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: Don't judge a book by its cover...or a knight by their rumors... A lesson Peridan and his family learned as they adjusted to their new life in Narnia.

A/N: This is part of my A Light in the Darkness universe. I recommend reading the main story arc (Awakening, Shadowed, and Revealed) first, but you can give this one a whirl on its own too.

Chapter Twenty

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12 Fairdawn 1006

"I believe these two books will help you the most, Lord Peridan."

Peridan bowed his head slightly to the Cat, "My thanks, lady."

The Cat smiled, giving a slight purr in response before she turned quickly and kept one of her kittens from falling over the edge of the table and taking a pile of older scrolls with it. Peridan suppressed a chuckle and took the books. Raisa had wandered off somewhere among the many bookshelves. His daughter's enthusiasm for books was never ending. But, since it was nearly time for lunch, he had to find her. Holding the books in one hand, Peridan meandered through the library. He had just rounded one end of bookcases when he stopped at the sight of Dame Sepphora reading. She didn't seem to register his presence though as he walked behind the divan she was sitting on, apparently completely immersed in the book she was reading. The General wanted him to make the effort to get to know Dame Sepphora as she truly was, but Peridan didn't much feel that this was the appropriate time to make an effort. Instead, he quickly found Raisa, also buried in a book, but she paid enough attention to her surroundings to look up at his approach. "Raisa, it's time for lunch."

She nodded and reluctantly closed her book, "Yes, Father."

Peridan smiled slightly, "You may bring the book along, Raisa." She immediately brightened and Peridan simply shook his head in amusement. He suspected that his daughter's favorite part of coming to Narnia was the fact that she could use the library at any time and also take books back to their family quarters.

They had just rounded the one of the bookcases when Peridan pulled Raisa to a stop and held a finger in front of his lips before she could say anything. He saw her brown eyes widen as she spotted the reason he had stopped. Dame Sepphora was still reading, but the General was approaching her from behind. He looked...amused, definitely amused as he stopped directly behind her and she never looked up. The General smirked then grabbed her shoulder. Dame Sepphora jumped up from the divan with a surprised yelp and spun around to face the General, clutching the book to her. "Oreius!"

The General spread his hands innocently, "Alambiel?"

Dame Sepphora did not look amused, "You're not funny. And, will you stop doing that to me?"

Peridan watched, more than a little surprised at the scene playing out before them, as the General chuckled, "Not when you continue to react in such an amusing way." He nudged Raisa and carefully led her past them. But neither the General nor Dame Sepphora seemed to notice them as Dame Sepphora responded by sticking her tongue out, which only seemed to amuse the Centaur General further. He had to admit that watching them interact was always interesting, even though he wasn't sure what it meant...and he still hadn't forgotten what the General had said about Dame Sepphora being the only reason he had allowed him to petition to join the ranks of the army. He hadn't forgotten, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to be that indebted to such an unpredictable individual…it was an uncomfortable notion, but one he suspected he would simply have to accept to the best of his abilities.

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Katerina smiled as she recognized two small giggles. Rounding the corner, she quickly caught the vase was tilting precariously on the small table. "Be careful, little Scátháin. We wouldn't want to break another vase, now would we?"

The twins she now knew belonged to Peridan and his wife looked at each other then looked back at her. Thane immediately shook his head at the same time Shane nodded. She suppressed the urge to laugh as Thane noticed and poked his brother in the side before whispering furiously in his ear. Both boys looked at her and this time they both shook their heads. "No, Ala."

She glanced around, glad that Oreius had been called to a meeting with several officers including Peridan who had sent his daughter to inform Marsalla of his absence, since she would prefer for him not know that the shortened form of her name the Raccoon kits and Leopard cubs liked to use had also been adopted by the little Scátháin. She made sure the vase was safely in the middle of the table then crouched in front of the twin boys. "Little Scátháin, would you two like to help me play a prank on your brother and King Edmund?"

They didn't even consult in whispers before nodding eagerly. Then, another little voice asked, "Can I help, Ala? Please."

Katerina looked over her shoulder to see Shesheta giving her her best pleading look. She smiled, "Of course, you can, Shesheta. And, you can help these two keep from getting lost."

