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 sea has always been the Valiant's but when she sets out on a quest with her favored knight, Tarrin Peridanson, Lucy finds both danger and adventure. Will a quest set by Nereids bring Lucy and Tarrin together or tear them apart?

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. Glistened takes place concurrent with the events of Brightened (post-chapter 20) so that story is not included in the summaries.

Chapter Twenty – Of Departures

15 Fairdawn 1015

"Does Lucy seem more attached to Tarrin than when they left?"

Edmund didn't bother to look up from the task of filling his plate with three slices of pie as he muttered, "She's been attached to him since Christmas. Pay more attention to your surroundings, you great lummox, or Oreius will come up with a new training torture to address it and I'll get dragged into it too."

Remus bumped his leg as he tried to get a better sniff at the assembled pies and pastries. Edmund nudged him back. "Stop that. You've already had a meat pie as did Romulus."

"But Alpha, we should test all the pies to make sure no spy did something to them," the Wolf protested, tail wagging and ears pricked as his yellow gaze bounced between the pies and looking up at him.

"Not this time." Edmund shook his head and turned back to his brother. "Don't you think that… Pete?"

"He left, Alpha."

"Yes, I can see that. Thank you, Remus." He glanced around until he caught sight of Peter on the far side of the Great Hall, grinning down at Thalia like the great lummox he was. He rolled his eyes and turned back to the buffet in time to see Remus getting a little too close…again. "Leave the pastries alone."

Edmund moved away from the table, observing the gathering. Susan had planned it for the evening hours in hopes of a slightly cooler breeze off the sea and the girls had apparently invited more guests from the villages closest to Cair Paravel with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in addition to other staples. Their purpose in those additional invitations had been rather to clear to him once he heard both Susan and Lucy assuring some of the families that they were welcome to take home some of the surplus.

Someone bumped into him and he turned to see Raisa's blush race to her hairline. He bowed his head. "Lady Raisa, it seems I'm forever bound to apologize for bumping into you. You must be grateful that I and the Greybacks will be out of sight for a little while this summer."

Raisa's brown eyes widened. "Oh… You mean… You don't know. That is you weren't told yet? I thought you knew. I mean… Oh dear."

She trailed off looking rather helpless and he wished he could figure out a way to out her at ease. Offering a tiny smile, he tried to do…something. He was the diplomatic one, even the velvet and silk clad sharks calling themselves ladies were usually at ease around him unless he intentionally sought to discomfit them out of a scheme. Raisa at least didn't scheme but he had bumbled every encounter with her since she'd returned from Anvard last year. "Lady Raisa, it would seem you know something I don't. Might you be so kind as to enlighten me?"

She was still blushing but at least she was looking up at him. Her lips turned down faintly before she folded her hands in front of her. "I… Yes, that is… I fear we shall not be rid of each other until after you have left Anvard."

Edmund's smile vanished as his brow furrowed. "You are leaving our court? Do my sisters know?"

Raisa nodded. "My mother informed the Gentle a fortnight ago that I was to accept an invitation from one of my aunts to rejoin the court in Sisemaal."

"Sisemaal? You mean Mägi? Not Anvard?" He frowned, suddenly not liking the idea of Raisa leaving. Anvard would have been acceptable enough, he supposed, but he could not like the way King Jukka's court was run. Raisa would be suffocated there. She was so often in the Cair's library that he could not imagine her acting as simple adornment at the balls in the Sisemaalian court where ladies were meant to be seen but never heard. "And my sister agreed?"

Raisa's lips tightened as she lowered her voice. "The Gentle understood that my parents are the ones who guide my placement among the courts. I am grateful for her kindness in accepting me among her ladies despite the…rumors I have caused. However, it is for the best I leave Cair Paravel."

"You don't sound as though you believe that, Lady."

Her cheeks gained new color but her brown eyes flashed with irritation. "It is not your place to say such things, Your Majesty. Good evening." She curtsied then turned away in a swirl of skirts before he could think of a response.

Why did he even care about Raisa's movements through the kingdoms? Or which court she chose to serve in? She had relatives in Mägi, after all. Weren't her maternal grandparents at the court along with most of her aunts?

"What have I told you about upsetting Raisa, Edmund?"

