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: When memory is veiled, can the love forged between two hearts survive?

A/N: If you have not read the first seven stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, and Reflected), 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 Twenty-Two: Bloodstained

Oreius froze. Surely, He could not mean… No. "She never held my heart." Flicking his tail, he pawed at the pavilion floor with one hoof. "Tanith is-" He cut himself off as the warning bells began to sound the alarm. An attack.

He looked to Aslan for permission to leave. The Lion bowed His head. "Go!" Galloping up the winding path to the courtyard, Oreius prayed this did not involve the Four or Alambiel.

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Peter kept a wary eye on the road behind him. He didn't have a good feeling about leaving Kat behind. Edmund and the girls were waiting just ahead, still bickering playfully about who had reached the grand oak tree first. Peter shifted in his saddle just as Susan said something and then lightly touched her heels to her horse's sides and galloped toward the Cair's open gate. As she crossed into the wide lawn between the woods and the walls, Peter called softly, "Babur!"

The Tiger emerged from the underbrush. "Sire?"

"Kat and Ptah have been held up by a lame horse. I want you to take some of the Queens' guard and provide a larger escort for the Princess Royal. Make sure they're safe and I want-" Peter cut himself off as something stung his upper arm.

He glanced down. Blood tinged the edges of a cut through his sleeve. What… Lucy and Thalia both screamed. Peter looked up just in time to see Susan toppling off her horse, the black shaft of an arrow springing from her back. "Noooo!" The guards were emerging and Peter heard Edmund shouting at them to get Lucy and Thalia to safety. Peter galloped over to where Susan lay motionless, leaping off his horse before the animal had come to a complete stop.

She looked like a broken doll, her dark hair falling over her face and her skirts all askew from getting caught on the stirrup before her horse bolted. One hand was pressed against her left shoulder, blood seeping past her pale fingers. Peter knelt beside her, gently moving her hand away so he could see. "Shh," he whispered when she made a little sound of distress, "shh, Su. It's going to be okay. I promise. I just need to see."

Peter barely kept his horror from showing as he stared at the arrowhead protruding from his little sister's shoulder. It was barely two inches above her heart. Susan's bloodstained fingers clutched at his sleeves. Her bloodless lips trembled then formed a tiny smile. "It's… S'okay, Peter. Aslan…"

Her lips kept moving but her lung must have collapsed. She was losing too much blood. Pounding hooves raced up to them. He glanced up to meet Oreius' grim face. The Centaur had brought enough soldiers to form a shield wall. Just beyond Captain Ardon, he spotted Lucy racing toward them with another of the Centaurs keeping pace, raising his shield between her and the woods. No. "The cordial! Lucy, get the cordial!"

Susan's fingers slipped from his sleeves. Her blood was soaking his leggings and an ever-widening circle of grass. "Lucy! Lucy, hurry!" He didn't expect this, not with her, oh Aslan, not with her. Somewhere behind him soldiers were hunting for the coward who'd shot her, but it didn't matter. Not when her life's blood was pouring out, staining his hands crimson. "It's going to be okay. It's going to be all right. I promise, I promise. Just hang on. You're going to live, Susan. You're going to live. Just hang on."

Aslan, please let Susan live. Please. Susan's eyes were still moving but they were beginning to cloud over. He didn't dare move his hands. Edmund dropped down next to him, his pale face taut and jaws clenched. He immediately stroked Susan's hair. "You're going to be all right, Su. Lucy's bringing the cordial."

Peter nodded, throat now too tight to say anything. He increased the pressure around the arrowhead. Susan's little whimper of pain cut him to the quick. "I'm sorry, Susie. I'm sorry, I know it hurts but I have to keep the pressure on." He exchanged a look with Edmund. They would have to take the arrow out before Lucy gave her the cordial. And where was Lucy?

As if his thoughts had summoned her, Lucy raced back to their little knot with her cordial in hand. Peter glanced again at Edmund. His brother nodded and wrapped a gloved hand around the arrowhead since the rest of the shaft had broken off when she fell. Peter whispered, "This is going to hurt, Susan, but then it will be better. Promise." He looked up. "Now."

Susan's cry was weak but it still tore at him as she tried to arch against the pain when Edmund pulled the remains of the arrow free. Then, mercifully, Lucy immediately placed the cordial against Susan's lips. Susan shuddered in his arms and then took a gasping breath. Pressing a kiss against her hair, Peter cradled her close. "You're all right, Susie. You're all right." Lucy and Edmund both threw their arms around them.

Peter raised his head and met Oreius' gaze. "Find the Princess Royal. She might have fallen victim to the same assassin." As the Centaur bowed slightly then galloped off with two more soldiers, Peter stood, lifting Susan, and gently placed her on Philip's back. Lucy climbed up behind her then a detachment of soldiers escorted them into the Cair where he caught a glimpse of Thalia standing just inside the gate. The red stain on the grass mocked his inability to protect his family, to listen to his instincts. He shouldn't have agreed to the picnic…

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"General!"

Oreius looked up. A Squirrel sat on the branch above him, wringing his forepaws. "General. I heard the soldiers talking about an assassination attempt on the Gentle. I…I might have seen the assassin!"

"Where? What did they look like?"

"Couldn't see any faces. No faces showing beneath that hood. But, the cloak. Yes, the cloak was lacy and dark with full sleeves like what the Queens wear at times."

Oreius stamped a hoof. The Squirrel was young and nervous but he had to ask. "Will you show me?"

"Oh Lion, no! I- I can't. It might know and come after me and mine! Up the hill. The archer was up the hill!" The Squirrel dashed back up into the tree, sending leaves fluttering down in its wake.

Oreius waved to his soldiers, signaling them to move up the hill. There was no one there. "Do you have a scent?"

One of the Big Cats looked up at him, fangs bared in a silent snarl. "None. It is as though no one was here even though I can see fresh footprints."

The footprints were very light. A soft-soled slipper… One of the Wolves howled and then a Big Cat snarled. Oreius galloped down the north side of the hill. A tall hooded figure wearing the distinctive lace cloak the Squirrel had described was surrounded by several guards…including Ptah. Dread filled him even as he thundered, "Turn around."

The figure slowly turned, clutching a bow. Oreius reached out and flipped the hood back.

Alambiel stared up at him, eyes wide. "I can explain."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! O.o