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 Thirty-One: Two Hearts

3 Frostmoon 1009

Five days since she'd walked out on Despoina and she was still in trouble. And how was she supposed to know all the obscure rules and regulations that brides were supposed to adhere to for a year and a day? Her chances of winning Despoina over were as fragile as a single strand of thread now and she wasn't sure if she even wanted to try anymore.

Alambiel ran a hand over her "properly" loose hair as she reached her quarters. At the moment, all she wanted was a letter from the Kentauri giving her an exact date for his return. She opened the doors and slipped inside. A twist of the key and all potential interruptions were locked out. She sagged against the doors, closed her eyes, and let out a long breath.

Then she heard it. The scuff against one of the rugs and the sound of leather creaking. "Alambiel?"

She didn't say a word. Her emotions were a snarl as she wanted to weep, yell, and laugh all at once. Instead, she forced herself to be calm as she opened her eyes to see Oreius. The Kentauri's armor had been removed but he still wore his swords. She took in the bruises decorating his left side and the scratch running down his right cheek from the corner of his eye to his jaw. She straightened and took two small steps toward him, searching his dark gaze for some sign of what he was thinking, what he wanted her to do.

Then Oreius held out his arms. Alambiel willingly flung herself into them. She wrapped one hand tight around the back of the Kentauri's neck in order to keep from hitting his bruises. The feel of him, the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear was almost enough to make her break down and tell him everything that had happened while he was gone . . . and everything she had felt, even admitting how weak she had been after treating Shirin. But . . . but not yet. No, there were other things they desperately needed to discuss first. "The Giants?"

"Only one escaped to carry news of their defeat to his fellows." The Kentauri stepped back, easing from her embrace, then he turned away and unbuckled his swords then propped them up against the chaise lounge. "Two of the soldiers in the patrol were killed and we lost a quarter of the garrison at the outpost."

"But you stopped them."

"Yes."

She frowned as she watched him moving about with a stiffness she didn't usually witness. "Did you even let the healers examine you?"

"There was no need." Oreius glanced at her over his shoulder and offered a wan smile that did not reach his eyes. "A bath will put me to rights, Wife, then you can fuss over a scratch or two if that will appease you."

She watched him retreat into the bedchamber then called, "You do realize your side shouldn't be purple and black, right?"

His only excuse of an answer was a huff and then the bathroom door shutting firmly in his wake. Alambiel rolled her eyes, taking some comfort in the familiarity of trying to take care of the Kentauri's wounds (there were Giants involved, they were wounds) despite his insistence that he was just fine, this was something she knew she could handle. She pulled her healing kit out of the bottom drawer of the wardrobe and then examined the jars. One would have to wait until the Kentauri dried off, the one for his bruises naturally, but the other one she could use right away. Whatever had scratched his face had already had too much time to become infected for her liking.

There was no sign of her husband anywhere when she slipped into the bath. But there was a steaming tub full of water. The marble fixture was quite simply huge, being built for Narnia's larger denizens. Alambiel shook her head then sat by the edge. She rolled her sleeve back and then slipped her hand in the water. She splashed for a moment then withdrew her hand and dried it off on a spare towel. Oreius surfaced less than a minute later. "You followed."

"Would you have preferred I didn't?"

His gaze dropped to the jar she was now cradling as he pushed back his soaked hair. "I would have preferred a different reason."

Alambiel shook the jar at him. "Come here, Kentauri. Let me take care of this and then I'll leave you to your bath."

Dark eyes watched her closely for several minutes but then he made his way over to her. He looked faintly amused when she scooted to the right after he sloshed water by raising his arms and folding them atop the edge of the tub. "I was told you were not at the banquet."

She glanced at the rich plum velvet of her gown and hid a grimace. "I was having dinner with your relatives." She focused on opening the jar and then dipping two fingers into the cold, creamy ointment.

"They are still here?"

"Yes, a chara. Thanks for the warning, by the way."

Oreius grimaced, but it might have been from the cool touch of the ointment. "It slipped my mind. Ettins were far more alarming. And you had already driven thoughts of Despoina away."

She stiffened in spite of herself, her hand stilling over the scratch. "It wasn't my intent but our timing seems to only have grown worse over the years when it comes to the important conversations."

