Okay, I realise how slow I've been about this, but I've been quite busy recently, with being sick, and school, and ff.net was being annoying…
But apologies for the time taken in getting this up…
An Unexpected Bliss
Chapter Three
"Exactly," Alanna took to pacing around the room, as if to get her thoughts in order. "What I'm saying is," she whirled around to face him once more, "what I'm saying is, someone from a special gang, a specially formed group, is out to kill you, is out to kill us."
Jonathan stared at her for a moment, and blinked.
"What?"
Alanna looked exasperated, and repeated her words to him slowly, as if she was talking to someone with a very low intelligence level.
Jonathan sat there for few minutes, pondering over her words, deciding on a suitable reply, so as not to insult her. Finally he came up with, "Aren't we jumping to conclusions just a little bit?"
"No." Stubbornly.
"Well, I agree someone tried to kill us, but a whole bunch of people, plotting…and you, you just got here…how would they possibly…" Jonathan trailed off, seeing the look on Alanna's face. "It could be possible, I suppose…" he finished uncertainly, not at all sure how to treat this woman he barely knew, a woman who was really not more than a girl.
"Are you saying you think my idea's silly?" Alanna was standing with her hands on her hips, giving him a look that dared him to disagree.
Jonathan chose his words carefully, or he thought he was choosing his words carefully.
"Look, I just don't think you should worry about this, seeing as your-"
"Seeing as I'm a woman? Is that it?" Alanna narrowed her eyes. This was the man she was going to marry, and it turned out he was one and the same as all the others. Thinking men were the superior race, that woman were creatures kept only to look beautiful and proper. Ornaments to add to their wealth like a fine diamond ring or an antique sword.
"No…" Jonathan backtracked hastily, "that's not what I was going to say…"
"But it's what you were thinking!"
"Actually no," Jonathan corrected her coolly, "that's not what I was thinking, but if you'd like to see it that way, be my guest."
Alanna threw him one contemptuous glance before stalking out. Jonathan distinctly heard her mutter something like 'You're all the same,' before she left the room, slamming the door to make her point.
Jonathan opened his mouth to mutter a few choice words of his own. The girl was impossible! The door crept open again and Jonathan looked up almost wearily, thinking Alanna was back to shout at him a bit more, but sighed in relief when he saw Delia's head peek into the room.
Delia walked in, everything about her looking dainty and beautiful. She was dressed gorgeously as always, wearing a pale blue gown, made of a light material that swayed elegantly as she walked. She threw a confused glance back outside the door, into the corridor, and turned her face back to Jonathan.
"Who was she?"
Jonathan shook his head, "It was- it was nobody." He felt a tinge of guilt race through him as she took the seat beside his bed, fanning out her skirts and leaning forward so she could speak to him. Maybe he should've told her…
"What happened Jonathan?"
The concern in her voice made him look away.
"I was attacked, that's all."
"Attacked? Where? Are you alright?" she gushed, leaning over to examine the freshly wrapped bandages.
"Yes" Jonathan replied, smiling up at her, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
Jonathan forced himself to sit up, the effort obviously a strain on his muscles, but he bit the inside of his mouth and bore it, just to prove he was fine. Delia shook her head, amused at his attempt to impress her.
"So you are," she said, pretending to be convinced. She stood up suddenly, and bent over so that her face was hovering just centimetres away from Jonathan's. "I was just wondering…" she started, breath fanning gently on his face.
"Wondering what?" Jonathan whispered, blue eyes never leaving green, leaning forward almost hungrily.
"Whether I should do this…" her words trailed off, leaning forward ever more until her lip finally met his. Jonathan pulled her closer, one arm snaking around her waist, almost pulling her off balance. Delia's hand cupped his cheek for a second, and then pulled away, straightening up, and pressing down her skirts.
"I have to go." She said suddenly, making a move to leave.
"Where?" Jonathan asked, disappointment written all over his face.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She replied, smiling secretively and brushing her thumb over his lips. The beautiful woman turned and left, hips sashaying gently from side to side as she walked.
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Alanna fumed, dragging her comb through her red hair with more force than was necessary. She couldn't believe the way he had reacted, even after she had gone to the trouble of going to see him.
And to make things worse, she had been placed in a room right next to him. Seeing him was bad enough, but having to live next door to him! There was even an adjoining door to the his room. She had tested it, but it was locked. As if she might be tempted to visit before they were married! Jonathan wasn't as irresistible as he looked. In fact, he was the most resistible man she had ever met! He was arrogant, and he thought he was good just because he was a male. She sighed; she would miss this room once they were married.
