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: Less than ten years before the White Witch conquers Narnia, tragedy struck the royal family and in its midst, Aslan reminded them that life goes on...

A/N: This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe and it is part of my Pre-Winter story cycle and ties in with Praying for the Children. I recommend reading Praying for Children first, but you can give this one a whirl on its own too.

Part Three

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Briarwind hesitated before she turned the last corner leading to the royal wing. Taking a breath, she tried to look confident as she turned the corner and passed the guards even though she had been there only once before...and that had been with Petraeus right beside her with one large hand at her elbow as he took her to see his sister when Hadassah had insisted on meeting the Centauress who had caught her brother's eye. She hesitated again when she realized she wasn't completely certain which of the rooms Tuulea would be in...wonderful, she was a cartographer and she was lost without having taken more than five steps. Admittedly, she had never studied the building diagrams for Cair Paravel since her work was focused more on mapping Narnian land and creating up-to-date maps for the army's use, but still cartographers should never become lost or at least not so quickly. Fortunately, Tuulea stepped out from one of the rooms near the very end of the corridor before the guards suspected she was lost. Briarwind quickly moved toward her, still wondering what it was the healer wanted with her.

Tuulea held her hand up, so Briarwind didn't ask any questions as she followed the Black Elder Nymph to another room. She frowned a little as she looked around the room and realized it was a nursery with Princess Dione standing by the cradle in the far corner. The princess looked up at their entrance and nodded to Tuulea, "I'll go make sure the attendants have finished their tasks properly." She looked remarkably sad as she said that, but Briarwind didn't know why and Tuulea didn't give her a chance to inquire after the matter.

"Briarwind, there is something I must tell you and there is also something I must ask." Tuulea actually hesitated and Briarwind flicked her tail as she waited for the healer to speak, "Hadassah and Keziah were attacked a few hours ago."

Briarwind stared at Tuulea in silent disbelief...did Petraeus know about his mother and sister? A soft mewling sound caught her attention and she turned toward the cradle as Tuulea fell silent again. She could feel the healer's gaze on her as she crossed the room to peer inside the cradle. She stopped short when she caught sight of the tiny occupant. She had never actually seen a Human baby before but the tiny foal looked fragile. The foal made a little sound again and she reached one hand down only to stop short of actually touching the little one. She looked at Tuulea, "This is why you asked for me?"

Tuulea nodded, "Hadassah is dead as is Keziah and her daughter needs a wet nurse but the Royals have been betrayed from within. This has created difficulty, to say the least. We have to protect the baby and Asbolus will not tolerate anyone whose loyalty cannot be known for certain. You are family, Briarwind, and would you ever do anything to hurt Petraeus or that little one?"

Briarwind shifted, drawing her hand back as she shook her head, "I...I can't do it, Tuulea. Please pick someone else. I can't do it, not after losing my own foal, I just can't, I'm sorry." She backed away from the cradle still shaking her head as another thought occurred to her, "And, what would Petraeus think? Or, the King? Oh, I can't, Tuulea, I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Her face burned with shame as Tuulea didn't quite hide her disappointment fully, but the thought of nursing a foal that wasn't her own just reminded her of her loss and she couldn't imagine doing it. The healer nodded, "I understand, Briarwind. Believe me, I understand. It will be all right, I will find someone else."

A thin wail came from the cradle and Briarwind found herself automatically stepping forward as every instinct urged her to soothe the foal because she had what the little one needed most. She forced herself to stop and Tuulea cast her a look full of understanding as she stepped past her to lift the foal out of the cradle. Briarwind sucked in a breath and felt her face heat with embarrassment this time as her body responded to the little one's insistent yet still quiet cries. She held out her arms before she could change her mind, "Let me try."

Tuulea gently placed the foal in her arms and silently showed her how to properly hold her before the healer stepped back. Briarwind cast Tuulea an uncertain look then she took a breath and unlaced the front of her tunic. It didn't take long before the little one was nursing with such eagerness it was as though she had been starving. Briarwind stroked the tiny filly's downy hair with her fingertips before she looked at Tuulea, "How will this work?"

Tuulea walked past her to a door she hadn't noticed before, "You and Petraeus will stay in this room that way you'll be able to hear her if she cries at night. The main concern right now is making sure she gains more weight than she loses and to keep her from getting sick, so make sure none of the windows are open in the nursery."

Briarwind tilted her head as she considered how light the foal felt in her arms...perhaps it was not normal for Human babies to feel this light. "Is she not healthy?"

Tuulea propped her hands on her hips, "I have delivered more than my share of babies, including those born earlier than they were supposed to be, and she is one of the healthiest early babies I've ever delivered, especially considering the circumstances surrounding her birth. Aslan's protection was on her because she hasn't demonstrated any problems with breathing or nursing, indeed, the only sign that gives away her early arrival is her small size. However, that being said, common sense dictates that extra precautions be taken to ensure she stays healthy. Once we get past the first week, I'll be even more confident about her health. The first week, the first month, and then the first year...those are our milestones."

Briarwind's heart constricted at the thought of losing the foal, her niece, as she looked down to see her eyes were open and watching her face as she continued nursing. "First week, first month, first year, do you hear, little one? Those are your goals."

