"Please, Thom. You don't know what this would mean to me. Please say yes." Alanna begged her twin her bright violet eyes pleading and close to tears.
Alanna and her brother Thom were ten years old and both suffering from a father who wanted nothing to do with them. When Lord Alan of Trebond, their father had told them that he was sending Alanna to the convent to become a lady and Thom to the palace to become a knight they had both been horrified.
Thom was a book worm and a Mage. Most defiantly not a fighter he was more interested in old civilizations and learning more spells to try.
Alanna had a fighting spirit. She had a fiery temper and a smart mind. When she wanted something she would not give up until she got it.
But it looked like this time, Alanna might not get what she wanted. Alanna wanted more than anything to go to the palace to learn to a be a knight of the realm of Tortall but they did not accept girls. Girls Alanna's age were expected to go to the convent and when the time came go to the city to find husbands.
Ladies were NOT expected to fight, think, work, or be even mildly interested in any of these things. All of which Alanna wanted to do more than anything else in the world.
Thom shook his head, " No, Alanna. We CAN'T, don't you see? Father would skin us if we brought dishonor to the family name and not to mention we would be found out. I mean, you'll turn into a girl and then what?"
Alanna fought back and forth with her brother for ages. Going from pleading to bargaining and finally to blackmail but none of it worked and Thom stood firm.
" I don't want to be a knight Alanna and I know that you have what it takes but it just wouldn't work. I'm sorry."
Alanna brushed away her tears and met Thom's eyes and in them was a fierce angry look but also a look of hurt and disappointment and even disbelief. She stood there looking at him for almost a full minute trying to come up with a way for Thom to see that what she proposed was right, she shook her head and thought to herself
* I should have known. Thom is one thing for talk but when it comes to deeds he falls one egg less than a dozen.*
She then turned on her heel and sprinted out of the room toward the stable.
When she got there she found no one was there which was more than ok on Alanna's opinion. She stood for a minute, biting her lip then broke down and started sobbing. She sunk onto the ground.
She had really thought that Thom would come through for him. It wasn't even as if there hadn't been anything in it for Thom. He would have been able to go to the City of the Gods and become a sorcerer. But he was scared. And he had been her only way out. And now there was nothing else she could do.
In the morning she would go to convent and learn to be a lady. When Alanna calmed down enough to stop sobbing she wondered what it would be like. * Maybe it won't be so bad.* Alanna thought,
* Maybe there will be other girls like me. Maybe I'll have some fun.* But even as she thought those thoughts, she didn't believe them.
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Then next morning Alanna was woken early by Coram, they're old serving man shaking her gently. She opened one eye sleepily.
" Coram," She said through gritted teeth (she was NOT a morning person) " It's too early. Let me go back to sleep, please?" And with that she rolled back over knowing that Coram would never let her sleep but that it was worth a try.
" Alanna, I have something 't give ye but no one else can see, do ye hear me?" He whispered in a serious voice. That was enough to get Alanna curious. She rolled over and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
" What is it, Coram?" She asked. Coram sat down on the bed next to her.
" I know ye wanted 't be a knight and not a lady. I'm that sorry for ye lass but there's nothing I can do about that, but that's not what I came 'ere for."
He brought from behind his back a small bundle wrapped in brown paper and handed it to her. Alanna looked at him quizzically and ripped open the package.
Inside was a blade. It was made of the finest steel Alanna had ever seen in her short life. It was straight and beautiful. It had a large purple gem engraved into the hilt.
(AN/ yes, this is Lightening)
Alanna gasped and picked it up with trembling fingers, she tested the blade with a piece of hair she quickly pulled from her head and it cut straight through. She stared at Coram and said with her voice full of awe and shock.
" I can't accept this, Coram. It- it must have cost a fortune, I mean, look at it!" She tried to push the blade back into Coram's arms but he wouldn't take it.
" It belonged to me mum. She was a member of the Rouge." Coram blushed a little when he saw Alanna's wide eyed stare. Coram HATED the Rouge and everything to do with it... Didn't he?
" Before me mum died she gave me this sword. She didn't tell me before then that she was an important figure in the Rouge, like a queen of sorts.
I never met my father. He was a man called Reggie among friends, Reggie Cooper. Anyway, he died not long after I was born in a fight. He had a brother though. Named Darian. Darian took over the Rouge, becoming the King of the Rouge. But he died as well. He left his throne to his son. His sons name is George Cooper.
