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: There's danger in the north. Giants hunt for Narnia's Kings and General. Who will survive when hope is eclipsed?
A/N: If you have not read the first nine stories in the A Light in the Darkness main story arc (Awakened, Shadowed, Revealed, Concealed, Rekindled, Refracted, Reflected, Veiled, and Unveiled), 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 Four: Cause for Alarm
Thalia stood in the shade of a large oak, her hands clasping her soft green skirts, and her head tilted back, eyes closed, as she dug into the cool soil and grass with her toes. She could hear Bast panting nearby. Peter had insisted the Tigress stay with her because of Sekhmet's illness while he took Babur with him as he, his brother, and the General toured the northern villages.
Opening her eyes, she studied the multi-colored leaves still slinging to the branches overhead. It was a pity she had been unable to sway her sister-in-law to join her for a walk through the woods outside Cair Paravel. She thought it was most refreshing (if somewhat chilled due to falling temperatures) compared to the preparations for Prince Rabadash Susan was currently embroiled in. Lucy, of course, was still attempting to make sure the Greyback brothers adhered to the punishment handed down by the Just King. Thalia smiled a little. Those poor pups were creating as many problems as they attempted to help fix in the gardens.
Bast's low warning growl caught her attention. "What is it?"
The Tigress was on her feet and edging between her and the grove of birches, her green eyes flat and her gleaming fangs bared in a silent snarl. "Show yourself." She stiffened suddenly as she tested the air and then a low wrenching moan broke free, the sound chilling Thalia to the roots.
She ran to the Tigress just as a pitiful caricature of a Tiger emerged into the small clearing. His fur was matted with dried blood and what appeared to be mud. His left foreleg was dangling limply and he teetered precariously before collapsing. Bast raced forward. "Babur!"
Thalia could hardly believe her eyes. Her husband's Tiger looked to be a breath away from Aslan's country but where . . .? "Peter?"
Babur did not respond. Only his wheezing breaths gave evidence that he still lived even as his sister nudged him carefully. Thalia stepped back. "I will go for help."
She did not wait for Bast's response. Instead, she immediately willed her corporeal form to dissipate into spring bright beech leaves. Rising, she rode the northern wind to Cair Paravel, to the balcony with two doors, only one of which stood open. Retaking her corporeal form, Thalia landed lightly on the balcony. "Alambiel!"
The Princess Royal drew a drop cloth over her easel and canvas, her paints and brush already set aside. "What is it?" She looked up and her expression changed from mild curiosity to concern. "Thalia, what's happened?"
Thalia's gaze fell to where Ptah was stretched out by the older Nymph's feet. Normally, she would not have hesitated to speak in his presence but . . .
"Thalia." The Princess Royal was in front of her now. "Why are you here? You know Ptah and Leeta will not betray our trust."
She trembled, feeling as though a howling wind caused her tree to sway in the midst of an overwhelming storm. "Babur has returned. He is badly wounded. Dying, I think. I don't know where Peter is."
Alambiel stared at her then concern turned to unshakeable and deceptive calm. "All right. Go back to Babur. You must find out what he knows. I will bring Lucy to you. Tell Bast that no one must find Babur right now. Do you understand?"
Thalia nodded, still trembling. They had to find out what happened from Babur in case the cordial did not come soon enough. Peter would be devastated if the Tiger died. And if he died before they learned where to send aid . . . She shuddered. It did not bear thinking. "I will find out what happened."
She turned and ran for the balcony, once again banishing her corporeal form. It took more time to reach the little clearing where she had left the Tigers since she could not simply ride the winds. Every precious moment that slipped by drove the axe of worry deeper into her. Was Peter still alive? What had happened? Why had Babur returned to Cair Paravel alone?
Oh Aslan, have mercy.
The Tigers had not moved since she left. Thalia rushed to Babur and carefully took his heavy head in her hands. "Babur. Babur, you must tell me where is Peter and what has happened. How were you wounded?"
The Tiger didn't respond right away but then he opened one eye. "Your- Highness. High- King . . . the High King."
Thalia stroked his bloodied and matted fur as much as she dared. "Where is he?"
"Don't . . . know." The Tiger moaned and Bast moved a little closer to her brother.
"Queen Lucy is coming with the cordial. But you must tell me what happened. How were you separated from Peter?"
Babur's panting breaths were growing fainter and Thalia began to fear that the cordial would come too late for him. "Babur. What happened?"
The Tiger didn't answer, his labored breathing weakening even further. Thalia pet his fur, trying to offer a little comfort to the Beast struggling to stay alive. "Babur. Don't leave us yet. Help is coming."
"High King . . . ambushed . . . by . . . Giants."
Thalia paled. More Giants. The Tiger gasped, a film creeping over his one opened eye. "Many dead . . . the Giants . . . took the . . . Kings."
He gasped again and then went still. Bast moaned. The sound of light footfalls made Thalia look away from the piteous sight. The Princess Royal was sprinting toward them with both Queens following close behind. Queen Lucy dropped to her knees next to Thalia and quickly gave Babur a drop from the diamond vial of cordial.
Nothing happened. Thalia clapped her hand over her mouth as tears blinded her. The Tiger had tried so hard to protect her husband, to bring help. Bast hung her head, whiskers drooping. Then Babur gasped and stood up. He shook himself then turned bright eyes on their small group and bowed. "My Queens. There is much you must know."
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"Why not summon the army, My Queens?"
"Because then we won't be able to keep this situation as controlled as we need to," Alambiel interjected. She paced back and forth. "We cannot linger out here much longer before attracting attention. We also cannot afford for the Calormene delegation to learn that we're missing the three men responsible for the military strength and safety of Narnia. They still have yet to learn that the women of Narnia are more than pretty ornaments, which can be used to our advantage if we do this right."
