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: You know the story of the Horse and his boy. But what was happening in Narnia? A northern campaign. Trouble on the homefront and a prince's invitation. Will anything be as Peter left it?

A/N: If you have not read the first ten stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, Veiled, Unveiled, and Eclipsed), 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 Twenty-Six: Accommodations

27 Greenroof 1014

Edmund bit back a smile as he watched the donkey pacing around the well-guarded stall. Instead, he forced himself to bow his head politely as he intoned, "Good morn, Prince Rabadash."

The donkey let out a deafening bray and then kicked at the stall walls. He was still kicking when Edmund left the stables. Edmund shook his head, feeling just a bit of pity for the chap. Nothing quite so humiliating as being turned into a literal ass and, as Lucy had pointed out last night, it was probably doubly so not to mention terrifying for Rabadash considering his people's almost chronic fear of Narnians.

Remus pelted over to him. "Alpha! Alpha! How come Prince Rabadash can't talk?"

"Because Aslan took his speech away."

The Wolf's eyes widened in alarm. No Talking Beast would ever wish to suffer such a fate. "Oh. Philip said that so long as that ass is in the stable, he's quite glad he can't speak although he certainly lives up to his name by braying all day and night and kicking and biting." The Wolf paused then tilted his head to the side. "What does that mean, Alpha?"

"It means Philip doesn't want to share the stable with Rabadash." Edmund glanced up at the sound of rustling skirts, wondering if perhaps Lu had decided to come looking for him. His steps slowed as he caught a glimpse of a very pretty Archenlandish lady, no doubt a daughter of the court judging by her fine gown, though she was half-turned away from him and was mostly shrouded by shadows. He saw a book clutched in one slender hand and curls of rich brown cascading over her shoulder. She looked fairly short. No taller than his chest, maybe a little shorter.

She swept out of the hall, going into one of the rooms, and Edmund realized Remus was talking again. "No, you may not chase the ass. Philip's good humor won't improve enough to counter my bad humor."

Shamed for the moment, Remus fell silent save for his panting breaths as he followed Edmund into the library. Edmund immediately began talking the moment he entered, "Pray forgive me my tardiness, Sister, Lune. I went to speak with Philip and found the moment opportune for seeing how our most challenged guest was finding his quarters. He's declared them all the rage."

Kat would have appreciated that joke but Edmund did not even notice his sister's reaction though he heard King Lune's good-natured belly laugh fill the room. Instead, his gaze fixed on the dark-haired girl standing next to Corin. The boy stepped forward and Edmund observed his nervous stutter (Cor, not Corin, then) but there was a glint of determination in the young boy's blue eyes as he stepped in front of the Calormene girl. "K-king Edmund, I know you don't much like Calormenes right now. And, that's all well and good for the likes of the prince and his men but Aravis is a lady of the court now. I don't think you know but she's a Tarkheena. But you can't make her a slave or anything like that as punishment for the attack on Anvard. King Lune- I mean, Father's said she may live here now and she's a lady of the court. Aravis isn't responsible for the attack on Anvard, King Edmund. She's the one who told me about Prince Rabadash's plan so I could tell you or tell Chervy who told you. In any case, she's as much a hero as anyone and she's seen Aslan. Before He appeared here, I mean. She's seen Him even more than I have and Aslan didn't hold her to blame for Rabadash's actions either. And, you…" The boy trailed off, looking a little uncertain, but then his jaw firmed and he stepped a little closer to Edmund, staring up at him with more defiance than he had expected from the soft-spoken and rather shy boy. "You just can't take her away or do anything mean to her. She's protected."

Amusement warred with his impressed astonishment at Cor's speech. Edmund's lips twitched then he raised his eyes to meet the proud gaze of Lune and the warning look gleaming in Lucy's eyes. Right, right, he really couldn't laugh at such a brave speech. Instead, Edmund took a step back and then swept his most courtly bow. "Thou art most correct, Prince Cor. The Lady Aravis is not at fault for her birth, her station, or her countrymen's ill-advised plots. Indeed, let Us assure thee that thy friend is as welcome in the court of Cair Paravel as she is here in Anvard."

Cor seemed almost abashed now as he offered an awkward bow. "I, err, we thank you. Your majesty," he added belatedly.

Lucy stepped forward. "Now let's get down to the business at hand. I thought the Lady Aravis would be able to inform us of what she knows considering those Calormenes who surrendered and where best to send the, well, to send the boat carrying Prince Rabadash."

Edmund glanced again at Cor and allowed the barest hint of a smile to escape. Unlike his irascible brother, the restored Crown Prince had not once threatened to box him. It was a very nice change of pace. Though, he did wonder how Cor had planned to defend Aravis from him if he had not felt merciful or just.

ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ

A/N: Please Read and Review!