Love me Again

It was the first Midwinter Ball of the year in Corus, Tortall. The new girls from the convents were being introduced. The monarchs, King Roald and Queen Lianne were seated on their thrones, their son, Prince Jonathan was standing next to them.

The herald cleared his throat and started announcing the young ladies. He had seen so many beautiful court ladies, he was pretty much immune to the classic beauty. He was not, however, prepared for the exotic beauty who walked down the stairs last. Prince Jonathan of Conte then did something nobody had heard him do at the sight of a lady. He gasped.

King Roald and Queen Lianne turned to look at him quizzically. Raoul of Goldenlake and Gary of Naxen stared strangly at their longtime best friend. He was never awed by beauty.

"Lady Skyla of Hope's Shadow!" yelled the herald. The King nodded his approval at her curtsy then nodded to his son. Jon walked up to her and kissed her hand and offered his arm with a bow. She curtsied and placed her delicate hand on his and and bowed her head. He then looked at her hand and grinned slightly. Her nails were short. She was like a normal person, she had a habit, biting her nails. Like Alanna. With that thought, his grin disappeared and her sighed.

He led her to Raoul and Gary who were staring at their friend with a knowing look in their eyes. They were often awed by beauty and sometimes got annoyed at Jon's indifference.

Once the prince had listened to his favor speech of welcome to the ladies, he took a proper look at her. She had long auburn hair and green-brown eyes. Her skin was a deep, creamy white with blemishes. She was tall, though shorter than his 6.2. Her dress was tight on her curves and showed of her beautifully shapped body. The neckline of Lady Skyla's dress was low enough to pull the eyes of men, wether married, single, young or old, towards her. Suddenly, Jon realized something. She reminded her of someone he hated.

"Delia!" he thought. "But she seems to LOVE me! I hate her!"

"It is time for the fireworks!" called the King.

A messenger suddenly ran in, running to the King.

"I have a message to Prince Jonathan of Conte from Coram Smythesson" he panted.

"Go ahead, messenger!" The messenger scurried over to Jonathan, who gestured for him to read the note.

"I shall read directly what he said, your highness. Jon, this messenger comes with bearings of bad news. Our good friend, sister, lover, and comrade, Lady/ Sir Alanna was riding towards Corus from her Bazhir tribe when she was attacked. She was attacked by Scanran raiders on a pillaging, in search of blood and death. She was outnumbered, her, Faithful, and Moonlight against over 150 raiders." he paused to take a breath. Jon gasped when he realized what was happening. Raoul and Gary started crying. A single tear leaked out of Jon's eyes, which was soon followed by many more. "She fought off fifty, but then got deeply wounded in the side. They captured her and...and...and...tortured her to death, trying to gget information about Tortall out of her. Her body was found by George floating in the Drell River." The messenger was astonished when he looked up from his paper, and saw a sight no one at court had ever seen. The three strong and powerful noble knights' bodies were racked with sobs.

"Al...Alanna? She's dead? NO!!!! She promised me she'd come back safely. She...she..." And his body shook with a racking amount of sobs. Gary of Naxen was not in the best dispositiong either. He was sobbing openly, hands held open, as if something had been taken suddenly out of his hands. Raoul was standing open mouthed, when it hit him and he fell to his knees, body shaking silently.

"Her high blocks! She would have been okay had it been for her better high blocks!" Myles went up to them, heard the muttering, realized what it was, as his body was racked with sobs. King Roald was surprised at this sight. He told his guards to bring them to him. Once in front of him, he asked them clearly what was wrong.

"A...Alanna!!!! NO!!!! She can't be..." and with that Jon broke down sobing again.

"Are you trying to tell me that Sir Alanna of Trebond has been killed?" asked Lianne, who understood the situation a bit better than her husband.

The boys all started to cry hysterically again.

"I'm taking it that's a yes. You are not capable of staying her, none of you. You are dismissed. Jon, your mother and I will be around later!" Queen Lianne grabbed Jon's hand and pulled him to her. He went into her arms and weeped like when he was a little boy. The entire court looked at him strangely. They had never seen their Prince act this way, especially not over a lady. Lianne pulled out and nudged him to go to his room. He ran blindly to his royal courters, but her banged into someone.

"Oh, My Prince, I am sorry!" Lady Skyla was splayed out on the floor. She had a large cut on her hand, and bruises were covering her arm.

"What happened to you?'' asked Jon, kneeling beside her. She flinched away went he tried to touch her.

"No..Nothing your majesty!" and with that she ran away.