I Know
Although she tried, Alanna couldn't sleep. She was tossing around, turning from one side to the other, closing her eyes and relaxing only to open them up and turn over again. George had been called away at dinner by a tousled-looking man who addressed him as "Your Majesty" even though George had had to give up that title years ago.
Although George, as spymaster, often had to attend to such duties, Alanna was usually away, busy with her own duties as King's Champion. Although she considered using her Gift to get herself to sleep, a little part of her wanted to stay awake, to wait for George's return.
After a few hours of Alanna's restless fidgeting, she heard George undressing quietly in the corner of the room (he had managed to walk in without making a sound.) He climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You're awake," he stated when he felt how tense she was.
She turned over to face him in the dark. "I couldn't sleep," she told him.
He chuckled. "You weren't worried about my safety, were you, lass?"
"George," Alanna said. "Of course I was. You know I was."
"I know, lass, I know."
Alanna thought for a moment, before saying, "You know, George, when you're called away and I don't know where you are or if you're okay, I find myself wishing that you had a different job. That you worked all day at a desk, or just took care of your lands, and didn't sneak around with all sorts of unsavory characters."
George was going to reply that he once was an unsavory character, but Alanna continued.
"But when I really think about it, I know that if you did have an ordinary job and just sat around with paperwork, you wouldn't be the same, and, well... I like you just the way you are. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Alanna saw George's teeth flash in the dark. "And now you know, Alanna, how I've been feeling since you first went to war when you were fifteen. I don't like worrying about you, but I love that I have to worry about you." He paused. "Does that make sense?"
"It makes perfect sense," Alanna replied as she curled up in his arms and fell asleep.