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 Fifteen: Promises, Promises

Alambiel stayed by his side until they reached a particular corridor then she turned and ducked into a solarium. Oreius followed her, privately fuming over the sorcerer's assault. He glanced at Ptah then waited until the Leopard had disappeared around the far corner before he shut the door. Turning to his wife, he pressed his lips together into a thin line. "You should have put a dagger in him."

"And I would have if I thought he was trying something really, really stupid like escaping." Alambiel tugged at her sleeve, drawing his attention to her wrist, as she switched to her Irish. "Ní raibh sé go gciallódh aon dochar. Ní raibh sé ag bagairt orm." He didn't mean any harm. He wasn't threatening me.

"No? Then explain why you looked afraid."

She closed the distance between them, resting her hands on his arms, and peered up at him. "Níl mé chomh éasca a scanradh, Oreius. I mo thuairimse, go raibh sé ag iarraidh a chur in iúl dom. Tá a fhios agat, an cineál maith rabhadh." I am not so easy to scare, Oreius. I think he was attempting to warn me. You know, the good kind of warning.

He stared down at her, forcing himself to press down the rage so he could focus on Alambiel and what she might have perceived. "Why would he do that?"

She shrugged a little. "Níl a fhios agam. Nach bhfuil rud atá déanta ciall ar feadh tamaill anois. Ach is dóigh liom go fóill go bhfuil gá againn air." I don't know. Things haven't made sense for a while now. But I still feel that we need him.

"Tell me what he said."

"Go bhfuil mé ag á seilg." That I'm being hunted. She glanced up at him, meeting his gaze, as she added with a casualness that sounded forced to him, "Ach go rud nua." But that's nothing new.

Oreius clenched his fists. Hunted again. And though she was correct that this was not a new development, it still troubled him. It had always troubled him but now he worried that he would be unable to protect her. Or that he would drive her away with his efforts to protect her. "But he said something else. Something that frightened you. Tell me."

"Tá sé rud ar bith. Fíor, tá sé rud ar bith." It is nothing. Truly, it is nothing.

He hesitated but then chose to let it go. Alambiel would tell him when she was ready to share and pressing her on the matter before then would only lead to another argument. He reached up to touch her hands then hissed as his gaze fell on her wrist. Tugging her sleeve down, he scowled at the marks that were already changing from red to a darker shade. She pulled away, covering the marks with her own hand. "He didn't intend to leave bruises, Oreius."

"He never should have touched you at all." He stamped a hoof then flicked his tail. "Why do you defend him?"

Alambiel looked away, pushing the golden and white strands of hair that had escaped her chignon back behind her ears, before she stated softly, "Because someone has to and I might be the only one who is willing to listen right now." She glanced at him, a hint of pleading mixed with understanding in her blue eyes, as she sighed. "I know you do not react well to threats or taunts, unless I'm the one giving them, but can you at least try to look past Markus' past in this case? It's important, a chara. Please."

He did not want to say yes but neither did he want to argue. Oreius bowed his head. "Very well. I will try. But, I want your word that you will stay away from him."

"Oreius-"

Raising his hand, he gave her a stern look. "Would you rather I increase your guard again? I do not want you to interact with Markus by yourself again, Alambiel. If he is deceiving us, then he has found a way to fool even you and I would not like to give him another opportunity to harm you, accident or not." Oreius took her hands in his and gentled his tone. "Please, sweetheart, ease my mind in this matter by giving me your word that you will not interact with Markus alone again."

She sighed then nodded. "All right. It's only fair, especially since I don't want more guards tripping over their paws as they try to keep up with me." She smiled as he kissed her hands. "So, what are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?"

Oreius chuckled. "I have a meeting with Peridan, Ardon, and several of my lieutenants regarding the guards we will be stationing around this tarkaan Babak's guest quarters. I fear it will be an extensive one."

Alambiel grimaced. "Oh that's not fun at all."

"Would you like to come with me?"

She shook her head, a little mischievous light dancing in her eyes now. There was just a hint of laughter threading its way through her voice as she begged off. "No, thank you. As tempting as sitting in a room with a bunch of grumpy officers would be, I just remembered that I actually have something to do and it will take up the rest of the afternoon. Enjoy your meeting, Kentauri." She rose on tiptoe to kiss him then tugged her hands free and flitted out the door before Oreius could say anything.

