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: A sorcerer challenged by Aslan. Love and friendship alike are tested by his presence. And the Gentle Queen faces her own challenge when the sorcerer's true colors are unveiled.

A/N: If you have not read the first eight stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, and Veiled), I highly recommend you do so for the full experience. However, I have included a quick summary of the previous stories so if you want to give this one a whirl on its own, you can.

Chapter Three: Unexpected

There is no hope. That thought taunted him even as he forced himself to stride through the dark pine trees and past the increasing number of rocky outcroppings without giving away that he was well aware of the hungry eyes that followed his progress. Had followed his progress since the Narnians had ceased pursuing them. Markus pressed his lips together in a tight line as a Werewolf's snarl rose from the trees. The skinny creature who leapt in front of him was not one of the Werewolves he had used before. Brutus and Isak were both well hidden in the northern lands, gathering larger packs and thus far avoiding each other, and he had chosen not to waste any magic on summoning Brutus at least this time.

Markus once again felt for his magic, its warm glow that should have leapt at his call, but there was nothing. Only a cold, dead space where his fire had once burned. He almost cursed but he dared not when so many hungry Fell eyes watched him. It would give more away than he wanted in their greedy, clutching hands. Instead, he placed his hand on his katana. "You should have chosen more wisely."

The Werewolf gibbered as it leaned forward, sniffing the air loudly. Its mouth opened slightly to reveal crooked yellowed teeth. "Flesh."

An eerie cackle filled the air but Markus didn't flinch. He slowly looked to his right as the Hag crept out of hiding. Her robes were little more than tattered grey cloth save where dark stains of mud and blood splattered the hem and sleeves. The Hag tilted her head then clacked her beak as she pointed a gnarled, talon-tipped finger at him. "Traitor. You have betrayed Her."

Markus sneered. "And by what right do you accuse me, Hag?"

The Hag swayed slightly, waving her compatriots forward. Markus maintained his sneer as two more Hags and four Werewolves crept out of the shadows. There were yet others watching, he was certain of it, but this Hag could only count these among her forces. Her Nest and the Werewolves they had bribed with promises of fresh flesh. The leader of the Hags was not old enough or powerful enough to be a Matriarch. Nor was she of Beira's Nest. That ancient matriarch's daughters yet fought each other for dominance and the right to wield the more powerful spells. Markus' eyes narrowed in contempt as he watched the Hag snatch a staff from the youngest Hag before she turned back to him with a combative light in her large, bird-like eyes. She clacked her beak and pointed her staff at him. "Markus, you have betrayed Her! You parlayed with the Great Cat. You-"

A great bark of laughter escaped him. "Parlay? With that Cat? You are more a fool than I believed if that's how you dare to accuse your better."

The Hag screeched in anger, raising her staff threateningly. "You are not my better, Son of Adam!"

"Nor am I a Son of Adam. The Children of Adam and Eve do not take very well to magic as even someone as simple as you should know. Or did your matriarch drive you from the Nest untrained?" Markus countered smoothly, observing with great satisfaction as the Hag rattled her staff in wordless fury while the other two Hags exchanged uneasy looks. Any Hag driven out of her Nest without training was not one to be allied with, not if the other Hags wanted a chance of forming their own Nests. He cleared his throat, resting his hand with a practiced carelessness on the hilt of his katana. He would kill the Hags first. The Werewolves might be more powerful physically but the Hags' knowledge of spellcraft made them the more dangerous opponents, especially since he could not invoke a temporary binding spell. "Since there was no parlay with the Great Cat, mayhap you will explain what you were planning to do. I shall be generous and allow you to make your defense before I kill you. This time."

"You are a traitor! I saw you! I saw you speak to the Great Cat!"

"Jadis Herself spoke to the Great Cat; though I understand that she did not long live past that conversation. But we must make allowances when dealing with one even Death cannot hold or so I have heard." Markus smirked slightly then added, "Come, come, you must have a better accusation or at least better proof of my rumored perfidy."

The Hag whirled on one of the lesser Hags, screeching and clawing at her with her talons. "You! You worthless chick! Blind! Fool! Talentless egg-eater!"

Markus sidled a little closer to the arguing Hags. If he timed it right, he could remove all three heads at once and then be left with only the Werewolves. And he had hope that the Werewolves' emaciated state would compel them to take advantage of the fresh meals, which would allow him to slip away without any reports reaching the rest of the Fell that his powers had been blinded.

One of the Werewolves, the skinniest of the lot, upset his plans. The Fell Beast lunged at him. Markus whirled, unsheathing his katana and slicing through the its neck in one fluid movement. A weight slammed into his back and pain flared as another Werewolf clamped its teeth around his shoulder, tearing through skin and muscle. Markus roared as he reached over his shoulder to clamp a hand around that one's neck, yanking the Fell free. He tossed it to the ground. The Werewolf scrambled to its feet and turned to face him. It lunged. Markus stepped to the side, his katana slicing deep into its side and puncturing organs. It dropped with a whining yelp. Its fellows showed no mercy as they leapt on the dying Beast.

