Raaaaandom

[lady_songsmith]

So, er, I have no idea what just happened, but there was Rilian in my head this morning and this came out, and I think it needs -- expansion? elaboration? editing? -- but here's what there is.
____

It was easier than he'd expected.

Rilian had thought there would be more resistance to his taking the throne. He'd been gone for so long, had very nearly led an army against Narnia (and he made no secret of his time with the lady-witch), and his rescuers from another world had not stayed to tell the tale, nor had Aslan; it would be no surprise if some of the Narnians regarded him with suspicion, and no shame to them. But there were enough who remembered his father as a young man and his mother's light, some of which still shone in him, that vouched him the true son of Caspian and rightful king, so no one questioned it to his face at least.

He suspected, from the sound that seemed to follow him, wind hissing through cracks, that the doubt was whispered behind his back. He tried not to think on it overmuch; it would pass in time or it would not, and all he could do was try to show he would be a good king. But as time passed, and he ruled -- not wisely, perhaps, but at least well, and the whispers did not fade at all, it did hurt. He tried harder. Married, raised children, fought wars and made peace. Died, still hearing the whispers running behind him.

On his tomb, the Narnians carved the name they had known him by since his miraculous return from Underworld:

King Rilian the Disenchanted
True heir to Edmund the Just

___

Comments

[wingedflight21.livejournal.com]

WHOA. Wait. What.

This is fantastic - it was great just reading about the whispers behind his back and how he tried so very hard, and then THAT LAST LINE. Amazing!

But I think the weirdest part is that I'm definitely toying with the idea of Caspian I being married to a descendent of a Edmund. It's an idea I've been toying with for months.

[lady_songsmith]

Well, I mean it more metaphorically, but hey, go with it! :)

[wingedflight21.livejournal.com]

Metaphorical or not, that was awesome. And quite a coincidence, ha.

[autumnia]

That last line definitely makes one think, because it really points how just how similar Rilian is to Edmund when it comes to Witches. :-)

[lady_songsmith]

Yeah, this kinda was meant to have a bit where he gets someone to talk to him and they tell him what the whispers were really saying, but it sort of right-angled on me in the middle of writing it so I went with it. I have this idea now that there's a legend, or saying, or something, in Narnia that those who have been in the grasp of evil are the best rulers, in the tradition of Edmund, so "disenchanted" is meant to be a compliment to Rilian. Of course he doesn't think so.

[gramarye1971]

I have this idea now that there's a legend, or saying, or something, in Narnia that those who have been in the grasp of evil are the best rulers, in the tradition of Edmund, so "disenchanted" is meant to be a compliment to Rilian. Of course he doesn't think so.

Oh, I love this headcanon! It fits so well in a Narnia context, and you could do a lot with it. So definitely run with it, if the inspiration strikes you.

[snitchnipped.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like this! Is there a longer story somewhere in there? It's a pretty good lead for a potential Big Bang, if you're still looking for a direction..

[lady_songsmith]

Longer, probably, but not BB length. i might possibly get it up to 1000 words on a very good day. It's really just a character portrait, and I have never written Rilian before, so this is, uhm, odd -- no, wait, I lie, I have done him once for the Moon card and half of the Devil card but those are for Dancing which isn't done yet.

[edenfalling]

Oh, wow. That is a hell of an ending, and it really makes you think, too. (And poor Rillian, for never realizing how loved and respected he was.)

[lady_songsmith]

Yeah - when I started this I thought someone would take him aside and explain, or something, but then somewhere along the line it just... uhm. They thought he knew?

[l-a-r-m.livejournal.com]

I am pretty sure you meant that last line metaphorically but all I can think is HELL YEAH EDMUND/RD!

Awww, Rilian. Loved it!

[lady_songsmith]

You all have filthy minds!

[metonomia.livejournal.com]

I REALLY like that idea omg! I like the subtlety of it, the idea that Rilian's rule would be questioned but not enough to unsettle Narnia, just Rilian himself.

[lady_songsmith]

Belatedly (how'd i miss this?) - thanks! I kinda want to pet Rilian - poor guy!

[harmony-lover.livejournal.com]

Wow. The last line of this is amazing, simply because it has so many levels of interpretation. "Rilian the Disenchanted" is, on a certain level, a compliment, because he is no longer bewitched or ensared by the LotGK, but at the same time it sounds as though he is cynical, disillusioned, and perhaps bitter, all things which would make it exceptionally hard to be a ruler of Narnia. Making him Edmund's heir, even metaphorically! Genius! Although it is so sad that he didn't know it...

Gorgeous. Is there more in here, even just a little bit? Please? :)

[lady_songsmith]

I totally missed replying to this, oops! Thank you so much! I doubt there's very much more to this, but the idea of turning the enchantment around really appealed to me.