"Alambiel-"

"Were you terribly disappointed?" It was quite the feat to avoid looking someone in the eyes while staring into their face, but she managed it. She focused solely on the scratch. It didn't look too bad so she had hope the ointment would keep it from becoming infected or scarring. Her heart hammered in her chest when the Kentauri didn't answer. She finished the first application of the ointment then gently rubbed it in with her thumb. He would speak when he felt like it.

"I was disappointed," came the low reply.

She nodded. She had known it anyway in that brief glimpse before he assumed his role of General. So why did the words still sting? "I didn't know what to think. I didn't know if I was happy or not to be pregnant . . . or at least possibly pregnant. You know I want children but I was . . ." She trailed off as she realized just how bad that probably sounded to him.

Oreius raised one hand to clasp her fingers. "Tell me, please."

"I wasn't sure at first if I wanted a child so soon after we married but then you were excited and I wanted the baby for your sake." She darted a glance at him but Oreius' eyes were closed. She took a steadying breath then whispered, "I cannot remember whether we discussed children and how many we want and how soon we wanted them. Beyond what we told Alcippe. Did we discuss it?"

"Yes." Oreius opened his eyes with a sigh that sounded very weary but he didn't let go of her fingers. "Yes, we did. We had a number of long conversations about foals and when we would most like to expand our little herd. But that was before last year."

"Before Redhaven."

It wasn't a question but he still nodded. "Yes."

"Maybe you should have considered marrying some Centauress who still had all her marbles." Alambiel's eyes widened as soon as the words slipped free but it was too late to call them back.

Oreius gave her a puzzled look. "Have you been playing with Peridan's twins again?" Then he shook his head. "And as we discussed before I proposed, I would not trade you for any Centauress, no matter how delicate her hooves or fine her eyes or pretty her tail. You are my star, Alambiel, no one else could take your place in my heart or fit me so completely."

She nodded. She knew it, she believed him, but it seemed her own foolish insecurities hadn't been completely banished. She cleared her throat then looked down, feeling rather shy as she asked, "Did you really want a baby right away, Oreius?"

"It was not something I truly considered, sweet. But when you told me it was possible, I was excited for the coming foal and I will admit that I assumed you were indeed expecting when you did not immediately deny Alithia's suggestion." Oreius squeezed her fingers, making her meet his gaze. The Kentauri offered a slight smile. "I think, my sweet Bird of Paradise, we do not have to make the decisions about foals in one conversation. If Aslan chooses to bless us with a foal before our second anniversary, it is in His paws. If He does not, we can discuss foals when the timing seems right. Until then, we will enjoy our life together, agreed?"

Alambiel smiled, feeling one of the huge weights that had been hanging over her drop away. "Agreed. And thank you."

The Kentauri chuckled and then he yanked her into the tub. Water temporarily blinded her and she surfaced coughing and spluttering with her husband's laughter ringing in her ears. Then strong arms came around her and tugged her back against his chest. Alambiel hissed then splashed him. "You boneheaded, arrogant, egotistical stallion! And to think I missed you! I should-"

Water cut her off as they submerged. When they surfaced, Oreius was kissing her. Alambiel savored the taste of his kiss for a few moments then she splashed him in the face and wriggled free of his grip. She waded through the water, ignoring his attempt to recapture her. She absolutely could not laugh.

"You've ruined my dress. Tuulea will not be happy."

"All the more reason for you to join me."

"Is that supposed to be a retort?"

"No." The Kentauri grinned at her. "An invitation."

Alambiel wrung out her soaked skirts then did the same to her hair before she snatched some towels for herself. "No, you're just trying to distract me from those bruises that still need tending and we still need to talk about some other matters."

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Oreius could not help the low chuckle that escaped as he watched his fierce lady leave the bath. He had missed her, worried over her whenever he had a few moments to himself during the campaign to retake the outpost, and wished he had had the time to discuss the matter of foals before he left. At least that had been mended.

Even if he had not been successful in persuading Alambiel to join him, the warm water was soothing and eased the aches left over from the battles and hard travel. He had pressed his soldiers to march at the fastest pace they could, even with the wounded and the dead who had fallen in battle, to return to Cair Paravel. The soldiers who had been killed during the initial attack . . .

