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: 21 Yule 1006 will see the first lunar eclipse to occur on the Winter Solstice in four hundred years. Enemies of Narnia rejoice! For the time of the Golden Age will come to an end with the spilling of royal blood and Jadis will be revived!

A/N: If you have not read the first three stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakening, Shadowed, and Revealed), I highly recommend you do so. However, if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.

Chapter Nine: Alarm Raised

"Your majesties, have you-" Oreius paused as he noticed King Edmund rummaging frantically through his packs while the High King was nowhere to be seen. "King Edmund?"

The dark colt looked up, "Oreius?"

He raised an eyebrow at the clothing, parchments, and a small travel-sized writing set that were strewn across the bed. "Is aught the matter?"

King Edmund hesitated and rubbed the back of his neck, but King Peter returned just as Oreius was about to press the colt for an answer. King Edmund scowled at his brother, "Where've you been? We're supposed to meet with King Lune and Lord Edur of Zelaia in five minutes to sign the final copies of the treaty. What's that in your hand?"

Oreius remained silent as the High King briskly shoved the wooden box into his own travel packs and quickly replied, "Just a last minute gift I needed to get. Why are the contents of your travel packs all over your bed?"

King Edmund darted a questioning look at Oreius then turned back to his brother as he started shoving things back into his pack, "I thought you said you already had all your gifts for the girls. And, they're all over the bed because Kat sent a note saying that I might want to check my packs carefully before leaving Anvard." Oreius hid a smirk at how Katerina Alambiel was exacting her revenge on King Edmund by playing head games with him as the colt scowled at the crumpled remains of the note.

King Peter chuckled, "She got you good, Ed. And, this gift isn't for the girls. Now come on, we can't be late for the meeting. General Oreius, would you accompany us?"

Oreius inclined his head in silent acquiescence, following as King Edmund quickly caught up with his brother, "Then who's it for? Peter, who is it for if not the girls? Kat?"

The High King chuckled, "No, it's not for Kat. It's for someone else."

Something in King Peter's voice made Oreius curious. Was he perhaps smitten with one of the fillies he's met in the past few months? Several countries had attempted to coax the High King into entering a marriage with one of their princesses, but to Oreius' knowledge and the times he had witnessed the interaction between the High King and those ladies, none had caught King Peter's eyes. They reached the council room before King Edmund could question his brother further. Oreius put aside both the mild curiosity over King Peter's words and the still lingering question that had once again prevented him from sleeping. Lord Edur was a slender man with a shock of bright red hair standing straight up on his head, but he was very quiet as he bowed twice to both Kings before simply asking, "We are prepared?"

Oreius watched as the three kings and the high-ranking lord from Zelaia formally signed the newest treaty between Narnia and Zelaia as witnessed by Archenland. It would have to be revisited in within the next two years and Oreius knew one of the clauses dictated that either the Four or some of their highest-ranking representatives would have to go to Zelaia in a show of willingness to cooperate fully. Lord Edur bowed to each of the kings and then left the room. He hadn't been gone a full minute when Prince Corin bounced into the room. "Father! Father! Lord Peridan says Thane and Shane miss me! Can we go play with them?"

King Lune immediately grinned as he scooped his son into his arms for a bear hug, "Slow down, lad! When do you want to go see Thane and Shane? I do not think the Four would want us to merely appear unannounced and uninvited."

Oreius barely resisted the urge to sigh as he could already envision the sheer pandemonium that he was certain would follow in the wake of having all three young foals in the same place at once, no matter how much forewarning they had. Prince Corin frowned in thought then he crowed, "As soonest as possible! King Peter! King Edmund! When will it be as soonest as possible? After Christmas?"

Oreius watched his two Kings exchange looks before the High King smiled, "I'm afraid we cannot set a specific date for your visit, Corin, without first consulting with Queen Susan. She'll know the perfect dates for you to visit, knowing Susan it will probably be in the spring or summer."

King Lune nodded, but Prince Corin looked disgruntled. However, the young colt never had the chance to protest as the air was shattered by three hoarse, rasping screams sounding in quick succession. Kree-ee-ar! Kree-ee-ar! Kree-ee-ar! They all whipped around to see a large Red-Tailed Hawk swoop in through the window that had been opened to allow the smoke from the Zelaian lord's pipe to clear the room. Oreius recognized the Hawk as Skeat who had been stationed at the border outpost. Skeat flapped his wings once as he hopped across the meeting table, speaking in clipped, harsh tones, "General! Your Majesties! The outpost has been attacked by the Fell!"

The Narnians immediately launched into action. King Peter bowed his head to King Lune, "I'm afraid we shall have to cut our visit short, your majesty. But, you have our thanks for being such a gracious host."

King Lune set his son down then yanked both King Peter and King Edmund into a tight bear hug before he asked in utter seriousness, "Will you need aid with the defense of your outpost? I can send two battalions of my finest troops with you."

Oreius looked at Skeat, "Is the attack ongoing?"

The Hawk flapped his wings in agitation at his own report, "No, General! Two Gryphons approached and the Fell broke off their attack."

Oreius nodded, "Your majesties, we will be able to reach the outpost no later than this evening if we leave within the hour and we can travel faster with our current number than if we await more troops."

The brothers exchanged looks then nodded. King Edmund bowed slightly to King Lune, "We thank you for the generous offer, but as our General has pointed out we will be faster with our own numbers and it seems this is a case for speed rather than greater numbers. We shall be leaving within the hour."

King Lune laid a large hand on Prince Corin's small shoulder, holding the young colt still, as he bowed, "Aslan's protection upon thee, my friends, and thy people."

The Kings bowed and replied in unison, "And upon thee and thine, our friend." Oreius raised his arm and Skeat immediately moved to perch on his forearm, allowing him to carry the Hawk as he continued reporting as many details as possible. Oreius did not like the suspicion he had that the Werewolves who attacked the outpost were the same ones that had been reported to flee past Cauldron Pool, but he couldn't shake it.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, little bit of a filler chapter, but more action and fighting in the next chapter, which should be longer as well. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.