Disclaimer: I don't own Narnia or any characters you may recognize from the books or the movies, I wish I did but I don't... I also don't own the Narnian Calendar. It belongs to Elecktrum who was kind enough to let me borrow it for my story. Her own stories are awesome and you should go read them too.

Summary: Some of the significant events in person's life can be measured by coffee...

A/N: This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe, so this story is best understood after you have read my other stories. There is a major spoiler for Shadowed and Revealed in this story, so I strongly recommend you at least read the main story arc before reading this story.

Measured by Coffee Part Two: Tolerance

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20 Fairdawn 1002

It was Thirdday. It was just past eighth hour and I had not gone to training. Why? Because the training schedule of both Kings and myself was decidedly less rigid when we were not at the Cair (in spite of Oreius' best efforts...and threats...that were only ever aimed at me for some strange reason). That particular summer morning the three of us were in the northern lands of Narnia inspecting the progress being made on restoring (more like rebuilding, I don't care what Peter said) the old hunting lodge. Edmund had insisted on coming when he heard that Peter intended to come back up here, and I had surprised pretty much everyone when I accepted Peter's invitation to come with them (Oreius and Ardon were both going and they didn't want me to do something gleefully...reckless...while they were gone). Considering it had only been three months since we were last here and that visit had gone rather poorly (all I can say is Murphy had had a field day...and it hurt), I suppose I can't be too surprised that certain people (Oreius, Ardon, Sherket, Alithia, etc., etc.) were concerned about how Peter and I would react to going back. Okay, okay, they were mainly worried about me because Peter had spent most of the last visit unconscious (at least through a good chunk of the worst parts) while I had gained white streaks to my hair because of what I went through (yes, I had white hair before I turned twenty, not by much but still... Did I mention I hate Murphy?). However, I had already confronted the demons of my past with the help of a friend who promised to be my main shield, so I knew I was going to be fine (especially since I had plans that would distract me from dwelling on unpleasant things).

The morning after we arrived at the lodge I decided it would be a good time to finally get revenge on the two evil senior knights who had tried to poison me with their barely-liquid stuff that was definitely not coffee and should never have been labeled coffee. The only people knew about my diabolical plan (yes I have them and I sometimes enact them too) were the head cook at the Cair, Kori of the Eastern Valley Red Dwarf clan, (she had been more than happy to help me collect the supplies I needed to pull it off) and myself. After nearly a month since their actions against me, I knew they weren't really expecting me to enact my diabolical plan of revenge and they had assumed that because we were away from the Cair that I wouldn't do anything or have the supplies to do so. Oh, how wrong they were. I grinned as I pulled on my boots then ducked out of the tent (I do love coming up with diabolical plans).

I was usually a morning person so Peter didn't really comment on my grin (yes, I was able to keep it from being even slightly evil this time), instead he had a completely different matter on his mind, though he took his time to actually mention it. "Oh there you are, Kat. You seem to be in a more...cheerful...mood this morn. Though not enough to join us in inspecting the struchtúr, I take it."

I put my hands on my hips and responded in Irish, "Diúltú dom dul isteach go carn shoddy rith síos de chloch go bhfuil tú ag éileamh do roinnt chúis a thaisceadh go dtí go bhfuil a thuilleadh poll níos mó ná an díon agus tá sé i ndáiríre cosúil le foirgneamh fíor críochnaithe agus ní nóiméad roimh ré." (I refuse to go into that shoddy run-down pile of stone that you for some reason claim is a lodge until there is no longer a hole bigger than the roof and it actually looks like a real finished building and not a moment beforehand.)

I laughed softly when Peter stared at me then nodded, "That's what I thought." There was no way he knew what I had said, but my tone had obviously made my feelings clear on the matter of visiting that struchtúr. He saw me glance at the coffee pot hanging over the fire. "Oh, Oreius made that about ten minutes ago. He said you should help yourself if you so choose."

