Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue. I'm not really in the mood to come up with anything creative, so hopefully that will do. Oh, wait, I do own Aliah, so don't take her (because I know you all want to!)
A/N: K, guys, bear with me; this may get confusing, so I'll try to explain it before you read. Aliah can understand Thom and others, but they can't understand her. When it's from her POV, you will be able to understand her, but Thom and co. can't. When it's from Thom's POV, no one can understand her. Wow, that made no sense. *sigh* Good luck; this is kind of an experiment.
POV changes a lot.
IceByrd67: Glad that you don't care about my plotlessness…I'm not sure how long it will last!
Charmgirl: You like Thom! I'm happy. (and I think that you pushed the review button twice!)
Lady Arabian Knight: Yeah, sorry that it was short. School just takes so much time, ya know? And yes, I love making all men goofballs; they're just too sweet that way.
* * * * *
"She's awake!" Thom shouted exuberantly, bounding into his parent's room. Alanna looked up from her papers and grinned.
"Hey, George," Alanna said to her husband with a laugh, violet eyes twinkling, "She's awake!"
"I heard," said the Baron, putting his book down with a sigh. "How could I not!" With another long-suffering sigh, George pulled himself to his feet and put a strong hand on his son's shoulder. "Well, come on, laddy, let's go take a look at this girl of yours."
Thom hesitated. "There is one problem, though."
Alanna's brow furrowed, trying to imagine what trouble the weak stranger could present. "What problem?"
"Nothing bad!" Thom hurried to assure her. "It's just, she speaks another language. I have no idea what's she's saying, and she can't understand a word of what I am!"
"Is that all?" George said with a laugh. Thom looked at his father in astonishment. Had he not understood?
"But she can't understand me," Thom said again, slower this time, his voice anxious. There she was, a powerful, beautiful girl of his dreams, and he didn't speak her language! It was an obvious problem!
Alanna watched her son's growing concern with slight amusement. "I'm sure that someone can understand her, Thom. And if not, there are other ways of communication."
Thom grinned self-consciously. "You're right, of course. Can we go now?"
* * * * *
They were coming down the hall; three of them, if her hearing was as acute as it used to be. Thom, no doubt, though who he had with him she had no idea. Probably the lord and lady of this place. As she heard the door creak open behind her, she abandoned her guessing games and turned from the window to face the newcomers.
Thom came in first, a charming grin plastered on his face. Aliah smiled briefly in return as he stepped to the side to admit two others.
As the first figure stepped in, Aliah suddenly found herself thankful for the years of training that now kept her face instinctively blank. It was a woman, small in stature but practically bursting with energy, dressed simply in a tunic and leggings. A mop of brilliant red curls encircled her face, and two equally brilliant violet eyes sparkled out at her. She carried herself with a strength and confidence that made Aliah suspect that she would be a formidable opponent.
In behind the copper-headed woman strode an equally impressive man. Tall, muscular, and ruggedly handsome despite the slightly crooked nose, he had bright green eyes filled with deep warmth and intelligence. And a bit of mischievous youth flashed out as well, vying with his graying hair.
Aliah felt an instant liking for both of them.
"Um." Thom stepped forward with an uncertain glance at his companions. "Aliah…"
Aliah smiled.
Flushing slightly, Thom continued. "Aliah, this is my mother, Alanna, and my father, George."
Suddenly enjoying her little game, Aliah smile widened as she pointed at his parents.
"Alanna…George," she said clearly, naming each of them in turn.
"Yes!" Thom cried happily, and Aliah nearly burst with the effort of keeping her laughter pent up inside. Oh, but he was adorable.
With a bright smile and a knowing look at her son, Alanna gestured at the door. "Why don't we find somewhere to sit?" she suggested. Taking Aliah's arm, she led them out of the room.
A few minutes later, they were all seated comfortably in a small cozy room filled with cases and cases of books. Aliah's fingers itched to pick one up when she saw them; books were a rarity at home, though her father had managed to collect a full bookcase and he would read to her every…her mind skidded painfully away from thoughts of her family and instead focused on present events.
They were still looking at her; at least, Thom was. His parents were talking quietly to each other, with an occasional glance at their mysterious guest.
Well, Thom wasn't really looking at her; it was more like he would glance around the room and peek at her every so often before looking down at his hands, his cheeks flushed.
After about ten minutes of a flushing Thom and a whispering George and Alanna- who had been discussing what to do with her- George finally spoke up.
"Aliah, do you understand anything that we're saying?"
Aliah smiled, keeping her face blank. It still felt odd, pretending to be oblivious to their conversations, but she seemed to be stuck with it now. And this way, they couldn't ask any questions, and she was pretty sure that they wouldn't send her away.
George and Alanna exchanged glances. "What are we going to do?" Alanna asked. "Do we just keep her here until someone claims her?"
"Or until she wants to leave," George agreed, then glanced at Aliah. "Are we sure that she can actually talk?"
"Yes," Thom broke in. "She said something when she woke up."
"Oh?" Alanna's eyebrow went up. "What did she say?"
Forehead scrunching in concentration, he tried to recall her words. "Ahnee…ahnee raz…ooo….Ahnee razoomec. I think."
Aliah grinned. "Ani razumieć," she repeated. Rikath, she felt like an idiot.
His parents frowned.
"Doesn't sound familiar," Alanna said. "You, George?"
"Nope."
They turned back to Aliah.
She smiled.
This was going to be interesting.
* * * * *
A/N: Well, it's longer. And in case anyone is wondering, "Ani razumieć," means "I don't understand." And I kinda cobbled it together from different languages that I liked the look of. Oh, and Rikath is a god that I just made up for the purpose of that one sentence.
Review please!