Hi there! It's Friday yet again. Wow. As usual, any line marked with little * indicates a direct quote from the brilliant mind of C.S. Lewis who brought us our beloved Narnia stories!

I haven't done this in a while, so I think it is necessary. It will probably be the last time too.

Time Lapse: 11 years since Ava's death.

Character Ages: Caspian-66, Rhea-35, Rilian-31, Penelope-29, Drinian-75, Helaine-72, Gael-54, Eustace-12, Jill-12

Enjoy!

The Naiad Trilogy

Part 3: The Naiad Queen

Chapter 26

"Cheer up, Princess," Penelope whispered softly from Rhea's side as they watched the King's ship sail off. "You look as though you'll never see you father again."

"That is what I fear," Rhea said just as softly.

Penelope paused for a moment, surprised by the confession. "Be that as it may, you must not let your people see that fear."

"Of course. You are right." Rhea sighed before smiling pleasantly. "Is this better?"

"Much, my Lady."

"Come, let us head inside. I was not fully prepared for this cool evening. Oh! What's this? Who are those two children with Glimfeather?"

Penelope looked to where Rhea was looking and saw two strange children walking with the wise owl. One was a boy and the other a girl; both were dressed rather oddly in stiff collared shirts and bare legs. The owl led them to the aged Dwarf Lord Trumpkin who sat on a chair full of soft cushions that was mounted on wheels and harnessed to a donkey.

"I don't know, my Lady. I've never seen them before. Why do they stop at Trumpkin?"

"Because he is the Lord Regent and my Father has left him in command."

"Only of the army. You are still the Crown Princess."

"Not for long if my Father can help it. You know he sails to seek Aslan's guidance on whom to name as heir in my stead."

"But until he names a new heir, you are the heir. You should be treated as such."

"It is alright, Penelope. You know the crown and throne have never been my desire. Really, it's alright," Rhea insisted upon Penelope's doubtful look. "Thank you for looking out for my feelings; you have become a great friend to me over the years."

"You are too kind, Your Majesty."

"Please, I've told you to call me Rhea. But now, let us go see what business these children have with Cair Paravel."

"Are we even certain they are children? Look at their clothing; it is most…"

"Strange? You may say it, Penelope."

"Unusual, Your Majesty," Penelope replied with a coy smile. As they came upon the children and the two Narnians, Trumpkin was setting his ear trumpet in place and Glimfeather was whispering to the children. When the owl looked back up he saw that Rhea and Penelope had joined them.

"Oh! Oh, Princess; Penelope. I did not see you approach," Glimfeather said as he bowed to Rhea.

"Good evening, Master Glimfeather; Lord Trumpkin," Rhea greeted and Penelope nodded her head. "Please, Glimfeather, who are your friends?"

"Yes, yes I've been trying to get him to tell me for some time now, but the talking beasts these days do nothing more than mumble and whisper," Trumpkin grumbled. Rhea smiled at the awkward comment but said nothing; she, along with nearly everyone else, knew that the Dwarf was too proud to admit to his deafness.

"Your Majesty," Glimfeather began. He indicated to the two children. "The girl is called Jill and the boy Eustace; they were sent by the Great Lion to visit the court of Narnia."

"Eustace?" Rhea questioned, her eyes lighting up. She shared a look with Penelope and saw that they shared a common thought. "And you were sent by Aslan from that other world?"

"Yes, that is correct," the boy Eustace replied.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you. I welcome you warmly to Cair Paravel. I am Princess Rhea, daughter of the King; this is my lady, Penelope. She will see to it that you are afforded comfortable bedchambers and clean clothing of the most honorable fashion. Now, I do believe we've all been in this chilled weather long enough. Let us make our way inside where the air is warmer. Penelope, I will be in my chambers should you need anything."

"Yes, my Lady," Penelope replied, but Rhea had already turned and was swiftly on her way back to the castle.

"Oh, and Penelope, in your ear please," Trumpkin said as he beckoned her forward. Penelope leaned towards the aged Dwarf and he put his mouth next to her ear. Then, in what was meant to be a whisper, but for all his efforts the children heard anyway, Trumpkin said, *"See that they're properly washed."*

"Yes, my Lord." Penelope nodded as the Dwarf slightly slapped the reigns of the donkey and set his cart in motion. When he was well out of range Penelope turned to the children. "Sorry about that; the old codger no longer knows the volume of his own voice."

"That's alright," said Jill. "I would like bath."

"Very well then, let's be off shall we?"

Penelope, the two children, and the owl Glimfeather made their way to the castle at a much slower pace as they took in the sights of Narnia along the way.

