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: Not all shields look as we expected... Not all shields are physical...

A/N: To avoid confusion, y'all should know that the first part of this chapter is from Katerina's POV, but the second part is from Oreius' POV. Enjoy!

Chapter Six

5 Yule 1001

Even before I came to Narnia, I had received training in both armed and unarmed close combat. I was thankful for this because for one thing it had allowed me to survive the first twenty days in Narnia a lot better than if I had absolutely no survival training whatsoever. However, there was one force in Narnia that all my training was absolutely useless against, although I console myself with the knowledge that I can last longer against it than just about anyone else in Narnia.

It was Seventhday, so I had actually been able to sleep until half-five that morning. Oreius had gotten his true revenge for splashing him last week by moving the start time of my training up to fourth hour every morning and he only moved the start time so I was training at least an hour before the Kings ever showed up in the training yard. This meant I had been training from three to six hours every morning for the past four days and I had just been informed via Ardon (I guess Oreius knew I would have thrown something hard and possibly pointy at him if he had told me himself) that this routine would not be changed for at least another week. Oreius could be such a grouch, worse he was a vindictive grouch with very creative but also cruel and unusual methods of punishment.

Anyway, it was just before teatime when Lucy found me kind of sprawled on the rug in front of the fireplace in my parlor. She looked at me with some concern until I gave a half-hearted little wave, "Don't mind me, Lucy, I just found out that Oreius is keeping me in his enhanced version of torture thinly disguised as training for a little while longer."

She tilted her head at me, trying to decide if I was joking or not (I wasn't), then she smiled slightly (she thought I was) and said, "Peter and Edmund told me you're really, really good in training. And, then I heard General Oreius, Captain Ardon, and Captain Cletus talking about you last Fifthday and they all agreed that you are probably one of the best knife fighters they've seen. Of course, then General Oreius said it would be even more impressive if you would stop leaving your Aslan-given common sense in the armory when you come to training."

Three things stood out to me during Lucy's recitation. One, she wanted something from me and I had an inkling I knew what it was. Two, just because I lost my footing after jumping over both his swords and couldn't stop myself before I crashed against a weapons rack (thank God it was just lances and some staffs) did not mean that I left my God-given common sense in the armory...that particular morning I left it in my bedroom. Three, Oreius was still being a grouch.

I closed my eyes with a little sigh before I asked, "What is it you really came to see me about, Lucy?"

I was exhausted and Lucy was quiet for so long that I nearly dozed off, but I snapped wide awake when she finally told me what she wanted. "Well, I was wondering...if... you could teach me how to fight with my dagger?"

I was not going to agree to that request, oh no, no, no, no. I opened my eyes to tell her no and I was confronted with a big pair of puppy dog eyes looking down at me and silently pleading for me to agree. I paused for a moment as I tried to resist the eyes, which was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I mean, this wasn't the first time a child had given me the puppy dog eyes treatment and I had resisted it in the past. But, then Lucy clasped her hands under her chin and said, "Oh, please, Kat, pretty please." Now, that wasn't fair.

I sighed and nodded as I slowly heaved myself into a sitting position. "All right, Lucy, I'll teach you how to defend yourself with your dagger. But, it will have to be later in the day because my mornings are full until I'm informed otherwise. And, it will need to be in a quiet space because I don't want you to be distracted and I don't want me to be skewered because a paranoid guard assumed I was attacking you."

Lucy squealed in delight and threw her arms around my neck before she scrambled back to her feet. "Oh, thank you, Kat! I know the perfect place! I'll show it to you tomorrow. Oh, might we start tomorrow afternoon, please?"

I was such a pushover. I gave a wordless nod and she squealed again (my eardrums would never be the same) before skipping out of the room. I lowered myself carefully to the floor again and just thanked God that she hadn't asked me to go exploring that afternoon or to join her for tea. If I was too exhausted to read, I was too sore to try moving again for the rest of the day. I was also so tired that I forgot to ask Lucy one very important question, and it remained forgotten for just over two weeks.

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22 Yule 1001

"You know for such a little thing, she certainly manages to land in rather large messes."

I smirked as I looked over at where Ardon was watching Katerina Alambiel help Queen Lucy toss snowballs at the Kings as they raced around one of the hills just outside of Cair Paravel's gates. As Queen Susan had once again busied herself with planning the Christmas festivities, the Kings took their younger sister away from the chaotic bustling of the Cair to play in the snow as I had dismissed them and Katerina Alambiel from training early. I was fairly certain this wasn't the exact type of activity Katerina had expected to participate in this morn but once the snowballs started flying she had been pulled in to even things up. "She has been landing in such messes since she arrived in Narnia, Ardon. I doubt that will change. And, you think anyone smaller than an adult Centaur is a little thing."