Tuulea touched her on the arm, "Hadassah named her Alambiel. I need to go check on Dione; will you be all right if I leave?" Briarwind nodded and Tuulea smiled then paused, "If she falls asleep while nursing, tickle her feet. We want her to eat as much as possible before she naps again."

Briarwind nodded again then looked back down at the little foal, the filly named Alambiel, as the healer slipped out of the nursery. Tuulea had been reassuring her for the past fortnight that her son being stillborn was not the result of anything she had done wrong, but she still hadn't been able to shake those feelings of guilt. Moreover, the loss of her foal had left an aching wound in her heart that even Petraeus hadn't been able to soothe though Lion knew he had tried. Holding her tiny, motherless niece who needed her so desperately, Briarwind finally felt that wound begin to heal as she swiped away a single tear before silently swearing that she would protect and care for Alambiel to the best of her abilities.

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Petraeus kicked a Coyote before he could bite him then he cut down another Ghoul. They had chased the Fell and the traitors straight to a small encampment. Fortunately, Lew, Pholus, and a company of soldiers under Captain Sunstorm had caught up with Captain Sekhmet and himself before they reached the camp. However, watching Lew slay the Fell with an icy fury, Petraeus was beginning to doubt the wisdom of having the King involved in this particular fight. A Werewolf leapt at him and raked his claws against Petraeus' right arm as he brought his sword up and stabbed the Fell Beast through the heart.

Lew suddenly unleashed a furious war cry and Petraeus turned in time to see him cut down a Satyr before cornering Canute Windwolf. The Wolf's jaws and neck were bloody and bore silent testament to his crimes, but the traitor still dared to beg for his own hide. "Mercy, my king. I had no choice."

"No choice?" Lew sounded as incredulous as Petraeus felt as he continued, "You were one of my most trusted soldiers, Canute. You were a senior officer among the Royal Guard. I trusted you to protect my family, my wife. And you-" Lew's voice broke as Petraeus and Pholus both edged closer to protect him from any other attacks while he dealt with the primary traitor. Lew pointed his sword at Canute and continued speaking in a hard voice, "You betrayed that trust in the most thorough of ways. You killed my wife. It is too late to beg for my mercy. I have none."

The traitorous Wolf barely had time to snarl before Lew ended his life. Petraeus exchanged a concerned look with Pholus as Lew charged back into the heart of the fray. "What did he mean about 'Dassah?"

Pholus shook his head, "Later."

Petraeus gave a curt nod then they both rejoined the battle. His concern over Lew's actions increased however as he witnessed the King slay two more traitors who begged for his mercy. Still, he and the other loyal Narnians continued to fight until all of the Fell were slain. Lew's armor was smudged with dirt and blood as he cleaned his sword and sheathed it before declaring, "We return to the Cair. Leave the bodies."

Captain Sunstorm looked sharply at the King, "Sire?"

Lew's voice was hard as stone as he repeated, "Leave the bodies. Traitors deserve no respect in life or death. They will serve as warning against future treachery."

The captain inclined his head clearly sensing that no one would be able to persuade the King to a different course of action. Petraeus and Pholus exchanged another concerned look as they watched Lew stride toward his horse. Petraeus sheathed his sword then winced as the wound to his arm burned in protest at his movement. Pholus took a step toward him, but he waved his brother off. The Werewolf hadn't struck deep enough for it to be considered as anything more than a bad scratch. Sekhmet was favoring her left forepaw and several others had earned bites and scratches, but none of their own had received any serious wounds and they had taken no casualties in the ensuing skirmish, thank Aslan.

As they entered the main courtyard of Cair Paravel in the fading afternoon light, Petraeus was shocked to see the royal banner at half-mast and the mourning pennants unfurled draping the pristine stone walls in black. He looked at Lew, but his brother-in-law just tightened his jaw as he silently handed off his horse to some Satyrs then he walked up the path to the main palace, leaving Captain Sunstorm to dismiss the soldiers. Stonebrook was waiting as Pholus and Petraeus approached the main palace...

Why, Aslan? Why Hadassah and why Mama? Why must our family suffer such loss? Petraeus was silent even though his mind raced with questions. Pholus had gone to find their father, but he had made his way to the royal wing. He hesitated before opening the door to the nursery, he wanted to know if Hadassah's baby had survived the attack and this was the fastest way to find out. He stopped short at seeing his wife in the room, lowering a small bundle into the cradle. "Briarwind?"

She looked up and around at the sound of his voice. He didn't miss the relief that flashed across her face when she saw him. He closed the door behind him then met her halfway across the room. Petraeus kissed her then buried one hand in her chestnut hair as he rested his forehead against hers, "I didn't expect to find you in here. You don't have to be in here."

She drew back a little to look up at him, "I know. But, she needs me, Petraeus."

He raised an eyebrow, "She?"

Briarwind nodded with a faint smile as she pulled him by the hand toward the cradle, "Come meet Alambiel." He watched in silent wonder as Briarwind picked up the foal...his niece...and carefully placed her in his arms. He looked down at the sleeping babe and realized that while Briarwind's words were true, Alambiel did need Briarwind, it was also Briarwind who needed Alambiel and he hoped the newborn's presence would not only heal his wife, but also the rest of her hurting family.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! So, two new perspectives to let y'all know what was going on during and around the events of the last chapter. Next chapter we're back to Asbolus. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this chapter.