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-Three: Doomed

"We've been through the papers found at Merry's lair. There is nothing to incriminate Markus." A hint of a satisfied smile curved Kat's mouth even though she didn't let any smugness slip into her tone. "And from what we can tell Merry was the only true spy the Tisroc (may he lose all his wits forever) managed to plant. The files you had your spies remove from Tisroc Babak's belongings also prove that he hadn't sent along Merry's last dispatch to whoever held his leash, which is good for us and tough luck for the Calormenes."

Edmund was trying not to squirm under the General's glare. The Centaur had not spoken once during the meeting, instead, allowing Kat to do all the talking. He racked his brain for what he or more likely his magnificent blunder of a brother had done to so irritate Oreius. It had to be Peter's fault. It couldn't have been him. Or his Wolves because he had sent them to go play with, err, guard Corin as soon as the boy made his exuberant presence known. He had it on the best of authority the three of them were working with Peridan's twins to give that man white hair as they dashed around on the beach.

But what if- No, it couldn't have been- Corin was too big to wrap himself around Oreius' leg now. And Kat would have been able to run interference. She had more tolerance for Corin than Oreius. No, it couldn't be related to-

"Ed," his brother's sharp hiss made him sit up straighter.

"This is all your fault, Peter."

"What?" Peter shook his head. "You weren't listening at all."

A wary glance proved the General's glare had somehow darkened further. Edmund hurried to defend himself. "No. That is, what I mean is that it sounds as though we have finally accounted for the holes in our defenses and we have cut the spy ring off at the neck."

Oreius stamped a hoof. "For now. Though Merry had two contacts she intended to use."

"Or they were one and the same," Kat added, unperturbed as always by the black look Oreius gave her. Edmund almost glared at her too. After all, she wasn't the one forced to visit the points of the compass until she couldn't move anymore if Oreius was irritated. "However, it is possible that the news of Oreius' interrogations of the three Archenlandish lords will scare him or them into packing up shop and putting their espionage days behind them. Or him."

She was doing it on purpose. She had to be. Edmund took a fortifying breath as the General turned his dark look back on Peter . . . and him. But he was certain it was mainly Peter being glared at now. His big brother cleared his throat nervously. "Ahem. Then perhaps we can abolish . . . or merely relax the extra security measures?"

Oreius glared. He was going to say no. Then Kat just had to talk. "I think that's a very reasonable decision."

The Centaur's glare shifted to his wife again and Edmund barely kept his sigh of relief from escaping. "Sepphora, it is not your decision."

"Oh I know."

Edmund wondered if begging Kat to stop talking would be worth whatever prank she decided to pull on him in retaliation. But she just smiled and rocked back on her heels. "However, I think you have forgotten to take into consideration the fact that if you do not allow us to leave the grounds, you will never be able to rid yourself of the one person you truly want out from under your hooves for the duration of his visit."

Oreius flicked his tail and then stamped a hoof again. Then he turned back to them, his face stern and foreboding. "It would seem that the immediate threat has been resolved. Therefore, I will allow you to resume excursions outside of Cair Paravel's grounds."

"And the guards?" Kat prodded.

"The additional guards will be reduced. However, they shall not be done away with entirely until I am satisfied that the traitor's witting compatriots have been removed as potential threats." The General's glare sharpened as he added brusquely, "And Sirs How and Wolfsbane shall report to the training yard at fourth hour in the morn."

As soon as Oreius left, Edmund hung his head. "Peter, this is all your fault."

"My fault?" His brother stared at him. "How is any of this my fault?"

"I don't know, but it is somehow your fault because it is always your fault. You're the magnificent one, after all."

"And you're the clever one. That means it was most likely your fault. What did you do to make Oreius so mad?"

"I'm the clever one, which means it definitely wasn't my fault because I'm too clever to do something that would irritate Oreius. Wittingly."

"Ah ha!" Peter pointed at him, a ridiculous expression of triumph appearing as he did so. "Then you must have unwittingly irritated Oreius and somehow I got pulled into this too."

"Me? You actually think I'm the one who irritated Oreius? No, no, brother mine, it must have been you." Edmund grinned. "And Oreius will agree as soon as he hears that you knocked over the stand for his armor while he was gone. Are you quite sure the Dwarfs got that dent out of the breastplate, Pevensie?"

