Disclaimer: Sound familiar? Then it's not mine.
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Jonathan sat down hard. "She wouldn't do this. She wouldn't do this -- would she?" He glanced around the room, trying to reassure himself that this was not Alanna's fault. After I told her . . . would she risk it? he wondered, but then pushed the thought away.
Numair looked down. "She's one of my best friends Jon, but . . . This looks bad."
"Real bad," Daine whispered, agreeing. She went to Numair and he grasped her hand. They all looked at one another, at a loss. Things were not going right.
After what seemed like ages, Duke Baird said, "We're just putting off the inevitable . . . Why don't you just contact her Numair." He inspected his hands. "It'd certainly take a weight off my back to know -- " His voice caught; he didn't bother going on.
Jon put his head in his hands and swallowed, hard. This was going to take a lot of will-power. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. Then, he looked up and caught Numair's eyes, holding them there. "Let me."
"What?" Numair asked, surprised. It wasn't that he didn't know what Jon was talking about, but that he'd thought Jon would rather die than confront Alanna with something like this. Graveyard Goddess, he was getting nervous, and Alanna wasn't even mad at him!
Jonathan continued to hold his gaze. "You heard me. Let me do the spell."
Numair swallowed. "Alright . . . "
Jonathan stood up and began pacing, trying to steal himself. He ran a hand through his dark hair, which he was just now realizing needed to be washed. Then his thoughts clicked back to Alanna. At least it's not like she can get any angrier with me . . . she's already avoided me for four years. He drew a slow, deep breath, and closed his eyes as much to help him concentrate as relax. Slowly he drew his power from him -- like water from a well -- and bound it to his spell, which he muttered under his breath, hands white from gripping the table.
"Alanna?" he asked nervously, his palms beginning to sweat. This was getting ridiculous -- and rather embarrassing.
Alanna jumped about six feet in the air. "Goddess curse it -- what are you trying to do Jonathan; give me a heart attack? And may I remind you that I'm currently not speaking to you?" she added, violet eyes snapping with fury. She jiggled with the lock on the door to the guard's room, entering the combination. It didn't open. She glared at it, and touched it with a spark of her magic. Suddenly it decided it wanted to open up very much.
"Alanna, will you shut up? We need to discuss something." Jon's voice had a commanding tone in it, but he didn't outright order her. He knew their friendship was fragile at the moment, and didn't want to push it.
Flinging open the door, Alanna seethed, "Well whatever it is that you need to talk about, it's just damn well going to have to wait. I have a life you know -- and it doesn't revolve around you."
"It cannot wait, Alanna. It's about Keladry of Mindelan."
The three children had paused, uncertainly, when the king had first contacted Alanna. Neal and Kel had exchanged a look, guessing that it had something to do with them. Now, Kel looked worried and Neal thought she was about to cry. "Hey," he whispered, putting an arm around her shoulder. "It's no big deal."
Kel could have remained silent -- it would have been the smarter choice, for tears were pushing dangerously at her eyes now, but instead, she whispered, "But it is a big deal." She tried to compose herself and barely succeeded -- she still seemed close to tears, but she wasn't shaking so much.
Alanna froze. "What about Keladry?" Her voice was dangerous, her eyes furious.
"Well, ah . . . "
"Don't beat around the bush, damn you! And don't make me come down there and slam your head into your desk!" She was entirely serious.
They heard the king's sigh. "Alanna -- you know I told you to stay away from her."
Kel was beginning to look sick. Neal jumped into the conversation to say, "Lady Alanna, maybe we shouldn't be hearing this."
She only gazed at him clearly and said, "Maybe you should." Her eyes then held Kel's for a moment and she tried to say through them, "Don't worry, I'm on your side." Then she focused on Jonathan again. "I know you did Jonathan, we all know it, say something new; it's getting boring." She said it purposely to irk him, knowing exactly what he'd meant, but forcing him to come right out and say it.
