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 Forty: Respite

A collective sigh of relief seemed to have been released by all Cair Paravel after the departure of the Calormene envoy. Susan herself, however, was not quite so relaxed as many of the Cair's other denizens. Four days ago it had seemed wisest to allow Markus at least some freedom but she had not taken into account how awkward she would find it to run into him in the course of her duties. How much easier it was to control her interactions with the man when he was affixed to a single space. She found herself missing that element of control.

"Su?"

She started slightly then smiled at her sister. "What is it, Lucy?"

Lucy came up to her, her court dress dirty up to the knees with a mix of mud and the remnants of the first snow. Muddy paw prints decorated the shoulders of her gown and her hair had slipped out of its neat braids. Her cheeks were red from the cold but her eyes were bright and she was beaming in typical Lucy fashion. "You look so glum. You should've come outside with me and the Greybacks. We also ran into some Tiger cubs and it was the first time they'd seen snow (even though this wasn't very much) and we had ever so much fun. It was too bad that Kat wasn't able to come, she always has fun with the cubs."

Susan frowned. "She told you no again?"

"No, she was in a meeting when I went to ask." Her sister's smile faded a little. "I'm not sure who she was meeting with but Kat was actually yelling at them. Ptah was inside the study with her."

"One of the soldiers, then." She patted Lucy's hand then plucked a twig out of her hair. "If they have done something to make her yell at them, it was deserved. It will probably lead to a disciplinary limited duty." She plucked another twig from her sister's tangled locks. "Lucy, were you crawling through the bushes with those Tiger cubs?"

Lucy laughed. "No, I was crawling through them when Remus and Romulus were trying to find me. That's how I found the Tiger cubs. Their mother was very grateful to let us play with them so she could have a nice nap."

Susan sighed but a fond little smile still won out. "I'm certain she was but you really do need to change your gown and clean up. You'll catch a cold otherwise."

"Oh Susan, I hardly ever catch colds. Peter catches pneumonia and Edmund catches a broken leg with far more ease." Lucy paused then asked almost hesitantly, "Will Markus be joining us for dinner tonight?"

"I don't believe so. He's still taking all his meals in his rooms." She kept walking, knowing her sister would follow, and angled her steps toward the Royal Wing. "We shouldn't press him too soon. I doubt Peter and Edmund will be comfortable with the idea of having Markus as a guest just yet."

"Are you sure it's not more than that?"

Susan cleared her throat. "Well, Markus might not be very comfortable just yet either." And she wasn't quite sure if she was ready to face him across the dinner table.

Lucy was giving her an odd look. She hoped her little sister wasn't going to indulge in some silly fancy. Susan looked around, trying to think of something to distract her. She smiled suddenly and touched Lucy's sleeve. "Oh look."

Just ahead of them, blushing and talking, were none other than dear Mr. Tumnus and Harmonia the Apple Dryad. The two had yet to realize they were being observed. Susan smiled as Harmonia plucked one of the apple blossoms from her white hair and then tucked into the knot of the Faun's scarf. The gentle pink looked rather jaunty against Mr. Tumnus' blue knitted scarf. Lucy giggled just as the Apple Dryad looked as though she were about to kiss his cheek, startling the couple into springing away from each other.

The sisters looked at each other and nodded. It was clear that Mr. Tumnus and Harmonia were still in need of some help from the matchmakers. Otherwise, the dears would spend years blushing in each other's presence without making much progress.

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Thalia's smile widened as Peter draped their rain-soaked cloaks in front of the fireplace. Shirin was sitting up, wrapped in a number of blankets, in the little bed. To Thalia's immense pleasure, the girl was willing to meet her gaze this time and even offered a timid smile. Tuulea rose and walked into the main room while Thalia crossed to the bed and then knelt beside it, gently taking Shirin's hand between her two. "Good morn, little one."

"Good morning, O Mis—" The sapling paused, dark eyes widening, then she nearly tripped over her words attempting to remedy her mistake. "I mean good morning your highness Thalia."

Thalia resisted a giggle. "'Tis very difficult to change one's habit of speaking, is it not, Shir— See?" She smiled at the little one who smiled back. "Have you chosen your new name yet?"

The sapling once known as Shirin nodded. "I am Parvaneh."

