Don't flame me on spelling/words/grammer mistakes if possible please! it makes me pissed and to punish you I'll stop writing lol ::grins evily:: BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! j/k
Chapter 4
Alanna sat in class miserable. Now it was time to learn magic. Alanna stared at her desk scared. What if she lost control? What if she hurt someone? This was something Thom liked. Not her. Glumly she ran her finger over a scratch on the desk over and over again until their teacher came in. When Alanna looked up she was surprised it was not one of the Daughters but a normal village healer commoner woman.
"Hello class!" the woman said cheerfully. "My name is Mary Louis and I'll be teaching you Gifted ones how to use your magic."
Ellie scowled and said, "Your just a commoner! How can you teach us anything?"
"My Gift is stronger than you think Lady Ellie now be quiet and listen child," Mary told her sternly. She's a commoner but she can talk like a commander in a army, Alanna thought awed. Maybe learning magic won't be so bad. If Mary taught it.
"First we'll learn how to make fire," Mary said. "If you already know how, come up here and show me." She had a log in front of her and watched as half of the class lined up in front of her. Ellie was first. She pointed a bright green flame appeared on the log. Ellie then waved her hand over it and it went out leaving a scorch mark. Mary nodded and mutter, "Very good" before motioning for the next girl to try. Maria was next. She pointed and frowned until a yellow flame appeared on the log. Then she waved her hand over it and the flame went out for a second before lighting up again. Ellie snorted. Maria turned red again and this time she cupped the flame in her hand and clamped it out.
Ten more girls went and finally it was Alanna's turn. She was last. Quickly she called on her magic and lite the log without pointing. She would show Ellie she could be as good, even better, then her! Then she rubbed her hands together and waved it over the purple flame and it went out quickly not leaving even a scorch mark. Mary smiled and nodded saying, "Excellent Alanna! Have you ever worked with magic before?"
"Sometimes m'am," Alanna replied evenly. "The village healer taught me and my brother Thom all she knew."
"Well I can see you have a very stronge Gift indeed!" Mary said cheerfully. "Well you can sit down now." Alanna sat down smirked when she saw that Ellie was scowling. She was one up with Ellie. Even if it was in the one thing she hated most.
Alanna sat quietly during the rest of her classes depressed once again. How she wished she was home! I don't care about magic! Alanna chided herself after Mary's class. I rather hunt! Magic will only escape you to do evil. At home she could run around free. She could hunt and practice the bow and dagger with Coram, Thom's manservent now at the palace. But here she couldn't do anything that she wanted.
Sighing she went back to her room. It was before sunset and they gave the girls some free time to catch up on their studies. Alanna had nothing to catch up on and layed on her belly grabbing for the thing under bed. Gasping and struggling she pulled out the beautiful hand made bow Coram had given her. Thom had one too of course. But he always left it in his room not bothering to string it. Thom doesn't hunt. Alanna does. Thom didn't fight. Alanna did. Thom wan't a warrior. Alanna was. Thom was a sorceror. Never a warrior. Alanna sat running her hands over the precious weapon, tears stung her eyes. She was so close to her dream only to have it snatched away from her.
Angerily she wiped her tears and took out a quiver full of arrows. Then cat like she creeped outside. The air was chilly but Alanna didn't care. Quickly she strung her bow and made a target on the fence. Arrow after arrow hit the center of the target. Smiling Alanna retrieved her arrows.
"Nice shooting."
Alanna turned quickly to see it was only Maria. She sighed relieved and asked, "How did you know I was out here?
"I saw you walk pass my room with a bow in hand," Maria said. "I wanted to see what you were doing."
"I'm making sure I'm not turning into a soft noble lady," Alanna said. "I'm a warrior and I plan to stay one. Convent school or not. Maybe Thom will teach me when he's a knight."
"Thom?"
"My twin."
"Oh."
***********
The next day Alanna got a letter. Starnge thing was that it was delievered by a man in commoner clothes. How strange, Alanna thought closing her door. She opened the letter to read.
Dearest Sister,
It's horrible here. I think I'll be black and blue for the rest of my life the way things are going. Can you believe in one month a year will have passed since we tried to switch places? Well I've met plenty of friends here. That makes life better. There Gary -Gareth the Younger-, Raoul, Alex, and can you believe it? Prince Jonathan! There was also Francis but the Sweating Fever hit us and he fell into the hands of the Dark God. It was terrible. Jonathan took sick and would have died. The fever drained the healers of their magic! I couldn't stand by and watch another friend, not mentioning the heir to the thorne, die! I call on the Great Mother Goddess for help. Can you believe that it worked?
