that I not push the matter. Now, however, it is necessary. I'd teach you myself, but I think you would benefit more with a female instructor. I will ask Gael if she would be willing to instruct you."
"If I may, Your Majesty," Penelope said stepping forward. "Mother is still very upset over Father's sacrifice; I do not know if she is in the right mind to begin instructing the Princess. If you would allow it, I could instruct the Princess. I would most likely be at the lessons anyway, and this would give my mother time to mourn fully."
"I should not be surprised to hear that you know how to fight, and yet I am."
Penelope smiled feebly. "My father began my instruction from the moment I could walk and hold a stick."
"Again, I should not be surprised. Very well then, can you begin tomorrow?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then so be it. And Penelope, I am sorry for your loss as well."
"Don't be, Sire. My father was a brave man, and I have made my peace with Aslan for his death. I mourn for him no more."
Caspian nodded his head lightly and looked over to Rhea. "I'm sorry I have to ask this of you, Rhea. I wish there was something I could do."
"I know, Father, but if it is Aslan's will then there is nothing we can do about it."
Caspian smiled sadly, squeezed Rhea's shoulder gently, and kissed her forehead before turning to discuss business with his trusted friends.
XOXOX
That night, Penelope found herself in a place she didn't expect to be. It had been a year since she'd been in that room, but that night she felt a tug, a want, a need she couldn't refuse. It was exactly as she 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 Penelope looked around the familiar room, memories of their time together flooded her mind. Her father would have been furious if he knew she 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 her room.
Rilian.
Penelope felt a stab of pain as his name crossed her mind. She had been trying so hard to not let his name come into her thoughts. She knew if it did it would unleash a flood of hurt that she could not contain. She was right.
Rilian.
Rilian.
Rilian.
She grabbed the heart pendant that still hung around her neck and sat on the sofa as she tried to catch her breath and ease the pain.
Rilian.
Rilian.
Tears burst forth and she fought harder. Penelope was the kind of girl that never cried. Rilian had only seen her cry once. And there it was again!
Rilian.
Rilian.
Penelope gave up the fight. She clutched her pendant even harder and curled herself into a ball on the sofa, where she let her tears run without hindrance. To Penelope it felt like hours had passed before her tears finally subsided. She remained curled in a fetal position.
"Rilian, oh, Rilian. Why did you leave me?" she whispered into the silent darkness of the room.
"Penelope…help me…Penelope…"
Penelope sat up in a flash and looked around. Rilian! She knew his voice anywhere. He had called for her. She 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!"
"Penelope," another familiar voice called her name, a voice that did not belong to Rilian, but to his father. "Penelope," the King said again, this time shaking her shoulder lightly.
Penelope's eyes flew open to find King Caspian leaning over her. She had been dreaming? Penelope hadn't even realized she had fallen asleep. It felt so real. Penelope unfolded her legs and sat up straight.
"You were crying in your sleep," Caspian said.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Penelope said hoarsely. She had been crying awhile, hadn't she?
"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," Penelope said looking away.
"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.
Penelope sighed and pulled up the skirt of her dress. Caspian quickly closed his eyes and looked away awkwardly. So he did not see Penelope untie a ribbon from around her knee and pull off a key.
"Here, Your Majesty." Penelope held the key out for Caspian to take. "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?" Caspian asked in a very disapproving, fatherly tone.
"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." Penelope could feel tears threatening to escape again. She quickly brushed away the ones at her eyes and stood up.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I'll leave now and I promise I won't come back in here." Penelope made for the door as quickly as she could, but it wasn't fast enough.
"You loved him, didn't you? You really loved him."
"NO! Your Majesty," Penelope said without hesitation, catching Caspian off guard. The confusion was evident on his face as Penelope looked back at him. "I still love him; there is no past tense, not when it comes to love."
"You are right about that," Caspian said quietly, thinking of how much he still loved Ava.
Penelope thought about leaving again at that moment, but she didn't. Instead she said, "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."
Penelope said nothing for a moment; then she repeated, "I will wait."
Caspian looked fully into her young eyes and saw honesty, love, and steadfastness. He knew she would wait. She would commit her life to being alone. If she could not have Rilian, she would have none. Caspian remembered the feeling. He nodded softly and walked over to her. He took one of her hands and folded it around the key.
"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, Caspian slipped quietly out of the room.
XOXOX
Rhea's royal training began the following day as instructed. Though she had no desire to fight with a sword, she was her mother's daughter and had a natural talent for it; also, Penelope was a kind instructor. The days continued to pass and years went on. Caspian never returned to the man he was before Ava's death, but he became less of the man he was at the time of his son's disappearance. Apart from Rilian's kidnapping, or death as the country was concerned, Narnia remained a peaceful place. Cair Paravel was frequently visited by diplomats from neighboring countries. Among those who visited were several potential suitors for the Narnian heir.
But Rhea could choose none to be her future King.
Rhea held out hope that Rilian would one day return. It was hard for her not to; there were many nights where she had dreams of her lost brother. They were never pleasant dreams though. They were more like nightmares. While she slept, Rhea saw visions of a vast, black river that stretched on for miles. On the side of the river sat a quiet city and a dark castle. In the castle dwelled a lady with cherry lips and dark hair who wore only green. In her dreams, Rilian was a prisoner in this castle. He was bound to a chair of silver, and he cried out for help that never came.
Rhea found it very difficult to sleep on the nights that she had this dream.
