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: Sorrow untold, unexpressed, but felt more deeply than any other. What will it take to mend?

A/N: This story is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. Enjoy!

Sorrow Untold

Part Six

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29 Fairdawn 1011

Cair Paravel glistened like a bright jewel beside the sea, reflecting the afternoon sun. I took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent of the ocean carried inland on the breeze along with the flowers blooming around us. A hand brushed against mine and I looked up to find Oreius watching me. His gaze remained tinged with caution as he nodded toward the castle. "Are you certain you do not wish to spend another sennight back in our cabin?"

A small smile appeared in spite of the fact that I couldn't quite summon laughter yet. I shook my head at him. "During which time you will be bombarded by increasingly frantic missives from your captains and lieutenants who are clearly as uncomfortable with you going on an unexpected holiday as you are leaving them unattended? Are you quite seriously suggesting such a thing? The next thing you know the stars will begin falling from the sky." I waved a hand toward the Cair. "And besides we've already walked all the way back."

Oreius looked from me to the Cair then back to me and deadpanned, "They don't know that we have done so yet. There's still time."

My smile widened. Before I could respond, however, there was a Hawk's cry from above us. I looked up to see the Hawk circle above our heads twice before winging away toward the Cair. Meeting Oreius' amused gaze, I could only shrug. "It would seem we've been found out. Now I fear we've no choice but to behave as responsible adults and go back."

The Kentauri smirked before he grew serious as he lightly touched my cheek. His dark eyes searched mine as he asked softly, "You are certain you do not need more time?"

There was a part of me that hated to go back to the place where it all happened, where everything that should've been happening changed. I wasn't going to deny it. Yet, I knew too that I couldn't hide away forever. Otherwise the small steps of progress we had made over the last two weeks would've been for naught. And that was a defeat I simply couldn't tolerate. Sometimes the only way to find healing was to reclaim a place that had been marred by loss. It left scars and changed you in some way but every cleaning solution stung as it worked. The same happened with life as well as physical wounds. I knew what I needed to do if I ever wanted to reclaim my life. I also knew I couldn't do it alone.

Reaching up to grasp Oreius' hand, I turned my head just enough to press a kiss to his palm. "I think it will be better to do this now. No matter how tempting the thought of staying away can be at the moment."

Oreius nodded. "As you wish." He twisted his hand around to capture mine in his firm grasp then pulled me around to his left before he started walking. As I fell into step with him, he squeezed my fingers. "Ptah will be glad to see you again."

I smiled at the thought of the Leopard. He would probably end up sitting on my feet for at least a few days…and I wouldn't fuss much over it. Even if he was heavy. Realizing Oreius was waiting for a response, I shrugged. "Not as glad as your captains will be to see you."

Oreius chuckled. "I was not gone so long as that."

"Are you saying you did not begin receiving messages from them over the last sennight? And they only came with greater frequency when you delayed leaving the cabin by a single day?" I leaned against his arm, grateful the wounds he'd suffered were already healed enough that he no longer required bandages. Even the wounds to his side had faded to only the faintest of scratches.

"Very well, I concede." Oreius waited for me to look up at him before he continued drily, "My return shall be received with far greater fervor than yours."

A laugh sputtered out of me. Oreius' eyebrows rose in surprise but then a wide grin slowly spread across his face. "I have missed your laugh, Alambiel."

I hesitated only a half a breath before I stepped in front of him, forcing him to halt. Then I rose on my toes and kissed him. Something I hadn't been able to allow myself to do since everything happened. Even these last few weeks, I'd struggled to show him my affection and he'd been excruciatingly patient with me.

When I broke the kiss, we were both breathing heavily. Oreius gave me a curious look although he didn't ask whatever he was thinking. Not wanting him to think I could only manage to reach out to him this once, I pressed another kiss to his lips before I stepped back. I took a steadying breath as I resumed walking. "We should keep moving if we don't want the army to assume I've abducted you after all."

"The General of the Army abducted by the Princess Royal of Narnia," he mused, easily catching up to me. "Yes, I can see how they might be disconcerted by such a scandalous occurrence."

I smiled at his subtle teasing. "Oh?"

"Indeed." He paused deliberately before he looked down at me. "You should abduct me in Stormfall. It will make an excellent training exercise."

"Why Stormfall?"

He smirked. "There will be storms to cover our tracks. And you are far more inclined to leap into my arms when there are thunderstorms."

I smacked him in the arm. "You are not the least bit funny."

"And yet you are smiling," he murmured, sounding far too pleased with himself.

