Chapter 6
Four years passed faster then Alanna expected. Ellie stopped spreading rumors about her. In fact Ellie stopped bothering her all together. Alanna started to make more friends and enjoyed her lessons more. Even magic. I guess it's easier to like something when you have more than one friend to share it with, Alanna thought on her sixteenth birthday.
She had gotten three more letters from Thom. He had fought and destroyed the immortals in the Dark City. He was a squire to Prince Jonathan now. He fought in the Tussanie war. He still suspected Duke Roger and now he was aware of Alex the Duke's squire. Alanna would write back telling him not to brag. She was still mad that he got to do the things she wanted most.
***********
A week after her sisteenth birthday Alanna was rudely awaken by a banging on her door. Grumply she got up to answer it to find Maria fully dresses.
"Hurrry up and pack," Maria told her. "We're leaving for Corus after lunch! We're going to find husbands!" Maria ran off to do her packing leaving Alanna with unhappy thoughts. She was happy to go to Corus. She would get to see her brother whomshe hadn't seen for over six years. But she didn't want to get married and have children. Not yet anyways. She sighed and got dressed. Since they were riding she pulled on breeches and shirt. She packed her saddlebags and by the time she was finish it was time for lunch.
Alanna ate lightly and ran outside to saddle Storm. Chubby had gone back to Trebond with Maude three years ago. She brushed Storm's coat while talking softly to the mare.
"Where going to the big city," Alanna told her mare, as she worked knots out of Storm's tail. "What do you suppose it's like living all cramped up like that?" Storm neighed and shook her head. Alanna laughed and said, "Yeah, I don't think it's too pleasent either." She finished brushing Storm as the other girls her age came in to take care of their mounts.
"What do you suppose it'll be like?" Maria asked as she tightened a buckle. "In Corus I mean."
"I saw it once," Alanna replied, double checking her gear. "It was all cramped up. I'm not used to places like that. I lived in the country."
"Me too."
************
The ride was long and hot. Alanna felt sorry for the other girls who wore heavy skirts. Maria was one of them. She rode next to Alanna fanning herself with her hand.
"It's so hot," she complained.
"You should have worn lighter clothing."
"I know."
By the time they reached Corus most of the girls had changed into light cotton dresses that most commoner women wore. Alanna had stayed in breeches and shirt. Easier to ride in, was what she told Daughter Ilane when she asked why Alanna didn't wear a dress. They moved their way to the Royal Palace where Alanna gave a big sigh. So close to her dream she was six years ago. Now forever out of reach. She trotted Storm with the rest of the girls to the palace stables.
"You got any relation to Master Thom, lass?" a voice asked her as Alanna brushed Storm's side. She looked up. They voice came from a man with straw colored hair. Storm butted him softly and the man laugh. He nodded to Alanna and said, "I'd be Stefan. I take care of yons horses."
"Oh, I'm Lady Alanna of Trebond," Alanna said curstying. "Master Thom is my twin brother."
"Aye. Should've knowed that," Stefan's eyes twinkled. "Ye look just like him."
************
Alanna sat by a window bored. She hated social events and was not in the mood to flirt with the squires and knights as her friends did now. She was thinking of a way to leave without seeming rude when a big knight came over to her.
"Hello there gentle lady," he said bowing. "Would you honor me with a dance?" She looked up and the knight gasped. He tapped the sholder of another nearby knight and said, "It's a female version of Thom!" Alanna scowled as two knights goggled at her. She wasn't something to be stared at!
"Excuse me," Alanna said getting up. "Have you seen Lord Thom?" Their father had recently died and now Thom was the Lord of Trebond. The knight that had asked her dance, the one with brown eyes, said, "He's with Lady Delia. Would you care to dance? I don't think I've introduced myself" he bowed and smiled "I'm Sir Gary -Gareth the younger- of Naxen."
"Alanna of Trebond," Alanna cursty. She looked around and sighed. All her friends were dancing, she might as well dance too. "I would love to dance."