As the years went by and Rhea continued to politely decline her suitors, Caspian grew antsy. For many years he held on to the promise he and Ava had been given at the world's end; that their descendents would reign until the end of days. But with Rilian gone, and since he couldn't even consider the possibility that Narnia's time was going to end, Caspian began to consider other possible heirs. True there were no other blood heirs apart from his daughter, but there were a few potentials that Caspian could see sitting upon the throne and ruling Narnia justly.
Drinian would have been a fine candidate without a doubt, but Drinian was even further along in age than Caspian. Perhaps if he had sons, Caspian would consider them first; as it was though, Drinian had found love very late in life and he had no children. Orlich would have also been a decent choice for king, but he had been among the many knights to bravely give their lives in the search for Rilian. There were a few sons of lords who showed a few kingly qualities. But perhaps the most suitable candidate that Caspian could think of was Penelope.
Penelope displayed a right many queenly qualities. She was fair and just amongst any she came in contact with; she too had a fair number of suitors calling on her, and she handled each one with grace setting forth a single challenge for all of them. To be considered for courtship, they simply had to beat her in a duel. None had yet to win, though one had come close. Penelope was also diplomatic and kind. She helped to deliver food to those who needed it in the cold months. Penelope was faithful to Aslan and trusted Him daily. She would meet with the young children once a week and tell them stories of Aslan's love and grace. Yes, Penelope was an excellent choice for queen; if only Caspian knew she would accept it.
There came a day, just over ten years since the searches for Rilian ended and eleven since his disappearance and Ava's death, when Caspian heard a rumor that the Great Lion had been spotted on Muil, one of the Seven Isles. Caspian could no longer stand to see his daughter suffer and agonize over her decision to accept the crown, and he knew he had to find another solution. He had thought of many possibilities for passing on the crown, none seemed better than Penelope, but he wanted to seek the Lion's guidance and approval first. He felt he could not wait for the Lion to visit him, so he decided to set out for the Seven Isles and seek the Lion himself.
XOXOX
"Father!" Rhea called out as she pushed open the doors to the parlor where Caspian stood with the Lord Drinian. She rushed to her father's side, her mannerisms showing signs of great distress.
"Rhea? What's the matter my daughter?" the aged Caspian asked.
"Father please, don't go on this voyage." Rhea grasped her father's hands desperately and kissed his knuckles. "I fear your trip will not end well; it's a feeling I have. Father, please say you won't go."
"Princess, why do you fear your father's voyage so much?" Drinian asked.
"I know why Father means to sail. You seek to find Aslan, to seek his guidance on whom to name as King in my place. But you need not go, Father. I'll accept the Lord's proposal. I will marry him. I'll become Queen. Please Father, you mustn't sail tomorrow."
"You will accept the Lord Barren's marriage proposal?" Caspian asked with a strange tone of awe.
"I will, Father."
"Well this is wondrous news, Princess," Drinian exclaimed.
"So it seems my dear friend, but before we hasten to tell anyone answer me this, my daughter. Do you love the Lord Barren?"
"Love?"
"Yes, love."
"Father, I…" Rhea had every mind to say that she did love the Lord Barren, though under her father's intense scrutiny she knew she could not lie. "I am sure I will learn to love him."
"You will?"
"Or at least, I shall try. And if I cannot learn to love him, then he shall never know otherwise. I would live everyday as if he had my whole heart." Rhea dropped her head so as to hide the pain evident in her eyes. Caspian gently lifted her head back up in time to see a tear fall.
"But he wouldn't have it, would he? No one could ever have your heart, for it wholly belongs to the river." Rhea cast her eyes downward in shame, and Caspian released her chin walking away. It was several moments before he spoke again.
"Your mother would be very angry with me if I allowed you to do this."
"Please, Father, it's what I want to do, for my country."
Caspian sighed heavily. "I cannot let you marry for anything less than love."
"But I love Narnia. Is that not enough?"
"No, my daughter, it is not. What's more, I have already sent The Lord Barren away. I'm sorry, Rhea, but I will sail for Muil tomorrow and if Aslan is no longer there, then I will sail to the Lone Islands and so on until I find Him."
"Father…"
"My word is final."
Rhea took her father's old hands gently into hers and kissed them through her tears. "Then tonight and every night that you are gone I shall pray that you will find all the answers that you seek and return swiftly home to us."
The following day, Caspian boarded a magnificent sailing vessel, though none were considered better than the legendary Dawn Treader, and set forth on his quest to find Aslan. A large crowd of Narnians had gathered to bid their King a safe voyage. Though what none of them yet knew was that there were two others who watched the sailing of the King. Two children, one a Son of Adam and the other a Daughter of Eve, from the other world had just arrived in Narnia.
Ohh! Who are the children do you think? :D
And now, the main plot line of The Silver Chair is about to begin! Anyone else excited?
Also, with this chapter we have the set up of the spin-off. Penelope's story, I Will Wait... There is a banner and a brief summary for it posted on my profile. You've no idea how excited I am about writing this spin-off! It will be a bit of romance mixed with angst, told entirely from Penelope's point of view.
And finally, Thanksgiving is in two weeks! (Can you believe it?) I know I will be going to my mom's for it, but I'm not sure what day yet. And I don't think she has internet because her computer has been giving her a lot of problems so updating may be a little odd that week. (That's the week of the 21-27 (Mon-Sun)) I may update twice that week, once early before leaving and once late after returning. I don't know yet; I just wanted to give you all a heads up.
Thanks for reading, and again, I hope you enjoyed!