Disclaimer: If I owned The Song of the Lioness, I wouldn't have to be writing this alternate ending.
Choirgeek:0-0! You're so right! Everyone, I apologize for the out of sequenceing, but for the sake of my sanity we'll leave it as it is now. Yes, Alanna doesn't become King's Champion 'til later, but here...she does! Thank you so much for pointing that out!
Alanna crossed the room purposefully. The entire room seemed to be in suspended animation, all eyes on the Lioness. The sound of her boots striking the floor were the only audible sound in the room. No one seemed to breathe as they watched and wondered: why was she here?
Alanna continued her seemingly endless journey to where Jon was now sitting, staring at her in shock. She had become painfully aware of how quickly her heart was beating, due to it pounding in her ears.
Jonathan finally stood up. Fury began to rise in his eyes, mixed with fear and...something else. He continued to stare at Alanna. She was halfway across the room. Beginning a sprint twords him, she seemed to break the spell on the people in the room. Raoul was sitting in shock, the King had murder in his eyes, the queen was smiling gently, the Scanran representitives were wondering if it would be best to slowly edge out the door,unfortunatly, they were still spellbound by the scene before them and their feet refused to move.
Alanna threw off her riding gloves, and threw herself at Jonathan. Jonathan stepped back, twirled her around, then hugged her fiercly. Alanna hugged him back. Suddenly, as if they just remembered where they were, they tore apart, Alanna stepped back, and just managing to gain her balance. Jonathan catching himself on his chair.
The king now rose from his seat. Jonathan looked up in terror. Alanna's gaze was defiant.
"WHAT, JON, IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" King Roald demanded. Alanna moved to speak, but Jonathan put his hand on her arm, silently begging her to stay silent. Alanna nodded, backing up a few paces.
"Father, Alanna is...a dear friend to me. And if she'd let me, I would like to start over." Jonathan cast a meaningful glance at Alanna, and Alanna lifted her eyes to meet his. In them was everything he needed to see.
"Jonathan, this is a lot to proclaim, and very bold of you. Quite frankly, how DARE you two..."the King was stopped by Lianne, who placed a hand gracefully over his. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but due to the silence of the room, everyone heard her.
"Dear, I think we should give them a chance. Jonathan is just as stubborn as you are, and I do believe that Alanna will make a fine Queen." Lianne gave her husband a pleading look. To everyone's surprise, Roald sat down.
"Jonathan, Alanna, you are excused from court for the remainder of the day. Dismissed."
Alanna immediately headed for the still open door, Jonathan thanked his father, and ran after her.
He caught her in the courtyard, she was sitting below a cherry tree.
"Hello, Alanna." he said before sitting down next to her.
"Hello, Jon."
"Well, that was unexpected. Alanna, tell me one thing. Why did you come back?"Jon's eyes sought hers, but Alanna was careful not to look at him.
"Well, I was no longer needed in the desert and-" Alanna had never been a good liar, and now she didn't even feel like trying. "I came back...to see you."
"Why did you come all the way back, after what happened...I thought-" Jonathan didn't finish his own sentence, he was confusing himself.
"Because, even though we fought, I still l...love you." Alanna finally met his eyes. What she saw in them scared her. He obviously felt the same way, but what did that mean? What would happen to them now?
"I love you too, Alanna." Jonathan kissed her. "I'm sorry I never came after you. I was...afraid. Afraid of you, afraid of what was happen if I came back...I was a coward."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I was afraid, too. If it weren't for Faithful, I may still be in the desert." Jon laughed.
"So, we have your cat to thank for this?" Alanna nodded. "Then I shall have him made the best and finest quarters we can offer. I could never thank him enough."
Alanna nodded, and turned to face him. "Jon, what now? What will happen to us-to me, to you, what about my dreams? My life? My knighthood-" Jon put a finger over her mouth to silence her.
"Alanna, I would never ask you to give any of that up. I love you too much. I do, however, have something else to ask you." Jon fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box.
"Alanna, I love you. I would have you be my queen-if you would let me." Jon put the box into Alanna's view. He opened it, to reveal a beautiful gold ring, encrusted with small diamonds and rubies.
"Alanna, you don't have to answer now-I'll wait my entire life if I have to-but, will you marry me?"
Ooh, cliffhanger! If you can read this, you can review. So, please get to it! Tell me what you think should happen to George-I have a rough idea of what I may do, but it's still wide open. I love hearing what you have to say. A big shout-out to my reviewers: lulu the angel, GuitarBlonde, choirgeek, and Mythstar Black Dragon. Couldn't do this without you guys!