Wow, I'm back! And look.yes, I think it's a new chapter!
I haven't, despite appearances, disappeared off the face of the planet. I
am still around, just horribly busy right now (doing final year of
highschool and trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life)
Anyway, huge apologies: I really am sorry, for both this and Old Lovers.
Sorry it's been so long, but with Fanfiction being down and me being super
busy with school and work and other writing and .life, really, I haven't
had too much time for this lately. As always I want to say thankyou to
every reader who has reviewed - I love every word! Another huge thankyou
to any one who's put me on their favourites lists - that is such a
wonderful compliment!
Hopefully we'll see a new chapter for Old Lovers soon too.
Thankyou all again!
Anyway, no more babbling: here is chapter 7
Chapter 7
Alanna pulled her cloak tighter around her. "I have something very important I need to tell you." she swallowed, looking up, desperately trying to read the emotion in his eyes. "Jonathan!" called a maternal female voice from the terrace. Jonathan looked up, irritation creasing his brow. Alanna, looking, truth to tell, a little thankful, watched him. He started towards the terrace and then turned to look back at her. "I have to." he began. There was a silence They stared at each other for a moment, both with a sense that their future was hanging in the air between them. "Meet me in my room?" Jon asked quietly. Alanna, shivering, nodded silently. Jon looked back at her once more and then sprinted off up to the terrace. Alanna watched him go. She pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head and wandered off, an anonymous dark female figure walking through the gardens.
* * *
Jonathan looked irritated as he emerged from the gardens up onto the terrace. The queen stood beaming before him. "Jonathan, I'd like to introduce you to Princess Augusta." a pretty, dark haired girl stood fluttering her lashes some distance off. Jonathan pulled his mother up short. "No, Mother, not now. Not more princesses and subtle hints at what good queen's they'll make, and how important it is to ensure the succession. I know all that, but I'll deal with the succession if and when I decide to." He strode off, and the queen stood helplessly watching as her headstrong son insulted yet another princess.
* * *
Alanna paced in Jonathan's rooms. She'd not removed her cape and it swept behind her as she paced up and down practising what she'd say to Jonathan. It was terrifying and she just didn't know how to tell him. She shook herself, exasperated with her nerves. "Just tell him." She muttered. "Tell me what?" asked Jon as he slipped quietly around the door. "I, ah." Alanna looked anxiously at him. She couldn't she just couldn't tell him. "What is it?" "I'm thirsty." She gasped eventually. "Oh." Jonathan looked around for water, wine, or fruit juice. "Ah, I'll get you something to drink." He looked at her, a little puzzled, and left the room.
* * *
Jonathan whistled as he walked back along the corridor to his room, a tumbler of water in his hand. He could have called for a servant, but he didn't want news of him and Alanna sweeping the palace just yet. He opened the door and entered his room. It was empty. He started and looked around. Quickly he checked the small anteroom and behind the dressing screen. Nothing. Where was she? He ventured back into the corridor and looked up and down. Nothing. A page passed him, and he stopped the boy. "Have you seen a lady about?" he questioned. "There's a lot of ladies about tonight, Highness." Jonathan sighed with exasperation. "A lady in purple with red hair?" "The Lioness?" asked the page, awe tinging his voice. "Yes." "Yes, Highness, she passed me in the corridor not five minutes since." "Damn." Jonathan cursed and swung back into his room. That woman was so unpredictable!
* * *
It had just struck the tenth hour of the morning when the door of the dancing dove crashed open. A dark figure stood silhouetted against the light. Solom quickly grabbed at the knife under the counter and the few rouges lazing about rose quickly, shifting into fighting stances. The figure strode forward and Solom recognised George's old friend Jonny. "Jonny" he greeted the young man. 'Jonny' glared at him, obviously furious. "I'd like to see George's guest." He said stiffly, "The Lioness." something dangerous glinted in his eyes. "O'course, I'll just send Milly up to see if she's a'woken yet." "Don't bother." 'Jonny' snapped, striding towards the stairs.