She refused to think about Babur's non-report concerning Oreius. The Kentauri could take care of himself and he was probably already hunting the Giants down. Lucy placed a hand to her little dagger. "Then we have to find them."
Alambiel offered her the slightest of smiles. "My thoughts exactly."
"But we cannot all go," Susan stated softly. Her mouth turned down into a frown as she pushed back her long black hair. "The Calormenes are due to arrive within the next three weeks. And if Peter and Edmund are not here . . ." She trailed off, looking a little pale, but then she raised her chin. "I will ask the Merfolk to give us early warning so we know when the Calormene delegation draws near to Narnia. No one outside of those of us here has seen Babur so we can keep it quiet."
"Good." Alambiel glanced up at the sun's position. "Lucy and I will leave within the hour. We'll set out for the Shuddering Wood and then make the appropriate changes in our course once we are far enough away. Babur, will you be able to show us the way back to the ambush site?"
The Tiger bowed his head. "Of course."
"I am going with you."
Alambiel looked at Thalia. The Princess Consort had yet to assume her tamer corporeal form. Beech leaves the same shade as her diaphanous dress were mingled in her nut-brown hair and there was a wildness in her light green eyes. Just two years ago, she would have refused but Thalia had come a long way from the genteel Beech Nymph who never touched a weapon. "Convince me."
Thalia blinked, obviously surprised, but then she stepped forward. "You will need someone who can scout ahead of you and find these Giants without being noticed. Even Birds and Bats might be noticed but would the Northern Giants pay much heed to leaves blown about on the wind? I think not. And my husband is out there. I cannot stay at home waiting for news when I might help find him. I will be of more use to you by accompanying you than staying here with Susan."
"All right." Alambiel turned to Susan. "Alert Ardon to what has happened. He will help you and prepare a new course of action if necessary. Leeta is already aware of Babur's return, of course, and I have set her to several tasks that should also help you hold down the fort while we're gone. But no one else must learn of this."
The Gentle Queen nodded then she pulled her sister into a tight hug. "Be careful." Her gaze swept the others as she added, "All of you and bring them home."
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"Are you sure?"
"Of course, look there's Babur. He wouldn't be back if Alpha wasn't with him. Come on." Remus shoved his brother and then, wagging his tail so hard that his whole body wriggled, he went bounding out of the bushes. "Babur! Where did you put Alpha? Is he still mad? He shouldn't be. We did a really good job of fixing the gardens. Hello, Queen Lucy. Did you find Tarrin yet?"
"Greybacks!"
Remus froze mid-wag and hunkered to the ground. He knew that tone. Whenever the General's mate used it was very unpleasant and her growl was much worse than being bit on the tail. Dolefully, he turned to the General's mate and gave a tentative wag of his tail. "Yes, Princess Alambiel."
The foolish grass-eaters Queen Lucy and Princess Thalia were riding pranced and tried to kick at him and Romulus as they crept through the grass. But Princess Alambiel's grass-eater merely snorted at them. The Tigers and Ptah were glaring at them though. Maybe they should have waited for Alpha to come find them but that would have been a very long wait because Alpha might have gotten hungry and forgotten about them.
"Remus. Why are the two of you following us?"
Remus sat up with a doggy grin, pink tongue lolling. "We wanted to surprise Alpha. Romulus saw Babur and Bast and I thought that meant Alpha's back."
"And we didn't want to miss Alpha coming back," Romulus added.
Remus nodded. "Where's Alpha?"
The Princess Royal laughed suddenly. "Well, we can't send you back."
Remus pricked his ears up. "Why?"
Romulus nudged him. "Use your nose! Can't you smell it? Or did you get too much dirt in it again?"
Remus gave his brother a scathing look. "I do not have dirt up my nose." But then he had to pause and sniff the air. There was a faint trace of blood and mud and something as smelly as the compost pile Alpha always got mad about when he and Romulus rolled around in it to hide from Bast. His lips quivered, baring gleaming fangs, as he snarled. "Giants!"
"The Kings and the General were ambushed four days ago. The Giants absconded with the Kings. We're going to get them back."
Alpha was gone? Remus snarled louder. "We can find them!"
Romulus nodded. "We'll find them. Just watch!"
The Princess Royal looked at them and then nodded. "Babur is leading us to the place this happened. Do not wander off and do not get in his way. And I want you to do your best to be quiet. Understand?"
Remus and Romulus both nodded. "We will!"
It wasn't until an hour had passed that Remus thought of something he should ask. Running back among the silly grass-eaters, he raced up on the side of Princess Alambiel's horse opposite of Ptah. "Princess Alambiel! What happened to the General?"
She looked down at him. "What do you mean?"
"You said the Giants took Alpha and the High King. What if they didn't want the General too? Where is he?"
Ptah hissed at him. Remus ignored him. "How come the General didn't come back with Babur?"
"I am certain Oreius is protecting the Kings as best he can."
"Wouldn't he have to be with them to do that?"
"Remus!" Remus' ears flattened as Bast hissed at him again. "Mind your manners, pup."
"I am not a pup." He looked up at the Princess Royal and snuffled her boot. "I'm sorry. It was on accident."
She smiled but she smelled sad and worried. "I know. Now, let's do a real run for a bit. We have people to find."
Remus howled in excitement as the horses galloped past him, the silly grass-eaters kicking up their hooves at him and Romulus and the Big Cats too. He wagged his tail as he chased after them. They were going to find Alpha. He wondered how much Alpha would like learning that he and Romulus helped Peridan's twin puppies decorate his study with lots of good frogs.
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A/N: Please Read and Review! Soooo, the Greybacks are simply refusing to grow up. Just older. ;) Next chapter will be nice and long and VERY critical to the boys and Oreius. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this chapter.