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-Seven: Surprise

14 Snowbrice 1009

Oreius chuckled as he watched Alambiel pout when he still refused to take off her blindfold. "Patience, patience."

"I'm patient. Just not so much after you let me trip over Rupert."

"He should have been minding his surroundings." Oreius stopped and then moved behind Alambiel to take off her blindfold. "Now, here is one of my Sweethearts' Day presents for you, Chéadsearc."

She looked back at him. "Our sparring glade?"

Oreius chuckled then drew his claymore. Alambiel stared at him for a brief moment and then she grinned, drawing her twin knives from the hidden sheaths in her dress. She leapt at him, aiming for his torso. Oreius skittered to the side and then swatted her on the rump with flat of his blade. His wife gave him a look full of playful wrath. She charged then ducked under his strike and nearly hit his horse ribs but Oreius leapt away. Back and forth they went in a deadly dance. Each time Alambiel attempted to strike, Oreius blocked. And each time he nearly caught her, she would slip away as elusive as she was deadly. Until finally when they both were breathing hard and their muscles burned with exertion, Oreius caught his minx. He disarmed her and then placed his claymore against the back of her neck and she grinned. He looked down to see her pointing a little dagger at his ribs. Oreius chuckled. "Another draw."

"Ye-"

He cut her off by resting his free hand against the center of her waist and tugging her close as he captured her mouth in a kiss. Then he grinned once more. "Now for your second Sweethearts' Day gift. Come with me."

Alambiel followed him with a little smile firmly in place but she didn't speak until they had nearly reached the gates. "I don't have to wear the blindfold again, right?"

"Not this time."

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He stood in the shadows and grimaced at the displays of affection being carried out by the Narnians. He had also lost track of the Nymph he had been hunting in the crowd. With any luck, he would be able to find her again. He pulled out a knife and his mouth twisted up into a cold smile. He made his own luck.

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Alambiel groaned as she pulled her hair out of the way. The Kentauri's hands paused just below her shoulders and, a moment later, he pressed his fingers hard against the knot just to the inside of her left shoulder blade. She hissed.

"Are you all right?" her husband rumbled.

"Mmmhmm." Alambiel closed her eyes with a contented sigh once the knot dissipated beneath his gentle ministrations. Her mouth curved into a smile as she snuggled against the pillow. Oreius massaged her neck, pressing just hard enough to unwind the knots.

"Alambiel?"

"Mmm?"

"Do not fall asleep now, sweet; the ball is still ahead of us."

She opened her eyes and raised her head so she could look over her shoulder. "Oreius, why do we have to go? Couples don't always go."

"Every couple in Cair Paravel attends the Sweethearts' Day ball. It is only the length of time they stay that varies."

"So we can go for ten minutes and then resume our private celebration." Feeling quite pleased with her solution, she rested her head on the pillow again.

"Alambiel." The Kentauri sounded amused even though his hands stopped massaging. "We must stay through five dances at least."

"Two."

"Five."

"Three."

Oreius did not answer right away but he resumed massaging his way down her neck to the remaining knots in her shoulders and back. Alambiel smiled but was careful not to crow. After a few more moments, Oreius conceded, "Three."

She reached back with her left hand and found one of the Kentauri's hands then squeezed. She hadn't received any marriage proposals since Oreius sent out his warning (she had filched a copy and enjoyed it so much that she had slipped it into her journal) and neither of them had received another threatening message in months. She still lamented the loss of her wedding ring, though. She could only pray that thief who stole it didn't have any success in selling it or in planting it somewhere to cause diplomatic difficulties. Oreius slipped his fingers free of hers and resumed massaging her. He was silent for a long while, not even whispering sweet nothings in her ear.

"Chuisle?" Alambiel looked over her shoulder again. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Hmmm." She grinned as she reached across the blankets to find Oreius' warm cloak. "I have just the thing to cheer you up." Wrapping the cloak around her, she got up. She raised a hand when Oreius opened his mouth. "My turn to give a gift. Now close your eyes."

The Kentauri closed them and she scurried into their bedchamber. Thanks to Oreius' tendency to open the windows or balcony doors, the room tended to be a bit cool. She opened her wardrobe and then pulled out the package. She hoped he approved.