Fresh pot of coffee? How perfect. I barely kept myself from showing any sign of glee as I casually asked, "So, where did the grouchy duo head off to?"

Peter grinned at my current title for Oreius and Ardon (they had been very grouchy when they realized I intended to wiggle my way out of any training exercise they attempted to put me through...and it had worked so far). "Well, they went to check with the night watch before they officially allow those of us willing to inspect the progress of the lodge to get started with our inspection." He glanced at me out of the corner of his eye when he said that, but I just ignored him. I would inspect the lodge when it was finished being rebuilt and there was actually something to inspect (besides why would I want to look at a struchtúr with more holes in it than Swiss cheese?) and not a moment beforehand. I quickly calculated how much time I probably had with Oreius the overprotective and more than a little paranoid Kentauri essentially doing a security check and decided I still had enough time to pull off my diabolical plan.

"Kat?" Oops, I had accidentally tuned Peter out when I made my calculations...not good.

I gave him a quick grin, "Sorry, I, um, got lost in thought for a minute. What were you saying?"

He grinned back at me as he announced in rather satisfied tones. "Well, I was just informing you that I discussed it with Oreius and Ardon this morn and we came to the conclusion that it is your turn to wake Edmund up."

I blinked at him in surprise and mild confusion before I suddenly realized this was another way they had decided to tease me and initiate me further into their lives as knights. Edmund was not a morning person...at all. I had watched him hiss and growl and even snarl every morning we had been on this little journey and even I was less than enthusiastic about trying my hand at waking him (in spite of the fact that I had thoroughly enjoyed watching Peter, Oreius, and Ardon deal with waking the younger king...yes, I am a hypocrite). I frowned and tapped my chin as I tried to think of a way to wake Edmund without becoming a target for his snarling displeasure while also still being able to pull off my revenge on Oreius and Ardon. I hid an evil grin as I realized how I could do both and feigned a put-upon sigh as I looked at Peter who was still smirking (my acting skills impress me sometimes...I should have gotten an Oscar or at least a nomination for several of my performances). "Very well, I shall take care of it. In thirty minutes, your brother will be up and about. I guarantee it."

Peter didn't say it out loud but the skeptical look he failed to completely hide made it very clear that he did not believe me. I just grinned and ducked back inside my tent to dig through the saddlebags and find the two small bags I needed. Peter had wandered over to speak to Philip (probably about how I planned to wake Edmund up), so I had more than ample opportunity to dump the contents of the smallest bag into the other coffee pot and mix it in while also pulling out my own coffee pot (I insisted on bringing it after they tried to poison me with that noxious barely-liquid that was definitely not coffee). Speaking of the evil senior knights, I heard them come up about fifteen minutes after I had casually shifted the coffee pots so my excellent special blend (yes, I brag about my coffee) could start heating up while still keeping the other coffee from cooling down.

"What are you doing, Sepphora?" Yep, the Kentauri was still in a somewhat grouchy mood since he didn't even wait until after I had eaten or had my coffee before calling me by my chivalric title.

I didn't even bother to look at him (something that bugs him when he's being a grouch) as I replied in a very dry tone, "Waking Edmund, Cyneward." Well, if he was going to use my chivalric title, I saw no reason to not address him by his chivalric title (considering it meant "royal guard" it was very fitting...not that I would tell him that).

Ardon coughed in an attempt to keep from laughing (for some reason, he thinks it's hilarious when Oreius and I go at each other like this...might have something to do with the fact that Oreius is at least twice my size and I still go toe to...hoof...with him). I ignored him; I'm not sure what Oreius did as I was concentrating on my coffee...and hoping the Centaurs didn't go for their coffee before I at least had a cup of my own. Oreius apparently decided to ignore Ardon too as he focused on me while my coffee finally got closer to the perfect temperature and the most delicious smell started to fill the air around the campfire (I love the smell of my coffee), "And, exactly how are you waking Edmund if you are just making coffee?"