"And I'm Sir Raoul of Goldenlake if anybody cares!" the other knight called, as Gary lead Alanna to the dance floor. Alanna giggled and looked around. Gary spun her and out of the corner of her eyes she spotted the most handsome man she ever saw. He had coal black hair and sapphire blue eyes. Next to him, dancing with a green-eyed flirt from the convent Alanna hated, was a red headed squire with purple eyes.
Alanna excused herself from Gary and started walking toward Thom and blue eyed knight.
************
Meanwhile-
Jonathan smiled as he watched his squire, Thom, dance with Lady Delia. Thom had refused meeting ladies most of his life saying he rather be studying spells then walking around like a player. Thom spun Delia and scowled at the smile Jonathan wore. Jon laughed and out of the corner of his eye he saw a red headed lady half walking, half running toward him. He smiled thinking the lady was coming over to converse with him but was surprised when she ran over to Thom, who had just gotten away from Delia, and hugged him.
"Thom!" Alanna shouted, and before Thom knew it he was being hugged by his other half. "Alanna?" He laughed when he saw Jonathan watching them with wide eyes.
"Jonathan!" Thom said gleefully. "May I introduce Lady Alanna of Trebond, my itwin sister/i?" Jonathan look closer at the Alanna and saw that she too had purple eyes and Thom's face. He smiled and bowed.
"This is Prince Jonathan, Alanna," Thom told her. Alanna gasped. The blue eyed knight was the heir to the thorne? She cursty and muttered a, "Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness." Jon laughed and held out his hand, "Care to dance?"
"I would love to, Your Highness," Alanna said taking his hand. Her pulse speeded up as he put his arms around her. She ordered herself to stop feeling so giddy.
"It's just Jon or Jonathan." Jon twirled her.
"Ok...Jon."
A/N: the moment you've been waiting for! she finally meets Jon! wohoo! REVIEW!!! ^_^
Four years passed faster then Alanna expected. Ellie stopped spreading rumors about her. In fact Ellie stopped bothering her all together. Alanna started to make more friends and enjoyed her lessons more. Even magic. I guess it's easier to like something when you have more than one friend to share it with, Alanna thought on her sixteenth birthday.
She had gotten three more letters from Thom. He had fought and destroyed the immortals in the Dark City. He was a squire to Prince Jonathan now. He fought in the Tussanie war. He still suspected Duke Roger and now he was aware of Alex the Duke's squire. Alanna would write back telling him not to brag. She was still mad that he got to do the things she wanted most.
***********
A week after her sisteenth birthday Alanna was rudely awaken by a banging on her door. Grumply she got up to answer it to find Maria fully dresses.
"Hurrry up and pack," Maria told her. "We're leaving for Corus after lunch! We're going to find husbands!" Maria ran off to do her packing leaving Alanna with unhappy thoughts. She was happy to go to Corus. She would get to see her brother whomshe hadn't seen for over six years. But she didn't want to get married and have children. Not yet anyways. She sighed and got dressed. Since they were riding she pulled on breeches and shirt. She packed her saddlebags and by the time she was finish it was time for lunch.
Alanna ate lightly and ran outside to saddle Storm. Chubby had gone back to Trebond with Maude three years ago. She brushed Storm's coat while talking softly to the mare.
"Where going to the big city," Alanna told her mare, as she worked knots out of Storm's tail. "What do you suppose it's like living all cramped up like that?" Storm neighed and shook her head. Alanna laughed and said, "Yeah, I don't think it's too pleasent either." She finished brushing Storm as the other girls her age came in to take care of their mounts.
"What do you suppose it'll be like?" Maria asked as she tightened a buckle. "In Corus I mean."
"I saw it once," Alanna replied, double checking her gear. "It was all cramped up. I'm not used to places like that. I lived in the country."
"Me too."