Carrying the rectangular package back into the sitting room, Alambiel handed it to Oreius and then took refuge under the coverlet. She would have snuggled against Oreius but first she wanted to see his eyes when he opened it. The Kentauri looked at her and then carefully unwrapped the paper, revealing the painting. They danced in the center of the portrait, she wearing her mother's wedding gown and he wearing his armor with the red dress sash. Soft golden light filtered around them and then just to the left and behind her stood her parents, Lew and Hadassah, while to the right and behind Oreius stood his parents, Cadfael and Selene. They were looking on their children joined in marriage with approval and love in their expressions.

It wasn't a very big painting and she had already had it framed. The Kentauri's expression was unfathomable as he reached out carefully to touch first his dam then his sire before he looked at her. She offered an uncertain smile. "I know they would approve of us."

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Oreius looked again at the painting then he carefully set it against the couch and pulled Alambiel into a tight embrace. Somehow, he had never considered his parents approving of his marriage. At least, not wholeheartedly but the painting changed things. It reminded him of the strong bonds marriage provided. Their immediate families had been wiped from the face of Narnia, at least the direct line of descendants, but still their family lines continued. Through him and Alambiel, through their marriage their now-combined family lines would carry on.

"Kentauri?"

He kissed her. "Thank you for this, Chéadsearc." He glanced again at the painting. "Is that the one that pest of a colt fell through?"

"It's the replacement. It's also a combination of a belated wedding gift, belated Christmas gift, and an on-time Sweethearts' Day gift." Alambiel grinned. "At least, it's on time for one of them."

Oreius chuckled then he rose, pulling Alambiel up with him. He tightened his embrace once then reluctantly let her go. He hid a smile as she feigned a scowl. "You should get ready for the ball."

"I still don't see why we need to go. Too many people, too many stares, too many whispers, and the highlight of a ball is if I get to threaten to stab an idiot."

"This ball you will have me and everyone already knows we are wed."

Alambiel looked him over. "Threatening to stab an idiot is still the highlight of the ball."

Despite her many protests, Alambiel looked beautiful as she stood beside him with the foolish heart-shaped candles serving a purpose by providing a glow that glinted off her jewelry and hair and caught on the silver embroidered flowers decorating the neck and wrists of her burgundy velvet dress. Oreius did not bother to hide his pride over the fact that she was on his arm.

"You are gloating," his wife murmured under her breath as they started walking around the room.

"Yes." Oreius scanned the crowd once before offering her a half-smile. "You chose me, not one of them." He looked up as the musicians changed the tune then glanced at Alambiel as he drew her toward the other dancers. "One."

They had not even reached the dancers, however, when Oreius stopped. A Humming Bird hovered next to his ear and whispered, "General, there's been an attack on a Nymph. She has been taken to the healers' wing. The Faun Linus said to let you know at once."

"Kentauri?"

Oreius ducked his head and whispered in Alambiel's ear, "Something has happened. I must go see Linus. I will return."

The Faun Linus was pacing and holding his horns when Oreius reached the healers' wing. The little Faun let out a frightened bleat. "G-g-general Oreius! It is horrible, j-j-just horrible! Oh w-w-who could d-d-do this?"

"What happened?"

"A sail-sailor f-f-found her by s-s-some rocks d-d-down the be-be-beach. He th-th-thought she l-l-lived st-st-still. I d-d-do not see h-h-how. It is j-j-just horrible!"

Oreius pinched the bridge of his nose. "Show me and be sensible."

The Faun nodded and led him to a cot. He tugged the curtain back and then pulled down the sheet to reveal a Nymph lying on her front. The back of her dress had been torn away and her back had been marred by the same wounds as had marred Merry's back. The Nymph was unknown to him but she bore disturbing similarities to his wife, fair hair (though hers was more silver than gold) and pale blue eyes now clouded with death. She had been stabbed in the back.

"When did this happen?"

There was no answer. If that silly Faun had fainted again . . . Oreius looked up. Linus was still on his hooves but he was not looking at him. Instead, his gaze was fixed on someone standing behind him. Oh no. Oreius turned slightly. Alambiel was standing there, pale and her eyes filled with an unmistakable fear as she stared at the Nymph. Her hands were clasped together and he doubted she even realized that she was rubbing her star-shaped scars. "What do her hands look like?"