Jonathan ground his teeth, wondering what had possessed him to talk to Alanna. "She's at Pirate's Swoop, Alanna. You know she can't be there."
"You said I couldn't speak to her. I'm not. You never said she couldn't be a guest here."
"Dammit Alanna, don't play innocent! Did you bring her there or not?"
Now Kel was really looking upset. All she wanted to do was run away. Thom bit a lip, glanced at her, and then quickly reached out and gave her hand a squeeze, drawing back almost as soon as he touched her. She gave him a grateful look, and actually seemed to feel a bit better. Thom let out a sigh of relief. He'd taken a leap on that; from the way Neal's arm was draped over her shoulder, he'd guessed she wouldn't mind him touching her. Granted, they knew each other a lot better, but that's why it'd been a leap. He finally took his eyes off Keladry to see Neal giving him a measuring look.
The tension between Alanna and Jonathan rose to a crescendo. "What did you just say?" her voice was soft, angry, and accusing.
"Did you -- "
"Dammit Jonathan, I heard you the first time! You're an asshole, you know that? Yes Jonathan, yes. I brought her here so that the damn conservatives can point fingers and say I spelled her. It's so obvious, how could you have missed it?" This time, Alanna lost what little patience she'd had, and shouted at the king, while Neal's grip on Kel's shoulder tightened.
There was a silence on both sides of the magical conversation, and then the voice on the other side changed.
"Alanna, it's Numair." He winced, preparing himself for an onslaught of angry words, but was met only with a tired sounding "hello".
Tentatively he ventured to ask, "Do you know how they did get there, if you didn't bring them?"
"No," she said shortly, her patience gone. Why couldn't they just leave her in peace?
"Well, was it magic?"
Alanna just stared -- not at him of course; he was too far away -- but at the empty air before her. "Magic Numair?" Her voice was thick with sarcasm. "Because I thought that maybe they just walked over here in a few minutes."
"Alanna -- "
"Numair!" she protested, just as he had. "Stop treating me like a criminal and an idiot!"
"Can't you at least tell me -- us -- something?"
"There's nothing to tell!"
"But -- "
"I don't know anything more than you do, Numair!"
"But -- Alanna -- "
Calmly -- or at least in a semblance of calm -- she asked, "Is Daine there?"
"Yes," Numair answered, thoroughly confused, but figuring honesty was the best policy.
"May I please speak to her?" Alanna asked, politely, and a moment later, an extremely lost Numair was replaced by Daine.
"Alanna?"
Alanna greeted her. "Hello Daine. Sorry to bother you, but Numair wouldn't listen."
Daine's grin could be heard through the magic. "Yeah, I noticed."
Alanna smiled momentarily and then asked, "Daine, would you tell them that I haven't the foggiest what happened, I'm doing my best to find out, and also, tell His Majesty" The mocking in her words were clear "That if he orders me -- as he has -- that I not speak with Keladry, then fine. But I'm still not talking to him!" Then she broke contact. Moments later, Jonathan reconnected with her.
"Alanna -- "
She broke contact again.
He tried again.
This time he never got past "Ala" before she shut him out. He didn't contact her back.
Kel's face relaxed and became devoid of emotion. She was finally able to slip her Yamani mask back on, though she still wanted to burst into tears. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide their shaking. Neal glanced down at her and shook his head. Giving her a final squeeze, he disentangled his arm.
Alanna leaned forward, placing her hands flat on the table. She sighed and her head dropped forward. "This is not happening."
"Actually, it kind of is," Neal said. "But we're really sorry. We don't mean to cause trouble."
"You're not in the way. And I wasn't talking about you . . . I was talking about Jonathan. I'm sorry, but he can be an asshole." She paused. "Scratch that. Currently, he is an asshole."
Neal nodded, but didn't say anything; Kel looked down.
