Disclaimer : All characters and places (so far) belong to the illustrious Tamora Pierce.
A/N : This is my first try with Alanna fan fiction, but I've written/am writing another fan fiction with Daine and one with Kel. So please, R/R....I like the way I've planned out this story so far, so I want to keep working on this one....For once I've actually got a good (planned out) plan for the story. Go me! So please, read, enjoy, and review!
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'Great,' Alanna thought as she looked in the mirror. She had let her fiery hair grow to just past her shoulder blades, but tonight it was pulled back into a bun at the crown of her head. She was dressed in a dress of a grey flowing material that made Alanna feel like she was wearing nothing. She frequently looked down to reassure herself that she was still fully clothed. 'I hate going to balls. Jon knows that... which is probably why he is making me go,' Alanna mused. ' I miss George...' The last thought came unbidden.
Alanna was at the palace in Corus, while George was managing Pirate's Swoop. Alanna had been called to Corus for a job from the king. She hadn't heard of what it would be yet, but was being coerced into going to this ball before she found out. She silently cursed her old knight-master and lover as she scrunched her feet into the slippers that matched her dress, down to the delicate violet flowers stitched along the toe.
Just as she was finishing lacing up her second shoe, a knock came on the door. "Just a minute," Alanna called, and hurried to tie her shoe. She finished and flung open the door. On the other side stood Duke Gareth the Younger of Naxen. Alanna broke into a wide grin and threw her arms around Gary's neck. He responded by sweeping her into an enthusiastic hug and twirling her around. It had been so long since she'd seen him - not since he'd last stopped by Pirates Swoop, eight months ago. "I'm so glad to see you!" Alanna exclaimed. Then she noticed Gary's clothing, and laughed aloud.
"Looks like our king has forced you into going to the ball tonight too." Alanna giggled. Gary hadn't minded dances and parties when he was younger, but she knew that they were starting to seem like a bore for him. "I wonder how Jonathan puts up with this many parties and all... You'd think that one would go insane after all of that...Not that Jon isn't insane.."
Gary grinned back, eyeing up Alanna's fashion statement, but raised his eyes hurriedly as Alanna raised an eyebrow in a silent, but possibly deadly, question. "I was just looking at your dress, it's very... pretty?" Gary quickly amended.
"Hah, very funny. As if you ever had an eye for fashion." Alanna retorted, but then thought about taking it back. Gary was dressed in a rich maroon complimented by a deep cerulean. It contrasted nicely with his chestnut curls. "Speaking of which, who did you hire to dress you tonight?" Often those with a strong artistic sense or those gifted with design with a good sense of fashion would hire themselves out to help those less artistically inclined.
Gary rolled his eyes and gave Alanna a good-natured nudge. "I didn't pick this out, the King did. Are you meaning to say that you chose to wear a dress willingly?"
"I know, I know," Alanna said, cringing. "I feel half-naked in this!" She let her hands fall to her sides, feeling the lightness of the fabric. She looked up at Gary, almost daring him to say something.
He didn't take the bait, but instead suggested that the two of them take a walk around the palace, seeing old friends, until their presence would be required. Alanna quickly agreed, she didn't want to sit in her room alone for almost an hour. The two of them stopped by Myles' room and started talking. Alanna hadn't seen her adoptive father for almost two months,
The next thing they knew, almost an hour had gone by. "Dammit," Gary cursed aloud, and then looked at Alanna sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Alanna, didn't mean to curse in front of you, being a lady and all..."
"You must be kidding!" Alanna exclaimed, and then expressed her chagrin at the situation almost as colorfully as Gary had. "If you think that now I'm a typical court lady, you're dead wrong, you're still stuck with 'Squire Alan'."
Gary laughed and headed out the door, Alanna on his heels. He was glad that Alanna was still, well, Alanna. It would take a lot to kill her spirit, he mused, and couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Alanna poring over dress patterns, talking about the difference between ivory and off-white - something he could never quite figure out.
Alanna and Gary arrived at the grand hall, just in time to see Jonathan enter. They breathed a collective sigh of relief... They weren't late if they arrived before the King. After Jonathan descended into the hall he quickly sought out Alanna and Gary. They were hovering by the punch bowl, quietly talking. Alanna and Gary gave him the customary welcome for royalty, then fell back into their normal, comfortable conversation. "Alanna, I love your choice of fashion, and Gary, wherever did you get that ensemble?" Jonathan asked facetiously.
Alanna glared. "Very funny, Jon. Now, could you tell us why we had to come to this before we were assigned?" Imposingly, she put her hands on her hips, waiting for an explanation.
Jon smiled. He was used to Alanna's temper, but he knew better than to provoke her. "If you will be patient for another hour or so, I'm making an announcement about it."
Alanna blanched. "An announcement? Don't you think you should let us know what you're signing us up for before you announce it to most of the court?!"
Jon rolled his eyes. "It's not going to be that bad, Alanna. I mean - " He was interrupted by Thayet urgently tapping him on the shoulder. She whispered in his ear quickly. "Can you excuse me for a moment?" Jonathan asked and without waiting for an answer scurried off to the other side of the ballroom.
"Great," Gary groaned. (A/N Sorry about the alliteration, although I do like them) "I guess we're going to be finding out about our new job with the rest of the public."
