Okay, peoples. Now that you fought your way through the oh so long Chapter 9, here's Chapter 10.

Disclaimer: Oh no, the police have found out that I've told everyone that the story's really mine. (Starts singing)"Goodbye ev'rybody, I've got to go..." preferably before the police find me and put me in jail for copyright fraud. Oh, they've given me a choice: jail, or tell everyone the truth. Here it comes: the story's not really mine, and I'm sorry for any and all confusion I've caused...

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Alanna22039

Chapter 10

The next afternoon, Alanna could be found walking to the Queen's Sitting Room, alone, to spend time with her (hopefully) soon-to-be mother-in-law. Jonathan, had managed to escape the "party," as he called it in fun, through one of the myriad of Council meetings. He had at least given her directions to his mother's sitting room. Alanna, having arrived at her destination, stood in front of the door for five minutes, intensely battling with her nerves before summoning the courage to actually knock on the door…or so she thought. Just when she was about to knock on the door, her daring failed. Her hand fell to her side.

Oh, come on, Alanna, she can't be nearly as bad as Jon said. He was just exaggerating because she's his mother, Alanna thought.

But she's so enthusiastic – about everything! Goddess, even King Roald says she over-decorates everything.

You have to go through with this to have her permission to marry Jon though! Just because the King said it was all right doesn't mean she will. Pull yourself together!

She took a deep, calming breath, and knocked on the door. Alanna only just had time to arrange her face in what she hoped was a pleasant smile before the door was opened and she was pulled into a ridiculously tight hug.

"Alanna, darling, how are you?"

"Um…F-fine, your Majesty," Alanna stuttered. The Queen had been worse than Alanna feared. Jon's comment that she was overenthusiastic was quite an understatement. To Alanna, she was just frightening. The Queen stood only two inches higher than Alanna's own five feet, six inches. She had jet black hair, light blue eyes, and full lips. She wore a silk, kelly green gown that accented her thin frame. Her complexion was still pallid – she would never completely recover from Roger's attacks on her health, in the Sweating Sickness and his image.

"I have tea ready for us, darling," the Queen exclaimed happily. "You drink Earl Grey, don't you? Well, if you don't maybe you'll like it after you try it!" (A/N: For those who don't drink tea, or aren't Brits, Earl's Grey and Lady Grey are both British teas that I adore.)

"Thank you, your Majesty. Earl's Grey will be fine – yes, I like it." The Queen poured the drinks gracefully.

"Please sit down," the Queen requested, handing Alanna her cup of tea. "I know that my husband banned you from the practice courts after your duel because of your injuries. I understand that you are well now?" Alanna opened her mouth to answer, but Queen Lianne continued without skipping a beat. "Well, never mind the small talk. What I really want to discuss with you is your relationship with Jon, which is why it would have been good for him to be here. He was quite worried about you when you collapsed after that duel, you know." Alanna tried to contradict the Queen. She hadn't collapsed after the duel, she had just been exhausted. The Queen continued talking, never giving Alanna a chance to correct her.

"That duel was quite the show of feminine power, dear. I really couldn't admire you more. Anyway, I just wanted to know, how long has your relationship with my son gone on?"

"We've been close friends since I first met him, your Majesty, and that was the night I arrived, when I was ten."

"No, no, my dear girl, you misunderstand me. When did you fall in love?"

"He started courting me when I was seventeen, your Majesty. I believe I started getting jealous of the Court ladies he was seeing when I was fifteen or sixteen. I think Jon started returning my feelings during the Tusaine War. Excuse me, your Majesty, I don't mean to sound rude, but why is this important?"

"Oh, you know, darling. Curiosity killed the cat."

From that conversation, the Queen went on to other ones, including telling Alanna stories from Jonathan's infancy. Alanna felt that she was being pressured to bear a child to Jonathan before the Queen passed away. Alanna suddenly realized that the Queen knew she was not long for this world. Finally, as the sun was beginning to set, Alanna was set free.

Alanna ran back to the suite of rooms she shared with Jonathan. She collapsed onto a window seat in their sitting room, sighing. Faithful jumped up onto her lap. Somehow, his weight on her lap was comforting.

So, was the Queen as bad as you thought she would be?

"You have no idea, Faithful." She scratched him behind his ears, as he purred, rubbing his head against her hand. He settled in her lap and started to fall asleep with his mistress petting his back. Alanna watched the beautiful sunset, thinking about her afternoon with the Queen and her upcoming marriage. She and Jon had agreed to a spring wedding. But Alanna cold not shake the feeling that no matter how terribly enthusiastic the Queen was about the ceremony, she would never see her son wed.

The object of Alanna's thoughts walked into the sitting room at that moment. Jonathan could see that his fiancée was thinking hard about something. He also noticed, that Faithful had, as usual, fallen asleep in her lap. Her hair and skin seemed to glow with the light from the dying sun. Jon noticed, with some amusement, that even though Alanna was wearing a gown (blue so pale it was almost white), she still had her feet drawn up beneath her in a most unladylike manner. She was quite unlike any other woman he'd met, which was one reason why he loved her so much, he reflected.

"So, I was wrong. Her enthusiasm didn't strike you dead immediately," he teased, walking over to her window seat, and sitting beside her. Alanna jumped, when she heard his voice.

"Don't do that! You scared me! I didn't even hear you come in." He kissed her cheek.

"Maybe I alarmed you, but I doubt I scared you, love.Don't confuse the two. And I'm not surprised that you didn't hear me. You seemed lost in your thoughts. What were you thinking about?"

"Well, your mother seems to be weakening again, and I don't mean to worry you, but someone has to tell you."

"Why do you say that?" He pulled her onto his lap, kissing her. Faithful grumbled as he was woken, and jumped to the floor. Alanna heard him mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like Stupid prince, you always kick me out (or wake me up then kick me out) just so you can have your chance with her. What if I want to spend a day with her? Is that a crime now? Alanna fought hard to keep her face straight and stifle a laugh. She turned back to the conversation.

"Well, it's not something you would notice right away, but she seemed like she was distracted by something, but she was trying to hide it. She never kept to one subject long. She seemed almost…I dunno…it just made me really worried about her," Alanna finished, somewhat lamely.

"We've known that she won't heal entirely from the image for a while. She was never that strong, Alanna. I just wish she would let me do something for her, but she can be fairly obstinate when she wants. Besides, she always tells me that Duke Baird is doing all he can – she's probably right. I've been worried about her for a while. I think your right in saying she won't be here much longer. Just out of curiosity, why were you watching the sunset? Granted, tonight's is particularly beautiful, but…" Alanna laughed nervously. Nonetheless, the tension that had built up was released.

"I guess I'll have to watch myself more carefully. Otherwise, you'll think I've turned completely feminine."

"Not that that would be a problem," he muttered. Alanna ignored the comment.

"Anyway, the sunset has always calmed me down somehow. I don't know why. I just know it helps me relax. I didn't mean to worry you."

"You didn't worry me, I just thought I'd remind you that there's a ball tonight. I don't think you'd make the best impression to the Court if you skipped." He chuckled as Alanna winced at the reminder.

"I suppose I'll have to get ready then, won't I?" she asked sarcastically. Jon grinned wickedly and kissed the back of her hand as she got up.