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: After almost a year of conflict in both the North and the South, Narnia's borders are secured once more. Hope brightens as Narnia prepares for a year of peace. Yet, when shadows from the past threaten, will the light be smothered or shine all the brighter?

A/N: If you have not read the first eleven stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, Veiled, Unveiled, Eclipsed, and Obscured), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, I have included a quick summary of the previous stories so if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.

Chapter Eleven: A Welcome Suitor

Ptah watched as his lady moved around the table to collect another stack of parchments. She had been ill that morn just after the General left, but she had refused to let him summon either the General or a healer. At least, she seemed a little better now. She did not smell as sickly as she had previously in the week.

His head lifted off his paws when the doors opened. He started to get up only to pause and lie back down when he recognized the intruder. His lady, however, seemed intent on her task. Until the intruder drew a little closer and spoke in a deep rumble, "What mischief are you up to this morn, Your Highness?"

Ptah smirked as his lady cast the intruder an irritated look. "Don't call me that, Oreius. Or shall I call you 'General' and see how well you like that?"

"That is usually an indication that something is wrong or I have done something wrong," the Centaur mused. "What shall I call you instead?"

His lady was smiling now even as she turned away from her mate. "It hardly matters what you call me. I am busy."

"With what?"

"Paperwork."

The General chuckled. "Perhaps you are still a mite feverish."

"No. These are papers from a sennight past. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for me to work on them now. You should only be concerned if I were working on this week's paperwork without you breathing down my neck. And- Oreius!" She shrieked and hopped to the side as the General breathed on her neck. She shook her finger at him. "You stop that!"

"Stop what? I thought I was encouraging you."

"Oh you…" His lady laughed softly then brushed her hair back so her neck was now covered. "Go away. I'm working."

As she turned her back on her mate, Ptah noticed the General's focus never wavered. The Leopard smirked. It would seem the Princess Royal had yet to realize that the General was hunting her. He doubted her mate would wait much longer before making his next move.

The General stepped even closer, one arm coming around to pull her into an embrace, and once she was distracted, he placed a flower on the table beside her paperwork. The Princess Royal laughed again. "Oreius, what are you doing? I thought you were busy all day. With meetings if I recall correctly."

"I am." The Centaur wrapped his other arm around her then nuzzled her neck. "I am keeping my most important meeting of the day. I am still awaiting an answer, though."

"An answer?" The Princess Royal had closed her eyes, smiling, as she reached up to touch her mate's jaw. "Remind me what the question was?"

"What am I to call you? You have protested the correct address of 'your highness', therefore you must prefer a different name. Enchantress, perhaps?"

"I do not think that would be wise."

"Ah. Then, you desire something more." The General kissed along her neck then across her cheek, occasionally murmuring, "Temptress? Beloved? Exquisite? Goddess?"

"I'm beginning to wonder if you've suffered another concussion." Despite her words, there was no doubt that the Princess Royal was enjoying her mate's attention. The General whispered something to her that Ptah could not hear but she turned the most interesting color in response as her eyes opened. "Oreius! You cannot say that! We are not alone, my lord husband."

The General merely turned her so they faced each other. He held up the flowers, a rose twined with forget-me-nots, and then kissed her. "For you, my lady wife."

The Princess Royal accepted the flowers and briefly smelled them before she grinned. "How exactly do you always sneak these around so I don't know you have them?"

"My presence distracts you." He cradled her face between his hands and touched his forehead to hers. "Lovely distraction you are as well, my beloved enchantress."

"I am hardly an enchantress, Oreius."

"You enchant me a little more every day."

The Princess Royal blushed but she stepped a little closer to her mate as she asked, "Now what exactly did you have in mind coming here and abandoning your real meetings?"

The Centaur smirked then he took her free hand and twirled her, making her laugh in delight. He pulled her close then pressed a kiss to her fingers. "I have abandoned nothing. Surely Leeta told you of your luncheon meeting."

"Yes, but that's with someone who wished me to hear his suit. I wasn't going to bother with it."

"Then he would be most disappointed for the chance to share a luncheon with such an exquisite goddess as yourself is something to be treasured."

"You're the one who wishes to present your suit?"

The General nodded.

"Oreius..." The Princess Royal suddenly laughed. "You have clearly lost your mind since this isn't even Sixthday."

He shrugged then tugged her closer. "It is difficult for any man to keep his thoughts in order when presented with the opportunity to woo such a beautiful woman as you. You quite often set my blood on fire with merely a glance, temptress."

The Princess Royal didn't respond right away, but Ptah grinned in satisfaction. It had been far too long since the General had properly hunted his mate. His lady gazed up at her mate and then touched two fingers to her lips before pressing them to the Centaur's. She twirled the flowers as she said softly, "Well, if I have distracted you to such a degree, I suppose the only merciful thing to do is to let you present your suit. Though I warn you, I am very picky about whose suit I shall accept."

The General chuckled. "You are all that is graciousness. Come, I think you will enjoy the luncheon prepared for us. There is hot chocolate."

Ptah watched them leave the room. His lady's paperwork was forgotten once more. But, it seemed the General had remembered his lonely mate. That would make her very happy. Ptah padded out of the room. If he knew his lady, she would not return to her paperwork for another day. He would meet her at the next tea being held for the Zelaians.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! I couldn't resist the fluff. ;) Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.