He smiled slightly as he followed her. Ptah was still waiting at the end of the corridor and swiftly made his way to join Alambiel once she emerged from the room. Oreius allowed his own gaze to track their progress until his wife passed out of sight. Then he forced his attention back to the meeting. A little voice in the back of his mind urged him to go after his beloved but he ignored it, knowing that he could not shirk his duty as general in favor of the more pleasant duties of a husband. He had to balance them and, for now, he needed to be the general more than he needed to be at Alambiel's side as her husband. Linchpin. Oreius shook his head. He needed to focus on the necessary preparations for the tarkaan and his demands. After, though, after he would pay Markus another visit and learn exactly what the sorcerer had meant by calling Alambiel 'the linchpin.'

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6 Twirleaf 1009

What was she doing? Why was she down here when her duties required her to ascertain whether everything was in readiness for the Tarkaan's arrival tomorrow? Susan hesitated on the stairs. She wasn't in view of the guards in front of the last door yet. She could still turn around, still leave. She started to do just that but then she looked down at where her delicately embroidered white slippers were peeking out from beneath her mauve-colored skirts. Poised for flight. Running again.

Susan pursed her lips. Why did she always flee the challenging aspects of life? Would she always cower behind her brothers and even Lucy? She grasped her skirts tighter then resolutely set her foot down on the next step. Raising her chin, she clung to her courage before it could abandon her again. She would do this and she would prove to herself that she could be strong even without her siblings to lean on. She was twenty-one, after all, and she needed to stand on her own two feet.

Entering the cells where the sorcerer was being held, she was a little surprised to see him sleeping on the cot. She had hoped to find him willing to discuss the one thing that had been plaguing her since they last spoke. But, with her brothers and the good General occupied with a military meeting that even Kat had gone to, Susan reasoned that it was to be expected that Markus would not plan for any visits. Still, she was disappointed that he was not awake (for she could not in good conscience demand he wake just to satisfy her curiosity).

She half-turned around, intending to ask the guards to open the door so she could leave, but then a sleep-roughened voice called out, "Why would you come back?"

Susan started and whirled to see Markus sitting up, running a hand through his hair, which only added to his disheveled appearance. The sorcerer looked at her expectantly and she glanced at the guards. "Unlock the outer door, please."

The guards looked askance at her but obeyed. Raising her skirts slightly, she forced herself to walk over to the inner bars without betraying her nervousness and the second thoughts once again clamoring to persuade her to turn and flee back to light and safe familiarity. "I- I came to ask you a question, if you have the time to answer."

Markus' mouth curved into the slightest hint of a smirk as he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands together. "What question plagues the Gentle that she would seek me out?"

The question hovered on the tip of her tongue but fear of mockery changed it to something safer, something she could use to measure Markus' sincerity and willingness to answer. "Who is Lilly?"

"Lilly?" The man looked up sharply, his brown eyes focusing on her with an intensity that almost made her step back. Then the expression faded into something less, something almost gentle or perhaps relaxed was a better word. He chuckled a little. "Lilly is the name I gave a little doe after my magic was blinded."

"Why would you call me by that name?"

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over her in a calculating manner. "Because you approach me like an elegant little doe who is poised to flee should I make the wrong move."

Susan frowned at him then raised her chin slightly. "I don't think you meant that kindly, sir."

The little grin appeared and Markus leaned back. He tugged on his simple brown tunic then rose to his feet, although he still did not approach the bars. "You mistake me, Your Majesty. The comparison reminds me that I should be . . . gentle with you, as gentle as I was with Lilly. It is always possible that earning your trust might be a true prize worth earning."

"You should be more concerned with earning the trust of my brothers and our general." She brushed some stray locks of long black hair behind her shoulder, trying not to show her nerves.

"Well, I fear that shall be a long and arduous task, if not impossible where your general is concerned." Markus took a step toward her, his gaze once more intense. "However, I cannot help feeling that you did not come down here simply to ask me about Lilly. What is it you truly want to know, Queen Susan?"

"How do you know when something happens because Aslan wills it or when it occurs because He is allowing someone to follow through on their own imposed decision?"

The question hung between them and she could almost imagine it forming a solid barrier. Why hadn't she simply gone to Kat or Edmund or Stonebrook or anyone else aside from the sorcerer currently imprisoned in the dungeons? But Susan met Markus' gaze steadily as he abruptly came close enough to the bars and wrapped his hands around two of them. "The books I read claim that you cannot always know for certain until you see the consequences. And when you live long enough, my lady, you will see too many consequences and be tempted to spend the rest of your life avoiding them. But I do not think that is possible. Not with all consequences. But no matter what consequences you are required to pay, when you belong to Aslan, you are still His and you are still forgiven."

