A/N: Yet another story where Alanna becomes a lady instead of a knight.
This was written two years ago, after I read the first Alanna book, and it
was finished after I read the second one. Some of it is very, very similar
to the books, and some of it is all mine. Read and review please!
A/N Added 12/26/03: It has come to my attention that an explanation is needed, to clarify a few things that are the most common questions/comments in reviews I receive. Yes, this is Alanna/Jon. And in this story, yes, Alanna and Jon are related. In fact, on her father's side, Jon is Alanna's 1st cousin once removed. And on her mother's side, they are first cousins. When I originally wrote this, I made my own family tree, in which instead of having Duke Gareth and Queen Lianne as brother and sisters, Gareth had married Lianne' sister. Making Alanna and Jon no relation on her mother's side, except by marriage. And therefore, as related by marriage and as first cousins once removed, it would be perfectly acceptable now for them to marry. And as this story is set in the equivalent of the Middle Ages, if they were first cousins, it would be perfectly acceptable for them to marry. Therefore, marriage is not a problem.
However, I do realize that with them being first cousins there is a problem. Not just with whether or not Alanna and Jon should be allowed to marry in their time period. But with the King, Queen and Jon's attitude towards Alanna. If the Queen was indeed Alanna's aunt, I highly doubt they would have ignored her when she moved into the palace. And even if they had, because she was a scandal and they didn't want to admit to being related to her, after she saved Jon's life and became friends with him, then I think it impossible that the King and Queen would continue to treat her as just another noble, when she was family. I don't know why I never noticed this before, but the fact that Gareth and Lianne being brother and sister in the books is mentioned only twice, and not in the first book, after which I started writing this story, may have something to do with it.
Therefore, for the purpose of this story only, Duke Gareth and Queen Lianne are NOT brother and sister. They are brother-and-sister-in-law. I know that's nothing how it was done originally, but that's the way it has to be for my version. Sorry for any confusion this has/will cause.
Disclaimer: All of the characters and places belong to Tamora Pierce. If they were mine, Jon and Alanna would be happily married and I wouldn't have needed to write another version, now would I?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Timon, Duke Gareth of Naxen's personal manservant, knocked on His Grace's study door. He shuffled in and bowed deeply, before presenting the Duke with a letter, which had just arrived. Duke Gareth nodded at Timon and dismissed him. He then proceeded to opening the letter, which lay on his desk. It was messily written and Duke Robert figured that it must be from one of his tenants.
Your Grace, (it read)
I'm very sorry to bother ye with this letter, but you see a young girl who lived in the woods near me house has recently come to live with me as her mother just died. Me and me wife were going to send her to a orphanage, but this girl says she's yer niece and I wouldn't of believed it if it weren't fur a letter I found that her mother had written to ye and I thought I send it to ye just in case it were true. The girl is living with me in Warton Town.
Sincerely,
William Thompson
Duke Gareth read this unusual letter with some annoyance. It was obviously a trick to get him to take in some strange girl. Yet, when he opened the other letter enclosed, he was surprised to see the gentle, sloping hand of a lady. Maybe, after all.
Dearest Gareth,
It has been so long since I last saw you: fourteen years at least. I know you have disowned me, sworn never to speak to me again, but for my daughter's sake I beg you to read and believe this letter. I have the fever and neither Alanna nor my magic can heal me now. Alanna is thirteen years old and needs a proper home. So far she has led an independent and lonely life, knowing few people. She can read, write and paint as good as any lady and is as good at riding, fencing and archery as any man. She has only known who I am for the past year, since her thirteenth birthday. To everyone else who knows me, I am a poor widow.
Please, Gareth, take her in and care for her. She needs little and will be very grateful, I am sure. She is the one person that I really love and to die knowing she is in safe in your hands would make me happy.
I grow tired know, but I must say one last thing. If you will respect my dying wish and take Alanna to the palace, please do not send her to a convent. Her temperament is much like mine and if she were to be locked up in a convent she might do something rash that she and you would both regret later. I apologize deeply for my wild act that has ruined our father's, yours and my happiness and caused you all so much pain and scandal. Alanna, I am sure will never do what I did, but for her sake and yours keep her with you and let her be free.
