The Goddess

I do not own any of these characters so don't sue me!! All characters
belong to The Great Mother Goddess (Tamora Pierce!)

"Come as my betrothed"
The word grew between them, growing bigger and bigger. Finally Alanna gasped, "Jon, I can't."
"I thought you loved me, Alanna."
"I do!" She whispered fiercely. "I do! But -"
"I love you. I want you for my wife."
"Let me think about it, Jon. I do love you but I need time to think." A voice behind her made her jump.
"I can help you make your decision." said the tall lady who had just ducked into the tent. Alanna froze. She leapt to her feet, clutching the sheet around her. Inside the tent everything except her and the lady had frozen - Jon's face was fixed in one expression. The Great Mother Goddess (because it was her) smiled. "Would you like me to help you?" Alanna nodded. "Don't be scared. You'll understand when you get there. When you've seen all you want to just say my name and you will come back here."

Alanna opened her mouth to say "When I get where?" but she found herself in a very familiar corridor. She was looking around when a short, redheaded squire dodged past her.
"Hey, wait -" she called, but they had gone. She was wondering where she was meant to be when she found that her name was Jiane of Silverpeaks and that she was meant to be in the Blue dining room for dinner. At dinner Alanna/Jiane realised what was happening. She had gone back in time (a healthy Duke Roger at the table had suggested what was going on) the Goddess had given her an identity so she wasn't recognised. But why? She must want her to see something. But what? A thought struck her. She lifted her spoon and peered into it. A slim blonde stared back. She managed not to jump as she had been expecting something like that. But it was unnerving. After dinner she went to the Upper Ballroom where there was a ball. Sitting in the corner sulking was Alan. She was quite upset at how obviously grumpy she had been, she had flattered herself that she had hidden her feelings better than that. She danced with two squires who she hadn't known when she was Alan and was sitting the third one out when she saw Jon cutting a path through the dancers.
"I wont let a lady as lovely as you sit out a dance." he said flirtatiously. Across the room she could see Alan glaring at her. She glared back. She danced two waltzes with Jon but flatly refused to dance with his squire, saying she was too tired to dance anymore. That would have been ridiculous.
"May I escort you back to your chambers?" he asked. It would have been rude to decline. Alanna had placed the time to when Jon was 18 or 19 and she was his squire. They had been lovers then, and she had been intensely jealous of any lady he danced with. But he had been adamant that nothing had ever happened with any of them, he maintained that he was merely being polite and courtly. He had said his father would accuse him of being unsociable if he didn't talk to any lady, and he could hardly dance with her. She had believed him, too much in love to doubt him. Here was her chance to see if he was telling the truth. "Of course," she cooed, deciding that here she had a chance to be as silly as she wanted. Her rooms were in the west wing of the palace, so they had a long walk through corridors. She found out lots that she already knew about Jon, and lots that she didn't know about Jiane. She was surprised to hear that she had gone to the convent. It seemed to her that this would have been what she would have become had she not gone to the palace. She didn't like it. Outside her rooms Jon stopped.
"There you are, Lady" he smiled at her. She smiled back, uneasy. He leant forward to kiss her. She dodged out of the way and he stumbled. "Jiane." He protested, the smile gone.
"What sort of girl do you think I am?" she protested angrily. "Goodnight!" she went into her room and slammed the door in his face. Inside she was pleased to find a comfortable room with a big, deep bath. She relaxed into the hot water and thought over the night. She had suspected Jon of flirting with noble ladies. Why had she not confronted him? She hadn't wanted to know for sure. Had she seen enough? She decided to stay longer.