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 Sixteen: Unforeseen, Part One

8 Twirleaf 1009

"Oreius?" Alambiel frowned as she scanned their quarters, which were once again devoid of the Kentauri. Where was he anyway? Seventhday and she couldn't even find her husband. She rolled her eyes, knowing where he had most likely gone off to, only the same place he had been going for the last week and a half. The dungeons where he was either interrogating Markus, observing as the Kings interrogated Markus, or simply looming with the patented Glare of Doom going on.

Time for a plan, one that couldn't be foiled by meetings or forgetfulness on the Kentauri's part. She grinned almost immediately as an idea bloomed to life. "Oh yes, that should work perfectly. But first . . ." Laughing softly, she hurried to put the plan in motion. This was going to be a good one.

Fortunately, it was also a quick one to arrange. Now she just had to find the Kentauri and lure him away from his new hobby of glare-at-the-sorcerer. Oh and there was one more thing she needed to do. She glanced over her shoulder at the three guards (Oreius had obliged her by reassigning Iphicles, much to the Satyr's relief) then motioned for Ptah to come forward. The Leopard didn't say a word as he looked up at her with amusement. Alambiel grinned. "When I find the General, you three can make yourselves scarce and take the rest of the day off."

"Yes, Your Highness."

She frowned at him but she had also given up on telling people not to call her that anymore. Instead, she shrugged it off, even though Ptah chuckled, and walked down the corridors leading to the dungeon. She was only a flight of stairs away when she heard a familiar and most unwelcome voice call out, "Your royal highness."

Alambiel closed her eyes, whispering, "Why me?" She didn't dare glance over her shoulder. Any eye contact would only encourage Terrick. The ambassador's nephew was a persistent pest and for whatever reason he, and his brother, Derrick, had managed to persuade their uncle to continue lingering in Cair Paravel even though he surely had duties back in Terebinthia. And she had had enough of forcing herself to be nice to the dimwits, especially Terrick. It was Seventhday and she wasn't going to spend it in the company of that nuisance. Quickening her pace slightly, she hurried to reach the stairs. Guests weren't allowed into the dungeons unless escorted and with a writ of permission at the ready. The guards would turn Terrick away for her and she wouldn't have to deal with the inconvenience to her plan.

Descending the stairs, she heard Terrick's protests already growing fainter as he was being firmly escorted away by one of the guards. She had just reached the landing that led to the lower levels with the high security cells when the heavy oaken door swung open and Oreius emerged. Alambiel smiled as the Kentauri stopped in front of her. "Oh good, I don't have to drag you."

Her husband raised a single eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You do realize it's Seventhday, yes?" She reached out to take his hands, squeezing lightly before running her hands up to rest on his wrists. "And that we do have the day off from our various duties, yes?"

"Yes but in the pursuit of new information, of the truth-"

"Did he say anything new or different from before?" she interrupted while idly running her fingertips over his leather wristlets. Keeping her eyes on his, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from giggling as Oreius sighed then the Kentauri shook his head. "Too bad. However, I have a perfect plan for getting your mind off that particular disappointment."

The way his eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion was uncalled for in her personal opinion. "What have you done to my armory?"

"Nothing," she protested, giving him her most innocent look. "In fact, I give you my word that my plan has absolutely nothing to do with your armory . . . or your armor . . . or your swords. This time, anyway."

"I see." He studied her, apparently contemplating what he should or even if he wanted to ask another question.

Alambiel decided to take the decision out of his hands. "Just remember I'm doing this for your own good." Then she yanked on the already loosened ties, pulling Oreius' wristlets free, spun on her heel and ran. Taking the stairs two at a time, she called over her shoulder, "Catch me if you can!"

"Alambiel!" It took a moment before the Kentauri accepted her audacity and she heard him give chase, his iron-shod hooves clattering behind her. "Sepphora!"

She slid around the corner, then leapt over a Badger, as she laughed. "Seventhday! Can't call me that!"

"Sepphora!"