XOXOX

Rhea hurried as quickly as she could to her rooms. The appearance of the two Other-Worlders had caused her great distress; perhaps if they had arrived a half hour earlier her father might not have sailed. Though he denied it and tried to hide it, Rhea knew her father's health was beginning to fail him. He was much older than he had been; his hair and beard were both fully white. He moved with more difficulty, and the cough he'd been suffering from for the last several weeks only served to weaker him further. Rhea had tried pleading with him several times to stay, but he would not listen.

She greatly feared for what might become of him on this voyage. And she knew if he suffered an ill fate, it would be her fault. If only she knew how to love a man. If only she'd been stronger, more like a Queen. If only she'd been more like her mother who would have sacrificed anything for her people, including the Naiad magic. Perhaps then, her father would have stayed, and perhaps then she would have a little more time to spend with him before he too passed, leaving her alone.

Rhea cried out her pain as her tears rolled down her cheeks. "Aslan! Please bring him back to me. Please watch over father and return him safely and swiftly. Aslan, please." She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks. Suddenly she felt His presence behind her. "Aslan?" She turned around to find the Lion standing in her room.

She shook her head sadly. "You have come to the wrong person, Aslan. You should be appearing to my Father aboard his ship, so that you may tell him what he wants to know. Then he can come home."

Aslan looked on Rhea with sad eyes but said nothing.

"Of course you will not do that will you? You would not make it so easy. Will you at least tell me if he will find you soon? Or if he will find you at all?"

"My child, I cannot," He replied.

"I know. I'm sorry. I do not mean to sound doubtful, Aslan, but I fear I may never see my father again. I was too weak to save Mother or stop Rilian from leaving, and now I am losing Father too. It is a pain, Aslan, that I'm not sure how much more I can bear."

"My child, you should know that I will give you nothing you cannot bear. Do not worry for your father; he will find what he is seeking when it is time. In the meanwhile, you must remain strong, Rhea, for the children need your help."

"You have sent them for more than just a visit, haven't you? There has always been another reason in the stories."

"Yes. They have come to search for the lost Prince. Rilian, he lives."

"My brother is alive?" New tears formed in Rhea's eyes; these were not tears of distress but of great joy. "I knew it. I felt him calling for me; so many nights I heard him, but I felt I could not tell Father. I thought it would only upset him. And now you tell me he is alive. How will they find him? What can I do to help them?"

"They have their instructions. You must help them in what way you can, by getting them started."

"Can't I go with them? Perhaps they would have a better chance if they had my guidance."

"You must stay; this quest is theirs, and your people need you here."

"But Aslan…" Rhea sighed and stopped her pleadings before she even really started. "Their quest is for more than just Rilian, isn't it? It will serve some other purpose, something that will benefit them. That is also in the stories; the Other-Worlders always discovered something about themselves in the process of their adventures."

"You know the stories well," Aslan said with a slight chuckle.

"Very well then, I will find a way to do what I can for Eustace and Jill. Of course I will help them." Aslan nodded and turned to leave. "Aslan? You will watch over Father, won't you?"

"I will always watch over my children."

That wasn't quite what Rhea meant, but she didn't have a chance to say anything more. Aslan was gone.

XOXOX

That night, after bathing and dressing in fine Narnian clothes, Eustace and Jill dined with the royal court. Rhea was there, of course, as were Penelope and her sister Lorna, Gael, Helaine, Glimfeather, and Trumpkin. Rhea placed the boy and girl at the front near her.

"Eustace. That is a very unique name; one does not easily forget it," Rhea said while they waited for the next course to come out. "Our stories tell of a boy named Eustace from the other world who once sailed to the very eastern edge of the world aboard the legendary Dawn Treader."

The boy nodded. "I know I may not look it, Your Majesty, but I am that boy. I sailed there with King Caspian X and my cousins Edmund and Lucy, a King and Queen of Old. Reepicheep the Mouse was a dear friend of mine. Our captain was Lord Drinian."

"It really is him!" Penelope said with a gasp. "It is a great delight to meet you good Sir. The tale of the King's Voyage has always been a favorite amongst my brothers and I. My grandfather told us the story many times; he was on that voyage, the Lord Rhince."

"Yes, I knew him. I hope he is well; I do not see him. Did he sail with Caspian, I mean the King?"

Penelope looked to her mother and grandmother. "No," Helaine replied. "My husband passed this last spring."

"Oh. I am sorry for your loss."

"Don't be. He is in Aslan's Country; I am sure. And he is at peace now."

"And what of Lord Drinian?"

"He sailed with my father this evening," Rhea said. "It is a pity you did not arrive sooner. I am certain he and my Father would have been delighted to see you again."

