Chapter Eighteen; Consequences.
Hastily Alanna wiped the palms of her hands on the side of her skirt, then smoothed out the wrinkles. The guards and servants in the outer chamber of the audience room looked at her curiously. It wasn't often that the Prince brought a strange girl to see the King and Queen.
Alanna had darkened her hair to a russet brown at she kept her eyes downcast. She knew how fast gossip travelled around the palace. By nightfall everyone would suspect that Jon had presented his future wife to his parents. Before she could ponder that any further, Jon came out of the inner room and walked over to her, smiling.
She stood at once, and took a step towards him.
"Come on." He urged her. "They will see you now."
She took his outstretched hand and together they went into the inner office. Just before the door closed behind them Alanna heard a sudden outburst of chatter and stopped, releasing her glamour.
"Jon, are you sure this is a good idea?"
He turned around, not releasing her hand,
"Yes. I know it is." He replied firmly. He took hold of her other hand as she began to play with her dress. "You look wonderful, and you need to do this." He pulled her into the room behind him, before the King and Queen of Tortall.
He bowed and she curtsied, each letting go of the other's hands, but not before the King's quick eyes had seen them.
"Jonathan. My Lady." The two stood up and Alanna found herself looking at the monarchs.
Roald looked older than when she had last seen him. His hair held more grey streaks and more wrinkles were present around his eyes.
"Your majesties." She said, suddenly seized by a fit of nerves.
"Lady Alanna." The Queen, although she was sitting a little listlessly in her chair, drew Alanna's eyes towards her. Lianne's changes were nowhere near as noticeable as those of her husband, but she could see that the Queen was very pale and dangerously thin. When their gazes met, and held, Lianne nodded, then continued to speak softly.
"Please do have a seat."
After Alanna had sat in the chair indicated, Jon also sat. She groaned silently.
I thought I had cured him of doing that years ago!
Roald leaned forwards.
"We are indebted to you, Lady Alanna. Firstly for healing our son of the Sweating Sickness, but also for your courageous deeds at the palace in the battle. We do not know how to repay you."
Lianne spoke quietly,
"Perhaps you would like to tell us yourself how you came to know about Roger's plan. Jonathan told us what he could, but he did not know everything."
So, a little hesitatingly at first, Alanna told them an edited tale of her life, missing out the Rogue, merely saying she had stayed with a kind family in Corus. After a while, when Jon came into the story, he added in bits. When she had finished, Roald sat back in his chair, expelling a long breath.
"You have led an adventurous life." he said. "But now I must ask you what you want to do now. If you wish to return to court we would gladly receive you and you are more than welcome to make your home at the palace. However, if you wish to return to the family you had in Corus, we will help you in any way we can, and the same if you wish to become full Shang. If you do choose to live in the palace however we will have to explain how you are alive."
"Father." Jon broke in, "When Lord Martin questioned us about Alanna, we told him that she had received a blow on the head in the battle and had suffered memory loss as a result. When she saw me in Persopolis and defeated the Ysandir, she regained her memories."
The King began to nod slowly.
"What of the body?" Lianne asked
"We said," Alanna explained, "That she was a friend of mine who looked like me."
"I see." Roald sat thinking for moment. "I think it is best if we let that be known. As you have started, so shall we continue."
"So, Lady Alanna, do you wish to return to court and reclaim your noble status and lands?"
Alanna only paused for a fraction of a second before answering.
"Yes. I do."
"Very well. You will have to be formally reintroduced, but until then may I recommend that you do not reveal yourself before then?"
"I shall return to the city for a while then, your majesty."
"In the city? Are you sure?" Lianne asked.
"I will be as safe there as here, your majesty, I grew up there since I was ten and the few who know I have returned will guard that secret well."
"Very well." Roald spoke. "We shall organise a ball with all haste."
"And I shall send some of my best dressmakers and servants to you on the day, and to make a dress for you. Where will you be staying?"
Alanna coughed slightly, catching Jon's eye.
"Perhaps it would be best if I came to the palace."
The queen raised an eyebrow enquiringly at her son,
"I know the inn where Lady Alanna will be staying. I do not mind escorting her." He offered.
"Is that agreeable to you?" She asked Alanna
"Yes, your majesty. May I ask when the ball will be held?"
"We shall try and arrange it for three days hence, so you do not have to be confined in the city for too long." Roald summoned a steward and said "See Master Oakbridge and inform him there is to be a ball in three days from now. Ask him to wait on me this afternoon, after the third bell."
The steward bowed, his face showing his surprise for a moment, before concealing it once more.
After he had left the room, Roald stood.
"Once more we thank you for all you have done for us, and for the realm. You defeated two of Roger's plots to kill us all. We are very much in your debt."
"And I am deeply in yours, Sire, for your forgiveness and understanding." Alanna replied as she too got to her feet.
"We shall see you in two days then, for the preparations."
She bowed her head and when Jon took her hand, smiling openly at his parent, they left the room.
When they reached the empty antechamber Alanna sagged.
"I'm glad that's over with."
He cupped her face in his palms.
"You did well. They liked you."
"They did?" Her lavender eyes met his sapphire ones. "I never knew people could be so solemn."
Jon laughed.
"You'll get used to it. They're not a bit like that in private."
"I'll get used to it will I?" She asked, beginning to walk. "And why would the King and Queen of Tortall allow a lowly Shang warrior to see them relaxed?"
Jon caught her around the waist and she paused, confused at the sudden determined glint in his eye.
"What is it?"
He bent down and kissed her firmly. She recoiled slightly in shock, but he followed her, so his body was pressed tightly against her own. After a while they separated from their passionate embrace, both panting a little and Alanna's face flushed.
"What was that for?" She asked when she had regained her breath.
"Just to remind you that you are far more than a 'lowly Shang'."
He placed another kiss on her lips, this one lighter and more teasing before taking her hand and tugging her out of the room and along the corridor.
"Come on!" He insisted, "We can go to my rooms. I would rather my parents or a servant didn't catch us out here."
Alanna looked at him, one eyebrow raised and he just smiled at her. Then the pair walked swiftly to Jon's rooms.
Well, there is the next chapter for Lady Storm (finally)!
HuntressDiana