Clicking my tongue, I chose not to take the bait. I wasn't quite ready despite my decision to seize back the good in my life. To remember that I wasn't unworthy of feeling happiness again. Instead, I grasped his hand and squeezed tightly as I whispered, "Thank you, Oreius. It has helped."

"I am glad for it, Chéadsearc."

We both looked up as a Gryphon screeched above us. Then I caught sight of Ardon leaving the Cair. Oreius squeezed my hand but said nothing further. It would seem I was more right than he'd been about the increasing urgency of the letters he'd been receiving. A small grin appeared though when I caught sight of a Leopard running out after Ardon. It seemed Ptah had also heard we were back.

Oreius abruptly leaned down and whispered in my ear, "It would appear Ptah wishes to challenge my captains after all."

The small grin grew wider even as I shook my head. Going back to Cair Paravel and resuming our lives wasn't going to be easy. However, I could only cling to the promises Oreius had made and his reassurances that he loved me, that I wasn't to blame. My grin faltered as the dark thought raked across my mind. I shoved it back, however, as I fought to focus on Ptah and Ardon's approach. One thing was certain. I would be having a conversation with Tuulea as soon as I could find her because a small part of me still couldn't rest easy without having her confirm Oreius' words. Afterwards, though, I would have to do my best to look to the future instead of forever dwelling on this particular sorrow. It was the only way to heal, by remembering morning comes after the darkest moments of night.

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7 Greenroof 1011

We had been back home for ten days. During which time, I'd watched Alambiel strive to pick up the pieces she'd left behind. She'd struggled greatly the first few days of our return where she had either attached herself to my side or had quite literally run to Tuulea. She had been improving, however. Until four days ago when her time with the Queens and the Princess Consort had been interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a Nymph seeking the Queens' blessing on her weeks old Centaur colt. That had sent Alambiel spiraling into a panic attack severe enough that Leeta had intruded on a meeting with the Kings to fetch me.

Her dreams had been troubled since then as well. All of which meant I was…concerned when I returned from training my colts to find our quarters devoid of my wife's presence. Ptah wasn't there either, so I could only hope she was with him. Or perhaps with Tuulea.

"General, my aunt says she hasn't seen Alambiel this morn." Leeta's black eyes couldn't hide her concern as she continued, "Ptah was seen heading toward the little conservatory. There was no mention of my lady being seen."

I nodded. "Thank you, Leeta. I will find her." I hesitated a moment then added, "Take the rest of the day. I do not intend to leave my wife after I find her."

Leeta bowed her head in acquiescence. "Of course, General. Please do not hesitate to summon me if I am needed."

As the Nymph left, I entered the study to check the drawer where I had agreed to store Alambiel's weapons for the time being. It was still locked and when I opened it, each blade was accounted for. After locking the drawer once more, I picked up the wrapped package from amidst the stacks of paperwork on my desk. If Ptah had gone toward the little conservatory, I was fairly certain he had been following in Alambiel's wake. And now so would I.

The conservatory was empty when I entered it. I didn't trouble myself with searching, however. Instead, I found the door hidden behind an arbor of roses and pushed it open. Ducking inside the tunnel, I grumbled to myself about the ceiling after I bumped my head almost at once. The front portion of the tunnel was not truly meant to accommodate grown Centaur stallions with its low ceiling requiring me to bend forward to keep from knocking my head against the stone and the tunnel was too narrow to turn around. Now I had entered, I was committed to go forward to the end. This was why I rarely ever used this tunnel. At least I did not have to negotiate too narrow or too steep stairs.

The tunnel's ceiling raised just enough for me to straighten. I picked up my pace as soon as it happened and quickly found myself at the tunnel's end. Emerging through the door, I stepped out into one of the dead ends of the maze. After shutting the door firmly and ensuring it was once again concealed by the drooping branches of an old willow tree, I continued toward the heart of the maze. I wasn't far from it. I could hear the laughter of the Four as well as the Princess Consort in the distance. Not in the maze itself but somewhere nearby. The colts had mentioned the plans for a morning picnic while they changed out of their armor. Though they had offered an invitation for Alambiel and me to join them, I had declined since I'd already made my own plans for spending this morn. Plans that certainly looked different to how this morn was occurring.

Turning down another dead end, the one with a single fountain and a few benches, I went to the far wall and brushed aside the ivy to expose the door. Then I pushed against it. It was unlocked and swung open at my touch. I saw Ptah first, the only other Narnian Alambiel permitted inside the small enclosed garden with its willow tree. The one beloved by her mother, Hadassah. The Leopard nodded to me then slipped out into the maze, allowing us privacy.

