Time passed all too quickly for the royal families as Estel waited for the day when she would leave the only home she ever knew after marrying a man she did not love.

Rilian and Estel spent all the time they could together, but it wasn't enough for either of them. Up until Christmas, Rilian refused to cross the line with Estel, but she had been so persistent, claiming if he was her first, no matter who she married, she would always belong to him. Rilian was afraid though. He was afraid he would fall into despair once she left if they made love. It would just be something else he would miss about her.

The night Aunt Lucy caught them in the closet was the evening he felt weakened. Dharmesh was scheduled to arrive the following week and he felt as though it were now or never. In the long run, he felt it was fate that Aunt Lucy caught them.


Lucy took them both back to Rilian's room and sat them on the bed, "Now how long has this been going on?"

Estel didn't realize she smiled as she looked at Rilian, "I've loved him all my life."

Rilian reached over and took Estel's hand, kissing it softly, "And I her Aunt Lucy..."

Lucy shook her head, "But Estel, you are to be married in just a few weeks..."

At that, Rilian and Estel looked down sadly. Lucy's face immediately softened as she looked between them, "You really do love each other...don't you?"

They nodded silently as Lucy noticed Estel sniffling, "I will keep your secret...but you must be careful and you must find a way to end this before either of you are hurt anymore."


When Dharmesh arrived, he was formally greeted by both royal families at Cair Paravel. Rilian tensed openly as Estel was presented to him for the first time. He was handsome in a brutish way. He was tall, broad shouldered and had a similar body structure as Rilian, only not as chiseled, which is precisely what Estel loved about her Narnian prince.

She turned her eyes to Rilian as they traded silent nods of agreement before curtsying to the foreign prince before her. Dharmesh eyed her hungrily before taking her hand and leading her through the processional. Rilian lowered his head and closed his eyes as a feeling a nausea rose in his throat when he thought of the man touching his one and only love.


Estel was a clever girl. More clever than the block headed Dharmesh, so she was able to slip out of having to spend time alone with him the evening of his arrival. She felt uncomfortable, however, knowing that she would soon run out of excuses and he would eventually corner her like a caged animal.

Caspian and Legolas arranged for a day out with all of the royal children and Dharmesh in which they would allow the foreigner to tour the Telmarine castle, visit the beach and attend a ball in honor of he and Estel's impending wedding.

Dharmesh offered Estel help getting atop her horse, "I thank you your highness, but I am perfectly capable."

The prince looked aghast as she slung herself up on the horse, "Oh dear."

Estel caught his expression, "Is something wrong your majesty?"

He shook his head, trying his best to rid his face of the surprised expression he wore, "It's just...it's just shocking...you sit upon your steed as if you were a man. It's terribly improper."

Rilian held in a chuckle as Estel raised an eyebrow at Dharmesh. Elessar trotted toward them, laughing, "My sister rides faster than most men too! Come on Estel! Race you to the forest!"

Estel winked at Rilian as she took off, leaving Dharmesh to struggle onto his own horse. They reached the clearing and waited a few moments before Dharmesh clumsily rode toward them. It was obvious he was used to a smaller horse.

The foreign prince eyed his future wife warily, "These stallions are quite powerful."

Estel shrugged and patted her large white stallion, smiling into the gray mane that draped over his neck, "Not if you communicate with them...bond with them...feel them. You must let them know that you are comfortable and in turn, they will be comforted as well."

"It's just an animal...how can one communicate with an animal? My darling, you have filled your head with far too much rubbish. The kingdom that awaits your arrival is far more practical", he laughed.

Rilian clenched his jaw when he heard Dharmesh call Estel "my darling". It was almost enough to make him sick. Estel simply shook her head and trotted away.


It had just been a few weeks prior that Rilian had her in his arms, twirling her around in that very ball room. Now, he watched as a prince from Calormene held her far too close and whispered in her ear as she tried to politely keep a respectable amount of space between their bodies.

Susan walked over to where Rilian stood watching the couple. She leaned over, "Does my daughter look happy to you?"

Rilian didn't hear her approach, so he jumped and stuttered in response, "Um...well...I..."

Luckily, they were interrupted as Jasmina came over, "My son, come...there is a young lady I would like for you to meet."

Rilian left with his mother, but didn't move his eyes away from Estel as Dharmesh continued to violate her personal space. Little did he know, Legolas was watching just as intently as Dharmesh led his reluctant daughter to the empty balcony. His elf eyes and ears kept track of everything as they spoke.

Dharmesh softly flicked her hair away from one of her elf shaped ears, "Your ears are very interesting."

Estel wasn't sure if he was paying her a compliment or stating his distaste, "Yes...I share that trait with my father and his people...the elves of Middle Earth."

"Ah yes...I have heard about your father and the characteristics of the elves. It is easy to see that you inherited their ethereal beauty and regal grace. It is unfortunate to see that you've tainted that with such inappropriate behaviors."

Estel's eyebrows furrowed, "I apologize, but I do not know of what you speak."

He shrugged slightly, "Well besides riding a stallion like some sort of man...your brother told me of your so-called gift of archery and skills with short swords. A woman should never handle weapons. It just isn't natural."

Estel repressed a laugh, although she wanted to show him just how sharp her skills were, "Well your highness, my mother went into battle with my uncles long ago and a friend of my father's once said that those without swords can still die upon them...which is why my family saw fit to teach me how to defend myself."

Dharmesh eyed her hungrily and gently brushed her hair off of her shoulder before he circled her, whispering into her ear from behind, "You make a valid point my princess. It just seems a woman as beautiful as you shouldn't be doing such things."

She closed her eyes and fought back tears as his lips connected with her neck. All she wanted to do was snatch away and call for Rilian, but she just stood frozen, fighting the need to slap him. She felt a sense of relief wash over her as her father appeared in the doorway to the balcony. Dharmesh snatched away quickly and bowed, hoping he hadn't been caught.

Legolas held a hand out to his daughter, "Tolo hi, iell vell. (Come here, beloved daughter)."

Estel nodded, "Be iest gin, ada. (As you wish, dad.)"

Dharmesh looked lost, but smiled on, "That's a strange language...is it of the elves?"

Estel nodded and smirked back at him, "Pedin i phith i merin, a nin รบ-cheniathach. (I say the words that I want, but you can't understand me.)"

Dharmesh laughed lightly, "Oh my princess...that sounds just lovely. I bid you a good night!"


A few moments later, Legolas walked arm and arm with his daughter in a candle lit courtyard in silence. She looked down at her feet as they made their way around the statues and shrubbery until he broke the silence, "Goheno nin, iell vell. (Forgive me, beloved daughter.)"

Estel stopped walking and looked up at her father, "An man, ada? (For what, dad?)"

"An il anna lle eina. (For not giving you happiness.)" he said as he cupped her face.

Estel's bottom lip trembled as she avoided his gaze, "Ada, lye ier cared man lye baur a' ten' i'...an Narnia. (Dad, we are doing what we need to...for Narnia.)"

He shook his head and sighed, pulling his daughter into a hug as he kissed the top of her head just as he had done so many times while she was growing up, "Nin astald iell. (My brave daughter.)"


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