A/N
Sorry this chapter has been so long in coming - for some reason I've been having more fun working on chapter four than I am working on chapter three - but half of it ended up being in chapter three instead. So this chapter is a tiny bit longer than the others
Many thanks to the four of you who have reviewed chapter three - and especial thanks to Radella Cooper who's extended responses have kept me going. And thanks to J-kid for drawing attention to the typo in my summary - I'd completely missed it.
Also - keep an eye out for my original which should be up soon. It has a Tamora Pierce-ish feel to it - but there seems to be much less magic (basically I keep forgetting to include it - which gets bloody annoying when I remember 'hey, I'd better stick a mage in here somewhere' )
I'm very worried also, because I think I have a predilection for cute, funny little pages.
Anyway, I'm really getting stuck into some meaty stuff this chapter, first declarations of love, confrontations, and George's first appearance 9.
Please review - even if you have before. I love hearing what people think of the latest bit.
But anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 3 - Confrontations
Back in Corus Jonathan tried to concentrate. Gary watched his cousin, guessing what he was battling. Jon's big, silent, gentle cousin noticed a lot more than people realised, especially where his close friends were concerned. He sighed to himself. There was nothing he could do, even for these two who were so close to him. He felt uneasy. If Jonathan, who still showed some of the imperious arrogance of his youth, acted upon the situation, the resulting scandal could throw his reign into chaos. Gary wondered if the Dominion Jewel had ever been pitted against true love.
* * * * *
Alanna stared moodily into her bowl. It was filled with a thick stew of meat and beans. The soldiers, sitting around eating their own evening meal and talking uneasily in low voices, watched carefully, noting their commander's worried attitude. She'd been tense for the whole journey, seeming to relax a little immediately after leaving the capital, but had tensed again during the journey. The latest development had obviously worried her immensely. Arriving late yesterday at the river valley they had found no signs of Tusiane rebels on the opposite bank. Alanna had commanded the company to make camp and they had carried out a thorough search the next day. No sign of the rebels had been revealed. The small force of men always at the Drell outpost had reported no activity there for the last week.
Alanna stood, put down her food and stalked moodily into her tent. She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. She had contacted Jonathan in the morning, and he had been as baffled as she was. Jonathan had given her free command of the situation, and she had decided to leave some troops here to insure against any surprise invasion and to return to the capital. The movements of the Tusaine rebels had unnerved her and she felt that it was imperative that she returned to the capital.
She strode back outside.
"We're leaving." She announced imperiously. The soldiers around her looked up. "We ride at dawn." She continued shortly, before disappearing back into her tent.
* * * * *
During her short trip to the Drell valley, Alanna had had time to think, and she had thought a lot. On returning to Corus she felt almost more apprehensive than when she had left. The visit to the Drell River had stirred up a lot of old memories, and the goddess's warning had worried her.
Almost instantly on her return she was cornered by George, who, determined to see his will-o-the-wisp wife, had made the journey to the capital during her absence.
"Alanna." He smiled at his tired, grimy wife. She grinned weekly. Around them squires lead away tired horses, and soldiers stretched and talked in low voices.
"Please George, can't I wash and rest first? It's been a long ride you know."
"I know." He stepped forward and pulled her close, meaning to kiss her. The redhead, a full head shorter than him, kept her face down turned. He gazed at the top of her fiery head for a moment, then kissed it, and stepped back.
"Well, away w'ye. Go and clean yourself up, lass." He said, his voice edged with sadness. She avoided eye contact with him studiously, and left.
* * * * *
Alanna washed, then took some time fuming. Why had George had come to Corus? Now she felt guilty. Mithros, she hadn't even done anything! 'But you've thought about it' chided a little voice.
She strode around her rooms, trying to ignore everything. George's appearance had throne her badly. She hadn't wanted to see George, she wasn't ready. She needed to sort all these feelings out before she saw him. But maybe it was the best thing. Perhaps she should just forget all about Jonathan and go home. She frowned, thinking of the Goddess' warning. Too much had happened, there was no way she could burry her head in the sand and forget it.