Peter turned a sickly green before he snapped, "Yes, I'm sure! He won't notice a thing if you keep your mouth shut, Ed."

Edmund opened his mouth to fire off a gleeful retort when rich laughter interrupted. His jaw snapped shut as he and Peter spun to see Kat still standing in the room, holding her sides as she tilted her head back to laugh. "Doomed is what you are, boyos."

"Doomed?" they echoed, exchanging worried looks. The more Kat enjoyed the situation, the worse it was going to be for them.

Peter cleared his throat, looking rather nervous as he asked, "What do you mean?"

"Let's see where to begin. Mud, daggers, small landside, incessant talking and questioning and bouncing when he wasn't on that poor pony, an attempted boxing match with a Kangaroo stationed at the border outpost (which resulted in Oreius being punched . . . by the also doomed Kangaroo), spilled coffee (thrice mind you), broken branches resulting in a highly irate Woodpecker who chased us and pecked Oreius because he was in between him and Corin, stirred up beehive (that was very bad). Oh, and plans to invade the sanctity of the Kentauri's training yard by your invitation, Edmund."

Kat responded with a list. Why did she have to respond with a list? He didn't even want to ask. Kat had no mercy either as she laughed again. "And young Corin was quite happy to remind Oreius twice every hour he was awake that he was joining us in Cair Paravel by your invitation, Peter. And Edmund, well, I don't think Oreius is going to forgive you any time this century for plaguing him with Corin in the training yard." She grinned. "You two are so doomed and I'm going to get up at a ridiculous hour tomorrow morn just so I can watch whatever evil lesson the Kentauri has in store for you. It's going to be the best entertainment I've had in months."

She spun about and literally waltzed toward the doors. Edmund scowled. "You're not the least bit funny."

Kat only twirled as she singsonged, "Doomed! Doo-whoo-oomed!"

He watched her waltz out and then looked at his brother. "Peter?"

"Edmund?"

"We're doomed."

Peter only sighed. "I know."

"He'll only let us live so he can torture us more until Corin goes home."

"I know."

"Susan and Lucy want Corin to stay through the winter. All winter."

His brother nodded sadly. "I know."

Edmund stared at his boots, idly tapping one heel against the throne. There had to be some solution. But, after some time, even Narnia's finest judge had to admit defeat. Edmund sighed, knowing there was only one option left to him and his brother. "Peter?"

"Edmund?"

"Let's steal that apple pie Susan baked this morn. We're doomed. Might as well be happily stuffed when we go to our unenviable fate."

"Sounds like a plan, brother mine."

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The world he fell into was not like Charn at all. The language was different and the people were strange with their odd robes, wooden shoes that raised them above the ground, and their oddly slanted eyes and yellow skin. And they were all much shorter than most of the adults of Charn. The boy had almost thought the man who had originally found him floundering through the submerged fields was a boy not much past thirteen but then he saw the grey streaks in the man's topknot and the wrinkles only age could paint. Everything had been different. At first.

He had been but eight when he fell through the pool in the Land beyond Time and his quick learning proved his ally. Within a year, he knew the language and was unofficially adopted into the shogun's household. Tamuramaro had seen potential in him. And the Fire Dragon had liked him when the shogun originally brought the boy to the mountains. Within three years, the boy was learning new ways to manipulate his magic adding the techniques of the Heian people to those taught to him by his father and he had been introduced to the techniques of fighting with a katana. Within five years, the boy was making a name for himself in battles against the kappa who raided the village. His use of magic and the katana were not to be underestimated. For ten and a half years, the boy was happy. He had a home and a family.

And then it all changed . . .

His magic was roiling inside his chest as he approached the cavern. The boy reached down, touching the hilt of his katana in some small reassurance. His magic did not act quite the same way in Heia as he remembered in Charn. Though those days grew faded. He should have been at the barracks but when the village girl raced up to him, begging for help, for saving from the demon in the cavern, he had given into the child's pleas. Now she was at the mouth of the cavern, watching as he walked further into the depths.

