~*~*~*~ The Pride of the Convent ~*~*~*~
Chapter Sixteen: Days of our Lives
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Disclaimer: Roses are read, violets are blue, if you think I own this, then please get a clue! If only, then yay! I'd be touring the country, doing book signings and all that rot. But no. Not I. That'd be Tamora Pierce! I don't really own the chapter title either!
Author's Note: Can you believe I have had writer's block for a week? Not just on this story but also on EVERY story I'm writing. I've been writing a lot of fics, too. (This is my favorite though) I promise not to leave you stranded for more then a week! I'm very sorry for the long time in updating. Now, a question for the reading public, if I sum up a few months in one chapter (not much happens, Alanna back at the convent) would you mind too badly? I have such plans for the future! And I can't wait to write them! But, tell me what your opinion on that would be. Right now, I'm going to write this chapter. Oh! I know I made a big boo-boo last chapter! I said Jon instead of George! Tons of you guys caught it! Good job! As to that, you guys are wonderful! But, as long as you got the meaning, right??? (Very sorry for that!)
~~~
Alanna was sitting on the cot, dressed and tugging on a boot, when George strode in.
"What are you doing?" he asked quickly.
"Your mother says I'm well enough to leave," Alanna explained, pulling on the other boot.
George grinned. "I thought for sure you were trying to sneak off."
"You'd think that of me?" Alanna asked in mock disbelief, smiling as she stood.
"Of course I would."
She shook her head. "You know me too well." She sighed. "Back to court life, I suppose."
George looked at her for a long moment. "Alanna," he said, a thoughtful look on his face. "Mind if I walk you to the edge of the Temple District? I'd like to talk to you about something."
Alanna nodded. "Of course, but…what?" she asked, looking confused.
"Well, let's start out, then I'll have figured out how to begin." He led her from his mother's cottage, Alanna thanking Mistress Cooper, as they passed through the kitchen. Mistress Cooper made her swear to visit. Alanna did. Finally, walking through Lower Corus with George, something Alanna rather enjoyed, George said what he had been trying to say.
"Alanna," he began, biting his lip, "If you don't like court life, and don't like being a noble, then why not give it all up?"
Alanna stared at him.
"Why not make a life for yourself, the kind of life you'd like, away from the nobles, away from the court games? Where you won't have to hide who you are."
Alanna sighed. "Trust me, George. Not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of that. But, in some ways, I still haven't given up on my dreams of becoming a warrior, of traveling all throughout Tortall, doing good deeds, and saving lives."
George said nothing for a few seconds, but then said, "And what's to say that you have to be noble to do that?"
Alanna sighed again. "Nothing, but here I am, being trained by real knights in swordplay, learning about how real knights act and yet, I am also learning about espionage, street fighting, and the art of theft. As much as I hate the nobles, I am happy now. I'm learning what I'll need to know for the rest of my life."
"But what after a year of that Alanna?" George asked. "Or two even?"
Alanna bit her lip. "I…I don't know. I am saving up for a horse and weapons. I guess, I'll go questing."
George fixed her with a level gaze. "How do you think the public will like a questing woman?"
"I'll hide my gender, if I have to. I almost did it to become a knight."
It was George's turn to sigh. "You'd leave the Rogue?"
Alanna looked crestfallen. "I don't know….I would never want to…George, I don't know what I want."
"The Rogue'd miss you, Alanna." He didn't say how much he'd miss her as well.
"I'd sure miss it too." She sighed. "If only I'd come here, and not Thom."
"Please consider it Alanna. A common lifestyle. You'd stay in practice, and you'd have nothing to tie you down."
Her shoulders sank. "If I could give up life as a noble, I'd do it in a blink, George. But I can't. Perhaps after…well, after, I've gone questing I suppose."
"After you've proven yourself?"
She nodded, and found that they'd been standing in the shadows of a building on the edge of the Temple District for some time now.
George nodded in understanding. "Will you remain in the Rogue until you go off questing?"
