The Proposal
Visiting the City
Here's the third chapter! I hope you like it and please review!
1 month later
Thankful to finally have a moment to herself, Alanna pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and headed into the city. The excuse for the trip was a visit to a healer in the city- it was a visit Alanna fully intended to make, it had been so long since she had seen Mistress Cooper, but first Alanna stopped at the Dancing Dove to see George for the first time in so many months.
She found her unlawful friend in his rooms, sitting on his bed in a loose shirt and breeches, sharpening one of the many daggers he kept hidden in sheaths under his clothes. When Alanna knocked and entered the room, the expression on his face had been hard to read, but when he saw her it changed to one that was painfully clear. It was a mix of anger, sadness, surprise and disappointment.
"It's been a long time since you've been here." Alanna felt like there was silent judgement behind each word.
"I haven't had time, they've been keeping me so busy up at the palace." Her excuse sounded pathetic, even to her ears and suddenly, for an inexplicable reason, she was mad. "Besides, it's not like you've tried to see me!" at this George grinned broadly.
"So, the real you still is under all that face paint? That's the best news I've had in a long time." Self-consciously Alanna raised her hand to her painted cheek.
"They won't let me out without it on," she explained, "They won't let me wear breeches either."
"And since when did you care for what anyone would let you do?" unable to reply to this Alanna simply looked around George's room, trying to convince herself she wasn't avoiding George's knowing gaze. "Come on lass, let's go down and get ye a drink; by the look of ye, I'd say ye need one." Alanna smiled up at the friend she hadn't seen in so long, and hadn't realised how much she'd missed until now.
"So, it sounds like you had quite a time in the desert." Alanna and George sat each with a tankard of Solomon's finest ale as Alanna told George about her time with the Bazhir.
"That I did." Alanna couldn't help from smiling. It was such a relief to be able to just talk with someone who knew her, about something other than dresses and courtiers. She's almost forgotten what it was like to simply enjoy herself with a good friend.
"So, other than no free time, spending your days learning how to pour tea and having no time to do what you've been training for, for the last eight years, how are things up at the castle?" George's face was earnest and Alanna knew she had to give him an honest answer.
"Well. I don't get to see much of Raoul or Gary; they're so busy with their duties. And I have no time to practice the sword; and the only time I can ride Moonlight it when they're trying to teach me to ride side-saddled. I barely even see Jon; I have no time for anything. Ever since we arrived back from the desert, it seems I've had no chance to do anything of the things I want to do." There was a pause as Alanna wondered if she could continue. "When Jon first proposed, I wasn't sure what I should say. I said yes, because I thought that would be best. But ever since we got back, I've been wondering whether it was, whether I made the right choice." The relief of finally being able to tell someone her thoughts was overwhelming, so she almost didn't notice the furious expression on George's face as he suddenly stood up. His back was turned when he spoke, but the tone of his voice gave her a clear image of what was on his face.
"You should go, Alanna, it's getting late." And without so much as looking back at his red-haired friend he stormed out of the room, leaving Alanna own her own, fighting back tears at the unexpected reaction her friend had had.
***
"Why would he react like that? Why?" Alanna shouted furiously, pacing the clean floor of Mistress Cooper's kitchen. As Alanna yelled and let out her frustration, Eleni watched her with keen interest. She had been wondering how her temperamental friend was adjusting to life as the future queen, it did not surprise her that the answer was not well.
"And Jon! He's barely talked to me in a month! The only time I see him is at night, and then he says he's too tired to talk. I miserable because I'm trying to do what his parents want me to and he doesn't even have the good manners to ask me how I feel!" Alanna was having a full tantrum now, letting the things she had be trying not to think about, explode put of her. Suddenly Alanna sagged, like she had no energy left in her. He sank woefully down into the chair opposite Mistress Cooper.
"Did I make the right choice? I thought I had, but I just don't know anymore." Eleni was surprised at how upset and venerable Alanna looked, and more so at the fact Alanna was telling her so much; it was very unlike her to be so open.
"I'm sorry Alanna, but I can't tell you whether or not you made the right choice, that's really up to you to determine. And I think you know why George was so upset." Eleni stood up and fetched Alanna's cloak, she gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before waving goodbye to her friend.
As Eleni closed the door, Alanna was overwhelmed with an immense loneliness, and letting the tears that rolled down her cheeks fall, she trudged regretfully back to the palace.
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Xxx
