~*~*~*~ The Pride of the Convent ~*~*~*~
Chapter Ten: An Order's An Order
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Disclaimer: **evil, albeit, highly relieved laughter** I've drawn up an alliance with George! He's got his dagger ready, and sharp, I might add! The lesser characters have fallen in line, but not Alanna and Thom and Roger and Jon. Curse them. Maybe by the next chapter…George does have his ways…and I have mine. Actually I don't. I just have luck. Now, Tammy P., well, she has her ways, and she get the characters to do what she wants. They run amok for me! Oh, well, Tammy is wonderful! Bless her!
Author's Note: Honestly. Don't you hate it when all you want to do is write and you're stuck away from a place where you can write and time just does not allow? Well, that was the past few days for me. My little cousin, (Patty, 12) slept over at my house last night, and we talked about books. I tried and tried to get her to read some Tammy, but no luck. I was reading Tammy by then! Double sheesh. Any way. Finally I get to write. Sorry if it's a bit late. Remember, I'm upset about not writing it too. Oh, and a very, very, very, Happy Birthday to Michelle! (A bit late, but that's ok!) Happy 15th! ::blows party horn and throws confetti!::
~~~
Roger of Conte strode into his rooms to find Delia lounging in an armchair, looking ravishing as usual, but clearly disturbed.
"Delia, pet, what brings you to my rooms?"
"Your darling duffer of a cousin, my lord."
Roger looked at her questioningly while pouring them each a glass of wine. He handed one to Delia and drank from his own. "What seems to be the problem?"
"He keeps pushing me away! I can't figure out why! Ever since that Trebond girl publicly embarrassed him, and well, herself, he's been bottling himself up! Oh, he'll dance with me, and murmur pleasantries, but I'm getting nowhere with him and I'd get nowhere further if I threw myself at him!"
"Could it be possible that he's fallen in love with the young Trebond?" the duke asked, his voice smooth.
Delia looked utterly disgusted. "I would hope for his own sake that he hasn't and we all know how highly I think of him!"
The duke grinned at the girl. "Enough to help me in my little plan, that's for certain."
Delia laughed a bubbly laugh and the duke asked her about Alanna again. "Is it possible?"
Delia shrugged. "I suppose so. She isn't that much of a hag, when she tries to make herself look presentable."
The duke nodded. "If he's in love, then she's cross with him. I haven't seen them together."
"Oh, she's very cross with him, and he with her, for good reason." Delia told Roger of the outburst at the ball. Roger sighed. I suppose I'll have to go talk to him then, give him some advices on love. I'm certain he needs it, if he'd turn down a jewel like you, Delia, my pet."
Delia grinned, but it was twisted with vengeance, making the overall effect sickening.
~
Alanna crouched outside a small building, a dagger in one hand. George motioned with one hand and she gave him a slight nod. George pushed open a door, and entered alone. Alanna pressed her ear to a crack in the wall and could hear muffled voices. She could tell George's and from what she heard, challenges had been tossed to the ground. There was a scuffing of feet, eight pairs by the sound of it, and a loud thud. Alanna peered in through the crack. Five men were advancing on George.
Damn it, George! she thought, as she raced into give the Rogue a hand. She tossed a dagger, from the doorway. It buried itself in a man's shoulder. He grunted, and pulled it from his flesh and tossed it to the floor, but he was bleeding profusely already. He came at Alanna a rusted sword in hand. Alanna grimaced, and drew hers. He slashed at her sloppily, and she dodged it and ran at him, shouldering him in the gut. He went down, but another man was quick to attack her. He came at her with a murderous looking ax. Alanna cursed, and rolled away from it, ending up back to back with George.
"Two down, five to go!" he said, cheerily.
"You're bleeding!" she accused, worriedly.