He scanned the bare walls and floor. No bones or jewelry that the kappa liked to stockpile in their lairs. The girl had probably been scared by the stories and imagined a demon. The only occupants of the cavern were bats. But as he turned to head for the cavern's mouth, something happened. His magic jumped, flaring almost painfully as it licked along his arms and hands causing the torch to ignite. He dropped it with a hiss and then barked the spell to put it out.

The air shimmered in a way that tickled his memory. And he stepped forward.

A moment later, he was doubled over wheezing from the staff that had been rammed into his diaphragm. He summoned his magic but something in the air stopped him. It was different. Different from Charn, different from Heia. The magic in the air was far wilder than he had felt before. Finally, Markus looked up.

He froze. It was impossible. It had to be impossible. But there before him, clad in white and wielding a wand that looked to be carved of ice, was Jadis. Her green eyes were cold and mocking. An expression mirrored by the dark-haired man and woman on either side of her. Their magic filled the air. And it tasted like Jadis'. The witch had spawn.

Before he could react, Jadis forced his chin up with the end of her wand. She smiled, the same cruel, heartless smile she had given when she murdered his father. "Markus, dear. It's been far too long. I think it's time we had a proper chat, don't you?"

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23 Stormfall 1009

Markus ignored the drizzling rain as he walked, hands clasped behind him, around one of the terraced gardens that over looked the Eastern Sea. He could taste the promise of snow in the air. It would not be long before snow blanketed even the coastal regions of Narnia. The arrival of the Crown Prince of Archenland had made keeping the bounds of his parole more difficult, though. Some days he dared not stir beyond the boundaries of his quarters for fear of coming into contact with the young Son of Adam.

"I thought I could find you around here."

He looked over his shoulder to see the Just King stomping his way toward him. His dark hair was plastered against his pale brow but the dark, piercing gaze of Narnia's Judge was not quite so stern. It seemed Markus was not yet in trouble. He bowed his head, mindful of the guards watching. "I am being sought?"

"You're hiding from Corin. He hasn't succeeded in finding you yet, so obviously you are the man to find if I should want a relief from having to keep an eye on him." King Edmund grinned. "Peter's watching him now."

"Ah."

The young man chuckled then ran pale fingers through his hair, causing the wet locks to stand up in an unusual manner. "I also thought I should tell you that my siblings and I have discussed the dilemma Corin presents to your parole. We have decided that you will not be considered in violation of your parole if you cross paths with Corin unintentionally. However, you will be in violation if you intentionally seek him out or if you engage him in conversation."

Markus bowed. "I hear and obey. Your Majesties are more gracious than I imagined."

King Edmund made a wry face. "A chap can't mend his ways if he is set up to fail." He looked out over the sea, which was currently a dark grey with white-capped swells. "It will get easier when you have earned more people's trust."

"I seem to make very little progress in that regard, Your Majesty. I fear I experience great difficulty when faced with the task of curbing my tongue and resisting taunting the servants of Aslan."

A period of long silence followed that pronouncement then King Edmund chuckled. "You are also a servant of Aslan now, Markus. However, I admit that there are more than a few of our fellow servants that I have great difficulty in resisting taunting. Especially Peter. But as his little brother, I am obligated to keep him on his toes."

A hint of a smile appeared on Markus' lips but he was quick to run a hand over his neat beard and mustache, effectively concealing the emotion. The brotherly taunts were amusing when he witnessed them (through the seeing spell and in person) but he was not certain he should express such mirth. "Taunting between brothers is not what I speak of, Your Majesty."

"I know." King Edmund turned to face him, a solemn, wise light in his dark eyes now. "Markus, I know how hard it is to want to earn people's trust but never knowing if you've actually succeeded. It takes time and you putting your best foot forward without expectation of reward or acknowledgment. It will take time but now that you're not sitting in the dungeons, you actually have the chance to make the decisions and choices in your actions that will prove to people your heart has changed."

Markus had to acknowledge the wisdom of the Son of Adam's words. And as one who was once ensnared by Jadis, he knew better than most what Markus faced. But he had no chance to enquire as to the Just's advice for how he could best be of use. Twin grey blurs hurtled out of the bushes and crashed into King Edmund. Howling, yipping, and wagging their tails so hard their entire bodies were wriggling, the two Wolves licked King Edmund's face even as they walked all over him, keeping him from escaping the muddy flowerbed they had knocked him into.

