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-Four – Truth Be Told

30 Fairdawn 1015

"Kat! There you are!" Lucy called, waving even as she ran up to hug the older woman. "How are you feeling now? Is the baby doing well?" She glanced around, seeing only the Leopards, Neith and Sobek, accompanying Kat. Until she spied Amun trailing behind. She looked up at Kat. "Where is Oreius?"

"Your brother sent the Kentauri on a patrol to investigate the reports of Ogres along our western border," Kat muttered. She glanced down at Lucy then grumbled, "And I'll have you know that I'm quite resentful of you at the moment, Lucy."

"Why?" Lucy slipped her arm into Kat's then steered them both back up the hall. "I've only just arrived home."

"I know. I resent the fact that you are moving quickly, unimpeded, and apparently entirely unaffected by this miserable drought we're having," Kat replied drily. She glanced back at where Tarrin was trailing them. "Most of your family is gathered in the Queens' sitting room for a private tea. And Marsalla is there as well since Susan insisted she join them. Such perfect timing, my dears."

Lucy giggled. "I understand what you are saying, Kat, and don't worry this was our plan all along."

"Lovely. I do enjoy witnessing such pleasant family discussions as the one about to ensue." Kat paused deliberately then added, "Besides, my presence shall be demanded if I don't go with you. I'm also hungry."

"When will Oreius return from his patrol?" she asked. Given the turmoil that had plagued the couple throughout Kat's pregnancy, she was rather surprised that Oreius would even be willing to leave her side. Although he'd no doubt been commanded as the General to go. And he wasn't one to disobey direct orders.

"Unknown." Kat's free hand rose to touch her rounded belly then she shrugged. "Although he promised to try to return by our anniversary. Whether the Kentauri can settle this matter of the Ogres in time to be back in Cair Paravel by the seventh of Greenroof is…questionable. However, I've decided I don't care so long as he doesn't manage to miss the birth."

"That seems very reasonable, Kat," she murmured with a barely suppressed giggle.

Kat raised an eyebrow at her. "That's what Tuulea keeps telling me. And I've been told I have to agree with it." She nodded to the door to their right. "Here we are. No more stalling, not even to coo over William."

She unhooked their arms then preceded Lucy into the room. "Look who I found wandering the halls."

Lucy exchanged a look with Tarrin who offered a tight nod. He looked a little nervous. She smiled at him then grasped his hand. They entered the room, hands still clasped.

"About time you came home, Lu," came Peter's laughing call. "I was beginning to fear Tarrin had absconded with you," he teased.

"Peter," Susan scolded, shaking her head. She turned a beatific smile on them. "Has your quest ended, Lu? Are you actually home to stay a while?"

"We are," she answered smiling. She tightened her grip on Tarrin's hand, noticing that Marsalla was staring at them with an almost worried expression. Kat was easing down onto one of the settees beside Thalia while Peter bounced William on his knee, making her little nephew cackle with glee. Kat caught her eye and made a get on with it gesture.

Lucy took a deep breath then blurted out, "Tarrin and I participated in the Mingling of the Waters ceremony back in Mayblossom."

For a moment, silence reigned. Then Peter climbed slowly to his feet, his expression unreadable. He handed William to his mother then crossed the sitting room in three quick strides.

"Peter, wait a moment." She only just said the words when Peter punched Tarrin, knocking him to the ground. "Peter! Stop that! He didn't do anything wrong!"

"Eloping with my little sister! Eloping with a Queen of Narnia without so much as going about a proper courtship is wrong!" Peter fumed. He stepped closer to Tarrin and glared down at him, fists clenched. "We entrusted you with the care of Our Sister and you did this?!"

"Peter!" Lucy shouted, shoving at his chest so he would step back. "I eloped with him! And you're acting as though I ran off with him against all sense and morals! Stop it!"

"What is the Mingling of the Waters ceremony?" Marsalla's shaky voice pierced the room. She looked so pale that it was a wonder she hadn't fainted.

Susan had also risen to her feet but now she placed a comforting hand on the lady's shoulder. "It is a ceremony the Nereids and Sea gods use to marry. It's quite lovely really." Her attention flicked to Lucy and Tarrin who was slowly climbing to his feet. "Although it's even lovelier when witnessed by one's family."

Lucy winced. "I am quite sorry about that, Su. And Peter, you must thank Tarrin for even agreeing to participate in the ceremony with me. I didn't ask him to do it. He volunteered, which actually kept me from having to choose Triton."