She ran faster. She also employed every dirty trick in her arsenal for avoiding and delaying pursuing Centaurs. Around a bevy of servants carrying large trays and dishes from the kitchen to prepare the largest dining room for a banquet, sliding under a rolled up tapestry being carried by a pair of weavers, leaping over as many small Animals as she could, and taking as many shortcuts that were not designed for Centaurs as possible. She was already halfway down the stairs leading out the palace's main doors when she heard Oreius' bellow again. "Sepphora!"

Alambiel just laughed and gathered her skirts up in one hand as she ran for the gardens. The Kentauri was catching up again now that he no longer had to negotiate the obstacles she had planted in his path. She could hear him coming ever closer. Then the noise of galloping hooves vanished. She tossed a single glance over her shoulder. Oreius wasn't behind her. She stopped then ran through the trees, hopping over two smaller flowerbeds as she did so, to emerge into one of the little glades that rested in the southern gardens. The grass was lush and green and cool in the shade of the gently swaying birch and black elder trees.

Someone slammed into her, a muscular arm wrapping around her waist, as they collapsed to the ground. Alambiel yelped then giggled as she took advantage of his distraction and leapt back to her feet only for his hands to enclose her waist and pull her back down. "Oreius! That's cheating!"

"So is making me pick my way through a crowd of Lemurs and Storks balancing tea trays." He gave her a stern look but she could see the light of amusement in his dark eyes as he pinned her down. "Where are they, you little Minx?"

"They, Husband?"

"My wristlets, Wife. The ones you pilfered." He pulled her hands out from behind her back, frowning slightly when he saw no sign of his wristlets. Then a considering expression appeared as he looked back down at her. "Where have you hidden them?" He arched an eyebrow. "In your bodice perhaps?"

Alambiel laughed. "I haven't stuffed your wristlets down the front of my bodice, I assure you. Only thing you'll find in there is a dagger." She laughed harder when the other eyebrow rose to join its fellow. "That surprises you?"

"It shouldn't." He paused then grinned wickedly. "But perhaps I should check to make sure this is in fact true."

"That I don't have your wristlets or that I have a dagger?"

"Both." He grunted when she kicked at him just hard enough to make him instinctively move to the side. Then Alambiel shoved hard, laughing, as she threw her weight against him even knowing that she was only successful in pushing him over so his shoulders were flat against the ground because Oreius was playing along. He grasped her wrists again. "At least tell me that you have not given them to Solon as a teething toy."

Alambiel threw her head back, laughing. "I promise I have not. I'm also not going to tell you where I hid them. You'll have to earn them back."

"Earn?" he echoed. "And just how am I to earn them? I have already caught you."

"No you haven't." She leapt up, racing around the largest tree, grinning as her Kentauri chased her around it.

They played for another hour before collapsing on the lush grass. Alambiel congratulated herself on succeeding in her mission as Oreius continued to grin even as he pulled her close. He cupped her face, dark eyes searching hers as he asked simply, "Why?"

"Because I have pledged to make you laugh and to tease you and to play with you." She wrapped her fingers around his wrist then twisted so she could plant a kiss against his palm. "And you, a chara, were in desperate need of play. You're worrying too much about all this."

For a moment, she thought he might protest or scold but then he placed a tender kiss against her brow. "Thank you."

Wrapping one arm around his neck, Alambiel pressed her cheek against his. Then she reached back with her free hand and tugged at the bottom edge of her bodice until the wristlets fell free. Meeting Oreius' feigned scowl with an expression of utter innocence, she murmured, "I only said they weren't down the front. You didn't ask about the back."

"You little minx." He laughed and then shook his head. "You shall have to be punished for that, my Milis Cantalach."

She smirked. "Oh? And just how do you intend to punish me?"

"Easily." He tickled behind her knee, making her shriek.

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Oreius chuckled as Alambiel threw her weight against him, pushing him down onto the grass again before the minx nuzzled his neck. He was grateful that she was in a far better mood than he had expected considering how thoroughly he had ruined their Sixthday plans last night. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her close. "I thought you had learned your lesson earlier, my Milis Cantalach. Must I correct your misconceptions again?"