* * * * *
To Alanna's horror a ball was scheduled for the end of the week. A page came to inform Alanna. He knocked timidly at the door. He was a young page, from a tiny fief, who had hardly been at the palace for a year. He was awed at the thought of personally meeting the lioness, the king's champion, up close. He nocked timidly, and after several minutes an irritated woman opened the door. The page starred and gasped. She was much smaller than he expected, and looked kind, and …and…irritated.
"Um," he squeaked nervously.
Alanna looked at him and he shrank away.
"I've…I've got a message." He tremulously held out the scroll. Alanna took it from the page and opened it. It was a very formal invitation, signed officially by the king.
It invited her (read 'ordered', thought the lioness) to attend the royal ball the next evening. Alanna swore, and the page blanched. He'd heard that kind of language before, and wouldn't have minded the king's champion to say such things, but it was a bit much hearing it from the sweet lips of this noble woman.
"Is there anything else?" Alanna asked the page, bitingly. He shook his head and backed away, and Alanna shut the door.
* * * * *
George reflected on his reunion with Alanna. It was so extremely out of character for her. He had picked up that she had been eager for him not to come to Corus, but the fact that he had should have enraged her - it would have usually. She would have stormed and raged. She certainly liked to get her own way. Maybe something had happened while she was away. Maybe she did regret marrying him.
He sighed and took a long draught of ale. He sat thoughtfully, chin rested on his hand.
"Something the matter?" asked the innkeeper. He recognised and respected the old Rogue, although he did not know him personally
George glanced at the innkeeper. "No," he sighed and stood, casting a final look over the Dancing Dove. He liked to come here. It still reminded him of the old days. How far away they seemed, and yet he had a sense that they were much closer than they seemed.
* * * * *
After three days of trying to avoid him, Alanna was cornered by Jon in a corridor. He looked at her seriously.
"Come on, we need to talk." She protested weekly, but allowed herself to be pulled into a nearby room.
"Alanna." She held her breath.
"There's nothing to talk…" she faltered.
"I've been thinking…about the drell valley…about…the last time we were there. Together." He looked at her intensely and she felt herself catch her breath. Those eyes. He caressed her face softly.
"You remember?"
"I remember." She answered tremulously. Jon pulled away and stood a few paces away, looking longingly at her.
"It seems like you're all I can remember at he moment." he said. "The touch of you, the sound of you, the feel of you."
"I…" she swallowed hard. "I'm married."
"So am I." There was a long silence. Alanna lifted her eyes nervously from the floor and their eyes met and locked for an instant.
"I still love you." Said Jon. She stared at him for a moment, searching his dark eyes for sincerity - and finding plenty. Alanna bit her trembling lip, stared at Jon with wide eyes and slipped around and out the door. She ran down the corridor, the tears threatening to break at any moment. She kept running until she reached the solitude of her own rooms.
Jon stood dejectedly, the door swinging slightly from her swift exit. He cursed, smacking the hard stone wall with a hand, and leaned his head against the wall.
Back in her room Alanna bolted the door and leaned against it. She felt on the verge of tears, trembling with shock, fear and excitement, feeling like she was going to explode.
"I love you too, Jon." She whispered to herself, gulping through the tears.
* * * * *
Another Author's Note (cos I know you only read it because of the Author's Notes)
The disappearance of the Tusaines is due to two factors - one is my neglect in the planning division, and the other is because it is A Mystery (and even I am not quite sure what they are up to, but you can be assured whatever it is not good).
Please, please, please review - it's what keeps me going
Watch out for the next chapter. Will George work things out? Will Thayet confront Alanna? Will Alanna admit her feelings to Jon? Will the Tusaines burst through the wall hangings and kill everyone? Well you'll just have to wait and see.