Alanna laughed a little. "Besides, somehow I get the feeling that trouble follows you two where ever you go." Her sudden mood change took them off guard, but Neal grinned. "Of course. What's the point, otherwise?"
Kel looked up at him and smiled slightly. He waggled his eyebrows. "We're good at getting punishment work, aren't we Kel?" She rolled her eyes. "Yeah Neal, we are."
"I'll bet," Thom muttered, eyeing them again. Then he turned to Kel. "So, what's it like?"
She was confused. "Punishment work?"
He laughed. "No, being the only girl."
"Oh. That." She seemed thoughtful -- though, Thom reasoned, was there ever a time she hadn't looked thoughtful while she'd been here? -- for a moment, and then she said, "Well, I really couldn't tell you. I've never been a boy." She studied the ground. "I really think the only difference is a lot less people want me to succeed."
There was a silence, and then Neal said brightly, "Okay, so where to now?"
Alanna took her eyes off of Keladry, and rubbed her face, sighing. "We might as well go back. I can't find Coram."
So off they went again, back to George's study. This time, though, Alanna was in front, and Thom, instead of walking in the middle, joined Kel and Neal in the back, oblivious to the fact that they really didn't want him there.
"So, what was it like, the examination?" Thom asked Kel, eagerly. Did the boy ever stop? She sighed patiently, and told him, "It's just a test of what you've learned during the year. It's no big deal."
"Unless, of course, you're late for it," Neal added. "Which Kel was. Very late."
She glared at him. "Well I had a reason, didn't I?" He only looked at her, and she stamped her foot impatiently. "Neal, shut up!"
"Why?" And the way he asked it, he really seemed to not know why he ought to shut up. He gave her an annoying patronizingly serene look that made her want to smash him. Why was he being so annoying?
"Because you're being obnoxious!" she cried, turning away from his face, because the innocence there bothered her.
There was a silence, with Kel glaring at the ceiling, wanting Neal to leave her alone and stop telling Thom every little thing, and Neal enjoying himself immensely. He could tell Thom liked Kel. A lot. (and she didn't seem so opposed to him, herself) He saw the way he was looking at her . . . and he figured he ought to let the kid know what he was getting into if he wanted to pursue his affections. Not that he had a problem with it. Thom was a pretty nice guy, and Kel could certainly use some love in her life; if only she'd give him the chance. That gave him an idea. Granted, it was one that, if Kel ever found out about, she'd murder him without remorse, but that was why she wouldn't find out.
"So, why were you late?" Thom asked, unperturbed.
Kel sighed. Didn't he ever give up?
Alanna turned around and began watching backwards. "Thom . . . " she said warningly, giving him a look that plainly said "leave the girl alone". He glared. "What?" he said, a bit too icily for her liking. Realizing as soon as he said it that it was a mistake, with her nerves being so shot as it was, he tried to amend it by apologizing, but she cut him off. "Thom I am not in the mood to argue with you, so either you do as I tell you, or else."
"Or else what?" Thom muttered under his breath, glaring at his mother from under his lashes. From Alanna's point of view, he was the perfect image of innocence -- except for the fact that she knew her son. And she had very acute ears, unfortunately for him. Alanna's cheeks burned with anger, and she willed herself to calm down. She didn't want to take out her anger with Jonathan on Thom -- only her anger at Thom. Stiffly she turned around, choosing to ignore him rather than yell. She faltered with shock as she realized why she was so inclined to let him off easy. He fancied her! And -- and he was flirting! She stifled the sudden urge to fall onto the floor and roll with laughter. The irony was overwhelming! Another thought, though, surfaced and she was instantly sobered.
They weren't staying. Not forever, but probably long enough for Thom to get to know Keladry fairly well. Enough time for me too . . . but she scorned the voice in her head. George -- as much as she hated to admit it -- was right. She couldn't jeopardize Keladry's acceptance for her own selfish desires. But there were other ways . . .