Alanna frowned. "Of course! So, now you'll start doubting me?" She gave him a very lopsided look.
"I'd never doubt you," George replied, softly.
Alanna gave him a small smile. "Good."
She nodded to him and slid off through the Temple District, and back into the palace to the empty haven of her room, where she immediately fell onto the bed, her book of war before her.
George on the other hand, watched her until she disappeared behind a temple. He bit his lip. Are her days in the Rogue numbered? he though. What if she vanished after those two years, never to return to the Court again? He grumbled to himself about being too far attached and walked back to the Dove.
~~~
As he sat brooding over his ale, Rispah came to sit next to him.
"Hello dear cousin!" she said, cheerily.
George looked up at her, and said nothing.
"What is it George?" she asked, curiously.
George sighed. "How much of a secret can you keep?"
Rispah grinned. "I still haven't told anyone what you did on your seventh birthday, have I?."
George blanched. "Rispah…" he said warningly.
Her eyes crinkled in laughter. "I can keep a secret. I have a feeling this one isn't one of your own?"
He shook his head.
"C'mon then. Let's go somewhere quiet."
George nodded and told Solom that they were not to be disturbed before they slid up into his room.
"Is this about Lanna?" Rispah asked, sitting down.
George nodded, and slowly told Rispah everything. How Alanna was a noble, how she wanted her shield and how she had won over the Court of the Rogue. How he loved her. How she planned to leave.
Rispah listened without commenting, and when George finished, she gave him a measuring look.
"Tell her."
George's eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but didn't.
"She' bright," Rispah said, "but not even a mage could make his way into your mind. She might guess, George, but she'll probably dismiss it, unless, that is, you tell her."
He swallowed. "And what if she doesn't love me?"
"If you love her, and don't want her to leave, being wrong is a chance you'll have to take. And even if she doesn't love you, you're still her friend, and she loves the Rogue. She was sincere when she told you that it'd be hard for her to leave it."
George nodded. "You're right. Now, the only question is, how to tell her."
"That, dear cousin," Rispah said, a smile tweaking at the corners of her mouth, "is for you to figure out yourself."
~~~
Murmurs were starting to circulate about the palace. Where had the young Trebond lady gone? Was she ill as her brother said, or had she left the palace? No one knew for sure, but many people were starting to become suspicious, and when Alanna came to dinner, the next night, looking pale, and tired, and somewhat ill, no one said a word, but their minds continued to work in a frenzy.
What was wrong with her? Was it the fault of magic? Was it contagious? No one's questions were ever answered. Alanna simply said she had caught a bug, and had been sleeping most of the days she'd been ill, but was feeling much better.
People remained suspicious though, but a few of them let it slide, like Gary and Raoul, who were glad to resume her training again.
During one afternoon of such practice, Gary finally worked up the nerve to ask. "Alanna, what were you sick with, a week ago?"
Alanna chewed her lip, as she ran a rag down her sword. "I've always been one to take sick easily," she lied, "and I suppose a summer's flu passed through. My maid was coughing quiet an unusual amount, and I noticed Thom was also a bit green in the cheeks, when he'd visit me."
Gary nodded, understandingly. Thom had seemed a bit ill the previous week, and only Alanna, Thom, George and Mistress Cooper knew that it had been from anxiety.
Raoul dragged her to her feet. "I suspect Jon will be by in a few minutes, to see how you're doing, and to fence with me to impress you. Let's be busy when he comes in. Guard." Alanna scowled at him, but rose her bowed to him.
~~~
Raoul and Gary cornered Thom one evening, insisting that they needed to talk to him. Thom agreed quickly, his mind immediately jumping to Alanna. She'd been spending a great deal of time with the knights, and now Thom worried that they had their suspicions. He was right.
"I know you'll try to tell us that she only had a touch of the flu," Gary said, slowly, "but, Thom, we're not so sure that the flu's all she had."
Thom said nothing, but looked from one of his friends to the other.
