~ Chapter Fifteen ~
Feelings
"Sir Raoul," Alanna stammered.
Halef Sief looked at Alanna. "You know these men?" he asked. Alanna nodded.
"Lady Alanna. You have proved to be difficult to track," a man with brown hair and eyes said, stepping forward.
Alanna gaped at him. He was the man from the ball! But she didn't know his name…
"Lady Alanna, may I introduce you to Sir Jacob of Myers-rock?" Sir Raoul said, indicating to the brown haired man. Jacob grinned at Alanna.
"A pleasure, Alanna," he said, bowing slightly. Alanna smiled. He hadn't called her a "Lady", and he'd been very friendly.
Their gaze was interrupted by Halef Sief's cough. "Lady Alanna, since you are staying for our midday meal, perhaps your friends would like to join us."
Raoul bowed. "We would be honoured," he told the tall Bazhir. "We are quite hungry!"
As Alanna left for the meal, she heard Raoul turn to one of his men and say, "Go tell Jonathan we've found her." This made Alanna think.
At the meal, Jacob had somehow made his way over to sit next to Alanna. "How are you, Alanna?" he inquired in a friendly tone.
"Good, thankyou," replied Alanna, her stomach fluttering slightly. "And how are you?"
"Oh fine," he replied casually.
"That's good," Alanna said.
Their conversation remained short until the end of the meal. "Lady Alanna," Jacob began, "Would you mind taking a look at this dress for my sister?" he asked. "I know one of the women here and she has sewn it for her. I'm not sure of her size, but she is about your fit."
Alanna looked at Jacob. "Ok, sure," she finally replied.
Jacob smiled and led her to the guests' tents. "Here," he opened the flap on one of the smaller tents. "Just me and my mate, Sir Terrin," he said.
Alanna just nodded. Jacob pointed to a magnificent black lace dress, edged with some sort of stone. "It's beautiful," Alanna said.
Jacob smiled. "Yes. I gave the material to my lady friend last time I was here, and she has made it."
"Is she a Bazhir?" inquired Alanna.
"Not by birth," said Jacob. "She is by ceremony though."
"Oh," said Alanna.
Jacob showed Alanna a dressing screen. "Do you mind?" he asked her.
"Not at all," she said, taking the dress and stepping behind the curtain. The dress was lovely, and Alanna shed her breeches and top. It was annoying unwinding the bandages she used to bind her breasts, but it was a relief for her now aching chest. She slipped the dress on easily, but found she could do up the ties at the back.
"Jacob," she called, "Do you think you could do up the ties on this dress?" she asked. "I – can't – quite – reach," she said, trying as she spoke.
"Sure." Jacob stepped behind the screen. Alanna smiled and turned around.
"This looks really pretty on you," he commented.
"Thanks," laughed Alanna. When the ties were done up, she turned around to face Jacob. She smiled warmly.
"I'm serious, that looks beautiful," he said kindly. "You just need to fix your hair up a bit –" he moved closed, and ran his fingers through her hair. "It's getting muddy!" he grinned.
"I know," Alanna said dryly, running her own fingers through her hair. Their hands met, and Alanna looked up into Jacob's eyes (*yawn!* typical lurv scene but I can't be bothered thinking up anything more creative at 10:00 at night!!)
Jacob lent forward slightly. He hesitated for a split second, then leant forward and kissed Alanna, at first timid, then passionate. Alanna kissed him back, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Great Mother, what am I doing? She asked herself wildly. Mithros, I only just find out the guy's name and I'm already getting involved!
Alanna stopped kissing Jacob, and Jacob stopped too. "What's the matter?" he asked Alanna. "Did – did I do something wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"No, no," Alanna said. "I'm – I'm just not – I just, I mean – I, I have to go," she stammered, going red.
"Um, ok," said Joseph. "Just, just get changed then." Joseph undid the ties on the dress and moved from behind the screen. Alanna changed hurriedly, forgetting to bind her chest again. She threw on her breeches and shirt, picked up the dress and stepped out from behind the dress screen.
"Um, thanks for trying on the dress," Jacob said.
'That's ok," said Alanna, handing him the dress and going red again. "I'll – I'll see you later then?"
"Yeah, sure," replied Joseph.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*About two day later*~
"Your Highness, Sir Raoul sent me to tell you that we've found the lady Alanna," said the man Raoul had spoken to.
"Thankyou," replied Jonathan. "I am very pleased. Remain here until Raoul and the others are back."
