Author's note: This is my first fan fic. So please r/r and be nice! This whole thing is gonna be about different peoples weddings. I was going to do it about life after marriage, but my friend Guacamole13 said I should just do about the marriages. So a special thanx goes out to her.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything pf this, it all belongs to Tamora Pierce.
Alanna's marriage to George CooperAlanna woke with a start. She sat bolt upright, sweat pouring off her head. She shook with fear. She threw back her sheets, for it was far to hot for anything more, and climbed out of her bed. Trembling, she quickly dressed and hurried out the door. She ran through the halls of the palace, not really knowing where she would end up. When her legs finally stopped pumping, she looked around to see where she was. Her eyes came to rest on a door across the hall. She walked closer to read the brass nameplate. When she was close enough to read the she jumped away, right into Jonathan.
"Oh hello Alanna, what are you doing up and about this early? And why are you standing outside my door?" said Jon as cool and collected as a king should be.
"Um... well... Jon… I'm not exactly sure. I was running and I just happened to stop here." Alanna replied shakily.
"Alanna? Are you all right? Questioned Jon
"Because you know you can trust me if something is bothering you." Jon added hastily yet soothingly.
"It was just a nightmare Jonathan," Alanna said with a shudder. "It was nothing, really. I'll get over it."
"Nonsense Alanna. Something about your dream scared you enough to run away from your room. Now come on tell me what happened. Please?" Jon prompted
"Well, ok but honestly! There's nothing to tell! But if you insist... I'll tell you, but can we please go into your study or something? Pleaded Alanna
"Oh right! Of course, my study is right through this door," replied Jon
Flashback
Alanna was walking down the isle to meet George at the alter in the chapel of Mithros. They were to wed in front of the God of war and law, as well as all their friends and family. She was thinking and didn't realize she had reached the alter and was standing with George, until the Priest of Mithros cleared his throat.
"If you are both ready, we shall begin." he said thoroughly annoyed and yet still calm.
"Right. Sorry," mumbled Alanna, crimson flooding into her cheeks.
She had forgotten she held George's hand until she received a comforting squeeze. She looked up and flashed a quick smile before returning her attention to the priest.
"We are gathered here today, to join Sir Alanna of Trebond and Olau, with Baron George of Pirates Swoop in holy matrimony," said the priest with a precision.
"Sir Alanna? Do you take this man to be your husband, to have and to hold till death do you part?" Asked the priest
"Yes," replied Alanna without hesitation
The priest nodded
"And do you Baron George take this woman to be your wife, to have and to hold till death do you part? The priest asked again with a courteous nod in George's direction
"With all my heart" said George looking longingly at Alanna's gorgeous figure, in her overwhelming dress. With her beautiful features all delicately accented in different ways.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. Go now and love each other as you have promised each other in the eyes of Mithros and all of your family and friends." the priest said then ended the ceremony with a bow.
A roar went up from the crowd. Everyone was clapping and cheering and wishing the couple the best of luck. Suddenly the rear doors slammed open. The priest jerked himself out of his bow and almost fell over from shock. An army of Scanrans had entered the chapel.
"We have come for the Lioness. Our superior wishes her to… pay him a little visit." Finished the largest Scanran with a sly grin.
"If you do not comply, we will be forced to fight for her," he added with as flourish.
"And we want all your money and jewels!" piped a voice from back of the crowd.
Everyone in the chapel turned to find the voice. It had come from the tiniest Scanran any of them had ever seen. He was holding a large burlap sack in one hand and an overly large sword in the other. The largest one raised a hand, as if to hit the little Scanran, but then stopped and seemed to consider the idea.
"Yes." He said at last "That's a very good idea. Fill this -he grabbed the sack away from the runt- here sack with all your jewels and money, then hand over the Lioness, and no one gets hurt." He finished with another sly grin in Alanna's direction "Our master will surely be pleased when we bring her in her wedding gown."
