It was the evening of his birthday ball and Rilian was nervous. His father stood behind him in the mirror, "You look very handsome my son...you remind me of a young man I knew long ago." Rilian laughed a little and turned around as his father continued, "Tonight Rilian...this party symbolizes the end of your youth and the beginning of your journey into manhood. You are a man who will one day be king and I only hope you will choose a woman who makes an appropriate queen."

Rilian rolled his eyes. His mother and father had been pressuring him to at least find a young lady to court, "Daaad..."

Caspian raised his hands in surrender, "That's all I will say of the matter. Tonight, you will enjoy yourself."


Rilian stood at the top of the large ornate stairwell in the ballroom, "Presenting the Crown Prince of Narnia, Lord of the Lone Isles, Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Lion and Future King of the Greater United Kingdom...His Majesty Rilian the First"

With that, Rilian descended the stairway to cheers from the large crowd. He waited at the bottom of the steps as they introduced his mother and father. Lastly, they introduced his date, "And now, presenting Prince Rilian's lovely escort for the evening. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Estel Pevensie Greenleaf, Princess Consort of Narnia, Duchess of Cair Paravel."

Rilian's breath caught in his throat as he looked up. Her hair hung in long curls that had been swept off her face. A small, delicate crown made with gold threading intertwined in her hair. She wore a dress of deep blue that was cut to leave her shoulders bare and reveal just enough cleavage to make him swoon.

She finally made it down by his side and smiled as she whispered, "You look handsome this evening Rilian..."

He shook his head, awestruck by her beauty, "And Estel...you look...you look...there are no words..."

She smiled, "Why thank you my Prince."

He took her arm and led her onto the dance floor where they danced to the first song of the night. After several songs, they sat at the royal table as their parents watched from the top of the stairs. Susan watched the way they looked at each other and looked to her husband, then Jasmina and Caspian. Had they noticed it too?

Rilian knew he should have been more sociable. After all, it was his party...but he couldn't stop staring at her. She had noticed at one point and asked, "What?"

He just shook his head and smiled dreamily at her, unable to remove himself from under her spell. He was pulled away from her sometime during the night by his brothers and Elessar. They took him over to a group of beautiful young women who openly flirted with the young prince. The entire time he stood with them, he attempted to peak through their heads to find Estel as she stood speaking to her friends on the opposite end of the ballroom.

As the night wound down, he walked over to her and bowed, offering his hand, "My lady...if you would favor me with one last dance this evening."

Her heart fluttered as she took his hand. As they danced, they stared into each others eyes as if no one else were in the room. They were released from their fantasy world as applause from around the room began. The dance was over.

That evening, Susan, Legolas and Estel stayed at the castle. Estel's room, as usual, was right across from Rilian's. And, as usual, despite her mother's request, she made her way across the hall to his room. For the first time ever, she hesitated before entering his quarters. When she did enter, he was standing next to his bed with a towel wrapped around his waist. Her mouth immediately dropped, but she quickly attempted to recover when he glanced at her as he dried his hair and shook it, causing his muscles to ripple.

He smirked at her when he saw the look on her face, "You're early tonight."

She opened her mouth to speak, but only a few stumbling words came out. She shook her head and finally averted her gaze from his tanned chest, "I-I was really tired. I wanted to lay down."

He motioned toward the bed, "Go ahead...but try not to fall asleep in the middle again. You have no idea have difficult it is to move you once you're asleep."

She slowly approached the bed and watched as he disappeared behind his dressing screen to put on a pair of breeches and light tunic. She laid down as he approached the bed, blowing out lamps and candles along the way. He laid next to her and yawned, putting his hands behind his head as he closed his eyes.

She sat up on her elbow, "Did you have a good time this evening?"

His lips curled into a sly smile as he kept his eyes closed, "Yes I did...my escort was quite beautiful."

She punched him in the shoulder, causing him to chuckle softly, "My escort was pretty handsome too."