Sorry this chapter has been so long in coming - for some reason I've been having more fun working on chapter four than I am working on chapter three - but half of it ended up being in chapter three instead. So this chapter is a tiny bit longer than the others
Many thanks to the four of you who have reviewed chapter three - and especial thanks to Radella Cooper who's extended responses have kept me going. And thanks to J-kid for drawing attention to the typo in my summary - I'd completely missed it.
Also - keep an eye out for my original which should be up soon. It has a Tamora Pierce-ish feel to it - but there seems to be much less magic (basically I keep forgetting to include it - which gets bloody annoying when I remember 'hey, I'd better stick a mage in here somewhere' )
I'm very worried also, because I think I have a predilection for cute, funny little pages.
Anyway, I'm really getting stuck into some meaty stuff this chapter, first declarations of love, confrontations, and George's first appearance 9.
Please review - even if you have before. I love hearing what people think of the latest bit.
But anyway, enjoy.
Chapter 3 - Confrontations
Back in Corus Jonathan tried to concentrate. Gary watched his cousin, guessing what he was battling. Jon's big, silent, gentle cousin noticed a lot more than people realised, especially where his close friends were concerned. He sighed to himself. There was nothing he could do, even for these two who were so close to him. He felt uneasy. If Jonathan, who still showed some of the imperious arrogance of his youth, acted upon the situation, the resulting scandal could throw his reign into chaos. Gary wondered if the Dominion Jewel had ever been pitted against true love.
* * * * *
Alanna stared moodily into her bowl. It was filled with a thick stew of meat and beans. The soldiers, sitting around eating their own evening meal and talking uneasily in low voices, watched carefully, noting their commander's worried attitude. She'd been tense for the whole journey, seeming to relax a little immediately after leaving the capital, but had tensed again during the journey. The latest development had obviously worried her immensely. Arriving late yesterday at the river valley they had found no signs of Tusiane rebels on the opposite bank. Alanna had commanded the company to make camp and they had carried out a thorough search the next day. No sign of the rebels had been revealed. The small force of men always at the Drell outpost had reported no activity there for the last week.
Alanna stood, put down her food and stalked moodily into her tent. She chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. She had contacted Jonathan in the morning, and he had been as baffled as she was. Jonathan had given her free command of the situation, and she had decided to leave some troops here to insure against any surprise invasion and to return to the capital. The movements of the Tusaine rebels had unnerved her and she felt that it was imperative that she returned to the capital.
She strode back outside.
"We're leaving." She announced imperiously. The soldiers around her looked up. "We ride at dawn." She continued shortly, before disappearing back into her tent.
* * * * *
During her short trip to the Drell valley, Alanna had had time to think, and she had thought a lot. On returning to Corus she felt almost more apprehensive than when she had left. The visit to the Drell River had stirred up a lot of old memories, and the goddess's warning had worried her.
Almost instantly on her return she was cornered by George, who, determined to see his will-o-the-wisp wife, had made the journey to the capital during her absence.
"Alanna." He smiled at his tired, grimy wife. She grinned weekly. Around them squires lead away tired horses, and soldiers stretched and talked in low voices.
"Please George, can't I wash and rest first? It's been a long ride you know."
"I know." He stepped forward and pulled her close, meaning to kiss her. The redhead, a full head shorter than him, kept her face down turned. He gazed at the top of her fiery head for a moment, then kissed it, and stepped back.
"Well, away w'ye. Go and clean yourself up, lass." He said, his voice edged with sadness. She avoided eye contact with him studiously, and left.
* * * * *
Alanna washed, then took some time fuming. Why had George had come to Corus? Now she felt guilty. Mithros, she hadn't even done anything! 'But you've thought about it' chided a little voice.
She strode around her rooms, trying to ignore everything. George's appearance had throne her badly. She hadn't wanted to see George, she wasn't ready. She needed to sort all these feelings out before she saw him. But maybe it was the best thing. Perhaps she should just forget all about Jonathan and go home. She frowned, thinking of the Goddess' warning. Too much had happened, there was no way she could burry her head in the sand and forget it.