The man stood and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness," he replied, and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Got everything?" asked Sir Raoul, still in command. There a was a grumble of "yes"ses amongst the group. "All right there Lady Alanna?" asked Raoul.
Alanna made a sour face, looking at her wrist, which was heavily bandaged. Last night the Bazhir had accepted her into their tribe by ceremony, cutting Alanna's wrist and that of the Headman's and connecting them together, combining the blood.
"I'm fine," she finally said.
Raoul grinned and turned to Halef Sief. "Thankyou for your hospitality," he told the Headman.
"You are welcome," Halef Sief told Raoul. "Anytime you come you will be honoured here."
Raoul thanked the man and the group set out to go back to Corus.
On the way to the palace little was said between Alanna and Jacob. Simple "hello"s and "thankyou"s were exchanged but nothing more. Alanna avoided Jacob and Jacob avoided Alanna, and no conflict was experienced between them or anyone else in the group, so the ride back was peaceful.
As they drew closer and closer to Corus Alanna began feeling sicker and sicker. She mentioned this to Raoul, who shrugged.
"I'm no healer," he told her. "Go to Sir Terrin. He's one of Jacob's friends and a good healer."
So when they had made camp for the night, Alanna went to Sir Terrin. "Call me Terry," he told her. "Now, sit up here and we'll have a look at you," he said, indicating to a stretcher he'd laid out. Alanna sat up on the stretcher.
"Now, tell me the problem," he told her.
"Well, I'm not really sure," she answered. "I've felt really weak ever since we drew nearer to Corus. And whenever I use my Gift I get a splitting headache."
Terry frowned. "You have the Gift?" he inquired.
"Yes," Alanna replied. "I haven't used it much, just to light fires, heal scratches, burn torches or candles, that kind of thing. I'm a lot more comfortable with my Gift than I used to be," she added.
Terry smiled. "Well, we'll reach Corus probably day after next, at the pace we're taking," he told her. "We can find out what the matter is then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Yawn* just got out of bed and decided to finish this as it's like the only time I've been on the computer ALL week. I'm serious! My brothers (younger) just got two new games and they've been playing them non-stop and my Dad just started his own home business, using the computer/phone-fax continually through the week!! It's kinda getting annoying so I thought I'd finish it now. Anyways, now that I've blabbered I shall finish up and get started on chapter 16!
Feelings
"Sir Raoul," Alanna stammered.
Halef Sief looked at Alanna. "You know these men?" he asked. Alanna nodded.
"Lady Alanna. You have proved to be difficult to track," a man with brown hair and eyes said, stepping forward.
Alanna gaped at him. He was the man from the ball! But she didn't know his name…
"Lady Alanna, may I introduce you to Sir Jacob of Myers-rock?" Sir Raoul said, indicating to the brown haired man. Jacob grinned at Alanna.
"A pleasure, Alanna," he said, bowing slightly. Alanna smiled. He hadn't called her a "Lady", and he'd been very friendly.
Their gaze was interrupted by Halef Sief's cough. "Lady Alanna, since you are staying for our midday meal, perhaps your friends would like to join us."
Raoul bowed. "We would be honoured," he told the tall Bazhir. "We are quite hungry!"
As Alanna left for the meal, she heard Raoul turn to one of his men and say, "Go tell Jonathan we've found her." This made Alanna think.
At the meal, Jacob had somehow made his way over to sit next to Alanna. "How are you, Alanna?" he inquired in a friendly tone.
"Good, thankyou," replied Alanna, her stomach fluttering slightly. "And how are you?"
"Oh fine," he replied casually.
"That's good," Alanna said.
Their conversation remained short until the end of the meal. "Lady Alanna," Jacob began, "Would you mind taking a look at this dress for my sister?" he asked. "I know one of the women here and she has sewn it for her. I'm not sure of her size, but she is about your fit."
Alanna looked at Jacob. "Ok, sure," she finally replied.
Jacob smiled and led her to the guests' tents. "Here," he opened the flap on one of the smaller tents. "Just me and my mate, Sir Terrin," he said.
Alanna just nodded. Jacob pointed to a magnificent black lace dress, edged with some sort of stone. "It's beautiful," Alanna said.
Jacob smiled. "Yes. I gave the material to my lady friend last time I was here, and she has made it."
"Is she a Bazhir?" inquired Alanna.
"Not by birth," said Jacob. "She is by ceremony though."
"Oh," said Alanna.
Jacob showed Alanna a dressing screen. "Do you mind?" he asked her.
