There's a special treat for all you Naiad fans. A very special appearance of a dearly loved character! Hope you enjoy!

For most of this chapter, the character ages are: Penelope-17 (nearly 18), Rilian-20, Ranell-15, Ivor-13, Lorna-11

She swore to wait for his return.

She vowed her heart would always be his.

I Will Wait

Chapter 6: Deep as the wine-dark sea...

Three Months before Disappearance

2350 June 9

Lorna wasn't always so understanding of Rilian and I. When she first found out, she reacted just as I knew she would.

She was furious!

It was late winter. Rilian and I had been secretly courting for nearly seventeen months (I counted our courtship from about mid-voyage on my return to Narnia). Only the secret wasn't quite so secret anymore. Rhea had been the first to discover; she found us alone one evening on the beach while she was swimming the river. Then I accidentally said something about Rilian and let my true feelings for him show around my mother and grandmother. I'm not certain, but I believe they told my dad and grandfather then. Next, Rhea let it slip in front of the King and Queen about a month prior to Lorna finding out; though, Rilian said his mother admitted to knowing it for "awhile."

I knew for months that I needed to tell Lorna the truth. From the moment Rhea first discovered, I knew I should tell Lorna. I knew it would have been much better for me to tell her, sister-to-sister, than for someone to accidentally let it slip. I knew it.

But I didn't know how to do it. And then, just like that, my chance was gone. I no longer had to worry about telling her. I no longer had to try to find a way to tell her delicately, and with as few hurt feelings as possible. Someone else did it for me.

His Royal Majesty King Caspian, tenth of that name.

XOXOX

2345 February 5

We were all in the dining hall for dinner. The King sat at the head with Rilian to his right and the Queen to his left. Rhea sat on the other side of Rilian and my grandmother sat beside the Queen. Beside my grandmother sat my grandfather and then there was my mother, myself, and Lorna—or she would be once she arrived; she was late, as was usual. Across from us were Lord Drinian, my father, my brother Ranell, and my youngest brother Ivor. Lord Trumpkin completed our table and sat at the foot. Though I might have liked to sit closer to Rilian, I knew it was probably best that I didn't. At least not until I told Lorna.

Finally Lorna came dashing in, and with her a thick cloud of vanilla and lavender. Very recently this cloud had been appearing around Lorna whenever she was around Rilian, which was quite often; Rilian's favorite scent was lavender and Lorna's was vanilla.

"Lorna," our father began in a steady and stern voice, but Lorna didn't hear him because she began talking rapidly herself.

"Sorry I'm late I—"

"Lorna…"

"Oh! Right! Your Majesties," Lorna misinterpreted Daddy's tone and she gave a quick curtsy to the royal family. Then she took her seat next to me and continued her prattling.

"Lorna!" Daddy said again with a bit more firmness that was just enough to catch my sister's attention.

"Yes, Daddy?"

"You're late. Again."

"I know. I said I was sorry."

"We've talked about this Lorna. You came to your mother and me a few weeks back wanting more responsibility. And what did we say?"

"That I should show it by being on time for dinner," she replied. Then Lorna pinched my arm, her usual sign for me to say something.

"Daddy, she's hardly even a minute late," I said while rubbing my arm. "The food hasn't even been served yet."

"Penelope…" my dad rounded on me next, though his tone was gentler.

"Calm down, Orlich," Grandfather said. "Penelope is quite right; it's barely a minute late, and a minute is much improved from ten."

"Thank you, Grandfather!" Lorna said with a smile.

"Nevertheless," he continued. "One minute late is still late, and you did promise to be on time. Lorna, you will try harder, won't you?"

Lorna sighed. "Yes, Grandfather, I promise I will."

"Ah, the joys of raising children," the Queen said with a contended sigh. "Do you not miss those younger days, Caspian?"

"Only some aspects," the King replied.

"If you think raising children was a challenging reward wait until you have grandchildren. They are another thing entirely; I give you my word," Grandmother said.

"Well, perhaps we too shall know that joy one day in the not too distant future," the King said as he looked between Rilian and myself. My stomach took a sudden plunge at the simple insinuation; I was not used to having our courtship talked about so openly. And to make matters worse, Lorna saw the King's eye movement, but she thought he was looking at her.