* * * * *
To Alanna's horror a ball was scheduled for the end of the week. A page came to inform Alanna. He knocked timidly at the door. He was a young page, from a tiny fief, who had hardly been at the palace for a year. He was awed at the thought of personally meeting the lioness, the king's champion, up close. He nocked timidly, and after several minutes an irritated woman opened the door. The page starred and gasped. She was much smaller than he expected, and looked kind, and …and…irritated.
"Um," he squeaked nervously.
Alanna looked at him and he shrank away.
"I've…I've got a message." He tremulously held out the scroll. Alanna took it from the page and opened it. It was a very formal invitation, signed officially by the king.
It invited her (read 'ordered', thought the lioness) to attend the royal ball the next evening. Alanna swore, and the page blanched. He'd heard that kind of language before, and wouldn't have minded the king's champion to say such things, but it was a bit much hearing it from the sweet lips of this noble woman.
"Is there anything else?" Alanna asked the page, bitingly. He shook his head and backed away, and Alanna shut the door.
* * * * *
George reflected on his reunion with Alanna. It was so extremely out of character for her. He had picked up that she had been eager for him not to come to Corus, but the fact that he had should have enraged her - it would have usually. She would have stormed and raged. She certainly liked to get her own way. Maybe something had happened while she was away. Maybe she did regret marrying him.
He sighed and took a long draught of ale. He sat thoughtfully, chin rested on his hand.
"Something the matter?" asked the innkeeper. He recognised and respected the old Rogue, although he did not know him personally
George glanced at the innkeeper. "No," he sighed and stood, casting a final look over the Dancing Dove. He liked to come here. It still reminded him of the old days. How far away they seemed, and yet he had a sense that they were much closer than they seemed.
* * * * *
After three days of trying to avoid him, Alanna was cornered by Jon in a corridor. He looked at her seriously.
"Come on, we need to talk." She protested weekly, but allowed herself to be pulled into a nearby room.
"Alanna." She held her breath.
"There's nothing to talk…" she faltered.
"I've been thinking…about the drell valley…about…the last time we were there. Together." He looked at her intensely and she felt herself catch her breath. Those eyes. He caressed her face softly.
"You remember?"
"I remember." She answered tremulously. Jon pulled away and stood a few paces away, looking longingly at her.
"It seems like you're all I can remember at he moment." he said. "The touch of you, the sound of you, the feel of you."
"I…" she swallowed hard. "I'm married."
"So am I." There was a long silence. Alanna lifted her eyes nervously from the floor and their eyes met and locked for an instant.
"I still love you." Said Jon. She stared at him for a moment, searching his dark eyes for sincerity - and finding plenty. Alanna bit her trembling lip, stared at Jon with wide eyes and slipped around and out the door. She ran down the corridor, the tears threatening to break at any moment. She kept running until she reached the solitude of her own rooms.
Jon stood dejectedly, the door swinging slightly from her swift exit. He cursed, smacking the hard stone wall with a hand, and leaned his head against the wall.
Back in her room Alanna bolted the door and leaned against it. She felt on the verge of tears, trembling with shock, fear and excitement, feeling like she was going to explode.
"I love you too, Jon." She whispered to herself, gulping through the tears.
* * * * *
Another Author's Note (cos I know you only read it because of the Author's Notes)
The disappearance of the Tusaines is due to two factors - one is my neglect in the planning division, and the other is because it is A Mystery (and even I am not quite sure what they are up to, but you can be assured whatever it is not good).
Please, please, please review - it's what keeps me going
Watch out for the next chapter. Will George work things out? Will Thayet confront Alanna? Will Alanna admit her feelings to Jon? Will the Tusaines burst through the wall hangings and kill everyone? Well you'll just have to wait and see.