Turning away from the feasting Werewolves, Markus hid a frown when he saw the three Hags, their quarrel forgotten, still blocking his path. The leader clacked her beak then pointed her staff at him. "Why do the Werewolves still live?"

Markus sneered, his grasp on the katana's hilt tightening. "Perhaps I am in a merciful mood. And perhaps I am not feeling quite so merciful toward you."

The Hag's beak opened slightly and he knew that her small mind had finally connected the pieces. Her talon dripped blood from where she had scored the other Hag's face as she raised it in an accusatory gesture. "You-"

Her accusation and that of her sister Hags was cut short. Markus lowered his katana as the three headless bodies collapsed to the ground. Wiping the blade off on the Hag's tattered robes, he knew he didn't have much time before the Werewolves paid more attention to his fresh blood. If he had his magic, then he could have resolved the matter swiftly and with enough of a power display that the Fell would have continued to quell before him. Instead, he forced himself to walk away from the Werewolves and the dead.

Eyes continued to watch him and he sensed the approach of darker creatures, the Ghouls and Succubi who had ventured out of the north in search of fresh prey. Let them watch then. He would never show them fear. Instinct and habit had him reaching for the flames of his magic but coldness met his will. The Great Cat's influence still blinded his power.

High, cold laughter filled the air. "Markus, Markus of the Fell. Today you die!"

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22 Greenroof 1009

"Alambiel."

She rolled over, tugging the pillow over her head. "Too early."

The rumbling noise disturbing her sleep gained a thread of amusement and then the covers were yanked back. "Come now, Sepphora, we have much to do today."

"Like sleeping."

She felt the pillow's downy weight vanish just before a light and somewhat ticklish pressure was applied to the side of her neck. Still refusing to open her eyes, Alambiel groaned, "Oreius, go away." Then she yelped and jerked her feet up away from the fingers tickling their soles. She cracked a single eyelid open and peered at the Kentauri as she grumbled, "That's cheating."

Oreius chuckled, a smile spreading across his face. "And you are a very lazy creature, Wife."

"Yes, I am," she agreed amiably. Then she yanked the covers from his hand and pulled them over her head. "And you can either give in to the laziness or be unnaturally efficient and alone."

"Alambiel." The Kentauri tugged the coverlet back down, shaking his head with a mock scowl now decorating his angular features. "You like getting up early in the morn."

"Ah, you have misunderstood." Sitting up, Alambiel pointed at the windows, which Oreius had already uncovered. "Look outside. It's dark out there. The sun isn't up and we didn't get back until after midnight. I am a wonderful morning person after sunrise and when I've already had a full night's rest. What possible reason could I have for getting up now?"

"Coffee."

She laughed suddenly. "I thought for sure you would suggest yourself."

The Kentauri grasped her hands, pulling her up so he could wrap his arms around her. There was a gleam in his dark eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. "And I thought, my little Minx, that you knew my company was a foregone conclusion."

"Well-" That was all she managed to say before Oreius cut her off with a kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Alambiel grinned at him. "Ahem. As I was saying before you interrupted, I suppose this time I might be coaxed into getting up early."

Oreius chuckled. "I thought I might be able to change your mind."

"Don't be smug, Kentauri, or I will lock you out of the armory after I let the Raccoons and Peridan's kids inside."

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Susan kept her head bent, eyes as focused on her needlework as her ears were focused on listening to Edmund's breathing. Lucy had just woken up and was checking on Peter. Although Susan was certain that their sister-in-law had their stubborn older brother well in hand. Edmund, though…

A low groan made her lift her head as her fingers stilled. Edmund groaned again and Susan quickly exchanged her needlework for a glass of chamomile tea. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she held the dainty teacup to her brother's lips and tried not to worry about how his skin was scarcely a shade darker than the china cup. He drank a few sips and then stilled although the pinched expression didn't fade, telling her that he was still awake. Laying a slender hand on his head, Susan stroked his dark hair back off his forehead. "Edmund?"

He groaned and then blinked slowly at her. "Su?"

She smiled. "Yes, it's me. No, don't try to sit up yet."

Edmund pushed at her hand. "Peter, he's-"

"He's all right. Thalia sat with him and Lucy is checking on him now." Susan scanned his face, wondering if she should summon Tuulea and Alithia based on his rather sluggish attempts to escape her ministrations. "Lie still, Edmund. I'll summon Alithia and-"

"No. No, where's Peter? The sorcerer, he hit Peter with some sort of fire spell."