"But what if you are afraid to take the risk? What if you are afraid of the consequences that might come, especially from stepping out away from what you know, what is safe?"

Why was she asking these questions? She didn't know but she found herself eager to hear the sorcerer's opinion.

Markus ducked his head slightly so he was looking her in the eye. His somewhat raspy voice softened slightly as he said, "I think we are sometimes required to step away from what is safe so we can know the One who is not safe but He is good. It is not easy when this is required and sometimes it will feel as though you will never succeed at the task but everything I have read tells me that He will not ask you to go beyond your strength. However, you may not know your true strength and so it will seem too much until you call on Him and lean on Him alone for the courage to do what He has required."

Susan sighed. "I wish I could read this for myself."

Markus turned away abruptly, striding over to the three books neatly stacked at the head of his cot, and picked up two of them. Returning to the bars, he extended them toward her. "Take these. The top one will probably help you the most, Your Majesty."

Her manners taking the upper hand, she accepted them with a quiet murmur of thanks. Then she looked more closely at the second book. "This is the one with your notes." She thrust the book back through the bars. "Here, you should keep this so you may continue writing."

He stepped back out of reach, shaking his head and holding up his hands. "No, it will do me no good now. The High King revoked my writing privileges until I prove myself more cooperative so I cannot add to my thoughts for at least a week." He paused as Susan withdrew her hand then added softly, "You'd best be leaving now. Queens must always be careful about where they tarry, after all."

Susan considered protesting but, as Markus sprawled on the cot again and threw his arm over his eyes, she realized that he would not say anything more that day. Clutching the books to her chest, she hurried out of the dungeons. It was not until she had placed the two books inside the drawer of her nightstand that Susan questioned why she was so willing to accept the sorcerer's gift and why she so desperately needed to hear his opinion on the question that had driven her to the dungeons. She still did not know. Nor did she fully understand what it was about Markus that was so compelling. She needed advice. But she would not be able to ask for it until tomorrow since she now only had two hours to ready herself (and make sure her siblings were ready . . . with Thalia's help) for tonight's banquet.

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Alambiel rapped her knuckles against the door then pushed it open. She grinned at the disgruntled look Oreius cast toward the interruption until he saw who it was then his expression cleared. "And what are you plotting now, my Milis Cantalach?"

She snickered as she hopped up to perch on the edge of his desk. "Something you'll enjoy."

"Get off my desk, pest."

"Hey, be nice or I won't share my plan with you, Kentauri."

The Kentauri arched an eyebrow as he opened another report, muttering, "I did not realize I would have a choice this time." He grabbed her wrist and gave her a warning look. "How many times must I tell you not to touch?"

She stuck her tongue out at him. Then she straightened, running her fingers through her hair before she started to braid it, and smirked. "Depends on the day, a chara. You should know that by now. Now about my plan. Since it is Sixthday and we have not enjoyed a proper Sixthday talk since we were on our honeymoon, I was thinking we could have a nice dinner and then talk and then have afters and maybe even go sit under the stars in our garden and you can tell me what they're saying tonight." She smiled as she pulled her hair over her shoulder in order to finish the lower third of the braid. "What do you think?"

Chuckling, he reached out to cup her cheek for a brief moment. "I think it sounds like a very pleasant way to end our less than relaxing day."

"I knew you would agree. So sixth or seventh hour?"

Her hope that they would actually achieve a proper Sixthday talk faded slightly as soon as Oreius looked back at his paperwork. The Kentauri's dark eyes begged her forgiveness as he sighed. "I fear I will not be able to meet that engagement. If it were just paperwork I would put it aside, but I am about to leave for the first of two meetings and the second meeting involves reminding my soldiers that they are not permitted to intimidate the Tarkaan directly, so it will go long into the night."

Alambiel scowled. The soldiers normally handled themselves well when confronted by the more unpleasant aspects of Calormene culture such as slaves or the continual attribution of what Aslan made or graced Narnia with to Tash and the other gods and goddesses of their pantheon. But, Tarkaan Babak's third wife was little more than a girl, perhaps eleven years of age. There was nothing they could do, of course; bringing a child bride to a country where such practices were forbidden did not automatically grant the Narnians leave to arrest Babak or at least free the child any more than the slaves could be freed. The unpleasant side of diplomacy meant they must tolerate such things unless the child were brave enough to seek sanctuary. And from what Alambiel had already seen of the timid girl, she knew it would not happen this time. She still hated to see it.

