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-Seven: Comfort

She opened her eyes and was back in the waking nightmare. How many days had she been gone? Was Lucy safe? Ptah? Were they looking for her? She knew they would but only once they knew they needed to look for her?

Mordad was careful, oh so careful, to make sure she never heard a specific date. He also only allowed her to sleep once since she had been taken. Her only true escape came whenever she passed out. She could wrap herself in comforting, loving words. But, it never lasted.

A torch flared, blinding her good eye. She automatically looked down. A rough hand grasped her chin and blunt fingernails dug into her skin as he yanked her chin up. Mordad's dark eyes bore into her. "Come now, my Princess, come now. I do not wish to hurt you anymore. I do not enjoy being forced to hurt such a beautiful treasure. Tell me what I want to know and I promise I will make my next touch truly enjoyable."

She'd rather die. She shook her head in wordless refusal. Mordad squeezed, his nails cutting into her skin. But then, he abruptly eased the pressure. His hand shifted from gripping her chin to stroking the unbloodied side of her face. How she hated his touch, his mockery. Mordad pet her hair then he pressed his lips against a single lock. Revulsion made her want to retch as he purposely attempted to defile pure memories. His whisper filled her ears like an unrelenting echo. "Do not fear, Princess. I shall ensure you enjoy it. And when I finish with you, your lover will die slowly as I explain to him every last thing I did to you. Unless…"

There was always an "Unless" in these interrogations. Mordad kept petting her hair and stroking her face, intentionally brushing against her wounds. It made her skin crawl. She had an overwhelming desire to pin his thumbs to a wall just so he would stop touching her as though he were- Mordad backhanded her. "Listen to me! Tell me where the tunnel is."

She spat out a mouthful of blood then ran her tongue over her teeth. It was a miracle he or his goons hadn't knocked any loose. "The tunnel is right behind you. Unless you want the side tunnel, which is rather inaccurately named, especially when you consider it runs that way at a more angular ascent without begin even close to your side. And then-"

She cut off, choking and gasping for breath, as Mordad hit her in the ribs, aggravating the three cracked ones. He sneered at her. "This is not the time for games, Ishara Reborn! Tell me where to find the entrance to the secret tunnel that is a royal escape route from Cair Paravel."

"Ask me when the Sun is purple. I might consider telling you then."

Mordad glared at her. His fingers pressed into a cut. "Very well, let us see how witty you feel when I have finished with you." Without looking away from her, he snapped, "Gather the men! Ishara Reborn shall be taught humility and they are invited to watch." His dark eyes seemed to burn with an inner evil as he added, "A tempting sight you will make as I cut open your scars, my sweet. Tell me where the tunnel that the royal family used to flee Cair Paravel is located and I won't put you through it."

Aslan, give me strength. She spat in Mordad's face. "I will not betray my oaths or my family."

Alambiel woke with a soft cry. Pain licked its way down her body. Every scar had been opened, every scar bled except for her hands. He crushed her hands.

"Alambiel, peace."

Shuddering cries turned to gasping breaths.

"Peace. Peace, dear one."

That Voice – warm, rich, and golden. It beckoned her just as before. Lightning lit the room as she stumbled from the bed. She needed to reach Him. Dropping to her knees, she sank her hands into His mane then rested her forehead against His warmth. "Why?"

"Because you are still Mine. Evil delights in attacking all who are Mine or might yet accept the invitation to be Mine. But I will give you peace."

"He wanted the location of the tunnel," Alambiel murmured as she twisted her fingers in His mane. "I can remember the tunnel. I remember Leith had to come back and carry me because I couldn't keep up. I remember that part. I didn't tell Mordad. I never told him."

"I know. You did well, My tenacious daughter." Aslan breathed on her and she felt her frantic thoughts settle. He breathed on her and she felt peace wrap itself around her, comforting and secure. The remembered pain faded as her mind recalled that her body was healed of the wounds rendered by whip and blade. Sleep beckoned but she feared the dreams, the memories. "Sleep, Alambiel, you will dream of naught save good things. Sleep and be at peace for I am with you always."

With such perfect comfort as Aslan, Alambiel ceased to fight her body's need for sleep. She dreamed of a family long gone. Of her father and her brothers. She dreamed and she was at peace.

ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ

A/N: Please Read and Review! A bit of a breather before we get into more twists and turns in the next chapter. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.