Once he was gone, I turned my attention to finding Alambiel. She stood beneath the willow with her back pressed against its trunk, eyes closed as her lips formed soundless words. The deep blue of her gown contrasted sharply with the willow's bark. There was no hint of embroidery on this particularly gown but it fell in flowing folds that put me in mind of waves of the sea or ripples across the still surface of a lake. The twisted straps across her shoulders left her arms bare but there was no hint of jewelry save for the rings adorning her left hand and the silver thumb ring on her right. Even her hair had been left unadorned and flowing loose. Yet it was a far more elaborate look than she had donned in some time, one suited to the Princess Royal.

She didn't acknowledge my presence. Watching her as she continued to move her lips in soundless prayers, I didn't want to interrupt though I dearly wished to assure myself that she wasn't struggling this morn. As much as I wanted to hope that her lack of a summons meant she was in a better state of mind today, I knew better than to assume. When I remained silent, uncertain of what she needed most from me, Alambiel spoke without opening her eyes. "I'm glad you found me."

Closing the distance between us, I gently caressed her cheek with the back of my fingers. "You could have summoned me."

"I wanted you to find me." She opened her eyes and offered a slight smile. "And you remembered."

"I could never forget our garden," I assured her. Studying her face, I murmured, "Will you tell me where your thoughts have been?"

"Does it bother you?" When I didn't reply, she dropped her gaze. "We have only spoken about it in the terms of my feelings. Which is selfish. How do you feel?"

"I grieve for him, of course. Had it been in my power to prevent his loss, I would have given up anything to do so." Gently cupping her chin and nudging until she was looking at me, I continued softly, "However, he was an unexpected surprise. I had not given much thought to when we would see our herd grow. It is simply not common for Centaurs to have foals so early in marriage. Especially when we wed a Nymph."

Alambiel narrowed her eyes at me. "You thought I was pregnant three months after we married."

"That is only because Alithia suggested it first," I reminded her.

Now she smiled. "You sound like a colt. 'It wasn't my fault because my sister suggested it.'"

I tapped my thumb against the center of her chin. "Yes, well, an overeager busybody of a healer aside, I did not make a habit of assuming you would carry a foal before we had been married for some time. Six years at the very earliest or even a full decade are far more common."

"Silverstone and Deianeira being another exception, I suppose."

"Just so." I paused, studying her face. "What I am trying to say is I only had a sennight to know he was coming while you…"

"I had him longer," she whispered.

I gave a curt nod. Running my thumb across her chin, I stated, "It does not lessen my love for him nor my grief for his loss. However… I suspect the grief would have struck me with an even sharper blade if I had known of him for the same length of time as you. But there is a comfort I wanted to share with you."

She gave me a faintly exasperated look. "I was attempting to make sure you were comforted, Kentauri."

I smiled at both her putout tone and the use of Kentauri. "The truth, Chéadsearc, is I gain comfort by ensuring you are comforted. Let me offer this to you. Please."

Alambiel finally sighed. "Very well."

I chuckled then released her chin. "Thank you, sweetheart." I sobered as I recalled the memory that had returned to my dreams only last night. "Not quite three years ago, when you didn't know me or that we'd been courting, Aslan offered me a promise that He said would serve as comfort through that trial and others I would experience. A promise of children. He said I would have many children, sons and daughters both, and the line of Chiron and of Oreius would last unbroken through the ages until Narnia herself comes to an end."

Alambiel stared at me with wide eyes. "Why have you never told me this before?"

"I did not recall it until the memory entered my dreams last night. That is when I knew I needed to share it with you."

She didn't smile as I had hoped. Instead, she looked almost worried. "Did He happen to mention the mother of your children?"

I smiled ruefully. "When I asked Him, He told me the identity of their mother was in the next chapter of my life and that I would need to turn the page to discover her. At the time, I feared it would not be you and the promise of children was bittersweet. Especially when I resigned myself to having to eventually open what remained of my heart to another after a few decades."

"How do you know you're in the next chapter?"

"Because being married to you became such a feat it could hardly be the same chapter," I countered drily. "And besides when I turned the page, you came running back to me."

She finally laughed. "That's not a particularly flattering argument, you know." Then she smacked me in the ribs. "And how dare you only wait a few decades? You should've been planning on at least a century."

I chuckled. "How shortsighted of me. You are correct. It would take at least that long for me to find even one mare who could have come close to being your equal and she would likely have fallen far short. It is a very good thing you were merciful enough to accept my suit again and my proposal." I sobered as I studied her expression. "Does it comfort you?"

She glanced away then back at me. "I… I do not know yet. Everything is still so easily reopened and I… I think I need more time before this comfort can be more than bittersweet."