Kel wasn't angry with Neal -- not really. Just . . . she wished he wasn't so ready to volunteer information about her! Sure, this was the Lioness and her family, but Kel, as much as she idolized her, didn't actually know the Lioness. The king had seen to that, she thought bitterly. Yes, it was definitely too much to hope. Having come to a conclusion for that particular trouble, her thoughts returned to Neal. Did he think to tell the Lioness all about Kel, just so that she'd know? She sighed. The only way to find out was to ask him -- privately. She'd do it the moment they had a chance alone. And then there was Thom . . . why was he so enthralled by her? Why was he so interested in everything she did? And more importantly, why did his touch make her giddy?
Thom rubbed his elbow nervously. What was he doing? Thank the Gods his mother had stopped him -- he'd been flirting with her! Wanting to moan, and hold his head in his hands, he merely sighed and walked a little faster, to move away from Keladry. Gradually, though, his walk slowed down again, until he matched her pace once more. He'd found he didn't want to walk away from her. He didn't want to get close, couldn't want to stay away . . . The temptation was too great. There was just something . . . Gods, no! he thought in horror. Stop it! Don't even think it, don't even go there. She's not staying, you'll only get hurt -- hurt her!
The rest of the walk passed silently, with all of them contemplating their own thoughts, and finally, the four of them stood before the portal to George's study once again. Alanna knocked, rubbing her chin. They could dimly hear voices inside, and a moment later, the door opened, revealing a very disheveled looking George.
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A/N Okay, so I said that Jae told me that if I got out the next chapter soon then I got pics of Thom...one prob: I had to have a kiss in the next chapter (not just her requirement -- I was trying to do it to). Well, obviously there isn't one, but see it's a long story. The basic gist? There was some stuff that had to happen first. Sooo...sorry, but just sos ya know, chapters 6-10 are 41 pages long in total. Try no to be too mad at me *grins*. I was gonna post 'em all as one chap (at least that was my original plan) but....um, who has time to read 40 pages in one sitting?
Please review!
~Dani
~~~~~
Jonathan sat down hard. "She wouldn't do this. She wouldn't do this -- would she?" He glanced around the room, trying to reassure himself that this was not Alanna's fault. After I told her . . . would she risk it? he wondered, but then pushed the thought away.
Numair looked down. "She's one of my best friends Jon, but . . . This looks bad."
"Real bad," Daine whispered, agreeing. She went to Numair and he grasped her hand. They all looked at one another, at a loss. Things were not going right.
After what seemed like ages, Duke Baird said, "We're just putting off the inevitable . . . Why don't you just contact her Numair." He inspected his hands. "It'd certainly take a weight off my back to know -- " His voice caught; he didn't bother going on.
Jon put his head in his hands and swallowed, hard. This was going to take a lot of will-power. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. Then, he looked up and caught Numair's eyes, holding them there. "Let me."
"What?" Numair asked, surprised. It wasn't that he didn't know what Jon was talking about, but that he'd thought Jon would rather die than confront Alanna with something like this. Graveyard Goddess, he was getting nervous, and Alanna wasn't even mad at him!
Jonathan continued to hold his gaze. "You heard me. Let me do the spell."
Numair swallowed. "Alright . . . "
Jonathan stood up and began pacing, trying to steal himself. He ran a hand through his dark hair, which he was just now realizing needed to be washed. Then his thoughts clicked back to Alanna. At least it's not like she can get any angrier with me . . . she's already avoided me for four years. He drew a slow, deep breath, and closed his eyes as much to help him concentrate as relax. Slowly he drew his power from him -- like water from a well -- and bound it to his spell, which he muttered under his breath, hands white from gripping the table.
"Alanna?" he asked nervously, his palms beginning to sweat. This was getting ridiculous -- and rather embarrassing.