I finally looked over my shoulder at the Kentauri and grinned, "The answer is in the question. Watch and see, Kentauri." He rolled his eyes at me but both he and Ardon walked over to where Peter was standing with Philip leaving me to wait patiently for the coffee to finish. I suspected that they were both filling him in on the report from the night watch and discussing what my crazy plan for waking Edmund up could possibly be. I smiled as I took a deep whiff of my coffee as it finally reached perfection and I nudged the other coffee pot again just to make sure it didn't burn (honestly just how black does Oreius like his coffee? 'Til burned? Or, maybe until it would give a Marine heartburn?).

I heard a distinct hiss coming from the tent that the Kings shared as I poured myself a cup of steaming, heavenly coffee and then I poured another cup as Edmund staggered out of the tent looking disgruntled, ruffled (he had a major case of bedhead), and half-asleep. I didn't say a word, just held up the other cup of coffee in silent offering as Edmund finally reached where I was sitting in front of the fire. He didn't even growl at me (which was actually a good sign) as he took it and then turned around and staggered back towards the tent as he drank it. I shrugged and turned my attention back to enjoying my own cup of coffee when Edmund managed to surprise everyone (including me) as he suddenly reversed direction and walked back to where I was sitting and silently held out his now-empty cup (the boy apparently really needed that coffee), which I obligingly filled and then he leaned down, pecked me on the cheek, and said, "Thank you, Kat."

I nearly fell off the log I was sitting on from the shock and then I just started to laugh as I watched Oreius, Ardon, and Peter stare perplexed at where Edmund had disappeared into the tent. Not only did I get Edmund up with very little effort or hassle on my part, but he also acted civilly within five minutes of stirring. Of course, if it had been anyone other than Edmund, who had the protection of being a rather young eleven-year-old boy, I would have decked them for kissing me without permission (I had done it before and for less than a peck on the cheek). However, I had to admit that I've a soft spot for the younger two of the four royals in particular, so they got away with a bit more than I usually allowed.

I contained my laughter as the doubting trio walked over and Peter just shook his head, "I cannot believe he just did that. Is your coffee really the good?"

I grinned at the question and at the sight of Oreius reaching for his coffee pot (the truly entertaining part of my morning coffee was about to begin), "Yes, yes it is." I decided to cover my bases as Oreius poured out two cups (it was a little funny how the Centaurs would drink wine with their actual breakfast and then follow all that up with coffee...my theory was they partially did it keep the sense of camaraderie going with the three of us who did not drink wine with breakfast). "You know you could just have some of my coffee. What if yours burned?"

Oreius should have paid attention to the warning behind my words, but instead he dismissed them. Oh well, sometimes people (and the Kentauri in particular) just had to learn the hard way to read the message behind my actual spoken words. I was going to enjoy this lesson. I smirked softly and mumbled into my coffee, "Fair warning, Kentauri."

He either didn't hear me or he chose to ignore me, given how often he usually caught my mutterings, I strongly suspect it was the latter. However, I knew the minute he realized what I had done to the coffee, which was about a second before Ardon realized the same thing. They both started choking and coughing, their eyes were watering, and it was one of the funniest sights I had ever seen. Of course, there was the slightest possibility that it might have been one of the last sights I would ever see, so I enjoyed the moment even more. Edmund had reemerged from his tent in time to see it and both Kings gave me an incredulous look as I failed to keep my laughter smothered, which I probably shouldn't have done as it immediately drew the attention of my victims to me. However, in my defense, the looks on their faces when they tasted the little addition I planted in their coffee could have gone right along with the finale of the 1812 Overture and it was absolutely hilarious. Even Centaurs were not immune to the powers of habanero chili peppers (well, the Narnian equivalent of them anyway) and I had my revenge for that horrid excuse for liquid they had tortured me with the month before.