The comb snagged on a knot, causing Alanna to yelp in pain. Alanna set the comb down, using her fingers to undo the tangle. She felt alone, and scared. Where was Thom when she needed him? Why did her father choose to leave her here all alone? She brushed her hair down straight once again, pleased to find there were no more tangles. She stared into the looking glass critically, her eyes immediately catching on all the things that were wrong with her face. Her hair was too red, her lips; funny shaped, and her cheeks were too flat. The person looking back at her was not a woman, much less a princess ready to be married. That person was a girl, thrown into a world where she didn't belong.
Alanna shook her head, clearing her mind of those miserable thoughts. It didn't matter whether she didn't belong now, because her job was to make herself belong. To make herself the queen everyone wanted. And at least if she wasn't a queen inside her mind, she could look like one on the outside.
She took up her face powder, brushing it over her face to make it look even, the dark kohl pencil, drawn over her eyes, to make them look large and mysterious. Alanna took special care with that; the only part of her face she liked was her eyes, because they were purple and she fancied them intriguing. People didn't easily forget eyes like hers.
Alanna stood up, satisfied with her appearance. It occurred to her suddenly, that though she was all prettied up, she had nowhere to go. She sat back down. Where could she go? Maybe she could find out what the other ladies did all day. It would be nice to have some acquaintances, or possible even friends among the woman at court. If she was going to be queen, she supposed it would help not to have the courtiers talking about her every time she turned her back. She stood up again, straightening out her skirts, wanting to look presentable to anyone she might come across.
The door protested at the effort of opening, groaning and refusing to budge once it had opened up a space of forty centimetres for her to squeeze through. Why hadn't she noticed when she came in? 'Oh that's right,' she thought to herself sardonically, 'I was in a mindless rage.'
Luckily she was small; otherwise she feared she might've got stuck. When she had pulled herself out, she found a reason to be even gladder she hadn't gotten stuck. Outside his room, Jonathan was conversing with a man who seemed a few years older than he; arm still slung up in a bandage. She fought the urge to bolt back into her room and slam the door. But then, she realised with a wry smile, she couldn't. Her door had decided that for her already.
"Alanna," the Prince called, beckoning her forward with a glance. So he had seen her. Alanna moved reluctantly forward, wondering what her fiancée wanted. He smiled at her pleasantly when she reached them, any anger born toward her from their earlier meeting seemed forgotten. Alanna waited with growing impatience, as Jonathan continued his conversation with the older man, not seeming to find it important to introduce her.
The princess tapped her foot impatiently, her gaze drifted from her prince to the stranger. He was clothed in fine velvet cloak, which, draped over his shoulders elegantly, spoke of importance and high standing. Under that he wore a violet tunic and jade hose. She found a strange curiosity about this man, wanting to find out more about him, and yet at the same time wanting to keep well away. Alanna's eyes travelled up the muscled build to his face, noting the cool blue eyes which listened to Jonathan's words with interest, the handsomely swept brown hair, and the charming smile he directed at her once he realised she was staring.
Alanna blushed, dropping her eyes in embarrassment. The other man seemed to find her discomfort amusing, as too did Jonathan. "This is my cousin, Duke Roger of Conte," he introduced, not bothering to hide a smile. Alanna felt her mortification growing, this man was Jonathan's cousin, and she had been caught staring! Even so, she held out her hand to be kissed as was required.
The Duke took up her hand, and Alanna felt as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down her back. The cold feeling didn't leave until his hand had broken all contact with hers, and even after Alanna felt a slight chill. Unconsciously she brought her hands up, rubbing her arms to warm herself up. Neither man seemed to notice it as strange, both accepting that the cold came from the draughty air inside the castle, the thought never crossing their minds that it came from her own mind.
"Roger, this is my betrothed, the Princess Alanna of Lower Tortall."
The Duke's gaze reverted back to her, no longer filled with polite courtesy but gleaming with interest. "So this is your betrothed," he murmured, eyes never leaving her face. Alanna wished that he would look away; the hairs on the back of her neck were prickling with unease. Finally he did, eyes turning back to Jonathan, and Alanna breathed a sigh of relief. She wondered what he had been thinking while he was looking at her, whatever it was, she had a feeling it wasn't pleasant.
Jonathan smiled at his cousin, and patted him on the back as the Duke turned away, bidding them both farewell for the time being. Alanna stared after him, eyes on his muscular back, unable to stop the look of relief that crossed her face once he had disappeared from sight.
"I suggest you get to know him better." The curt tone came from Jonathan, and she supposed he had noticed the look on her face. "He is one of my best friends, and once we are married you will be spending quite some time with him."
Alanna didn't like the chastising tone in his voice, and had the mind to tell him so, but instead she bit her lip and held her tongue.