"We're only concerned for her, Thom," Raoul said reasonably. "I've noticed a few new scars on her pretty little face, that I know she can't have gotten from being clumsy, which she certainly isn't anyway.
Thom sighed. "I'll have no part in this. If you've suspicions, you have to take them to Alanna yourself."
Gary peered at the younger man. "You've done nothing to squash our doubts. If she'd been sick, wouldn't you have simply said so?"
Thom, had known that this would follow his response, and he was prepared for it. "If you didn't believe Alanna, I didn't think you'd believe me either. But, it's not my place to discuss what she does with her personal life."
"She's your sister, Thom!" Raoul protested, his voice twinged with anxiousness.
"Exactly," Thom agreed, and slid past the two knights and out of the room, leaving them both open-mouthed and shocked. Thom certainly was braver, now that he had someone behind him fully. His sister.
~~~
"Roger!" It was the first time Delia had been alone with the duke in weeks, and she wasn't happy. "I thought you said you'd take care of the Trebond girl! She's here! In one piece! Alive!"
The duke only frowned at the girl. "I'm aware of that Delia. Don't think I haven't tried to kill her. No, Delia, I've been working hard on it. But did you ever stop and think that maybe Alanna isn't only what you see of her? You know that she sneaks out; that's been proven. But do you know where and why?"
"No!" she said, glaring, "You've never told me!"
The duke tutted at her. "You're charming Delia, but you're a girl, and girls talk. But, I suppose I could tell you one little thing about the Trebond girl. After all, you've been so helpful."
Delia smiled at the duke, but fury flashed behind her eyes.
"Our young Trebond is a-"
Just that moment, Alex of Tirragen strode in. "A message for you, my lord, from Carthak" he said, bowing slightly and handing the duke a sealed envelope. If Alex noticed the significant weight of the message, he didn't say anything.
"Ah, thank you Alex! Now, please sit would you. You've been one of my strongest allies, of late," the duke said, not meeting Delia's scorning eyes, but Alex's flashing dark ones, "and I've an interesting proposition for you."
Alex nodded, curtly, his shadowed face showing none of his emotions.
"Woo the Trebond girl," Roger said, toying with the pendant about his neck.
"Excuse me, your lordship, but, you do know how attached to the girl the Prince is, don't you?"
Roger looked disgusted. "It's something that cannot be helped. But, there's nothing to say we can't sway her is there?"
Alex shook his head, the smallest smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Of course not, my lord."
"Good," Roger said, his blue eyes glinting. "Charm her, Alex. I know you'll be able to."
"Yes my lord. It'll be done." For once, he laughed, softly. "And with the beautiful Delia," Delia smiled, as Alex winked at her, "wooing the Prince, it should all play right into your hands."
The duke smiled, charmingly. "That's the plan."
~~~
"Might I have this dance, my lady?" Alex of Tirragen asked, smiling attractively at the fiery haired girl, who stood talking with a few nobles.
Alanna turned, smiled and curtsied. "Of course, my lord." She gave him her hand, which he kissed, and allowed him to draw her out onto the dance floor.
"Finally, a dance with you," he said, giving her a kind look.
She forced herself to blush. "You've wanted a dance with me, my lord?" she asked, softly.
He gave her a coy grin. "Yes, my lady."
"I'm honored my lord."
He grinned again, and swirled her around the dance floor, with the grace of a cat. His eyes never left hers.
Neither did Jonathan's.
~~~
Author's Note: All done! Just so you know, I'm not being a slack! This was done Thursday night, but we all know how much fun FFN is being! I'm very sad to say that chapters might come even slower, because I start the dreaded school next Tuesday! Ahh!!! Well, okay, this chapter. What'd ya think? I think it was a bit heavy, with so much dread and evil and all that rot, but, it lets you peek in on Alanna's future, doesn't it? Hahaha. I will only have a few more chapters about the summer, and the fall (at the convent) will pass fairly quickly. Some events around winter, but the plot really thickens around the spring of next year. So, don't fret, if you think this isn't going anywhere yet. I have my plans! Now, reader thanks!