Shesheta grinned and hopped forward, "Yay!"

Thane and Shane each put a finger to their lips, "Shhh!"

Katerina suppressed another laugh and then beckoned the little ones closer, "All right, here is what you must do..."

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After leaving a meeting comprised of most of the army officers, Dame Sepphora being the notable exception as per usual, Peridan impulsively stopped in front of a display of shattered blades. Somehow, he had never noticed them before or perhaps he had always had a more pressing duty to attend than to pay much attention to the display. But, his duties for the day concluded, he now gave in to his curiosity. The three swordmasters of Cair Paravel, General Oreius, Captain Ardon, and Captain Cletus, also stopped as he observed the display. Captain Cletus answered Peridan's unspoken question, "The blades were shattered during battle and earned the honor of preservation."

Peridan nodded toward a pair of knives, with handles blackened and the remains of the blades, broken only a few fingers' width from the base of the hilt, were melted, "What of these here? I have never seen blades damaged in this manner."

The three warriors exchanged looks before Captain Ardon answered, "They are the example of what happens when someone stabs a sorcerer's staff. They also mark the first of two actions that earned Dame Sepphora her knighthood."

Peridan started to protest the tale, but he stopped his words before the first one left his lips. The General and Captains looked at him expectantly, so he chose his next words with care. "I see that only a few would be able to claim such a tale. And, the second action is marked as well?"

They nodded, and Captain Ardon again provided the explanation. "The white streaks at the front of her hair. The same sorcerer whose staff she stabbed gave those to her as she saved the High King's life."

He considered that for a moment as he tried to decide whether he wanted to hear the whole story just then or not. He was trying to understand why Dame Sepphora had so much leeway and why she was so flippant in her actions, even though he doubted he could ever completely understand her. But, he wasn't sure if there was time for the tale... Still, he needed to make the effort. "How-"

He abruptly cut himself off as two dismayed shouts rang out faintly from outside the room. He didn't wait for the other three as he raced out of the room, but he heard their hooves clattering against the marble floor almost immediately and they were on his heels as they all ran toward the shouts. Rounding the corner that opened into a long, wide hall, Peridan and the swordmasters skidded to a stop as they stared at the sight in front of them. Two people stood in the center of the hall. One growled and Peridan realized they were none other than Tarrin and King Edmund. The two boys were covered in a very bright, almost blinding, shade of pink dye or paint and topped with clumps of large purple flowers, which were resting on the boys' heads and shoulders and around their feet.

Small giggles to his right drew his attention to where Thane and Shane were standing next to Shesheta. But before he could question the three of them, a clear laugh rang out followed by a gently mocking voice, "You finally have some color in your cheeks, Edmund."

King Edmund let out a half-snarl, half-growl as he swiped the dripping pink dye off his face and turned to glare at where Dame Sepphora was leaning against the opposite wall. "Kat! What was that for?"

"What do you think?"

"The eel?" King Edmund gestured wildly behind him, flinging pink dye and two clumps of large purple flowers as he did so, and growled, "This is an overreaction! It's not as though we dumped honey and peacock feathers on you, like we did Oreius, and that was an accident since it was supposed to be Peter."

Peridan watched as King Edmund stiffened and Tarrin cringed while the Captains both gave the General just a little more room than they had been. The General closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. Dame Sepphora, unlike everyone else present, did not seem the least bit phased by the General's presence. Actually, she looked rather delighted, "Honey and peacock feathers? And you're still alive? How did I miss that?" She stopped and looked directly at the General as she tapped a finger against her chin, "Oh, the possibilities. I am going to enjoy this so very much." Dame Sepphora looked at King Edmund, "You are so going to pay for that in training tomorrow, by the way." Then, she turned around and sauntered from the room.

The General followed Dame Sepphora at a slow, deliberate pace making Peridan wonder if he was attempting to intimidate his son and the Just King or Dame Sepphora. He doubted it worked if aimed toward Dame Sepphora since he knew she had a tendency to ignore the common sense of not provoking any Centaur, much less General Oreius. Looking back at the two boys, Peridan cleared his throat, "I believe you both should clean up." He paused and turned to look at the twins and Shesheta, "And, you three will come with me."

