My heart broke to see the pain in her eyes, knowing it was my fault. I had loved her forever, would love her forever, and her pain ripped at my heart. I knew I had only saved her from herself, but at what cost?
I'd used another of my favors to help her. I had once had three favors, and I'd spent only two- both on her. The first I used to keep my Lioness (only she wasn't a Lioness then) save in the war she fought as a squire. She was fated to die- the Trickster bargained with the Black God for her life. The second I had used only now, to save her from a fate she'd have hated more than death.
I hadn't known it would hurt her.
She and Jon were meant to be. Even I knew that, as much as it hurt me to admit. In any other world, in any time or place or universe where he was not crown prince, they would have been soul mates. But in this world, that could never be, because my Alanna could never be the Queen Jon needed in this world.
I had faith that she would know this, but even so, I feared her pride would not let her admit it until it was too late. So once again, I called on the Trickster, and he swore to trick her out of marrying Jon and condemning herself to a life of misery.
But what was the price of saving her from herself? Had I really saved her, or had I condemned her to a life of sadness just the same? Only time could tell.
This came to me ridiculously late the other night, after beginning to reread the first Lioness book (my mind has just blanked on the title). I don't really think Alanna and Jon were meant to be, but that's beside the point :) And it's not one of my better works. My hand at drabbles is waaaaaaaay out of practice.