When my mum gave me this blade she said that if the Rouge ever gave me trouble all I would have to do would be to show this to their king, any of their kings and I would have any of the aid I could ever want.
So I'm giving this to you now as a safety precaution. I like you lass and you shouldn't have to go through this but I know you in anyone can do this. I want you to get this sword back to the king of the Rouge. I can't tell you why. It would be too dangerous for you to know. But will you do this for me?"
Alanna's head was spinning. She mouthed a few times like a fish out of water before managing to gasp,
" Why me? Thom's the one going to the city, not me. He's more likely to be able to meet this George Cooper. And what about you? You're going with him!"
" Aye Lass, that I am but.. Mmm..." He trailed off considering her then decided to give her the truth.
" I managed 't get in a heap of trouble when I was down there once. I uh, well, 't be frank was in some pretty bad drug dealing. So, I have 't keep a low profile whilst I'm there. I need to keep up the guise of being a dim witted serving man. Meaning, it's not safe for me to go near the Rouge at all.
And as for Thom. Well, he turned you down on breaking the rules dinna he? He would turn me in I'm afraid. Besides he's no fighter he wouldn't be able to protect the blade and the information it carries in its metal. Ye, Ye're a fighter in spirit if not in training, ye have what it takes. And you'll be goin 't the palace in a few years. Please Lass? I've been good to ye and I NEED this. It's more important than ye could imagine. Please?"
Alanna looked into Coram's Amber eyes and saw that this meant more to him than anything. She didn't know what was so important about this blade but she would protect it till her death, if need be.
Alanna nodded determinedly and stuck out her hand for Coram to shake.
Coram smiled and pulled her into a ruff hug. Alanna surprised at first soon hugged the older serving man back.
" This blade will keep any of the proper Rouge from bothering ye on your way. You're a good lass, Alanna and I owe ye one." He ruffled her hair and let her go.
" I better get 't the horses. Thank you again Lass." Then he left Alanna to her own very confused thoughts. She looked down at the blade she held and saw it sparkling. She grinned suddenly.
*Maybe this won't be so bad. At least I'll have a blade to help me on my way* Alanna thought and sheathed the blade with careful hands.
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AN/ Good bad? Awful? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE review me! I'll love you forever and ever and ever!!!!
Alanna and her brother Thom were ten years old and both suffering from a father who wanted nothing to do with them. When Lord Alan of Trebond, their father had told them that he was sending Alanna to the convent to become a lady and Thom to the palace to become a knight they had both been horrified.
Thom was a book worm and a Mage. Most defiantly not a fighter he was more interested in old civilizations and learning more spells to try.
Alanna had a fighting spirit. She had a fiery temper and a smart mind. When she wanted something she would not give up until she got it.
But it looked like this time, Alanna might not get what she wanted. Alanna wanted more than anything to go to the palace to learn to a be a knight of the realm of Tortall but they did not accept girls. Girls Alanna's age were expected to go to the convent and when the time came go to the city to find husbands.
Ladies were NOT expected to fight, think, work, or be even mildly interested in any of these things. All of which Alanna wanted to do more than anything else in the world.
Thom shook his head, " No, Alanna. We CAN'T, don't you see? Father would skin us if we brought dishonor to the family name and not to mention we would be found out. I mean, you'll turn into a girl and then what?"
Alanna fought back and forth with her brother for ages. Going from pleading to bargaining and finally to blackmail but none of it worked and Thom stood firm.
" I don't want to be a knight Alanna and I know that you have what it takes but it just wouldn't work. I'm sorry."
Alanna brushed away her tears and met Thom's eyes and in them was a fierce angry look but also a look of hurt and disappointment and even disbelief. She stood there looking at him for almost a full minute trying to come up with a way for Thom to see that what she proposed was right, she shook her head and thought to herself
* I should have known. Thom is one thing for talk but when it comes to deeds he falls one egg less than a dozen.*
She then turned on her heel and sprinted out of the room toward the stable.
When she got there she found no one was there which was more than ok on Alanna's opinion. She stood for a minute, biting her lip then broke down and started sobbing. She sunk onto the ground.
She had really thought that Thom would come through for him. It wasn't even as if there hadn't been anything in it for Thom. He would have been able to go to the City of the Gods and become a sorcerer. But he was scared. And he had been her only way out. And now there was nothing else she could do.