They were still trying to recover from unexpectedly hot, hot coffee so the glares of doom they managed to give me weren't nearly as effective as they wished it would be...on me. Peter and Edmund were taking no chances that they would be blamed for my diabolical plan of revenge by tossing each of the gasping Centaurs a full water skin. As soon as they grabbed those skins, I decided to make a run for it as my sense of self-preservation finally kicked in and I realized Oreius, in particular, was probably really, really, really furious with me (bit like he was in the immediate aftermath of the flour incident only this time he was the intentional target). I looked up, grinned (because I couldn't resist taunting them one last time), and then I launched from my seat into a flat-out run.

It wasn't yet ninth hour and I was already running for my life. I sprinted into the forest and spent several minutes dodging (barely) Oreius' grasp. I was so thankful that I had more energy than normal Humans because otherwise I would have been exhausted and caught within the first ten minutes at the longest. The one problem with running for one's wellbeing (if not life) from the General of the Army who also happened to be a very fast Centaur is he could easily get the other soldiers to help catch you...me, which would make avoiding him until he cooled off very tricky. Fortunately, for me, Oreius did not order the soldiers to do anything other than their already assigned duties, but Ardon had a different idea.

I barely had time to jump over the Tiger who appeared in my path, it had to be Kumbali because his cousin, Sarti, would have managed to move in the wrong direction and trip me (he had done it before). He ran alongside me to deliver his message. "Captain Ardon says you should keep running until you can climb, Dame Sepphora."

"Great." I hid a wince as we sprinted towards a copse of Aspen trees, Ardon sending a warning meant Oreius hadn't kept his sense of humor at all. I was going to die. "Any suggestions?"

Kumbali inhaled then he gave me a rather wide-eyed look, "I can smell him coming towards us. Perhaps three minutes is all you have now."

I was afraid he would say that, I waved at Kumbali in silent thanks before I abruptly turned to the right and ran further into the thicker underbrush. A large Black Elder tree loomed up on my right and I quickly took a running leap to grab one of the overhanging branches. I hauled myself up and carefully climbed further up the tree, so there would be more foliage between myself and the seething Kentauri if he passed by. Not even three full minutes later, the seething Kentauri did stalk his way by my hiding place and I held my breath when he stopped and scowled up at the branches of various trees before he finally moved on (he knew I would climb one, he just didn't know which one). I decided the best thing for me to do was to wait in the safety of the canopy for a little while before I made a break for the lake.

After twenty minutes of sitting in a tree and being rather bored, I decided enough time had passed for it to be relatively safe for me to get down. However, I took care to scan my surroundings and move to a neighboring tree before hopping to the ground. No angry Centaurs came charging out of the bushes, so I headed for the lake. Oreius had probably calmed down anyway...or so I hoped.

I was only a yard and a thin line of bushes away from the lake as I could hear the waterfall clearly, but it wasn't deafening yet. I made it a step past the bushes when I saw a flash of orange right before Sarti crashed into my legs causing me to fall over. The young Tiger was a true rookie in the army as this was only the third time he had been away from the Cair as part of the royal escort (our last trip to this place had been his first time as an official escort and had been quite a learning curve) and he wasn't always the best at maintaining his stealth when he became very excited (not to mention he liked it when I was provoked enough to speak in Irish instead of English, so he sometimes did things to get me to speak Irish). "Dame Sepphora!" And, he had difficulty with volume as well. "Dame Sepphora!"

"Shh!" I gently grabbed the Tiger's muzzle after I regained my feet, "Quietly, Sarti. I am trying to avoid Oreius, remember? Now, what is it you wanted to tell me?"

His eyes widened slightly as I let go of his muzzle and he rasped, "That the General is behind you."

As soon as he said that, the Tiger crouched low against the ground, and I knew Oreius was literally right behind me. Well, I was in trouble. I started to turn to see if I might talk my way out of it when a pair of large hands clamped down on my waist and I barely had the time to wish I wasn't seeing or feeling those hands before I went flying through the air. I shrieked in surprise as I flew through the air and landed in the lake with a lot less grace than I usually dove in with (but thankfully no belly flops).