"Not at all," she said, taking the dress and stepping behind the curtain. The dress was lovely, and Alanna shed her breeches and top. It was annoying unwinding the bandages she used to bind her breasts, but it was a relief for her now aching chest. She slipped the dress on easily, but found she could do up the ties at the back.
"Jacob," she called, "Do you think you could do up the ties on this dress?" she asked. "I – can't – quite – reach," she said, trying as she spoke.
"Sure." Jacob stepped behind the screen. Alanna smiled and turned around.
"This looks really pretty on you," he commented.
"Thanks," laughed Alanna. When the ties were done up, she turned around to face Jacob. She smiled warmly.
"I'm serious, that looks beautiful," he said kindly. "You just need to fix your hair up a bit –" he moved closed, and ran his fingers through her hair. "It's getting muddy!" he grinned.
"I know," Alanna said dryly, running her own fingers through her hair. Their hands met, and Alanna looked up into Jacob's eyes (*yawn!* typical lurv scene but I can't be bothered thinking up anything more creative at 10:00 at night!!)
Jacob lent forward slightly. He hesitated for a split second, then leant forward and kissed Alanna, at first timid, then passionate. Alanna kissed him back, and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Great Mother, what am I doing? She asked herself wildly. Mithros, I only just find out the guy's name and I'm already getting involved!
Alanna stopped kissing Jacob, and Jacob stopped too. "What's the matter?" he asked Alanna. "Did – did I do something wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"No, no," Alanna said. "I'm – I'm just not – I just, I mean – I, I have to go," she stammered, going red.
"Um, ok," said Joseph. "Just, just get changed then." Joseph undid the ties on the dress and moved from behind the screen. Alanna changed hurriedly, forgetting to bind her chest again. She threw on her breeches and shirt, picked up the dress and stepped out from behind the dress screen.
"Um, thanks for trying on the dress," Jacob said.
'That's ok," said Alanna, handing him the dress and going red again. "I'll – I'll see you later then?"
"Yeah, sure," replied Joseph.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*About two day later*~
"Your Highness, Sir Raoul sent me to tell you that we've found the lady Alanna," said the man Raoul had spoken to.
"Thankyou," replied Jonathan. "I am very pleased. Remain here until Raoul and the others are back."
The man stood and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness," he replied, and left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Got everything?" asked Sir Raoul, still in command. There a was a grumble of "yes"ses amongst the group. "All right there Lady Alanna?" asked Raoul.
Alanna made a sour face, looking at her wrist, which was heavily bandaged. Last night the Bazhir had accepted her into their tribe by ceremony, cutting Alanna's wrist and that of the Headman's and connecting them together, combining the blood.
"I'm fine," she finally said.
Raoul grinned and turned to Halef Sief. "Thankyou for your hospitality," he told the Headman.
"You are welcome," Halef Sief told Raoul. "Anytime you come you will be honoured here."
Raoul thanked the man and the group set out to go back to Corus.
On the way to the palace little was said between Alanna and Jacob. Simple "hello"s and "thankyou"s were exchanged but nothing more. Alanna avoided Jacob and Jacob avoided Alanna, and no conflict was experienced between them or anyone else in the group, so the ride back was peaceful.
As they drew closer and closer to Corus Alanna began feeling sicker and sicker. She mentioned this to Raoul, who shrugged.
"I'm no healer," he told her. "Go to Sir Terrin. He's one of Jacob's friends and a good healer."
So when they had made camp for the night, Alanna went to Sir Terrin. "Call me Terry," he told her. "Now, sit up here and we'll have a look at you," he said, indicating to a stretcher he'd laid out. Alanna sat up on the stretcher.
"Now, tell me the problem," he told her.
"Well, I'm not really sure," she answered. "I've felt really weak ever since we drew nearer to Corus. And whenever I use my Gift I get a splitting headache."
Terry frowned. "You have the Gift?" he inquired.
"Yes," Alanna replied. "I haven't used it much, just to light fires, heal scratches, burn torches or candles, that kind of thing. I'm a lot more comfortable with my Gift than I used to be," she added.
Terry smiled. "Well, we'll reach Corus probably day after next, at the pace we're taking," he told her. "We can find out what the matter is then."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*Yawn* just got out of bed and decided to finish this as it's like the only time I've been on the computer ALL week. I'm serious! My brothers (younger) just got two new games and they've been playing them non-stop and my Dad just started his own home business, using the computer/phone-fax continually through the week!! It's kinda getting annoying so I thought I'd finish it now. Anyways, now that I've blabbered I shall finish up and get started on chapter 16!