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 Thirteen: Murphy's Plan

"This is ridiculous. And possibly suicidal. You do at least recognize that fact, don't you?"

The Kentauri huffed in response and Alambiel pursed her lips, trying to resist the urge to smack him over the head while rant- explaining in excruciating detail (in Irish) why this was not the plan they should be following. She glared at the stony ground as she walked beside the Kentauri while leading Pepin by the reins. Ptah had read the signs clearly enough that he had taken point ahead of Bast and Babur. The Tigers had been ranging between them and where Lucy led both her horse and Thalia's horse but as the tension grew between her and her bonehead of a husband, they had both forged ahead. The Greyback brothers were happily oblivious to the tension behind them as they gladly loped around Lucy and the horses, chattering about frogs and bacon.

Alambiel shook her head as she kicked at one of the loose pebbles, sending it skittering across the ground. "Fifteen Giants, Oreius. We should send someone back to find the patrol and summon aid from the outpost."

"No."

She jerked her head up, staring at him in disbelief. Though the cordial had healed him of his physical wounds, four years of marriage and training in the healing arts let her see the strain more easily than many. Beneath the thickening beard that now covered his cheeks, the muscle in his jaw remained clenched and there were deep shadows beneath his eyes. On this second day of pushing to catch up with the Giants, his color was slightly off again. He wasn't sleeping and she could hardly coax him into eating anything. Oreius could be obsessively focused on protecting those given to him to protect but his decision was . . . out of character. "And why not?"

"They are running out of time."

"They're not the only ones." Alambiel let Pepin have a bit more lead as she moved closer to the Kentauri. "If we send Ptah or one of the Greybacks for help today, then the troops will be able to catch up with us in time to be of use and not just identifying the bodies."

"Anyone we send back will be a body we cannot afford to lose."

"Fifteen Giants, Oreius. You and I both know that just half that number would be a fatal challenge to our current number. There's only nine of us. We can't count on Peter and Edmund being able to help because we have no idea what condition they're in after trying to escape. You're probably the only one who can go one-on-one against a Giant and walk away from it but even you're not in the best shape for fighting. This is a suicide plan."

Oreius stopped short then turned to her, his most irritatingly impassive expression blocking her from guessing at his thoughts. "We do not have time for another plan."

"We should make the time." Alambiel frowned as she stopped, facing him toe to hoof. "And this feels all wrong. Why am I the voice of reason? I'm never the voice of reason. You are supposed to be the voice of reason, I'm the crazy feckless one. This is a truly horrible plan if I'm having to be the voice of reason, which I don't appreciate. So please do us both a favor and go back to being the practical one."

The hard determination in his dark gaze softened for just a moment, allowing her to see a gentle concern lurking behind his I'm-the-General façade, as he cupped her face between his hands. He looked her over slowly. "You might at times flirt with insanity for your own purposes, Alambiel, but you have never been feckless. You are well?"

"It's very reassuring to hear that you don't think I'm feckless and know that I'm only crazy when it's part of my master plan," she retorted drily. "However, it's very concerning to me that you are not participating in this conversation. Nine people cannot fight fifteen Giants and hope to walk away. This is suicidal. And if we lose three of the Four, the Calormenes and the Telmarines will not hesitate to fight together for the spoils before they get into a fight over those same spoils."

"Eight." His hands slid away from her face as he sighed. "Only eight of us will fight the Giants. We shall have to pray that the colts will be able to defend themselves as well. But we cannot turn back."

Hope flared for a moment. "Then you agree to send Ptah for-"

"No. I merely said that only eight of us will join the fight."

The Kentauri started to turn away but she caught his hand and he stopped. Alambiel didn't let go as she whispered, "Why do I get the terrible feeling that you are planning to die?"

"I do not plan but I am prepared for the possibility."

"By turning the possibility into a money-back guarantee?"

Oreius looked at her, frowning. "What is a money-back guarantee?"

"It doesn't matter because it's a really bad idea and unacceptable." Alambiel dropped the reins as she crossed her arms. She scowled at him and once again reminded herself that braining him with a handy rock would not be helpful. Even if it would make her feel better. His skull was hard enough that it'd probably break the rock. "This is insane. This is an open invitation for Murphy to loose the dogs of war and his law will win and it won't be pretty either."

"I do not believe the Giants have any war dogs."

"Oreius!" She closed her mouth with a snap but still stamped her foot in irritation as she glared at him. Maybe one whack to the head would knock some caution back into his brain. Obviously, it was the fall that had knocked everything out in the first place.

He sighed then took her hand between his two and squeezed once. "I do not plan to die, Wife."

"I don't think you're telling the truth. And," she yanked her hand free then smacked him in the ribs as she continued in a low hiss, "you are still avoiding the important part where we come up with a plan that isn't going to get us all killed. We need to send someone for help. There is no possible way for the current plan to work. Why aren't you concerned?"

"This is the only way."

"Stop saying that. You're wrong."

"Alambiel." Oreius reached out and hooked a finger beneath her chin, gently pushing until she was looking up at him again. The impassive mask was in place once more but there was a hint of compassion lurking in his eyes. "Tell me why you have set yourself so firmly against this plan. I do not think I am mistaken in believing you would have sliced through this plan with one of your knives if it had been presented to you in a report."

A faint laugh escaped her. "If you were yourself, you would have let me." Her amusement faded as she searched his eyes. "But, Oreius, there are at least fifteen Giants, maybe more will join them, and this plan is impossible. The numbers alone give them a terribly high chance of winning."

"Numbers do not win a battle."

"I hate that saying. I really do."

The corner of his mouth twitched and she knew he was trying not to smile. For once, she wasn't happy to have amused him. Alambiel grit her teeth, not caring if he felt the tension in her jaw. "I almost lost you. These Giants almost succeeded in killing you and what if we can't reach you in time? I have lost everyone I love in my life, Oreius, everyone except for you. I do not want to lose you too. And I don't even know what you're thinking right now. You have fixated on this suicidal plan that isn't going to work and are refusing to send for aid. You're the General. You do remember that you like the rulebook, right? Tossing the rules and ignoring regulations is my thing, not yours, and I don't want to share. By the way, if I think ignoring regulations is a bad idea, don't you agree that you should listen to me?"

"We have no choice."

"We had a choice. You took it away."

"Alambiel . . ." He trailed off and then shook his head. "We need to continue on. We have far to go before we stop for a brief rest."

She watched him move off then groaned as she turned back to Pepin, gathering the reins in one hand and then scratching his neck with the other. The gelding nickered and butted his head against her middle. Alambiel bowed her head for a moment, unmoving save for her fingers' slight strokes through his hair. "Consider yourself lucky, Pepin, you only have to wait for Oreius to give you an apple. I have to figure out a way to beat Murphy at his game, keep everyone I like alive, and avoid being squished. This is going to be so easy."

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A/N: Please Read and Review! More of the boys and their Giant loves next chapter. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this one.