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: When disaster strikes, sometimes even the most conventional warrior must resort to unorthodox measures.

A/N: This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. Enjoy!

Unorthodox Measures

Part Five

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The robbers' town was no more. One of the cowards had knocked over a brazier when he fled my blade and the ramshackle collection of tents and huts caught fire before any could react. The filth scattered like vermin, though some still attempted to delay me. I did not hunt down those who fled west, if I had a troop at my command things would have turned out differently, but I did not and my only concern was preventing word reaching those caves before I could.

Galloping north, I knew that I could not let the guards have a chance to warn any inside the caves with Alambiel. There were seven men lounging around a brazier outside the cave entrance. Due to the terrain, they had not seen the flames from the town and the night was too dark for them to detect the smoke. Charging out of the shadows, I watched fear paralyze two but the others leapt (or staggered) to their feet and ran at me with their weapons drawn.

Only two of the men had spears, but they were all just skilled enough to prove somewhat challenging. One of the mercenary thieves ran up behind me, intent upon hamstringing me. Lunging forward, I grabbed a spear and wheeled around, pulling the spearman with me. His spear skewered the other mercenary then I cut him down as he swiped at my horse ribs with a short sword. It did not take much longer to rid myself of all but one of the two men who had not originally attacked. Though his comrade had rallied enough to attempt and fail at attacking me, this man merely shrank back as I turned to him. His nervous gaze darted to my bloodied blades then he spun and ran into the caves.

I chased him. Lion willing, he would lead me straight to Alambiel. But, I did not relax my guard for I knew there were yet five other fiends within the caves system. He had just reached the first man when I lengthened my stride and caught up to them. The runner let out a shout that echoed through the cave and the tunnels, "Demon! A demon has come!"

I could hear answering shouts and the echoes of tramping feet even as I fought with the two men. Aslan, don't let them go after Alambiel. Keep her safe between Thy paws. Casting up my hurried prayers, I could only focus on fighting with my opponents. Only Aslan would be able to keep Alambiel safe in the interim and I could only hope that these dishonorable fiends would prefer coming after me and would not make any stops to do something to their prisoner.

I pressed forward, pushing the fight deeper into the cave, as three more of the mercenary guards joined in the fracas. I could tell by their fighting style that these men were veterans with proper military training. A challenge, no doubt, but I would not fail, not when I was so close to finding Alambiel. I could not fail her again. I baited the men into making mistakes, forcing them to make themselves more vulnerable even though I was somewhat disadvantaged by the closeness of the tunnel we fought in, until I had finished off the last one.

There was one more guard left. But I stood alone in the midst of the aftermath of the fight. A feminine cry of pain echoed in the distance and dread filled me. If the guard had instructions to do something permanent… Oh Aslan, let Alambiel be safe.

Galloping through the tunnels, I strained to hear another sound, anything, but there was only silence besides the ringing of my horseshoes against the stony floor. I ducked to avoid clipping a stalactite. Using a torch I had snatched from a mounted sconce, I searched for some sign to indicate which of the tunnels branching off from the one I was in might lead me to Alambiel.

I slowed to a stop and stood still, listening. There. I could hear a man's crude cursing coming from the tunnel that branched off from the one I was in just ahead and to the left. I placed my hooves carefully, attempting to eliminate the sound of my iron horseshoes as much as possible, as I entered the side tunnel. The ceiling was lower, uncomfortably so since I was forced to stoop slightly in order to avoid knocking my head against it. I left the torch in one of the empty wall sconces, not wanting the man to notice the increase in light, then rounded the slight curve just as the man launched into a series of vile epithets. Apparently, Alambiel had bitten him.

I recognized the sound of flesh striking flesh and fury coursed through me as I realized he had hit her. I needed to draw him out, eliminate his ability to use Alambiel as a hostage or to cause her further injury. I slammed a hoof against the stone floor. Even before the echo had died, the remaining guard emerged and threw himself at me, a wicked curved dagger in hand. I knocked his outstretched hand to the side and grabbed his head, twisting hard. A loud crack echoed softly through the tunnel and the man dropped without a sound to the ground. Stepping over his lifeless body, I carefully made my way to the opening the man had emerged from, being cautious of any other guards in case the pretender emissary had given me inaccurate information regarding their number.

Alambiel. My breath caught in my throat as I took in how she dangled from shackles that had been attached to the ceiling with a shortened chain so her feet barely brushed the floor. Her hair was no longer neatly braided and gathered into a bun; instead, long strands of hair framed her face while the bun had been unraveled into a braid as thick as my wrist until about a third of the way down where the braid had fully unraveled. Blood stained her left shoulder and side while a trickle of blood dripped from the side of her mouth and bruises decorated her face. "Alambiel."

I rushed to her, intending to raise her up so her full weight no longer fell on her wrists and shoulders, but as soon as my fingers brushed against her, she started kicking. I shifted my hands to carefully cup Alambiel's face, being mindful of her bruises, as I crooned, "No, no, no, don't fight, Alambiel, chéadsearc. Sweetheart, it is I, Oreius. You're safe now, I have you, you are safe."

Her frantic movements stilled and she opened one eye to look at me (the other was swollen shut). I could see fear and weariness in her gaze, but I also saw relief. "Oreius?" Her whisper sank into my very being, I was so relieved to hear her voice again.

I nodded as I stepped closer, gently wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her up, "Yes, sweet, I'm here. I'm here." I kept murmuring to her, trying to reassure her that she was safe again, that there would be no more abuse coming to her as I examined the shackles. They were old and rusted.

