Hehe, well I'm really bored so I decided to make this little one shot on how I believed George realized he was in love with Alanna.
George sat back and looked over at Alanna who was taking a sip of her lemonade. She always had lemonade never anything stronger. It had been almost two years since he found out Alan was really a girl and he could never get over the change in her since then. Alan had always been strict and proper and acted as if he had a big secret, of course now he knew why, Alan had really been Alanna of Trebond. George watched Alanna grow up and now she was fifteen and he could tell that with a dress and her hair longer she would be a beauty. Not that he cared how she dressed he liked her just the way she was.
"George? Why are you staring at me? Do I have something on my face?" She asked him taking him out of his thoughts.
"No, sorry did not realize I was staring, just thinking." He said and took a sip of his ale.
"What'cha thinking about?" She asked, "there a new flower girl that caught your eye?"
"Ahh, Alanna you know I have no time for that, besides any girl that goes with me would have to be able to stand for herself when I trouble, she couldn't be some delicate flower girl." He laughed and took another sip.
"Haha, George. I'm going to the border soon in about a week." She said.
"But it is nearly winter. What is the princling thinking? He aught to know you won't survive a week up there." He winked at her.
"Only you know me so well George." She laughed, her amethyst eyes shining.
"Aye, I do lass. I'm guessing you won't be around for mid winter than?" He asked.
"No, I'll be gone till spring at the most. Why?" She asked him curiously.
"I have your present, wait here and I'll go get it." He stood up and went to his room. Rummaging through his drawers he found it. His mother told him about Alanna wanting to become more feminine, so he thought she would want something for when she reveled herself at court. It cost him more than a man would make in seven months, but he paid for it and did not steal it. She would appreciate that. Walking back in he handed her the small box.
"Open it, but only when you get back to the palace, I do not want you to go all crazy about it." She opened her mouth to reply.
"And now I did not steal it, you always think the worst of me for a reason unknown."
"George I don't know what to say, I wish I had thought to bring you your present." She looked down guiltily.
"No need 'Lanna your friendship is all I need." He added a players flourish.
"George I swear if you weren't so adamant about being a thief you could give players a run for their money." She laughed a full hearty laugh and stood up to leave.
"Let me walk you out." He to stood up and opened the door for her, as the gentleman they both knew he was at heart.
"So how is your mother? I haven't been able to see her in a while and I heard she came down with a cold."
"Mother is doin just fine, visited her yesterday and she told me something interesting."
"Oh? What would that be?" She asked him.
"Just a little something, about I fine young girl that I know." He was enjoying this a little bit more than he should but he kept going.
"George spit it out!" She told him.
"Alright lass, what this about you wantin to be like a girl?"
"Darn it! I was so hoping that wasn't it." Her head was toward the ground again he could tell she was embarrassed
"Lass." He put his hand on her small shoulder, "there is nothing wrong with you bein who you are."
"I know that." She said stubbornly.
"Really? Than why are yee tryin to change yourself?" He asked her, bringing her chin up with his hand.
"I'm not!" She shook her head trying to get rid of his hand but he held her firmly.
"Alanna there is nothing wrong you, you're fine thee way yee are."
"Yes I know, I'm not trying to change myself, it was just something I wanted to try."
"I don't believe you." He didn't, he knew there was some reason behind it.
"George will you please stop and let go of my face, your hurting my chin." She brushed his hand away at the same time he let go.
"Alright I'll stop. Well here's your stop, I'll see you this spring. If all goes as they appear, you might be a court lady by the end of the year." He walked off leaving an open mouthed Alanna. He didn't know why the thought of Alanna actin like a court girl bothered him so much, but it did. The thought of her in a nobleman's arms bothered him to no end. Worse, the thought of her in Jonathans arms, he knew the prince liked Alanna, and he knew she might like him also no matter how many times she denied it.
He sighed and walked back into the Dove and up to his rooms. One thing was for sure he would get no sleep that night for dreams of a women with fiery red hair and violet eyes would keep him up.
Alanna's Room.
Alanna got to her room, Jonathan was still asleep so she quietly opened her door and tried get ready for bed without falling over in the dark. She couldn't believe what happened with George, he had only been that open with her once and he promised he wouldn't do it again.
She settled into her bed and picked up the present he gave her. She opened the box and gasped.
Inside was an amethyst bracelet, it had a small locket dangling from it, she opened it and inside was a picture of her and him in the Dancing Dove, laughing.
She couldn't believe it the painting was so accurate. George! Sometimes I hate you and then you do something so wonderful like this.
She sighed and laid down in bed, staring at the bracelet. The clock chimed midnight and she heard Jonathan come in from a night of dancing.
"You in bed?" She head him ask from the other side of the door.
"Yes." She answered. He opened the door and looked at her in the dim light. He moved and sat down in the vacant chair near the bed.
"We leave soon, make sure you're all packed," he looked over at her bed stand, "what this?" He picked up the bracelet and looked at the picture inside. His handsome face contorted into an odd expression that she couldn't figure out.
"George gave it to me, he knew I wouldn't be there for mid winter and wanted to give me it before we left." She sat up a bit.
"Never thought you would be one for pretty jewelry, Alanna." He laid it back down and stared at her.
"I maybe disguised as a man but I am a women, Jon. I like pretty things believe it or not." She told him her temper raising.
"Calm down I didn't mean any harm. Anyways get back to bed we day after tomorrow and I don't want my squire a sleep on his or her feet." He got up and patted her knee and headed back to his rooms.
What was with him? Alanna asked herself. She laid back down and blew out the candles and drifted off into a deep sleep.