Helga was beside herself with worry, you see. She wasn't able to find anything about Rowena, Godric had asked where she was and if Helga had received a letter… with each negative to his friend's questions both of them grew worried. They had their hands full without being able to find Hengist anywhere. Salazar wrote approximately a week ago complaining about a bad feeling and they all knew to take those seriously. Even Rowena had a healthy respect for Salazar´s instinct.
The same woman who seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, not even spells could find her. magic never failed on anything Helga needed before. She and Godric were at a loss.
What happened? They could only hope that Rowena was fine wherever she was. And that she came back soon.
…
Rillian was having a hard time dissuading Trumpkin and other counselors of meddling with his future and inevitable marriage.
You see, as his father´s only heir he knew it was expected of him to get married and have an heir of his own, it was only fair. But his father married out of love. He really loved his mother and Rillian wanted the same, at least that had to go well. Right?
He had been kidnapped by a devious witch, kept underground and spellbound which made him develop a healthy respect and wariness of anything magic related, that is… anything magic related that didn't have to do with Rowena.
She fascinated him. His father´s friend and companion from another world. She kept him company all these years that he had been away and for that he was grateful.
She was beautiful and mysterious, astoundingly intelligent and different to any other lady he´d ever known. And he really wanted to marry her. That it happened to be in line with his father´s request just made him set his goal. He will marry her and it didn't matter if he had to go against councils and noblemen to do it.
That said, the only one that could stop him was Rowena herself. If she felt something for him besides friendship she didn't tell.
She was day and night with her head buried in books, she still made it in time for lunch or dinner but she didn't tell him about what she was researching.
Even with bags under her eyes she was beautiful and she was intelligent beyond measure. More than any other lady he´d ever laid eyes on. She couldn't be more different than the witch and he was relieved, it was stupid but he still flinched whenever he laid eyes on certain shades of green even more so when the wearer of the offending clothes had blond hair.
It was his subconscious playing tricks on him. Also… he despised the darkness. He enjoyed taking long walks whenever he could get away with it and Rowena accompanied him when she wasn't buried in books or asking for information. So far he couldn't gather any intel on what she was researching.
She fascinated him, he could spend hours listening to her talk about any topic, or. Reading him a book or a report.
She helped him on some of his business as King without being asked to and she also knew how to deal with old Trumpkin when he was being difficult or rude. Even better than he did and that was saying something.
He really couldn't imagine marrying someone else but he felt lacking.
Rillian finally decided to search for a ring that he could envision in Rowena´s hand. He had enough things to think about, he was having the King´s chamber modified since he just couldn't sleep. He wanted a bigger window that let the light in, it didn't matter if he woke up earlier than everyone else, he just couldn't sleep in the dark.
Rowena had helped a lot in his trauma from when he was kidnapped by the witch. She knew he loathed dark and cramped spaces, that he didn't like certain shades of green… but whenever he expressed cautiousness around anything magic related, she looked so sad.
He really wanted to get over it in order for her to share her secrets with him. It felt as if he she looked after him but she kept a lid on her feelings and secrets, whatever she wanted to share, he´d be happy with anything.
He never felt something like this before. And it was with his heart beating a mile per minute, he walked to the castle´s library with the ring firmly held in his hand.
Thinking about what he could tell her, how he could communicate his feelings effectively.
When he made it to the library, Rowena was sitting on the table near the window with the moonlight and some candles as her only light source. She had a pile of books on each side and also a mirror, of all things.
Their eyes met halfway, green meeting deep blue. And she set her book aside.
Rillian sat beside her and took her delicate hand in his.
_ Rowena dear. I had thought about how to convey my feelings to you. But words pale in comparison to what I want to tell. I want to live a lifetime with you, but I'd be happy to have whatever you can offer me. I want your hand in marriage, I know you're from another world. If there's a way for me to ask your hand to your family I'd do it right away.
She listened to him without interrupting. She was happy, but incredibly sad as well.
_ Rillian. There's something you don't know about me and I fear it might be too much, you see. I'd never do something to hurt you in any way. But I'm a witch. I have magic inside me and I long to discover the secrets of the world. I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, sometimes it might make you feel left aside. Nothing would make me happier than accepting to marry you. But you see. You have already suffered enough loss. I don't want to be another one. You see. I've been researching day and night for something, anything that might allow me to stay or at the very least, to give you some stability. You can´t have an absent queen.