Ardon shrugged, after all, I was right and he knew it. A moment later, he was hit in the shoulder with a stray snowball. I looked to see Katerina Alambiel was standing on the crown of the hill next to King Edmund, so she actually had not thrown it...although, I suspect that if she was to throw a snowball at one of us, it would be at me and not Ardon. I smirked at Ardon and he glowered back at me.

It seemed the snowball fight had ended, but I couldn't tell from there who had won. However, Queen Lucy would be happy to tell me later when we headed back to the Cair. Katerina Alambiel was still standing at the top of the hill with King Edmund, but they had moved around some as Queen Lucy and King Peter joined them. They appeared to be discussing something, but I was confident they couldn't find any trouble on the hill and surrounded by various guards including Ardon and myself. I spotted Sir Rupert making his way towards us and I started to step away from Ardon, but then the wind shifted and I could clearly hear Katerina Alambiel ask something I hoped I heard wrong. "Edmund, do you know what two words can be derived from 'shield'?"

I froze as after a brief pause, during which the three sane Humans must have answered in the negative, she continued in a rather calculating tone. "Hi sled." She was going to kill me before Christmas.

I looked over my shoulder at Ardon in the vain hope that I had not just heard Cair Paravel's newest resident say what I thought she said, but he just shook his head in stunned disbelief. I glanced up at the clear sky and prayed for patience as I turned to see just what the insane woman known as Katerina Alambiel had decided to do now. I watched in disbelief as Katerina came sliding down the hill sitting in an overturned round shield while she held Queen Lucy securely in front of her. Their improvised sled picked up more and more speed until I realized at about the same time as Katerina and the Kings, who were still watching from the top of the hill, that she was not going to be able to stop them before they reached some of the other guards who were directly in their path.

I called out for the guards to clear the way, but the thick layer of snow slowed their movements just enough that someone was going to end up colliding with the two Daughters of Eve. Just before they reached the guards, Katerina Alambiel grabbed Queen Lucy and tossed her into a large snowdrift. Queen Lucy had already gotten to her feet by the time the last guard cleared the path and for a moment it looked like Katerina would also jump clear of the improvised sled, but then I saw a flash of red as Sir Rupert leapt up only to practically land in Katerina's arms, forcing her to stay seated.

The shield didn't stop until it slammed into the base of a birch tree, thank Aslan it wasn't one of the Trees because that would have created an even larger mess. The momentum of the shield was great enough that all I and everyone else could do was watch in dismay as Katerina was slung forward. I saw her head connect with the tree trunk, but then all the snow covering the branches fell and completely buried the shield, the Fox, and the insane Daughter of Eve who had managed to cause the entire mishap. Ardon and I galloped through the snow as we joined the other guards and Queen Lucy in rushing to provide whatever aid was needed.

As we approached the tree, I was relieved to see a gloved hand poke its way out of the mound of snow at the tree's base. The hand disappeared again only to be replaced by a rather disheveled Fox, who wriggled out and shook himself to rid his fur of the excess snow before he moved out from under everyone's feet to sit beside the Kings and Queen. Katerina reached up and made the hole Rupert had wriggled through large enough for herself. I ordered the guards to return to their posts and then I nodded to Ardon. We reached forward and pulled Katerina the rest of the way out of her snowy prison.

I folded my arms and glared down at her. She looked up at me and I suddenly had to fight the urge to laugh as I took in the snow that clung to her hair and her eyelashes, which, combined with her reddened cheeks, ultimately served to make her look almost adorable...not that I would tell her that. Ardon choked back a laugh and I raised an eyebrow at her as I carefully resisted the urge to laugh at the snowy glare being leveled at Ardon. "And, what do you have to say for yourself this time, Katerina Alambiel?"

She stopped glaring at Ardon, who was still trying to regain his composure, and she looked at me in silence for a few minutes then she shrugged. "Well, the stopping bit could have gone better."

I couldn't help smirking at her, then I shook my head and waved for her to rejoin the Kings and Queen who had moved off a little ways while they waited for Ardon and I to finish speaking with Katerina Alambiel. When I asked her for the boon of lowering her self-made barricades, I had not realized that such actions would be accompanied by this tendency to end up in somewhat insane situations that most others would manage to avoid. Sir Rupert came to sit by my feet as we watched the Royals swarm around Katerina Alambiel, after a moment he quietly commented, "She's been going down to the furthest solarium in the lower level of the south-eastern wing every afternoon save on Seventhdays. No one else enters or leaves the solarium save her." He paused and glanced up at me, "I hope this information is useful, General."