* * *
Alanna was still dozing. Faithful was a warm weight on her feet and she was just blearily coming awake when the door burst noisily open. She woke very suddenly when she realised who it was. "Jonathan!" He paced around the bed, glaring at her. "What's going on, Alanna? Why did you run away? Are you that scared of spending a night with me?" She gasped angrily and got quickly out of bed. "And you, Jonathan of Conte, are you so pig-headed that you can't even conceive of a woman not wanting to spend the night with you?" A dark head appeared around the door and George grinned at them. "Do ye want to keep it down? The whole o' the city could here ye, never mind every soul in the dove." Alanna scowled at George and he slipped back outside, shutting the door quietly. Jonathan crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Alanna. "So what is going on?" Alanna lowered her head into her hands. "Look, can I dress first? I'm hardly awake." she looked up pleadingly at him. "An hour?" "And will you still be here if I come back in an hour? I don't think so, tell me now Alanna, or forget about it. Why did you run away last night?" Jonathan folded his arms across his chest, standing in the doorway as if he was blocking any escape attempts. "I didn't run away, I." she paused. Jonathan grasped her shoulders and looked seriously into her face. "Whatever it is, tell me. Nothing could be worse than this. I don't know what's going on, Alanna. You appeared out of no where, and now you're keeping secrets." "I'm not keeping secrets!" she exclaimed. "I just.haven't told you yet. Jon." she looked into his face, knowing this moment could and probably would change everything. "I came back because.I'm going to have a child." She whispered. "Your child." She meant to keep here eyes on his face, to watch his reaction, but no sooner had she spoken, than she dropped her eyes downwards, praying, hoping. "Alanna." He lifted her chin, his voice soft, and looking disbelievingly into her eyes. "My child?" he faltered. She nodded faintly. "My child?" A smile curved his face and he raised a hand to her stomach, placing it over the soft, as yet barely discernible curve. She watched his face as he looked at her body incredulously. He raised his face quickly, eyes alight, smiling. "Marry me?" he gasped, joyous laughter bubbling behind his words "No, Jon, I-" He cut her off, pulling her close "Can't you take a hint, Alanna?" he asked. His tone was excited and Alanna hardly knew how to react, faced with this new excited Jonathan. "I-" she stammered. His hand caressed her face and she felt herself opposition dissolve. "Alanna." He murmured as he pulled her close and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, savouring the nearness of his body. "Yes." She whispered back, finally realising it was right.
* * *
Hours later, Jonathan and Alanna emerged from Alanna's rooms. George watched them as they descended the stairs, hand in hand, radiant smiles lighting both faces. "I have to go." Jonathan whispered to her. "State council this afternoon." Alanna nodded. Solom watched them grinning from the counter. Jonathan leaned down and kissed Alanna lingeringly. Jonathan shot a glance at George and Solom and left. Alanna turned to face her friend. "All sorted then?" he asked casually. "Something like that." she replied, grinning. She hurried upstairs. George watched her go, a tear slowly being rent in his heart. She was so obviously happy and it was a bittersweet pain that bit slowly into him. He swallowed and turned away, unable to think of her any longer.
* * *
Alanna spent the rest of the day flitting around the Dove humming. She ventured outside at around four and found her dedicated admirers still hanging around the stable yard. Within minutes the entire group, eight or ten youths by now, were armed with long sticks and were following the Lioness's practiced sword movements. After some time one or two girls emerged from the shadows. They were street urchins, clothed in ragged scraps of material, but there was a fire in their eyes, and they took up the sticks as eagerly as the boys did. After two hours of practicing Alanna shooed them away and went back inside. She sat tiredly and watched as those reluctant to leave moped around outside the dove's doorway. Evening was coming on and the Dancing Dove was beginning to fill. Traders, rogues and others of the city's people were filing in for a drink at the end of a long hard day. Alanna went up stairs to change her clothes and then came and sat with George by the fire, laughing and talking with her old friends. She had passed the whole day aglow, a happiness visible to all bubbling inside her. George watched her, torn between jealousy and happiness for her. The dove was riotous that evening, indeed, several parties were thrown out when it was considered that they had consumed far and away their fill of ale. Alanna watched all the comings and goings, eyes twinkling in the firelight. I'll never be able to leave this, she thought, not forever. I'll sneak down here even when I'm queen. The thought pulled her up sharp. She would be queen. What exactly had she got herself in for? Doubts were beginning to surface in her happiness-numbed mind when a familiar figure approached her from across the room. Jon smiled roguishly at her. "M'lady." "M'lord" she curtsied in mock subordinance . Jon pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Hoots and catcalls erupted around them. Jon grinned. "I think we're making a spectacle of ourselves." Said Alanna. "Hmm," agreed Jonathan, "Maybe we should go up to your room."
* * *
A/N : Ahh, that's all for now. Sorry again that this has been so long in coming. Next chapter? Who knows, but hopefully it will arrive soon. I have a feeling I have a sword fight coming on.interesting. I thought I'd also just answer a few specific questions from reviews of last chapter: Lady Gabriella of Queenscove - hmm, I'd not thought about bringing Liam in (Roger had crossed my mind, but I'm not sure) an interesting idea. Chopstix* - I'm concerned about all this combustion too, hopefully not all my readers have gone up in flames Paige - Hopefully there'll be more of old lovers soon - I do mean to go back to it Alanna/Jonathan - I live in Melbourne too, coincidence or what? Aer - Sorry about all the fluffiness, I'll try to do more 'substance' - (and just a little whisper about the Alanna/Jonathan romance- don't expect it all to be smooth sailing.) Emily of Yarmouthport - .and I like updating, it's all good, isn't it?