Rillian held onto her every word, it wasn't a negative.
_ Trumpkin said the same thing, but you see Rowena, I want to have whatever I can get. If you´re willing, we can get married tomorrow. I'd be the happiest man in all of Narnia. I don't even need to know more than you´d be willing to tell me. - he knelt beside her chair showing her the ring. The one he picked in the treasure chamber.
_ Lady Rowena of another world. Would you give this King the honor of being your husband?
_ Yes, Rillian of Narnia, I'd be delighted. - she answered, feeling tears stream down her face. This, right here, was the happiest moment of her life.
And she really missed her friends.
…
A wedding was a joyous affair. But something really complicated to organize. Rowena had her hands full with all sort of details and a complete entourage of assistants and servants following her. Rillian had to deal with Trumpkin and the advisors and Rowena didn't envy him. The old dwarf had a right fit, and Rowena had to intervene and calm him a bit with some magic (of course discretely).
Rillian wanted to know everything she was willing to tell her.
So she talked about her earlier years, how she met Helga, Godric and Salazar and how they all had magic. Rillian was surprised at that last bit. In Narnia they had witches but not wizards.
So the whole concept was foreign to him. Rowena thought that Rillian and Salazar might get on like a house on fire to discuss any topic. And maybe he could spar with Godric since they both were athletic.
And she wanted to introduce him to Helga.
Trumpkin wasn't a happy camper, but there was nothing he could do. The wedding invitations were sent. He didn't have anything against Rowena if not the possibility of her disappearance. She was from another world as the great kings and queens of the past. And they all had their mysterious disappearances in common.
Rillian had suffered enough, he was different from the lad he used to be. He dressed in darker colors and hated dark places. They had weaned the palace of green fabrics little by little and made adjustments here and there in order to accommodate for his needs.
Rowena was responsible for that, the old dwarf and the other counselors knew that she at the very least took care of him.
She was beautiful and intelligent, kind and patient, really great queen material.
She was perfect if not for that detail, she was from another world and she certainly had family and friends over there. Right?
…
King Neil arrived with his entourage feeling curiosity about this bride of his Narnian counterpart. He really didn't know about this lady before receiving his wedding invitation, no one knew of a noble Ravenclaw family. Not even in Calormen, (yes, he had asked).
What happened in Narnia was also important for Archenland and the same could be said if the situation was reversed. Even if their relationships were amicable at the moment, he really didn't feel secure enough as to bring his family. He and his queen travelled with six of his best warriors and ready for anything.
The suddenness of the whole affair was what made him so cautious, that and Narnia´s story with witches.
Lady Rowena was a great hostess, considerate and kind, she asked about what they could do in order to make them comfortable, she made small talk with the ladies and noblemen and ran the whole affair without needing assistance of King Rillian.
King Rillian himself was subject of curiosity. He was the heir of Caspian X that was missing for years and even thought deceased, and here he was. Not only was he alive but he also was getting married with a particularly unique bride. One that seemed to come out of nowhere.
Narnia really was something else.
…
Helga was watching the stars and Godric was dead to the world. His loud snores surely could be heard on the other side of the town, she smiled slightly thinking about it.
She dearly missed Rowena and wanted to get at least a letter. None of her spells had worked so far. Helga had to trust her gut in this. Rowena was safe and happy. She just knew.
She was getting a little angry. Where was she? Maybe with a suitor? Rowena didn't strike her as some silly country girl that might marry the first man with a heavy gold purse that looked her way. But if they didn't receive a letter or somehow managed to get a hold of her… shed have to resign herself.
Godric didn't ask, but he was worried. She could tell just by looking at him. Maybe his search for Hengist included Rowena if so, he didn't tell. And she didn't ask, she just waited for him with a warm plate ready and some beer. Always ready to listen to whatever he had to say.
They were a family in every way that counted.
They just needed Salazar and Rowena to complete it.
Salazar send word ahead, he got the lands and they could give it the go ahead with the school.
…
Salazar was a man that finally got what he wanted. He set for Helga´s hometown with the land deed signed by everyone that counted and with the Kings seal. It was irrefutable and he just had to start building at his convenience. Godric had the artisans, they all had the gold… Rowena and Helga just had to decide on the settings, he definitely wanted the dungeons.