"You will do no such thing!" George shouted enraged. He stepped in front of Alanna. "My wife will go no where with the likes of you." he exclaimed ferociously
Alanna's face burned crimson with rage. She shoved past George to see the Scanrans. George flushed by the suddenness and crispness of her push.
"How dare you barge in here and ruin the most important day of my entire life!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "I've known Scanrans before, and rude as they were, I've never net ANY as rude as you and your troops." she screeched addressing the largest of the Scanrans. "Tell this "superior" of yours that if he wishes to address me, he may come and see me himself, on any day OTHER than my WEDDING DAY!" she managed to gasp out. Her temper had risen so much it was closing up her throat.
"Darling. Honey. Please calm down. Take a breath or two. Don't worry, these men will be punished." George told the raging Alanna, while trying to get her to sit down.
He managed to get her calmed down a tiny bit, and she was finally sitting down. That lasted for, oh, about thirty seconds. Then Alanna was up and angry once again with George next to her sighing.
"I want you to tell me one thing. I want to know exactly who your master, who your superior, is." said Alanna, her famous temper rising higher. "I want you to tell me right now," she added shaking, with her (almost contained) fury.
"And what if I decide NOT to tell the infamous Lioness? Smirked the Scanran leader
"That would be... started Alanna
"Then we shall be forced to MAKE you tell." said King Jonathan smoothly interrupting a rude comment from Alanna
Alanna replied with a deadly glare, only noticeable to her king.
"And how might you do that?" questioned the Scanran
As he spoke, his men unsheathed their swords and other various weapons.
"Well, it seems to me that you have already figured that out for yourself." replied the king coolly without a hint of worry showing in his voice.
When he had finished speaking all of the many knights, riders, and members of the Own in the room clustered behind their king armed and waiting. All of them outnumbered the Scanrans ten to one.
"Of course if you really want to be persistent, and you still wish to refuse telling us the information we desire, then we can do things your way. The FIGHTING sort of way." added the king smugly
"As you wish your Kingliness," replied the Scanran with yet another smirk
The Scanrans jumped at the various Tortallian fighters, taking them completely by surprise. They came around quickly enough but not before at least seven men were slashed with the foreign steel. Alanna was taken away by the other non-fighters to a more secure room, protesting all the way.
"Let me go! I have to fight! I'm a knight for Mithros sake! Bloody hell, let me help them!" roared Alanna as they towed her away.
"Alanna, please calm down." George said soothingly "They're only protecting you. You are the one that the Scanrans came for, and also if you haven't noticed, you're not really dressed for fighting either," he told her gently
Alanna looked down and groaned. He was right. She was still wearing her full skirt-ed wedding gown. Not to mention the shoes. She didn't have any of her weapons with her either. She sighed. She would have to give in and wait until it was over.
"George," Alanna said quietly, "why do you always have to be right ALL the time?" she said trying to force a small smile
"Because it's what I'm good at darling," he told her sweetly with a hint of mocking in his voice.
"Well then if I must wait here until it's over, would you do me a favor?" she asked slowly
"Of course I will, but first I would like to know what it is." he replied with a straight face
"I would like to know how things are going out there. Could you go in there and look for me? Please?" she asked sweetly, fluttering her eyelashes in a court-lady sort of way.
"You know I hate it when you do that, but if you insist I will check my dear." He pecked her on the cheek and ran off.
Alanna waited for a while (maybe like 10 minutes but to her it felt like longer) then got very impatient and started pacing the room. She began to make the maids very dizzy. They asked her to stop pacing and sit down. But she refused.
"I can't sit down. He should have been back by now!" She said in a very worried tone. She didn't much like the idea of losing her husband after only a half an hour of marriage. "I'm going to find him." she exclaimed on the verge of tears. She was very worried and upset now. Screeched the maids as Alanna ran out of the room.
