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 Eight: Of the Dame and the Sorcerer

"Dame Sepphora?"

Alambiel stood still, ignoring everything as she focused on the lake and its surroundings. It was familiar to her even though she was certain that she'd never been here before today. It was only mid-afternoon. How long would she have to wait?

"Dame Sepphora?"

"My Lady?"

She barely kept from jumping as she looked over her shoulder. Ptah and Lieutenant Pomeroy stood a respectful distance back although the Leopard was a few paces closer than the bull Elk. "Make camp. We're staying here."

The lieutenant snorted and pawed at the rocky soil of the lakeshore. "For how long?"

"Until it's time to leave."

Alambiel had already returned her attention to the lake, to this place where she prayed the only bright spot in the dream that haunted her nights would indeed occur, when the lieutenant inquired, "We will not leave in the morn?"

"No." She searched the lake's surface, wishing there was some clue as to who or what she was waiting for now. "No, this is where we will wait. Ptah, take Sootpaw and scout the woods. Make sure to loop around the lake. I'd prefer to avoid any surprise visits while we're in the March."

As the Leopard and Elk moved off to carry out their tasks, Alambiel remained on the lakeshore. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as she recalled the smoke and fire and blood that had chased her to a lake in the Western March. The dream continued to haunt her and she could only pray that it would cease once she found who or what was meant to help Narnia survive.

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17 Sunbend 1009

Susan couldn't help smiling as she caught a glimpse of Peter and Thalia in the gardens near Cair Paravel's north tower. Her brother gazed down at his wife with a look of utter adoration then he picked her up and whirled around in a circle.

"I guess he didn't give her harpy-stilts this year either."

She turned to see Edmund watching their brother and sister-in-law. "Harpy-stilts?"

Her younger brother snickered, dark eyes glinting with mischief as he joined her at the railing. "Ask Peter about it at supper tonight. He can explain everything."

Susan's lips parted slightly before she reached out to brush at his tunic. "You look as though you've been wrestling with your Wolves again."

Edmund grinned. "Actually Lucy was playing with my Wolves and they ran into me so you see I'm the victim in all this."

"Mmhmm," she plucked some twigs out of his black hair then frowned as she pulled one lock straight up, "you need a haircut, Ed. This week not sometime next month, understand? I'll talk to your valet about it."

He ducked out of reach immediately, running his hands through his hair, making it stick out at odd angles. Susan almost protested but it was always easier to coax Edmund into cooperating if he didn't feel too pushed. She turned back to where Peter was now dancing Thalia up the path, both of them laughing. "She's been very good for him, don't you think?"

"Yes, perfect for turning him into a ninny." Edmund stepped up beside her, still looking faintly amused as he added, "And I really should thank her for providing me with continuously fresh material with which to blackmail Peter."

"Edmund."

His eyes immediately grew round as he folded his hands over his breast and peered at her with the most innocent of expressions. "Yes, sister dearest?"

Susan bit her cheek to keep from smiling as she shook her finger at him. "Don't you embarrass them like you did when you mentioned puppies last year."

"That wasn't me. That was Remus." Edmund shook his head, scowling faintly. "He doesn't think about what he says before he says it and sometimes not even after he says it."

They both looked back to where Peter and Thalia were still dancing but now they looked into each other's eyes as Peter held her close. The wind shifted and Susan's smile was accompanied by the tiniest of sighs as she caught enough of the words to realize Peter was serenading his bride. "Do you ever wish you had that?"

"I'm not quite nineteen. No."

She swatted him on the arm. "No, silly. I mean that sort of love. Don't you want it, Edmund?"

He looked down at the couple than shrugged. "I guess. One day but not today or tomorrow or anytime this year, thank you. I'm busy. Maybe in five or six years, I might try to meet a girl. Or maybe I'll just let her fall into my life."

Susan laughed. "I suppose only Peter and Lucy will have relatively simple romances."

"Lucy?"

"You haven't noticed?" She turned and walked back inside. A hint of giggle escaped when she heard Edmund hurrying after her.

"Noticed what?" her brother demanded.

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20 Sunbend 1009

It wasn't until dusk that Markus was able to tear himself away from the book on Aslan. He did not know who the author was but there were subtle clues that made him believe that Oberon was at least involved in the recording of the speaker's words. The book and the one containing every lesson Aslan had taught to the Narnians at the Stone Table had kept him awake and asking questions of Oberon each day of the past week. His very being hungered and thirsted to know more, to learn more of Aslan and His ways. He went to bed with questions and rose with them on his lips. He had half-expected Oberon to grow weary of his at times embarrassingly simplistic questions but that crazy old man never seemed to lose his delight in and enthusiasm for teaching Markus more.

