Sorry for those of you who were confused about Thayet and Jon, there is
nothing going on there, and they are not betrothed, sorry!
The young men assured her that they did not think she would be unlady like, but Alanna was still too unsure to go down to the practise yards, and test her skills. Eventually she felt she would have to give up her hope, she wanted to learn, but was actually too shy to let anyone see her first tries. She was an excellent horse rider, and she knew that was a good archer, however she knew no more of the fighting arts, having been forced to grow away from them at the convent. So Alanna had to give up her hopes, not that she was bored, with Jonathon to keep her company. On one such evening Jon mentioned taking Alanna down into Corus, to meet a friend. Alanna sighed, she had known Jon would introduce her to his friends in Corus eventually. "So, what has been so secretive about your friends from Corus?" she asked. "Well, I really want you to meet someone, someone called George. He is a good friend of mine, and Gary's, and Raoul's, and Thom's." "So, what is so special is this George?" She knew that it would come out of him eventually, although, the thought of Thom knowing him worried her, and she didn't know why. When Jon didn't answer, "It's better that you tell me now, than have me found out tomorrow. I won't tell anyone, not even Thayet, and Buri." "Well, he isn't exactly. um. law abiding." He stole a look at her, she didn't look to worried, so he carried on. "He is the King of Thieves, in the lower city. The rouge himself." "Ok," seeing Jonathon worried look, "it really doesn't matter, I know you Jon, and I don't believe you will lead me into trouble." Jon still looked unsure, but Alanna's kiss silenced him, as he pulled her into his arms.
The next day found a worried looking Prince, his two best friends, and Alanna walking down into Corus. Alanna looked up at the inn in front of her. It was a two storey, wooden building, with a sign outside saying, "The Dancing Dove." Alanna smiled, she did not know why, but it felt like she was coming home, when she knew that she had never been there before. A young handsome man, a few years older than Alanna, was walking towards them. He had a large nose, but hazel eyes, which she could have fallen into. "Finally! Lady Alanna! I'm so glad to meet you. Allow me to introduce meself formally, I'm George, The King of Thieves." Despite his lively manner, he gently kissed her hand, she hated to admit it, but she was charmed. He brought them inside to have drinks, and talk. The young men asked questions about their friends, however George would not allow Alanna to feel left out. Alanna would have been quite happy to sit quietly, and wonder at the prince, and his companions sitting in a bar with thieves. Gradually the bar filled, with thieves and flower sellers, as the barkeeper and his serving girls tried to be everywhere at once. Who would have thought, she wondered that the heir to the thrown would be sitting in a tavern, drinking and gambling. After a while Alanna began to feel tired, and George quietly led her away to rest until the Prince and his friends were finished. "Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked. "You're very direct, aren't ya?" She waited for him to answer her question. "Well, I dunno really." He looked at her, and she felt as though he was searching her soul. "You're different ain't ya? Don't say much either? Not unlike you're brother though, in some ways." She looked away, she did not want to think about Thom, the memories hurt. "Sorry, but we miss him too lass, and sometimes you have to open up, let people go." She tried to smile, but it wobbled slightly, "Yes. just not yet" "You can always talk to me." He glanced down, "I'd best be getting' back, like." He saluted her, and went back downstairs. He left Alanna feeling very confused, he was so nice to her. It didn't make any sense to her, she had not done anything for him. There was very little noise from downstairs, and as she sat there thinking a new thought occurred to her. If George was the King of Thieves, then he would know how to fight, and she would not have to go near a palace training ground. Despite the noise, Alanna did fall sleep, and a few hours later Jon came up to wake her. They walked back to the palace leaving George, and his friends behind. Jon was wondering about Alanna's silence, maybe she had not approved of his friends. He began to feel annoyed, she would have to like all of him, and all his friends. He left Alanna at her own room, and went to a separate bed, for the first time since they had first made love.
He didn't know that Alanna wasn't disapproving of his friends, and he stayed away from her a little while.
Sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter, please review. I do actually have an idea where this is going now!!! As always these are not my characters etc. Thanks!
The young men assured her that they did not think she would be unlady like, but Alanna was still too unsure to go down to the practise yards, and test her skills. Eventually she felt she would have to give up her hope, she wanted to learn, but was actually too shy to let anyone see her first tries. She was an excellent horse rider, and she knew that was a good archer, however she knew no more of the fighting arts, having been forced to grow away from them at the convent. So Alanna had to give up her hopes, not that she was bored, with Jonathon to keep her company. On one such evening Jon mentioned taking Alanna down into Corus, to meet a friend. Alanna sighed, she had known Jon would introduce her to his friends in Corus eventually. "So, what has been so secretive about your friends from Corus?" she asked. "Well, I really want you to meet someone, someone called George. He is a good friend of mine, and Gary's, and Raoul's, and Thom's." "So, what is so special is this George?" She knew that it would come out of him eventually, although, the thought of Thom knowing him worried her, and she didn't know why. When Jon didn't answer, "It's better that you tell me now, than have me found out tomorrow. I won't tell anyone, not even Thayet, and Buri." "Well, he isn't exactly. um. law abiding." He stole a look at her, she didn't look to worried, so he carried on. "He is the King of Thieves, in the lower city. The rouge himself." "Ok," seeing Jonathon worried look, "it really doesn't matter, I know you Jon, and I don't believe you will lead me into trouble." Jon still looked unsure, but Alanna's kiss silenced him, as he pulled her into his arms.
The next day found a worried looking Prince, his two best friends, and Alanna walking down into Corus. Alanna looked up at the inn in front of her. It was a two storey, wooden building, with a sign outside saying, "The Dancing Dove." Alanna smiled, she did not know why, but it felt like she was coming home, when she knew that she had never been there before. A young handsome man, a few years older than Alanna, was walking towards them. He had a large nose, but hazel eyes, which she could have fallen into. "Finally! Lady Alanna! I'm so glad to meet you. Allow me to introduce meself formally, I'm George, The King of Thieves." Despite his lively manner, he gently kissed her hand, she hated to admit it, but she was charmed. He brought them inside to have drinks, and talk. The young men asked questions about their friends, however George would not allow Alanna to feel left out. Alanna would have been quite happy to sit quietly, and wonder at the prince, and his companions sitting in a bar with thieves. Gradually the bar filled, with thieves and flower sellers, as the barkeeper and his serving girls tried to be everywhere at once. Who would have thought, she wondered that the heir to the thrown would be sitting in a tavern, drinking and gambling. After a while Alanna began to feel tired, and George quietly led her away to rest until the Prince and his friends were finished. "Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked. "You're very direct, aren't ya?" She waited for him to answer her question. "Well, I dunno really." He looked at her, and she felt as though he was searching her soul. "You're different ain't ya? Don't say much either? Not unlike you're brother though, in some ways." She looked away, she did not want to think about Thom, the memories hurt. "Sorry, but we miss him too lass, and sometimes you have to open up, let people go." She tried to smile, but it wobbled slightly, "Yes. just not yet" "You can always talk to me." He glanced down, "I'd best be getting' back, like." He saluted her, and went back downstairs. He left Alanna feeling very confused, he was so nice to her. It didn't make any sense to her, she had not done anything for him. There was very little noise from downstairs, and as she sat there thinking a new thought occurred to her. If George was the King of Thieves, then he would know how to fight, and she would not have to go near a palace training ground. Despite the noise, Alanna did fall sleep, and a few hours later Jon came up to wake her. They walked back to the palace leaving George, and his friends behind. Jon was wondering about Alanna's silence, maybe she had not approved of his friends. He began to feel annoyed, she would have to like all of him, and all his friends. He left Alanna at her own room, and went to a separate bed, for the first time since they had first made love.
He didn't know that Alanna wasn't disapproving of his friends, and he stayed away from her a little while.
Sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter, please review. I do actually have an idea where this is going now!!! As always these are not my characters etc. Thanks!