Alambiel's voice sounded a little stronger when she spoke up as I carefully lowered her so I could grasp the right shackle with both hands, "Did you get the key?" I snapped the shackle at the joint and Alambiel mused, "Right, I forgot I was talking to the Centaur who thinks keys and lock picks are silly."

I tried to indulge her attempt at humor by murmuring, "They are silly when completely unnecessary." But, in truth, I was too horrified by the raw and bleeding state of her wrist. Oh Lion, if only I had been able to reach her sooner…if only I had been able to prevent her from being taken in the first place. I could barely meet her eyes for the guilt. "Put your arm around my neck, Alambiel. I don't want you to fall when I break the other shackle."

She wrapped her arm around my neck and I snapped the shackle. She exhaled slowly, the faintest whimper escaping, as the blood rushed back to her wounded arm. Her left wrist was in no better shape than her right. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her against my chest for several long moments before I asked, "Are you able to walk?"

She nodded against my chest and I set her on her feet, but I'd barely let go when she tried to take a step and crumpled to the ground, hissing as she clamped her hands around her ankle. "No, I twisted it and it's not strong enough to take my weight."

I lowered myself beside her, pulling her into my arms (taking care not to press her wounded shoulder against me) as I pressed my lips against her hair. "Forgive me, Alambiel, forgive me for failing you. I did not keep my promise and you have suffered for it. I came for you as fast as I could, I swear it, but forgive me for not reaching you soon enough."

She shook her head as she eased back and lightly touched her fingers to my jaw. "No. You came, that's what's important. You didn't fail. We were in the middle of a battle and you had to go help Edmund and Peter. I'm just a little banged up, Oreius."

"Alambiel, your shoulder-"

"The blackguard had a cruel streak and wanted to send a message so he stabbed me with my boot knife. It's very bloody but not actually that deep. It was just aggravated by a couple of beatings." She inhaled sharply and I abruptly loosened my hold on her. "I think I'll save the rest for the report. But you can just summon whichever healer accompanied you and I'll let them wrap my ankle before we leave."

"I didn't bring a healer. I have your healing kit. Let me carry you out of here and then you can tell me what I need to do to tend your wounds."

Alambiel was silent for a long moment but then she tilted her head back, her eyes searching mine as she whispered, "Why didn't you include a healer in your troop? Oreius? You did bring a troop with you, yes? Peter knows you are here?"

"I am certain that by now the High King and the Just King are both well aware of my absence."

The dismay that entered her face was unexpected, but then again I should not have been surprised, not when I knew my Alambiel's heart was so much more tender than others might suspect. She shook her head, "No, no, Oreius, tell me you didn't go rogue. You know the penalties. You could lose your position, be stripped of your chivalric title, or even sentenced to the dungeons for months. If you had to go rogue…oh, you should not have come after me like this."

I pushed her head back to my shoulder and held her more securely. I kissed her hair. "No, I had to come find you. I have never been one to standby idly when someone was endangered and I could do something to help. It would have taken Aslan Himself ordering me in no uncertain terms to wait before I would leave you in enemy hands, my Alambiel. You are the most important person in my life and I would never place my position above your life and your well-being. No matter what the Kings decide, no matter what penalty, a most deserved one considering my actions, they hand down, I will never blame you and I do not regret my decision to come after you." I kissed her hair again then smoothed the loose strands around her face back, "Now, let me carry you out of this dismal place then you can tell me what I must do to tend to your wounds."

Carrying her out, I was pleased that dawn was lighting the area, but I would not stop when we were still surrounded by death and destruction. There was a chance that the robber baron (who I believed was absent from both that mockery of a town and the caves) would send people back now that the smoke could be seen against the lightening horizon. I did not stop until we were well south of the trail that had led me to the robbers' town. I eased Alambiel to sit with her back against a rock then pulled out her healing kit, which she promptly took away from me.

I noted with more than a little concern that Alambiel was no longer even attempting to move her left arm and the bloodstain seemed larger than before. Taking one of the two water flasks I had brought, I rummaged through the pack I had hastily thrown together until I could find a handkerchief. Soaking the handkerchief, I knelt in front of Alambiel and carefully wiped away the dirt and blood on her face, being mindful not to press too hard on her bruises. She gave me a weary smile and I touched my forehead to hers. "I love you, Alambiel."

"Is breá liom tú ró." (I love you too.)

I kissed her temple then took the healing supplies she had pulled out from her. Following Alambiel's instructions, I wrapped a bandage over her wounded shoulder, which covered most of the blood staining her clothing, then cut off her boot to reveal her discolored and swollen ankle. I looked up at her protest and stated calmly, "Alambiel, you've still three pairs of boots in your wardrobe, do you not?" She gave me a very reluctant nod. "Good then you've no reason to complain about my cutting off this boot so I might wrap your ankle before the swelling worsens."

"It's the principle of the matter."

I just shook my head as I wrapped her ankle. I was glad she was showing enough spirit as to grumble about her boots. Nevertheless, I knew she needed the attention of the healers. But, first… I drew her braid over her shoulder and re-braided the unraveled section, knowing she would feel more comfortable that way. She touched my hand and smiled when I looked at her. "Thank you, Oreius."

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I pulled out the blanket I had brought with me and wrapped it around her slender frame before I picked her up. I kissed her hair, her forehead, and then placed a very tender kiss on her lips. "It is time to go home, my Alambiel, and no matter what happens when we return, I want you to know that I would do it again, whatever it took and whatever it cost, I would do it again to bring you back safe."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one. Next chapter will be the epilogue.

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