Anyways there was that rumor that the Sweating Fever was caused by magic. Even weirder is Duke Roger the Prince's cousin. There's something about him. Something evil. I can feel it. Maybe he even caused the Fever. He certainly has a stronge enough Gift for it. He's going to be teaching us magic so I'll just play stupid and act like I like him. People who let it be knowed that they don't like him often died in strange ways.
Then there was Ralon of Malven. Just a bully. I took care of him. Fighting is not a stronge suit for me I'm sure you of all people should know, but I trained in secret with the George the King of Thieves (it's his people that are delivering my mail. Write back in the same way) and I got Ralon to respect me. He left court three months ago. Well there's not much left to tell you. Burn this letter. Write back soon.
Your loving brother,
Thom
Alanna scowled at the letter and burned it until it was ashes. That could have been her fighting a bully and befriending the prince and the King of Thieves. She dipped her quill in the ink and wrote.
Dear Brother,
I'm happy you're having such a nice time. I'd appreciate it if you didn't gloat. As for the Prince's cousin just wait and watch. When the time comes and your sure he's as guilty you'll crush him no doubt. I know you. With all that magic at your command you'll duke it out in some kind of sorceror's battle.
Things here are terrible. If I sew or dance anymore I'll go mad. I keep my skills sharp though. I sneak out after dinner and practice the bow. Then I pratice with my dagger until my body refuses to move. I'm a warrior and I plan to stay one. I don't have as many friends as you do since I don't fit in at all. Only Lady Maria is my friend. I don't plan to make friends with anyone else. There's Lady Ellie a big pain in the rump. Spoiled I'd say.
Well they plan to take us down to Corus to find husbands in five years so I guess we can catch up then.
Your loving twin,
Alanna
Alanna sealed the letter and opened to door half suprised to see the man who delivered Thom's letter waiting for her. She gave him the letter and a gold coin for his trouble and with a wink the man left.
A/N: yes so Thom got Alanna's life. :) review! Corus parts coming in 2 or 3 chapters!!
Chapter 4
Alanna sat in class miserable. Now it was time to learn magic. Alanna stared at her desk scared. What if she lost control? What if she hurt someone? This was something Thom liked. Not her. Glumly she ran her finger over a scratch on the desk over and over again until their teacher came in. When Alanna looked up she was surprised it was not one of the Daughters but a normal village healer commoner woman.
"Hello class!" the woman said cheerfully. "My name is Mary Louis and I'll be teaching you Gifted ones how to use your magic."
Ellie scowled and said, "Your just a commoner! How can you teach us anything?"
"My Gift is stronger than you think Lady Ellie now be quiet and listen child," Mary told her sternly. She's a commoner but she can talk like a commander in a army, Alanna thought awed. Maybe learning magic won't be so bad. If Mary taught it.
"First we'll learn how to make fire," Mary said. "If you already know how, come up here and show me." She had a log in front of her and watched as half of the class lined up in front of her. Ellie was first. She pointed a bright green flame appeared on the log. Ellie then waved her hand over it and it went out leaving a scorch mark. Mary nodded and mutter, "Very good" before motioning for the next girl to try. Maria was next. She pointed and frowned until a yellow flame appeared on the log. Then she waved her hand over it and the flame went out for a second before lighting up again. Ellie snorted. Maria turned red again and this time she cupped the flame in her hand and clamped it out.
Ten more girls went and finally it was Alanna's turn. She was last. Quickly she called on her magic and lite the log without pointing. She would show Ellie she could be as good, even better, then her! Then she rubbed her hands together and waved it over the purple flame and it went out quickly not leaving even a scorch mark. Mary smiled and nodded saying, "Excellent Alanna! Have you ever worked with magic before?"
"Sometimes m'am," Alanna replied evenly. "The village healer taught me and my brother Thom all she knew."
"Well I can see you have a very stronge Gift indeed!" Mary said cheerfully. "Well you can sit down now." Alanna sat down smirked when she saw that Ellie was scowling. She was one up with Ellie. Even if it was in the one thing she hated most.
