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-Three: Control

Ptah didn't meet her eyes as he sat in front of her, blocking her from fully entering the bedroom. Alambiel could hear the soldiers searching the study behind her but they wouldn't find anything in there. She hadn't been in there save for the first time she was being reintroduced to her quarters by the Queens. She didn't think she had shot the elder Queen but…but her memory was so unreliable. How could she expect them to trust her admittedly vague story when she didn't even know for sure if it was true and not another hallucination?

The General pointed to the lower drawer of the wardrobe. "Remove it." Two Satyrs instantly obeyed and then they all froze when something rattled inside. Alambiel's eyes widened but she could not force any words past her lips. The General made a sharp gesture and one Satyr revealed the false bottom. Alambiel couldn't see what was inside but it made the General stamp his hoof. As the Satyr lifted out a quiver full of black arrows and a dull brown drawstring purse, the General finally looked over his shoulder. His face was as expressive as granite. "Escort her to the council chamber."

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Edmund drummed his fingers against the armrest. This didn't make any sense to him. Kat trying to assassinate Susan? He leaned forward slightly, studying her face as she stood almost too calmly before them and the rest of the council. "So you are saying you cannot recall what happened between leaving the road and when you were found with the bow in your hand?"

"Yes." Kat didn't flinch at the glares shot her way by several of the council members.

"And we cannot prove that you were the one who loosed the arrow."

Peridan frowned. "What of the trackers? And the Squirrel's statement?"

Edmund glanced at the man, but he knew Peridan was only raising the questions on everyone else's minds. He looked back at Kat who was still wearing the lacy dark blue cloak from before and then he gestured to Ptah and Sekhmet. The Leopard and Jaguar stepped into the center of the room just to the right of Kat. "Tell us what you found on the trail leading from the assassin's chosen perch."

Sekhmet growled low in her throat. "There was no scent trail. Only footprints left by a lady's soft-soled slipper. And then we followed the footprints to find the Princess Royal clutching the bow in her hands."

"I had difficulty following the Princess Royal's trail from where her mount had collapsed in the road to meeting up with the other soldiers and the General as well," Ptah admitted, tail lashing in barely contained irritation. "There was no scent and my lady's is most distinctive. The bag discovered in her wardrobe is filled with a powder that has no scent and it disguised the scent of no less than three soldiers. Even though my eyes beheld them, my nose claimed they were not before me." The Leopard shuddered, no doubt it was most disconcerting for a Talking Beast who relied on his nose to suddenly be unable to smell armed soldiers no matter that they were his fellows.

"It is all circumstantial then," Peter stated heavily. "However, there is still the matter of the black arrows being found in the same secret compartment along with this powder, which, as testified by Lieutenant Caia and several other archers, are designed to improve even the most mediocre of archers' shots."

Edmund hid a frown. "A simple matter to resolve. Though it shall require this proceeding to move down to the archery grounds."

Kat only looked mildly bemused at the change of venue. Even when she took the bow and a single arrow to loose at the target, she didn't seem flustered. In fact, Edmund thought she was curious. Kat drew the arrow back to the corner of her mouth then loosed it. The black arrow sliced through the air and buried itself in the grass a good five feet from the target. "Give her another one."

Again Kat loosed an arrow. This time it sailed past the target and buried up to the fletching in a hale bale. Ten more times she loosed an arrow and every time it missed. Falling short, overshooting the target, and going wide. If Kat's freedom weren't at stake, it would have been as amusing as the last time she had been on the archery range. There was only one black arrow left.

Mr. Tumnus was fiddling with his red scarf when he quietly asked, "How do we know for certain that the Princess Royal is not…pretending to be this abhominable at archery?"

Caia immediately retorted, "No one is this abhominable on purpose and the Princess Royal has not troubled herself to touch a bow in almost seven years."

Edmund raised his hand. "Give her the last arrow."

He prayed for wisdom and that his hunch was correct. Aslan Himself was elsewhere in the Cair. Nevertheless, He would hear him. Kat took the black arrow. She drew it back then loosed. The arrow struck the target…in the leg.

Stepping forward before anyone could stop him, Edmund drew his dagger and presented it handle first to Kat. "Throw this."

The words had barely left his mouth when Peridan stepped forward. "No." But, it was already too late. Kat twisted and threw the dagger. It sunk up to the hilt in the dead center of the target. Oreius gave him a stern look but Edmund was more than satisfied.

"She cannot fake a skill so ingrained it is practically second nature. The Princess Royal did not loose the arrow that struck the Gentle. The real assassin framed her."

He glanced at Peter. His brother looked from the haphazard arrows to the knife sunk in the target then gave a curt nod. "We are in agreement. The Princess Royal is cleared of all charges. And, General, We trust you will not rest until the real assassin has been removed as a threat."

Oreius bowed, face grave as ever though his eyes did dart in Kat's direction for the briefest of moments. "Yes, High King."

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He slumped forward, struggling to control his breathing as his depleted magic struggled to work the healing spell. It was well that Mordad, once known as Angra, did not know of this weakness. But, blood magic always demands a high price. He was not human but neither was he a demon, at least not quite. His thoughts sought those long ago days only for him to ruthlessly turn away from it all. He would not remember what that Witch had done to him.

It had been easy enough to set the spell that turned the sugar cubes to poison as soon as the horse swallowed them. The true price had been extracted from his layered spells. He had been successful in laying the spell of false steps luring Lew's Daughter to follow a trail she saw only in her mind until she picked up the bow left by the assassin and in the spell of unseen things, preventing her guard from finding her. His last spell, one of scrying and ensnarement, should have latched securely onto her weakened and troubled state of mind. Instead, it had snapped and rebounded, draining his magic further, as the Great Cat's golden gaze paralyzed him and His roar deafened him.