"The King was a friend of mine. I am sorry to have missed him. And what of the Lady Ava? Did she become Queen? Has she sailed with your father too?"

There was silence amongst the whole table, before Rhea softly replied. "No. My mother died some time ago."

"Oh. Oh, I am sorry to hear that. She was a great friend too. I know I owe her my life."

Rhea said nothing more as the main course arrived with a fanfare of trumpets.

Rhea remained silent throughout the main course. The talk of her mother had damped her spirits, reminding her of her great failure. She would have stayed in her dark mood, if it were not for that gentle voice in her head, "Be strong Rhea. Help the children." She of course knew it was Aslan whispering in her heart.

Rhea looked around the table. How could she help them? If her father were here, he would attempt to go with them, but Aslan said she had to stay. At the very least, the King would have put an army at their disposal. With the King away, Trumpkin was in charge of the army and Rhea knew there would be no way to convince him to bend the rules and allow the children to go with an army. No. That was at least one thing that was certain; Trumpkin could not know about the children's mission. So, who could she trust to help the children? Who would the children trust?

She could send Penelope with them. Penelope was one of Narnia's greatest fighters; she would keep the children well protected, and she was good with children. But should Rhea tell Penelope that Rilian was still alive and that the children were going to search for him? The news that he was alive would bring Penelope great joy, but what if they failed and Rilian was lost forever? Penelope would be devastated. Could Rhea risk granting such hope only to have it smothered with despair? No. She couldn't.

Rhea looked around the table again, and she saw the two children talking to the owl. It suddenly became clear to her. Glimfeather had been the first person to approach the children and thus he had been the first to gain their confidence. Surely he already knew of their plans. He would help the children.

"Glimfeather. Can you hear me?" she asked using only her magic.

"Yes Princess," Glimfeather replied with his thoughts.

"Do you know the real reason the children have come to Narnia? Be honest."

There was a slight pause as Glimfeather considered whether or not he should tell Rhea the truth. "They have come to seek the lost Prince, your brother."

"I know. Aslan has been to see me. We must help them in their quest."

"How?"

"I'm not sure. After dinner call for an emergency parliament of the owls; meet in the old tower of Owlwood. When the castle is quiet, you must sneak the children out of here. Take them to the tower. I will meet you there. Can you do all this Glimfeather?"

"Yes Princess. I will see that the children get there safely."

Rhea relaxed and smiled genuinely once more as dessert was brought out.

XOXOX

After dinner and after the blind poet had told the tale of The Horse and His Boy, Rhea bid goodnight to everyone and told Penelope that she was not to be bothered. The one exception to that rule was Glimfeather. Rhea was sitting comfortably by the fire when there came a small tapping on her window. She opened the latch to find Glimfeather perched on a small outcropping of the wall. He informed her that he was heading to the boy's room now to take him to the tower, and then he would return for the girl.

"Should I come for you next? Or would you like to me to take you first?"

"Oh no. I am far too big for you, Glimfeather. I will find my own way there. Don't worry."

"Tu-whoo then. I will see you at the tower in two-twos. Tu-whoo." And off the owl flew.

Rhea closed the latch again and grabbed her cloak from the wardrobe. Rhea could leave through the main door, but she did not want to risk being seen in the halls. So, she grabbed the candle that sat on her table and left through the secret passage located behind a floor to ceiling mirror in her bathroom. The passage led down to the kitchens. From there Rhea made her way outside where she jumped into the ocean with a small, quiet splash. If anyone heard the splash, they would see nothing for the instant she touched the water Rhea took on her Naiad form.

Rhea then made her way to the Great River and followed it up stream to a small brook that ran alongside the ancient tower of Owlwood. She climbed the many stairs to the top and arrived just as Glimfeather arrived with the girl. In the dim lighting it was difficult to see anything, but Rhea could sense that Jill was frightened. That is, until she heard a familiar voice.

*"Is that you, Pole?"* Eustace asked.

*"Is that you, Scrubb?"* Jill said.

Glimfeather had no trouble seeing in the dark, and as he looked about the room he saw that the Princess was there, and waiting. "That makes all of us then. Let us get this parliament of owls stated, shall we."

*"Tu-whoo, tu-whoo. True for you. That's the right thing to do,"* said several of the other owls present.

*"Half a moment,"* Eustace said, just as Rhea was about to begin speaking.*"There's something I want to say first."*

Rhea remained silent and allowed the young boy to speak; she suspected that his eyes hadn't fully adjusted yet and he couldn't see her amongst the owls. When Eustace continued, he explained to the owls how time worked differently in his world than it did in Narnia. He also explained once more how he had once sailed with the King to edge of the world on his great voyage.