Again, so sorry for the long delay, and sorry wasn't even very long, but it was a matter of a short-ish chapter or waiting at least another week Please leave me a review - you know how much I carry on about them - criticism, praise, anything's welcome. Or feel free to email me if you'd rather at skysong91@hotmail.com. Thankyou all for reading, Blue Mariah
Chapter 7
Alanna pulled her cloak tighter around her. "I have something very important I need to tell you." she swallowed, looking up, desperately trying to read the emotion in his eyes. "Jonathan!" called a maternal female voice from the terrace. Jonathan looked up, irritation creasing his brow. Alanna, looking, truth to tell, a little thankful, watched him. He started towards the terrace and then turned to look back at her. "I have to." he began. There was a silence They stared at each other for a moment, both with a sense that their future was hanging in the air between them. "Meet me in my room?" Jon asked quietly. Alanna, shivering, nodded silently. Jon looked back at her once more and then sprinted off up to the terrace. Alanna watched him go. She pulled the hood of her cloak up over her head and wandered off, an anonymous dark female figure walking through the gardens.
* * *
Jonathan looked irritated as he emerged from the gardens up onto the terrace. The queen stood beaming before him. "Jonathan, I'd like to introduce you to Princess Augusta." a pretty, dark haired girl stood fluttering her lashes some distance off. Jonathan pulled his mother up short. "No, Mother, not now. Not more princesses and subtle hints at what good queen's they'll make, and how important it is to ensure the succession. I know all that, but I'll deal with the succession if and when I decide to." He strode off, and the queen stood helplessly watching as her headstrong son insulted yet another princess.
* * *
Alanna paced in Jonathan's rooms. She'd not removed her cape and it swept behind her as she paced up and down practising what she'd say to Jonathan. It was terrifying and she just didn't know how to tell him. She shook herself, exasperated with her nerves. "Just tell him." She muttered. "Tell me what?" asked Jon as he slipped quietly around the door. "I, ah." Alanna looked anxiously at him. She couldn't she just couldn't tell him. "What is it?" "I'm thirsty." She gasped eventually. "Oh." Jonathan looked around for water, wine, or fruit juice. "Ah, I'll get you something to drink." He looked at her, a little puzzled, and left the room.
* * *
Jonathan whistled as he walked back along the corridor to his room, a tumbler of water in his hand. He could have called for a servant, but he didn't want news of him and Alanna sweeping the palace just yet. He opened the door and entered his room. It was empty. He started and looked around. Quickly he checked the small anteroom and behind the dressing screen. Nothing. Where was she? He ventured back into the corridor and looked up and down. Nothing. A page passed him, and he stopped the boy. "Have you seen a lady about?" he questioned. "There's a lot of ladies about tonight, Highness." Jonathan sighed with exasperation. "A lady in purple with red hair?" "The Lioness?" asked the page, awe tinging his voice. "Yes." "Yes, Highness, she passed me in the corridor not five minutes since." "Damn." Jonathan cursed and swung back into his room. That woman was so unpredictable!
* * *
It had just struck the tenth hour of the morning when the door of the dancing dove crashed open. A dark figure stood silhouetted against the light. Solom quickly grabbed at the knife under the counter and the few rouges lazing about rose quickly, shifting into fighting stances. The figure strode forward and Solom recognised George's old friend Jonny. "Jonny" he greeted the young man. 'Jonny' glared at him, obviously furious. "I'd like to see George's guest." He said stiffly, "The Lioness." something dangerous glinted in his eyes. "O'course, I'll just send Milly up to see if she's a'woken yet." "Don't bother." 'Jonny' snapped, striding towards the stairs.