He barely kept from jumping as he turned to see Kat standing next to him. An unbidden smirk rose as he retorted, "If I do it on purpose, you'll stuff me in a barrel and send me bobbing down the Great River. I didn't do it on purpose, Kat."

She raised an eyebrow at him, an answering smirk twitching her lips. "You never do. Perhaps I should have you stuffed in a barrel anyway."

"What would you tell the others your reasoning was then?"

"Oh that's easy enough. You were measuring the difference in water levels." She grinned. "All very proper reasoning if a decidedly mad means of achieving said goals when you could simply ask the River god or his daughters."

Edmund chuckled. "I thought you weren't allowed to participate in such pranks at the moment." His gaze dropped to where her belly curved, seeming all the more prominent in her silk sleeveless gown as the fabric stretched to accommodate, before he met her eyes once more and added, "For at least four more months, yes?"

Kat clicked her tongue even as she ran a hand over her stomach. "The baby is due in about twelve weeks, less than three months, and after her birth, I shall be capable of teaching you and your brother lessons faster than you think. Also my long term memory works quite well."

"A little girl then?" Edmund smirked slightly. "Oreius must be dreading how much she takes after you." He glanced around, realizing Kat was surprisingly and somewhat suspiciously unescorted by the General. "Where is he anyway?"

"Speaking with Peridan regarding a training regimen he wants you to adhere to while you're away." Kat grinned then turned on her heel. "Good luck, How. You will need it."

"Wait, where are you going?"

"To find Lucy. I have a delivery for her."

"I just wish you would give her a carving that bites too. Or Peter," he muttered, rubbing his fingers where the wooden fox had bitten him more than once when he'd moved it to a different spot on his desk. Kat's laughter floated back as her only reply and he shook his head. At least she was enjoying herself and not offending any of their guests. Of course, he was fairly certain they didn't have any of the diplomats visiting at the moment who would find Kat's present condition…unsettling. Thank Aslan for small miracles.

He turned to see if he could find Tarrin and have a word about not leading his little sister on if he didn't mean to speak up. But he stopped short at the sight of Susan moving through the crowd with one of her warning smiles in place. Uh-oh. He followed her gaze to the buffet table and bit back a groan. Remus and Romulus were standing with their front paws on the table and clearly intent on sampling each and every pastry they could reach. Blast the Wolves!

He kept his voice low as he tried avoiding too much attention from his sister even as he called, "Remus. Romulus."

They nearly fell over themselves in an attempt to find him. Then one gave a muffled yip and charged toward him. Two large grey Wolves rushed up to him, their yellow eyes shining above mouths stuffed with a large meat pie each. Maybe he should ask Peridan to leave Cair Paravel tonight…before Susan had a chance to kill him.

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"You look beautifully uncomfortable, Cousin."

Alambiel laughed softly as she held out her free hand to Stormwind. "I am not so uncomfortable as you will be if Oreius finds out you made me cry with such careless teasing."

The Centaur made a face as he bowed over her hand. "Merciful Lion, that would be too terrifying to imagine." He grinned at her as she shook her head at his teasing. "You look far better than when I last saw you. I wasn't expecting to see you tonight, however."

Alambiel smiled as she withdrew her hand from his light grasp in favor of resting it on her belly. She could feel the baby kicking as fast as she possibly could manage and her grin grew. "I cannot stay for long but Tuulea and Alithia are nearly convinced that I'm not going to get into trouble simply by appearing at the Valiant's birthday party. Which means I must find Lucy and give her my present before the healers chase me away."

Stormwind gestured to the center of the crowd. "I saw the Valiant over there with a number of well-wishers. And the young princes with Lady Aravis."

"How lovely," she muttered. Grinning at her favorite of Oreius' relatives, she added, "You must come share a meal with Oreius and me. We haven't visited in far too long. Bring Firemoon and Tanith as well. I believe they're back from their honeymoon, yes?"

She ignored the slight twinge of discomfort in the Centaur's tawny eyes. The fact that Oreius hadn't been invited to his cousin's wedding a little over a fortnight past was a slight not easily forgiven and they all knew it had been Despoina's doing. And that she was the most likely reason for it. The matriarch of Selene's herd certainly knew how to hold grudges with the best (or worst) of them. Which meant she was left with the task of ensuring the fussy old mare didn't succeed in sundering Oreius' ties with his maternal cousins just because he married her. And she was intent on winning. Again.