She raised her head and grinned at him. "How? By tickling me again?"

"No, by tossing you into the sea as you deserve." He tightened his grip when she attempted to squirm free then captured her mouth in a kiss. He did not want her to think she was unimportant to him.

Then, as Alambiel stretched to wrap her arms around his neck, he tickled her side. His wife broke the kiss with a shriek of laughter as she rolled off him. "You are cheating!"

"I am taking every advantage in order to even the odds against you, Sepphora."

She was adorable when she pouted. He smiled down at her and had just leaned in to kiss her when he heard a raptor's cry. Oreius surged to his hooves and then moved away from the shelter of the trees to see Skeat in the skies above.

The Red-tailed Hawk swooped down and landed on his raised forearm. "General! Forgive the interruption."

"What has happened?"

Skeat ruffled his wings. "A Hag. Lieutenant Gemon's patrol has captured a Hag."

Oreius scowled. Lieutenant Gemon's patrol should have been but a day's canter from the Cair. "When was she captured?"

"Three hours past. Lieutenant Gemon is bringing her here but he does not think the Hag will survive her wounds."

He nodded curtly, tail flicking as he considered the possible implications of the Fell's presence so close to Cair Paravel, and then ordered, "Wait for me here." The Hawk took to the skies again and Oreius reluctantly returned to where Alambiel was standing next to the trees. "I have to leave."

"Is it bad?"

Oreius hesitated then shook his head. "I do not believe so but I must see what one of the patrols found." He cupped her cheek. "I want you to stay here. Don't wander off otherwise it might be very difficult for me to find you again."

Alambiel forced a little smile. "Any place in particular you want to meet then, Kentauri? So you don't get lost."

"Our garden." He reluctantly stepped back, allowing his fingers to slide until they no longer touched her cheek. "And Alambiel, I will not be late this time. This should take me no more than two hours. We can talk about it then if you wish."

His wife nodded. "Don't stumble into trouble, a chara."

Oreius bowed. "As my lady commands."

He was pleased to see a genuine smile appear on his beloved's face before he turned and galloped toward the main gates. Skeat screeched once above him then the Hawk led him into the woods surrounding Cair Paravel. Lieutenant Gemon's patrol was less than twenty minutes away. The soldiers had gathered around a litter. Oreius skidded to a halt beside it. The Hag was gasping, death's grip adding a glassy sheen to her large eyes, as her talon-tipped fingers clawed at the bulky bandages swathed around her torso. But when she saw him, her beak opened and she croaked a laugh.

He glared down at her. "Why are you here? Who sent you?"

She laughed again and then gasped, "Came . . . for the . . . linchpin."

Oreius leaned down and hauled the Hag up by her filthy grey robes. "Who sent you? Answer!"

But the Hag only laughed once, another raspy croak, and then she drew one shuddering breath before her head lolled to the side. Oreius lowered the body back to the litter and then turned to his lieutenant. "I want a full report before you resume your patrol. Where did you find her?"

"We caught her this morn as she attempted to find a way past a grove of Trees."

Oreius was silent for a moment but the word the Hag had used, 'linchpin,' troubled him. There was only one other person he had heard use that term recently—the sorcerer. Wheeling around, Oreius galloped back to the Cair. He paid no heed to how lather and sweat formed despite the pleasant coolness of the day. He spared a moment to consider sending word to Alambiel that she was stay in their garden but it had yet to be two hours since he left and he was certain she would wait for him. Instead, he charged into the palace and galloped down to the dungeon. He paused only long enough for the door to be opened before he entered and barked, "Who else did you tell about Alambiel being a linchpin?"

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The Wolves were attempting to sneak up on a Gryphon again. Edmund watched with just a hint of trepidation as one of the brothers crept toward Ihbari. He could only thank Aslan that those two pests had chosen a Gryphon well used to their antics . . . he was a slightly safer choice than Bast. The Wolf wagged his tail then leapt forward, yipping with excitement, only to fall back with a yelp as Ihbari whipped around and screeched at him. Then with one powerful downward sweep of his wings, the Gryphon shot into the air.