I nodded and he slipped away, though I thought it was due more to his desire to avoid being buried in the snow again than anything pressing he needed to attend to in the Cair. Ardon glanced at me, but I didn't tell him what it was about for I had already resolved to handle the matter personally. The four Humans had apparently decided to head back into the Cair as it was about noon and Queen Susan would fret if they did not return in time to share the midday meal. They had nearly reached where Ardon and I were standing when King Peter decided to tease Katerina Alambiel. "So, are you going to find a way to unintentionally disrupt afternoon tea as well, Kitty?"

Katerina had been listening with a half-smile until the moment King Peter called her 'Kitty' then I watched in surprise as clear fury flashed through her eyes before she tackled the High King who crashed into his brother before all three of them landed in the snow. I quickly schooled my features to hide my surprise as Katerina Alambiel maneuvered herself so that she had pinned both Kings in the snow beneath her. I moved forward with Ardon beside me, but Katerina ignored us as she suddenly smiled at the brothers who were now watching her warily. Her voice was completely calm as she spoke, in fact, if I had not seen that brief flash of fury right before she moved, I would have thought she was playing a game of some sort with them. "I will tolerate a great many names; however, I will not tolerate being called 'Kitty' not even by your majesties. Consider this fair warning because if you ever call me that again, I will hang the both of you by your ankles. Clear?"

The Kings exchanged a look and then they responded in unison, "Crystal."

Katerina smiled and gave them each a light pat on the cheek before she stood and started walking towards the Cair. Queen Lucy giggled at her brothers, "Well, now you know what not to call her." King Peter shrugged before he stood up and pulled his brother to his feet. All three of them hurried to catch up with Katerina Alambiel. As we followed in their wake, Ardon glanced at me in a silent query and I answered with a slight shrug. I honestly did not know why she reacted that way to being called 'Kitty' by the Kings, but I supposed she would explain in time.

Later that afternoon, I was once again mulling over why Katerina Alambiel would do some of the things she did. However, this time it was because I was trying to determine why she had been visiting the one solarium in the main palace of Cair Paravel that no one used. She was normally holed up in her chambers or in the library when not in Queen Lucy's company, but for just over a fortnight, she had been sneaking away to visit this solarium. I had asked Sir Rupert to find out where she was going because I wanted to make sure she hadn't found herself more trouble, but as I watched the door she had disappeared into nearly twenty minutes ago, I had to admit I was curious to see what new manner of mischief she had uncovered. I had discovered that once I got over the initial shock or anger, her actions usually had rather humorous results.

I thought I heard the low murmur of voices coming from the room and then there was the distinctive clash of steel against steel. I resisted the urge to burst into the room with swords drawn; instead, I quietly made my way to the door. I reached it and realized the only reason I had been able to hear anything was because the door had failed to close all the way when Katerina entered the solarium. I carefully pushed the door open, and, resting a hand on the pommel of my one-handed sword, I entered the solarium. I took a step forward then looked at the floor in surprise to see I was standing on a rug, thus completely muffling the sound of my hooves.

I held my swords still as I walked further into the solarium, the floor of which had been covered by various rugs from wall to wall, until I stopped in the shadows as I was greeted by the one sight that I hadn't expected, but honestly, I shouldn't have been the least surprised. Katerina Alambiel stood near the center of the room facing Queen Lucy, who was dressed in what appeared to be some of King Edmund's clothes. Queen Lucy was holding her dagger in a defensive position while Katerina slowly walked towards her with one of her knives drawn. I knew without a doubt that Katerina Alambiel would die before she allowed any harm to come to Queen Lucy, especially by her own hand, so I watched in silence as the lesson I had walked in on continued.

I learned a great deal about Katerina Alambiel that afternoon as she taught the youngest Queen how to defend herself against attackers. She was a kind teacher and a patient one; in fact, she was far more patient than many instructors I had seen. As she gently corrected Lucy's grip or showed her thrice over how to block an attack in a way that would allow her to wound her attacker and then dash out of arm's reach, my respect for her grew even more. She also readily used her sense of humor and somewhat odd way of looking at the world to keep Queen Lucy from growing too frustrated when a particular move proved difficult to learn. I nearly gave myself away several times when she mimicked the body language of various creatures and warriors, none more so than towards the end of the lesson.

Katerina Alambiel suddenly crouched and started to approach Lucy with swinging sideways steps while maintaining the crouched position. Queen Lucy tilted her head as she asked, "What are you doing, Kat?"