He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. Oh Aslan...she was amazing. She lay silhouetted in the soft moonlight that poured from the window. Her hair a soft mass of curls laying in beautiful contrast to her pale, glistening skin. She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

They stared at each other for a moment before he cleared his throat and turned his eyes back toward the ceiling. He almost jumped as he felt her hand take his chin and turn his face back to hers, "Rilian..."

Her eyes said it all. They leaned in toward each other, allowing their lips to connect slowly and chastely. He looked into her eyes as they pulled away from each other. Rilian sat up quickly and hopped out of the bed, "Oh Estel..."

Estel sat up, "What's wrong?"

"I..I have feelings...for you. They're wrong."

She got up and stood in front of him, "Why is it wrong?"

"Because...because you're my best friend. I don't want to lose that Estel. I don't want to lose being able to see and talk to you everyday."

"Rilian...I have feelings for you too and I don't want to lose you as my best friend either...but who says we have to lose each other?" She took his face in her hands as he stared down into her bright eyes, "My whole life, you have always been there. You have been my protector, my confidant and my friend since before I can remember...when I was sad, you comforted me...when I was sick, you stayed by my side until I was well. Through all that we've been through together, I fell in love with you Rilian."

With those words, he grabbed the back of her head and enveloped her lips in a passionate kiss. In between breathy gasps for air, he whispered, "I love you Estel...I've always loved you."

The kiss seemed to last forever, but not long enough. They panted as they broke the kiss, arms still intertwined and bodies pressed together. He stared into her lust lidded eyes, "I will not do anything to compromise your honor Estel. I simply love you too much."

She nodded and took a deep breath, "And I would not want to do anything to compromise yours."

They embraced, then looked back at the bed as Rilian spoke, "Do you think we can still sleep next to each other?"

She took his hand and led him to the bed, "I believe so...after all...I sleep best when you are next to me."

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lips tenderly, "There are no words to express how happy I am to know that you care for me as deeply as I care for you."

They laid in bed, talking until they fell asleep.


Caspian quickly knocked on his son's door and walked in. He gave Estel a surprised smile as she sat up, yawning, "Good morning Uncle Caspian."

"Good morning Estel...sleep well?"

He looked at his son as they both got out of bed. He couldn't help but think of Estel as his own daughter...after all, at one point, he actually believed she was his child. Susan had told him she didn't think it was appropriate for them to be sleeping in the same bed together, so Caspian felt the need to broach the subject for the sake of parental unity.

He cleared his throat and spoke awkwardly, "Uhm...Estel, I've spoken to your mother and we all think it's best that you two not sleep in the same bed anymore."

Rilian furrowed his eyebrows, "But father..."

Caspian held up a hand, "Son, this matter is not up for discussion. Your aunt Susan and I agree that this is highly inappropriate behavior."

Rilian and Estel traded looks of disappointment and turned their eyes downward. There was no arguing with Caspian...as a father OR a king.

Caspian escorted Estel back to her room and returned as Rilian sat on his bed staring out the window, "Rilian, we need to talk."

Rilian looked up and sighed, "Father...you know Estel is my best friend...nothing happened."

"Regardless Rilian, it just doesn't look seemly for two young adults such as yourself to sleep in the same bed together. Estel is 18. Soon she'll be betrothed."

Rilian stood, "Betrothed? To whom?"

"Her parents and I just finished working the details out, but as you know, our relationship with Caloremene continues to tread on thin ice. We need to cement our alliance with them once and for all in order to avoid a war."

"By sacrificing Estel to Prince Dharmesh? He's odious!"

"Son, she is a princess...she was raised to put her service to her country before all else. She will understand."

Rilian shook his head, "No...no father. She will not...and I will not. I cannot believe Aunt Susan and Uncle Legolas agreed to this!"

"Son, this plan has been in the works for the past three years. They do not particularly like the idea, but they have had time to adapt to it. Susan understands that Narnia is more important than any one of our personal agendas."

Rilian hung his head and closed his eyes, thinking of his princess...who would soon belong to another.


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