Disclaimer: We own NOTHING!! (Quite literally) the fabulous J.K.R and equally brilliant Tamora Pierce are the source of all our inspiration (when we say Allied we mean it! Anyone wanting to give ideas feel free to do so! Lol.)
Pagan has none of her own ideas you see (so we've got to be nice to her lol) only joking, Pagan is a stream of undying ideas, motivation, insight, stimulation and encouragement!! (Do you think that's enough big words to keep her thinking long enough for me to escape her throwing range?? lol) Anyway without further ado we (I should really say I as Pagan hasn't thought it necessary to contribute to the first chapter beyond criticizing my grammar! which is fair enough because I am terrible at that kind of stuff, (its really a shameless plan to get you to review if it is only to join pagan in criticizing my poor use of grammar, punctuation etc.)Lol
Now I'm gonna shut up long enough for you to read the first chapter…
Rougue xxx
The rain pounded oppressively upon the solid backs of the war-hardened warriors as they rode, mounted high upon their bellowing steeds.
Each step was strong and sure as they headed towards… erm that was a point thought Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau as she sat atop her faithful mare, Moonlight, trying to devise how this one of their adventures would be told at a later date.
This was one of the many devices which Alanna was employing to try and distract her mind from the cold that seemed to be enveloping her very soul and hanging in the air in this place… Scotland.
"Jon!" Alanna bellowed in frustration when she wasn't able to keep silent a minute longer, she hated the cold and her 'king' knew this as well as she did, for apart from being her 'sovereign lord' (the thought of any man being that, amused Alanna for a second, taking her mind from the wintry weather) Jon happened to be a very good friend, ok the fact that he was king hadn't exactly helped their friendship as Alanna had a distinct dislike of people lauding their power over her, and as Jon seemed to think that he could put his perfect nose into anyone's business that he pleased … Which, Alanna reminded herself he could as he was the king, and as she was his knight, his champion and thus his vessel. They had clashed at times, their most resent 'disagreement' was the reason that Alanna was now treking through the Scottish highlands in the middle of winter.
Exactly a week ago to this day Alanna had looked the most feminine she had ever looked, as she had walked up the isle to meet her husband, who had given her an appraising look and commented "I'm sorry madam I think you've come to the wrong place and if you intend to deceive me and allow me to marry a complete stranger, I feel I should at least warn you that my fiancée is the best swords woman I know.
To which she had been about to make a sarcastic reply before looking into his hazel eyes. When she had, the love she saw there had astounded her. So instead she had smiled up at him her face reflecting all the love she felt, and had then proceeded up the isle to marry the king of thieves, who had positively glowed that day and the thought of him seemed to warm her now, Jonathan however had been totally affronted by the fact that he had failed in securing Alanna where a 'mere' thief had succeeded and this had once again being a cause for their fiery personalities to clash.
On the wedding day well... Jealousy? Until that day Alanna had never seen jealousy.
After the wedding George and she had intended to ride into the sunset and take their honey moon, but someone had vandalise their carriage and set their horses free, however Alanna, being a knight and accomplished horsewoman, and George, being an accomplished thief and no novice in horse rustling, they had still reached their goal.
But alas the thought of Alanna and George alone together on their honey moon had King Jonathan pacing the floor at night devising a plan which he had put in to action the previous night.
George and Alanna had being enjoying a 'romantic moment' under a secluded willow tree as they toured the sunny Basliki islands, when a company of no less than thirty soldiers led by Raoul and for some reason accompanied by Gary had stormed in and told her of the king's urgent 'request' that she join them in an attack, the fact that they had said this with enormous grins all over their faces had somehow lessened the effect of the message, and after multiple arguments and protests, here she was in Scotland.
Alanna had been so lost in thought that she had forgotten calling Jon, who was now staring provocatively back at her, "You called madam?" he said in a voice laced with sarcasm.
Alanna took the liberty of glaring at him before coolly replying "Your powers of observation never fail to astound me Jon. Now, where are we going?" Alanna attempted to ask this in a nonchalant voice so as not to show her longing to get home, and failed miserably; Jon smiled a silky smile and tapped his nose knowledgably.
This caused Alanna's temper to come to the end of its famously short tether, pulling Moonlight to a halt with a sharp tug and yelled "Jonathan! You dragged away from my honeymoon! To the middle of this frozen land! And you won't even allow me an explanation?!"
"That's right Alanna." he replied simply his face hardening, and with that he spun his horse around and continued on his route eyes set on the road before him.
Alanna stood open mouthed for a second before she turned Moonlight back into line trying to ignore the stares of the newer soldiers who had never seen anybody question the King. They were obviously deciding which to label "the lioness"; brave or stupid.