In the morning she would go to convent and learn to be a lady. When Alanna calmed down enough to stop sobbing she wondered what it would be like. * Maybe it won't be so bad.* Alanna thought,
* Maybe there will be other girls like me. Maybe I'll have some fun.* But even as she thought those thoughts, she didn't believe them.
~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-
Then next morning Alanna was woken early by Coram, they're old serving man shaking her gently. She opened one eye sleepily.
" Coram," She said through gritted teeth (she was NOT a morning person) " It's too early. Let me go back to sleep, please?" And with that she rolled back over knowing that Coram would never let her sleep but that it was worth a try.
" Alanna, I have something 't give ye but no one else can see, do ye hear me?" He whispered in a serious voice. That was enough to get Alanna curious. She rolled over and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
" What is it, Coram?" She asked. Coram sat down on the bed next to her.
" I know ye wanted 't be a knight and not a lady. I'm that sorry for ye lass but there's nothing I can do about that, but that's not what I came 'ere for."
He brought from behind his back a small bundle wrapped in brown paper and handed it to her. Alanna looked at him quizzically and ripped open the package.
Inside was a blade. It was made of the finest steel Alanna had ever seen in her short life. It was straight and beautiful. It had a large purple gem engraved into the hilt.
(AN/ yes, this is Lightening)
Alanna gasped and picked it up with trembling fingers, she tested the blade with a piece of hair she quickly pulled from her head and it cut straight through. She stared at Coram and said with her voice full of awe and shock.
" I can't accept this, Coram. It- it must have cost a fortune, I mean, look at it!" She tried to push the blade back into Coram's arms but he wouldn't take it.
" It belonged to me mum. She was a member of the Rouge." Coram blushed a little when he saw Alanna's wide eyed stare. Coram HATED the Rouge and everything to do with it... Didn't he?
" Before me mum died she gave me this sword. She didn't tell me before then that she was an important figure in the Rouge, like a queen of sorts.
I never met my father. He was a man called Reggie among friends, Reggie Cooper. Anyway, he died not long after I was born in a fight. He had a brother though. Named Darian. Darian took over the Rouge, becoming the King of the Rouge. But he died as well. He left his throne to his son. His sons name is George Cooper.
When my mum gave me this blade she said that if the Rouge ever gave me trouble all I would have to do would be to show this to their king, any of their kings and I would have any of the aid I could ever want.
So I'm giving this to you now as a safety precaution. I like you lass and you shouldn't have to go through this but I know you in anyone can do this. I want you to get this sword back to the king of the Rouge. I can't tell you why. It would be too dangerous for you to know. But will you do this for me?"
Alanna's head was spinning. She mouthed a few times like a fish out of water before managing to gasp,
" Why me? Thom's the one going to the city, not me. He's more likely to be able to meet this George Cooper. And what about you? You're going with him!"
" Aye Lass, that I am but.. Mmm..." He trailed off considering her then decided to give her the truth.
" I managed 't get in a heap of trouble when I was down there once. I uh, well, 't be frank was in some pretty bad drug dealing. So, I have 't keep a low profile whilst I'm there. I need to keep up the guise of being a dim witted serving man. Meaning, it's not safe for me to go near the Rouge at all.
And as for Thom. Well, he turned you down on breaking the rules dinna he? He would turn me in I'm afraid. Besides he's no fighter he wouldn't be able to protect the blade and the information it carries in its metal. Ye, Ye're a fighter in spirit if not in training, ye have what it takes. And you'll be goin 't the palace in a few years. Please Lass? I've been good to ye and I NEED this. It's more important than ye could imagine. Please?"
Alanna looked into Coram's Amber eyes and saw that this meant more to him than anything. She didn't know what was so important about this blade but she would protect it till her death, if need be.
Alanna nodded determinedly and stuck out her hand for Coram to shake.
Coram smiled and pulled her into a ruff hug. Alanna surprised at first soon hugged the older serving man back.
" This blade will keep any of the proper Rouge from bothering ye on your way. You're a good lass, Alanna and I owe ye one." He ruffled her hair and let her go.
" I better get 't the horses. Thank you again Lass." Then he left Alanna to her own very confused thoughts. She looked down at the blade she held and saw it sparkling. She grinned suddenly.
*Maybe this won't be so bad. At least I'll have a blade to help me on my way* Alanna thought and sheathed the blade with careful hands.
~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-*~~*-
AN/ Good bad? Awful? PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE review me! I'll love you forever and ever and ever!!!!