With great reluctance, Markus put away the book on Aslan and set aside the smaller book now three-quarters full of his own questions and discoveries. He knew the week was up. Now it was time to go to his teacher and learn what Aslan would have him do next. It was wondrous to him that after spending days contemplating how soon he would be able to leave the elder man, he was now regretting that he could not spend more time with him. Learning at the feet of this wise one, this servant of Aslan, had been a privilege and a pleasure. Under Oberon's tutelage, he had begun to remember what it felt like when his father had trained him to use his innate magic. Only this was even greater for Oberon taught him of his Liege and King.

Oberon was outside, gazing up at the darkening sky as he puffed on his pipe. He did not appear to notice Markus' approach at first then he exhaled slowly, blowing out three rings of smoke. "Time it is, my son. Time it is for called Aslan has and go you must."

Markus stepped closer to him, eager now to hear the Lion's will, eager to serve his new and best Master. "Where does He want me? What does He want me to do?"

"Narnia. To Narnia go you must so says Aslan."

He stood still and silent for several long moments. "The Narnians will not accept me. How can I carry out the task Aslan gives if they will likely execute me at the border for being a fell sorcerer?"

"Provide the way Aslan will." Oberon chuckled. "Perhaps singed better?"

"I do not understand, teacher." Markus watched him closely in the faint light of the stars. There was no moon tonight but that did not stop him from noticing Oberon's amusement. Crazy old man.

"The hunter surrender must to his once prey."

"I am willing to surrender to the Four but how will I live long enough to reach them?"

"Save you Lew's Daughter will."

Markus stiffened. "Lew's Daughter?" He wasn't sure if she would not be even faster to kill him than other soldiers. Not only because of how he had hunted her last year, though he did not think she knew he was involved with Mordad, but because she had seen him on the battlefield. She knew what he was.

"No longer."

When Markus' eyes flew to Oberon's, his teacher smiled kindly. "No longer Markus past. Markus now to Aslan belong. Lew's Daughter Aslan brought for Markus."

He nodded slowly, still struggling with the acceptance that he was no longer Markus of the Fell, the sorcerer who had so diligently hunted Aslan's chosen. Now he too numbered among the Great Lion's children. "Am I to surrender to Lew's Daughter?"

"To the lake go you." Then Oberon pulled him into a surprisingly strong embrace and slapped an open palm against his back once. "Blessings of Aslan now on you, my son."

Markus returned the embrace then stepped back and bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Oberon, faithful servant of Aslan, for teaching me these past weeks. I would not be who I am now if not for your persistence." He turned back to the house then paused, looking back at the crazy old man who had saved his life in two very different ways. "I will leave tonight. Aslan willing, we will meet again."

"This life or next. This life or next. Go you now."

Collecting his katana and pack, Markus strode back into the main room and stopped short. Oberon nodded once as he shuffled forward and added the two books Markus had been studying to the pack. The crazy old man patted the pack after he tied the flap back down. They exchanged no words, having said all that could be said, but Markus was certain that his teacher knew how much the gift meant to him.

He strode out into the night, taking a shortcut to the large lake. Instinct and habit made him choose a more cautious route, not wishing to run into the soldiers standing watch before he could reach the Princess Royal. Although it was odd that she was out on a patrol. But even odder was the fact that she had brought the patrol here. Of course, Oberon had said that Aslan had led her here.

Stopping in the shadows, Markus watched the few guards moving about the camp. Most of the fires had died down. How would he find her without being attacked first? It would have been easy enough with his magic to disguise his scent and even make it so the guards' attention passed over him but that was no longer an option. A splash pulled his gaze to the lake. Another smaller splash followed. Markus moved silently through the trees until he reached a sheltered part of the lake. A Nymph was playing the water, splashing her feet in it as she sat on a large rock and combed out her damp hair. Then she turned slightly, her profile recognizable even in starlight, as she scanned the woods.

Her voice was authoritative and held no hesitation as she called out, "Show yourself."