"King Edmund! King Edmund!"

The dark-haired king shoved the Wolves. "Gerroff! Remus! Ow! Get off!" The two Wolves bounded back, still gazing up at him with adoring yellow eyes and their tongues lolling in happy grins. King Edmund staggered to his feet, plastered in mud down his back and covered in muddy paw prints all over his front. He bit off a curse and then glared at his Wolves. "Why aren't the two of you helping Peter watch Corin?"

One of the Wolves wagged his tail. "King Peter lost the new puppy. He said to find you."

The other Wolf jostled him. "King Edmund, Remus forgot to mention that King Peter thought the new puppy went to the armory."

"But we already checked. The new puppy smells like bacon and cupcakes and he wasn't in the armory. Although he went through there earlier."

"Two hours ago."

"Three!" The Wolves glared at each other then looked back up the Just. Remus grinned. "King Edmund, will you and King Peter lose all of King Peter's puppies? You probably shouldn't because mamas bite hard when they think you don't take good care of their puppies. Will King Peter's mate bite him hard if he loses their puppies? Will she bite you?"

Markus looked away, straining not to laugh at the Wolf pup's incredible naïveté as the Just groaned in exasperation. The Wolf yipped in excitement. "King Edmund! Wait for us!"

The Wolves bounded along after him. "King Edmund?"

"What is it, Remus?"

"When are the General and Princess Royal going to have puppies?"

The dark head bowed and the narrow shoulders heaved in an exasperated sigh. "I don't know. Don't ask about it."

"Are we going to find the new puppy?"

"Yes. Come on, let's find the puppy, I mean, let's find Corin before Peter worries himself to death."

Once the trio had left, Markus sank onto the nearby bench and then he laughed and laughed and laughed.

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4 Yule 1009

"Cousin?"

Alambiel looked up from the limited duty roster. "Firemoon?" She laughed when the Centaur hesitated and waved him in. "Come on, I promise I won't bite. What is it you want?"

He cleared his throat then flicked his tail and then shifted his hooves, looking rather abashed to be in her study. Alambiel raised an eyebrow. "Firemoon? Do you have something to share? I can send for Oreius or your brother if you would pre-"

"No!" The palomino Centaur held up his hands in appeal, grey eyes wide with alarm. "No, please don't. It is just there is a, well, a favor I would ask of you, Cousin?"

She wondered if he even realized he had made that statement into a question. Nervous as he was, probably not. She decided to take pity on him (watching Corin irritate Oreius and Peter and Edmund's frantic attempts to keep the boy out of mischief made up for it). "And what sort of favor do you want that Oreius and Stormwind can't know about it?"

"There's a filly."

She raised both eyebrows. "Oh I see and she is somehow immune to your charms?"

The Centaur blushed. "She won't even talk to me. She's one of the healers and the most beautiful filly I've ever seen but . . ." He sighed, looking down. "I try to converse with her but I cannot even get close to her. Anytime a stallion approaches her and is not in need of healing, she slips away. And I cannot just go to the healers' wing. That would be inappropriate and cousin Oreius would no doubt ban me from the army if he hears even one misconduct complaint." He looked at her pleadingly. "Could you at least speak to her on my behalf?"

Alambiel bit back a smile. While the Kentauri had exceptionally high standards for Centaurs, and even more so for a member of his family, she doubted he would give Firemoon the boot. Make him regret any misbehavior for a couple of decades or so, but not give him the boot. Oreius was quite proud of having a member of one of his parents' herds in the army. She could tell. He would only be prouder if it was their foal joining the army. "Well, I can't do anything." He drooped and she continued, "If you don't tell me this shy filly's name."

Firemoon straightened, his grey eyes shining with hope now. "It is Tanith, she is one of the junior healers attached to the army."

She had to take a moment. Tanith? Firemoon wanted her to introduce him to the Centauress who had pined after Oreius? Of course, he would not know that. Alambiel set her quill down then closed the limited duty roster. "The archers are just now finishing their afternoon practice."

"The archers?"

"Tanith is one of the healers attached to the army. Training is required for the healers in military combat as well. She is one of the archers. And she is part of the group that are finishing up their practice. By the time we get down there, they will be finished and dispersing."

