Chapter Nine; Presentation to the court.
True to Duke Baird's word, Alanna regained her strength within the week and could soon walk easily. She threw off the protective hands of Jon and Thom as soon as she could, she hated being fussed over and being weak. She still tired rapidly but the healer assured her that her fatigue would lessen in time.
It was the night of the ball held in her honour and Beth had made her come back to her rooms three hours before to prepare. She had reluctantly followed the forceful maid, who was soon becoming her friend.
She was put into a bath until her fingers began to wrinkle, then was forced into a tight corset. Over this went the shift and petticoats, then the dress. She had got over her hatred of dresses a little so even she had to admit that the dress was lovely. It fit her snugly to the waist, at her hips it flared slightly, draping to the floor in waves. The dress was a rich, deep ruby colour, with gold threads crisscrossing the bodice. The neckline was lower than Alanna would have liked, showing a little cleavage. Her sleeves were fitted down to her wrists where they then flared into a point. Half of her hair was coiled on her head, the rest hung straight down her back.
Around her neck she wore a simple ruby dropper, hanging from a delicate gold chain.
Nervously, but urged on by Beth, she approached the great antechamber leading to the ballroom. All the ladies and their knight escorts had already been announced, so the room was almost empty. A tall figure, dressed in a blue tunic and breeches faced the opposite wall from her, talking to the herald. Alanna crossed the room towards them, skirts rustling slightly as she moved, alerting the two men to her presence. The noble turned to face her,
"Jonathon?"
He smiled at her as he answered,
"Of course. Why are you so surprised? Do you want to enter alone?"
"Goddess, no! Do I really have to go to this thing?" Jon grabbed her hand as she turned to flee.
"Yes you do." He nodded to the awestruck herald who opened the second door, only usually used for visiting royalty. Alanna swallowed nervously as the ballroom went silent and took Jonathon's extended arm.
"Have I told you how much I hate formal events?" She whispered as the herald strode out into the hall.
"No, but Thom did. You'll be fine." He clasped her hand in reassurance. "You look beautiful by the way." Before she could reply the herald struck the marble floor three times with his iron staff of office.
"Lady Alanna of Trebond, healer of his highness, and the Crown Prince Jonathon of Tortall." Together they stepped out onto the head of the grand staircase and began to descend. Jon was aware of all the gasps of envy from the women and the admiring glances of the men at his companion. Alanna, however, was oblivious; she just concentrated on looking ahead and not tripping down the stairs.
As they proceeded down the carpet to the thrones raised on the dais Jon saw an extra chair had been added next to his for Alanna, he also spotted Thom grinning proudly out of the corner of his eye. Alanna curtsied and he bowed to the King and Queen as they stood on the first step of the dais. King Roald stood, as did his Queen.
"Lady Alanna. We thank you for saving our son from the poison, at great risk to yourself." His voice projected to all the corners of the room, "Know then, if ever you, or your heirs, are in need, any knight of Tortall shall be at your service." Alanna bowed her head.
"Thank you, your Majesty, I am always at your service." Queen Lianne then stepped forward, Alanna having been prepared for this knelt and the Queen placed a ruby tiara on her head, then raised her and embraced her warmly, kissing her on both cheeks.
"Thank you."
"It was my pleasure your Highness."
Jon, who had stepped down from the stair as Alanna was presented and thanked, had searched for his friends in the crowd. To his amusement, he had seen, as his father spoke, many a young knight stand up straighter and place a hand on the sword hilt at their side.
As his parents sat he offered Alanna his arm once more, and led her to the empty space in the middles of the room as the musicians began to play.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
"We have to start the dancing." He chuckled at her expression of barely concealed outrage.
"What?" Before she could object further he held one of her hands tightly, preventing her escape and rested the other at her waist. Reluctantly she did the same and as they moved through the complicated dance steps, she glared at him.
"No one said I had to dance! I hate dancing!"
"Why?" Jon asked, "You're good at it." She flushed slightly,
"That's because I can memorise the steps easily. That doesn't mean I enjoy it." To her relief more knights and their ladies joined in the dance as they spoke. They swapped partners, and Alanna found herself opposite another young knight, who introduced himself as Daniel of Marten. They exchanged the customary court phrases before changing partners again, to her relief Alanna now found herself dancing with Gary.
"You look very nice Alanna."
"Thanks."
"You heard the King, we are all at your service. May I help your Ladyship in any way?" She grinned at the big knight.
"Can you get me out of here?"
"So soon?"
"I hate balls. Especially when they are held in my honour." Gary laughed and led her out to the gardens.
"You're almost as bad as Raoul. He hates balls too."
They sat on a marble bench on a balcony and were soon joined by Raoul who affirmed his distaste for social events. Jon was last to join them, wiping his cheek furiously.
"Did Lady Delia get you again?" Raoul teased, spotting the lip rouge smudge on the Prince's cheek. Aside to Alanna he explained, "She's been after Jon for the last few months. She has great plans to be Queen."
Alanna nodded.
"I know. She was always going on about it at the convent. She never shut up about you Jon." He blushed and perched on the low wall facing Alanna.
"You knew her?"
"Not exactly. She was the mistresses' favourite while I was…"
"Not so favourite?" Gary suggested.
"That would be a nice way to say it. I was thinking more along the lines of 'loathed', but that will do."
"She doesn't seem to get the hint that I'm not interested." Jon bemoaned.
"You can't be subtle with Delia." Alanna advised. "Just tell her you don't like her. And three years later she'll finally leave you alone." Amidst guffaws of laughter that came from her comment Thom appeared.
"There you are! Alanna come on, I'm being hounded by knights who want to dance with the Lady healer."
"Oh Goddess! Hide me!" Alanna pretended fear and hid behind Raoul.
With laughter and jokes her friends soon dragged her back into the hall where she was swiftly lost in a crowd of eager knights.
Three hours later, Alanna collapsed on her bed. Beth, hearing the bed creak, peeped out of her adjoining room,
"How was it?" Alanna rolled over so she lay on her side, facing the girl.
"Horrible. My feet are killing me."
"So many dances?" Beth sat on the edge of the bed.
"Yes. Thom was so proud and it was so embarrassing."
"Did you trip?
"No, thank Mithros. But Jon, Gary, Raoul and a lot of other strange knights all looked at me oddly." Her only female confidante laughed.
"They thought you were pretty."
"No they didn't!" She laughed at the idea,
"Why not? Prince Jonathon himself said you were beautiful."
"You were listening." Alanna sat up as she accused. Beth just dimpled at her mistress,
"Let me get you out of that dress; you're crumpling the skirts." Alanna stood and turned her back to the younger girl could unlace the bodice. After pulling a plain nightgown over her head she slipped between the bed covers.
"'Night Miss Alanna."
"'Night Beth." The girl moved quietly around the room, extinguishing the candles, then slipped into her own small room and sat at her desk, writing a letter home to her family about the latest antics of her mistress.