Hello all…Well this is my first chapter for No Worries in a long time…I've been very busy lately, trying to get my new story out (Zemora's Story if you haven't read it) and doing some other stuff which has been quite…exhausting. But, as you can see I'm finally getting this out. I'd like to thanks Jae for being such a wonderful, yet overbearing and forceful muse as she gives me new ideas for I constantly have writer's block on this story and have no idea wtf I should write. I'd also like to thank everyone for their reviews on the last several chapters of this epic (jk!) story. Hope you like it!
Disclaimers: I own none of the characters…their Tammy's don't sue. I have 45 cents to my name!
George paced outside of the door of his and Alanna's bedchambers, waiting for the news of their new arrival – his and Alanna's child.
"Why is it taking so long?" he yelled at his mother and Myles who were sitting together on a bench. Jonathan snorted and chuckled softly, despite his efforts at trying to stop it. "What's your problem Mr. I'm so high-and-mighty?"
Jonathan grinned, "Nothing George, don't worry. It does take a while you know, for child birth."
"Yes Jonathan I know," said George as he glared at Eleni and Myles who were chuckling. "But why longer than six hours?"
"This is Alanna's first child George. It might take a while," said Eleni. As she said that Thayet opened the door and smiled at George who was still pacing, and at Jonathan who was nearly in hysterics.
"You can come in George, Alanna's done you know," said the Queen as she opened the door slightly more so George could fit through the door and to his wife.
"Oh thank the Gods," mumbled George as he went tumbling through to his wife and his new child.
"What is it?" said Eleni smiling.
"A boy," said Thayet as she came out of the room and closed the door behind her.
Alanna smiled at George meekly as he came in through the door smiling nervously. Alanna had cut her hair to slightly above her shoulders several week before and she had this tousled look to her. Her violet eyes were shining and she still had that "radiant glow" that came with pregnancy. She was covered with blankets from feet to waist and had a light violet shirt on. She held their new child in her arms and rocked and sang him a soft lullaby as George sat softly onto the bed.
So m'dear what are we going to name our newborn son," asked George as he beamed down at his wife and his son.
"How about Thom, my love?" Alanna beamed down at their child and then raised her eyes up to her husband.
"That's perfect, it seems. For he does have that red tusset of hair that you and your sorcerer brother had," said George grinning.
"Yes laddy-buck but he has your hazel eyes. Would you like to hold him?" said Alanna grinning. George smiled and nodded as Alanna handed him the child. George rocked Thom in his arms as Alanna lay back onto her pillow and fell fast asleep.
Alanna fussed with yet another gown she was required to wear by the rest of her family as a maid put the six month year old Thom into a white bunting for his naming and baptism in the capital. Alanna sighed and sat down on the bed as the maid handed her Thom and George opened the door and came in. He was dressed in tan slacks, boots and a light green tunic and white shirt for the ceremony. Alanna smiled as she stood up from the bed and handed George the baby.
"I have to finish with my hair," Alanna growled as she sat down and the maid stood behind her and started putting her hair up again. "I hate doing this things you know. Never can Jon once let me stay with my family before he has to 'bless the King Champion's child' and 'make sure he's named properly, in the Palace," said Alanna mocking Jon's tone irritably.
George snorted and said, "Oh well, m'dear. It's hard getting used to being a noble for myself, I bet even harder for ye 'cause you have t'learn how to be a noble lady. You do look beautiful though."
Alanna smiled at her husband and gazed at herself in the mirror for a moment. She was wearing a violet silk dress with a slightly higher neck that she usually wore and a flowing skirt down to her feet. Despite many objections against her beliefs by George, Jon, Thayet and others, Alanna still believed she wasn't in the best condition she could be since the birth of Thom. She still beat Gary, Raoul and Geoffrey but she still wasn't up to fighting with Sir Gareth, the elder, of Naxen. Alanna sighed and then stood up once the maid stood back from Alanna's chair.
"Do I look okay?" said Alanna as she slipped boots on under her dress rather than proper slippers.
George raised his eyebrow as Alanna stuck a dagger in the side of her boot, "You look fine my dear? What's up with the boots under your nice new gown?"
"I have to take those threat notes seriously George. 'Beware the day of your baby's naming, for we will be there'; 'The own won't stand a chance.' What am I going to do? I can't just sit in the temple quietly and sweetly whilst anyone could just come into the temple and hurt all of us?"
George walked swiftly to where Alanna stood and gathered her into his arms, despite having Thom in his arms, "Alanna I know. We all need to be careful at the ceremony today, but there will be a whole group of the own as well as some of our own very good friends, who are knights."