************
The ride was long and hot. Alanna felt sorry for the other girls who wore heavy skirts. Maria was one of them. She rode next to Alanna fanning herself with her hand.
"It's so hot," she complained.
"You should have worn lighter clothing."
"I know."
By the time they reached Corus most of the girls had changed into light cotton dresses that most commoner women wore. Alanna had stayed in breeches and shirt. Easier to ride in, was what she told Daughter Ilane when she asked why Alanna didn't wear a dress. They moved their way to the Royal Palace where Alanna gave a big sigh. So close to her dream she was six years ago. Now forever out of reach. She trotted Storm with the rest of the girls to the palace stables.
"You got any relation to Master Thom, lass?" a voice asked her as Alanna brushed Storm's side. She looked up. They voice came from a man with straw colored hair. Storm butted him softly and the man laugh. He nodded to Alanna and said, "I'd be Stefan. I take care of yons horses."
"Oh, I'm Lady Alanna of Trebond," Alanna said curstying. "Master Thom is my twin brother."
"Aye. Should've knowed that," Stefan's eyes twinkled. "Ye look just like him."
************
Alanna sat by a window bored. She hated social events and was not in the mood to flirt with the squires and knights as her friends did now. She was thinking of a way to leave without seeming rude when a big knight came over to her.
"Hello there gentle lady," he said bowing. "Would you honor me with a dance?" She looked up and the knight gasped. He tapped the sholder of another nearby knight and said, "It's a female version of Thom!" Alanna scowled as two knights goggled at her. She wasn't something to be stared at!
"Excuse me," Alanna said getting up. "Have you seen Lord Thom?" Their father had recently died and now Thom was the Lord of Trebond. The knight that had asked her dance, the one with brown eyes, said, "He's with Lady Delia. Would you care to dance? I don't think I've introduced myself" he bowed and smiled "I'm Sir Gary -Gareth the younger- of Naxen."
"Alanna of Trebond," Alanna cursty. She looked around and sighed. All her friends were dancing, she might as well dance too. "I would love to dance."
"And I'm Sir Raoul of Goldenlake if anybody cares!" the other knight called, as Gary lead Alanna to the dance floor. Alanna giggled and looked around. Gary spun her and out of the corner of her eyes she spotted the most handsome man she ever saw. He had coal black hair and sapphire blue eyes. Next to him, dancing with a green-eyed flirt from the convent Alanna hated, was a red headed squire with purple eyes.
Alanna excused herself from Gary and started walking toward Thom and blue eyed knight.
************
Meanwhile-
Jonathan smiled as he watched his squire, Thom, dance with Lady Delia. Thom had refused meeting ladies most of his life saying he rather be studying spells then walking around like a player. Thom spun Delia and scowled at the smile Jonathan wore. Jon laughed and out of the corner of his eye he saw a red headed lady half walking, half running toward him. He smiled thinking the lady was coming over to converse with him but was surprised when she ran over to Thom, who had just gotten away from Delia, and hugged him.
"Thom!" Alanna shouted, and before Thom knew it he was being hugged by his other half. "Alanna?" He laughed when he saw Jonathan watching them with wide eyes.
"Jonathan!" Thom said gleefully. "May I introduce Lady Alanna of Trebond, my itwin sister/i?" Jonathan look closer at the Alanna and saw that she too had purple eyes and Thom's face. He smiled and bowed.
"This is Prince Jonathan, Alanna," Thom told her. Alanna gasped. The blue eyed knight was the heir to the thorne? She cursty and muttered a, "Pleasure to meet you, Your Highness." Jon laughed and held out his hand, "Care to dance?"
"I would love to, Your Highness," Alanna said taking his hand. Her pulse speeded up as he put his arms around her. She ordered herself to stop feeling so giddy.
"It's just Jon or Jonathan." Jon twirled her.
"Ok...Jon."
A/N: the moment you've been waiting for! she finally meets Jon! wohoo! REVIEW!!! ^_^