To:
Glacial Phoenix Mystiara: It was really really nice chatting with you!!! Glad you liked it! And yes, of course Alanna is okay! (The evil plan wouldn't work with out her!) Thanks!!
EireVerde: Yeah, as it is an Alanna fic, it sort of does help for Alanna to be awake, doesn't it? Glad you liked it! Thanks for answering my questions! (I did that in English too. To bug the teacher, I'd say home decorating styles, i.e. French Country. :o)) I can definitely tolerate Kel/Joren. The author below, yes, look down, yeah her, has a really good, believable Kel/Joren! Thanks for the further recommendations, though! I'll be sure to check them out!
The Dark Lady Adrienne: Hello! How's it goin? Lol. Thanks!! I'm glad it's readable. You've very clever, and quiet modest as well! Three betas? Wow! Amazing! Thanks!!!! *blushes*
Anonymous: Glad you like it!!! Ah, waiting to post? Cool. You really should! I'd love to beta them! (As you've noticed I've been begging to beta for someone!) I think I have read some of opal-dragon's but, I can't remember. They come highly recommended, so I'll have to double check! Thanks! And thanks for the wonderfully nice review!
Krazy Kitty: Hello again! Glad you like it! How was camp and Florida? Lucky ducky, I've been stuck at home all summer! Hope you had fun!!
Keziah: Thanks for all the answers! I will definitely look into reading some of those fics! And I will read yours when I get the chance! Thanks!! Me? Write like the great Tamora Pierce?? **runs blushing into the closet** Thank you!!! I'm glad youlike my characters!!! **more blushing** Thanks for the nice longgggg review!
Jadedragon002: Or else? Haha, I like the sound of that. Isn't threatening authors fun? Glad you like it!
Temptress: Thanks! And thanks for the answer! It did help! Thanks much!!!
Soho Chic: Everyone's devoted to Alanna! Lol. Thanks for keeping the joint fic in mind! I don't write Daine and Numair much anyway, so no big! I'll definitely remember that you're open to doing a joint fic! Thanks!
Meggie2888: Thanks! I know, I know, I proofed this chapter awfully! Good job catching my error! Thanks!!!! Glad you like it!
Sovereign: Glad you like it! Thanks!
Siren Porter: Oh! I'm glad that you're liking it more as it progresses! Thanks for all the recommendations!!!! Thanks for the wonderful review!! Have I read your story? I don't know! I definitely will though! Thanks!
DivaBear: Glad you like it! How can you not have comedy when you have Alanna and how can you forget the romance when there's a whole court full of knights/squires around? :o) Thanks!!!!
Lady Katherine: Thanks!!! Glad you like it!! **grins and dances** Well, A/J for the time being! Glad you like my style!! Thanks for the wonderful review! I think I've read your story! Yeah, I remember it! I like it!!
Hoppuschick182: Lol, yeah, oh! Another punky Tamora P writer is Punk Princess. She's got a pretty cool fic, if you want to check her out too! Good tastes in a boy friend. Lol! **blushes and hides in the closet again** Thank you!!!!!! Thank you!!!! **grins** Thanks for the review!!!
Ally: Glad you like it! Thanks!
Dandylioness: Thank you!! Glad you like it! Oh! Nice to know I got my characters right this chapter! **wink** Thanks!!!!
Tasidia: This is a response to your chapter four review, asking why George didn't know that Alanna was disguised. Remember, her Gift shields her from his Gift. That's why he didn't know she was a girl, in the Alanna series! Glad you like it! Hope you make it this far! **wink**
Punk Princess: Wow! A nice long review! Yay! When I asked if "guys" were reading this, I meant "boys." Lol! :o) You lost me there, on the underlining bit. I've tried doing it and saving it, but it never works. This should be underlined. Is it? Probably not, cuz the computer hates me! I love your fic! Thanks for all the answers to all my questions! (That sit and type thing, very popular when I write my HP fics…) Lol, thanks!!! (No A/J this chapter either! Yay!) Thanks! And rock on! Lol (that was dorky sounding!)