Oreius submerged, letting the water carry away the grim thoughts and memories. He did not need to dwell on those tonight. He would not dwell on them. Tonight was for his wife and no one else.

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"Hold still." Alambiel scowled at the Kentauri then once again reached for the bruises. "Honestly, you're worse than a wriggly puppy."

"Centaurs are not puppies."

"Oh no, of course not." She glanced up at him. "Your swords aren't going to vanish just because you held still long enough for me to apply this."

He huffed. "I prefer your attention when you are not acting as a healer."

"Then don't come home battered and bruised." She leaned back and replaced the top on the squat jar. "There, you see? Finished and I would have been done sooner if you hadn't kept moving."

Oreius stared down at her. "Then I have your permission to see to my weapons now."

Alambiel's lips twitched. "Please do. Maybe then you will hold still long enough for us to talk."

"We had the opportunity to talk earlier," the Kentauri intoned as he picked up his swords then settled on the rug in front of the fireplace. "You chose not to."

She grinned in spite of herself as she shook her head. "Oh no, you didn't want to talk. You wanted to play."

Oreius chuckled. "Yes."

Tucking her feet beneath her, she shifted to find a more comfortable positon. She was also questioning herself on why she had stayed on the chaise lounge instead of joining Oreius. Because I have to stay focused or I'll lose my courage and avoid the issue. She watched the movement of the Kentauri's arm and hand as he applied the sharpening stone to the first of his twin swords. Say it. You have to say it. "I wrote you twice while you were gone." The sharpening stone slowed but didn't stop. "Did you receive the letters?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you write back?"

The sharpening stone stilled for a moment then resumed its steady pace. "I intended to, Alambiel. But I needed to focus on the task at hand and I never managed to find the time to reply."

It made sense. It made perfect sense and was perfectly reasonable but somehow it still hurt a little. "I understand." And she did, truly she did. And she wasn't sure if Oreius even realized what he was doing. Now she had to make him see it. "I pledge to value you as my equal, to fight beside you, to tease you, to stand firm with you in troubled times, to make you laugh, to soothe you, to care for you, and to love you far more than I shall ever love myself."

The Kentauri startled and then looked at her, bewilderment in his dark gaze. "What are you doing?"

Alambiel raised her chin slightly but she kept her voice soft as she replied, "I am reminding you of what I pledged. I pledged to be your confidante, your friend, your lover, your wife. I did not pledge to be your secret."

"I am not treating you like a secret."

The coldness in that statement would have scared off someone else, someone who didn't know the Kentauri. Alambiel didn't let it deter her and she didn't attack. "You might not see it that way, Oreius, but that is how it feels to me. You are distancing yourself from me. You started it when we returned from our honeymoon but I didn't think it was anything that bothersome until you stopped interacting with me outside the privacy of our bedchamber. When we were courting you stole kisses and you held my hand where people could see us." A faint smile appeared as she recalled some of his antics. "You also brought me flowers and you were not ashamed for people to know that we were a couple. But now . . . I have done everything you asked of me, I have followed every restriction but it doesn't seem to be enough. You do not talk to me. You do not even touch me so much as to take my hand and I keep wondering when you're going to ask me to confine myself to these rooms. And that is something I cannot do. I cannot live in a tower waiting for my husband to remember I exist and come visit me on occasion. But, I don't know how to fix this distance between us because I don't know why it's there."

She paused for breath then forced the question out, "Are you distancing yourself because you are angry with me or is it because you are ashamed to have me as wife?"

Oreius stared at her, a dark scowl casting a shadow over his face and sharpening the angular planes. "You think I am trying to shut you away. I am not. I am only trying to protect you. That was my pledge to you. To protect and defend you."

"I know. But this," she gestured between them, "isn't working. And you already told me you regretted proposing to me, marrying me in Greenroof, and I fear it doesn't take much for me to wonder if that regret is part of the reason you are pulling away from me." She swallowed hard, willing the tears back. This was not the time to fall apart or to remember Despoina's scathing summation of her failures as a Centaur's wife. "And I'm scared, Chuisle. I'm scared we won't be able to fix this distance because I have done something that makes you leery of trusting me anymore."