"Just a nick! Don't worry about me, darlin'!" He threw a punch at a man that was attacking him, and succeeded in bloodying the man's nose. A very large man came at Alanna, hands clenched into fists. Alanna gulped. She could street fight to a certain degree, but there was no way she could take down this man. She had no choice though. She sheathed her sword and looked about quickly. Another of the men had set into George, coming at him with a dagger in hand. Two men were warily watching, ready to join if needed, and the large man was coming closer. Alanna charged the man, and winded him, but he recovered quickly and drew his dagger on her. She was quick to bring her own up to his, pushing his blade up with all her might. She managed to get him to stumble and thrust her blade at him. He had to step to the side, making it very easy for Alanna to kick him in the gut. He went down, winded, and Alanna whapped him on the head with the butt of her dagger, knocking him unconscious.
George was far worse off. Two men were coming at him, daggers out. He cursed and went into a crouch as one men attacked him quickly. George thrust out leg, and knocked the man from his feet. Alanna expertly took down the other one.
One of the men that had been watching, ran from the door, a barely recovered man following.
George nodded after them and Alanna took off to bring them back.
George grabbed the man by the front of his tunic. "You've been causing more trouble lately then you have in a while," he scolded. "Why?"
"Majesty," the man said, quietly. "It has nothing to do with your rule. I honor you as my king, but I cannot honor her as anything but a wench. You've let her into the inner ring awfully quickly, Majesty, and I won't be ruled by no wench."
"Listen to me! I have chosen her as my second, and if you're going to go against her, then you're going against the Rogue and that will not be tolerated. So, I suggest you find out where your loyalties lie, because that wench can fight better then the whole lot of your gang."
"Yes, Majesty," the man grumbled. "I swear to honor the Rogue…"
"Good," George said, crossly, and tossed the man to the floor. Alanna came in with the two runaways before her.
"It's been settled," George said, quietly.
The man on the floor nodded to his men and they bowed to George grudgingly.
"Any trouble from you lot, and you'll be missin' an ear. Hear me?" George asked, sheathing his dagger, as Alanna recovered hers.
An affirmative twitter went up around the room and George nodded. "Good. C'mon Lanna. We have another gang to take down tonight!"
They left, still watching their backs.
~
That week, Alanna and George had to rally six small gangs back in line, and each time, when Alanna would gather the strays, George would hear the same comment. His men did not like being ruled by a lady. One night, when Alanna was trailing a runner, George held one of his men at dagger point and the man confessed.
"Majesty, it's wrong for a woman to be fightin' and such! Women are too soft to fight, and they don't belong workin' for the Rogue!"
"Did you see how she fought?" George asked, harshly.
The man nodded grudgingly. "But, Majesty, 'tisn't natural!"
"It's natural for her, and if I hear one more word from any of your lads about whether she should work for the Rogue or not, I'll be after you, and don't you dare doubt it."
"Yes, Majesty." The man hung his head and George stalked from the house and found Alanna waiting outside, cleaning her dagger.
"You look whipped," she commented.
He shrugged. "I think a drink would help."
She nodded and he grinned and they walked through Lower Corus alone.
~
"Ah! There you are cousin!" Roger said, catching Jon walking through the gardens, in search of Alanna.
"Oh, Roger!" Jon said, quickly closing the gap between him and his cousin.
"I hear that you've had quite a war with love, cousin," Roger said smoothly, sitting on a bench in the gardens motioning for Jon to sit as well. The prince did, and looked at his cousin, in wonder.
"Yes, I've been having some troubles."
The duke shook his head. "Well, let's hear about them. I'm sure I could help you in someway."
Jon explained what had gone on between him and Alanna, and confessed to his cousin that he liked her a great deal, but couldn't find the words to say to her.
"Jon, please think about this. Do you really want a girl that you have to fight with? Don't you want a girl that will love you in return and not wage war with you?" Roger looked at his cousin, his blue eyes grave.
Jon said nothing. Maybe Roger is right, he thought. I want someone that will return my feelings, but hasn't Alanna done that?
"Please think about that, cousin," the duke said, patting Jon on the shoulder and strolling from the gardens. Jon sighed and went to find Gary. Gary was the romantic, after all, and would surely know what to say.
~
"Good block! Let's try that sequence again, faster this time!" Raoul said, bringing his blade up to deflect Alanna's attack.
"Higher Alanna!" Gary said, from the sidelines. Alanna brought her blade up and found the attack much easier
Suddenly, Gary turned suddenly, hearing footsteps in the hall. He gave Alanna a meaningful 'run!' look.
