~ Chapter Six ~
Beauty, Deception, Love
Alanna sat on her mattress, her eyes red after crying. Why did she have to lose her temper over the Prince? Why couldn't she just accept what he was saying, that Sir Cole might not be all that good for her to be involved with. Why am I so stubborn? She asked herself. She sighed and rolled over. She was so tired. She could sleep now and think later.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Delia of Eldorne was in obvious distress, her beautiful looks crushed by her harsh frown. She paced Duke Roger's floor in nervous baby-steps, her hand on her forehead most of the time. She was sweating nervously.
"Delia. Sit," commanded the Duke, walking in.
"Your Grace, the future King," Delia began.
"Save it," the Duke snapped, cutting her off. "I have enough troubles without you sucking up to me. Tell me what you've done wrong straight out Delia, or don't tell me at all and feel my wrath."
"You – your Grace," Delia took a deep breath. "You know how you told me to – to drive that Lady Alanna away –"
"Delia, you failed, I know," Roger cut off again impatiently. 'I have already arranged to put my second plan into action."
"Second plan?" asked Delia breathlessly.
"Yes, second plan," Roger replied. He smiled wickedly. "To eliminate our little 'problem'."
Delia nodded. "Yes, your Grace," she said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna woke from her sleep to find all her senses alert. She climbed out of bed, and looked around her. She rapidly changed into a tight shirt and breeches behind her dressing curtain. She looked at her long copper hair. She couldn't go as a boy with that! She grabbed a pair of scissors and tied her hair in a ponytail. In a swift movement she cut off her long locks so that they just brushed her shoulders. She bound her breasts with strapping that she always carried with her and pulled a loose shirt over her no- sleeve tight one.
Alanna grabbed the ma's cloak she'd once bought when she was a child and threw it over her shoulders. She didn't know why she bought it; it just reminded her of something.
Alanna opened her door, looked left and right, and moved swiftly out of the palace and into the bustling city.
Alanna stopped outside her destination, The Dancing Dove. Alanna took a breath and stepped in.
"Hello?" said a serving girl. "Could I get you an ale?"
"No, thanks," Alanna said gruffly, trying to sound like a male man.
"Perhaps a lemonade?" she asked. "You don't sound that well."
"No, no," Alanna said. "I'm looking for George."
"His Majesty?" she asked, and when Alanna nodded, she yelled, "Solom!"
"Aye?" Solom appeared.
"This one wants George," she said.
Solom nodded. " 'Twas lucky you were talkin' t' Lassie there," he said. "She's sealed to the Rogue – as her parents, and her parent's parents. Others would'a looked ye in the eye and scowled. They don't talk bout his Highness now."
Alanna make a gruff noise. "Now what's yer name?" he asked.
Alanna was stuck for words. "Tell him I'm a friend of – of Lady Alanna," she said.
"Aye," he said, going off and leaving Alanna there. After a minute he returned, saying, "Upstairs."
Alanna walked upstairs, and found a door. She knocked, and it opened slowly. Alanna stepped in, only to be grabbed around the neck. The door slammed and a knife was held to Alanna's throat.
"George!" she breathed. "It's me! Alanna!"
He turned her around, still holding the knife towards her throat.
"Really?" he said. "You're a male."
Alanna laughed. "Really?" she asked. "You actually think that!"
George looked quizzically at her. "Where's your chest?"
She turned red. "I disguised myself as a male to get away quietly from the palace. I'm sick of nobles, and I want to start my lessons you promised me. You do remember?"
"Of course," he said. "Ok, take off your boots," he said. "Your first lesson is now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I don't know!" cried Cole angrily. "How am I supposed to know where she is?"
"Don't speak to me like that!" Roger snapped, his eyes wild. "You were supposed to keep an eye on her! You failed me!"
"Don't tell me I failed you!" Cole replied, his voice harsh and eyes cold. "I kept her under tight watch until I needed to eat, when I left for five minutes! Didn't I escort her at the Mid-Winter Ball? And when I ran into her, in the hall, she was head-over-heels! I'm doing as you say! I have barely started doing as you wish me to – don't you worry, by the end of the week I'll have Lady Alanna under my spell." Cole's face lit up as from out of his hand burned a sparkling bright green – the Gift. "She won't know what's happened," he smiled with satisfaction. "Watch out, Lady Alanna," he said. "Watch out."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna returned to her rooms quietly. She was hoping to sneak in and change from her sweaty clothes before Elisia noticed she'd come back.