Lady Of The Lost: I can't wait to write the REAL A/G fluff!! But no! Not yet! **sigh** Beta readers read people's fics and correct mistakes and plot loops and all that jazz. But, ah, thanks for the answers!! Glad ya like my style! Thanks!
ButterCup: Glad you like it! I will definitely check out your recommendation! And I can't wait to read your fic! Yes, thanks for pointing out my error! Wasn't that dumb of me? Well, thanks!
Silenttina: Sorry! This chapter has Roger and Delia. No Thom/Trycia fluff because Thom's mega stressed over Alanna! (And I couldn't fit it! Sorry!) Yes, and no Jon this chapter either really! Sorry for lateness! I will not desert my fic! Don't worry! Sorry it was slow! Sorry this one was too! You know how back to school and school is! I'll try to post again before school starts! Thanks!!!
White-wolf: Thanks! I know I'm dumb! I don't know what my mind was thinking when I wrote Jon instead of George. I plead temporary insanity! Sorry! Thanks for pointing it out! Thanks for the answer! I loved your update! It was so funny! :o) **wink** Thanks!!
M'cha Araem: They just want more money! It seems that's all they ever want! I'd be happy with their salary, personally! I mean, really! Yes, I agree, dumb management, but what are you gonna do? So, onward. He can't tell her yet! And she can't just happen to find out either! I've got it planned! Trust me! There will be fluff, eventually! Thank you! You gave me the best definition of style! I get it now!!! Thanks!!! I'm glad you like it! Thanks for the wonderful review! I will definitely look at those stories!
Hyperchick88: All caps! Yay! Either your computer is broken or you really like it! I'm glad you do like it! Thanks!!! **blushes** Thanks for adding me to your list!!! **blushes a bit more** I am going to check out your fic! I will as soon as I can! I can't wait to read it!! Thanks!!!!
…: It will be!!
Michelle: Yeah, a week sounds about right! Sorry it took so long! I want to know if any guys read Tammy! I agree, it'd be cool to know! Italics, make sure you save it as a web page! You format it like you would anything else, by highlighting and clicking the little "i" or "ctrl"+"I" but it won't work unless you save as a web page! Okay? Hope it works for you! I'll look up that fic! Thanks!! And thank you! You gave me the other best definition of style! **runs and hides in the closet again, blushing!** Thank you!!!!!!!!!! And, I don't think I can change the way I write, so, erm, don't worry! Thanks!!!!!! Yes, yes, nice and long…I have years to cover! Thanks again!!!!
Bec: Thanks!! Glad you like it!
Someone who wishes not to name herself: I always wonder, when I get such signed reviews, do I know you? Lol! **blushing very darkly in the closet!** You've given me the highest compliment ever!! Thanks! Small book, large book..eh….Glad you like it!!! Thanks!!!
Mistress Sock: Thanks!!!! Glad you like it!!!!!!!!
Lady Jen Wildmage: Thanks for pointing out my mistake! A very dumb one it was too! Thanks! **blushes** again, you've given me the highest compliment ever!!! Thanks!!!! **gets all giggly** And, to answer your questions. She'll end up with George. Flat out, no buts about it. That's not to say there won't be little bumps along the way though! **grins** And about the future of Tortall, I actually will write some of her quests! Not to fear! Tortall is safe! I just couldn't have my fic end up with her not helping Tortall in some way! Thanks!!!!
Lady Arianna: **blushes** Glad you like it!!!! Golly!! This is one of the nicest reviews I've ever read! Thank you!!! That was wonderful!!!! Thank you!!
Done!
Author's Note: I've been planning this more and more! I've pretty much got it hammered out! Expect another chapter as soon as I can write it! I'll try for Monday, but no promises! Thanks for reading! You guys are wonderful!
This chapter is dedicated to:
All those fans of Alanna/Alex who never get their way. Sorry, it's only a diversion in this one!
Cheers!!!