"Get down there?"

"You want an introduction, don't you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then we have to get down there. Come along."

By the time, they reached the archery grounds, all but a few of the Centauresses who served as archers had left. And, judging by the way the mares quickly looked away blushing as she passed, they were once again gossiping about her and Oreius. Tanith was collecting arrows (Alambiel had to give her credit for not usually being part of the army rumormongers).

A hand to her arm stopped her just as she was going to catch the mare's attention. Firemoon looked down at her, swallowing nervously. "What do I say?"

"Hello is a good place to start." Alambiel then waved and called, "Tanith, a moment of your time!"

The Centauress startled, shying back a step, and then she offered a hasty bow. "Your Highness." She studiously avoided looking at Firemoon even as she came over. "Is there a way I may assist?"

She was blushing, her dark lashes fanning over her heated cheeks, but that didn't seem to lessen her appeal to Firemoon. The young Centaur stallion was gazing at her as though she were the most precious thing he had ever seen. Oh he had fallen hard. Alambiel grinned. "Yes, actually. Allow me to introduce you to Firemoon, my cousin by marriage. Firemoon, this is Tanith."

The Centaur didn't say a word. Alambiel elbowed him. He stepped forward then bowed gallantly. "Lady Tanith, I am Firemoon. I have been wanting, wishing, hoping to meet you." He paused and gave the most charming smile. "Forgive me, I have wanted to make your acquaintance for so long that now words escape me." He gestured to the snow-covered archery range. "I have never wintered this close to the sea before."

Tanith peeked at him from beneath her lashes. "It is very different from where my herd dwells too. But there is a stretch of meadow beyond the forest that is wonderful for a gallop."

"Would it be a terrible imposition if I ask that you show me this meadow?"

Blushing, the Centauress shook her head and even accepted Firemoon's proffered arm. Alambiel watched as the two trotted toward the gates, their heads bent together as they talked. If Tanith hit it off with Firemoon (which seemed very possible), then it could help ease the tension the Centauress exhibited whenever she and Oreius interacted with her. Besides, Tanith was so quiet and serious that Firemoon's fun outlook on life would be a good foil. And he would always be attentive to her.

"Have you been matchmaking my little brother?"

Alambiel turned to see Stormwind trotting up to her, his brown eyes fixed on where Tanith and Firemoon had just vanished from sight. She smirked. "If I was, I would not tell you. And don't you tease him about it either."

"Whyever not?" Stormwind grinned and then, tossing a cautious glance at where some of the Centauresses still lingered, lowered his voice to whisper, "Are you practicing in preparation of a little foal? Perhaps that will be your Yule announcement?"

She slugged him in the shoulder. "No. I know how brothers are. I had six of them. And I still take care of two brothers. You can torment your little brother about the filly in a sennight. But the topic's offlimits until then. And if you start a rumor with a goofy question, I will be forced to pummel you. I don't care if you do have a real sense of humor."

Stormwind chuckled then playfully raised his arms as though to ward off another blow. "Ah, spare me. Spare me, Dame Sepphora. Your wrath shines too bright. I cannot withstand it."

Alambiel laughed. "It's a good thing I really like you. And you torment Oreius more than you do me."

Her husband's cousin laughed. Then his eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he pointed past her. "I think you might want to interfere, good cousin."

She whirled around and clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Oreius was making his way up the path, the patented essence of doom radiating from his black expression so much that soldier and civilian alike were scattering. He wasn't alone either. Dangling from her husband's clenched fist by the back of his tunic was Corin. As the Kentauri came closer, Alambiel had to bite her tongue. The brief pain kept her from laughing as she took in the molasses dripping down her husband's chest and the goose feathers and holly berries and leaves sticking to his coat and tail.

Alambiel tossed a glance at Stormwind and hissed, "If you want to live, don't laugh." Then she went to rescue Corin.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! Hehehe, eventually I will write out at least some of the stories regarding Corin's antics mentioned here. The Heia culture is based on medieval Japan, in case anyone was curious, but it is not in the world of the Sons and Daughters of Adam and Eve. I'll try to post another chapter tonight if I can. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.