All right. This is the only disclaimer you're getting for the entire story. Got it? Therefore: I do not own any characters, places or such mentioned in any of Tamora Pierce's books. However, I do own Lady Malaria, well, her name, that is, as well as her personality, Aevan's Meadow, Lord Marvel and Lady Mariana's personality as well as name.
All the ideas in this story are mine, as well as the characters I added. Please ask before taking.
Before I let you read the Prologue to this story, I believe you are due a more thorough summary. I must say I started this story on a whim. I'd been reading a lot of Alanna goes to the Convent stories, and I wanted to write one. But I also wanted to be original. Now, I could do this by pairing Alanna with someone other than Jon, for instance Roger, Gary, Raoul…the list goes on. But I like Jon. And I am an avid A/J shipper.
So I was faced with a dilemma…how do I make a story original using a plot line that's a bit worn? And then it hit me. I had also seen stories about Alanna being a Princess and having her betrothed to Jonathan. But I didn't want to make Alanna a princess. I like Alanna from Trebond.
Therefore I had an idea…why not have a betrothal between Alanna and Jonathan? Keeping Alanna a noble woman, there had to be a reason why she would be betrothed to him. From what we read in the books, you get the feeling that Lord Alan is not very sociable. And though Alanna does come from a good family…in the Book of Gold, I still needed to give her more detail.
Then I thought…why not take Alanna's mother, and make her friends with Lianne? That's probable…we don't know a thing about Lianne of Contè or Alanna's mother, other than she was Gifted and died giving birth. I entertained the idea of making her a relative, like a sister to Lianne. But then Alanna and Jon would be first cousins and they couldn't really get married. Er, well they could, but I'm not one for marrying first cousins.
I was faced with a dilemma: how do I have Lianne and Alanna's mother know each other? I didn't want to give up with the relationship thing, but as I said above, sisters is too close. Then it hit me. Lianne is Duke Gareth's sister. And Duke Gareth is married, that's given because Gary exists. So I decided to add in another character, Alanna's Aunt, who married Duke Gareth, therefore bringing a relationship between Lianne and Alanna's mother.
So here's my summary. Lady Mariana, Lady Malaria and Lady Lianne are the best of friends. So when Lianne and Mariana decide to draw up a betrothal between their oldest children, they believe it'll be perfect. But unfortunately the two children involved don't agree…and when two of the most obstinate people in the kingdom will do anything to get out of a marriage, it becomes a battle of the wits. Who will succeed? The mothers? Or the children?
Okay, there was my summary. The first two chapters, perhaps even the third are all prologue- the real story doesn't start until a certain Sir Gary and Squire Thom receive letters announcing the arrival of Lady Alanna of Trebond, accompanied by a Lady Mariana and Duchess Malaria…
Oh, and this is my first fic. I have the most evil older sister, who writes fan fiction as well. And I once made a remark in passing…sort of criticising her fan fiction, as a joke, and she flips out and bets me that I can't write a decent story. So I'm hoping to prove her wrong.
Anyway, I'll let you read the first chapter now…
-Kalista 4/21/03