AN: Okay, I think I've finally found enough time between classes to keep this story updated. Thanks for all the reviews. I appreciate good ones, I appreciate bad ones. I hate nothing so much as the silent treatment!

Yyunesprith: some interesting points - and I really hope that as you read further you'll see that I do respect CS Lewis a great deal. I can understand why you may feel that way in reguards to the last chapter... but I do need to put my own spin on a few things. What I've been doing recently is backstory, which I think you're right, isn't really helping my plot very much and is just taking away my chances of being faithful to Lewis. So, we'll see what happens.

Princess Viola: Thank you for reviewing. You've always been my first critic. And thanks for biking out in the rain to get me my medicine. I feel much better :)

The next morning the young monarchs met Eustace for breakfast. As they had expected he didn't miss a beat in bringing up the Isles and Adelaide. Jill still had yet to meet the Lady Adelaide, but she was already predisposed to like her.

"You have to admire her courage, despite her flaws," said Eustace to Rilian. Rilian didn't respond, so Jill piped in.

"Well I confess I do find her somewhat admirable. Although I do think her ideas of just what she alone may accomplish seem a little misplaced."

"What do you mean?" asked Eustace.

"Oh, she's out to save the world," said Jill. "Don't you see? She wants to be Galahad. Returning from abroad with the cup of life – restoring the land to peace and prosperity for centuries to come." Eustace laughed out loud.

"What are you talking about?" asked Rilian, who looked completely lost.

"Sir Galahad!" said Eustace. "Oh, of course. I forgot you wouldn't know it."

"It's a very famous legend from our world," said Jill. "Sir Galahad and King Arthur – "

"And his knights of the round table!" Eustace exclaimed. The two school friends smiled at each other, before looking back at Rilian.

"Oh go on, you two. Tell me," said the monarch. He was smiling as he poured himself a cup of tea. This might be amusing.

"Well," Jill looked at Eustace, pleading for help. "I really don't know where to begin."

"Arthur was this legendary king, who ruled in Camelot," said Eustace. "He assembled the bravest knights to serve at his round table."

"And Galahad was one of them," guessed Rilian.

"Right. And there was peace and prosperity and happiness and frolicking all about," said Eustace. Jill giggled.

"Do you know how Galahad came to Camelot?" she asked.

"I don't remember. I think it changes based on who's telling the story. But anyways, skip ahead some forty years, to when the country started to waste away. Arthur sent his knights to find the Holy Grail – um..." here he stopped, wondering how in the world he was going to explain that.

"That's a cup with magical powers," Jill put in.

"Well, yes, if you want to boil it down to one sentence. Um – anyways, Galahad was the one who found it. After many trials and tribulations that no one really remembers but get worse each time it's told, he brought the cup back to Camelot. And with this cup the land was restored."

"And Arthur ruled forever," Rilian finished.

"No, uh – actually he died. But that's not the point!" Eustace exclaimed. Jill couldn't stop laughing.

"He dies? What a horrible ending! That's not fair!" Narnian legends seem much more pleasant.

"Oh, but first his wife cheated on him with his best friend," said Jill. "And then he is killed by his son –"

"That he had with his sister," Eustace finished. Then they both laughed at the expression on Rilian's face. "We left a lot out, okay?"

Despite their best efforts at explaining the Arthurian myths to a Narnian king, Eustace and Jill finally had to give up. After a little while longer Rilian had to excuse himself to meet with his advisors. Jill and Eustace spoke for a little while, before Jill felt exhausted and decided she needed more rest. Eustace spent the rest of the day with Adelaide.

That afternoon Rilian returned to their rooms to get ready for the banquet that evening. He was surprised to find Jill asleep, but not worried. She'd been tiring out very often. Just her condition, he told himself. Nothing unusual.

"Are you finished with the advisors?" she asked when she saw him.

"For now. We've reached a decision about Adelaide." Jill groaned. "What?"

"Not her again!"

"Was Eustace talking about her again after I left?"

"Urgh, I'll say," she answered. "He wouldn't shut up about her beauty, bravery, charm..."

"I see. That's why you don't want to talk about her," he observed.

"I am just so tired of hearing about her perfect skin and golden hair and two-inch waist." Rilian laughed out loud.

"Oh so that's it," he said. Jill rolled her eyes.

"I'm not jealous – "

"I never said you were," he said, grinning.

"I suppose I just get frustrated – being this huge, cooped up in here all day."

"You can leave the castle, you know. It is allowed."

"No, I know. But I can't help feeling self-conscious about being seen in this condition. I know it's silly, but –"

"Darling, there have been pregnancies in the royal family before. It's not exactly a new thing."

"You're a brat. Anyways, I am still getting work done. Much more than I used to." Rilian nodded, he knew this was true. Since she had given up her daily rides she had devoted a lot of time into doing his job for him. She organized events, planned ceremonies, oversaw contracts... he now wished he'd let her run the Lone Islands as well, since that was the one job he was screwing up.

"Okay. Right now though, your job is to get dressed. You, my darling, pregnant or not, do still have to play hostess to the Lady Adelaide and her entourage tonight."

"Oh mane of Aslan – the banquet! I completely forgot!"

"It's alright. There's plenty of time. Get ready now. I'll tell you what the advisors and I decided on after dinner." With that he left his wife to get dressed, and ready for the feast.

TBC