I quickly took a deep breath right before I landed and sank a good seven feet before my momentum slowed and I started a swift scissor kick towards the shore. While most bodies of water in Narnia had Naiads in them at one time of the year or another, not every single lake had Naiads just as there were many divine Trees with their Dryads but not every tree was connected to a Dryad. Here in the north, the divine Waters and Trees are fewer in number, thanks in no small part to Jadis, and this lake was not in their number. Of course, the problem with the lake having no Naiads was that if I had not been able to swim, Oreius had thrown me out far enough that I might have been in trouble. I surfaced close to the rocky ledge jutting out over the water, which was near where Oreius was standing frowning at the lake's surface, and caught the last bit of Ardon's rather pointed question, "She can swim, can't she, Oreius?"

I decided to spare them the burden of worrying over whether I drowned or not and dove again so I could surface in front of them. "I can actually. Lucky for you. After all, it would probably look bad if a knight of Narnia who happened to be the General of the Army drowned his student who also happened to be a knight of Narnia."

Oreius glared at me (he was glad to see me alive and well, I could tell) and I grinned at him as I gave a lazy kick to keep my head above water, "I gave you fair warning."

"No, you made a cryptic statement that didn't merit any attention until after I found out what you had done."

I grinned, "Like I said, fair warning."

Oreius glared down at me, "How was that fair warning, Sepphora?"

"I told you that you should just have some of my coffee instead and I warned you it might be burned."

Both Centaurs' eyes widened and they exchanged a surprised look before looking back down at where I was still bobbing in the lake. Oreius growled out a single word, "What?"

I took a wild guess that he was asking what I had put in the coffee, "Well, I mixed in powdered pepper seeds, you know, those really hot ones from the Isles? Kori gave me a bag about the size of my fist and I dumped it all into the coffee pot."

Oreius just stared at me in disbelief and I was glad I hadn't climbed out of the lake yet because he probably would have tossed me right back in...if I was fortunate. Then, he closed his eyes, hung his head, and pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed. After a minute, he muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like "shield" to my ears (I think he was reminding himself why he couldn't strangle me). I grinned at Ardon and he shook his head at me before leaning to offer me his hands. I accepted the help and allowed him to pull me out of the lake. Oreius was ignoring me as I brushed some wet strands of hair out of my face (my braided chignon had actually survived my unexpected swim for the most part) and sat down to tug off my waterlogged boots. Ardon tossed a towel over my head (which I promptly jerked off my head so I could wrap it around my shoulders...no idea why he had it, but then Ardon had started to plan ahead for the consequences of my baiting Oreius) and then he looked at Oreius who turned towards us as Sarti crept up to sit by me. Well, Sarti was sitting beside me until Oreius raised an eyebrow at us and then he ducked behind me as if I could hide the overgrown fur ball. Oreius ignored the Tiger as he addressed Ardon (okay, he ignored me too), "If you would, Ardon, go ahead and accompany the Kings as we planned." Ardon nodded and left, pausing only when Oreius growled his next instruction, "Sarti, you will accompany the Captain and stay close to your cousin." Sarti glanced at me then quickly trotted off in Ardon's wake...at least he didn't get into any real trouble. Oreius finally looked down at where I was still sitting on the ground and raised an eyebrow, "Have you nothing to say, Sepphora?"

I looked at him then gestured to the lake, "Cén fáth a dhéanann tú é sin?" (Why did you do that?)

Oreius gave me an annoyed look as he intoned, "You know I have no idea what you just said, Katerina Alambiel."

I shrugged as I stood and moved my boots to sit on a rock so they could dry off, "Basically I asked why you threw me in the lake."

Oreius didn't so much as blink as he deadpanned, "Because I couldn't strangle you."

"Well, when you put it that way, Kentauri." He smirked at my tone as I climbed up onto a large flat boulder, the top of which was level with his shoulder, and stretched out on the towel in order to allow the sun to dry me out too.

"Why?"