Markus hesitated then stepped forward, careful to hold his sheathed katana out from his side, hilt facing the Nymph. He caught a glimpse of metal glinting in the starlight as she rose to her feet, seemingly unperturbed to be found in her shift. Before she could speak or call out to the guards, Markus extended the katana toward her and then knelt. "I've come to surrender to your custody, Lew's Daughter."

She looked from him to the katana then back to him. "Well, that's a surprise."

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"We should kill him. He's a sorcerer."

Alambiel stared at the katana resting on the cot in front of her as she tapped her chin. She flicked her gaze to meet the Satyr's furious one. "He has surrendered into my custody. We're not going to execute him without a trial. And he needs to be tried before the Four, so we're still not going to kill him, Merus. Stop suggesting it." She turned to the others. "Break camp. We return to Narnia and the sorcerer is coming with us so do not harm him unless he attempts to escape or harm someone. And do not discuss his nature amongst yourselves. His fate is for the Kings and Queens to decide. We don't need the hassle of fending off any vigilante attempts at biased justice. Lieutenant Pomeroy, we'll march double time for an hour every two hours."

"Yes, Dame Sepphora." The Elk turned and bellowed orders to the camp. Merus shook his head in disgust then stomped out of the tent.

"I took the patrol out of Narnia and brought home the sorcerer who tried to kill the Kings during that battle in Greenroof. Because he surrendered." She sighed, shaking her head slowly. "Oh yes, that's going to go over so well with the Kentauri." Gathering the katana and her saddlebags, Alambiel left the tent and beat a straight path to where Pepin was grazing. The horse bumped her arm then snorted as he nibbled her sleeve. "Patience, patience. Finish packing first and then I'll give you some apple slices."

The gelding whickered and nudged her arm harder. She laughed in spite of her worries and quickly attached the saddlebags then slid the katana into the sword harness that usually cradled Chrysaor. Then she slipped Pepin some apple slices.

"The General will not approve of your decision."

"Think so?" She rubbed the gelding's velvet nose and whispered to him in Irish.

"You are taking a risk."

Alambiel sighed then looked down at Ptah as the Leopard pressed his bulk against her left leg. "It is an acceptable one. Besides if I didn't escort Markus, he wouldn't last long enough to reach Cair Paravel."

"We could send a messenger."

She shook her head as she re-checked the girth and the stirrups. "Not enough time. We need to get back to Cair Paravel as soon as we can possibly manage."

"Why?"

Alambiel swung herself up into the saddle, gathering the reins as she looked down at the Leopard who still watched her. "I don't know. I just know we cannot tarry and it would be best if we kept Markus' nature and his past deeds to ourselves until we deliver him to Cair Paravel."

She nudged Pepin with her heels and they trotted over to where Markus was sitting atop her spare riding horse. The mare was young but she minded Pepin's lead quite well, not even putting up a fuss when Alambiel tied her lead rope to Pepin's saddle. Observing the patrol, she knew that the bigger risk would be in the return trip after all. She hated when that happened. "Move out!"

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Two days passed before Markus dared to urge the mare to sidle up beside Lew's Daughter. He glanced down at her, noting that today she was not wearing gloves and the rings on her left hand were new to him. "I see your Centaur still managed to capture your heart."

She looked at him, lips twitching as she arched an eyebrow. "Really? You actually think I'm going to discuss my husband with you? Not while the sun's still yellow."

"I was merely looking for conversation."

"Well, I do appreciate the change of pace from 'you will die for this, witch' and 'abominations should stick together.'"

"You are a strange woman."

Now she smiled, nodding. "Yes. Yes, I am. And you're one of the strangest prisoners I've met." She twisted slightly in the saddle to face him. Now the cunning intelligence that she hid behind humor and feigned diplomatic frailty shone in her eyes, adding a spark to them. "You're a sorcerer. Why haven't you used your magic? Is it tied to the battle?"

"How did you-"

"Guess? Rather easily because I know this story. Or rather I know of a similar story involving Aslan appearing in a blinding flash of light although it was not in this world. And, let's just say I have a feeling about you, Markus."

He sat uneasily on the horse, almost unaware of the way the mare danced and shifted beneath him as she picked up on his agitation. Lew's Daughter saw more than he had suspected or wanted. Though he belonged to Aslan, it still made him ill at ease to confess such a dangerous secret. But he also could not help feeling that Aslan would want him to be honest with the woman He had chosen to escort him to Cair Paravel. Taking a steadying breath, he leaned toward her. "I have been blinded since the battle."