He set his sword aside and then held out his hands to her. "Come here." As soon as she slipped off the chaise lounge and placed her hands in his, he tugged her down so she was sitting on his forelegs. Calloused fingers caressed her jaw and cheek as the Kentauri rested his forehead against hers. "Forgive me, Alambiel. Forgive me. I never meant to cause you fear or worry. Distance seemed the best way to protect you. My regret . . . I never should have told you that. I was concerned when you told me that you were still experiencing difficulties with your memories that I had pushed for what I most wanted too soon."

She looked into his eyes, reading the different emotions in their dark depths. "How much of this is being driven by Redhaven and Mordad? I think you feel his ghost more strongly than I do."

He tensed and his jaw took on the familiar stubborn set. "There is an active threat against you."

"So we're not allowed to be a normal married couple? Who aren't afraid to let the world know that we love each other?" Alambiel slipped her hand up to rest against the back of his neck, feeling the tension radiating there. "My poor Kentauri. I am such a bad wife to bring you so much misery and stress and the worst part is I don't even get to enjoy stressing you out."

He didn't respond to her joke. It wasn't one of her best but she had hoped for some effort on his part. "I would be the poorest of husbands if I permitted my own affection for you to endanger you."

"Oreius, you are one of the most intelligent people I know but that's one of the stupidest things you've ever said." Alambiel brought her other hand up, locking her fingers behind his neck. "Redhaven haunts you. Tell me why."

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He stared at his wife. The question was not one he had allowed himself to examine. Memories surfaced even as he traced her jaw, her cheek, her lips and he flinched. "You were broken. I almost lost you because of it and because of Mordad finding you in Redhaven."

"Mordad could have found me anywhere since he was hunting for me."

"He only hunted for you because of Markus and that one would not have been able to set him on you if I had seen to it he was taken care of once we escaped Veri."

"I knew I should have hit him. All right . . ." Alambiel pressed her fingers against his neck, massaging gently. "Even though Mordad didn't come up with the idea to come after me on his own, you've been acting like his ghost is very much alive. Tell me why he out of everyone, including Medea and Heikki, bothers you the most."

He did not want to tell her. His wife's gaze was open and gentle, the same expression he had seen her turn on wounded foals just before they confessed their greatest fears to her. She thought he didn't trust her anymore. He could only fix that by being honest with her. Oreius sighed and rested his forehead against hers. "He broke you. I lost you and it broke my heart to see you so . . . lost and afraid of me, of everyone. I could not find a way to breach the divide between us even after Aslan came to your aid and I feared the loss would be permanent. Mordad did that to you. He was the one I failed to shield you from; I failed to keep my promise to you."

He fell silent for a moment then admitted gruffly, "I have yet to forgive myself for that failure. I love you too much to willingly endanger you by showing my affection at times when some enemy will use it to confirm that killing you will harm me."

"What if we die tomorrow? What if I lose you? What if we have a very long and happy life together?" Alambiel shifted on his forelegs and he wondered if she was uncomfortable but then she removed one of her hands from his neck to touch his cheek. "Oreius, my chuisle, you are the one who taught me the risk of being hurt by letting down my walls was not so great as to outweigh the benefits of living a full life and accepting love. You are the one who taught me that I shouldn't be unwilling to take a chance just because I might get hurt. It gives the ghosts of our past too much power over our lives. Life is messy and we can't predict how things will turn out."

Oreius wrapped his arms more securely around her. "I know. But foolish risks-"

She pressed her hand over his mouth cutting him off. "Are part of living. Much as you dislike them . . . and I dislike the paperwork caused by them." The little rueful smile was almost soothing as was the calm in her voice and he found himself relaxing somewhat. Alambiel nodded. "Believe me, Kentauri, I know all about letting the ghosts and monsters have too much control. Don't let Mordad tear us apart. Please."

Her fingers slipped away from his mouth but he could not speak as tears shimmered in his wife's blue eyes and then spilled over her lashes to roll down her cheeks. "Please," she whispered, "don't let him win in death what he failed to accomplish in life. He separated us only temporarily. Don't let his ghost and the emptyheaded blackguards who write threats from the safety of other lands tear us apart permanently. You have always expressed your love through action and touch more than words. I know how to interpret those. Silence is what hurts. It hurt in Redhaven; I thought you were breaking off our courtship, but that we survived. Don't push me away, Oreius. Don't make it hurt so much to love you. Don't make me wonder if you regret our love, please."