"Alanna!"
Alanna grimaced. No such luck, she thought mildly to herself. She turned around.
"Elisia," Alanna smiled.
"Oh no, Alanna," Elisia said. "Where have you been?" She demanded. "I've been worried sick all day!"
"I had to go out!" Alanna exclaimed.
"Oh really?" Elisia replied dryly. "Would you also care to explain you cut hair, your bound breasts and your sweaty breeches?"
"Not really," Alanna replied. When Elisia gave her a stern look, Alanna sighed. "I was doing things," she said.
"Dressed as a boy?"
Alanna sighed. "Oh Elisia," she pouted, "I'm so tired!"
"That doesn't work Alanna," Elisia said. "Tea's in five minutes. You'd better be ready." As she walked out she added, "and please do something with that hair!"
Alanna smiled to herself. She always knew Elisia would forgive – and then forget almost instantly.
Alanna bathed in a steaming bath, scrubbing her hair and body. She used her own special formula on her hair to make it silky-smooth so Elisia wouldn't complain about her cut hair anymore that night. Alanna was very proud of this creation. She'd used her Gift with the stuff, and it made one's hair bright, shiny, sleek and silky – made especially whenever Elisia or a Priestess at the Temple complained about her draggy, untidy, sweaty hair.
Alanna got out, dried herself, wrapped a towel around her and flopped onto her bed. The bell rung signalling ten minutes to tea. Alanna sighed and rolled over. She got up and went to her clothes. She pulled out a magnificent dress – one she'd forgotten about. It was coloured a soft, vintage purple. It had a ruffled-edged top, and it flowed down, settling just on the floor, in small tousles. It was really pretty, and she put it on for tea.
As Alanna stepped out, an excited palace herald leapt past her door, crying, "Celebrate! Celebrate!" Alanna grinned at his excited face and jumpy actions.
The herald looked her close in the eye. Alanna giggled. "Don't giggle, Lovely Lady! There's a ball tonight!" Alanna's giggle expression changed to one of slight dismay. She hated balls!
"His Highness says he wants one!" the herald cried. "Says he wants every Lovely Lady there, and that includes you, Miss!" the herald winked at her a skipped down the hall to give the message to others.
Alanna ran into her room, where she found Elisia standing at the doorway connecting their chambers.
"Alanna!" she cried. "Help please! There's a ball tonight and I –" she blushed. "I think I'm in love."
Alanna smiled. "I – I'm so happy, Elisia!" she ran to her best friend and hugged her. Then she moved to her dresser. "Come here," she said. She did Elisia's hair nicely, lent her back one of the dresses Elisia had originally lent her, and put on some lovely pink lipstick.
(Hey peeps I'm sorry that part is really, really messy but I couldn't think of any other way to get a ball going on tonight – I complete forgot to say something about a ball in my other chapter!!)
They went to supper and ate quietly. Alanna returned to her rooms only to groan. Elisia had gone to the washroom with all her trinkets to fix herself up for the ball, and Alanna didn't want to go.
Why would the Prince demand a ball on such short notice? "His Highness says he wants one! Says he wants every Lovely Lady there, and that includes you, Miss!" The herald's words rang in her ears. Could it have something to do with Alanna's lesson? She didn't think so.
The clock struck eight and Alanna sighed. The ball began now, ten minutes after supper. Alanna rested for a short while, before picking herself up and fixing her hair sleepily. She moved towards her door. Yawn! She was so sleepy. She felt like sleeping on the spot… Alanna opened the door and closed it, her eyes droopy. She felt… so… sleepy…
Alanna fell onto the floor with a thud, asleep, with sparkling bright-green remains of a spell drifting around her.
PS – the title doesn't say much it just sounds mega cool and so fancy, but I guess beauty, (Alanna's pretty: ~?) deception (Cole…) and love (Elisia and Gary…) so anyway next chapter up soon (hopefully).
PPS – my friend Mia (Angel-Goddess) deserves a big applause for her efforts on her Alanna fic. She recently finished it, with thirteen chapters or something. Please check it out and give her a round of applause!