~
Jon heard the clang of swords on a practice court and remembered that Gary taught the young ones in the afternoons, and figured he find his friend if he followed the ringing of metal on metal. The sound lead him a scarcely used practice court and he strode in, only to see a flash of red leaving through a door that led out into the practice yards.
"Who was that?" Jon asked.
"Thom!" Raoul lied quickly.
Jon's brows knit. "I just saw Thom in his room a short while ago, studying."
Raoul turned pale and Jon ran from court into the yard, only to see a person with long, curly, coppery hair jump the fence and disappear behind a wall of the palace.
Jon stared hard after the figure, and finally said quietly, "Oh Mithros…what doesn't she do?"
"Who?" Gary asked, uneasily, praying that Alanna's secret had not come undone. It had unfortunately.
"Alanna of Trebond. None other," Jon mused, looking at his friends, shaking his head.
"You can't tell a soul, Jon!" Gary said, forcefully.
Jon nodded. "I won't. But, now, I need to talk to her more then ever." And with that, he ran from the courts and to Alanna's room, where he knocked politely on the door.
"WHAT?" came Alanna's angry and very nervous voice.
"It's your least favorite person in the whole world!" Jon called, through the door. "May I come in?"
"No! I'm not decent!" she lied. She had been lying on her bed, cursing, still in her breeches and tunic.
"Alanna, please. Let me in," he pleaded. He knew she was dressed, granted she was dressed in boy's clothes but she was dressed.
"I told you! I'm not decent!"
"Oh, for Mithros sake Alanna!" Very slowly, he pushed the door open. She was lying face down on her bed, clad in boy's clothes. When she heard the door open, she flung a pillow at him, and quickly ran into her dressing room.
"I told you I wasn't decent!" she shouted.
"You're dressed," he replied, reasonably.
"Not how I'm supposed to be!"
"Alanna, are you ever what you're supposed to be?"
She stuck her head out from the dressing room. "What do you care anyway?"
"More then you'd guess! I admit it. I acted like an idiot and tried to make you be something you're not, which was one of the dumbest things I've done in a long time, and I am so sorry for it Alanna!"
Alanna glared at him, and went into her dressing room, where she changed into a gown. She came out and sat on her bed, looking at him with cold eyes.
"Alanna, I've felt very bad these past few days. It really tears me apart, seeing you so angry at me."
"It's easy to be."
Jon grinned. "I'm sure it is. How hard it is to not be angry with me?" He gave her a soft smile, and took her hand in his.
She grumbled something and gave him one final glare then softened. "I hate you," she muttered, in defeat.
He laughed, softly. "I know, Alanna, and I bet I don't want to get on your bad side!"
"You saw?"
He nodded.
Alanna groaned and rested her head in her hands.
"Come on then. I don't bet that you and Gary had finished for the day."
"What?" she asked, sharply, looking up.
"Put your breeches back on. We're going down to the courts."
"Is that an order, Highness?" she asked, her eyes twinkling, a small smile spreading over her face.
"You bet it is!"
Alanna smiled at him, as she went into her dressing room, to put back on her boy's clothes.
"You can't tell anyone Jon! It's already getting out of hand!" she told him.
"Is that an order?" he asked.
She came out of her dressing room, grinning. "Of course, Majesty!"
~~~
Author's Note: Sorry about the A/J fluff. Ugh…it was hard to write! Trust me. Don't hate me for it! It had to be in there, because a) Jon must know she fights b) Roger's plan had to be foiled and c) It's torture to the Eldorne chick. So, I know a lot of you aren't much for A/J, and I'm not either, at least in my own fic, but please keep reading. I'm getting little ideas for A/G and I sooo wanted one in this chapter, but it didn't work out, so keep watch. There will be A/G fluff soon! Promise! Okay, by the way, you guys are the greatest! Your reviews have been very nice! Here's thanks and all that stuff!
To:
EireVerde: Soooo sooo soo soo sorry! I'm just a dum dum sometimes! Very sorry! Tried for some action in this chapter. A bit of a fight, and even some Alanna/Jon stuff happening! It's all starting to come together, I suppose! Thank for reading and reviewing!
