((Ok, this is my very very very first attempt at an FF about Tortall, I've read all the books (I'm not kidding, all) and I figured its high time this story that's been floating about in my headmade its way to paper....or computer screen....any way...I don't own anything here except Lyssie and anyone else you don't recognize as coming from the books. Please R/R, I want to know how I'm doing...))
Happiness shone in her startling purple eyes as Lys Cooper of Pirate's Swoop held up her shield for the people to see. Tears framed Alanna's eyes as she watched her youngest child claim her shield. It, like Alanna's own, bore the lioness rampant but, unlike her mother's, Lys' shield bore the distaff border of a lady knight. So much work had gone towards this moment, from the day of Lys' birth to the first time she hefted a sword all the way to her serving as squire to Sir Nealan of Queenscove. Alanna turned to George, he was grinning ear to ear with pride.
"The little lassie's just like you, ain't she, love?"
Alanna just smiled and remembered.
"Mama? Mama, are you awake?"
Alanna opened her eyes slowly and saw her three young children seated about her on the bed. She sat up slowly and smiled at them.
"Have you little barbarians eaten up all the breakfast already, or will there be some for me?"
The children's laughter rang out like a silver bell.
"Da sent us to wake you for breakfast," muttered the eldest.
"Tell him I'll be along in a moment, Thom."
"Alright, Ma."
As the children left the room in a mixture a runs and skips, Alanna found feeling as though she might as well be aboard a skiff on a stormy sea.
"Ugh…."She grasped the edges of a steel basin set in her room for just such a purpose and bent over it. "I'm never doing this again."
"Knock knock, Lassie."
"Go away…"
"Not feeling well, love?"
"If you ever even suggest we have another one, I may well ship you off to Carthak…"
George walked over and began to massage her shoulders gently.
"Lassie, I'm sure you'll feel better—"
"As soon as the room stops rocking back and forth like a damned boat."
"Not quite what I was going to say, but close enough."
Alanna stood and turned to George.
"Some days I honestly wonder how you put up with me."
"It's called love, Lassie."
George pulled her into an embrace and then stepped back a bit.
"George?"
"I don't want to be reacquainted with last night's dinner."
"Very funny."
"Come on, Love, before those little rascals eat everything in sight."
Arm in arm, Alanna and George walked down to the family dining room.
Later that day, Alanna sat in the shade of a large tree. The children ran and played around her, happy to have a day off from their lessons of reading, writing and figures. George stood by her munching on an apple. The color suddenly drained from Alanna's face and she gasped audibly.
"George…" she nearly growled the words as she spoke, "Would you help me to our room…" a grunt cut off her words and then she continued, "And send Thom for the midwife…"
"Thom!"
Thom looked over and saw his father helping his mother to her feet.
"What, Da?"
"Go get a midwife, a'right?"
"Alright, Da."
The boy ran off towards the healer woman's rooms. George carefully helped Alanna along up the path back to their home. He helped her onto the bed and she grasped his hand tightly.
"Laddy-my-love, I am never doing this again."
He couldn't help but grin at her, his hazel eyes dancing.
"So, it's time for the newest young hooligan to join the ranks of the troublemakers of Pirate's Swoop?"
A humorous grin crossed the midwife's face as she entered the room and walked towards Alanna.
"You'd best get to it; Lassie's near to threatening death on who ever she sees next."
"Ever the temper, Lady Alanna, ever the temper. Now, to work. I daresay you know this near as well as I do. Baron, sir, you're rather in the way. May I suggest you tend to your other children?"
George opened his mouth to protest and then stormed out in a huff. He went to check on the other children and found them playing happily in the nursery. Alianne looked over at her father.
"Da, is Ma a'right?"
"Your ma is perfectly fine, little lassie."
"D'you know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"No, but soon enough."
"A'right, Da."
George hugged his young daughter and she then returned to her play. Thom sat in the corner reading a book while Alan and Alianne now bickered over who got to play at being Alanna and who was the Duke Conte. George smiled as he walked out of the room and returned to the hallway in which his and Alanna's room was. He expected to hear some kind of noise from within, but heard nothing. He leaned against the door, straining to hear. Suddenly, the door swung open and the former king of thieves landed flat on his face. When he stood up, he saw Alanna, a huge grin across her face, holding the new babe in her arms.
"A girl, George."
"And those same purple eyes, love."
"What should we call her?"
"Don't know. What do you want?"
Alanna thought it over for a minute and then spoke.
"Alysianna."
"A pretty name for a pretty lass."