A/N: Ok, I'm so, so sorry! I haven't updated in awhile, I know. A lot has been going on since I last wrote. So I haven't had the time to come up with a new chapter. But enough with the excuses… here, finally, is the next chapter. Please feel free to tell me how much I suck with the updating.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tamora Pierce.

Chapter 14: Shed Some Light

Alanna woke up early that morning. She dressed quickly and when George stirred she told him of her plans to send for the children. He didn't seem to mind and then he went back to bed.

Alanna, herself, had a specific reason for waking up early. She really wanted to find Jonathan and make sure he was all right after last night. She was worried about him.

Slowly she made her way to Jonathan's study. If he was up, he would be in there having breakfast and being briefed on the day's activities.

As Alanna turned the hallway that led to her destination she became quite aware of an unusual amount of people loitering there in front of her intended target.

Alanna knew that the scene could be nothing good. So she pushed through the ten or so people to the door of the study. There stood three familiar people: Raoul, Gary and Duke Gareth.

"What's going on here?" Alanna demanded.

"Hello Alanna," Gary greeted, as if nothing unusual was going on. "Jonathan is inside and he doesn't want to open up."

"I swear he's like a petulant child not the adult King of Tortall that he's supposed to be," Duke Gareth snapped.

Alanna stared at him, surprised, as his son tried to calm him down.

"I heard he slept in there last night," Raoul whispered in Alanna's ear.

Alanna glanced at Raoul; while that fact seemed to surprise her friend, it did not surprise her. Especially after her conversation with Jonathan last night, she'd pretty much predicted it.

"Why don't you let me talk to him," Alanna suggested to everyone gathered round.

"Good, good, we tried to send for Thayet, but he threatened us with bodily harm if we did so," The Duke answered.

Alanna almost laughed at that. It seemed that not everyone was wise to Thayet's and Jonathan's problems. That was good.

"All right, everyone out!" Alanna ordered.

"But-" Gary started to protest.

Alanna hushed him with a finger and pointed for them to go down the hall.

Everyone saw that she was serious and all started moving with only a little grumbling.

Once Alanna was sure everyone was out of earshot, at least, she took a deep breath and turned back to the door. "Jonathan," she called. There was no reply.

She listened at the door for any signs of life. A few seconds later she heard some stirring.

"Jonathan I know you're in there," Alanna said more sternly.

"I just want to be left alone right now," came his reply.

She didn't think that would be good for him, so she pressed on. "Well, I don't want to leave you alone."

"Alanna," he whined.

"Come on Jonathan," she replied. "Umm… I sent for the children, they'll be arriving tomorrow." She wanted to cheer him up, but he didn't answer. "That means I'm staying."

"Yes, with George," Jonathan said sadly.

Alanna let out an annoyed sigh. What could she say to get him out of this mood? "Jonathan what happened last night after I left you?" she asked.

"Oh nothing, I just had a nice little chat with my wife," his sarcasm betrayed his choice of words.

So that was it, a conversation with Thayet had caused this Jonathan to appear.

"Jonathan you need to let me help you," she told him.

"There's only one way you can do that," he replied.

She knew what he meant, but there was no way that they could be together without extreme consequences. But as she thought about it, there might be another way.

"Jonathan, I'll be right back," she told him quickly.

Alanna approached another set of doors. This time they were the doors to Thayet's personal chambers. There was a guard standing next to the doors.

"Is the Queen in?" she asked him.

"Yes sir, but she will be leaving on a morning outing in a few minutes," the guard replied.

Alanna considered this. She was still going to see Vincent; that was incredulous. "I'd still like a moment with her thanks," Alanna commanded.

"I will see," the guard told her. He knocked on the door and slipped inside.

Alanna waited outside only briefly, contemplating exactly what she would say to Thayet. She was angry at her friend. The situation left Alanna wondering how Thayet could act in such a scandalizing manner.

After about a minute the guard came back out. "The Queen will see you, but briefly."

Alanna nodded and went through the open doors right into Thayet's personal sitting room. She wasn't in there yet so she went to sit on one of the dainty chairs.

Thayet hurried out of one of the doors that led to her other rooms. "Oh Alanna, sorry to keep you waiting."

Alanna stood, "Don't worry, I wasn't waiting long."

"Good, good. Sit please," Thayet ordered as she did the same. "I'm sorry I can't sit long. Prior engagements and all."

"Yes, about that," Alanna started uneasily; she just couldn't get used to this flustered person in front of her. The Thayet she knew was always calm and composed.

"Yes," Thayet prompted.

"Are you seriously still going to see Vincent?" Alanna blurted out.

Thayet's friendly expression hardened. "Alanna that is none of your business."

Alanna's mouth took a grim line and nodded. "Maybe not, but Jonathan locking himself in his study most definitely is my business."

"What?" Thayet exclaimed.

"And if you're not careful it will become the whole kingdom's business," Alanna informed her, knowing exactly how fast news traveled.

"Alanna I'm not quite sure what you are saying," Thayet said carefully.

"Thayet, you're my friend. So I only say this because I want to prevent certain… hardships you may encounter in the future. What you are doing with Vincent is wrong," Alanna explained.

"You don't understand. No one understands," Thayet exclaimed.

Alanna was shocked by her sudden outburst. "Try me," Alanna added.

"It feels so good to be wanted," Thayet told her.

"Jonathan wants you, he loves you."

"No, he loves you!" Thayet accused.

"What- I mean, you know that was in the past," Alanna stumbled.

"Was it? Because I'm not so sure about that," Thayet shot back. "Can you honestly say it's all in your past?"

Alanna stared at her wide eyed, not sure how the conversation went from Thayet's indiscretions to hers. She considered her options, she could deny it bold facedly, or she could explain.

"Maybe not," Alanna finally answered resolutely. "But I have not been parading it in front of my husband."

"Really now," Thayet countered. "And that whole trip to the Bazhir tribe did not put a show on for your husband. We all know you spent three days alone with Jonathan."

"That's not fair," Alanna burst out. "That was for the ritual."

"Maybe so, but that didn't stop George from wondering," Thayet told her. "Your husband's not a stupid man. He may hide it pretty well, but inside he's scared and angry."

"What?"

"Scared that he will lose you and angry at you for making him feel that way," Thayet clarified. "So Alanna, I'll ask you this because you are my friend. What's worse me being open about my dislike for my husbands feelings towards you. And not hiding it. Or you going behind George's back and not giving him the decency to choose if he still wants you?"

Alanna went quiet. She wasn't sure how this happened.

"I only say this because I want to spare you certain hardships," Thayet said coldly. Alanna's face went pale, and for a second Thayet's face softened to become the familiar visage of Alanna's friend. But it was gone a second later. "Now I must be going, or else I'll be late."

Thayet swept out of the room with out a second glance at Alanna.

How did it happen? Alanna had gone in there to shed some light on Thayet's situation from an outside perspective. But it so happened that Thayet was well aware of her situation. And instead, Alanna was not aware of her own. And the light was shed on her.

Well that's it for now. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out quicker. Anyways leave me a review and let me know what you think.

And thanks to everyone else who reviewed: wluna; super bookworm; Tortallanknight (thanks for all the great comments); Sapphire Sprite (we'll find out what's going on with George in the next chapter); The Angel Of Sincerity; FaeFolk; Jamie Lynn; Lady Seraya; x0xkatiex0x (aww… no way, I made someone cry. Awesome); On Top of Cloud 9; apocalypse09; buffyandspike-4ever; Miralys; SOPROL (yeah I know); ReadingRobyn; Lancaster; and brezzybrez. Thanks all very much!