I snickered as I rested my head on my arms, "Actually it was more a question of "Why Not?" And, it was revenge for that awful barely-liquid stuff you tried to poison me with last month."

Oreius gave me such an incredulous look that I nearly dissolved into laughter again and then I did lose it when he finally spoke in a tone that revealed just how much I had irritated and then perplexed him that morning. "You mean you purposefully chose to ignore the common sense Aslan somehow managed to misplace in your skull for revenge over a prank!"

I raised my head and smothered my laughter long enough to give a firm nod. "Sounds about right, although I think the misplacement bit is a little harsh."

"You...you are an annoying, irritating, and insane little pest. Who puts powdered pepper into other people's coffee?"

"Well, I do, obviously. And, yes I know I can be a pest, it's one of my talents...I thought you knew that by now." Oreius just shook his head at me and I rested my head on my arms again as I added thoughtfully, "Besides, my behavior, as crazy as some might find it, achieved both of my goals for the morn."

Oreius frowned then he raised an eyebrow, "You mean you did this so you would get your revenge and have a legitimate excuse to avoid going into the lodge."

I had to give him credit for figuring out my other goal so quickly but I just rolled my eyes at him. "I refuse to go into that struchtúr before it actually looks like a lodge inside and out and no longer has more holes than a sieve."

Oreius shook his head again, "There were easier ways to accomplish that goal."

I grinned, "I know but this was so much more entertaining."

"You, Katerina Alambiel, are insane."

I laughed, "I know."

We fell silent for perhaps an hour or so and then Oreius broke it (and my light doze...running for one's wellbeing and then swimming unexpectedly was tiring work) with an unexpected comment. "I should learn this Irish of yours."

I blinked at him in bewilderment then propped my chin in my hand, "Cén fáth?"

He looked out over the lake before answering, "So, at least I know what exactly you are ranting about when you quit speaking the language we all understand."

I scowled at him as I sat up and allowed my legs to dangle off the edge of the boulder. "I don't rant. I make emphatic observations."

He smirked as I hopped down from the boulder and collected the forgotten towel while I tugged my boots back on before we headed back to camp. "Well, whatever you call it, you still should have someone who knows what you are saying."

I mulled over the two choices I had, then I gave in (after all, calling him names in a language he didn't understand was only so much fun...much better reactions when he knew what I was saying). "Very well, I'll teach you Irish, Kentauri. I suppose we can start this next Sixthday." I couldn't resist teasing him a little further so I paused then grinned up at him just as we reached the camp, "So, can I do it again tomorrow if I don't add as much pepper powder?"

He gave the look that said he thought I had completely lost my mind...again, "No."

"Oh, but-"

"No."

"But, I-"

"No."

"I-"

"Katerina Alambiel Sepphora, I just said no and stop asking before you find yourself in the lake again."

All I was going to do was offer him some of my coffee. I didn't even have any of the powder left after all. I shrugged silently (the silent part made Oreius rather happy...the grouch) and went to make another pot of my special blend. Edmund had apparently drunk every drop of the original pot before accompanying Peter to the lodge that was not really a lodge. Oreius had watched my every move while I mixed up the pot, which was probably the only reason he accepted my peace offering of coffee. A prank involving coffee may have been a bit crazy, but in reality, I just marked it as the day I was further initiated into the camaraderie, the close friendship, shared by the six other knights of Narnia if only because I ruined the senior knights' coffee and didn't get myself flattened. Some milestones are more important to me than anyone who heard this particular story might understand, but such is the way of things and I could still measure it by two cups of hot coffee and two cups of perfect coffee.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, so still humor but of a slightly different kind than last chapter...hopefully y'all still enjoyed it. The line about Katerina choosing to ignore the common sense Aslan misplaced in her skull is actually adapted from a comment Lady Firewing made (concerning Kat), kudos to her for coming up with something I couldn't resist sharing after I fell off furniture laughing when I first read it. Click the little button below and let me know what you thought about this chapter. Was it good, bad, indifferent, or just plain weird?