Peter scowled at her. "Triton! The Sea god? You hardly know him at all! Why would you want to choose him? It's not as though you can simply change your mind about the chap you choose after the ceremony is over. And the two of you have been pining over each other for years now." He grimaced. "Or so my dear wife has been telling me all this year. Su too."

"You're hopelessly blind in the matters of the heart, Peter," Susan teased. "I don't suppose you're any better than Edmund, though."

"Is Edmund still in Archenland?" Lucy asked, grateful for the small distraction.

"He is," Peter confirmed. He abruptly stepped close to Tarrin once more, glaring down at him. "I shall only say this the once. If I should find myself having to repeat it, I shall cast your sorry hide out of Narnia faster than a Gryphon can fly. You had best take care of my sister. She's the youngest and the baby of the family, which means she has three older siblings who shall take turns skinning you alive and plugging you full of arrows if you ever do anything to deliberately hurt her. Not to mention whatever Oreius comes up with given he is our father. If you have any doubts about making this relationship work, I suggest you get on your knees and ask Aslan for guidance. Or me. Or Oreius and Peridan. We'll help you. But if you even put one toe out of line when it comes to how you should act as my sister's husband, you won't have the chance to even rue that decision before we will act against you." He held Tarrin's gaze for a long fierce moment then stuck out his hand. "Agreed?"

Tarrin nodded, clasping Peter's hand. "Agreed. I wouldn't dream of hurting her intentionally. Even when I fumble, I shall always strive to keep from hurting her like that. My parents made certain I knew the difference between strength and abuse."

"I know." Peter clapped him on the shoulder, grinning broadly. "I cannot wait to see the look on Ed's face when he finds out what he's missed this time. Welcome to the family, brother."

Lucy squealed and threw her arms around Peter's neck, hugging him tight then kissing his cheek. She let go and immediately threw her arms around Tarrin, sending him toppling over. Peter groaned and Susan sighed but she ignored them both. She kissed Tarrin then grinned down at him. "I told you they wouldn't kill you!"

"Well, not until training," Peter interjected.

There was a sudden Presence in the room and a sweet perfume filled the air. Lucy looked up to see Aslan looking down at her, amusement in His golden eyes. She kissed Tarrin again then pushed off of him in favor of throwing her arms around Aslan's neck. "Aslan! You've come to visit!" She inhaled the sweet perfume clinging to His mane then leaned back. Everyone else had moved to kneel, including Kat. "Oh, do You have news of the Sea Folk?"

Aslan chuckled. "Indeed, the artifact you retrieved shall finish healing all the ill among the sea tonight. Nereus is already among their number and Tethys shall join him tonight. Once the healing is complete, I shall take the artifact away so no others may succumb to the temptation to use it for their own gains. You have done well, both of you." He placed a Lion's kiss against her brow then did the same to Tarrin. "My blessing upon your marriage, beloveds."

Then He was gone once more. Lucy inhaled the air still warm and sweet from His Presence. Come visit us soon, Aslan.

Susan was the first to break the silence. "I suppose this means I shan't be able to plan your wedding after all."

Lucy scrambled to her feet, tugging Tarrin up with her. She laughed as she kissed him then spun to face her family. A greatly expanded one now that Tarrin had joined them to Peridan's family. She smiled at each of them. "Oh Su! You know there's still the coronation ceremony to plan. Tarrin is going to be my consort now." She grinned at Peter. "Since you will approve, won't you, Peter?"

He chuckled. "Oh fine. I suppose we must go through some fuss after all. Since we missed the actual wedding."

Lucy squeezed Tarrin's hand. "I told you!"

He grinned at her. "So you did, My Lucy." He kissed her brow then her lips. "So you did."

"That's enough kissing, thank you," Peter interjected. "I for one should like to hear this story. From the beginning if you please."

Lucy couldn't keep from smiling as she and Tarrin walked hand in hand to join the others. This was a story she was no longer afraid to tell. And she could not wait to see what further adventures awaited. Though she did have a small suspicion that Edmund was due for a proper adventure of his own. One that avoided Calormen and a war, of course. But perhaps it would involve a certain red-haired lass.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Whew! And so the end arrives! I hope you enjoyed the story and its conclusion. I do plan the next main story to be about Edmund (and Raisa). I'm not sure when exactly I'll start that story though since I haven't decided if I'll be writing all or most of it first then posting closer together or just writing and posting when I can. In the meantime, I will be posting some of the stories I've been sitting on until Glistened was finished.

Lady A