As they followed Tarrin and King Edmund out of the hall, Peridan heard Captain Cletus mutter to Captain Ardon, "I'll make sure someone cleans up this mess, you see if Sepphora is still alive."

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16 Fairdawn 1006

It had been four days since Alambiel found out about the honey and feathers incident, but for some reason she had done nothing other than to make him promise her that he would not increase the amount of training How and Peridanson were currently subject to in revenge for How's slip. Oreius had agreed, if only because the snickers following in the wake of King Edmund's pink footsteps seemed punishment enough, especially when he heard the rest of the royals teasing King Edmund mercilessly until Queen Lucy's birthday party yesterday. However, he was still suspicious that Katerina Alambiel was merely waiting for just the right opportunity to bring it up again. He could only hope that she didn't bring it up during when they joined Peridan and his family for dinner since he doubted Marsalla and Peridan would be very understanding of her antics.

"You're worrying too much again."

He frowned as he spotted Alambiel sitting on the edge of his desk and rifling through his papers. "What have I told you about going through my papers, Sepphora?"

She smirked as she held up a report, deliberately thumbed through it, and answered in a singsong voice, "It's Seventhday. You can't call me that." She grinned at him as she tapped the report against her leg then set it down on the wrong stack before continuing in a normal voice, "You know I don't really see why you get so...testy...about these papers, Kentauri. But, that's not the actual reason I wanted to see you."

He raised an eyebrow, "It's not?"

Alambiel shook her head, "Nope. I wanted to see you because I figured you would be worrying too much about tonight. I mean, what is there to worry about? We're hardly going to be...wait, I really don't want that to happen so I'm not going to bring it to Murphy's attention...and I don't want that to happen either... Hmm, well, it will probably be safer for all of us if I just say that there's always something to cause worry but it probably isn't worth the amount of worry you are currently giving it."

Oreius couldn't help smirking, which appeared to be the response Alambiel wanted as she hopped off his desk. "Do not be-"

"Late, I know. And, do be charming. Don't worry, I'll be so charming, they won't recognize me. See you tonight."

She left before he could say anything else. Oreius shook his head as he walked over to fix whatever chaos Alambiel had visited upon his papers. He knew she could be charming when she chose to, but he also hoped this dinner would be the first step to a true cooperation betwixt Peridan and Alambiel. He lifted a report and stopped. In the center of his desk was a small uncovered jar of honey with a single peacock feather stuck into it. Picking up the jar, Oreius had to admit that the little teasing gesture was not as bad as he had expected. Perhaps they could get through the dinner without Alambiel earning anyone else as an enemy…

Alambiel managed to be ready on time when he reached her quarters to escort her to the quarters of Peridan and his family since he didn't want to risk the chance of her getting lost or creating the excuse of getting lost. She gave him an amused look but didn't say anything as they walked. In fact, she remained extremely taciturn as they joined Peridan and his family. Oreius suspected she was preoccupied with reading their hosts' body language before she would allow herself to be more open...more vulnerable. On her part, Marsalla seemed slightly nervous at first and then she blushed crimson as they all realized she had forgotten to account for the fact he was a Centaur when arranging the table for the meal. She stammered out the first half of an apology before Oreius raised his hand, "It is well, Lady Marsalla."

Alambiel added, "And, easily remedied." She grabbed the unusable chair and moved it to an out of the way spot along the far wall. "He's used to eating while standing up when his hosts aren't other Centaurs anyway."

Oreius smiled slightly as Marsalla glanced at him for confirmation and nodded, "It does not trouble me, I assure you."

Marsalla gave a quick nod, then allowed Peridan to guide her to her seat before she addressed Alambiel, "Lady Katerina...that is your name, is it not?"

"It's one of them and I will answer to it...most of the time anyway."

Marsalla seemed faintly taken aback for a moment by Alambiel's candid manner or perhaps it was the amusement with which she had answered. "Oh. I see... Lady Katerina, I wanted to thank you and General Oreius for coming to the aid of my children last week. I fear to think of what might have happened if you had not rendered aid."