Silenttina: Very sure, and this will NOT be a A/R, because…I don't know. He reminds me of a nut case…I'll try to make some bad stuff happen to Jon, okay? I need my ears too, okay? Please! I treasure them! Let me keep 'em a few chapters more, at least. Okay? Thanks for reading and thanks for the suggestions. The Alanna/Roger love child, while appealing won't fit in this fic, but who knows what else could come?
Temptress: Thanks much for the review! Yes, I do like this one so much more then my HP. TP fans are just funner! Glad you like it!!
CrystalRose: I changed someone's mind!! Joy!! The romance is coming…subtle, but it will be there! I suppose Jon acting like a prig is good fun though, always good for a laugh. Specially if someone (i.e. Alanna) is there to beat him! Lol. I'll keep slipping fluff in, but nothing as fluffy as a bunny! Glad you like it!!!
Undiscovered Actree: **blushes** Thanks!!! That really really means a lot to me!! Have a look out for Alanna/convent and Kel/convent fics, because there are some very good ones out there! And, about my chapter titles, well, Jester And A Puppy…hmm…well, Alanna's joking a bit, I suppose, with George, you know, and well, Trycia follows her around like a puppy, as George said, and there was a lot of Trycia this chapter, so that's where I got it! Strange, yes I know, but they seem to make sense at the time! Lol…I'm a bit of a loon…Anyway, I'm soo glad that you like it!!!!!!! Thanks for reading!
~Angel~: I'm glad you like it, but it can't be an A/J when the end comes around. There will be A/J fluff along the way, but Jon will get dumped in the end. Okay? Sorry, but it's already planned out! Thanks for the review!
Glacial Phoenix Mystiara: BAM!!!!! Okay, Jon wasn't supposed to find out yet, but, I don't know, it worked out. I guess. It was sort of anticlimactic, I know, and I wish I could have done it differently, but this chapter just works for the story. Well, SOMEONE will be surprised sometime….Sorry for the boringness of that….Thanks for readin' and reviewing!!!!!!
Keziah: Well, something happened. Not how I intended it to, but there you go! Sorry FFN is sucking for you….I thought the upgrade was supposed to make it better, not worse! Oh, as far as the Rogue, more next chapter! Might be good! Thanks!
Goddess of Whatever: **blushes** Thank you!!!!!!!!
Allure: Really?? Wow!!!!! Yay!!!! And Joy!!!!!!! Okay. I'll take a chill. Thanks sooo much for readin' and reviewing!
Sadrine Black: Like a rough in the diamonds! Lol…I'm glad you like it, and very glad you found it and read it! Thanks much!!!
Xelena: **grins and blushes** Thank you!!!!
Lulu: I'm just glad you're still reading!! Thanks for reading and reviewing! Glad you like it!
Michelle: Happy 15th!!!!! Some aspects of the books will start coming into the story, along with some other off the wall stuff! Roger will try to kill the Trebonds. Trust me, and Alanna is all ready suspicious. Poor Roger! As to good stories, check my faves…there are a few good ones in there, and my favorite authors. A few good ones. Aside from me… **blushes** Morrigan had some good ones in her faves too, so, my main suggestion, see what everyone else likes. It's what I do, most of the time! I read this one Kel fic today, and there was soo much Jon hatred. I rather liked it! Haha! It's "We Aren't Betrothed….Are We?" It's pretty good. Well, there you go! Thanks!!!!! Again, Happy B-Day!
Myuu: Hooked? Yay!!!! I'm glad you think I'm being true to the characters and the books!!! Thanks!!!!!!! **blushes** I'm glad you like the A/G. It will build up soon! Thanks for reading, and I'm super glad you enjoy it! I'm on a faves list!!!!!! Wowiee!!!!!! Yippieee and of course JOY!!!!!! Lol… :o) Thanks a bundle!
Author's Note: Idea formed for next chapter. It will either be loved, or it will be hated. I'm not sure which. I rather like it and it makes for a bit of A/G, so we'll see! Once again, you guys are the best!!!!!! Thanks!!!! I couldn't wish for better readers/reviewers!!!! Thanks!!!