* * *
Alanna was still dozing. Faithful was a warm weight on her feet and she was just blearily coming awake when the door burst noisily open. She woke very suddenly when she realised who it was. "Jonathan!" He paced around the bed, glaring at her. "What's going on, Alanna? Why did you run away? Are you that scared of spending a night with me?" She gasped angrily and got quickly out of bed. "And you, Jonathan of Conte, are you so pig-headed that you can't even conceive of a woman not wanting to spend the night with you?" A dark head appeared around the door and George grinned at them. "Do ye want to keep it down? The whole o' the city could here ye, never mind every soul in the dove." Alanna scowled at George and he slipped back outside, shutting the door quietly. Jonathan crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Alanna. "So what is going on?" Alanna lowered her head into her hands. "Look, can I dress first? I'm hardly awake." she looked up pleadingly at him. "An hour?" "And will you still be here if I come back in an hour? I don't think so, tell me now Alanna, or forget about it. Why did you run away last night?" Jonathan folded his arms across his chest, standing in the doorway as if he was blocking any escape attempts. "I didn't run away, I." she paused. Jonathan grasped her shoulders and looked seriously into her face. "Whatever it is, tell me. Nothing could be worse than this. I don't know what's going on, Alanna. You appeared out of no where, and now you're keeping secrets." "I'm not keeping secrets!" she exclaimed. "I just.haven't told you yet. Jon." she looked into his face, knowing this moment could and probably would change everything. "I came back because.I'm going to have a child." She whispered. "Your child." She meant to keep here eyes on his face, to watch his reaction, but no sooner had she spoken, than she dropped her eyes downwards, praying, hoping. "Alanna." He lifted her chin, his voice soft, and looking disbelievingly into her eyes. "My child?" he faltered. She nodded faintly. "My child?" A smile curved his face and he raised a hand to her stomach, placing it over the soft, as yet barely discernible curve. She watched his face as he looked at her body incredulously. He raised his face quickly, eyes alight, smiling. "Marry me?" he gasped, joyous laughter bubbling behind his words "No, Jon, I-" He cut her off, pulling her close "Can't you take a hint, Alanna?" he asked. His tone was excited and Alanna hardly knew how to react, faced with this new excited Jonathan. "I-" she stammered. His hand caressed her face and she felt herself opposition dissolve. "Alanna." He murmured as he pulled her close and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him back, savouring the nearness of his body. "Yes." She whispered back, finally realising it was right.
* * *
Hours later, Jonathan and Alanna emerged from Alanna's rooms. George watched them as they descended the stairs, hand in hand, radiant smiles lighting both faces. "I have to go." Jonathan whispered to her. "State council this afternoon." Alanna nodded. Solom watched them grinning from the counter. Jonathan leaned down and kissed Alanna lingeringly. Jonathan shot a glance at George and Solom and left. Alanna turned to face her friend. "All sorted then?" he asked casually. "Something like that." she replied, grinning. She hurried upstairs. George watched her go, a tear slowly being rent in his heart. She was so obviously happy and it was a bittersweet pain that bit slowly into him. He swallowed and turned away, unable to think of her any longer.
* * *
Alanna spent the rest of the day flitting around the Dove humming. She ventured outside at around four and found her dedicated admirers still hanging around the stable yard. Within minutes the entire group, eight or ten youths by now, were armed with long sticks and were following the Lioness's practiced sword movements. After some time one or two girls emerged from the shadows. They were street urchins, clothed in ragged scraps of material, but there was a fire in their eyes, and they took up the sticks as eagerly as the boys did. After two hours of practicing Alanna shooed them away and went back inside. She sat tiredly and watched as those reluctant to leave moped around outside the dove's doorway. Evening was coming on and the Dancing Dove was beginning to fill. Traders, rogues and others of the city's people were filing in for a drink at the end of a long hard day. Alanna went up stairs to change her clothes and then came and sat with George by the fire, laughing and talking with her old friends. She had passed the whole day aglow, a happiness visible to all bubbling inside her. George watched her, torn between jealousy and happiness for her. The dove was riotous that evening, indeed, several parties were thrown out when it was considered that they had consumed far and away their fill of ale. Alanna watched all the comings and goings, eyes twinkling in the firelight. I'll never be able to leave this, she thought, not forever. I'll sneak down here even when I'm queen. The thought pulled her up sharp. She would be queen. What exactly had she got herself in for? Doubts were beginning to surface in her happiness-numbed mind when a familiar figure approached her from across the room. Jon smiled roguishly at her. "M'lady." "M'lord" she curtsied in mock subordinance . Jon pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely. Hoots and catcalls erupted around them. Jon grinned. "I think we're making a spectacle of ourselves." Said Alanna. "Hmm," agreed Jonathan, "Maybe we should go up to your room."
* * *
A/N : Ahh, that's all for now. Sorry again that this has been so long in coming. Next chapter? Who knows, but hopefully it will arrive soon. I have a feeling I have a sword fight coming on.interesting. I thought I'd also just answer a few specific questions from reviews of last chapter: Lady Gabriella of Queenscove - hmm, I'd not thought about bringing Liam in (Roger had crossed my mind, but I'm not sure) an interesting idea. Chopstix* - I'm concerned about all this combustion too, hopefully not all my readers have gone up in flames Paige - Hopefully there'll be more of old lovers soon - I do mean to go back to it Alanna/Jonathan - I live in Melbourne too, coincidence or what? Aer - Sorry about all the fluffiness, I'll try to do more 'substance' - (and just a little whisper about the Alanna/Jonathan romance- don't expect it all to be smooth sailing.) Emily of Yarmouthport - .and I like updating, it's all good, isn't it?
Again, so sorry for the long delay, and sorry wasn't even very long, but it was a matter of a short-ish chapter or waiting at least another week Please leave me a review - you know how much I carry on about them - criticism, praise, anything's welcome. Or feel free to email me if you'd rather at skysong91@hotmail.com. Thankyou all for reading, Blue Mariah