"Alambiel, you should-"

"Were her hands pierced, Linus?"

"N-n-no, Your H-h-highness."

Oreius pulled the sheet up, not wanting to torment Alambiel longer. As pale as she was, he feared a panic attack was coming and soon. He glanced at the Faun. "See that she is identified and her family alerted. Tell no one of her wounds." He did not wait for a response as he cupped his wife's elbow and steered her out of the healers' wing. "You should not have left the ballroom."

She did not answer but he could feel her trembling. He gently tightened his grip on her elbow. But he could not take the time to comfort her yet. Stormwind rounded the corner, his amusement replaced by concern as soon as he looked at Alambiel. Oreius beckoned him closer. "Cousin, would you escort my wife back to our quarters? She is . . . unwell and I need to tend to a pressing matter."

Stormwind nodded. "I will see she is safe."

Oreius squeezed her elbow once, wishing he could stay with her himself but he needed to protect her and the Four. He gave Stormwind a curt nod and then he galloped down the hall. Summoning several of the guards who had been on duty when the Nymph was found, Oreius quickly made his way to the site. There was blood staining the snow and sand but not enough for the initial attack to have taken place here. "Bring me a torch!"

Torchlight drew near and Oreius bent to pick up three bloodstained notes. He opened the first one.

Time is running out. Two dead, one to go.

The second note was addressed to him.

I warned you, Centaur. I warned you not to continue in your ways but you ignored me. Now you shall watch as I take your precious star from you before you die.

The last note was addressed to Alambiel.

Choices, choices. You chose wrongly the first time. We shall see how loud you scream now, Princess.

"Why now?"

Oreius wheeled about to see Alambiel holding the torch, her expression grim but still a hint of fear lingered in her eyes. He looked over her head, glaring at his cousin who shrugged helplessly. "I don't know." He turned to one of his lieutenants. "Take the Wolves, Big Cats, and every other Beast who can track. Scour the woods and the beach. Find where the initial attack took place."

As the soldiers scattered to fulfill his orders, Oreius took the torch from his wife and passed it to one of the guards stationed at the gate as they entered Cair Paravel. Cupping Alambiel's elbow, he still detected a faint trembling but he did not slow until they had returned to their quarters. He stared down at Alambiel who now avoided his gaze. "Alambiel. I am going to find him but first I must speak to the Kings. Stay here."

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Alambiel wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to give in to the panic, the instinct to flee. The Nymph's hands hadn't been pierced. Her chin trembled as phantom pain licked her hands and down her back. No. She could not give in to a panic attack. She ruthlessly forced her mind away from the dark memories and the little voice that jabbered in remembered terror of the Monster. The Nymph's hands had not been pierced. It was not the Monster. But he had not always pierced the girls' hands either, especially if he were interrupted.

She shuddered then barely caught herself before she screamed when something heavy and warm touched her leg. Ptah was gazing up at her, his golden eyes intent. "My Lady?"

Alambiel shook her head. She didn't trust herself to talk. Why here? Why now? Why after months of silence from their petty enemies did he return? Why was he marking women the same way she had been scarred? Why?

She caught a glimpse of the bloodstained notes Oreius had left on the table. Forcing herself to go over there and read them, Alambiel stared at the words. At the slants and curves forming each letter. Something about them cut through her rising panic enough to tickle a memory. She had seen the handwriting before, at least with the addressed notes. A letter. She had had a letter with similar handwriting. She was almost certain of it.

Dropping the notes back on the table, Alambiel hurried to the door only to pause when Ptah cut in front of her. "The General wants you to stay here."

"I need to confirm a theory. I only have to go to my study and you can keep watch."

"We should wait for the General."

"I don't think we can. Come on or I'm leaving you here." Alambiel raced out and sped to her old quarters, pausing only to close the doors with Ptah keeping watch in the hall. It had to be here. The missing piece to the puzzle.

Rushing to her desk, she popped open the secret drawer and pulled out a sheath of papers. She had only flipped through the first three when she sensed someone else was nearby. Looking up sharply as the door to her study was pushed wide, Alambiel stiffened. "You!"

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A/N: Please Read and Review!