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So, did you love? Did you hate? Let me know please with a review!
A/N : This is my first try with Alanna fan fiction, but I've written/am writing another fan fiction with Daine and one with Kel. So please, R/R....I like the way I've planned out this story so far, so I want to keep working on this one....For once I've actually got a good (planned out) plan for the story. Go me! So please, read, enjoy, and review!
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'Great,' Alanna thought as she looked in the mirror. She had let her fiery hair grow to just past her shoulder blades, but tonight it was pulled back into a bun at the crown of her head. She was dressed in a dress of a grey flowing material that made Alanna feel like she was wearing nothing. She frequently looked down to reassure herself that she was still fully clothed. 'I hate going to balls. Jon knows that... which is probably why he is making me go,' Alanna mused. ' I miss George...' The last thought came unbidden.
Alanna was at the palace in Corus, while George was managing Pirate's Swoop. Alanna had been called to Corus for a job from the king. She hadn't heard of what it would be yet, but was being coerced into going to this ball before she found out. She silently cursed her old knight-master and lover as she scrunched her feet into the slippers that matched her dress, down to the delicate violet flowers stitched along the toe.
Just as she was finishing lacing up her second shoe, a knock came on the door. "Just a minute," Alanna called, and hurried to tie her shoe. She finished and flung open the door. On the other side stood Duke Gareth the Younger of Naxen. Alanna broke into a wide grin and threw her arms around Gary's neck. He responded by sweeping her into an enthusiastic hug and twirling her around. It had been so long since she'd seen him - not since he'd last stopped by Pirates Swoop, eight months ago. "I'm so glad to see you!" Alanna exclaimed. Then she noticed Gary's clothing, and laughed aloud.
"Looks like our king has forced you into going to the ball tonight too." Alanna giggled. Gary hadn't minded dances and parties when he was younger, but she knew that they were starting to seem like a bore for him. "I wonder how Jonathan puts up with this many parties and all... You'd think that one would go insane after all of that...Not that Jon isn't insane.."
Gary grinned back, eyeing up Alanna's fashion statement, but raised his eyes hurriedly as Alanna raised an eyebrow in a silent, but possibly deadly, question. "I was just looking at your dress, it's very... pretty?" Gary quickly amended.
"Hah, very funny. As if you ever had an eye for fashion." Alanna retorted, but then thought about taking it back. Gary was dressed in a rich maroon complimented by a deep cerulean. It contrasted nicely with his chestnut curls. "Speaking of which, who did you hire to dress you tonight?" Often those with a strong artistic sense or those gifted with design with a good sense of fashion would hire themselves out to help those less artistically inclined.
Gary rolled his eyes and gave Alanna a good-natured nudge. "I didn't pick this out, the King did. Are you meaning to say that you chose to wear a dress willingly?"
"I know, I know," Alanna said, cringing. "I feel half-naked in this!" She let her hands fall to her sides, feeling the lightness of the fabric. She looked up at Gary, almost daring him to say something.
He didn't take the bait, but instead suggested that the two of them take a walk around the palace, seeing old friends, until their presence would be required. Alanna quickly agreed, she didn't want to sit in her room alone for almost an hour. The two of them stopped by Myles' room and started talking. Alanna hadn't seen her adoptive father for almost two months,
The next thing they knew, almost an hour had gone by. "Dammit," Gary cursed aloud, and then looked at Alanna sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Alanna, didn't mean to curse in front of you, being a lady and all..."
"You must be kidding!" Alanna exclaimed, and then expressed her chagrin at the situation almost as colorfully as Gary had. "If you think that now I'm a typical court lady, you're dead wrong, you're still stuck with 'Squire Alan'."
Gary laughed and headed out the door, Alanna on his heels. He was glad that Alanna was still, well, Alanna. It would take a lot to kill her spirit, he mused, and couldn't help but laugh at the thought of Alanna poring over dress patterns, talking about the difference between ivory and off-white - something he could never quite figure out.
Alanna and Gary arrived at the grand hall, just in time to see Jonathan enter. They breathed a collective sigh of relief... They weren't late if they arrived before the King. After Jonathan descended into the hall he quickly sought out Alanna and Gary. They were hovering by the punch bowl, quietly talking. Alanna and Gary gave him the customary welcome for royalty, then fell back into their normal, comfortable conversation. "Alanna, I love your choice of fashion, and Gary, wherever did you get that ensemble?" Jonathan asked facetiously.
Alanna glared. "Very funny, Jon. Now, could you tell us why we had to come to this before we were assigned?" Imposingly, she put her hands on her hips, waiting for an explanation.
Jon smiled. He was used to Alanna's temper, but he knew better than to provoke her. "If you will be patient for another hour or so, I'm making an announcement about it."
Alanna blanched. "An announcement? Don't you think you should let us know what you're signing us up for before you announce it to most of the court?!"
Jon rolled his eyes. "It's not going to be that bad, Alanna. I mean - " He was interrupted by Thayet urgently tapping him on the shoulder. She whispered in his ear quickly. "Can you excuse me for a moment?" Jonathan asked and without waiting for an answer scurried off to the other side of the ballroom.
"Great," Gary groaned. (A/N Sorry about the alliteration, although I do like them) "I guess we're going to be finding out about our new job with the rest of the public."
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So, did you love? Did you hate? Let me know please with a review!