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: In the aftermath of rescuing Queen Lucy from an evil sorcerer, Katerina Alambiel struggles to find her place while some of the Narnians closest to the Pevensies still question her motives. And, finding herself in the middle of an assassination plot against the High King himself doesn't exactly help her to fit in.
Warning: There will be mentions of torture, murder, and some scary moments. So, this is a mid to high T.
Chapter Eighteen: Heart of the Matter
Katerina Alambiel gasped for breath when Jambres finally stopped using that accursed spell on her. She wished she could have been stronger, that she had been able to withstand the urge to scream, but after over an hour of almost continuous torture, she hadn't been able to hold out any longer. Jambres observed her in a silence that was almost more chilling than his laughter or even his fury. The sorcerer cocked his head slightly and ran his hand over his goatee as he broke his silence. "I had doubted the claim that you had no memory of this world, Alambiel, but now I wonder if your grandfathers set aside their differences and worked together to somehow erase or hide your memories in an attempt to foil me. Your bloodline is so unique and so very powerful that few in Narnia are your equal. You could accomplish much if only you joined me. You want to remember your past, don't you, Alambiel? I can give you back your memories if you join me. Think about it, you could have it all: a past, a future, power beyond your imagination, and the respect and fear of the entire world."
Katerina shuddered from more than the residual pain of the spells she had endured. Jambres offered her the one thing she wanted with all her heart. It would be so easy, she knew all she had to do was nod and all the answers would be laid before her. She glanced from Jambres to Peter whose eyes were glazed with the pain of his own wounds. She was sorely tempted to accept just so she could hear the names of her parents, but at what cost for that information? Jambres was offering something, but it wasn't for free and she would never forgive herself if the cost was what she suspected. She looked back at Jambres who stood smug in his belief that she would sign away her very soul in order to have a single glimpse of her past. "No."
Jambres stared down at her and she could almost feel the rage rolling off him, "Very well, Alambiel. Now bear witness to the price of your refusal."
He uttered a spell that sent a wave of pain throughout her body until she could barely lift her head off the floor. Then, he stalked over to Peter and started a much longer incantation as he reached to grab hold of Peter's pale face. Katerina gasped in horror as she realized Jambres was going to kill Peter in some terrible fashion. She gritted her teeth and prayed for the strength she needed as she pushed past the pain and lunged across the room.
Jambres was reaching the end of his spell and his fingers were about to touch Peter when she slammed into the High King. The force of the blow caused Peter to cry out in pain, but it also pushed him out of the way so when Jambres reached out as he finished the spell, he grabbed hold of Katerina's face instead of the king. She looked up with a hint of satisfaction as she watched the look of shock and fury cross Jambres' face when he realized what she had chosen to do. Jambres tried to release her but she grabbed his wrists and held him in place. Then, as Jambres' eyes filled with hatred, wave after wave of sheer agony filled her entire body and she gasped before screaming at the top of her lungs. Her sight went black and her hearing faded until she couldn't even hear herself screaming. It was over.
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Oreius picked up his pace as the screams increased in frequency. They were close, now they just needed to find the right door. There was a moment where he could hear nothing but silence and Oreius feared it was because the sorcerer had killed one or both of his prisoners. A tall door with gruesome scenes carved into the panels was cracked open and he entered cautiously with his sword at the ready. Judging by the furnishings, he had just found the sorcerer's study. He sheathed his sword as he walked further into the room to look around. Several sheets of paper covered in spidery writing obscured the top of the desk, he spotted the name 'Alambiel' on the topmost paper and scooped them all up. He stuffed them into the empty side pocket of the bag of medicine and bandages Alithia had given him.
Oreius looked around the room again, but he saw no other way out of the study than the door he had come through. He hoped Ardon and Alaois were having more success with their searches. He was in the doorway when another scream rent the air. And, it came from behind him. He whirled back around and shouted over his shoulder, "Ardon! Alaois! To me! I've found them!"
Oreius scanned the walls as the screams continued to echo from somewhere behind them. He had found them, now he just needed to get to them. The wall to the left of the desk was covered in bookshelves while the wall behind the desk had a huge window, but the wall to the right of the desk bore only a large map of Narnia and her immediate neighbors, which was carved right into the stones. Oreius stepped closer and he could hear the screams so clearly that he knew the hidden chamber was behind the wall. He looked at the map and spotted one stone whose lines stood out cleanly compared to the surrounding stones. Ardon and Alaois came up behind him as he pressed on the stone and it slowly receded until it clicked.
Ardon grabbed the edge of the wall and pulled until it slowly swung open revealing a short hall ending in a simple wood door. Though he would have preferred using his claymore, he had lost enough blood from the wounds to his arm that he couldn't trust himself not to drop the heavy claymore so Oreius pulled his one-handed sword free instead. The screams were nearly deafening due to the echo and Oreius allowed his anger to rise as he charged through the door.
His horror and rage only increased when he saw Peter looking deathly pale as he lay against the far wall and there only feet away from him was the sorcerer holding onto Katerina Alambiel chanting a harsh spell. He let out a battle cry and Jambres jerked in surprise. The sorcerer released Katerina and she fell unmoving to the floor. Oreius leaped over her as Jambres scrambled backwards in a desperate attempt to escape the furious Centaur. Jambres pulled a long dagger from within his robes and slashed wildly at Oreius. Oreius easily blocked the attack and used his size to force Jambres further away from Peter and Katerina. The sorcerer had a feral look in his eyes but he chose to taunt the Centaur. "You're too late to save her, General Oreius. And, it won't be long before the boy joins her in death. Narnia will-"
Jambres choked as Oreius drove his sword into his chest, then the Centaur made sure he stayed dead by beheading the Sorcerer Jambres with a backswing as he tumbled to the floor. Oreius turned his back on the body and focused instead on the health of Peter and Katerina. Ardon was already using his supply of bandages to staunch the blood flowing from the High King's shoulder. Oreius handed him another roll from his bag and Ardon nodded to him, "If I can stop the bleeding, I think he'll be fine until we get back to camp."
"Good." Oreius was still concerned by how pale Peter was, but being married to Alithia meant Ardon had more than the passing knowledge of field medicine that Oreius himself possessed, so he didn't press the other Centaur. He left Ardon to finish bandaging Peter's shoulder and crossed to where Alaois was kneeling beside Katerina Alambiel. The Satyr carefully turned her over and Oreius was shocked by her appearance. But, he was most concerned by the fact that her nose and mouth were bleeding. He forced himself to maintain his composure as he spoke, "Satyr Alaois, you need to carry Katerina Alambiel back to the camp and Ardon will carry the High King. I would do it, but it wouldn't be safe if I tried to do so with my arm wounded like it is."
Sherket appeared in the doorway and looked over the scene with obvious concern. She glanced from Katerina's still form to where Ardon had just finished bandaging Peter then she looked up at Oreius. "Are they going to be all right?"
Oreius sighed as he walked over to the Leopard Captain, "I believe the High King will recover, but Katerina Alambiel... I don't know. I hope so, I pray so, but I just don't know." As he watched High King Peter and Katerina Alambiel being carried out of the room, Oreius prayed that both of them would live to see another day and continue to be a personal challenge for him to watch over. He didn't want to imagine returning to Cair Paravel without either one of them. Please, Aslan, spare them. We need them here.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, there is only one chapter left in this story and it should be posted tomorrow or Thursday. Review if you want the conclusion to be posted tomorrow! Will Katerina live? Will she ever find out who she really is? Click the little review button below and tell what y'all think.