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 Nineteen: For Love

The breeze was what woke her. Alambiel grumbled under her breath as she pulled the sheets up then rolled over, expecting to find Oreius' warmth free for the leeching. If he was going to open a window, then he was going to have to get use to his new function as her personal heater. Only he wasn't there.

Opening her eyes, she frowned at the open doors leading out to the balcony. The drapes that hid them were fluttering in the wind. Sitting up, Alambiel ran a hand through her tangled hair before she reached for the robe draped across the corner of the bed. Oreius must have put it there after he decided to make his escape. Pulling the robe tight, she reluctantly left the last remnants of warmth in favor of picking her way across the cool marble and thick rug. Pushing the drape back, she suppressed a sigh when she saw him. The balcony was definitely built with larger Narnians in mind as it was deep enough for two Centaurs of decent size to stand in a line from the doors and it wrapped around the tower so it overlooked both the sea and the courtyard.

Oreius was standing in front of the railing. He didn't turn even though he had to have heard her moving around, especially since she hadn't bothered to be quiet. She tugged gently on his tail, but he only flicked it out of her grasp. Shaking her head, she changed tactics and trailed her fingers along his body until she ducked under his arm and then turned to face him. He finally looked down at her. The night shadows flickered across the planes of his face, shrouding his expression, as he cupped her cheek. "You should be asleep."

"So should you." Wrapping her arms around him, she splayed her hands against his back and tilted her head back to maintain eye contact. "Oreius, we are going to be all right. We're going to figure this out. It can't be more obscure than Circe, after all."

The tension in his body finally seemed to relax and he enfolded her in his arms, pressing her head against his heart. She felt him kiss her hair as he rubbed her back. "Thank you."

Alambiel smiled, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. "A little faith can go a long way, Chuisle. Don't forget that."

Oreius hugged her, lifting her off her feet, but then he set her back down. The faint smile pulling at his mouth reassured her though. The Kentauri touched her hair, gently tugging a lock free from its fellows, and then he bent down and pressed a kiss to it. "Come back to bed, love."

"That's my line."

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9 Twirleaf 1009

Oreius pulled the drapes close, blocking out the dawn's light, before he glanced over his shoulder. Alambiel was still asleep, as he had hoped. Stepping carefully, he soundlessly picked his way back to the bed and then leaned down, bracing his hands against the mattress, and kissed her. Her eyelids fluttered but then his beloved merely rolled onto her side, the sheets pulling away as she did so to expose her back.

The sight of her scars was suddenly overshadowed by the memory of the raw wounds decorating that other Nymph's back. An involuntary shudder overtook him before he suppressed the reaction and then pulled the coverlet up and over her shoulders, making sure the chill of an early autumn morn didn't have the chance to disturb her. At least, that was what he told himself. He shook off the memory of Merry. He had trusted soldiers tracing the dead Nymph's trail from the place she had been killed. Moreover, he had every confidence that Alambiel would uncover pertinent information in her own investigation.

He himself needed to focus on determining how the hole in his defenses had been made and who else had been involved. With that task firmly in mind, Oreius entered his study. A missive was lying atop his papers. Opening the envelope, he drew out a sheath of parchment. The handwriting leapt out at him. It was the same as the first note, the one he had discovered after they first returned home. But it was the message that filled his veins with ice.

One would think that you were intelligent enough to understand that you cannot keep her from me. I, on the other hand, am perfectly capable of keeping her from you. Permanently. This was only a practice run. The next attempt on your beloved princess's life will not fail.

Of course, one could admit that the sight of you holding her in your arms and then kissing a single lock of hair was almost touching. But when you are so obviously in love with your wife, it will always draw out those who were waiting for you to reveal your greatest weakness. Every touch, every smile, every heated look pushes your star closer and closer to her doom. As a Centaur, you should know that even stars will eventually fall . . . and die.

I wonder how loudly she will scream your name when she realizes you have placed her in the middle of the target.

What had he done? Oreius crumpled the message. He had dismissed Ruffalo after he had escorted Alambiel home so there had been no one to see the intruder who left this message. He had not wanted anyone to hear what he had to say to her. But now he had undeniable proof that someone was watching them, and worse, whoever it was had been watching their quarters, knew where his quarters were located.

Whoever was behind these letters must be employing Birds or Bats. And Alambiel . . .

Spurred by a sudden, irrational fear, Oreius rushed back to their bedchamber and flung the door open. Alambiel pushed up onto her elbow and blinked at him. "Oreius? It's not time for training."

He didn't answer for a moment as he struggled to control his emotions. If she had been more awake, he would not have gotten away without a more pointed inquiry. As it was, she had already half-sunk back down into the pillows when he cleared his throat then answered, "No. You are correct. It's not time for training. And you are not allowed to go to training, if you recall."

"I see that as the biggest benefit of staying inside the palace." He took too long to reply since Alambiel raised her head to peer at him and then yawned. "Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Ghosts do not exist." He hesitated then murmured, "I will bring you coffee."

"Are you going to have some with me?"

"If I can." His fist tightened, further crumpling the message. No, he would not tell her that they had been spied upon or that he was uncertain anywhere outside of their bedchamber was free of watching eyes. He remembered what she had told him about her Monster, about how that blackguard had made a show of watching her, of setting up spies, and how much she hated to be watched, how much it scared her. It had taken until the past year before she opened up about that hidden fear, after he had proposed to her. No, he would protect her against any harm coming from a mistimed moment of affection until this threat was eliminated.

Resolved to his course, no matter how difficult it would be, Oreius started to return to his study but he paused just inside the door. Turning back to the bed, he quietly spoke, "You know I love you, do you not?"

Alambiel sat up completely at that, her hair tumbling free over and around her shoulders as she wrapped her arms around her knees. She smiled. "Of course, I know. You show me that every day and with every little touch."

"Good. I don't want you to ever forget that I do love you, Alambiel. You are my heart."

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A/N: Please Read and Review!