"I feel the same, my love." I waved my hand at the sheltering willow branches. "I had something else in mind for today but perhaps this is a better place to spend our time together. It shall certainly be cooler unless we go down to the sea."

Alambiel gave me an amused look. "Why are you spending the day with me? It is Thirdday, not Sixthday or Seventhday."

"It is also the second anniversary of our new chapter as husband and wife." I handed her the small wrapped package I'd been holding. "And I remembered it properly."

"You remembered it last year," she murmured as she ran her fingers over the wrapping but didn't attempt to open it. She cut me a teasing look. "Giants are an interruption I do not particularly miss, however. Nor the mudslide."

A slow smile curved my lips as I recalled the situation. "I didn't mind the mudslide. Once it was over."

She blushed fetchingly even as she feigned disapproval. "Behave or I'm going back inside to visit with Alithia and tell her you called her an overeager busybody. I would advise you not to have need of a healer any time soon."

"The only healer I have need of is the beautiful one standing before me," I countered.

Leaning down, I stopped just short of kissing her. Thus far I had allowed her to dictate how I might express my love of her in regards to anything more direct than fleeting kisses to her hair or cheeks and brow. Alambiel kissed me lightly then drew back with a faint smile. "Perhaps I'll stay. Keep you safe from Alithia's fearsome wrath."

"You are most merciful, Chéadsearc." I resisted stealing a kiss although it was a trial. Recalling how I might amend my plans, I forced myself to step away. "To demonstrate my gratitude, I shall bring you a picnic since I doubt you've broken your morning fast."

Alambiel's smile brought me great comfort when I left her only long enough to carry out my task. However, I was surprised when Leeta met me not far from the entrance to the maze with a basket. The Nymph grinned at me. "Ptah said you'd found her and that you did not seem inclined to return inside. I thought you would enjoy breaking your fast together. I can bring baskets for lunch and supper as well to the fountain."

Accepting the basket, I nodded my thanks. "I would greatly appreciate it, Leeta."

I enjoyed the surprise in Alambiel's eyes when I returned so swiftly. I raised the basket. "Leeta is more efficient than half my officers."

She laughed. "That is because she must deal with me on a daily basis."

"Shame it wouldn't work on my army. They would flee because of Dame Sepphora's most fearsome reputation for tolerating very little foolishness."

Winning another laugh from my lady was more than reward enough. She shook her head at me. "I do believe you have confused me for yourself."

Looking her over, I mused, "I do not think that is possible. You lack a tail." I smiled as she laughed then glanced at the package she still held. "You didn't open your gift."

"I decided to wait for your return."

"Then it is a very good thing my return was so swift."

She cast me an amused look as I opened the basket. Removing a blanket, I spread it on the ground at the base of the tree so the large trunk was between us and the garden door. Alambiel gasped as she withdrew a simple gold coin on a delicate gold filigree chain. "Oreius, is this our Lion coin?"

I smiled. "Yes. I thought since you decided to keep it in your jewelry box, you might like it better if I made it a necklace."

Her smile grew wider as she cradled the coin in her palm. "You made it?"

Clearing my throat, I set the basket on a corner of the blanket. "Yes. I told you I was apprenticed to Ardon's father and learned the finer points of finishing jewelry."

"I fear I didn't quite believe you until now," she mused, still turning the coin over in her hands.

"It was a simple enough endeavor and if the chain is too light, I can change it for a heavier one."

"No, it's perfect just the way it is," she said. Then she held it out to me. "Help me with it?"

"Of course."

Once I had fastened it, she reached up to touch it once more. The smile had yet to fade as she glanced back up at me. "I love it, Oreius. Not alone and remembered. It is a reminder I have sorely needed."

I reached for her and she came willingly into my embrace. Pressing a kiss against the top of her head, I murmured, "I have missed you, love. I cannot thank Aslan enough that you came back to me."

Alambiel tilted her head back, blue eyes searching mine. "And I cannot thank Him enough that you are so willing to fight for me, to be patient with me, and to still offer to be my shield." Then she kissed me.

While we would not have our foal in the coming year, I thanked Aslan that we still had each other. The heaviness of the sorrow we'd borne rested a little easier now though it was not vanquished. If I had learned anything in my two years of marriage, it was that the darker parts of our lives could be mended far more easily when we faced them together.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! So this is the final wrap of Sorrow Untold. This was a difficult story and topic to write about, which is why it took me so long to finish this one. I hope y'all enjoyed it and even took comfort/courage from the journey. There is always hope even when things seem too dark and too difficult to bear. Don't be afraid to reach out for help.

~ Lady A