Beauty, Deception, Love
Alanna sat on her mattress, her eyes red after crying. Why did she have to lose her temper over the Prince? Why couldn't she just accept what he was saying, that Sir Cole might not be all that good for her to be involved with. Why am I so stubborn? She asked herself. She sighed and rolled over. She was so tired. She could sleep now and think later.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Delia of Eldorne was in obvious distress, her beautiful looks crushed by her harsh frown. She paced Duke Roger's floor in nervous baby-steps, her hand on her forehead most of the time. She was sweating nervously.
"Delia. Sit," commanded the Duke, walking in.
"Your Grace, the future King," Delia began.
"Save it," the Duke snapped, cutting her off. "I have enough troubles without you sucking up to me. Tell me what you've done wrong straight out Delia, or don't tell me at all and feel my wrath."
"You – your Grace," Delia took a deep breath. "You know how you told me to – to drive that Lady Alanna away –"
"Delia, you failed, I know," Roger cut off again impatiently. 'I have already arranged to put my second plan into action."
"Second plan?" asked Delia breathlessly.
"Yes, second plan," Roger replied. He smiled wickedly. "To eliminate our little 'problem'."
Delia nodded. "Yes, your Grace," she said.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna woke from her sleep to find all her senses alert. She climbed out of bed, and looked around her. She rapidly changed into a tight shirt and breeches behind her dressing curtain. She looked at her long copper hair. She couldn't go as a boy with that! She grabbed a pair of scissors and tied her hair in a ponytail. In a swift movement she cut off her long locks so that they just brushed her shoulders. She bound her breasts with strapping that she always carried with her and pulled a loose shirt over her no- sleeve tight one.
Alanna grabbed the ma's cloak she'd once bought when she was a child and threw it over her shoulders. She didn't know why she bought it; it just reminded her of something.
Alanna opened her door, looked left and right, and moved swiftly out of the palace and into the bustling city.
Alanna stopped outside her destination, The Dancing Dove. Alanna took a breath and stepped in.
"Hello?" said a serving girl. "Could I get you an ale?"
"No, thanks," Alanna said gruffly, trying to sound like a male man.
"Perhaps a lemonade?" she asked. "You don't sound that well."
"No, no," Alanna said. "I'm looking for George."
"His Majesty?" she asked, and when Alanna nodded, she yelled, "Solom!"
"Aye?" Solom appeared.
"This one wants George," she said.
Solom nodded. " 'Twas lucky you were talkin' t' Lassie there," he said. "She's sealed to the Rogue – as her parents, and her parent's parents. Others would'a looked ye in the eye and scowled. They don't talk bout his Highness now."
Alanna make a gruff noise. "Now what's yer name?" he asked.
Alanna was stuck for words. "Tell him I'm a friend of – of Lady Alanna," she said.
"Aye," he said, going off and leaving Alanna there. After a minute he returned, saying, "Upstairs."
Alanna walked upstairs, and found a door. She knocked, and it opened slowly. Alanna stepped in, only to be grabbed around the neck. The door slammed and a knife was held to Alanna's throat.
"George!" she breathed. "It's me! Alanna!"
He turned her around, still holding the knife towards her throat.
"Really?" he said. "You're a male."
Alanna laughed. "Really?" she asked. "You actually think that!"
George looked quizzically at her. "Where's your chest?"
She turned red. "I disguised myself as a male to get away quietly from the palace. I'm sick of nobles, and I want to start my lessons you promised me. You do remember?"
"Of course," he said. "Ok, take off your boots," he said. "Your first lesson is now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I don't know!" cried Cole angrily. "How am I supposed to know where she is?"
"Don't speak to me like that!" Roger snapped, his eyes wild. "You were supposed to keep an eye on her! You failed me!"
"Don't tell me I failed you!" Cole replied, his voice harsh and eyes cold. "I kept her under tight watch until I needed to eat, when I left for five minutes! Didn't I escort her at the Mid-Winter Ball? And when I ran into her, in the hall, she was head-over-heels! I'm doing as you say! I have barely started doing as you wish me to – don't you worry, by the end of the week I'll have Lady Alanna under my spell." Cole's face lit up as from out of his hand burned a sparkling bright green – the Gift. "She won't know what's happened," he smiled with satisfaction. "Watch out, Lady Alanna," he said. "Watch out."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna returned to her rooms quietly. She was hoping to sneak in and change from her sweaty clothes before Elisia noticed she'd come back.