"Do not forget," she reminded her husband's cousin as she moved past him. She didn't wait for his acknowledgement. Stormwind would do it because he knew this was the best way to ensure no silly feuds erupted between the herds or caused shame to fall on his own herd because Despoina's antics. Most of the people who'd had reservations about Oreius choosing her as a bride had accepted it…or at least resigned themselves to the fact that they kept surviving.

The crowd was awful. Warm and too many bodies in close proximity with her nose all the more sensitive to everything thanks to her pregnancy. It took everything not to complain about the heat. Even the choice to wear a silk gown and keep her hair pinned didn't offer enough relief…maybe she should tell Tuulea and Leeta that she was only wearing the looser toga like dresses from now on. This gown lacked sleeves and was pretty in its simplicity, relying on the light turquoise blue instead of beading for distinction, but it clung to her curves closely enough that she felt suffocated. Still she pulled her princess lessons around her like a shield and maintained a friendly smile as she wove through the crowd. The Narnians took more time to greet her, slowing her progress as they welcomed her back to the Cair or offered their felicitations for the coming child. Even the Faun Nausus from the council offered her a respectful half bow though he didn't come speak to her…probably a good thing given their history. She wouldn't want to give him an apoplexy.

Finally she heard Lucy's voice, bright and merry. "Come now, Corin, aren't you enjoying the party? Is it so bad to share it with me when you leave tomorrow?"

The crowd parted briefly and she was able to slip through the space to reach the little knot comprised of Lucy, both Archenlandish princes, Aravis, and Marsalla. Young prince Corin wore a familiar mulish expression but at least he wasn't sporting any black eyes tonight. Always a happy miracle with that one. He scowled fiercely and crossed his arms. "I don't see why they get to stay here and I have to go back. Nothing fun happens in Anvard. And I want to box and ride a horse and everything fun that princes get to do. I'm not going to be king anymore. I get to have all the fun now."

Alambiel kept her mouth shut instead of voicing the thought that everyone was quite relieved he would not be king. He simply didn't have the temper suited to being a ruler and years of being spoiled until he became spoilt did nothing to help the fact. Instead, she waited as Lucy sighed, still smiling. "Oh Corin. Your father misses you and your brother terribly. And it shall be your task to tell him all about Cor's progress as the truest report he shall hear from anyone. Besides you get to travel with my brother and I'm certain he will find some adventure for you."

Corin grinned. "Could we go back to Tashbaan? I'd like to see if that a—"

"No," the deep interjection cleared another path as Peter arrived with Thalia on his arm. "None of us are venturing into the desert this summer." He fixed Corin with a stern gaze that would almost do Oreius credit…not that it had any effect on the boy (though his twin certainly looked nervous enough for the both of them, poor dear). "And you should consider yourself honored to have the role of guarding Lady Raisa on her journey back to Anvard."

Corin's brow furrowed but then Thalia added with a slight smile, "A task worthy of knights and knights-to-be."

"Well, I suppose. Even if it is just Thane and Shane's sister."

Alambiel bit her tongue to keep from giggling as Lucy did. The younger queen's smile brightened as she swooped down to kiss a protesting Corin on his cheek. "It is a very good thing you do and don't forget to report to your father."

"Eww, no kisses! Queen Lucy, you're acting like a grownup lady!"

Lucy laughed. "I am a grownup lady. And even a proper lady on occasion, you silly boy." Her laughter faded as she caught sight of Alambiel but she quickly recovered her smile as she released Corin who immediately swiped his cheek with his sleeve. "Kat! Oh I'm so glad you were able to come tonight! You look beautiful! Peter, don't you think she looks beautiful?"

"Of course, Lu," the High King pronounced magnanimously, a twinkle in his blue eyes as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. "It's good to have you back in the Cair, Kat."

"As busy as it is, I'm surprised you even noticed I was gone," she teased as expected of her. She tightened her grip on the package that was her whole reason for even venturing down into the crowd tonight. "Lucy, would you mind if I steal you away for a moment? I have a gift for you and it would be most convenient if you accompanied me to the balcony. I am far too warm to stay in the middle of things tonight."