Edmund suppressed the urge to laugh as the Greyback brothers picked themselves up and then raced pell-mell toward him when Ihbari dove at them. He had no doubt that the Gryphon had just become a huge version of Cair Paravel's Osprey housekeeper in their minds. "Steady now," he said as the Wolves almost knocked him over. "Maybe we should find something other than antagonizing the Gryphons to do today."

Twin pairs of adoring yellow eyes gazed up at him. One of the Wolves let his mouth hang open, pink tongue lolling in a distinct doggy grin, as he wagged his tail. "We can find another spy for you, King Edmund!"

"But not the Badger," his twin reassured Edmund. "We can find anything!"

"Oh all right, why don't you two see if you can find . . . Kat?"

The Wolves yipped and nearly tripped over their own paws and then each other as they rushed to search for their new prey. Edmund waited while the pups ran around the courtyard, noses to the ground, until one of them howled his success. The other Greyback twin barreled over to his brother and then yipped, "Here, King Edmund! This way! This way!"

Jogging toward them, Edmund hoped that Kat wasn't busy because if the Wolves interrupted another rendezvous between her and Oreius, they would all be in trouble and he would most likely be sentenced to visiting the points of the compass. He saw one of the Wolves race off toward the maze and picked up his pace. When he could finally see the entrance of the maze, Edmund groaned, "Oh no."

One of the Wolves, and he would bet anything that it was Remus, had tackled Kat and was currently sprawled on top of her, tail wagging as he howled in victory. "I got you! I got you! Look, King Edmund! Look! I got her! I got her!"

Edmund sighed, "Remus, I didn't tell you to sit on her. Now get off of the Princess Royal and then apologize for knocking her over and sitting on her."

"But, I got her for you. Just like you said, King Edmund!"

Edmund cringed. "I did not tell you to knock her over. You could have just asked her politely if she would wait until I caught up. Now apologize."

The Wolf lowered his grey head and whined as he crept off Kat. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I just wanted to make sure you stayed."

Kat stood up, brushing the front of her dress off. "No harm done, but don't you dare try that again with any of the other women. They might not be so understanding."

Remus nodded then immediately pressed himself against the side of Edmund's leg, gazing up at him with his heart in his eyes. Edmund lowered his hand to rest on his head, fingers digging into the soft grey fur. He looked back up when Kat cleared her throat. The older woman raised an eyebrow. "So what exactly was so important that your Wolves felt it necessary to stop me in my tracks?"

Edmund flushed. "Well, I just wanted your opinion on a few things. But," he glanced around then lowered his voice, "not here. Can we walk down to the beach?"

"I don't see why not."

They walked in silence even with the Wolves bounding back and forth between him and further down the beach, loudly reporting all the new smells they came across. They had just reached the sand when Remus threw his head back and howled. "Romulus! Romulus! I smell a cat! I smell a cat! Come on!"

Edmund watched in disbelief as his Wolves abandoned all semblance of proper guards and hurled themselves down the beach and up an embankment obscured by bushes. He glanced at Kat who was grinning. "They are getting better."

She laughed and patted his shoulder. "Oh I'll take your word for it, Edmund. Otherwise I would have my doubts."

He scowled and stomped after her as she walked closer to where the waves were gently lapping at the white sand. "About Markus, Kat, do you believe he's changed?"

Kat glanced at him. "Why are you asking?"

"He's not been in the most cooperative moods recently. And the attitude he displays is difficult to reconcile with the claimed change of heart."

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she walked along the beach until she had picked up a stick. Kat looked over her shoulder at him. "I know what Oreius thinks and what Peter thinks but what do you think, Edmund? Don't you recognize the story?"

Edmund frowned, his brow furrowing. "Which story?"

"Not a Narnian one or even an Archenlandish one. One from that Other Place. Surely you must know it."

