Author's Note: Hello to anyone who may still be reading. I am so, so sorry it took me this long to update. And to make matters worse it's a short chapter. Well, working full time ain't easy, but I promise you I won't let this long of a gap between chapters happen again. Take care all, and I'll probably have the next one up within a week.
Despite her burst of energy in the morning, Jill had not had an easy afternoon. Her activities had caught up with her and she soon collapsed on the nearest chair she could find, which happened to be in a corner of the back hall which the servants often used. She gave one of the chambermaids quite a fright when she almost tripped over the young queen, who was sitting alone in the dark, out of breath, and nearly faint from exhaustion. Jill allowed herself to be carried upstairs and as the physicians were summoned, she fainted.
The king was immediately sent for, but he and Eustace were already a good hour away. In the meantime Jill was in the middle of labor. The country's finest physicians were there to attend her, but she was truly terrified. For the first time in years she wished she were back in England.
Rilian rode like the wind the minute he heard the news, with Eustace following as quickly. Neither of them spoke as they rode, their quarrel was instantly forgotten in the frenzy of the pace. Nothing mattered to either of them except Jill.
Eustace felt a horrible sense of guilt as they rode. Jill had been on an emotional roller coaster since he arrived, acting anything but normal. And instead of understanding and sympathizing, he had resented her for it. He had been so angry to find her so very different from the Jill he remembered that he knew he held it against her. And Rilian.
No, Eustace thought as he watched the king. He was 100 right about Rilian. The man had been a complete ass.
What Eustace didn't know was that however terrible he had been feeling, Rilian felt a hundred times worse. The young king knew, and finally had to face the fact that Jill's pregnancy had turned him into a complete coward. The sudden amount of responsibility to his wife and unborn child had fallen harder on him than his ascension to the throne. He knew he had allowed his terror and uncertainty to overpower him, and caused him to become a selfish and closed-minded king, rather than the generous ruler he wished to be. What he promised his father he would be. And his mother.
Ramanda. He hadn't thought of his mother in a very long time. What would she have said about his behavior? He shuddered to think. He'd been a brute to Jill, Eustace, Trumpkin, Adelaide, and just about anyone who had disagreed with him on anything. What could he possibly do to rectify things now? Pray Aslan that it's not too late. Jill had to be alright - she HAD to. Whatever he may have turned into recently wasn't him, and in the name of Aslan he did truly love her. But what could he ever do to make it up to her? He didn't even know where to start.
Eustace's hunter was not up to the exertions Rilian was putting on his horse, and he was forced to slow down and let his horse rest as Rilian charged on ahead, blind to everything. When the king finally arrived at the castle he spoke to no one, leaping off his horse and up the stairs practically in a single step. He entered his chambers without even nodding to the guards, and knelt beside his wife's bed.
In the meantime, Eustace arrived at Cair Paravel only a few minutes behind the king. He wasn't flying on air the way Rilian had been, in fact the guards found the young lord remarkably calm, given the frantic circumstances. Eustace handed his horse off to one of the groomsmen, then entered the palace. Instead of joining the royal family, he headed up the stairs to the second tower, where his own things were kept. Once inside, he began to search the room high and low.
Jill felt such a sense of relief at her husband's presence - and for his part he couldn't seem to stop apologizing. He'd been an idiot, an ass, a jerk… there weren't many insults left out of his self-description. He'd made his great-uncle Miraz proud the way he'd been treating the islanders and ignoring Jill and Adelaide - and - and -
Jill raised a hand to stop him. She had enough on her plate to deal with, she'd already forgiven her husband for being stupid. And she didn't want to hear it at all. She gently told him to go outside and talk to Eustace. She was even now still concerned that they make up.
"Darling, what are you thinking? I can't leave you!" Rilian said defensively.
"Please!" Jill begged. "I know you mean well, but you're going to drive me crazy if you stand here apologizing all day. Go tell Eustace you're sorry."
"I don't care about Eustace - hang it all, I have to stay here with you."
"Your Majesty may be advised to do as the Queen requests. Begging your royal pardon, but you shouldn't be in here at all," said one of the physicians tentatively. Rilian glared at him, but Jill took his hand.
"Go, Rilian. We'll call you if we need you," she said with a gleam in her eye. For a moment the king had no idea what to do. A pain suddenly gripped Jill and she clung tightly to Rilian's hand. He held her steady as it passed.
"Now you know I won't leave-" he began.
"Rilian, don't argue with me - just go! NOW!" She had the look in her eye that Rilian knew better than to cross. Reluctantly he stood up and backed away.
"I'll, uh, be just outside." She nodded in response as he left.