Oreius touched her hand, drawing her from her thoughts. "I will attempt to return here by ninth hour. I still must choose a level-headed female lieutenant to convey the reassurances that this will not happen again to the Tarkaan."

"I could go for you."

The look he gave her in response to that suggestion was unnecessarily skeptical. "After what you did to the last Tarkaan? Absolutely not."

Alambiel spread her hands wide, giving him her most innocent look. "The one who was at the reception? I didn't do anything to him."

The Kentauri snorted. "He fell into a compost pile."

Her lips twitched and she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling at the memory. "I was not involved. He tripped over one of Edmund's Wolves."

Oreius folded his arms over his chest and fixed her with a stern look. "You stood there and clapped."

"Ahem." She must not laugh. She simply mustn't laugh. "There was a fly. A very big fly."

"Still that story?"

"It's more believable than the one that I was testing the acoustics in that particular area."

Her husband shook his head then came around the desk and wrapped his hands around her waist. Alambiel rested her hands on his arms then leaned forward to kiss him. "Ninth hour. Don't forget this time."

Oreius smiled and touched his forehead to hers. "I will be there. Now get off my desk. I have to finish these reports before my meeting with the Kings."

"Of course, dear. I wouldn't want to distract you more than I already do."

"Minx." He plucked her off the desk then set her down, startling a laugh out of her when he gave her a light swat on her rump. "Be off with you."

Alambiel took advantage of the fact that she wasn't actually a desired presence at the diplomatic meetings or the afternoon tea Susan, Lucy, and Thalia were hosting for their ladies and the Tarkaan's wives. She spent the rest of the day making two chocolate cherry trifles (the extra one was a precaution against Tarrin and the Kings raiding the kitchens in search of some sweet) and also made sure the rest of the dinner would be one of Oreius' favorites. She didn't want him to think she was upset with him over missing the last Sixthday talk or leaving before she woke last Seventhday all to interrogate Markus. All she wanted was for him to allow himself to relax for an evening.

By the time the water clock showed it was only a few minutes to ninth hour, the dinner was set up on the table in their sitting room. Alambiel glanced at the clock again then lit the candles once it was the top of the hour. Oreius hadn't sent a message that he had been delayed past the arranged date so she was being positive. When he did remember, he usually took pains to be punctual. Usually.

Her stomach growled as she surveyed the feast of tender venison pasties and pheasant along with freshly buttered corn, broccoli and cheese sauce (something she had had to work hard to coax the Kentari into trying), a large salad, baked apples, and boiled potatoes. The wine was chilled and a vintage she knew Oreius enjoyed in particular. She hoped the Kentauri hurried because otherwise she just might start without him, which wouldn't be the most romantic way to start their date.

Alambiel settled herself on the long, wide couch that she still thought of as a chaise lounge and did her best to ignore the tantalizing smells wafting from the table. Oreius would be there at any moment now.

She opened her eyes when a soft knock sounded at the door. A glance at the clock confirmed that over an hour had passed. The candles once elegant and tall were dripping wax on the tablecloth and the food was cold while the wine was warm. Oreius hadn't come. Even though he knew she was waiting, he still hadn't come. The knock sounded again and Alambiel hopped to her feet, burying her disappointment as she opened the door. "Susan?"

"May I come in?"

Alambiel automatically stepped back, only regretting the decision for a moment when the young woman stopped short. "Oh. I didn't realize you and Oreius were busy. I can come back tomorrow or . . . Firstday even if that would be more convenient."

"The Kentauri isn't here. You might as well keep me company." She strode over to the table and blew out first one candle and then the other, effectively dousing her hopes for a romantic evening with her husband. She covered the ruined dishes and wondered whether the trifle had gone bad or if she might be able to salvage that one at least. Remembering Susan was still standing there with a slight pitying expression as she watched, Alambiel cleared her throat and gestured for her to sit with her on the chaise lounge. Pulling her feet up, she sat cross-legged as she faced the dark-haired Queen. "What's on your mind?"

"I- I have done something very foolish, Kat. I don't know who else to go to because Peter and Edmund would be furious if they knew. But, I couldn't stop thinking about it and now that I've seen what he's written so far. I cannot bring myself to think that he is what we have believed all this time."

Alambiel's brow furrowed. "Wait, wait, wait. What have you been doing, Susan? Are you talking about Markus?"

"Yes," she whispered then held out a small notebook. "Read the last entry."