Alanna jumped about six feet in the air. "Goddess curse it -- what are you trying to do Jonathan; give me a heart attack? And may I remind you that I'm currently not speaking to you?" she added, violet eyes snapping with fury. She jiggled with the lock on the door to the guard's room, entering the combination. It didn't open. She glared at it, and touched it with a spark of her magic. Suddenly it decided it wanted to open up very much.
"Alanna, will you shut up? We need to discuss something." Jon's voice had a commanding tone in it, but he didn't outright order her. He knew their friendship was fragile at the moment, and didn't want to push it.
Flinging open the door, Alanna seethed, "Well whatever it is that you need to talk about, it's just damn well going to have to wait. I have a life you know -- and it doesn't revolve around you."
"It cannot wait, Alanna. It's about Keladry of Mindelan."
The three children had paused, uncertainly, when the king had first contacted Alanna. Neal and Kel had exchanged a look, guessing that it had something to do with them. Now, Kel looked worried and Neal thought she was about to cry. "Hey," he whispered, putting an arm around her shoulder. "It's no big deal."
Kel could have remained silent -- it would have been the smarter choice, for tears were pushing dangerously at her eyes now, but instead, she whispered, "But it is a big deal." She tried to compose herself and barely succeeded -- she still seemed close to tears, but she wasn't shaking so much.
Alanna froze. "What about Keladry?" Her voice was dangerous, her eyes furious.
"Well, ah . . . "
"Don't beat around the bush, damn you! And don't make me come down there and slam your head into your desk!" She was entirely serious.
They heard the king's sigh. "Alanna -- you know I told you to stay away from her."
Kel was beginning to look sick. Neal jumped into the conversation to say, "Lady Alanna, maybe we shouldn't be hearing this."
She only gazed at him clearly and said, "Maybe you should." Her eyes then held Kel's for a moment and she tried to say through them, "Don't worry, I'm on your side." Then she focused on Jonathan again. "I know you did Jonathan, we all know it, say something new; it's getting boring." She said it purposely to irk him, knowing exactly what he'd meant, but forcing him to come right out and say it.
Jonathan ground his teeth, wondering what had possessed him to talk to Alanna. "She's at Pirate's Swoop, Alanna. You know she can't be there."
"You said I couldn't speak to her. I'm not. You never said she couldn't be a guest here."
"Dammit Alanna, don't play innocent! Did you bring her there or not?"
Now Kel was really looking upset. All she wanted to do was run away. Thom bit a lip, glanced at her, and then quickly reached out and gave her hand a squeeze, drawing back almost as soon as he touched her. She gave him a grateful look, and actually seemed to feel a bit better. Thom let out a sigh of relief. He'd taken a leap on that; from the way Neal's arm was draped over her shoulder, he'd guessed she wouldn't mind him touching her. Granted, they knew each other a lot better, but that's why it'd been a leap. He finally took his eyes off Keladry to see Neal giving him a measuring look.
The tension between Alanna and Jonathan rose to a crescendo. "What did you just say?" her voice was soft, angry, and accusing.
"Did you -- "
"Dammit Jonathan, I heard you the first time! You're an asshole, you know that? Yes Jonathan, yes. I brought her here so that the damn conservatives can point fingers and say I spelled her. It's so obvious, how could you have missed it?" This time, Alanna lost what little patience she'd had, and shouted at the king, while Neal's grip on Kel's shoulder tightened.
There was a silence on both sides of the magical conversation, and then the voice on the other side changed.
"Alanna, it's Numair." He winced, preparing himself for an onslaught of angry words, but was met only with a tired sounding "hello".
Tentatively he ventured to ask, "Do you know how they did get there, if you didn't bring them?"
"No," she said shortly, her patience gone. Why couldn't they just leave her in peace?
"Well, was it magic?"
Alanna just stared -- not at him of course; he was too far away -- but at the empty air before her. "Magic Numair?" Her voice was thick with sarcasm. "Because I thought that maybe they just walked over here in a few minutes."
"Alanna -- "
"Numair!" she protested, just as he had. "Stop treating me like a criminal and an idiot!"