Susan set the teacup on the nightstand and then placed both hands against her brother's shoulders, pressing him back against the pillows. "Oh do be still. It won't help Peter anyway if you break your head open by trying to get out of bed before you can." At her younger brother's mutinous scowl, Susan hid a smile. Sometimes the belligerent ten year old still showed himself even though Edmund was eighteen, almost nineteen. She pressed a kiss to his hair, which was sticking up in every direction. He really did need a haircut. "Your left arm and hand are burned, Edmund, and you have a concussion. Not to mention your ribs are bruised. If I let you out of bed, you'd probably play on the balcony and finish breaking yourself."

"And we wouldn't want that so be a good boy, Eddie."

Susan shot Peter a reproving look as he walked over to her chair and lowered himself into it stiffly. "You should be resting too. Where's Thalia?"

As she rose from where she had been sitting on the edge of the bed, her big brother shot her that little boy look, his blue eyes wide and pleading, as he answered mournfully, "Lucy took her away and I was lonely. I thought I'd come and keep you and Ed company until they return. Please say I can stay, Su."

Resting her hands on her hips, Susan fought the smile that wanted to come out. A soft cough came from the door and she turned to see one of her ladies-in-waiting peeking in. "Yes?"

"Forgive me, Your Majesties, but you said to let you know when the Golden Albatross docked, Queen Susan. Ambassador Terril is preparing to disembark. Queen Lucy has also been sent word."

"Thank you, Merry." As the Dryad dipped a curtsey, Susan knew she would have to go down and greet the ambassador. Turning back to her brothers, she raised an eyebrow at the grins they smothered a moment too late. Both young men looked up at her with perfect innocence. She shook her head. "Do you promise that the two of you will stay out of mischief and you won't go near the balconies?"

Peter beamed at her. "Of course, Su. We'll be proper patients this time."

"I won't let the great lummox blunder his way into more broken bones, Su," Edmund promised with that little smirk that usually meant trouble.

Peter looked down at him with a feigned air of haughtiness. "I do not blunder, but if I ever do, I assure you that I do it magnificently."

"A magnificent blunder is worse than a regular blunder, you know that right?"

"I'll have you know that it is not. It's too magnificent to be a blunder. In fact the sheer magnificence elevates the act beyond the realms of a blunder."

"Well, I-"

"Enough, please!" Susan laughed in spite of her best efforts not to in the face of her brothers' antics. "Behave or I shall send Bast and Babur to sit on the both of you." She pointed at them, forcing a stern expression back in place. "Behave yourselves or you will both forfeit the apple pie I made yesterday."

"Apple pie!"

The twin exclamations and suddenly angelic expressions her brothers turned on her made Susan laugh again. "Yes. So behave and rest."

As she walked down the hall, Susan wondered if her brothers would manage to stay out of trouble for even five minutes. Well, she conceded it would probably take them fifteen minutes before they dared to move and another ten before they could find clean socks and boots. Not to mention actually dressing since Peter had limped in still wearing a dressing gown. No, by the time her brothers managed to array themselves in some semblance of order and dared to try to escape, Thalia at least would be where she could intervene. And where Peter didn't listen to his sisters, he would listen to his wife. Susan smiled, confident in that plan. Now, she need only greet Ambassador Terril.

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Markus raised his head. Had the Ghouls and Succubi been alone, he could have defeated them easily even without his magic. But they had driven an Ogre toward him. He had still killed the creature but at a high cost. He pressed his left hand against his ribs and nearly passed out from the pain. A taunting laugh filled the air. Turning his head, he spied the wispy outline of a Succubus. The creature leered at him, its cloudy features shifting into a form that was daringly similar to that of Medea's, Jadis' dark-haired daughter. Few Fell would dare to take on the forms of Jadis and Her children. The Succubus laughed again then hovered over him. "Foolish Markus. It's all gone, isn't it? He took it from you!"

The Succubus leaned closer, its mouth nearly brushing against his, but then it raised one pale arm, a knife in its fist. It buried its other hand in his hair and yanked his head to the side, exposing his throat. The knife came down and then stopped just as the cool tip touched his skin. The Succubus looked up and flinched. "No!"

"Be you gone, spirit! No power have you here, by Aslan, no power have you here!"

Markus' brow furrowed as the Succubus screamed, its facsimile of Medea shattering and the cloudy form spinning in on itself then vanishing as the knife dropped harmless in the dirt and rocks. "You?"

"Aye! Oberon I am and a new job Aslan has given to old Oberon." A man who looked to be well into his middle age leaned against his staff as he peered down at Markus. A slow smile split his bushy beard, which was more grey than brown, as he nodded to himself. "Yes, Oberon now see. Now see why Oberon sent by Aslan to fetch you, the stubborn one."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! For those of you who have been pining, or at least waiting eagerly, for more of Steadfast and Valiant, I promise that the next chapter is coming very soon. It will probably be posted before chapter four. In the meantime, please leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.