Fear is our greatest enemy. We do not change because we are afraid. We do not follow where we are commanded to go because we are afraid. I am afraid and my fear so easily turns to anger and taunts that undermine my purpose here. I have lived a long time and I have patterned my life to a specific way of doing things. I am afraid to fulfill the command given me by Aslan so I fulfill it piecemeal. But I am also afraid because the safety provided by my magic is gone. It may be gone forever. Though perhaps that is best when I reflect on how angry I have been these last few days with those people I am commanded to submit to because they do not hear what I say and only see what I have done in the past. Aslan, how do I make them see the new Markus?

"Susan . . . You went to see Markus again. And he gave you this. Why?"

Susan's blue eyes were large and pleading even as what little color remained in her porcelain cheeks drained away. "I had asked him to explain something to me about Aslan's will. I'm drawn to him." Alambiel's eyebrows rose and Susan flushed. "Not romantically, Kat! It's something else. He has an air about him and the way his gaze holds me is very intense. It is as though I can tell he is more than he appears and I cannot help wondering what that more is and I want to know his thoughts on matters pertaining to Aslan. So he gave me one of the books he was reading and his own notes because Peter revoked his writing privileges. And what I am reading is just confusing me more. I don't know what I should do, Kat."

Alambiel shut the notebook. "If you went to your brothers or Oreius, they would probably have you toss the books away or immediately return them. They would probably fear that Markus is attempting to influence you to his side with such a gift." She handed the notebook to Susan. "I think you should read an entry at a time and study it on your own then consult Markus' writing. Make your decision based on whether his writing really matches up with the book on Aslan."

She smiled at Susan's slightly downcast expression. "Even I don't have the answers this time, Susan. I don't know why it was so important to bring Markus here although I am working on some theories. For now, we must be watchful and cautious but we can't shut away the option that he's telling the truth eventually. If you and I don't listen to him, he may never be heard."

Susan nodded and rose, smoothing her skirts with one hand. "Thank you, Kat. May we talk after I have followed your advice regarding the books?"

"I look forward to it." Alambiel watched as the elder queen slipped back out and then she flopped back against the armrest of the chaise lounge with a sigh. She would wait up for the Kentauri . . . they could still possibly enjoy the trifle.

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Oreius stopped just inside his quarters as he took in the sight of a table laid with covered vittles and half-melted candles and Alambiel asleep on the couch next to it. He grimaced, remembering that she had planned something very enjoyable for their Sixthday talk, and he had not been able to come. He had not even had the chance to send word of his delay.

Slowly making his way to the couch, he almost smiled at how soft she looked with both hands tucked beneath her cheek. Leaning down, he kissed her temple. "Alambiel."

"Go away, I'm sleeping."

Oreius sighed. "You are angry."

"Disappointed." She sat up, her hair tumbling over and around her shoulders, as she continued with cool politeness, "While I'm certain you have a very good reason for not keeping our date again, I don't really want you to explain it to me right now. What time is it anyway?"

"A quarter past second hour."

"Wow." She glanced at the table then shrugged. "Look I know you're dealing with a lot right now and that because you are both paranoid and overprotective, it's very easy to distract you from appointments less crucial to Cair Paravel's continued safety but next time just find a way to send a note before five and a quarter hours pass. That's all I'm asking of you."

Oreius frowned at the hurt he heard hovering beneath her casual tone. "Alambiel, you are not unimportant to me."

She rolled off the opposite side of the couch. "I know."

"Alambiel, wait."

His wife stopped but didn't look at him as she asked, "What do you want me to say, Oreius? What do you want? Do I need to pelt you with cold potatoes?" She walked around the end of the couch and flashed him one of her forced smiles. "I'm not saying I'm not tempted but I don't want to do anything else tonight except sleep."

He followed her into their bedchamber but she only answered with such forced cheer to his questions that he stopped attempting to converse with her. Instead, he could only regret that he had allowed himself to become so involved in the debate regarding Tarkaan Babak and, when that one's chief guard had come to demand an inspection of the Talking Beasts to confirm they were in fact female, Oreius had refused to debase his soldiers in such a way. And then it had taken three more hours before he finally persuaded the chief guard to return to his master without the inspection. He should have found a moment to warn Alambiel. Instead he found himself watching as Alambiel braided her hair and then glance at him before she unbraided it again. She did not lie as close to him that night, though, but he did not blame her for it. He had erred and he had hurt her. He would find a way to make it up to her. But it would not be tomorrow. He had more questions for the sorcerer and Alambiel's safety was tied to the answers.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Well, here's a long chapter for you. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.