She giggled childishly. "I'm afraid, Your Majesty, that that may be some ways off still. I have not yet turned twelve."

"That may be, Lorna, but I do believe your sister is about to turn eighteen. Am I correct?"

"In April, Your Majesty, yes," I replied shakily. I did not like where this was going.

"Nellie? What has Nellie got to do with anything…Your Majesty?"

The King now looked very confused as he turned to look at his son.

"Father, please don't," Rilian said softly. It did no good.

"Are you and Penelope not courting anymore?" the King asked.

Whatever little stomach I had left after its plunge, now vanished altogether, and my hearing became suddenly muffled. It was over. I could hide it no more…unless…unless she didn't hear him. He had said it rather softly. "Oh, Aslan! Please, Aslan, please, please, please let her to not have heard it," I thought desperately. Of course, we can only be so lucky for so long.

Lorna laughed loudly.

"Nellie! And Prince Rilian! Courting?" She said it as though it were the most ridiculous thing. And to her it was, because Rilian was her crush, and he had been for years. "There must be some mistake, Your Majesty, because Nellie knows… She would never… She couldn't…"

Lorna continued laughing, but when she found that no one else was she stopped. "Tell them, Nellie. Tell them how you wouldn't court the Prince. Nellie, tell them," Lorna insisted, but I couldn't do that.

I closed my eyes as I tried to recall how to breathe, and when I opened them somehow the first pair of eyes I saw was Rilian's. They were full of apologies and shame. "I'm so sorry about my dad," I could almost hear him say. Next I saw my father's eyes, but I couldn't quite decipher his look.

"Nellie, tell them," my sister continued to insist.

Instead I turned my head to look at my mother. "Help me," I silently pleaded. Mother simply looked at me with sympathy and placed one of her hands on mine. "Be strong," she encouraged as she gave my hand a gentle squeeze.

"Tell them, Nellie." My sister's pleads turned desperate.

"I can't," I replied.

"What do you mean, 'cant'?"

I looked at my sister at last. "Lorna, I'm sorry, but I can't refute what the King has said."

"You don't mean that," Lorna said shaking her head as her eyes began to fill with angry tears.

"But I do. I've been meaning to tell you for some time; I swear I was going to, but I—I wasn't sure how to exactly. It wasn't supposed to happen like this."

"Well I should think not!"

"Lorna," Daddy warned.

"Did you know?" she asked angrily, suddenly rounding on him. "Did everyone know but me?"

The table was eerily silent as everyone sort of looked around at everyone else. Then, slowly, Ranell raised his hand. "I didn't know."

"I still don't know," Ivor said. "What's going on exactly?"

Lorna huffed. "You want to know what's going on, Ivor? Do you? Because I will tell you; that's what I do. Penelope's a traitor!"

"Lorna!" Daddy scolded, but she wasn't listening.

"She pretends to be a caring sister, but she's not! She only cares about herself!"

"That's not true," I pleaded. "I do care."

"Well that's a lie!"

"Lorna, that's enough," Daddy said sternly. "Your sister has had a terrible lapse in judgment and she has made a mistake in not telling you sooner, but she is sorry, aren't you, Penelope?"

"Yes. Yes I am terribly sorry, Lorna. I never meant for this to happen."

"There, you see. Now apologize to her, Lorna."

"No," Lorna said adamantly. "I will not apologize for what I believe to be true."

"Lorna…"

"Stop defending her, Daddy! Or have you forgot, I am your daughter too!" The whole room fell completely silent. "You're always defending her, Daddy. Defending her and forgetting me."

"Lorna, we are sisters," I said. "Daddy does not—"

"Stop it! Just stop it! I'm tired of hearing your excuses!" Lorna stood suddenly. "I'm tired and I'll hear no more!"

Lorna turned briskly and started walking out. I stood and tried going after her. "Lorna, please." I reached out for her hand but she yanked it away.

"Don't touch me! And don't bother coming after me, either! I never want to see you again! You're the worst sister ever!"