"That is a very beautiful name," Peter said as he entered the room. Her husband gave the sapling a look full of the tender gentleness he used on his sisters, Vedis, and almost every seedling in Cair Paravel as well as the smallest of Narnians. Still Shir- Parvaneh tensed and her thick lashes fluttered down as she trembled slightly. Thalia squeezed the poor sapling's hand but she did not speak just yet. The Princess Royal had advised that they use Peter to help teach the young one that not all men were as cruel as the one who had trapped her in a foul mockery of marriage. Peter took a deep breath then sat in Tuulea's chair. "Does it have a special meaning?"

Parvaneh's breathing was rapid and Thalia could feel her rapid pulse fluttering beneath her fingers. There was the slightest tremble in her voice as she whispered, "Butterfly. Parvaneh means 'butterfly.'"

Peter glanced at her and then turned his head, presenting his profile to them and obviously trying to put the sapling at ease. "That is a beautiful meaning to match a beautiful name and just right for a beautiful, brave girl like you."

Thalia smiled encouragingly as Parvaneh darted a wary glance at her. Then she saw the hint of innocent curiosity creeping into the sapling's dark eyes as she studied Peter's magnificent profile. Thalia's smile widened because she knew her husband was completely unaware of how attractively noble and strong and brave he was. He looked like a king.

"You know, I think your name is much prettier than mine. Peter means 'rock.'" Her husband grinned suddenly, now even more approachable. "My brother tells me it suits me because my head is as hard as rock."

There was a hint of a giggle from the sapling before she ducked her head once more. Tuulea peeked into the room. The elder Nymph had a pleased air about her as she observed the room. "It is time for Parvaneh to have her bandages changed. And, High King, I believe your brother is looking for you."

"Thank you, Tuulea." Thalia watched as her husband rose and then he bowed most gallantly (causing her own heart to flutter a little) to the sapling. "Lady Parvaneh, pray excuse your humble servant, but healers are not to be ignored. They make me drink the nastiest of medicines when I do. Aslan's blessings on you."

He strode off as golden as the sun. Thalia rose to follow but Shir- Parvaneh tugged at her sleeve. "Why does he look like the sun and the roses from the garden?"

"The roses from the garden?"

Parvaneh nodded shyly. "His eyes look like the roses. The ones that were made of sky and sea." She plucked at one of the blankets, a blush darkening her skin. "He's pretty."

Thalia giggled. "Yes, he is." Then on impulse she pressed a gentle kiss to the young one's head, amidst the tousled, thick curls. "Listen to Tuulea and rest well, Parvaneh. There is naught to fear."

She was tempted to stay and assist Tuulea in taking care of the sapling but, as Peter draped the somewhat drier cloak around her shoulders, Thalia knew it was best to leave. Especially since they did not want to draw too much attention to the little cottage. They were already only permitted to visit every other day and only for brief amounts of time. But the visits were enough to encourage Thalia for they reminded her that it was possible to heal from the axe's stroke.

It was a refreshing drizzle outside. As they wandered down the path leading to the rest of the gardens, Thalia could feel the effects of the storm watering her Tree in her home grove, strengthening it further, and was tempted to dance in the rain. But there was no time. Still, she did not trouble herself with her hood as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the rain against her skin.

Peter's chuckle rolled through the air, warming her to the core. "It's hard to believe that it was trying to snow only two days past. Now we're just having some proper rainy weather for Stormfall."

Thalia laughed softly but did not open her eyes. Oh how she wished she could dance. That there were not some pressing duties that would lure her strong oak away from her until she finished aiding the Gentle and the Valiant and could join him, support him. Two strong arms as solid as the branches of the mightiest of oaks wrapped around her and then a kiss as blazing as the sun's warm rays captured her mouth. Thalia startled and then she willingly, eagerly sank into her husband's proffered warmth and security. Oh how she thanked Aslan daily for him.

Then Peter loosened one of his arms and took her right hand in his. His blue eyes twinkled with love of such heat that it brought a blush to her cheeks as he pressed a fervent kiss to her fingers. Then he twirled her once before returning his right hand to her waist. Thalia laughed in delight as Peter pulled her into a jaunty reel and then he picked her up and whirled around, cloaks flaring. As they waltzed down the path, Thalia once again thanked Aslan for a husband who understood her unspoken desires so very well. She was the most blessed among women.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Just a nice little break from all the excitement and angst. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.