Alanna sat quietly during the rest of her classes depressed once again. How she wished she was home! I don't care about magic! Alanna chided herself after Mary's class. I rather hunt! Magic will only escape you to do evil. At home she could run around free. She could hunt and practice the bow and dagger with Coram, Thom's manservent now at the palace. But here she couldn't do anything that she wanted.
Sighing she went back to her room. It was before sunset and they gave the girls some free time to catch up on their studies. Alanna had nothing to catch up on and layed on her belly grabbing for the thing under bed. Gasping and struggling she pulled out the beautiful hand made bow Coram had given her. Thom had one too of course. But he always left it in his room not bothering to string it. Thom doesn't hunt. Alanna does. Thom didn't fight. Alanna did. Thom wan't a warrior. Alanna was. Thom was a sorceror. Never a warrior. Alanna sat running her hands over the precious weapon, tears stung her eyes. She was so close to her dream only to have it snatched away from her.
Angerily she wiped her tears and took out a quiver full of arrows. Then cat like she creeped outside. The air was chilly but Alanna didn't care. Quickly she strung her bow and made a target on the fence. Arrow after arrow hit the center of the target. Smiling Alanna retrieved her arrows.
"Nice shooting."
Alanna turned quickly to see it was only Maria. She sighed relieved and asked, "How did you know I was out here?
"I saw you walk pass my room with a bow in hand," Maria said. "I wanted to see what you were doing."
"I'm making sure I'm not turning into a soft noble lady," Alanna said. "I'm a warrior and I plan to stay one. Convent school or not. Maybe Thom will teach me when he's a knight."
"Thom?"
"My twin."
"Oh."
***********
The next day Alanna got a letter. Starnge thing was that it was delievered by a man in commoner clothes. How strange, Alanna thought closing her door. She opened the letter to read.
Dearest Sister,
It's horrible here. I think I'll be black and blue for the rest of my life the way things are going. Can you believe in one month a year will have passed since we tried to switch places? Well I've met plenty of friends here. That makes life better. There Gary -Gareth the Younger-, Raoul, Alex, and can you believe it? Prince Jonathan! There was also Francis but the Sweating Fever hit us and he fell into the hands of the Dark God. It was terrible. Jonathan took sick and would have died. The fever drained the healers of their magic! I couldn't stand by and watch another friend, not mentioning the heir to the thorne, die! I call on the Great Mother Goddess for help. Can you believe that it worked?
Anyways there was that rumor that the Sweating Fever was caused by magic. Even weirder is Duke Roger the Prince's cousin. There's something about him. Something evil. I can feel it. Maybe he even caused the Fever. He certainly has a stronge enough Gift for it. He's going to be teaching us magic so I'll just play stupid and act like I like him. People who let it be knowed that they don't like him often died in strange ways.
Then there was Ralon of Malven. Just a bully. I took care of him. Fighting is not a stronge suit for me I'm sure you of all people should know, but I trained in secret with the George the King of Thieves (it's his people that are delivering my mail. Write back in the same way) and I got Ralon to respect me. He left court three months ago. Well there's not much left to tell you. Burn this letter. Write back soon.
Your loving brother,
Thom
Alanna scowled at the letter and burned it until it was ashes. That could have been her fighting a bully and befriending the prince and the King of Thieves. She dipped her quill in the ink and wrote.
Dear Brother,
I'm happy you're having such a nice time. I'd appreciate it if you didn't gloat. As for the Prince's cousin just wait and watch. When the time comes and your sure he's as guilty you'll crush him no doubt. I know you. With all that magic at your command you'll duke it out in some kind of sorceror's battle.
Things here are terrible. If I sew or dance anymore I'll go mad. I keep my skills sharp though. I sneak out after dinner and practice the bow. Then I pratice with my dagger until my body refuses to move. I'm a warrior and I plan to stay one. I don't have as many friends as you do since I don't fit in at all. Only Lady Maria is my friend. I don't plan to make friends with anyone else. There's Lady Ellie a big pain in the rump. Spoiled I'd say.
Well they plan to take us down to Corus to find husbands in five years so I guess we can catch up then.
Your loving twin,
Alanna
Alanna sealed the letter and opened to door half suprised to see the man who delivered Thom's letter waiting for her. She gave him the letter and a gold coin for his trouble and with a wink the man left.
A/N: yes so Thom got Alanna's life. :) review! Corus parts coming in 2 or 3 chapters!!