Lorna turned on her heels and stormed out of the hall; the heavy wooden doors slammed shut behind her, and left me speechless in her wake. I stood rooted to the spot. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't do anything. Could that have possibly been any worse? Could anything else have gone wrong? My sister knew about Rilian and I, and she hated me for it. I wanted to cry more than ever, but I fought against the urge; I would not cry here. I would not show them my weakness.

The room was unnervingly quiet after Lorna left and the walls echoed with the slam of the door. I knew if I stood and focused on the pain of Lorna leaving I would cry. So, I focused on the quiet conversation that started behind me.

"What was that about the joys of children, Your Majesty?" Trumpkin asked in what was surly meant to be a soft voice.

"My apologies," the King nearly whispered. "I was not aware that young Lorna did not know."

"No, Your Majesty," I said softly but with resolution. I took a deep breath and turned around to find several pairs of eyes looking at me; my dad's eyes were not among them. His head was propped up in his hand as he pinched the bridge of his nose. I knew how disappointed he must be.

"The blame is mine. I should have told Lorna from the start. I never should have…" I glanced briefly at Rilian before looking away. "I'm sorry Daddy," my voice cracked slightly; my emotions were beginning to get the best of me and I had to fight harder against them. "But I don't feel very hungry anymore. May I be excused?"

My dad said nothing. He simply gave a small nod of his head and a wave of his hand. I gave a shaky curtsy towards the royal family before turning and hurrying towards the door. I didn't quite reach it before Rilian called out after me.

"Penelope, wait." I heard his heavy footsteps rushing up behind me before I felt his hand on my shoulder. "Penelope, I—"

"Please, Rilian, not now. I—I just want to be alone."

I didn't wait for him to lower his hand; I just left. I never knew how much that pained him, but I didn't stop to think about it either. If my relationship with Lorna couldn't be repaired then there was only one thing to be done. And the sooner I started distancing myself from him then the easier it would be in the long run.

I was able to withhold my tears until I reached the safety of home, but I had to settle for crying alone on the sofa. Lorna and I shared a room and she had locked herself in and locked me out. After I had shed a few of my tears and regained my strength, I knocked on our bedroom door. Lorna would not see me though, nor would she speak with me unless it was to shout, "Go away!"

After awhile Mother came and tried her hand at getting Lorna out, but still Lorna would not come. I slept in our small parlor that night on a pallet of old quilts. Lorna finally emerged the next morning, but she still refused to speak a word to me. The next few days passed in much the same way; Lorna passed by me without a glance or a word. And for each day that Lorna avoided me, I did my best to avoid Rilian. I could only succeed at that for a few days, and by the fifth day Rilian managed to corner me, with help from his mother the Queen.

I was sitting alone in one of the more secluded parlors, staring out of the bay window. I would have been sitting outside, but it was snowing again. I was moments away from giving into more tears, which is why I chose that particular parlor; no one ever went by there. Lorna had not spoken to me and she had barely looked my way since that night. I had tried many, many times to talk to her and apologize, but she wouldn't hear me. So…I knew what I had to do. It would be difficult, yes, but I had no other choice. I went to that parlor to cry so that I might renew my strength for what must be done.

I was on the verge of giving in to my tears when she walked in. She moved so silently I didn't hear her approach; I just suddenly saw her standing at the edge of my vision.

"Oh! Your Majesty…" I jumped up and tried curtsying to her but she waved me off.

"That's not necessary, Penelope," she said in a gentle voice. "May I join you?"

"Yes. Yes of course." I indicated to the sofa on which I had been sitting, but remained standing myself.

"You may sit too, Penelope. I did not mean to disturb your thoughts."

"Oh, it's alright. You didn't disturb anything. I—I wasn't doing anything. Just sitting. And watching the snow, I suppose."

The Queen laughed softly and tapped the sofa next to her. "Please, Penelope, sit."

"Th—thank you, Your Majesty."

"I suppose there is no chance of you calling me Ava?"

"Oh, I—I couldn't possibly be so frank as that, Your Majesty," I said nervously. Being around Rilian was one thing, but being around the rest of the royal family was still very odd for me. Though my family may have held great prestige amongst the royal family, I spent six years of my life being no more than a lowly commoner in Narrowhaven.

