Thom laughed at the whispers that had been filling the halls the past few days. Yes, there were ladies coming to court, as they did every year. Young ladies. Attractive ones, too. But he was already sick of the gossip- honestly, though they were squires, you couldn't tell them from a group of said court ladies based on the chatter. What was the difference this year? Thom wryly smiled; he knew the answer to his own question. The court ladies were their age this time around (not that this had kept any of the boys from harboring crushes on older girls in the past), and the boys themselves were in the prime of their hormone-induced idiocy in which they chased after any eligible maiden within the palace. He'd like to exempt himself from this, but though he controlled himself better…
Shaking himself from those thoughts, he picked up his pace as he approached his rooms. He, unlike others, had a legitimate and less self-serving reason to be so interest in this year's crop of debutantes, as his own sister was among them. And seeing as her arrival was slated for noon of the same day, he had best prepare himself. Mainly for Alanna, but also for the reactions of the other boys.
Thom hadn't tried to keep the details of his family and home life secret; it had just sort of happened. He didn't feel a need to blab about his pedigree (even though his family was in the Book of Gold) but also wasn't one to be so attached to his peers so as to spill to them all his worries and feelings, his whole life story. Thom found it easier to let his friends talk about themselves, so he really wasn't sure if anyone knew he had a sister. Come to think of it, he couldn't remember speaking of him to any of the other pages. He prepared himself for headaches to come.
Hastily shedding his clothes for a cleaner and nicer set, Thom dressed himself and set out for the front gates. The buzz reminded him why he hadn't spoken of Alanna. If the other boys had known he had an in in the convent as it were, he would never be left alone. And Thom much preferred his solitude and books. No, it was much better that he keep to himself, though he knew it wouldn't be possible after today. Based on what his sister had written him, she planned to make an entrance, and Thom would oblige.
By the time he had found his way to the gate where carriages arrived, the sun was high in the sky. Thankfully he didn't have to wait very long. The bell of the chapel hadn't yet tolled one when he saw the signature grey carriage of the convent pull into the grounds. By now there was quite the welcoming committee present; some older court ladies who would act as guides for those girls unfortunate enough not to find their own escort, a few assorted servants, and Duke Baird was present to offer an official welcome to the palace. As always there was present as many young men as could shirk their duties. Thom didn't stand among them, receiving a few curious looks from some of them as well since he had never been known hang about for a glimpse at the ladies.
The carriage doors opened, but knowing his sister, he would have to wait until the end. His prediction was proved correct when a thin brunette was helped down by a footman- she was pretty, yes, but certainly looked nothing like Alanna. A blonde in a boldly red dress followed her. Another brunette, this time shorter. A girl with very dark hair and contrastingly pale skin. Just how many people could they fit into a carriage?
As Thom's patience began to wear out, he finally saw a flash of red hair descend from the carriage. The activity in front of the carriage seemed to stop, and when Thom made eye contact with his sister, he could see why. She was wearing a purple dress that went well with her eyes, and Thom supposed it was a nice dress, though he wasn't really a judge of such things. What made even him stare for a moment was the intensity in her eyes. He could swear they almost shone with her Gift. With that thought he was reminded of his need to talk with Alanna about what she had been learning at the convent, and he rushed to escort her.
"Alanna!," he greeted brightly, trying to mask his excitement. It had been years.
"Thom," she returned no less amicably. Both sensed the need for a quiet area for a long-anticipated reunion.
" I know that the gardens are quite lovely this time of day," Thom suggested, extending his arm in a playful manner, and the pair made their way into the palace proper. He could hear his name rise on the crest of the wave of gossip and knew that he wouldn't hear the end of this for a long while. As they walked into the ornately carved entryway, he chanced a glance backwards. He could almost see people connecting the dots. Matching heads of red hair. Same (very unique) purple eyes. A sudden appearance by the notoriously aloof Thom of Trebond? He sensed that this would be all over the castle by dinnertime.
He glanced at Alanna before hastening his footsteps. The two sped through the hallways. Thom himself was nearly out of breath by the time he reached the gardens, though Alanna was breathing perfectly normally. She smirked at him as they sat down on a bench.
Thom looked at his sister, suddenly unsure of how to begin. It had been so long since he had talked to her, and now all he could do was try to reconcile this Alanna with the girl he had left behind so many years agos. He cleared his throat before beginning.
"Well, this is certainly very different than writing, isn't it?"