A Leopard's low warning growl made him straighten but he still saw the quiet contemplation in Alambiel's eyes. Lew's Daughter was not quite as rash as her father or great-aunt. She would listen to him and then measure the worth of his words by his actions, he was certain of it. Then one of the scouts rushed back to them. "Dame Sepphora! Giants!"

"Where?"

The Alsatian was panting hard, making it difficult for Markus to make out his words. "A league south of here, directly in our path. There are thirteen of them."

Markus watched in fascination as a new light kindled in those blue eyes adding a fierce determination to them. He had only witnessed these changes from afar before. How different it was to witness it with his eyes alone and not through a spying spell. The spying spell had missed the more minute details such as the way Lew's Daughter's eyes flicked up to the heavens in silent prayer before she leveled a determined look at her subordinates. "We'll have to go around and we'll need to travel through the night. Thirteen Giants are too many for a patrol our size. We'll go to the outpost at the border above the Lantern Waste and alert them to the danger. They've enough soldiers to address the threat without monumental losses."

"That will take us three days out of our path, Dame Sepphora," the bull Elk stated gravely.

"I know. Pray we don't run into any more delays."

Markus remained silent but prayed the same thing.

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25 Sunbend 1009

Alambiel glanced at the sorcerer. The last two days he had been quiet, well behaved, and not the least bit psychopathic. "What is wrong with you?"

He looked at her and raised a single eyebrow. "What do you mean, Lew's Daughter?"

"You don't act like the three witches I've met so far. Two sorcerers and a sorceress who were all insane to some degree. You act like you might have a heart that isn't a shriveled pea."

"Ah yes, the unusual comparisons. I'd almost forgotten."

She frowned at him. "You're going to tell me something I'm going to have to hit you for, aren't you?"

"I'd prefer not to be hit."

Alambiel leaned down to pat Pepin's neck in order to hide her amusement. "I could like you."

Markus sighed. "I rather doubt your husband would like that and as I said I'd prefer not to be hit."

"Oh I doubt Oreius would hit you."

That caught his attention and she held back a smirk as he looked at her questioningly. "Oh?"

She nodded. "He'd be far more likely to snap your neck."

"Is that note of cheerful contemplation truly necessary or appropriate?"

"Yes. No but it doesn't bother me." Alambiel grinned at the disgruntled look Markus cast her way. It was almost as much fun poking at him as poking at Oreius and the boys. Almost. "You know, Markus, I'm half-tempted to-"

"Look out!"

The warning cry came a half a second too late. The dark, knotted pine swung its branch into her, connecting painfully with her ribs and knocking her clean off Pepin's back. Landing hard on her back, Alambiel gasped for breath before rolling to the side just as another branch slammed against the ground. She pressed a hand against her ribs for a moment and then leapt to her feet. The forest had closed in, the narrow path they'd been using seemingly disappeared beneath the thick roots and undergrowth, while the trees attacked. "I knew this was too easy."

She ducked as another branch whipped wildly overhead, slamming one of the Satyrs off his feet and snatching at his horns and kopesh. Alambiel leapt up, narrowly avoiding getting knocked over as she raced for where Pepin and the mare still carrying Markus bucked and reared as tree limbs sought to encase them. The sorcerer's dark gaze fell on her and he held out his bound hands. "My sword!"

Protocol demanded weapons be kept away from prisoners, especially sorcerers. But- An agonized scream cut through the air and Alambiel leapt at the sorcerer, dragging him down off the mare. She met his gaze, holding it as she unsheathed one of her knives, and then sliced through the rope. "Don't make me regret this." Then she pulled the katana free of Pepin's harness and tossed it to the sorcerer.

The trees' attack increased fourfold and Alambiel quickly lost sight of the sorcerer. For all she knew, he was fleeing the battle. She slashed and hacked at the grasping limbs, ignoring the stinging wounds each whip-like touch left in its wake as the branches tore at her face, hair, and clothes. A branch slammed into her back, sending her sprawling into the thorny underbrush. Struggling to free herself, Alambiel caught a glimpse of two archers struggling with flint and tinder. Fire would help. It would cow the spirits of the trees. If they could get the torches lit before the trees pulverized them, that was.