The Queen tapped the sofa again, indicating once more that I should sit. So I did. We sat in silence for awhile. I don't know if it was awkward for her, but it was a bit for me. Like I said, being around the royal family was odd for me. The Queen broke the silence.

"I apologize for my husband's actions. His uncle kept him very secluded when he was young. And though he is very wise in matters of court, he is still very…unaccustomed to matters of courtship."

"It's not his fault, Your Majesty. I should have told Lorna long before. From the moment I knew her true feelings, I should have been free with mine. But to be quite honest, I wasn't sure what those feelings might be or, rather, what they could become. I never thought things would go this far, that it would come to this, or that I'd feel the way I do. Never did I think it possible."

"And, may I ask, what do you feel for my son, Penelope?"

"I—" I was about to be honest and tell her just what thought I felt, but what good would that do? How would that help? "It doesn't matter how I feel, Your Majesty. I never should have let my feelings get this carried away. I should have stopped things long before now, but because I have delayed it will be all the more difficult now. Please, Your Majesty, know that I care a great deal about your son, I truly do, but no person is worth the hate of family."

"What are you saying, Penelope?" Rilian suddenly asked from behind us. I jumped up at the sound of his voice.

"Rilian…"

"Rilian! You know eavesdropping is not polite," the Queen said in a scolding manner. She too had stood at the appearance of her son.

"Who's dropping eaves, Mother? I came to see how Penelope was doing, and this is what I hear?"

"Please, Rilian." I forgot that I was in the Queen's presence still and I spoke casually with Rilian as I stepped around the sofa towards him. "Please, try to understand. Lorna is my sister, and she hates me now. She acts as though I do not exist."

"And so you would give up on us?"

"What else am I to do? She's my sister, and I have caused her a great deal of pain. I know not how else to fix it."

Rilian was hurt. I could see the pain on his face clearly. But I knew this would hurt.

"Perhaps this is a conversation best done in private," the Queen said as she too rounded the sofa. "But before I leave…" the Queen stood between Rilian and me so that I had to look at her, and she placed a hand on my shoulder. "Keep in mind, Penelope, that Lorna is still very young and has much growing to do. Though this time is difficult, matters of the heart should not be made rashly."

The Queen gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking out and leaving Rilian and I alone in the parlor. I wasn't sure what to do now. I hadn't had my chance to cry, and I was suffering for it. I could slowly feel my resolve begin to crack. I didn't know how long I could hold the tears off.

"So, you want to end things between us?" Rilian asked at last. His voice was very soft and fragile.

I shook my head. "I don't want to, no, but I believe we must."

"I don't want to either, Penelope," he said with more strength as he stepped in closer.

"I'm sorry, Rilian, but what would you have me do? Would you have me to continue to be the cause of my sister's misery? Should I continue to betray her as she believes I do?"

"You are not betraying her."

"That is how she sees it though. The bond between sisters is special, as I imagine the bond between brothers is; they are different than the bond between brother and sister. Because Lorna made clear her feelings for you long before I even knew mine she has laid a claim on you, an understanding. For me to violate that understanding, in Lorna's eyes, is, at its core, a betrayal. The only ways I can think of to offset such a betrayal would be for us to receive Lorna's grace, which she is not willing to give, or for us to be no more."

"So we deny our feelings? Pretend they never existed? All for the comfort of some girl?"

"She is not some girl; she is my sister."

"Yes. I know. I'm sorry." Rilian moved in even closer. "This all seems so unfair. Why should we have to suffer? Why should we have to deny...whatever this is…all for her? Are we not allowed to be happy?"

When he took both of my hands in his, I nearly lost it. I was actually surprised at how well I had been holding up; the urge to cry had been steadily decreasing, until that moment. Though he tried to capture my gaze, I avoided looking at him. I took in a few deep and steadying breathes before finally looking back at him.

"Rilian, I'm sorry, but I really see no other way. This must be goodbye."

I pulled my hands from his and began walking away. The hurt that I saw flash through his eyes had me crumbling on the inside. I had to get away quickly before I lost it in front of him. I hated crying; I hated feeling so weak. I had never cried in front of Rilian before, and I didn't want to start now. Rilian would not let me leave so easily though. Just as I reached the door he said something. Something I never thought I'd hear him say now, though it was something that I was dreaming of. And it was enough to halt me in my tracks.

