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: The blood games have one rule: Kill or be killed. Death clings to them all. The constant threat of death brings many things to the fore. Despair, hate, fear, and perhaps...even love. Surrounded by death, will Katerina Alambiel and Oreius keep their faith...and will they trust each other with the truth of their hearts?

A/N: If you have not read the first four stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakening, Shadowed, Revealed. and Concealed), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.

Chapter One: Of Bribery and Waiting

If you wait to do everything until the right time, you'll probably miss the only chance you got. ~ Unknown

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17 Mayblossom 1007

Oreius stepped into the library and one of the Cats smiled then pointed her paw toward the door leading to the solarium. He nodded his thanks, absently noting that Peridan's daughter was at one of the tables with ten or so books spread in front of her as he walked by. The solarium was empty when he opened the door...until he looked up. Katerina Alambiel was perched on the long shelf that ran around the top of the wall with one leg dangling as she sat writing on a piece of parchment with what looked like several other papers gathered underneath it. "Alambiel, what are you doing up there?"

She didn't even look up as she replied, "Why do you ask that question every time you find me up here?"

He smirked, "Because you always have a different answer. And, you are avoiding the question, which makes me suspicious."

"I thought suspicious was your natural state of being, Kentauri."

He rolled his eyes, "Come down here before you manage to fall and break something."

"No."

He sighed, "Must I bribe you?"

She finally glanced at him, "Maybe."

He hid a smile as he held up the wrapped package he had carefully kept out of her line of sight and successfully gained her full attention, "If you come down from there and give me those papers, I'll give this to you. I also know where a chocolate cake is waiting for you."

Alambiel looked down at him and arched an eyebrow as she feigned a haughty tone, "Chocolate and a present? Do you think me shallow enough as to give in to such a bribe?"

He fought back a smirk, "Not shallow, Lady, but these are the tried and true methods for coaxing you into behaving yourself so it is only natural I resort to them. Of course, if you don't want them..."

"I never said that." Oreius watched in amusement as Katerina Alambiel gathered her papers and then gracefully leapt down from her perch. She held out her free hand, "I'm down here, now where's my bribe?"

He smirked and held the package out of reach as he held out his other hand, "Papers first, I want to know what you've been planning this time." She rolled her eyes but handed the papers to him. He smirked as he accepted the papers at the same time he gave her the package. Katerina Alambiel immediately began unwrapping it as he perused the papers. Plans for yet another coup... "You know it is the ones you make lists for that concern me."

Oreius looked up from the papers when the silence remained unbroken. Katerina Alambiel was staring at the book he had given her, her fingers tracing the writing on the first page almost reverently. "Alambiel?"

She looked up with a whirl of emotions in her eyes, "I can't believe... Lew and Hadassah: A Private Record by...Selene." She looked at him with a thousand silent questions.

He smiled slightly, "My mother was a scribe and she was close to the Queen Consort from the time before Lew ever met Hadassah. This and other important records were hidden in my family home to prevent their destruction by Jadis, and I thought you would like to have it." He didn't mention that he had been making short trips to his family home for months in his search for that particular book, the look on her face was more than worth it.

She smiled at him as she held the book close, "Thank you, Oreius. This is wonderful." And, then she shocked him by suddenly kissing his cheek.

Oreius cleared his throat, trying to hide how the simple gesture had affected him. "I suppose you would like the rest of your bribe now?"

Katerina Alambiel laughed softly, "Yes...unless the chocolate is accompanied by a party."

He chuckled, "You are in luck, there is no party. I believe our Sovereigns have finally given up on you."

"Took them long enough."

Oreius shook his head in silent amusement. "Happy birthday, Alambiel." She laughed again then preceded him from the room. It wasn't until after they had eaten their cake slices that Oreius wondered if today might be the day. He still had the jewelry he had bought for her when he was in Anvard, which he had originally intended to give to her today but after he had finally found the book the week before, he had felt the book to be the better present. However, that did not mean that today was not the day to tell Alambiel that he cared for her as more than a friend.

"Are you searching for the secrets of the universe in your wine, Oreius?"

He looked up then glanced down as he realized he had indeed been staring unseeing into the contents of his goblet. Clearing his throat, he met Alambiel's amused and curious gaze then shrugged, "Not the universe." Just your heart, as foolish as that might sound, and how to keep our friendship from shattering if I tell you what is on my heart. He reined in his thoughts lest he spoke too soon and gestured toward her neglected plate, "Eat the rest of your cake."

Alambiel tilted her head, "Not until you tell me what's on your mind, Kentauri."

This was it. This was the opportunity to tell her and to ask her what she thought...what she felt about it. Oreius put down his wine and met her eyes. "Alambiel, I-"

The door to the solarium banged open, cutting Oreius off as the Kings barged in. The High King immediately turned to Alambiel, "Kat! There you are. Sorry for barging in like this, but we've been looking all over for you. Two more suitors have arrived for Susan and they want an audience with her at the same time. We need you to go help her fend them off...without causing a diplomatic incident."

Alambiel nodded, "Of course, you do. Oreius, thank you...for all of it."

Oreiu bowed his head as she left, taking care to keep the book on her parents with her. Then, he looked at the Kings, who had once again managed to interrupt his attempt to tell Alambiel the truth of his feelings. They had managed to do the same thing only the week before...and then the entire day passed without him finding another opportunity to speak to Alambiel. It seemed today was not the right time to tell her after all, but he was certain there would be other opportunities and one of them would be the right time. He merely needed to be patient and wait a little longer.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, the first few chapters will be less angst-oriented than usual for my stories, but don't worry things will start to get very interesting soon. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.