Alambiel looked down at her plate, poking at her food, before she met Marsalla's gaze and replied solemnly, "Do not thank us. We would do it again...and we would do it for any child endangered by the Fell." The conversation faltered between the two women after that and it was mainly left to Peridan and himself to fill the silence in the absence of Peridan and Marsalla's children. He chose not to speculate as to the reason behind the decision to restrict the dinner to only the adults, even though he had hoped seeing how Alambiel interacted with their children would ease Marsalla and Peridan's, specifically Marsalla's, unease.

Toward the end of the meal, Oreius could see Alambiel fidgeting with her food again before she sipped from her drink. She was going to say something. He merely hoped it would not be so inflammatory as to worsen the relationship between Peridan and Marsalla and herself. She glanced at him for a moment then looked directly at Peridan and Marsalla, "I know you don't like me and I know you do not trust me. For all I know, you believe those silly rumors that I'm a witch. Maybe saving your children's lives has presented you with a more favorable view of me and maybe not. But, we need a ceasefire, specifically between you, Peridan, and me. The Kentauri insists we work together and, quite frankly, you have not earned my trust. However, I have agreed to trust Oreius' judgment of you."

"And, you Dame Sepphora-"

"I don't answer to Sepphora on Seventhdays."

Peridan stated blandly, "I am not surprised. It fits with every other protocol you flaunt. And, you do flaunt them, which makes it difficult for me to trust you. And, yes, we are familiar with the rumors concerning the Strega of Narnia. However, I, we are willing to learn more about who you really are and...why."

Oreius did not say a word as Alambiel and Peridan held each other's gazes in a way that was both challenging and measuring. It was between them and he expected them to handle it without need for further interference on his part. He did notice that Marsalla still seemed wary. He strongly suspected that it would be more difficult for her to let go of her fears, even with Alambiel's actions last Seventhday, since they had such different personalities and manners. Peridan looked away first as he grabbed Marsalla's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. Alambiel smiled slightly and her accent thickened to the point that she lilted her next words, "Perhaps, Peridan, you and I shall settle that challenge during a sparring match sometime."

Peridan gave a curt nod, "Perhaps we shall, but not tonight."

The conversation shifted from there, but by the end of the night, Oreius was confident that Peridan and his family were learning that they should not judge knights by their rumors, especially if the knight in question was Katerina Alambiel. Alambiel seemed to share his sentiments as she had quietly whispered to him as they left, "Well, I don't think we're in danger of killing each other anymore."

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Marsalla blew out a tense breath, ignoring the manners expected of a lady for once, as the General and Lady Katerina left, "I cannot believe I arranged the table with four chairs. It isn't funny, Peridan! What if the General had taken insult?"

Peridan pulled her into a tight hug, "Oh my Tesoro, do not fret since he did not take insult. What did you think of Dame Sepphora?"

She leaned her head against his shoulder, "I fear we have little in common and I am still uncomfortable with the idea of allowing her near our children... However, she doesn't seem quite as bad the rumors make her out to be...at least, not to the point of being a witch. And..." Marsalla trailed off before she wrapped her arms tightly around Peridan and forced herself to continue, "And, I believe most of the rumors, the very worst ones, are either false or grossly exaggerated. We- We should allow her to interact with our children...when we, or someone we trust, are present."

Peridan kissed her forehead, "You are brave, oh queen of my heart. Do not fear, Marsalla. General Oreius does seem to have a modicum of control over her actions and I trust he will keep her in line."

Marsalla thought about telling Peridan what she had seen, but decided it was enough to accept his words as the comfort he meant them...even if he was wrong about the General controlling Lady Katerina. One day she would tell him, and it was always possible that would be preceded by Lady Katerina completely earning their trust and they hers...however long that it took for that feat to be accomplished.

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A/N: Please Read and Review! So, ends Don't Judge a Book...Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, alerted, and favorited this story. I hope to finish Concealed in the next few weeks, so be on the lookout for new chapters. Also, I will be closing the poll on my profile in two weeks, so if you have not voted, please vote now. Your feedback is important. Leave a review and let me know what y'all thought about this chapter and this story as a whole.