"Can't you at least tell me -- us -- something?"
"There's nothing to tell!"
"But -- "
"I don't know anything more than you do, Numair!"
"But -- Alanna -- "
Calmly -- or at least in a semblance of calm -- she asked, "Is Daine there?"
"Yes," Numair answered, thoroughly confused, but figuring honesty was the best policy.
"May I please speak to her?" Alanna asked, politely, and a moment later, an extremely lost Numair was replaced by Daine.
"Alanna?"
Alanna greeted her. "Hello Daine. Sorry to bother you, but Numair wouldn't listen."
Daine's grin could be heard through the magic. "Yeah, I noticed."
Alanna smiled momentarily and then asked, "Daine, would you tell them that I haven't the foggiest what happened, I'm doing my best to find out, and also, tell His Majesty" The mocking in her words were clear "That if he orders me -- as he has -- that I not speak with Keladry, then fine. But I'm still not talking to him!" Then she broke contact. Moments later, Jonathan reconnected with her.
"Alanna -- "
She broke contact again.
He tried again.
This time he never got past "Ala" before she shut him out. He didn't contact her back.
Kel's face relaxed and became devoid of emotion. She was finally able to slip her Yamani mask back on, though she still wanted to burst into tears. She clasped her hands behind her back to hide their shaking. Neal glanced down at her and shook his head. Giving her a final squeeze, he disentangled his arm.
Alanna leaned forward, placing her hands flat on the table. She sighed and her head dropped forward. "This is not happening."
"Actually, it kind of is," Neal said. "But we're really sorry. We don't mean to cause trouble."
"You're not in the way. And I wasn't talking about you . . . I was talking about Jonathan. I'm sorry, but he can be an asshole." She paused. "Scratch that. Currently, he is an asshole."
Neal nodded, but didn't say anything; Kel looked down.
Alanna laughed a little. "Besides, somehow I get the feeling that trouble follows you two where ever you go." Her sudden mood change took them off guard, but Neal grinned. "Of course. What's the point, otherwise?"
Kel looked up at him and smiled slightly. He waggled his eyebrows. "We're good at getting punishment work, aren't we Kel?" She rolled her eyes. "Yeah Neal, we are."
"I'll bet," Thom muttered, eyeing them again. Then he turned to Kel. "So, what's it like?"
She was confused. "Punishment work?"
He laughed. "No, being the only girl."
"Oh. That." She seemed thoughtful -- though, Thom reasoned, was there ever a time she hadn't looked thoughtful while she'd been here? -- for a moment, and then she said, "Well, I really couldn't tell you. I've never been a boy." She studied the ground. "I really think the only difference is a lot less people want me to succeed."
There was a silence, and then Neal said brightly, "Okay, so where to now?"
Alanna took her eyes off of Keladry, and rubbed her face, sighing. "We might as well go back. I can't find Coram."
So off they went again, back to George's study. This time, though, Alanna was in front, and Thom, instead of walking in the middle, joined Kel and Neal in the back, oblivious to the fact that they really didn't want him there.
"So, what was it like, the examination?" Thom asked Kel, eagerly. Did the boy ever stop? She sighed patiently, and told him, "It's just a test of what you've learned during the year. It's no big deal."
"Unless, of course, you're late for it," Neal added. "Which Kel was. Very late."
She glared at him. "Well I had a reason, didn't I?" He only looked at her, and she stamped her foot impatiently. "Neal, shut up!"
"Why?" And the way he asked it, he really seemed to not know why he ought to shut up. He gave her an annoying patronizingly serene look that made her want to smash him. Why was he being so annoying?
"Because you're being obnoxious!" she cried, turning away from his face, because the innocence there bothered her.
