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-Eight: Crossroads
14 Stormfall 1008
Alambiel frowned at the letters. This last set was dated the thirty-third of Quickening 1006.
Oreius
I have a brilliant idea for what you can do for the New Year festival tomorrow! Now ask me my plan.
Alambiel
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
What mischief are you plotting now?
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Oreius
I'm not actually plotting mischief. However, I shall accept your unimaginative question as an enthusiastic request for me to share my brilliance with you. You should get into the festive spirit and I shall help you!
Alambiel
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
I hesitate to ask but how exactly do you plan to help me? This had better not involve dyes.
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Oreius
Don't be ridiculous. I want to braid your hair.
Alambiel
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
You desire to…braid my hair. Why?
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Oreius
Because I was thinking it would be a nice change of pace if I braided your hair Dwarf-style. It would be formal and stately, I promise. With beads and some silver bands and some more of those rings. The small ones, of course. Oh and one fluffy pink bow.
What do you say?
Alambiel
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
You are jesting.
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Oreius
You caught me. I am jesting about the pink bow.
Alambiel
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
You are not jesting about the rest?
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
No. This is a serious suggestion.
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel
I prefer wearing my hair the way I always have…and definitely not in Dwarf-style.
Oreius
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Spoilsport.
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
There were no more letters after this set. It had been about eighteen months since they were written but why were there no more letters? After over five years of letters ranging from serious to absurd (admittedly the absurd ones far outnumbered the serious letters), why did the letters abruptly stop? Had they had a falling out? Did they cease to be close friends or did they become…
Alambiel didn't let herself finish the thought. She did acknowledge, though, that something must be missing from the collection of letters. This felt…unfinished. She worried at her bottom lip, wondering if she dared. No, she had to know.
She put the letters away then brushed at the wrinkles in her dress. She hesitated at the doors then forced herself to leave her quarters. Alambiel knew she needed the truth. And the only way to get the truth was to ask General Oreius about the missing letters.
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
She could do this. She would be brave this time and speak before it was too late. It had taken some doing, but she had finally found him in one of the smaller libraries. "General Oreius?"
He turned then set a book down on the small table to his left and bowed slightly. "Tanith. Did you require something?"
Tanith flicked her tail, half-wondering if this was a mistake. But, she had to try. "I had hoped you might spare a moment of your time."
The General nodded as he folded his brawny arms over his chest. "Of course."
"I- It must be difficult for you since the Princess Royal has not regained her memory," she hesitated again as she watched his dark eyes harden. "Forgive me, I should not have mentioned it."
"No. No, it is only natural, I suppose, for you to do so. It seems to have been on the minds of everyone in the Cair lately."
Tanith touched his arm, resting her fingers lightly on the crook of his elbow. "It is not our business. However, it is difficult to know how to treat the situation. Our people, we know how to treat widows and widowers but you did not wed the Princess Royal and you were not yet betrothed. It is incredibly rare for a widowed Centaur to remarry. But…" She hesitated then looked up into the General's dark eyes and allowed her own heart to show. "I wanted to tell you that there others who care deeply for you. What you do with that information is, of course, entirely your choice." Then, before she could change her mind, Tanith reached up to lay her free hand against his left cheek then kissed him on the right cheek.
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
Alambiel stopped in her tracks as a chill ran down her spine. She had finally found the General who was being kissed by a very pretty Centauress. Tanith, yes, that was her name, one of the healers. Tanith drew back and General Oreius watched her. Alambiel swallowed hard as the humiliating realization hit her. The reason he had hesitated in answering her idiotic question about engagement (what had possessed her to ask him that anyway, she still didn't know) was that he was married.
She backed away on silent feet then fled down the hall. What a fool she was to think there might be any possible answer that could have led somewhere…somewhere she could not even allow herself to finish that thought. Although, perhaps she should thank the General for not embarrassing her right away with the fact she had forgotten his wife. Alambiel flushed guiltily when she thought about how drawn to him she had become. Well, she would put a stop to it before it had the chance to grow into feelings that were more permanent. She wouldn't be heartbroken because she was foolish enough to be drawn to someone's kindness. He was married and she was going to distance herself until she had full control of her unpredictable heart.
ӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁӁ
A/N: Please Read and Review! *runs away quickly*