Rilian

"I adjure you to set me free. By all fears and all loves, by the bright skies of Overland, by the great Lion, by Aslan himself, I charge you--"

- Rilian

King Rilian (reign: Narnian-years 2356—unknown) was the son of legendary King Caspian X of Narnia and Queen Lilliandil, fated to become king himself, and born in Narnian-year 2325.

Description
Rilian was described as a very handsome young man, with fair hair, and who looked both bold and kind.

During his years with the Lady of the Green Kirtle, though, he was described as appearing not quite right, and wore nothing but black clothes and armor, which apparently made him look a little bit like the Shakespeare character, Hamlet.

Personality
Rillian is a very affectionate and kind young man; he adores his parents very much, especially his mother. When Rillian’s mother was killed he was filled with a deep sadness and continually hunted for the monster that killed his mother. While under the control of the Green Witch, Rillian had completely forgotten his life in Narnia and became the lady's consort for ten years. While under her control, his personality changed; he was mocking of others and had an unnatural laugh. When he freed himself from the spell, Rillian's former personality was restored.

Biography
When Rilian was about twenty years old, his mother, Lilliandil, was attacked and killed by a giant green serpent while sleeping during an outing in the northern lands. From then on he always returned to that place, hoping to avenge his mother's death.

However, once when he was in these northern lands, Rilian became smitten by the appearance of a beautiful woman, dressed in green. He did not know who she was, but once he saw her, he forgot all about the serpent and avenging his mother's death.

Rilian's most trusted confidant was his father's old friend, Drinian, who had once been captain of the Dawn Treader. He told him about the mysterious lady, and brought him to see her. Although she was indeed a great beauty, there was something about her that Drinian had instinctually known was sinister, but for Rilian's sake he said nothing.

Some time later, Rilian disappeared. Although many knights were sent by his father Caspian to look for him, they disappeared as well. Drinian blamed himself for not telling Caspian about the mysterious lady, and thus asked to be executed as a traitor. Caspian, however, responded that he had already lost his son, and could not bear to lose his friend as well, and the two wept bitterly.

While he was under the enchantment of the Lady of the Green Kirtle, Rilian's noble and lordly personality was subsumed by one more useful one to the witch. This personality, known only as the Black Knight, worshiped the witch, counting her as having saved his life.

In this state, he followed the witch like an enamored puppy, and often rode beside her on his horse, Coalblack. It was with this personality that the witch planned to use Rilian to take rulership of Narnia.

The enchantment was not perfect, as the Black Knight's artificial personality faded for a brief time every evening. Only the Silver Chair could restore the enchantment, and thus Rilian was tied to it when the spell began to fade. Over time, the enchantment would have become permanent, and Rilian's true personality would be completely subsumed by that of the Black Knight.

Six years later, Eustace Scrubb and Jill Pole were transported into the Narnian Realm, and, together with the Marsh-wiggle Puddleglum, set out to find and rescue the lost Prince. When they found the entrance to Underland, a subterranean country below the Ruined City of the Giants, the trio was confronted by the Black Knight, who claimed his queen would make him king of a country, and that they would then be married.

However, the knight said that he went mad each night, and then changed into a serpent, and so he was tied to an enchanted silver chair to restrain him from murdering those closest to him.

Thus restrained, his right mind was once again restored, and he cried out to Eustace, Jill, and Puddlegluim, "I adjure you to set me free. By all fears and all loves, by the bright skies of Overland, by the Great Lion, by Aslan himself, I charge you!"

This was the fourth sign set by Aslan for the three adventurers to watch for; they were told to obey him who invokes Aslan's name no matter what.

The three cut him loose, and the knight revealed that he was none other than the lost Prince Rilian. The released prince then grabbed his sword, and battered the silver chair to pieces.

Rilian and the others encountered the Witch-Queen of Underland, who at first tried to charm them, but then turned into the terrible great green serpent, and attacked Rilian. Eustace and Puddleglum decapitated her, and liberated the Underland gnome-slaves who were also under her magical control, which made them do tireless work without revolting. After their liberation, they returned to their home country.

The four heroes, including Rilian (31 years old at the time), made their way up to the surface, riding the horses Coalblack and Snowflake, which was surprisingly on the grounds of the country Narnia. There, Rilian was able to see his old father, Caspian X, one last time before he died, leaving Rilian to become Narnia's next ruler.

Although it is known that Rilian had a successful reign, the facts of his rule are largely unknown. During his rule, he made Underland a territory of the Narnian Empire.

Trivia

 * In the BBC production of The Silver Chair, Prince Rilian was played by Richard Henders.

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