"Alambiel." He kissed her tears away. "Alambiel, forgive me. I do not tell you often enough that you are my reason for doing anything outside of my duties as General, that I love you. And I have not shown you how I feel recently either. Forgive me for giving you cause to think my feelings were ambiguous or changing in regards to you and our relationship." He ran one hand over her hair, curling some of the silky strands between his fingers. "I do not regret you or our love. I am blessed beyond measure to have you, to be loved by you. And I am not ashamed of you. I am proud of you. I am honored that you chose to be my wife because you had any number of suitors you could have chosen who could have wooed you with silver tongues."

His wife laughed suddenly. "I always thought it would be weird to kiss someone with a silver tongue."

He chuckled in spite of himself then sobered as Alambiel gave him a serious look. "And, Oreius, there is nothing to forgive." She smiled and it amazed him how much the look eased his spirit. "But we are agreed that you will stop trying to keep me from standing by your side, yes?"

"I will do my best to remember that you are more than capable of scaring our enemies away," he promised. "However, I ask that you continue adhering to the restrictions in place for now." She frowned a little but nodded then looked away. Oreius gently pressed his fingers against her jaw, turning her head back toward him so he could look into her eyes. "It will only last until you and I have made the final decisions on which changes will be kept and which will be set aside. There is still an active threat against you and I have yet to find the traitors who allowed the hole in our defenses. I know you do not like being guarded but I ask that you be patient in this matter."

Alambiel was silent for several minutes then she nodded. "Very well but I am growing bored with it, Kentauri. Fair warning."

"No coups until after I find the traitors."

She giggled and Oreius smiled. He loved making her laugh. She hadn't laughed enough last year. She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned close, her lips brushing against his, as she murmured, "I suppose I can find other ways to entertain myself. But no more talk of sadness and grim reality tonight, deal?"

"What shall we talk about instead?"

The look she gave him from beneath her lashes set his blood on fire. Her breath tickled his lips as she whispered, "No more talking. I'd rather play."

Her kiss made him gasp for air but he still managed to grin. "That I can arrange."

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It had taken long for the General and his mate to retire, even longer for them to finally sleep, long enough that the sun's painful rays were not far from appearing. The small Bat scanned the area, wary of being seen, then he glided down through the partially opened doors. Nipping through the thick drapes, he fluttered his wings once as he landed on top of the mate's mirror. At least Ruffalo would not be in this room. The Sparrow was still stationed in the General's study but it was not the study he had been tasked with this time.

The Bat crawled down the side of the mirror, pausing once when the mate stirred but she did not wake enough to notice his presence. He wrapped his black wings around himself as he sat on the edge of the dressing table watching the sleeping couple, ensuring that the two warriors had not set a trap for him. Their breathing and heartbeats did not change even when the mate reached up to rest her claws on the General's forelimb. The sky would lighten soon. He had to hurry.

Crawling over to the box, the Bat inserted his claw into the seam and then lifted the lid. He ran a claw over the shiny gemstones linking to the blue sapphire. But that was not what he had come for . . . tonight at least. The instructions had been specific. And what he had been sent for was easy to find and slipped into the little cloth pouch with an ease the pretty jewels would not have shared. The Bat quietly shut the lid then crawled back up to the top of the mate's mirror.

He froze as the mate suddenly sat up. "Frostmoon not Greenroof. Close the window."

The General stirred enough to pull his mate back down. "Windows are closed. Go to sleep."

Seizing the opportunity, the Bat spread his wings and glided into the part between the heavy drapes. A cool breeze off the ocean buffeted him, making him fall, and then he heard the mate hiss in displeasure. Fear granted strength to his wings and he flew up then latched onto the wall directly above the doors. There was the slight vibration of the mate's movements and then the doors leading out to the balcony were shut.

The Bat waited, listening for the cry of alarm when the mate realized she had been robbed, but it did not come and he could sense the sun coming ever closer. He would need to hurry if he hoped to fulfill the second half of his instructions. He waited for the patrol to pass then he took to the sky, the little pouch grasped firmly in his claws.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Couple's therapy, KnockOut style. I think it worked out well . . . other than that Bat. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.