*"And what I want to say is this,"* Eustace said, finishing up. *"I'm the King's man; and if this parliament of owls is in any sort of plot against the King, I'm having nothing to do with it."*

"Spoken like a true knight of Narnia," Rhea said as she stood up and removed her hood.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here."

"It's alright Eustace. I apologize children if any of this has startled you. I asked Glimfeather to call this parliament, and I asked him to bring you here. I believed it to be the only way for us to speak freely. I assure you, this is no plot against my father."

"Then what's this all about?"

*"It's only this,"* Glimfeather began. *"If the Lord Regent, the Dwarf Trumpkin, hears you are going to look for the lost Prince, he won't let you start. He'd keep you under lock and key sooner."*

"*You don't mean that Trumpkin is a traitor?* Lucy and Edmund spoke so highly of him. Caspian too."

"No," Rhea said. "Trumpkin is old and deaf, but he is not a traitor."

"Then why would he lock us up?" Jill asked.

"About a year after my brother the Prince disappeared, my Father had to call off the searches and put an end to them. He felt that too many of our brave knights were losing their lives going on quests to find him. Father could not bear to watch so many families torn apart. So he wouldn't let any more go to search for Rilian."

*"But surely he'd let us go,"* Eustace said. *"When he knew who I was and who had sent me."*

"You mean sent us," Jill corrected.

"I am certain that if my father were here then he would do all he could to make sure you were successful in your quest. But he is not, and he has left Trumpkin in command of the army. I would send a fleet of men with you if I could, but Trumpkin knows as well as I that I belong with the Naiads and not on the throne. He would not listen to me."

*"You might think he'd take some notice of us, because we're owls and everyone knows how wise owls are,"* one of the owls said. *"But he's so old now he'd only say, 'You're a mere chick. I remember you when you were an egg. Don't come trying to teach me, Sir. Crabs and crumpets!"*

Rhea couldn't help but laugh along with Glimfeather and the other owls. The owl had imitated Trumpkin's voice perfectly.

*"How long is the King going to be away?"* Eustace asked.

"There's no way of telling," Rhea said.

"Where has he gone?" Jill asked.

Rhea could tell them the truth, but it hurt. So she told them something that wasn't quite a lie. "He wishes to see all the places that he once saw on his legendary voyage."

"Then it could be a year before he returns; we can't wait that long," Eustace said.

"No, you must start at once."

"Very well then, tell us what happened to the lost Prince."

Rhea pushed through her pain and related the story of her mother's death and her brother's disappearance to the two children. She told the story with great detail, but not too much detail. Eustace was, after all, a friend of the Queen's too; he didn't need to know how her last moments were painful. Rhea even told of Penelope's and Drinian's moment of confession. When Rhea had finished her story, Jill was the first to speak.

*"I bet that serpent and that woman were the same person."*

"That is what I believe too," Rhea said.

"Well, we know she didn't kill the Prince, which means she must have some purpose for him. She must have some evil plan against Narnia. *Very well then, Pole and I have got to find this Prince. Can you help us?*" Eustace asked.

*"Have you any clue, you two?"* Glimfeather asked.

"Yes, Aslan gave us four clues," Jill said. "We must travel north until we reach the ruined city of the giants. Then, when we find writing in the stone, we must do what it says. Finally, Aslan said we would know the lost Prince by this, he would be the first person we met on our travels that asked us to do something in Aslan's name."

"Four clues? What's the fourth? I only counted three," Rhea said.

"Oh…well…We've… sort of missed the first one already. We were supposed to meet with the King before he left."

"Yes, that would have been helpful. He would have sent an army with you then. Your task will be harder now…But never you mind that. You must stick to the rest of the clues, and follow them diligently."

"So, will you help us?" Eustace asked.

"I will help in what way I can. As the Royal Princess I cannot just leave. My duties are here. Are there any owls who volunteer to go with the children?" Rhea asked.

Glimfeather and the other owls started hooting and speaking all at once. They ruffled their feathers and shuffled their feet as though in agitation. Rhea understood at once what the problem was. Owls operated on a nocturnal schedule and humans on a diurnal one. The children would want to travel by day and the owls by night. A moment later, the owls began explaining all this to Eustace and Jill.

"But they must go, and if it's into Ettinsmoor then I believe I have a solution," Rhea said. "Glimfeather, can you take them to the marshes, to Puddleglum?"

"Tu-whoo, tu-whoo. What an idea, Princess. Yes, I will make sure they get there."

"Good, then I will swim ahead and tell him of your coming. Now Jill…Jill?"

*"I think Pole's asleep,"* Eustace said.

Pictures of Jill, Eustace, and Puddleglum are on my profile.