LADY ALANNA

LADY ALANNA

Chapter 2

            Delia of Eldorne was very pretty, needless to say if you ever saw her. Actually, "pretty" is too subtle. "Breathtaking" is more accurate. She knew it, too.

            "Jonathan," she said in her seductive voice. He had requested her presence in the Jewel Room after the Midwinter celebration that night. She had no idea why, but she could guess.

            "Delia, do you know Alanna of Trebond?" Jonathan inquired straightforwardly. Delia's spirits fell. This was not what she thought they'd discuss. Sigh. "Yes, Jonathan, I know the Lady Alanna. We went to the convent together. We were never really close. I always felt sorry for her." She said, trying to show pity. If Jonathan were going to be hung up on this Alanna, then Delia would do anything in her power to return the attention to herself.

            Jonathan frowned. "Why did you feel sorry for her?"

            Delia sighed again. "The poor girl! She would come to breakfast wearing these awful breeches and white shirt, of all things," Delia said with scorn, "She would be sent to change into something proper and was then late to sewing. Her roses were green! It was awful! I think she did it on purpose. No one liked her, either. Hmm. Anyway, this went on for about two years. Then she seemed to give up her little rebellion. She became a very fine lady, actually. Her dancing was horrible until about last year. Also around then, she would change into those horrid breeches and shirts after supper every night. Two hours later, she'd come back all gross and…sweaty." Jonathan frowned and waved Delia away, thinking.

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            The next night, Alanna was dressed in her favorite lavender gown. It was a brocade beauty, with pale pink petticoats under the skirt, and she wore a sapphire necklace. The sleeves were short, and the neckline was straight, and came just below the shoulders. "Lovely, milady," Kallary said as she left.

            At the dinner, in a different room that Alanna tried to find, the Crown Room, she sat next to Anna and Thom. They had very pleasant conversation throughout the meal. Before they knew it, they were being swept into the room next door where musicians played their jubilant music.

            Alanna, ever the proper lady, waited against the wall for someone to come up to her. I am not making another mess with my temper. I lost it long ago, for the better, I might add. She was watching Thom dance horribly with a stunning lady in a dark green dress and chestnut hair, when someone said, "Would you like to dance, Lady Alanna?" She looked up to see none other than the Prince of Tortall, Jonathan. Alanna nodded.

            "Where did you learn to dance?" he asked casually. "You're very good."

            Alanna hung her head low. "I can't say; it isn't ladylike."

            "Who taught you, then? Come on, it can't be that bad." he persisted. She sighed in defeat. "Coram." He looked puzzled. "Coram? Coram who?"

            Alanna explained, "Coram Smythesson was a foot soldier in the army. He taught my brother and I how to fight. I learned hand-to-hand combat, archery, swordplay, and lots of other things that I don't remember. Thom was never very good."

            "You can use a sword?" Jonathan chuckled slightly. Women, using weapons? That was new.

            "Let me finish! Anyway, about two years or so ago, I started practicing my fencing and combat again, after years of being 'prim and proper', which I am determined to be, and I was horrible. Anna, one of the priestesses, was practicing with me. I'm a lot better now. I wanted to be a knight. It seemed so much more fun."

            The dance had ended, and Jonathan pulled Alanna over to talk. Anna came over and said, "Six thieves attacked us right outside Corus. We were by ourselves, and guess which one of us fought and killed all six of them? Not me, I can assure you."

            Jonathan actually seemed impressed. But then his eyes got dark, and he straightened his back. "I must go, I'm sorry Alanna, Anna. I will be back shortly. I hope." And he left. "I'm going to follow him!" Alanna said. Before Anna could counter this, Alanna had run down the hall.

            Jonathan walked out of the Palace, and went to the stables. "Stephan? I'll need a horse." He said. After a beautiful black stallion came from within the paddocks, he mounted and cantered off. Alanna whispered, "Um, Stephan? Can I, er, get my horse? Majesty?" She came inside. She had always loved stables, and this one was surprisingly cozy, despite all the horses. "Ye're goin' to follow His Highness, then?" Stephan the chief hostler asked.

            "No, of--of course not. I'm going on a ride." Alanna replied shakily. Stephan gave her a don't-try-and-trick-me look. She galloped (quietly, of course) after the Prince.

