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.
Additional Chapter Note: Spoilers for events in Christmas in the Cair ahead.
Chapter Thirty-One: After Christmas Comes Truth
28 Yule 1006
Katerina frowned down at the gloves laying on her dressing table. She still hadn't given them back to Oreius…probably because she had been avoiding him for the past two and a half days (not that she would ever admit it to anyone) since the Christmas Day ball. She ruthlessly forced her thoughts away from the k...from the reason for her avoidance of the Kentauri. "Chicken. Avoiding him will only give him the wrong idea." It was just a mistletoe kiss after all. Nothing more. Pep talk given, she grabbed the gloves and a thick report then walked to Orieus' quarters.
The Kentauri was in his study, going over paperwork (as per usual), but he looked up immediately when she rapped her knuckles against the doorframe. "Alambiel."
She set the report on his desk, "As agreed, one full report." Then she dropped his gloves on top of the report, "And, your gloves, which you may count yourself lucky that they weren't burned with the rest of my clothes when we got back."
Oreius raised an eyebrow, "The Queen Susan was sincere?"
Katerina rolled her eyes, "Yes, she meant it and so did Tuulea."
She could tell the Kentauri was trying not to smile as he asked, "Why?"
"Because my clothes were "absolutely filthy and no longer fit for wearing." And, they did have a point considering how much blood and whatever else was on them after being in the Hag's nest. But, they really didn't have to burn my boots too." She rolled her eyes, "All that survived the cleansing was your gloves and my cloak...which was previously yours. Oh, wait that reminds me, I owe you this." She smacked him in the arm, "You nearly got me eaten by a Werewolf!"
Oreius raised both eyebrows, "I did no such thing. I kept you from being eaten by a Werewolf…several Werewolves, actually. Why would you say otherwise?"
Katerina opened her mouth to tell him about Frome's assumption that she had been his mate, but the memory of the mistletoe kiss flashed to the fore of her thoughts. Okay, that would be a bit more awkward than she wanted to risk at that particular moment. However... She managed to smoothly change what she was going to say before Oreius realized that was what she had done (thank Aslan). She grinned as she answered, "Read the report."
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29 Yule 1006
Susan exchanged looks with each of her siblings as they gathered in the smaller conference room. They would finally be able to question Kat as to the whole truth of her heritage...and why she kept it from them. Kat came in accompanied by Stonebrook, Tuulea, Ardon, Alithia, and Oreius. Peter spoke first, "Thank you for meeting with us today. Kat..."
As Peter trailed off, Edmund leaned forward, "What he's trying to ask is why do you have to be so bloody complicated?"
Kat flashed them a grin, "I can hardly pick my parents."
Lucy giggled and even Susan felt herself smiling at Kat's jest. However, they couldn't afford to be sidetracked at the moment. She cleared her throat, "True, but you could have told us who your parents were before this past week. You knew about your heritage for two and a half years, but instead of letting us know, you kept it from us. What's more, you intentionally misled us when we enquired as to the results of your search for your family."
Peter nodded in agreement, "Not to mention that fact that you informed five of the most trusted members of our court and swore them to secrecy."
Kat bowed her head slightly, "Although I can argue that I never actually misled you, I must also concede that it can also be argued that by allowing you to draw your own conclusions on the little information I gave you, I did mislead you. But, please, don't be angry with them. First, the oath brought no harm to you or Narnia. Second, Stonebrook, Tuulea, and Oreius already knew, so all I did was acknowledge that I also remembered my own heritage."
Susan looked at the others, but they all seemed content to allow Kat to speak for now. Edmund was looking at Kat intently and his voice was low as he asked the question Susan knew all of them had been wondering since they learned of the truth. "Why did you keep this from us, Kat? Do you not trust us?"
"I did not keep this information from you out of a lack of trust, but out of a desire to make sure I didn't cause true trouble." She raised her hand when Edmund and Peter both opened their mouths to protest, "Let me finish. Two and a half years ago how much trouble and unrest would it have caused if it were common knowledge that the reckless maverick of a knight was not only a royal but the only direct descendent of the last King of Narnia before the Long Winter still alive? Especially with that peace summit scheduled for the next summer?"
Edmund quietly muttered, "Not that we didn't have trouble anyway."
"It would have been worse if everyone knew about my heritage and were questioning my motives and my loyalties."
Susan hated to admit it, but Kat was right. Those few who still grumbled about Kat's current level of authority would have made things impossible as they went into a tizzy of accusations and suggestions of conspiracy on Kat's part. "When were you planning to tell us?"
Kat smiled ruefully, "Honestly? I had no plans to tell you just yet. I would have been perfectly happy to wait a decade…or two. However, it seems this was the right time to cease concealing the full truth."
Edmund suddenly groaned, "This is going to be a political and legal nightmare, even worse than the last time." He gave Stonebrook a weary look, "I don't suppose you know which law books deal with handling the fallout of the return of the last heir of the previous dynasty, do you?"
Stonebrook chuckled, "I am afraid there is nothing that addresses this particular situation, Just King."
Kat interjected before Edmund could say anything else, "Which is why I wrote an edict with Stonebrook's aid to address this situation, and it was sealed and witnessed by those you see before you. That would be the other reason I informed these five of the truth and then swore them to secrecy."
Susan was slightly astonished, but then again she didn't know why she was since Kat was far more aware of legalities and other diplomatic and political matters than she ever admitted...or liked to act. And, with Stonebrook helping... Peter seemed to have the same thought as he straightened slightly, "We would see this edict."
Katerina bowed her head, "Of course, High King. Stonebrook, if you would?"
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Okay, only three chapters left. Next chapter will be the edict among other things. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.