Peter grinned. "Well it's usually quieter when you're not sowing your own chaos, Kat. Ow." He glanced down at his wife who peered up with a scolding glint then cleared his throat as he captured Thalia's free hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. "Right, Lu, you should spend some time with Kat on the balcony. We can handle things for a bit. Is Oreius still talking to Peridan?"

Alambiel glanced around before grinning. "No, he's talking to Peridan and Edmund." Returning her attention to the three youngest members of their little group, she added, "Corin, you should take your leave of the Kentauri but please do it carefully. Lucy, if you would?"

Lucy giggled as they walked away from the others. "Kat, I do believe that Oreius would be perfectly content not to have Corin practice his manners for leave taking and certainly not on him. What will he do when he discovers you sent them?"

She touched her belly as a mischievous grin tugged at her lips. "Not a thing. I'm currently immune to any consequences the Kentauri might wish to hand out aaaand since I sent them from a gathering with you and Peter there's nothing specific pointing to my involvement."

"Until Corin or Aravis reveal they were sent by you," Lucy countered.

She laughed softly. "He still won't do anything. I'll have plenty to distract him with until he forgets about it."

A faint sigh of relief escaped her as they emerged onto the balcony. It wasn't truly cool despite the waves far below even the breeze was warm this night but being out of the crowd helped. Alambiel put a hand to the small of her back but managed to hold back a groan at the aches she seemed to collect every time she moved. Instead, she offered the package so carefully wrapped in oilskin. Keeping her voice low, she said, "This is what you need to carry on with your quest. Do not lose it and show it to no one outside of your companion. This information is not something that should be shared."

Bothering Oberon even for a quest was a bit of a risk. The old man was far more powerful than his admittedly kooky behavior would lead people to guess. A strategy she knew and respected…for more than a few reasons. But Oberon was like many of the ancient denizens of Narnia, dangerous in their own way and certainly not tame…though he was good and served Aslan.

She studied Lucy's face as the younger woman opened the oilskin for a brief glimpse then fastened it once more. "Thank you, Kat. I promise I'll keep it safe."

"Lucy, be very careful in your steps." Alambiel paused until the youngest royal was watching her before she continued, "Your quest has been filled with haste and with decisions that will have long term consequences. And you are only now closing in on the end of your journey. This is when you will be tested and pushed to see if you step off the edge of the knife. Choose your steps wisely." She leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Leave tonight if you can. Rest during the midday hours instead. You will cover more ground without drawing too much unwanted attention."

Lucy's eyes were wide when she drew back but then her expression filled with the determination that always carried the Valiant through and she gave a curt nod. "Yes. Thank you, Kat. For everything. You'll tell Oreius that for me?"

"He knows." She smiled. "But I will tell him."

She was wrapped in a quick hug before Lucy hurried back into the Great Hall. Alambiel watched her flit to Susan, wrapping her sister in an embrace, before she made her way to where Tarrin lingered by one of the far columns. His head dipped at her approach then he offered a very slight bow before he slipped toward the doors. Lucy lingered only a moment longer before she too slipped out.

Aslan, be with them. Keep them safe.

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Sneaking out of the Cair on the night of her birthday wasn't quite how she had anticipated spending the evening. And yet when Kat had advised her to do so, the sense of urgency that gripped her had threatened to overwhelm her. She hadn't heard His voice or His roar this time but she had felt the weight wrapping around her. A weight that didn't begin to dissipate until she resolved to do exactly as Kat advised.

Lucy spoke softly to her horse as she led the mare through one of the small postern gates. The mare's ears swiveled but she didn't make any noise this time. The appearance of a second shadow turned into Tarrin leading his charger through the gate. He nodded to her then closed the gate.

She smiled at him then swung up into the saddle. Gathering the reins in her hands, she nudged her horse with her heels. It was time to carry on with the quest. No matter what lay ahead, she knew there was no more time to linger.

She could only hope and pray that the Sea Folk would be able to wait a little while longer. And that there would be answers in the house of Oberon.

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A/N: And we're back to the quest! Only four chapters to go in this story! Next up is Oberon!