Finally, here is the next chapter! More to follow soon, I hope. Please review!

Chapter Twelve

Caspian continued to seem rather off for some time after that night. I often caught him gazing at Rilian for prolonged periods, his brow furrowed and his mind wandering. He seemed distant to me, but completely normal to everyone else he interacted with, including Rilian.

Meanwhile, life continued in Narnia. My son continued to grow, and it seemed each day he could do something new. He could get around quite easily, and I had a hard time keeping up with him as he ran around the castle and the gardens. I took him to the stables with me quite frequently, and Anduril was always overjoyed to see him. He would lower his head to Rilian's level and whuffle in his hair, and the boy would grab Andy's mane and yank on it. But the unicorn never seemed to mind. Sometimes I would even sit Rilian upon Andy's broad back for a few moments, keeping a hand on him to steady him. My son would squeal and laugh and beat his fists on Andy's withers, and Andy would crane his head around to look at him, but he never complained.

Though it wasn't often, I sometimes longed for the time before Rilian had been born, and I could do whatever I wanted. I could ride out with the men to battle, or to drive out the giants in the north, or hunt a few of the remaining witches, hags, and werewolves that still lurked along the western borders, in the wilder lands.

I missed the adventure and the danger, and longed to journey to a distant land again. Caspian often sailed to Calormen or the Islands upon the Dawn Treader, but I had not been at sea since our voyage to the World's End.

I was jealous.

Perhaps that was why I was so pleased to hear about the strange happenings in very far north. As Caspian and I sat on our thrones in the Great Hall one Sunday, listening to the people requesting this and that, and reporting this happening, a mixed group of a man, woman, and Animals came to the front of the line.

"And what is it that brings you to request an audience with your sovereigns?" asked Caspian in the same tone as he had used to repeat the formal words to each and every citizen.

They bowed, and then the man spoke. "Your Majesties, we wish to report to you that we believe something strange is afoot," he said.

"And what leads to believe this?" I asked kindly.

The man exchanged glances with the woman who I guessed was his wife, and then she said, "Well, it's just been little things, odd things."

Caspian was growing a tad impatient. We still had many more to hear. "Like what?" he asked.

Exasperated with the humans, one of the Animals, a Mink, stepped forward and said, "Like several friends disappearing for weeks and then turning back up without any idea how long they've been gone or where they've been. Like birds, in some kind of daze, flying straight into trees or buildings. Dwarfs, saying that the earth just doesn't feel right. Odd things like that."

I glanced at Caspian, who was frowning slightly. "Well... what do you wish to be done?" I asked.

They all shrugged. "We don't know. We just figured it'd be a good thing to let you know about, and you decide if there's anything to be done." said the man.

Caspian's frown lifted. He smiled and nodded and said, "Well, we thank you, loyal friends, for informing us. If anything further occurs, please do not hesitate to report it." He bowed his head to them and they bowed to him, and then scurried off.

I watched them go, slightly intrigued by their story. I briefly wondered if there was any truth to it, but quickly forgot them when the next in line bowed and greeted us.

Time continued to pass by, some days seemingly at a crawl, others as if it had wings. Rilian grew bigger, and had more birthdays; a second, a third, a fourth. When he turned five, he got his first hound. He and the speckled pup with floppy ears became inseparable and often romped together in the gardens.

I watched my son grow with content, but underneath, I was restless. I didn't take Andy out for rides nearly as often as I once did, and my fighting skills had grown rusty from disuse. I tried to spar occasionally with Caspian or another soldier, but was often busy with Rilian. I longed for something to do, other than be a diplomat and run the castle. I longed to shed my skirts and dress regularly in men's clothes again. I longed for companionship.

I had plenty of friends, yes. But many of them were just servants of the castle, or foreign rulers, or silly women of the nobility. None of them understood me and my longing for adventures like Lucy, Susan, Peter, or Edmund. I missed them so much sometimes it felt like I couldn't even stand up straight from the ache.

A/N: Are you guys ok with me making time pass so quickly, or do you want more about Rilian growing up? Because I feel like I should have more about him, but I do want to get on with the story and not let it get boring, so...