"Now where were you heading, all made up? It's not safe you know, wandering around the palace on your own. My father likes to think everyone is kind and good inside, but they're not, and someone could easily take advantage of you."
Alanna hoisted up her skirt pompously. "I think I can quite take care of myself, thankyou!" She spun on her heel with dramatic flare and made a move to walk away. Behind her, she could hear Jonathan swearing to himself, very quietly, but she heard it, and then felt a hand grasp her forearm from behind.
"Look," he said wearily when she struggled in his grasp, "I have to make sure your safe, so I'll find one of the court ladies to take you around." She nodded and stopped resisting his grip. He dropped her arm and beckoned her to follow him. "This way."
Alanna wondered if he'd act so haughty after a well placed kick to his privates, but restrained, knowing it wouldn't make her any more popular around here. He led her to a small alcove, and from it Alanna could hear female laughter tinkling merrily, and then a rougher, male chuckle. Jonathan held out a hand, barring her path and motioning for her to be quiet. They both stood in silence, listening to the voices coming from inside. There was a brief period of silence, and then more laughter. Jonathan backed away a little, dragging Alanna with him.
"Pretend we just arrived," he whispered into her ear. She shot him a confused glance but obeyed, glancing curiously at Jonathan as he crunched loudly up the path. There was a scramble of motion from inside, and Jonathan called out, "Gary? I need to speak to-" he broke of when a young man appeared, looking, Alanna thought, a little older than Jonathan. Behind him appeared a woman, and the source of the female voice. Alanna couldn't help but note jealously that she was astoundingly beautiful.
"Cythera," he finished, addressing the young woman, "If you're not too busy, can I trouble you to introduce Alanna to our palace life and the courtiers?"
"So formal, Jon," Cythera said, smiling wickedly at Jonathan, "One would have thought you would prefer to introduce her to…" she paused, letting the sentence hang, "our…uh… palace life as you say, yourself…" There was more than a bit of suggestive hint in her voice which left Alanna blushing.
"Haha," Jonathan said dryly. He nudged Alanna forward with a small push on her back. "This is Alanna, Princess of Lower Tortall."
Cythera gasped, flushing in embarrassment. "Sorry, my Princess," she apologised as she curtsied. "I didn't realise. I thought you were just one of Jonathan's many-", she stopped suddenly, seeing the look on the Prince's face. "One of his many friends," she finished lamely.
Gary bowed politely and kissed Alanna's hand, while looking searchingly at Jonathan. Jonathan evaded his gaze, watching Alanna instead.
"Will you take her now?" he said, directing the question at Cythera.
"Yes, of course. I'll see you Gary," she said, letting Gary kiss her hand. "And you, your Highness."
Jonathan inclined his head, and Cythera beckoned Alanna away. Gary stepped up to Jonathan's side, following his gaze to the two ladies and watching until they disappeared from sight.
"Is she really…?" He started, turning to his cousin. "Your parents didn't…they wouldn't have…"
Jonathan nodded grimly. "They did."
"When are you-"
"A week, perhaps. Ten days at the most."
Gary patted his cousin's injured arm soothingly. "She seems nice."
"Nice. Seems nice." Jonathan collapsed onto the ground, scrubbing his face with his hand. "She's not." He added, as if the earlier statement hadn't got the message through.
Gary sat on the ground next to him, folding his legs between his arms. He wasn't quite sure what to say, this comforting thing had never been his speciality. Instead he spoke truthfully. "It's not something you can change, so you might as well live with it. One day you'll love her well enough."
Beside him, Jonathan laughed disbelievingly. Gary held his hand up, motioning for Jonathan to let him finish. "You will. You'll have an heir, and a few more children, and you'll rule together, and grow old together. Doesn't sound too good now, but one day, I'm sure you'll be friends."
"I hate her," came the muffled reply, "she gets under my skin."
"You barely know her," Gary interjected reasonably.
"I can't believe this." Jonathan said, after a couple of minutes of silence.
"You know it's for the good of-"
Jonathan's head shot immediately out of his hands. "If you dare finish that sentence with 'the kingdom', you won't ever have the chance to speak another."
"Your future kingdom," Gary finished cheekily. Jonathan groaned.
"My future kingdom," he repeated, shaking his head and staring out into the horizon stretching into the far distance over the said kingdom. Gary could see that his mind was elsewhere. "What am I going to do?" the Prince murmured despondently.
"What you have to," was the calm, if not a little grim sounding reply.
"What I have to…" Jonathan repeated softly, as if speaking only to himself, his eyes still gazing out at the distant horizon.
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I really appreciate constructive criticism, so anything you've been thinking could be a little better while reading, please tell me in your reviews.
Thanks to everyone whose reviewed so far!
~ Lyra