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.
Epilogue: Not Alone
21 Yule 1008
Alambiel fidgeted impatiently as Leeta finished gathering her hair into an intricate, braided chignon. She could have done it faster but Leeta had insisted that if she was going to help her get ready for visitors then she might as well look ready for the Yule festivities (not that Tuulea was going to allow her to go). Still not a word from Oreius. Where was that Kentauri?
"All right, we're done. My Lady, wait!"
Alambiel ignored her as she hurried to the doors. "The deal was for you to fix my hair, Leeta, and I allowed you to pick this dress." Her slight smile faded when Ptah met her. "Was he in a meeting?"
The Leopard shook his head. "No, My Lady. General Oreius is preparing to leave the Cair for an inspection of the border outposts. He will not return until Snowbrice."
She couldn't let him leave thinking she didn't remember him (she hadn't put that fact in her notes, just requesting he come see her as soon as possible…she had wanted to see his face when she told him). He was probably in his quarters, though, getting ready. Alambiel ran past the Leopard to dig in her desk, pulling out a single item. Leeta had pulled out the thick red cloak that had once belonged to Oreius. "Put this on, just in case."
Alambiel accepted the cloak then, with Ptah by her side, she hurried to Oreius' quarters. The doors were shut and there was no answer at the knock.
"Alambiel, what are you doing here?"
She turned to see Ardon and Alithia. "I am trying to see the General. I have to talk to him."
Ardon shook his head. "He is gone."
"How long ago? Please, Ardon, it's very important."
She didn't miss the look of shock and hope the two Centaurs exchanged. Then Alithia nodded. "He left only ten minutes ago. You might still be able to catch him. And Alambiel? Do you remember…?"
Alambiel smiled. "I remember enough, Alithia. Now I have a Kentauri to catch." Spinning around, she sprinted out into the snow-covered courtyard. Oreius was nowhere in sight even when she dashed through the main gates. She didn't slow until she reached the woods. She changed her course from the road to dart through the snow-covered trees until she reached the meadow where they had always sparred. "Ptah, go and find him. Tell the General that the Princess Royal has great need of him and she is waiting for him in the sparring meadow. Hurry." As the Leopard bolted through the trees, Alambiel prayed that Oreius would listen. He had to come back.
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Oreius rested a hand against his claymore as he turned back to face the rustling. A Leopard burst from the underbrush. "General!"
"Ptah, what is it?"
"The Princess Royal sent me with a message. She says she has great need of you and is waiting for you in the sparring meadow."
Oreius tensed. Why would she send for him? Was it… He banished the thought before it could take root in his heart. Still, if she needed him…he would go to her. He nodded to Ptah then entered the woods. He barely noticed that the Leopard did not follow after him.
She was easy to spot. The long red cloak wrapped around her but it did not completely hide her white gown as she turned toward him. He scolded himself for dwelling on how she still looked a little too thin and too pale though her cheeks were flushed, most likely from exertion. Oreius bowed formally. "Your Highness, is there aught I might do for you?"
Alambiel didn't answer. He looked up to find her standing much closer to him, her blue eyes searched his then she looked down before he could read the emotions in their depths. She held out her closed fist then uncurled it, revealing a gold coin. She looked up then with a shy smile. "Lion for your thoughts?"
Oreius' breath caught in his chest. "You remember me."
She nodded then stepped closer, still holding out the coin. "I promised to do so." As he covered the coin with his hand, she laughed softly. Then Alambiel leapt into his arms, wrapping one arm around his neck. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Mordad kept trying to taint my memories of you and I couldn't let that happen, so I started to put you, the memory of you, of us, behind a wall where he couldn't touch those memories. I didn't really forget you, Kentauri. I just…misplaced the key for a while."
He knew that it would take more time to finish healing from the pain of the last few months, for both of them. But, as he held his beloved in his arms, Oreius knew he had turned the page to the next chapter of his life. And he would not let her go again. He drew back slightly and looked into her eyes. There was the recognition he had longed for and there was the warm glint of fondness. Oreius brought one hand up to cradle the back of her head, feeling her soft hair beneath his fingers, and then he lowered his head and kissed her.
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Alone, he was alone and wounded. He could not see and his magic was not so easy to direct without his sight. Curse Mordad for betraying him. His lungs struggled to work. Every breath was coated in the haze of pain. His magic could not heal him. He was alone.
A Presence came close. He could sense it, sense Him. He almost went toward Him but stopped himself. He was His enemy. "Have you-" He broke off coughing and then groaning as the poison continued to eat away at him. "Have You come to kill me?"
"No." The Voice was so rich, so pure that it hurt his ears to listen. "No, Markus of the Fell and once of another place, a world long forgotten, I have not come to kill you. It is not yet your time. But, you have a choice to make. The time and place of that choice is coming soon. Be ready."
Then a warmth encased him. He felt the poison from Mordad's blade leave his body and then… He blinked. He could see golden paws and the fringe of a golden mane in front of him. The Voice filled his ears once more. "Be ready, Markus. The time and place of your final choice is coming soon." And then he was alone once more.
Markus… No one had called him by his name since he left the White Witch's side. Markus summoned his magic, but his reserves of strength were still low. Why had the Great Cat come to him? Why had He saved him? What was this choice? He did not know and he did not like the feeling that the Great Cat's notice was about to change his careful plans in a most drastic manner.
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Alambiel opened her eyes as Oreius broke the kiss. She reached up to touch his cheek. "I don't want you to go. I want you stay here, have Christmas here with me. Please, Oreius."
He looked at her for a long moment then nodded. "I will stay."
"Good." She stepped out of his embrace but threaded her fingers through his as soon as she found the coin that had fallen into the snow at their feet (this coin would be going into her jewelry box). "We should get back before you get in trouble with Tuulea."
"Why would I be in trouble when you are the one who came out here?"
"Well, I wouldn't have had to come out here, Kentauri, if you had stayed inside the Cair. And Tuulea will blame you anyway." She smiled at him as the sense of rightness enveloped her as they walked back toward Cair Paravel. "And I want my letters back."
Oreius laughed aloud and Alambiel smiled wider. Now, she was finally home.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Y'all thought I was going to let him miss Christmas, didn't you? ;) As for the non-KnockOut-related section...just remember he hadn't died YET and Aslan always has a reason for the things He does. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.
A/N2: And so ends A Light in the Darkness: Veiled. I have no idea when I'll start Unveiled due to Real Life obligations; however, I CAN guarantee that this is the LAST main story where Oreius and Kat are single. So, keep an eye out for the proposal and the wedding (I promise no Fell wedding crashers)...I should get to them before Christmas.
A/N3: A giant thank you to all of you lovely readers who followed, read, favorite, reviewed, and basically stuck with this crazy and frustrating ride of a story, especially those who popped in and left a review since it really does help to know that someone is reading and actually enjoying the story enough to leave a comment. Veiled is now my most reviewed story! Thank you! A special and heartfelt thank you goes out to WillowDryad without whom I would probably still be second-guessing myself and trying to finish this story, especially for demanding I put in more Peter and Thalia fluff and more Edmund and the Wolves to help lighten the mood. :D If you have not read her lovely and nail-biting-inducing stories, especially the current one with Peter and Edmund (and my Wolves), Wind's Harvest, you have no idea what you're missing and should go read them...now, right now! :D
Until our next meeting, friends, adieu. ~ Lady A