Alanna snorted and kissed her husband, "I'm changing into breeches. I'll still be dressed fancy, George. I just need to know that I will be able to protect Thom, even if it means fighting myself. " Alanna walked swiftly into her closet before George could say a thing, as the maid followed her sighing and began to undo the buttons that did up Alanna's dress. Ten minutes later found Alanna coming out of the closet in pale silver silk breeches and tunic and a violet shirt, making her violet eyes shine even more than usual. She still had her hair up and the little makeup that she had, had on before. She had her scabbard on with her sword and one of her daggers within it. George knew she would, as he did, have other daggers hidden in the backs of her boots and at least one up a sleeve. Alanna grinned at George who came over and handed Alanna the baby.
"Well, you look as beautiful as before my dear. Now can we please go to the chapel," said George grinning as he opened the door. The couple walked out down palace way with baby and a bag in tow. It was a beautiful summer day, several days before Midsummer and Corus smelled of flowers and wonderful things to eat. Alanna had put the baby in a sling in front and George was holding her hand, which was unusually clammy. For once in many years, Alanna is actually nervous, thought George. The couple walked up to the gate for the temple of Mithros and there all of their good friends were standing; Gary and his new wife, Cythera of Elden, Raoul, Geoffrey, Buri, Corum and Rispah, many of her fellow tribesmen from the Bahzir were there, Myles and Eleni, Duke Gareth and finally Jon and Thayet. Among those all there were many others – a troop of the Kings Own, some of Alanna's new rider friends that she had made recently when Thayet opened the first year of the Queen's Riders, as well as many other Lords and Ladies.
As George and Alanna passed Eleni and Myles, Eleni muttered, "I guess you didn't take my advice and decided to wear breeches, Alanna."
Alanna grinned, "Just for today Eleni. I've taken your advice for nearly every other court function that I 'needed to be dressed as a lady' for. Just give me this one." Eleni smiled and both Myles and George snorted as the couple continued to walk down the stone walkway into the chapel. The chapel was decorated with blue and white roses and other flowers – a symbol for the official entering of a new person into the worship of the head gods and goddesses. George and Alanna walked up to the alter as the priest began to chant over the six-month year old Thom. As the ceremony ended, Alanna let out a big sigh - she did not see the archer in the alcove that was a story above the alter although George did and he immediately pushed Alanna down with the baby in her arms as an arrow came shooting down at the couple.
Arrows came streaming down on the whole group of nobles and commoners there to celebrate the naming and baptism of Alanna and Thom's baby. Alanna surveyed what was around her quickly and handed the baby to Cythera of Elden for everyone else was fighting.
"Cythera," said Alanna. "Go into the side room, please. And lock all the doors. Don't let anybody in and keep quiet, please."
Cythera grinned, "Okay Alanna. Just be careful. Okay?"
Alanna grinned, "Of course. You just watch Thom, please?" Alanna had started to like Lady Cythera more and more since she and George had been living at the castle the last couple of months. For George needed to start his work as second-in command of the Royal Spymasters. And Alanna wanted to be in court more than usual for she needed a bit of closure after Thom was born because she was constantly nervous about people taking him from her for reasons no one knew, not even she.
"Yes Alanna, now let me go!" Cythera grinned and ran into the side corridor into the room and closed the door behind her.
As Alanna gazed back at her a sword came down out of a sweep nearly hitting her as she jumped out of the way and unsheathed her sword. Looking at her component she saw an older version of George sweeping down upon her – the tall, strong man with green-hazel eyes and a larger nose than seemingly attractive but he still had that attractiveness vibe to him.
Alanna's jaw dropped as she flew into an attack to get him off her, "Who are you?"
The man snorted as he blocked Alanna's crescent, "Haven't you guess already?"
"Yes," Alanna said as she frowned. "You're George's father. Orlin Cooper."
The man grinned and sliced down and left a mark on Alanna's right arm, "You're right m'dear. Now don't worry. Your baby and Lady Cythera will be okay. I just need to take them for a while – give them the Cooper mark."
George, who had just knifed another man in the gut, turned around and said, "The Cooper mark? Father?! What in god's name are you doing this for?"
"Don't worry sonny, you'll have little Thom back soon," as Orlin said this he threw his hand up and revealed some powder into the air which fogged up the church and left everyone coughing and sputtering. As the fog cleared, the entire group of fighters had left with no trace. Alanna and George ran over to the side room where Alanna had sent Lady Cythera with baby Thom. The door was wide open and no trace of the baby or Cythera was around the room. Only a note, knifed to the desk in the room was there.
Here you go m'laddy
If
you want your child back unharmed
Bring
me five thousand Gold nobles by sunset tommorow
Or
the babe will have the cooper mark on him
- Orlin
Alanna sat down with her hands on her head, "Oh my gods George. What are we going to do?"
George frowned, "We're going to get him back, that's what we're going to do."
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Hope y'all like this… please R/R
thanka very much J
-Trixie Moon