Alanna cursed herself, she was Jon's knight, she had no right to question his actions as publicly as she had just done, and she didn't want to put the ideas of a rebellion into the new soldiers' heads or anything, it was just that she was privately insulted by Jon's secrecy. He had never even planned an attack without her and Alanna had expected him to tell his plans to her as soon as they had met, instead he had ordered her to pack and be ready to leave in an hour.
She found it hard to wait patiently to be told, when she should be enjoying a wonderful honeymoon with George, not trapping through Scotland to some unknown destination!
This thought washed away most of her previous repentance and she contented herself with staring fixedly at Jon's back cursing him silently, and part of her secretly hoping that his plan would go terribly wrong without her advice to help guide it.
Jon could feel Alanna's glare penetrating through his body armour as he rode in front of her, and the truth was that he deserved every bit of her hatred, he had maliciously taken her away from her honeymoon because he couldn't stand to think that he had failed, and although he had loved Alanna in a unique way, what he felt towards Thyaete was a much more conventional, strong love as oppose to the possessive friendly love that he felt towards Alanna.
Alanna had flatly refused to marry him and he now saw the wisdom in her actions but he couldn't bring himself to admit that he had been wrong about her and the future they could have had together.
So out of spite as much as anything he had commissioned this pointless crusade to the coldest place that was within reason (he had considered the roof of the world but had grudgingly given up that idea when Gary had pointed out that as well as punishing Alanna he would also succeed in giving half of his company frost bite and a number of other illnesses that would deem the men unfit for action for months)
So after much consideration (or at least as much as could be achieved in two days of revengeful plotting) he had decided upon Scotland which apparently had many castles and fiefs, several of which were now left in ruin, perfect for the plot Jonathan had devised.
He planned this excursion as an excuse to separate Alanna and George (whom Jon had liked perfectly well until he had started to make serious moves on Alanna). He hadn't answered Alanna's question about where they were going because he honestly didn't know the answer, but she didn't know that, and Jon felt extremely guilty seeing the sadness he had willingly bestowed upon her.
Alanna had always (well nearly always) loyally done what he had bid her and now he was abusing his power. Jon considered turning around telling Alanna about his plot, apologising profusely, begging for her forgiveness, and letting everyone go home. It had been strange making a plot without Alanna, stranger still against her.
Jon shook his head to clear these ridiculous thoughts. If he told her his plan he would be endangering both their lives. His at the hands of Alanna, and hers by trial for treason. A knight murdering his…or her (Jon reminded himself with a smile) king generally constituted death, (or at least he hoped it did, he would have to look that rule up when he got back to Tortall.)
Pagan has none of her own ideas you see (so we've got to be nice to her lol) only joking, Pagan is a stream of undying ideas, motivation, insight, stimulation and encouragement!! (Do you think that's enough big words to keep her thinking long enough for me to escape her throwing range?? lol) Anyway without further ado we (I should really say I as Pagan hasn't thought it necessary to contribute to the first chapter beyond criticizing my grammar! which is fair enough because I am terrible at that kind of stuff, (its really a shameless plan to get you to review if it is only to join pagan in criticizing my poor use of grammar, punctuation etc.)Lol
Now I'm gonna shut up long enough for you to read the first chapter…
Rougue xxx
The rain pounded oppressively upon the solid backs of the war-hardened warriors as they rode, mounted high upon their bellowing steeds.
Each step was strong and sure as they headed towards… erm that was a point thought Alanna of Pirates Swoop and Olau as she sat atop her faithful mare, Moonlight, trying to devise how this one of their adventures would be told at a later date.
This was one of the many devices which Alanna was employing to try and distract her mind from the cold that seemed to be enveloping her very soul and hanging in the air in this place… Scotland.
"Jon!" Alanna bellowed in frustration when she wasn't able to keep silent a minute longer, she hated the cold and her 'king' knew this as well as she did, for apart from being her 'sovereign lord' (the thought of any man being that, amused Alanna for a second, taking her mind from the wintry weather) Jon happened to be a very good friend, ok the fact that he was king hadn't exactly helped their friendship as Alanna had a distinct dislike of people lauding their power over her, and as Jon seemed to think that he could put his perfect nose into anyone's business that he pleased … Which, Alanna reminded herself he could as he was the king, and as she was his knight, his champion and thus his vessel. They had clashed at times, their most resent 'disagreement' was the reason that Alanna was now treking through the Scottish highlands in the middle of winter.
Exactly a week ago to this day Alanna had looked the most feminine she had ever looked, as she had walked up the isle to meet her husband, who had given her an appraising look and commented "I'm sorry madam I think you've come to the wrong place and if you intend to deceive me and allow me to marry a complete stranger, I feel I should at least warn you that my fiancée is the best swords woman I know.