Brambles scratched her exposed skin and yanked at her clothes as she struggled to her feet but she fought free. Leaping over one branch, Alambiel sliced through the brittle limbs of a dark pine before it could drive them into a Satyr. The unearthly screech filled the air as the tree branches whipped up and far out of reach but then four branches swung at her. She leapt up and to the left, praying that she might at least avoid broken legs. Ducking her head just in time, she heard the topmost branch whistle overhead just before two thick branches slammed into her right hip and ribs, knocking her across the path. Roots shot out of the ground, binding her arms and legs while she lay on the ground gasping for air. A dark, moss-covered elm tree groaned and then swayed closer, its thick branches rushing down toward her.

A wordless war cry filled the air. Then a tall man wielding a katana in one hand and a blazing torch in the other landed next to her. The roots tightened painfully, choking her and applying a slow, crushing force to her ribs. Alambiel bit back a whimper as her mind recalled the terrifying weight of the slab that Mordad had used to slowly crush her ribcage. The elm shrieked, its limbs curling in and away from the torch Markus was holding aloft, and then he whirled, katana slicing through several roots while he brushed the torch against the thicker roots. All around them, the trees' unearthly shrieks rose up, mingling with the shouts of "Narnia! For Aslan! For Aslan!"

The roots holding her retreated back into the earth and Alambiel ignored the urge to wince or yelp at the ache her body had turned into as she allowed Markus to pull her up. She stared up at him, the question on her lips, but then he held out his now-sheathed katana. She nodded. "Check the mare and then don't move from her side." She waited only long enough to witness him carrying out her order before she picked her twin knives back up and returned them to their hidden sheaths. "Lieutenant Pomeroy, report!"

The bull Elk was breathing heavily when he joined her but the light of battle still shone in his eyes, reflecting the way he held his antlered head high. "Four of our soldiers are badly injured. No one escaped unscathed but the trees have retreated."

"We're less than an hour from the outpost. There are two healers stationed there who can help our wounded." Alambiel scanned the now quiet woods, only broken branches and the scent of burnt wood testifying to their conflict, then added in a low voice, "We cannot tarry here or I would look after them myself."

"Yes, Dame Sepphora."

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30 Sunbend 1009

Markus looked over at where Lew's Daughter kept her horse (and, consequently, his own) at a brisk canter. "What do you hope to do?"

"Reach Cair Paravel before your presence is blabbed all over Narnia. And before anything else tries to attack us."

She seemed a bit anxious now as they drew ever closer to Cair Paravel. On the other hand, she had been very ill at ease when she had agreed with the healers that the only solution was to leave their four wounded there at the outpost. But, Markus still believed it was tied with Cair Paravel or perhaps a more accurate guess would be her husband. He was tempted to ask her but he held his tongue before he could do so and risk provoking her into hitting him or possibly throwing a knife at him.

It was in the deep watches of the night when they cantered up to the gates of Cair Paravel, which shone dimly in the moonlight. Markus could not help feeling some awe even though he had seen it hundreds of times. The massive gates swung open and the troop clattered into the courtyard. Lew's Daughter remained close at hand as Markus dismounted and then she directed one of the Fauns who'd come to greet her to take his katana and pack some place safe.

Lew's Daughter led him and five soldiers, including her Leopard guard into the depths of the Cair before she stopped in front of a circle of barred rooms. "Lieutenant!"

A grey-furred Satyr came forward then held a whispered discussion with Lew's Daughter before he offered a dignified bow. "It shall be as you command."

Then Markus was directed to pass through the first barred door, which was shut before another soldier, this one a fiercely proud Centaur opened the second door. Striding confidently into the cell, Markus turned to face Alambiel as the door was slammed close. "Is this goodbye?"

"Don't worry," she stated brightly, "we will see each other at your trial." Then she turned to the guard. "No one outside of the Four, the General, and myself are to know of his presence or be given access to him until the Four rule otherwise."

"Yes, Your Highness."

She looked back at him only once, a measuring light in her eyes. He met her gaze unflinchingly and then bowed his head. "Until our next meeting, Your Highness."

The words seemed to amuse Lew's Daughter as she shook her head with a soft laugh. Then she turned back to the guards. "Absolute silence. He doesn't find out what's going on outside this wing and no one outside finds out what's going on here. You'll be relieved in twelve hours." Then she left.

Markus walked over to the cot. More comfortable than he expected. There was actually a mattress. No sheets, though. Still it was better than cold stone. Sitting down, he wondered how long he would have to wait before they allowed him to read the books Oberon gave him.

