A/N: Thank you for all the reviews! Just to let you know… as much as I
love Alanna and love Jon as characters, I don't really know how I like them
together (re: scenes from The Woman Who Rides Like a Man). Since this is
my first fic, I really appreciate the reviews!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 4: Thinking things through
Upset about the complications with Jon, Alanna decided to go visit George. She and Faithful headed down to the stable, saddled Moonlight, and headed out to the city. Riding slowly, Alanna wondered about Jon's actions and why he had suddenly decided to show his feelings to her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she approached the city and trotted over to the Dancing Dove, the 'court' of the Rogue.
Walking in, Alanna spotted old Solom. "Have you seen George?" she yelled.
"Aye, the master be up in his rooms chattin' with Rispah. Do you want a bite to eat and wait, or are ye headed up?"
"I really do need to speak to him, so I'll go on up. Thanks."
"As ye wish." Solom turned to another man waiting at the bar and poured the man a tankard of ale.
Alanna turned to head up the stairs only to see George and Rispah laughing as they left George's chambers. The chesty redhead spotted the youngster and elbowed her cousin. "George… I think ye've got a visitor," winking at the man while making Alanna blush. "I'll leave you two alone to talk."
"So, Alan… what business brings ye here today? More annoyances at Court, with the 'mystery lady'?" George grinned as his companion sighed.
"George, can we go upstairs and talk? I've got a lot on my mind."
Seeing the look of disturbance on Alanna's face, George replied, "Alright, we'll go upstairs. Solom!" George caught the innkeeper's eye. "We aren't to be disturbed upstairs."
"Aye, Majesty."
Once Alanna and George reached the upstairs chambers, George asked, "What were you doin', walkin' around the palace as a girl! You know you could have been exposed."
"I know, I know," Alanna replied ruefully. "If I had stayed in on my birthday, none of this would have ever happened. But, I was thinking of Jonathan and Delia together, wondering if I could ever have that same happiness of being courted.'
"So, this has to do with Jon. Alanna, I know how you feel about the prince. And I know he loves you too, otherwise he wouldn't look at you the way he does. So what's really on your mind?"
"Well, on that night, I ran into Gary while I was dressed as a lady. I had a black wig on, so he didn't recognize me, but apparently, Gary is smitten with the lady he met." George nodded, having already heard the story from Stefan. Continuing, Alanna said, "The next day, when Jon heard about Gary meeting me, he immediately confronted me. He told me he loved me, and then he kissed me." Alanna looked up at George and immediately saw him flinch just a bit.
George then, afraid of what she might say, asked, "And what next?"
Alanna hesitated. "Then I pulled away, breaking off the kiss."
"You mean you pulled away from Jon?"
"Yes! I have no idea why. This isn't the first time he's kissed me, but I'm not sure that I love Jon like that. Him kissing me, just after I met Gary, seems almost… well, it seems almost selfish! I know he and Gary squabbled over squires, and Jon got to choose first because he is the prince. Now, I know Jon loves me, but I don't think he would have taken such a drastic step if it wasn't for Gary."
"Well, youngling, Jon normally does get what he wants. You two share a bond like very few others; he is your knight-master and is one of the few to know the truth about you. I am sure he does truly love you and is curious about where this could lead. What do you want from him?"
"I don't know… I honestly don't think I want to complicate our friendship with becoming lovers. I care for him, but I can't stand to rush into anything that might jeopardize our friendship."
George relaxed, and said, "I think that's probably the best choice. You can always change no to yes, but it is very hard to change yes to no. I would work things out with Gary first. By the way, Gary doesn't know who the mystery lady is, does he?"
"No, Gary hasn't found out, and Jon is sworn to secrecy. That's the last remaining problem – how do I tell Gary? Should I tell Gary?"
"If you feel something real for the knight, you need to tell him. And you should tell him yourself. That's my advice."
Alanna sighed, "Yes, I suppose I do need to tell Gary myself. I wish I didn't have to – it would be so much easier!"
"Yes, but it will mean so much more coming from you," reminded George.
As Alanna was heading back up to her rooms from the stables, she ran into Gary, who was headed out for an afternoon ride. "Alan, I'm so glad I ran into you! I need to talk to you for a second."
Unsure, Alanna asked, "Gary, what's the matter?"
Excitedly, Gary asked, "Do you have any sisters? Are there any Trebond ladies in the family? Do you know any other ladies with purple eyes, but with black hair?"
"Yes, there are some ladies from Trebond, with dark-blue or purplish eyes. They have brown hair, however, not black. Why?" Alanna replied innocently.
Looking at her friend curiously, Alanna noticed that Gary was absolutely star-struck. She'd never seen him with such a glow, even when Delia came to Court. Notorious among the squires for falling head over heels for any new lady at a ball, Alanna wondered what was different about this new 'lady' that Gary had met.
"Oh, Jon didn't tell you? I met a very curious woman last night in the gardens. Striking purple eyes – like yours, which is why I thought she might be from your home – a friendly face, and just amazing."
"Gary, just out of curiosity, what makes this woman different from the rest of the ladies at Court? I mean, I know you fell hard for Delia and for Lady Cythera."
Gazing into the distance, Gary said, "She just seemed so real. She was flustered when I asked her to dance, instead of possessing all the confidence of the normal courtiers. I just want to meet her again, to talk to her." Glancing at the younger boy, Gary sheepishly remarked, "I know how you of all people wants to hear me talk about some lady. You'll find your match someday though."
Alanna said, "I hope I do. And I hope this woman turns out to be your match."
