"You wish to stop here, my prince?" Drinian asked.
"Here, my lord," I said firmly. I wanted to tell him that even this place where my mother had died was becoming pleasant to me when graced by my lady's presence. I wanted to tell him more, to tell him everything but I stopped myself. He would see her and he would need no explanation.
Although we had brought apples, I could not eat. I wondered how Drinian would react when he saw her, what she would say to him. Drinian spoke of court affairs but I was barely listening. I kept on glancing at the sun, willing it to hurry and move across the sky. And then suddenly I knew she was there; I could sense her presence before I saw her.
I looked up and saw her standing at the north side of the fountain. She extended her hand to me and smiled, her emerald eyes pulling me in. And then Drinian stood up beside me and she saw him. Her lips parted slightly and although she kept smiling, her eyes hardened. And with an abrupt movement, she stepped behind the trees and disappeared.
I was too startled to shout. And I doubted it would do much good. It was too late now. I glanced at Drinian and was shocked to find his hand at his sword-hilt. No wonder she had disappeared!
"You frightened her!" I said.
"I do not think so," he said but I wasn't listening. I was too angry at him and at myself. I had been a fool to bring him without preparing him! I had been a fool to bring him without warning her! I had muddled the whole thing, thinking that their meeting would be magical because she was magical.
I rode home in silence. Several times, Drinian started to speak.
"My prince…" He trailed off.
I remained silent and did not help him along. He had frightened her! It had been partly my fault but he was still the cause of my vexation and I couldn't wait to be rid of his company. When we parted I didn't say good-bye. That night I paced the floor of my room, inventing thousands of graceful speeches I could say to her when I saw her tomorrow. Then I slept for several hours, a difficult, restless type of sleep that left me feeling worse than I had before. It didn't matter. Only she mattered.
She wasn't there. She wasn't by the brook and she wasn't in the shade. She wasn't in the sunlight and she wasn't by the wildflowers. I wished to call her but realized I didn't even know her name.
"Lady!" I cried out. "Lady!"
I heard a smothered sob.
"Please speak to me! I swear by Aslan, I am alone!"
I saw movement flicker at the edge of my vision and turned sharply to my right. There she sat, on the grass, in the shade of the trees (where I was sure she hadn't been before). All the laughter was gone from her eyes. She was weeping miserably but beautiful nevertheless. What had I done?
"Oh, my Prince!" she whispered. "You have ruined everything!"
"Please tell me what I have done and how I may amend it," I said earnestly and took her hand in mine.
"Won't your servant go straight to your father and tell him of me?" And before I could say anything she continued, "He must not tell your father. If your father were to know of me, I would have to leave forever."
"Drinian is a good and faithful friend. He will keep silent." I assured her. "But why should he not tell my father? Do not fear. My father is a good man. He will welcome you and I am sure he will come to love you."
"Do you love me, prince Rillian?" The question was unexpected.
"Oh, more that I can express in words!"
She only looked at me thoughtfully. I realized she had probably heard declarations of love before. I took a deep breath. "Will you marry me, my lady? I do not know your name or anything about you, but I love you. You have brought me unspeakable joy and I only wish to do the same for you."
She smiled bitterly. Then she stood and turned away from me. "I am under a terrible enchantment, my prince. Only you and your love can break it. Until it is broken I cannot say yes."
"Then tell me of this great enchantment!" I cried.
"Be cautious, prince," she told me. "Consider carefully what you are undertaking. There is a high price to pay."
For a single moment, I hesitated. Then shame set in. I was a noble knight and an honorable Narnian indeed! Frightened at the first mention of sacrifice!
"Tell me," I pleaded.
"You must love me more than anyone or anything else in Narnia," she said.
I stopped, puzzled. Was this to be the extent of my sacrifice?
"I already do," I said.
"No, you do not understand. You must love me more than your father and mother, more than any duty or obligation, more than Narnia itself, more than right and wrong."
The world began to spin. Thoughts of all the things I knew and loved flashed before my eyes.
"More than Aslan?" I whispered.
"More than Aslan," she said.