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Slipping in had been too easy, especially considering it was the General's personal quarters. An almost silent turn of the key and the outside world (along with its varied interruptions) was locked out. A quick peek proved that the study was dark and only inhabited by piles of paperwork. Easing the door open, she could see Oreius was in bed. He didn't stir as she came in and lowered her pack to the floor next to the foot of bed on her side but the subtle change in his breathing as she padded into the bathroom told her he was awake.

She lingered over stripping out of her armor and her ablutions but there was no use delaying things any longer. After pulling on a fresh shift, Alambiel brushed out her hair and started to braid it out of habit but then she forced herself to stop. It was time. Opening the door, she could see that Oreius' left arm now rested across his eyes. He was still awake, though. She bit her lip and fiddled with her wedding ring. It had been almost five weeks since they'd seen each other, since they'd argued. She drew a breath to say his name but then stopped.

Padding across the cool floor, she climbed onto the bed, its downy softness giving away easily beneath her weight. Oreius didn't move even as she stopped, her knees almost touching the curve of his back. For a moment, the cowardly thought came that she should let him rest and let the issue lie until daylight. But no. She had promised herself that she wasn't going be childish and run away from the difficulties anymore. Alambiel swallowed hard then leaned down until her forehead was resting Oreius' forearm. "I'm sorry. I was wrong." She waited but he didn't say anything. Hurt flared but she didn't move away. Instead, she whispered softly, "I missed you. Can you forgive me?"

Minutes crawled by but he still didn't break his silence. She hadn't thought the silent treatment was like him…maybe she had remembered wrong.

"Don't cry."

Alambiel jumped. "I'm not."

Oreius shifted, lowering his arm and then sitting up. He raised a hand to cup her cheek and murmured, "Then why are your cheeks wet?"

"A phenomenon associated with regret and guilt." She searched his face but his expression was obscured by shadows. Still she took a chance and whispered, "I was afraid."

The tension was still there but then Oreius sighed, "And will you tell me why?"

"I could not remember. When we argued over the guard, I couldn't remember something and I still don't know what it was I was trying to say. I felt like there was an example I could have used to make you see, to make the argument stop before it got worse, but I couldn't remember it. And it scared me. I thought the blank spots were gone, finally gone, and suddenly there was one. And…and I lashed out at you because I was afraid you were right. I was denying that you were right. That I was taking a risk I shouldn't just because I couldn't remember a letter threat that played out and I had the sudden realization that I didn't know but you were also right that I was playing the fool."

"Alambiel-"

She covered his mouth with her hand. "I've had three and a half weeks to think about this, Husband, don't interrupt. It's important." His hand fell away from where it had still been cupping her cheek and she swallowed hard then lowered her own hand and shifted closer, trying and failing to see his expression through the shadows. "I was wrong to throw a fit over the guards and I was also wrong to…abscond with the patrol. I'm probably not supposed to be on patrols, am I?"

"No, you are not. You attract too much trouble," Oreius answered severely. She bowed her head, wishing she had a better way of proving how much she regretted their fight. "Don't." Callused fingers gently pushed her chin up as Oreius repeated, "Do not be submissive and subdued. It does not suit you. It is not you."

"I-"

"And now it is your turn to listen, my lady." Oreius shook his head then sighed, "Alambiel. You were not the only one in the wrong. You were right that I should have spoken to you about the need for your guard to be increased first." He let go of her chin, putting more of a distance between them. "I want to protect you, Alambiel. I need to protect you but you are very uncooperative and that makes me…it makes it difficult to know how to best protect you within those limitations. I assumed that if I put the safeguards in place before we discussed it, you would see that the extra guards would not interfere with you and your ways. However, I was wrong to assign them without consulting you or explaining to you why I felt their presence necessary."

"Iphicles doesn't like women."

The words slipped out before she could stop them. The Kentauri sighed. "That was not in your notes."

"Well, I don't put the rejection reasons into their consideration files."

"Where do you put them then?"

"In the rejection file, which only I can access."

The silence stretched between them then Oreius shook his head, turning away from her again. "I should not have rushed this."

Alambiel frowned then rested her hand on his shoulder. "I don't understand. What did you rush? The guards? Well, in that instance, yes, a bit but we-"

"No. I rushed us. Our relationship. We should not have married so soon."

"So soon after Redhaven and Mordad?"

