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: A sorcerer challenged by Aslan. Love and friendship alike are tested by his presence. And the Gentle Queen faces her own challenge when the sorcerer's true colors are unveiled.
A/N: If you have not read the first eight stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, and Veiled), 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 Fifty-Two: Markus
It was not an easy decision but every time he closed his eyes now he saw only two things: Merry breathing her last because of his betrayal of her hiding place and his father, his Otec looking at him with such grave disappointment. He woke hearing again Otec's admonishments to use his magic wisely and to make him proud. Otec had lived and died defying Jadis.
He had been serving Her for almost two centuries. He had told himself that he defied Her in little ways. Such as refusing to bed that viperous daughter of Hers. But he knew the truth. The only reason Jadis had allowed his defiance was because Medea had overstepped and ruined her mother's carefully laid plans to kill the entire royal family during a diplomatic journey. Medea, disgraced, had been banished to join the less powerful Witches further north. He had only hidden from Jadis, from what cruel punishments She might mete out.
And he had allowed another innocent to perish. It had never troubled him before. No, that wasn't true. It had once but under Jadis' tutelage, he had learned to push it down, to ignore it. He reminded himself that the true reason Merry's death troubled him was because he had cultivated her as a fount of information. He could have gained more pertinent information from her but Jadis thought him soft. She was wrong. She was wrong in many ways.
How he hated Her. He hated having to serve Her. No more.
No more. He would make his own way and keep his own law. He would not enter Narnia and he would not give Jadis the opportunity to decide he had outlived his purpose. She was away from Her lair, rallying the Ettins and sending more spies to infiltrate Narnia's army, whispering the dissenting whispers. And planning to bring about Lew's downfall.
He remembered how Merry had revealed how the Narnian Queen, Hadassah, tempered her husband's at times brash and fierce temper. Jadis had spent many days contemplating how She might steal Lew's balance from him. Hadassah was not tied to a Tree or she would have been cut down already. Nevertheless, he would not help Jadis or Her spawn anymore. He would go into the Wilds and watch from afar.
As he left the fortress, he promised himself that he would take his revenge on the Witch who had murdered his father. Let Jadis take Narnia. Let Her burn it all. When She had Narnia, She would grow complacent, and then he would be able to avenge his father.
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Smoke stung his eyes and made it hard to breathe as Philip galloped toward the smoldering village. Lucy's arms around him were the only conclusive proof that she hadn't fallen off in their mad race to find their sister and Markus. Edmund hunched, urging Philip to go faster.
They galloped into the village center, passing bodies of Fell, until Philip came to a sudden stop. The Horse pranced in place, shying back with his head held high. A reaction to the blood. Nevertheless, Edmund only patted his neck once in an almost absent-minded comfort.
The smoke cleared briefly, revealing that Susan was kneeling on the ground a short distance ahead. A small twinge of relief flicked through him. She was disheveled and covered in grime and soot but she did not seem harmed. Only a faint blush of surprise appeared though as he looked closer. Susan was crying. Markus was sprawled brokenly on the ground, his head pillowed in Susan's lap while she stroked his forehead.
Edmund grabbed Lucy's wrist when she tried to jump off. A flaming beam collapsed to the ground just beside them, sending Philip shying away. It could have fallen on Lu. Edmund nudged Philip. "Find a safe path. Hurry."
"Yes, My King."
They weren't far but he didn't dare let Lucy down with the burning debris collapsing around them. Still he could hear Susan's quiet whisper, "Markus?"
The man's ragged breathing stilled for a moment but then his head moved slightly. "I . . . cannot . . . move. I am . . . sorry. Pray-" A horrid wet cough that bespoke of pierced lungs rattled him and then Susan reached down, dabbing blood away from his mouth with the edge of her sleeve as she shushed him. "N-no. F-forgive . . . me."
Susan bit her lip, more tears streaking through the grime and soot covering her cheeks, as she cupped his cheek. "I do. I do. Just hang on. They are almost here."
A large beam fell directly in front of them, making Philip rear and then jump to the right. Edmund lost sight of his sister and Markus for a moment but then Philip finally found his way close to them. Markus was talking again. "Susan . . . T-thank you for . . . for teaching me the reason . . . for l-love. Susan, I-"
He gasped and said no more. Susan cried out, "No! Lucy!"
Lucy flung herself off Philip's back and ran to them, her little cordial in hand. Edmund swung out of the saddle just as Lucy touched the cordial to Markus' lips. A single ruby drop fell between the man's still lips.
A quiet sob escaped Susan. Markus did not open his eyes and his chest did not move. Edmund knelt between his sisters and placed his fingers against the former sorcerer's neck, feeling for a pulse, any hint that the cordial had worked. He glanced at Lucy and then shook his head.
"Su," Lucy whispered, tears filling her blue eyes. "Su, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
Their older sister took a deep breath and her voice came out steady and calm despite the tears still falling like rain. "Lucy, you need to go to the camp. Kat was hurt badly. She'll probably need the cordial. Go, hurry. Don't let her die too."
Lucy looked at him and Edmund nodded. "Philip, take Lucy to the healers' tent as quick as you can."
The chestnut Horse nodded. "I will tell those Wolves of yours to come find you in addition to proper soldiers." The Horse nudged his shoulder. "Be safe."
"Yes, Philip." He helped Lucy into the saddle and squeezed her hand. "I'll look after her."
Lucy nodded, tears spilling over her lashes. Then Philip turned and galloped out of the village. Edmund turned back to Susan who still held Markus, her long pale fingers combing through his hair. She let out another quiet sob. Edmund knelt next to her and placed his arm around her shoulders. This was more Peter's forte but only a dolt would be completely unaware of what his sister needed right now. Edmund looked down at Markus. The traitor who had mended his ways. The man who had given all. For Aslan. For Narnia. And . . . for Susan. "He was a true friend of Narnia."
Susan sobbed. "Did he have to die to prove it, Edmund?"
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Markus opened his eyes. He was lying on the beach. Sitting up, he looked around. Cair Paravel was above him, hundreds of banners snapping in the gentle breeze. He frowned, wondering how he came to be there. The last thing he remembered was battling his namesake.
Then he heard a golden chuckle. "Markus, My son. Rise."
His limbs scrambled to obey the command of his Lord Aslan. The Great Lion's golden eyes at once pierced and warmed him. The scent of the sweet perfume of His mane filled the air. Markus bowed low and he heard Aslan say, "Well done, My good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord."
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Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." - John 11:25 (NKJV)
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." – John 15:13 (NKJV)
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Happy Easter! He is Risen! Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.