There was a silence, with Kel glaring at the ceiling, wanting Neal to leave her alone and stop telling Thom every little thing, and Neal enjoying himself immensely. He could tell Thom liked Kel. A lot. (and she didn't seem so opposed to him, herself) He saw the way he was looking at her . . . and he figured he ought to let the kid know what he was getting into if he wanted to pursue his affections. Not that he had a problem with it. Thom was a pretty nice guy, and Kel could certainly use some love in her life; if only she'd give him the chance. That gave him an idea. Granted, it was one that, if Kel ever found out about, she'd murder him without remorse, but that was why she wouldn't find out.
"So, why were you late?" Thom asked, unperturbed.
Kel sighed. Didn't he ever give up?
Alanna turned around and began watching backwards. "Thom . . . " she said warningly, giving him a look that plainly said "leave the girl alone". He glared. "What?" he said, a bit too icily for her liking. Realizing as soon as he said it that it was a mistake, with her nerves being so shot as it was, he tried to amend it by apologizing, but she cut him off. "Thom I am not in the mood to argue with you, so either you do as I tell you, or else."
"Or else what?" Thom muttered under his breath, glaring at his mother from under his lashes. From Alanna's point of view, he was the perfect image of innocence -- except for the fact that she knew her son. And she had very acute ears, unfortunately for him. Alanna's cheeks burned with anger, and she willed herself to calm down. She didn't want to take out her anger with Jonathan on Thom -- only her anger at Thom. Stiffly she turned around, choosing to ignore him rather than yell. She faltered with shock as she realized why she was so inclined to let him off easy. He fancied her! And -- and he was flirting! She stifled the sudden urge to fall onto the floor and roll with laughter. The irony was overwhelming! Another thought, though, surfaced and she was instantly sobered.
They weren't staying. Not forever, but probably long enough for Thom to get to know Keladry fairly well. Enough time for me too . . . but she scorned the voice in her head. George -- as much as she hated to admit it -- was right. She couldn't jeopardize Keladry's acceptance for her own selfish desires. But there were other ways . . .
Kel wasn't angry with Neal -- not really. Just . . . she wished he wasn't so ready to volunteer information about her! Sure, this was the Lioness and her family, but Kel, as much as she idolized her, didn't actually know the Lioness. The king had seen to that, she thought bitterly. Yes, it was definitely too much to hope. Having come to a conclusion for that particular trouble, her thoughts returned to Neal. Did he think to tell the Lioness all about Kel, just so that she'd know? She sighed. The only way to find out was to ask him -- privately. She'd do it the moment they had a chance alone. And then there was Thom . . . why was he so enthralled by her? Why was he so interested in everything she did? And more importantly, why did his touch make her giddy?
Thom rubbed his elbow nervously. What was he doing? Thank the Gods his mother had stopped him -- he'd been flirting with her! Wanting to moan, and hold his head in his hands, he merely sighed and walked a little faster, to move away from Keladry. Gradually, though, his walk slowed down again, until he matched her pace once more. He'd found he didn't want to walk away from her. He didn't want to get close, couldn't want to stay away . . . The temptation was too great. There was just something . . . Gods, no! he thought in horror. Stop it! Don't even think it, don't even go there. She's not staying, you'll only get hurt -- hurt her!
The rest of the walk passed silently, with all of them contemplating their own thoughts, and finally, the four of them stood before the portal to George's study once again. Alanna knocked, rubbing her chin. They could dimly hear voices inside, and a moment later, the door opened, revealing a very disheveled looking George.
~~~~~
A/N Okay, so I said that Jae told me that if I got out the next chapter soon then I got pics of Thom...one prob: I had to have a kiss in the next chapter (not just her requirement -- I was trying to do it to). Well, obviously there isn't one, but see it's a long story. The basic gist? There was some stuff that had to happen first. Sooo...sorry, but just sos ya know, chapters 6-10 are 41 pages long in total. Try no to be too mad at me *grins*. I was gonna post 'em all as one chap (at least that was my original plan) but....um, who has time to read 40 pages in one sitting?
Please review!
~Dani