She turned away slightly and wrote something in the sand with her stick. Stepping closer, Edmund stared at the word, no, the name Saul. Then the waves washed it away and Kat wrote a new word, a new name, Paul. His frown cleared as he remembered a warm voice that sounded very much like Peter's did now reading out a story and then, after closing the family Bible, he leaned back in his armchair and said, "And that is how Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle. He went from the worst and most dedicated enemy of Jesus to being one of His best spokesmen."

Edmund blinked. But Kat didn't seem to notice that his thoughts had drifted from their present surroundings. She had written another word, traitor. The waves washed it away and she wrote King.

"I remember." He nodded then added softly, "I remember, Kat. But I don't want my desire to see another traitor redeemed to endanger my family or my people. I understand Peter and Oreius' caution. Markus is a sorcerer-"

"Was."

"What?"

Kat looked at him and repeated herself, "Was. Technically he was a sorcerer and now he's not one because Aslan has blinded his magic." She wrote Saul in the sand again, waiting for the waves to wash it away. "The same word can't actually be rewritten after it has been washed away. You could write the word again but it would not be the same one as before." Then she wrote Paul once more, only this time she underlined it. "This is what I believe about Markus. I might be proven wrong or it will take a long time to prove me right but we have to give him the chance. For Narnia's sake."

Edmund frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I was led to Markus by a dream that repeated itself every night. The Centaurs believe those kind of dreams are more likely to be prophetic or at least contain a message from Aslan." Kat let the stick fall into the waves as she looked up then shook her head, golden hair swinging against her back. "I am afraid of my dream coming true. I saw only one way to stop it and that is through Markus. Somehow he is tied to this situation too."

"That's what you meant when you told us we need him."

Kat nodded. Edmund barely registered his Wolves howling nearby as his mind raced to analyze the possibilities. "Kat?" He paused when she didn't answer right away then turned to see she was looking toward the bushes where his Wolves were playing. "Kat? What was your dream about?"

"Fire and death. It was odd, I saw-"

He heard the snarl just before someone slammed into him. Edmund surged to his feet, gasping and sputtering as the waves crashed against him. "Kat!"

But it was too late. Two large Werewolves had tackled her. And a third was fast approaching.

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Markus met the Centaur's gaze with one of bemusement. "What do you mean?"

The General grabbed the bars, his knuckles turning white, but his voice was surprisingly calm despite the obvious exertion that caused his horse body to be covered in white lather while sweat glistened on his brow and chest. "A patrol captured a Hag. She said she had come to find the linchpin. Who else did you tell?"

He rose from the cot and began pacing the cell. This was not supposed to be part of the plan. "I don't know."

"You must."

"No, I have referred to Lew's Daughter as a linchpin many times. I remember I described her thusly to Mordad. He may have told his men as well but I do not remember who else I told."

The Centaur slammed a hoof against the floor, the sound echoing through the cells. His dark gaze took on a stern, unforgiving glint as he stonily stated, "You claim you have mended your ways but you never offer any true help or proof. Tell me-"

He cut himself off, turning away as a commotion rose outside the door leading to the rest of the dungeons. Markus stared in curiosity as the door swung open and a young Wolf raced in, yelping, "General Oreius! General Oreius! King Edmund said to get you, to tell you!"

"To tell me what, Romulus?"

"I'm Remus, sir." The Wolf stepped forward into the torchlight and Markus saw the General tense as he took in the way the Wolf's grey fur was now stained red from his muzzle to his front paws. "There were Werewolves! They got the Princess Royal! King Edmund said to tell you! And they killed her too!"

Markus stiffened. The General didn't look at him, didn't react other than his hands clenching into fists, but he still heard the Centaur gasp. Then he snapped, "Show me!"

As the Wolf and Centaur left, Markus could only wonder one thing. Should he have explained more thoroughly why Lew's Daughter was the linchpin? Would that have changed her fate?

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A/N: Please Read and Review! MUWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA! Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.