            Jonathan rode through the city's depths, the parts that Alanna and Anna had purposely not entered. But he rode on surely, on a purpose, with Alanna hot on his trail.

            He stopped at a somewhat shabby-looking tavern with bright lights and lots of noise coming from inside. Why in the name of the Goddess would he come here? She asked herself. Nevertheless, she settled Majesty behind a shed in an alley.

            Inside the tavern, there were many drunken men and women who did not look altogether safe. But she followed Jonathan up a flight of stairs anyway. When he knocked three times on a doorway, she hid behind him in the shadows. A tall man answered the door, and Jonathan walked in. Alanna came right up to the door, and listened intently when the tall man said, "Hello Jonathan. What brings you here?"

            "George, I am in the middle of a Midwinter Festival, so I have to hurry. But I heard from a woman, actually a very pretty one, that six thieves attacked her. Apparently, she killed all six of them with her sword."

            This George man chuckled. "Apparently she can fight, too. And ye're surprised? I can tell ye honestly that no Rogue man would go after a woman, especially six Rogue men. I'd have to take their ears. And worse."

            Alanna was shocked. Who was George? She definitely did not think he was a safe man, taking ears and all. And what did he have to do with the Rogue, the gang of thieves all in Tortall?

            "Thanks, George. Just wanted to check in with you, not only about the thieves, but also about this woman. If there was a reason that you sent six of your men on her, I'd like to know."

            There was a thud in the room. "I'm sorry! I'm very sorry! Ouch!"

            "Alanna?" Jonathan cried, appalled. "What are you doing here?" Alanna didn't answer, but stood up and smoothed her lavender skirt.

            "Well, I, um…"

            "Alanna…"

            She sighed. "Well, I'm sorry! You left so suddenly, and expected nothing to happen? That's not how I work, Jonathan." She looked cautiously at George. "Who are you? What do you mean, you take people's ears?" George looked uncomfortable. Alanna the lady had to fix this.

            "I'm sorry, both of you. George, I am Lady Alanna of Trebond. I followed His Highness here. You have to understand how abruptly he left. Then this would make some amount of sense. Sort of."

            George replied, "George Cooper, pleased to meet ye. Those eyes!"

            Those eyes stared him down to the floor, too. "I am leaving now, and I will pretend this did not occur. Pleased to meet you, George Cooper. Goodbye, Jonathan, I'll see you back at the Palace!" And Alanna harrumphed her way out the door.

            Down the flight of stairs, there were catcalls at her arrival. Strange men came up to her and asked her, no, forced her, to sit down and drink with them. She did not tolerate this. "Get away from me!" She screamed, to no avail.

 It was just when Jonathan came down the stairs when Alanna pulled out her sword from the sheath under her skirt. "If I wreck this dress, you're the one who's getting the bill!"

And the flirtatious man proved to be very tall. The whole bar was erupting with laughter. The little woman wants to fight? Jonathan watched quietly.

Alanna cut, and parried, and circled the opponent, who had a small dagger. He swooped in, and she pulled away and struck him right on his ribcage. He backed away and started cursing. Meanwhile, Alanna prepared herself for the butterfly swipe. After her move, the man was down; injured and unconscious, but alive. No one was laughing now.

"Alanna, I thought you said that you'd left. What did you do to him?"

She scowled. "Oh, nothing. He's unconscious, and for once, I didn't start anything. I'm going home, with or without you."

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            Jonathan was not terribly upset with Alanna, just puzzled. So far this lady had been polite and proper, as well as short-tempered and feisty. Not to mention she could fight. And fight well, too.

            Delia was none too pleased with the Lady of Trebond. First, Jonathan, who was all hers for quite a while, dances with her all night for two nights in a row. Then, he leaves suddenly, and she follows.

            Delia was very fond of Jonathan. She wanted to be Queen more than anything else. And if Jonathan wouldn't cooperate, she knew someone who maybe would.

            Duke Roger of Conte, the brother of King Roald, sat in his chambers, studying a scroll. "Delia! Come in here, girl." He said. She came in silently, like a cat. "I want you to follow the Lady Alanna. I want you to figure out what sort of hold she has upon my cousin, Jonathan. Does she have a Gift? I want you to befriend her. Do it for you, do it for me, my Queen."