"Alanna!"
Alanna grimaced. No such luck, she thought mildly to herself. She turned around.
"Elisia," Alanna smiled.
"Oh no, Alanna," Elisia said. "Where have you been?" She demanded. "I've been worried sick all day!"
"I had to go out!" Alanna exclaimed.
"Oh really?" Elisia replied dryly. "Would you also care to explain you cut hair, your bound breasts and your sweaty breeches?"
"Not really," Alanna replied. When Elisia gave her a stern look, Alanna sighed. "I was doing things," she said.
"Dressed as a boy?"
Alanna sighed. "Oh Elisia," she pouted, "I'm so tired!"
"That doesn't work Alanna," Elisia said. "Tea's in five minutes. You'd better be ready." As she walked out she added, "and please do something with that hair!"
Alanna smiled to herself. She always knew Elisia would forgive – and then forget almost instantly.
Alanna bathed in a steaming bath, scrubbing her hair and body. She used her own special formula on her hair to make it silky-smooth so Elisia wouldn't complain about her cut hair anymore that night. Alanna was very proud of this creation. She'd used her Gift with the stuff, and it made one's hair bright, shiny, sleek and silky – made especially whenever Elisia or a Priestess at the Temple complained about her draggy, untidy, sweaty hair.
Alanna got out, dried herself, wrapped a towel around her and flopped onto her bed. The bell rung signalling ten minutes to tea. Alanna sighed and rolled over. She got up and went to her clothes. She pulled out a magnificent dress – one she'd forgotten about. It was coloured a soft, vintage purple. It had a ruffled-edged top, and it flowed down, settling just on the floor, in small tousles. It was really pretty, and she put it on for tea.
As Alanna stepped out, an excited palace herald leapt past her door, crying, "Celebrate! Celebrate!" Alanna grinned at his excited face and jumpy actions.
The herald looked her close in the eye. Alanna giggled. "Don't giggle, Lovely Lady! There's a ball tonight!" Alanna's giggle expression changed to one of slight dismay. She hated balls!
"His Highness says he wants one!" the herald cried. "Says he wants every Lovely Lady there, and that includes you, Miss!" the herald winked at her a skipped down the hall to give the message to others.
Alanna ran into her room, where she found Elisia standing at the doorway connecting their chambers.
"Alanna!" she cried. "Help please! There's a ball tonight and I –" she blushed. "I think I'm in love."
Alanna smiled. "I – I'm so happy, Elisia!" she ran to her best friend and hugged her. Then she moved to her dresser. "Come here," she said. She did Elisia's hair nicely, lent her back one of the dresses Elisia had originally lent her, and put on some lovely pink lipstick.
(Hey peeps I'm sorry that part is really, really messy but I couldn't think of any other way to get a ball going on tonight – I complete forgot to say something about a ball in my other chapter!!)
They went to supper and ate quietly. Alanna returned to her rooms only to groan. Elisia had gone to the washroom with all her trinkets to fix herself up for the ball, and Alanna didn't want to go.
Why would the Prince demand a ball on such short notice? "His Highness says he wants one! Says he wants every Lovely Lady there, and that includes you, Miss!" The herald's words rang in her ears. Could it have something to do with Alanna's lesson? She didn't think so.
The clock struck eight and Alanna sighed. The ball began now, ten minutes after supper. Alanna rested for a short while, before picking herself up and fixing her hair sleepily. She moved towards her door. Yawn! She was so sleepy. She felt like sleeping on the spot… Alanna opened the door and closed it, her eyes droopy. She felt… so… sleepy…
Alanna fell onto the floor with a thud, asleep, with sparkling bright-green remains of a spell drifting around her.
PS – the title doesn't say much it just sounds mega cool and so fancy, but I guess beauty, (Alanna's pretty: ~?) deception (Cole…) and love (Elisia and Gary…) so anyway next chapter up soon (hopefully).
PPS – my friend Mia (Angel-Goddess) deserves a big applause for her efforts on her Alanna fic. She recently finished it, with thirteen chapters or something. Please check it out and give her a round of applause!