To which she had been about to make a sarcastic reply before looking into his hazel eyes. When she had, the love she saw there had astounded her. So instead she had smiled up at him her face reflecting all the love she felt, and had then proceeded up the isle to marry the king of thieves, who had positively glowed that day and the thought of him seemed to warm her now, Jonathan however had been totally affronted by the fact that he had failed in securing Alanna where a 'mere' thief had succeeded and this had once again being a cause for their fiery personalities to clash.
On the wedding day well... Jealousy? Until that day Alanna had never seen jealousy.
After the wedding George and she had intended to ride into the sunset and take their honey moon, but someone had vandalise their carriage and set their horses free, however Alanna, being a knight and accomplished horsewoman, and George, being an accomplished thief and no novice in horse rustling, they had still reached their goal.
But alas the thought of Alanna and George alone together on their honey moon had King Jonathan pacing the floor at night devising a plan which he had put in to action the previous night.
George and Alanna had being enjoying a 'romantic moment' under a secluded willow tree as they toured the sunny Basliki islands, when a company of no less than thirty soldiers led by Raoul and for some reason accompanied by Gary had stormed in and told her of the king's urgent 'request' that she join them in an attack, the fact that they had said this with enormous grins all over their faces had somehow lessened the effect of the message, and after multiple arguments and protests, here she was in Scotland.
Alanna had been so lost in thought that she had forgotten calling Jon, who was now staring provocatively back at her, "You called madam?" he said in a voice laced with sarcasm.
Alanna took the liberty of glaring at him before coolly replying "Your powers of observation never fail to astound me Jon. Now, where are we going?" Alanna attempted to ask this in a nonchalant voice so as not to show her longing to get home, and failed miserably; Jon smiled a silky smile and tapped his nose knowledgably.
This caused Alanna's temper to come to the end of its famously short tether, pulling Moonlight to a halt with a sharp tug and yelled "Jonathan! You dragged away from my honeymoon! To the middle of this frozen land! And you won't even allow me an explanation?!"
"That's right Alanna." he replied simply his face hardening, and with that he spun his horse around and continued on his route eyes set on the road before him.
Alanna stood open mouthed for a second before she turned Moonlight back into line trying to ignore the stares of the newer soldiers who had never seen anybody question the King. They were obviously deciding which to label "the lioness"; brave or stupid.
Alanna cursed herself, she was Jon's knight, she had no right to question his actions as publicly as she had just done, and she didn't want to put the ideas of a rebellion into the new soldiers' heads or anything, it was just that she was privately insulted by Jon's secrecy. He had never even planned an attack without her and Alanna had expected him to tell his plans to her as soon as they had met, instead he had ordered her to pack and be ready to leave in an hour.
She found it hard to wait patiently to be told, when she should be enjoying a wonderful honeymoon with George, not trapping through Scotland to some unknown destination!
This thought washed away most of her previous repentance and she contented herself with staring fixedly at Jon's back cursing him silently, and part of her secretly hoping that his plan would go terribly wrong without her advice to help guide it.
Jon could feel Alanna's glare penetrating through his body armour as he rode in front of her, and the truth was that he deserved every bit of her hatred, he had maliciously taken her away from her honeymoon because he couldn't stand to think that he had failed, and although he had loved Alanna in a unique way, what he felt towards Thyaete was a much more conventional, strong love as oppose to the possessive friendly love that he felt towards Alanna.
Alanna had flatly refused to marry him and he now saw the wisdom in her actions but he couldn't bring himself to admit that he had been wrong about her and the future they could have had together.
So out of spite as much as anything he had commissioned this pointless crusade to the coldest place that was within reason (he had considered the roof of the world but had grudgingly given up that idea when Gary had pointed out that as well as punishing Alanna he would also succeed in giving half of his company frost bite and a number of other illnesses that would deem the men unfit for action for months)
So after much consideration (or at least as much as could be achieved in two days of revengeful plotting) he had decided upon Scotland which apparently had many castles and fiefs, several of which were now left in ruin, perfect for the plot Jonathan had devised.
He planned this excursion as an excuse to separate Alanna and George (whom Jon had liked perfectly well until he had started to make serious moves on Alanna). He hadn't answered Alanna's question about where they were going because he honestly didn't know the answer, but she didn't know that, and Jon felt extremely guilty seeing the sadness he had willingly bestowed upon her.
Alanna had always (well nearly always) loyally done what he had bid her and now he was abusing his power. Jon considered turning around telling Alanna about his plot, apologising profusely, begging for her forgiveness, and letting everyone go home. It had been strange making a plot without Alanna, stranger still against her.
Jon shook his head to clear these ridiculous thoughts. If he told her his plan he would be endangering both their lives. His at the hands of Alanna, and hers by trial for treason. A knight murdering his…or her (Jon reminded himself with a smile) king generally constituted death, (or at least he hoped it did, he would have to look that rule up when he got back to Tortall.)