Alanna heard them but chose not to listen. She wanted to see for herself what was happening and why George hadn't come back yet. She walked along the hallway, and stopped right outside the door to the chapel. Well I've come this far. I can't stop now. She thought to herself. She pushed the door open and marched into the chapel. What she saw shocked her. The battle had stopped. All eyes were on the Scanrans. Well not so much the Scanrans themselves, but the captive that was being held with a dagger to his throat. It was George.
"Hand yourself over and your new husband shan't be harmed, Lioness." the Scanran leader said each word slowly with precision and spite.
"And what if I don't?" said Alanna slowly and trembling
The Scanran pressed the dagger just hard enough to draw blood. He let it run down the blade in front of everyone
"I think you know what happens," the Scanran said with so much force that Alanna took a step back.
Alanna took a deep breath before she spoke again. She looked at George. Then her eyes wandered to Jon's. He gave her a tiny nod of encouragement.
"A-and wh-what if I agree?" she said each word with care and concern
"Then your husband will be let go without a scratch." he replied
"Alanna. Please don't! I would never forgive myself if I lived and you were taken away to your death." George struggled to say
"But George, if I let them kill you I would never forgive myself either! It doesn't work either way!" she argued back
"You're taking too long Lioness," said the Scanran with a hint of annoyance.
"George...I-I don't know what to do... I can't go with them and I also can't let then kill you... I'm completely torn. I love you George, but I don't know what to do." Said Alanna once again on the verge of tears
"Then let me make your decision for you, Lioness." said the Scanran and in one swift movement, he had slit Georges throat.
"NO!" screamed Alanna as she flung herself to the floor. "No, George!"
"Now you will come with us anyway," said the Scanran.
They drug Alanna away sobbing and screaming.
End Flashback
"A-and that was my nightmare. See it was just a dream. I told you. It was nothing to worry about." Alanna said trembling.
"Wow. That sounds like it was a very vivid dream. It almost sounds real Alanna. Are you sure it was just a nightmare and not a vision instead?" asked Jon unsure.
"I-I don't know. I can't tell the difference Jon. I'm scared," she said, her voice shaking
"I know Alanna. It's ok to be frightened. I would be to, if I had a dream like that." he said comfortingly "If it would make you feel better, I could have some extra guards in the chapel tomorrow during the ceremony." added Jon
"Oh, Jon! Would you? It would make me feel so much better," she said enthusiastically
She attempted a grin but it ended up lopsided.
"But I'm still afraid Jon." she added quietly her voice quivering
"Shh…shh… there, there Alanna. Come here" he said in a quiet and soothing voice
He held out his arms to comfort her. She sank into his arms and sat with her head resting on his chest. She didn't remember how long they sat like that but when she attempted to pull away, she found she couldn't. Jon was holding her tightly and didn't want to let her go.
"Jon." she said quietly "Jon, you can let go now, I'm ok," she added when he held on as tightly as ever.
"Hmm? Oh right, sorry. Are you okay then?" he asked worriedly
"Yes, I'm fine now, but thank you so much for listening and understanding." she said
"Of course, it's the least I can do. I mean you've put up with me and my problems for years, I think turn-a-bout is fair play." he flashed her his heart melting smile
"Well I have to go now, still have a few things to do before... before tomorrow," she said. She couldn't bring herself to say "my wedding"
"Right. Well I'll see you later Alanna. Try not to worry about anything." he said in a way that she couldn't tell the emotion that was in it.
"Goodbye Jonathan" she replied sheepishly
She walked out closing the door slowly behind her, she didn't hear Jon's whispered "goodnight" before the door closed completely. She walked back to her rooms to be fitted one last time, and to work out some more minor details for the next day. On her way back she stopped in the palace chapel.
"Mithros, and Goddess. Please, please let my nightmare be just that: a nightmare. Please don't let it be anything more than that. I beg of you," she pleaded slowly and quietly.
She wrapped her hand around the Ember Stone around her neck Please Goddess. She added silently.
Authors note: Please review! I need suggestions and it would be nice to know what people think!