"Yes." He was tensing again, she could feel it beneath her fingertips, but at least he didn't pull away. "We should have taken more time. I should have given you more time. I didn't even wait for a full two months before I proposed to you. That is my doing, not yours. You needed more time to gather your memories and I failed to give it to you." He reached up, covering her hand with his before she could draw back, and squeezed her fingers. "I take my vows seriously, Alambiel, especially the ones I made to you on our wedding day. I am sworn to protect you. It is my duty as your husband to do everything I can to keep you safe. What I failed to consider was how marrying you might increase the danger."

She wanted to tell him that he was worrying over nothing but she didn't know enough to do that…not yet, at least. "The letter?"

"Letters. There have been three more since you left and I have been unable to trace them to the source. And the one thing I cannot tolerate is knowing that I have failed to protect you from a danger that found you because of me, because our marriage made you a target. I do not want to lose you. I cannot lose you."

"Oreius." She shifted closer, wrapping her other arm around him and then leaned her cheek against his shoulder. "I don't know what's going on with the letters but you aren't going to lose me."

"I made you vulnerable and I need you to allow me to repair that damage."

"Stubborn Centaur." She tugged at his hair. "We are stronger together than apart. And it's a bit late to have second thoughts about getting married now, don't you think? What if we're already expecting a foal?"

That got his attention. Oreius twisted around, his grip on her hand tightening. "What are you saying?"

"Not what you think I'm saying. 'What if' is not the same as 'we are' just for future reference." Alambiel gripped his hand. "Oreius, we could-"

"Will you forgive me?"

She sat back, wishing she could see his face, be able to read the little signs that gave hints as to his true thoughts and feelings. Oreius tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her forward until he wrapped his free arm around her. His voice was rough as he breathed in her ear, "Can you forgive me for not handling the guards better? For deliberately choosing to go around you? For driving you away?"

Alambiel hid a wince when his grip aggravated her still-bruised ribs. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I forgive you for being the overprotective, paranoid General I married. I do not forgive you for driving me away because you were not involved and even then you would have to do something drastic like toss me onto Pepin's back before it would count toward driving me away."

"The letters-"

"Tomorrow. When the sun's up. That's when we'll talk about it. I'm too tired to attack that problem now." She leaned in, intending to kiss him then stopped. "You didn't say you missed me."

"Did I not?" Oreius relaxed his grip on her, running a hand up her arm until he reached her sleeve. "Then that is something else for which I must crave your pardon, Wife." He silenced her with a kiss before pulling back again, close enough now that she could see the love mixed with relief in his dark eyes, and murmuring, "For I have missed you, my Alambiel. I have missed you every day and every night."

Reaching up, she lightly ran her fingers down the side of his face and along his jaw. "I had to come back eventually. You're my home."

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"Alambiel."

She rolled over. "Do you have something against sleeping?"

There was no answering chuckle. "Alambiel, wake up."

She groaned, feeling the souvenirs of riding with only enough stops to rest the horses and the stupid trees' attack, and then reluctantly cracked her eyelids open. Oreius was leaning over the bed, looking more than a little concerned. "What is it?"

"What happened to your face?"

She reached up, feeling the side of her face, only now remembering the fading scratches. "Oh. The spirits of evil trees attacked us when we were about to cross the border. Took a bit longer to drive them back than usual. I needed more soldiers with hands."

He frowned and she sighed. "We were heading for the outpost to alert them to an encampment of Giants when we stumbled across the grove. Those bloody spirits objected to our presence. We overruled them. That was five, no, six days ago. Both problems should be resolved by now and reports are probably on their way." She closed her eyes again, wondering if she could get just another hour or two of sleep. Then she remembered what else she had to tell him. "Oh and you-"

Alambiel cut herself off as someone beat on the doors. So much for sleeping. Oreius was already standing in front of the main doors by the time she had gotten out of bed and pulled on a robe. He glanced back at her and then unlocked the doors, granting entrance to the Kings. They looked furious. Edmund glared at her. "Kat, why is there a bloody sorcerer in our dungeon?"

She cleared her throat. "Well, he surrendered and I'm pretty sure we need him."

"For what?"

The quiet, restrained tone in which her Kentauri asked the question made her want to wince. That tone wasn't a good one. A peek at his face proved it was shuttered behind the 'I'm the General' mask. He thought she had intentionally held the information back. Alambiel turned her attention back to the Kings, already knowing they won't like her answer. "I don't know."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! I hope everyone has had a safe and happy Christmas. And here's a nice long chapter for you complete with the spirits of evil trees. I hope you enjoy it. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.