It's been nearly a year since I updated this story and I've told myself many times this year that I had no right to start new stories (fanfics or otherwise) when one was still unfinished. So I'm going to try and work on it this summer and my apologies to everybody for the long delay!

I had only known her for a week, yet it seemed to me that there never was a time when I did not know her or did not think of her continually. She made me forget all that made me unhappy. Each word she spoke brought a smile to my face and my greatest joy was to bring a smile to hers. "I'd like to tell my father about you," I said, one afternoon. I wanted to welcome her into the castle, to make her our honored guest. She smiled rather quickly but her eyes seemed alarmed when she whispered, "No, Rillian, you musn't. Promise me that you won't."

I promised. What else was I to do? And as soon as I did, she threw her bare arms around my neck and whispered, "It isn't time yet," into my ear. She could have whispered anything and it would make no difference to me. Just the feel of her cheek touching mine caused me to tremble and I could think of nothing else.

"Are you cold, my prince?" she asked, laughing. "A lively gallop is sure to warm us. Come Coalblack, I've brought you sugar so be sure to make it a fine gallop."

"You've quite spoiled him," I answered, as I lifted her onto the horse easily. "He will refuse to do anything without sugar soon."

"But provided there is sugar," she said. "He will do anything I ask!"

I mounted Coalblack behind her and we took off. I couldn't help but think that Coalblack was a much stronger horse than Starlight had ever been. He carried us easily, galloping through the woods and probably thinking of sugar. And in the midst of that wild gallop, she turned to me. She leaned closer and closer and finally placed a kiss…on my cheek. Merely, on my cheek. Yet the memory of it did not leave me for the rest of the day.

"Rillian, why do you smile?" Father asked while we dined. Usually, I came home much too late to dine with father, but today father had been occupied for longer than usual. Had I been there to help him…I pushed the guilt away and searched for a way to answer.

"I am imagining how I shall destroy the serpent and come home with a happy and easy heart," I said. I hadn't lied to father since I was nine. But now it came easily. Father and Drinian exchanged a look that was cryptic to me and both frowned but said nothing. I suppose father had asked Drinian to speak to me through that meaningful look because he approached me after dinner.

"Your highness must soon give over seeking the worm. There is no true vengeance on a witless brute as there might be on a man. You weary yourself in vain," Drinian said. He looked so concerned for me that I wished to laugh. I also greatly desired to tell him. It seemed selfish to keep my joy inside and let Drinian believe I was miserable.

"My lord, I have almost forgotten the worm these seven days," I reassured him. His bushy eyebrows went up. "Then why do you ride continually in the Northern woods, my prince?" he asked.

I studied his wrinkle-lined face. I had promised her. I had promised not to tell my father…But I had said nothing about telling friends. Perhaps, if I allowed Drinian to get to know the lady, he would convince her of father's kindness better than I could and then we could introduce her to my father. I made my decision quickly.

"My lord, I have seen there the most beautiful thing that was ever made," I said.

I chose my words carefully. I did not wish to give too much away. Drinian's dark eyebrows went up again. I knew that I had sparked his curiosity.

"Fair Prince," Drinian said. "Of your courtesy, let me ride with you tomorrow that I also may see this fair thing."

This was exactly what I wished for. "With a good will," I said, smiling.