Katerina paused a second as she met Lucy's gaze, "I'm imitating the spindly pale thing...what is it called? Oh, Ghoul."

Lucy asked what I was thinking, "But, why?"

Katerina straightened and patted her stomach as she cheerfully replied, "Because I don't have the belly to play a Boggle." I was grateful that Queen Lucy giggled at that because it covered up the slight sound of me choking back my own laughter.

Katerina Alambiel smiled at Lucy and she gestured for her to put away the dagger. I was about to make my presence known when Queen Lucy asked, "Why won't you teach me how to actually attack someone, Kat?"

I stayed where I was, unwilling to intrude on this last lesson. Katerina looked at the knife in her hand a moment before she slipped it into the sheath under her tunic. "Because I pray every day that you will never have to use these lessons in order to attack an enemy, or if it should happen that it will be far in the future. Part of the reason I agreed to teach you how to defend yourself is because I believe it is better for you to have the knowledge and be prepared and never have to use it than to one day need the knowledge and not have it. Every defensive move I've shown you can easily be turned into an attack, so if the worst should happen and for some reason you are attacked and no one is there to protect you, you know how to fight back. Of course, if your brothers, Oreius, the entire army, not to mention myself have anything to say about it, that scenario will never happen."

"You know, no one except you will teach me beyond the basics with knife fighting; they just want me to focus on archery."

Well, that was true but only until she grew a little older. I listened carefully for Katerina's response. She gave the young queen a slight smile as she answered, "That is because you are only nine years old, Lucy. Even though you are queen, we cannot help but see the child as well. And, nine or ten is far too young an age to begin killing because when you kill it is the death toll for the innocence of childhood. Lucy, you have yet to kill, wound yes, but not kill and you are so sweet and kind and innocent that I and everyone else just desire to help you stay that way for as long as possible. We wish to protect you, for you remind us of the childhood innocence we left behind long ago, will you not grant us this favor for at least a few years longer?"

Katerina Alambiel could very eloquent when she wanted to, and I was not the least surprised that Queen Lucy quickly gave her agreement. Katerina suddenly groaned, "Lucy, I just realized that I forgot to inform anyone of what I've been teaching you, especially Peter and...Oreius. And, I think you forgot as well, so tonight you will inform Peter of these lessons and he had best tell me that we've his express permission to continue with them, agreed? Good, now off with you. I have my own explanations to give..." I watched as Queen Lucy ran to the far wall and opened the secret passage that I knew would let her out two halls away from the wing of Cair Paravel where the royal family's quarters were located, which explained why no one had seen anyone other than Katerina entering or leaving the solarium.

Katerina didn't turn around as she spoke again, "So, Kentauri, how much trouble did I just land in this time?"

I smirked at the question and at this new name she had given me just over three weeks ago, "I don't know yet. I suppose we shall have to see how the High King reacts to the news that you have been giving his youngest sister secret lessons before I decide."

She finally turned as I came up beside her. Looking down at her, I gentled my tone before asking, "How do you feel about the fact that a colt who was not yet ten years of age had to draw first blood after being held prisoner by a witch?"

I could see a flash of sorrow and empathy in her eyes before she quietly answered, "Nine, or ten, was still far too young as is eleven, but circumstances meant it could not be avoided merely mourned privately by those of us who see and recognize the loss." She gave me a knowing look as she added, "But, then you know all about that, don't you, Kentauri? We will trust them, we will follow them, we will protect them, and we will mourn for them when they cannot mourn for themselves." I was struck silent by the echo of personal experience hidden in her words and in the tone of her voice, and I once again found myself wondering what she had gone through that she understood so much. I silently inclined my head in acknowledgement of her words even as I reminded myself that I had given her my word that I would not push her about her past, instead I would wait until she was ready to lower those defenses and let others like myself help her shield herself and share the burden.

I escorted her out of the solarium in silence for several minutes, and then I couldn't help my curiosity on one thing. "Katerina Alambiel, is there a particular reason that you do not like being called 'Kitty'?"

"Yes."

I waited several more minutes in silence then I looked down at where she was walking by my side, "You are not going to tell me, are you, Katerina Alambiel?"

Her smile reached her eyes as she glanced up at me, "Well, not today, Kentauri."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, so we have a couple of the 'interesting incidents' featured in this chapter, a reaction that had been requested by Lady Firewing, and a combo POV. Did you like getting inside Oreius' head? Do you want more? Next chapter will cover Christmas in Cair Paravel...sort of. Click the little review button below and tell me what y'all think.