A/N: Please review! I've got the next part of the plot already thought out… the more you review, the quicker I get the next part updated!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 4: Thinking things through
Upset about the complications with Jon, Alanna decided to go visit George. She and Faithful headed down to the stable, saddled Moonlight, and headed out to the city. Riding slowly, Alanna wondered about Jon's actions and why he had suddenly decided to show his feelings to her. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as she approached the city and trotted over to the Dancing Dove, the 'court' of the Rogue.
Walking in, Alanna spotted old Solom. "Have you seen George?" she yelled.
"Aye, the master be up in his rooms chattin' with Rispah. Do you want a bite to eat and wait, or are ye headed up?"
"I really do need to speak to him, so I'll go on up. Thanks."
"As ye wish." Solom turned to another man waiting at the bar and poured the man a tankard of ale.
Alanna turned to head up the stairs only to see George and Rispah laughing as they left George's chambers. The chesty redhead spotted the youngster and elbowed her cousin. "George… I think ye've got a visitor," winking at the man while making Alanna blush. "I'll leave you two alone to talk."
"So, Alan… what business brings ye here today? More annoyances at Court, with the 'mystery lady'?" George grinned as his companion sighed.
"George, can we go upstairs and talk? I've got a lot on my mind."
Seeing the look of disturbance on Alanna's face, George replied, "Alright, we'll go upstairs. Solom!" George caught the innkeeper's eye. "We aren't to be disturbed upstairs."
"Aye, Majesty."
Once Alanna and George reached the upstairs chambers, George asked, "What were you doin', walkin' around the palace as a girl! You know you could have been exposed."
"I know, I know," Alanna replied ruefully. "If I had stayed in on my birthday, none of this would have ever happened. But, I was thinking of Jonathan and Delia together, wondering if I could ever have that same happiness of being courted.'
"So, this has to do with Jon. Alanna, I know how you feel about the prince. And I know he loves you too, otherwise he wouldn't look at you the way he does. So what's really on your mind?"
"Well, on that night, I ran into Gary while I was dressed as a lady. I had a black wig on, so he didn't recognize me, but apparently, Gary is smitten with the lady he met." George nodded, having already heard the story from Stefan. Continuing, Alanna said, "The next day, when Jon heard about Gary meeting me, he immediately confronted me. He told me he loved me, and then he kissed me." Alanna looked up at George and immediately saw him flinch just a bit.
George then, afraid of what she might say, asked, "And what next?"
Alanna hesitated. "Then I pulled away, breaking off the kiss."
"You mean you pulled away from Jon?"
"Yes! I have no idea why. This isn't the first time he's kissed me, but I'm not sure that I love Jon like that. Him kissing me, just after I met Gary, seems almost… well, it seems almost selfish! I know he and Gary squabbled over squires, and Jon got to choose first because he is the prince. Now, I know Jon loves me, but I don't think he would have taken such a drastic step if it wasn't for Gary."
"Well, youngling, Jon normally does get what he wants. You two share a bond like very few others; he is your knight-master and is one of the few to know the truth about you. I am sure he does truly love you and is curious about where this could lead. What do you want from him?"
"I don't know… I honestly don't think I want to complicate our friendship with becoming lovers. I care for him, but I can't stand to rush into anything that might jeopardize our friendship."
George relaxed, and said, "I think that's probably the best choice. You can always change no to yes, but it is very hard to change yes to no. I would work things out with Gary first. By the way, Gary doesn't know who the mystery lady is, does he?"
"No, Gary hasn't found out, and Jon is sworn to secrecy. That's the last remaining problem – how do I tell Gary? Should I tell Gary?"
"If you feel something real for the knight, you need to tell him. And you should tell him yourself. That's my advice."
Alanna sighed, "Yes, I suppose I do need to tell Gary myself. I wish I didn't have to – it would be so much easier!"
"Yes, but it will mean so much more coming from you," reminded George.
As Alanna was heading back up to her rooms from the stables, she ran into Gary, who was headed out for an afternoon ride. "Alan, I'm so glad I ran into you! I need to talk to you for a second."
Unsure, Alanna asked, "Gary, what's the matter?"
Excitedly, Gary asked, "Do you have any sisters? Are there any Trebond ladies in the family? Do you know any other ladies with purple eyes, but with black hair?"
"Yes, there are some ladies from Trebond, with dark-blue or purplish eyes. They have brown hair, however, not black. Why?" Alanna replied innocently.
Looking at her friend curiously, Alanna noticed that Gary was absolutely star-struck. She'd never seen him with such a glow, even when Delia came to Court. Notorious among the squires for falling head over heels for any new lady at a ball, Alanna wondered what was different about this new 'lady' that Gary had met.
"Oh, Jon didn't tell you? I met a very curious woman last night in the gardens. Striking purple eyes – like yours, which is why I thought she might be from your home – a friendly face, and just amazing."
"Gary, just out of curiosity, what makes this woman different from the rest of the ladies at Court? I mean, I know you fell hard for Delia and for Lady Cythera."
Gazing into the distance, Gary said, "She just seemed so real. She was flustered when I asked her to dance, instead of possessing all the confidence of the normal courtiers. I just want to meet her again, to talk to her." Glancing at the younger boy, Gary sheepishly remarked, "I know how you of all people wants to hear me talk about some lady. You'll find your match someday though."
Alanna said, "I hope I do. And I hope this woman turns out to be your match."
A/N: Please review! I've got the next part of the plot already thought out… the more you review, the quicker I get the next part updated!