"I love you."

It was so soft, so fragile that I wasn't sure I'd even heard it. I stopped where I was, but I didn't turn around. My breaths came in rapid pants. I thought I was surly mistaken when all that followed was silence. But then he said it again.

"I love you."

I felt the tears spring to my eyes, and I couldn't stop them from falling.

"I love you, Penelope."

I could hear his footsteps as he walked towards me.

"I've been wanting to tell you for the last several weeks, but I wasn't sure how to do it best. I know this is hardly the ideal moment, and I'm not using it as some desperate ploy, though it may seem that way. My feelings are earnest, and I thought you should know them.

"I love you," he said again. "If you tell me these feelings are not returned, then I shall let you leave and you will never have to hear from me again if that is what you wish. But if there is even the slightest chance that you might love me too…then I think you should stay and fight for us. Do not let your youngest sister, who does not even know what love is, prevent you from loving whom you choose."

I wrapped one arm around myself while I covered my mouth with my other hand in an attempt to muffle the sobs. I could feel my shoulders shaking and breaking my cover. I had made up my mind. I was set on what I must do, but I never saw this coming. This…this changed everything. I could feel Rilian standing right behind and I turned around to face him. I could not see him though for the tears running from my eyes. That didn't matter however; I knew well enough where the crook of his neck was in relation to me, and I buried my face in it. Rilian wasted no time in wrapping his arms around me and holding me. It was several minutes before I had breath enough to speak.

"I do. I do love you, Rilian. I do. I love you." Rilian's arms closed in around me a little tighter and I wrapped my arms around his neck.

XOXOX

2350 June 9

Obviously, Rilian and I didn't call off our courtship that day; we confessed our love for the first time instead. Though Lorna did eventually begin speaking with me again, our relationship was very strained. Rilian and I did our best to keep our feelings under wraps whenever she was near, out of courtesy. And mealtimes were always a bit awkward, since things had been slightly rearranged and I now sat beside Rilian.

It wasn't until after Rilian disappeared and I confessed my part in his leaving and Lorna found me sobbing in bed that she first began to come around. I don't know if she was exactly okay with us being together, but she did understand that I was in a lot of pain. That was the first night that she crawled in bed with me and held me until I fell asleep.

So, I hope you all enjoyed the short appearance of Ava, the Naiad Queen. And I hope I portrayed her well. It's a bit odd writing about her from someone else's perspective.

This was another sad-ish chapter, I know, but you all should be used to that by now. You've been such troupers, and as thanks I give you this brief look at chapter 7.

Six years. Rilian is still missing, and I still miss him.

Seven years. Rilian is still gone. The pain is still there, but I'm learning to live with it. I've learned to hide it.

Eight years. I feel like I've lost so much, but I tell none. No one knows the true pain I feel. No one. Except maybe the King. Like me, he's learned to hide his pain well, but like with Rilian, I see his mask. I know how he hurts.

Nine years.

The years go by slowly but surely. Around me things change steadily. I've grown older; my siblings have grown older. Ranell has found a young maiden from the village, fallen in love with her, married her, and now they are young parents to a six month old. Ivor too has met someone and married. Even Lorna is in a long courtship with a young man from Archenland, the son of one of Daddy's old friends; we are expecting a marriage proposal to come any day now. Things have changed all around me, and yet within I feel the same pain.

Suitors continue to come and seek my hand and I continue to fight them for it. Most of the suitors who come are young knights, or the sons of lords, or in some cases the grandsons of lords as my father had been. Fortunately, none have been as bad as Sir Blaine; he was easily the worst. Many come, fight, lose, and leave without leaving any sort of impression upon me. A few, however, I now consider friends, but none have come close to filling in the hole left by Rilian.

None, that is, except for Pierre.

End Preview. Hey! I did say it was brief.

Eeep! I got my copy of Killing Bono early! Unfortunately for me, I won't have time to watch it until Saturday. :( But...! I still have it! :D ...(I know! That has absolutely nothing to do with this story, but I just thought I'd share my excitement with you all. Thanks for listening.)