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 General's mission had most certainly not anticipated this most unexpected arrival.

A/N: This story is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. It is set at the end of ALitD: Glistened. And contains some spoilers for that story if you haven't read it. Enjoy!

An Unexpected Arrival

Part One

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3 Greenroof 1015

Lightning burned the air as it struck just outside the cave. I begged Aslan that the lack of rain since Quickening would not lead this lightning storm to ignite a fire. A low hiss pulled my attention away from the rainless storm and to my most unexpected companion.

Wiping the sweat from my brow, I flicked my tail then rumbled, "How by the Lion's Mane, Tail, and Whiskers, did you come to be out here?"

My wife leaned back against the cave wall as she rested a hand on her stomach. She looked exhausted and more than a little ragged as she blew out a breath. "Oh come now, Kentauri, you needn't act as though I planned to be out here. Because I assure you that I most certainly was not planning to be away from Cair Paravel."

I shook my head, torn between concern and exasperation. "Where are your guards? Why are you out here? We are the better part of two days' journey from Cair Paravel at a pace that would be safe for you and the foal. Perhaps even three." My gaze dropped to where her hand rested, the swell of her belly visible even with the looser folds of her gown as she had now entered her seventh month. The twisted straps across her shoulders left her arms bare and I could see where the underdress ended just above her knees whenever she moved enough that the flowing folds of dark blue parted to expose her legs and side. The far lighter style of gowns along with her hair still being pinned up was something I'd grown accustomed to seeing as the summer heat grew all the more oppressive and Alambiel in particular grew more uncomfortable as her pregnancy advanced.

Pulling a waterskin from my belt, I used it to carefully wet a handkerchief before passing the skin to Alambiel. As she drank, I ran the handkerchief across her brow then down her flushed cheeks to her throat. When she lowered the waterskin, I murmured, "Better?"

She gave a curt nod. "It helps."

I studied her appearance more closely as I continued running the damp handkerchief over her exposed skin. She still showed signs of being overheated, of course. Yet there was more. Her hair was pinned up yet more locks were working their way free, falling haphazardly to her shoulders. As though she'd worn it up for over a day and perhaps even slept since she last attended to her hair.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the shadows cast by the slowly falling dusk, and I turned my head as I caught the faint hint of a howl in the distance. A low moan sounded from far closer at hand. Quickly turning my attention back to Alambiel, my worry grew at the sight of her closed eyes. "Tell me what happened. How long have you been gone from the Cair?"

"Not long, I don't think. We went out on the first of Greenroof." She opened her eyes to look at me as she added, "What is today, Kentauri?"

"It is the third of Greenroof, though there isn't much of the day left to us."

She nodded. "Lovely." She raised trembling fingers to her brow, brushing back white and gold strands of hair. "So everything began simply enough two days ago. Lucy wanted to go on a picnic…"

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A/N: Please Read and Review!