He finally pushed himself up off the small dais. He had hoped to avoid the Lion's gaze…it laid too much bare. But now that the Great Cat knew he was involved… No, he would not abandon his plans. He had a far better strategy than Jadis ever did. Pulling on his gloves, he resolved to see what news Mordad would tell him (and how it would align with his observation of events).

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Peter opened his eyes, unsure of what had woke him. The night shadows filled the bedchamber but showed no sign of an intruder. Thalia's soft, rhythmic breaths tickled the back of his shoulder and her arm rested on his waist, his own hands cradling her hand against his heart. He closed his eyes again, but even the feel of his wife pressing against his back and her gentle breathing was not enough to lull him back to sleep.

With excruciating care, Peter slipped out of the bed. Thalia stirred but she didn't wake. Peter pulled the bedcovers up then pressed a light kiss to her hair. Then he dressed in a loose tunic and breeches (but did not trouble himself with his boots…or the rarely worn slippers) before slipping out. Bast and Babur both raised their heads but he only signaled for them to remain where they could guard Thalia (Sekhmet was still on a trial basis though the Jaguar was already proving promising). Babur followed him anyway.

He wandered through the halls on silent feet. Barely paying any attention to his surroundings, it was a surprise when he found himself in the Hall of Remembrance. But he was not alone. At the end of the Hall, before the oldest surviving tapestry of Aslan and the creation of Narnia (stitched by Queen Helen's own hand) sat the Great Lion. Peter should have announced his presence or perhaps waited to be invited by Aslan to join Him, but he did not. Instead, compelled by the silent yearning of his heart, Peter walked right up to Aslan and knelt by His paws. The sweet perfume that clung to His golden mane filled his lungs and he took a deeper breath for the smell was comforting and familiar as though all the best warmth of a father's love had been captured and distilled into a scent.

"Your heart is troubled, Peter Pevensie."

"Yes, Sir," Peter bowed his head and felt incredibly like that thirteen-year-old boy who couldn't believe he was being trusted with a kingdom when he couldn't even protect his own family. "I…I've been terribly hard on Kat. Thalia warned me, Edmund warned me, Susan warned me as did Lucy, but still I could not let go of this suspicion that she is not what she seems no matter how I desired to do so. I just kept feeling that something was not right. And I failed to keep Susan safe."

"Did you?" Aslan's low rumble swept over him and brought to mind the great rolling waves of the sea. "And if Susan had perished this day, would she not have been safe in My paws? Would she not be with Me in My country where there is no sting of death nor bite of pain?"

Peter sighed. "I know she would be, yet I do not wish to lose any more of my family before they have lived long and fruitful lives. It is selfish, I know, but I cannot help but dread a long separation from them should they be called to Your country before me."

"So do all whose stories contain far more chapters than those who have only a few chapters, yet I will preserve them all. If they but call out for My help, I will ease the sting in their lives for that is My promise. But, it is not truly the thought of death that troubles you this night, is it, My son?"

A fresh wave of guilt washed over him as he knelt before the Great Lion and he could only focus his gaze on those great velveted paws as he nodded miserably. "I did not trust You about Kat. I… Kat is family and I have been treating her as the enemy."

"Why?"

Peter cleared his throat, feeling guilt and shame war for the better position. "I couldn't predict her anymore. I couldn't completely believe that she's not being controlled by an outside influence be it by possession or even a blackmail that she could not ignore. After what happened with Count Achan, I just…I couldn't bring myself to trust her with the treasures of my heart, my siblings and my wife. And I could not completely surrender my attempt to control the situation to You."

"Peter. You and all you hold dear are even dearer to Me. You are Mine. Alambiel is also Mine. There is one who attempts to control her but her heart is yet secure in My care and his attempts are foiled." There was just the slightest hint of scolding in His tone but then Aslan's rumble changed to a purr as He gave him a Lion's kiss. "Peter William Pevensie, I appointed you to be the protector of Narnia and your family. You have tried to do what is required of you, My son, this I know. It is not an easy task I give to you but you must continue to learn to let go of the things you cannot change or control into My care even as you clasp your loved ones and your country close to your breast."

Feeling the guilt finally slough off him, Peter nodded. "I understand, Aslan, and I shall try harder to give my burdens to You." He frowned as he considered the Lion's words. "Wait, what did You mean about someone trying to control Kat? Who is it?"

Aslan purred. "All things shall be revealed in their proper time. For now, My son, content yourself with the knowledge that My paws can hold more than even you can imagine. I shall be with you and your loved ones throughout this trial, Peter."

Peter opened his mouth to question him further but then he met Aslan's golden gaze. Aslan breathed on him and he felt the worries and possible meanings melt away. Aslan rumbled, "Be at peace, Peter Pevensie."

Rising as Aslan also stood, Peter walked with the Great Lion through the halls. Aslan left his side at some point, but he felt no alarm. Indeed, he only felt a pleasant weariness sinking in his bones as though he had fought a battle and come through the other side whole and with everyone he cared about safely carried through it all as well. Slipping back into his bedchamber, he tossed his tunic into a chair then eased back into bed.

Thalia's sleepy gaze met his and she murmured, "Did He help?"

"Yes," Peter stated then added thoughtfully, "all I needed to do was ask for and accept His help." He wrapped an arm around her then cradled her hands against his heart as he bussed a kiss against the top of her head. "Go back to sleep, Flower." As he held his wife close, Peter silently thanked Aslan for holding them all within the shelter of His paws.

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A/N: Please Read and Review!