Phew! So relieved you didn't hate me after the last chapter! Thanks for your supportive reviews as always, and here is the next chapter

Chapter Eighteen

I was always with Caspian or Rilian. I floated from room to room, only being able to watch over them, but not able to affect them or to speak to them. Caspian took to spending long hours alone in his study, not talking with anyone other than Drinian, Trumpkin, Trufflehunter, or Dr. Cornelius unless he had to.

Rilian was much worse. While Caspian grieved, he kept it hidden behind an expressionless mask, only showing true emotion when he was alone. But Rilian, as he was given to do, didn't bother to hide it. He no longer went on rides or hunts with his friends, no longer sparred with them in friendly competition. He seemed to have aged, and his former companions were too young, not as mature as he needed. They didn't know how to react to him, and so he took to spending time with Drinian, or going on long, solitary rides in the northern woods. I accompanied him, though he knew not, and I knew that he hoped to find the serpent and avenge me.

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I began to notice a curious thing. Time seemed to pass more quickly, events flying by with great speed. Before I knew it, several months had passed since my death. I began to leave Caspian and Rilian occasionally, to go and search elsewhere for answers. And every time when I returned, I would be shocked to discover how much time had passed.

When I returned from such an excursion, I realized that several weeks had passed. And I noticed that a change had come over Rilian. He returned from his rides weary and with dark circles under his eyes, but his horse seemed as fresh as if it had just come from the stables. I was unnerved when I looked in my son's eyes and saw what stirred in them. There was talk about the castle that Rilian had been seeing visions. I didn't know what to believe, and so I followed him the next time he set out.

He rode with a strong purpose about him, and emerged from the forest in the same meadow where I had met my death. The stream gurgled underneath the layer of ice that had formed over it, fallen autumn leaves trapped beneath. Rilian dismounted and let his horse wander about the clearing to graze on the short, brown grass. He sat down in the leaf-strewn meadow and waited.

The sun moved across the sky. And then, across the meadow, a lady appeared. She was ravishingly beautiful with long, curling black hair that shone in the cold light. Her skin was pearly white, and she was swathed in a shining green garment.

Rilian leaped to his feet and stared at her. His eyes were glassy and focused solely upon the woman, who beckoned to my son. And then fear gripped me; her eyes were unnervingly like that of a reptile, with yellow irises and a slit-like pupil.

"Rilian! Get away from her at once!" I shouted at my son. But of course he could not hear me. I had no voice.

I felt hopelessly helpless. But just then, the lady stepped back, and vanished. Rilian was left, standing as if in a trance, his eyes like that of a mad man.

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Thankfully, I was not the only one who had noticed the changes in Rilian. Drinian, who Rilian had grown closer to after my death, questioned him one evening.

"Your Highness," he began tentatively, "you must soon give over seeking the serpent. There is no true vengeance on a witless brute as there might be on a man. You weary yourself in vain." There was pity in his eyes. He had been my good friend, as well as captain of the Dawn Treader and one of Caspian's favored courtiers.

Rilian looked surprised, as if he had just woken from a nap. "My Lord, I have almost forgotten the worm these days."

Drinian frowned. I could tell he was surprised and confused. "Then why, I inquire, do you ride so continually in the northern woods?"

"My Lord," said my son, his eyes gaining the same shining, haunted look as before, "I have seen there the most beautiful thing that was ever made."

Drinian looked suspicious and distrustful, but quickly smoothed his face into an expression of mild interest. He began again, carefully, and very formal and polite so as not to offend Rilian.

"Fair Prince," he addressed him, "of your courtesy let me ride you tomorrow, so that I may also see this fair thing."

Rilian, his eyes growing sharp again, looked at his friend. His brown eyes searched the older man's, but he found nothing but earnestness there. "With a good will," he answered.

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The next day, they made the gallop to the glade where I had met my death by the serpent, and there Drinian witnessed the same spectacle that I had.

As they rode homeward, I saw by Drinian's face that he was disturbed, and I knew he suspected the same as me.

I stuck close by Drinian's side, trusting that he would do something. Surely he would tell Caspian, who would send soldiers to do away with the source of the problem. But as the day wore on and Drinian passed up several opportunities, my doubts and fears grew,

That night, Drinian paced the study in his suite of rooms, muttering to himself. At last he sighed and ran a hand over his bald head. "I shall not be a tale-bearer or blab. If the prince wishes to court this strange woman, it is not my place to put a stop to it." And with that, he doused his lamp and readied for bed.

I fled from his rooms, fear gripping me. If Drinian wouldn't tell Caspian, how was Rilian to be saved?

XXXX

I continued to shadow Drinian the next morning, shouting at him to tell what he had seen. But he was oblivious to my presence, and my pleas went unheard by all. At last I left him, deciding to follow Rilian to keep an eye on him, at least. But when I went to his chambers, he wasn't there. Nor was he anywhere to be found on the grounds of the castle. In panic, I flew to the little dell where he had met the lady before.

Upon my arrival, I knew it was too late. There I found his horse's hoof prints in the soft mud of the creek-bank. But there was no sign of my son or of the Green Lady.

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Search parties were sent to every corner of Narnia, and then into the neighboring lands. But there was no trace of Rilian. I hadn't expected there to be.

At last, Drinian told Caspian what he had seen. The man had been stricken since the night when Rilian had not returned. He knew that if he had told, there might have been something Caspian could have done. Ridden with guilt, he went to Caspian.

Kneeling before him on the floor, Drinian said to Caspian, "My Lord, slay me immediately as a great traitor, for by my silence, I have destroyed your son."

Caspian looked like a ghost of himself. His tanned skin was pale, his once-glittering dark eyes dull and circled underneath. He stared at his friend, frozen.

"Of what do you speak?" he whispered, his voice raw.

Drinian spilled out the story, great sobs racking his body. When he was done, Caspian stood suddenly, his face twisted in rage. He went to the wall, tearing a battle-axe from where it hung on the wall. Drinian knelt as still as a statue upon the floor as Caspian raised the blade above his head to deal his death.

I wanted to look away; I couldn't bear for Drinian to be killed. I rushed upon Caspian, ruffling his hair in my wake. Caspian paused, and I moved to stand between him and Drinian. Then Caspian brought the axe-blade down and I felt the air stir as the blade passed through me to strike the floor, where it lodged in the floorboards.

Drinian and I looked at Caspian, whose face was anguished and pained.

"I have lost my queen and my son; shall I lose my friend also?" Caspian cried out, his voice hoarse with grief.

Relief overwhelming me, I moved away as Caspian and Drinian embraced and wept for all they had lost in the past few months. When I was sure that there would be no more blades raised, I left the castle and soared out over the sea.

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The grass was as green and lush and the trees as full of birdsong as if it were the height of spring, despite the chill winter that gripped Narnia. I relished in the soft grass beneath my feet and the tickle of the pleasant, perfumed breeze on my face.

I turned at the sound of padding feet to find Aslan. His warm, gold eyes were sad and understanding.

"Rilian—" I began, my voice catching.

"I know, my Daughter."

"But, but she's taken him! That shining green woman, with the snake-eyes! She has him, she's got my son!" I cried, sinking to me knees.

Aslan lay down beside me. "Isn't there anything you can do?" I pleaded.

The Great Lion looked west. "I believe Narnia may be in need of help from your world yet again," he said softly.