Once again, I am sorry. Thank you, dear brother, for forgiving me, as I'm sure you will. All my love, Marcella
Duke Gareth held up the small painting, which had fallen out of the letter. A young girl with wild auburn curls and bright purple eyes looked up at him. On the back was written,
Alanna on her twelfth birthday, painted by Marcella of Naxen.
Duke Gareth felt tears fill his eyes as he looked at the painting so like his sister at that age. Only Marcella's child could have purple eyes like her and only Marcella could have written that letter. It strongly reminded Duke Gareth of the girl he had known and loved until she ran away from her convent when she was sixteen with some man. The whole court had been shocked and the old Duke of Naxen had disowned his daughter. Robert had supposed she had died or was living in some village somewhere, a poor wife of a peasant. He was convinced that this child in Warton Town was her daughter and his niece.
" Timon?" the Duke called. His faultless manservant appeared instantly, bowing.
"Your Grace?" he murmured politely.
"Please tell two of my most trusted guards that tomorrow morning they will be going to Warton Town to a William Thompson's house and bringing back a young lady here." He handed the painting to Timon. " This is Alanna, my niece. Send my carriage with them and tell them to bring anything of hers with. Understand?"
Timon nodded mutely, a look of surprised puzzlement rested on his usually unemotional face before being erased quickly. He bowed lowly and left the room. Duke Robert smiled and began composing a letter to send to the King.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A week later, the Naxen carriage pulled into the entrance courtyard. People mingling around turned and stared as the young girl in a faded, worn dress climbed out of the carriage. She barely glanced around before following Timon down long halls and spiraling staircases until they reached Duke Gareth's private rooms.
Alanna followed Timon silently. Her face showed no emotion and she looked rather haughty, but she was really very scared of the large palace her mother had talked so much about. When Timon stopped at the door of her uncle's room, she wished she had never come. All too soon the door opened and Alanna found herself face to face with the austere figure of the Duke of Naxen. He was a tall man with chestnut brown hair, soft blue eyes and a strict, but kind, face. Alanna curtseyed low, before noticing the two paintings on the wall.
"That's my mother!" she gasped. " And Grandfather!"
Duke Gareth looked surprised.
"Good day, Alanna." He said softly. "You recognized your grandfather?"
"Yes, Your Grace." She murmured. "Mama had small paintings of him, and of you"
The Duke smiled. " Now, Alanna, you are here at my wish and, therefore, I expect you to be polite and ladylike to everyone. Normally young ladies of your age are sent to a convent until they are sixteen, but your late mother requested that you remain at court. You shall have perfect behavior at all times and never misbehave, or I shall send you away. Most probably you shall be lonely, but that is one of the consequences you shall have to live with that if you wish to remain here. Understood?"
Alanna swallowed. " Yes, Your Grace." She would never want to go to a convent, but life in the palace didn't seem much better.
Duke Gareth called Timon back in.
" Bring Gary here, please." He ordered. As Timon left to obey, Duke Gareth turned to Alanna. He thought she looked lonely and upset, for all she hid her feelings well.
The door opened and a young man ambled in. He had dark brown curly hair and sparkly brown eyes and was smiling amiably. No one could miss the likeness between him and Duke Gareth.
" Yes, Father?" he asked.
Duke Gareth motioned to Alanna. "This is my son, Gary. Gary, this is your cousin, Alanna, whom I spoke to you about. I would like you to show her around court and then take her to the Blue Room. Introduce her to some of your friends, perhaps." Gary nodded, but he was frowning. Alanna could tell that her cousin was not happy about his duty, but had no choice but to obey.
Gary led Alanna out of Duke Gareth's room and showed her around the palace. Alanna found the maze of twisting corridors and spiraling staircases confusing and her head began to spin as Gary rushed on, mumbling unhelpfully. Finally they reached an outdoor courtyard where many boys between ten and fifteen were relaxing and fooling around.
" This is the pages and squires courtyard." Gary muttered.
A boy who looked about sixteen walked over to them, a sneer on his rat like face. His oily brown hair flopped over mocking eyes and his crooked yellow teeth grinned contemptuously. He looked over Alanna and sneered,
"Who's this?"
" My cousin." Gavin mumbled. The boy laughed.
"Oh? What's your name?"
" Alanna." She snapped.
The boy laughed again and turned to Gary.
" She isn't your father's sister's daughter?"
Gary turned bright red. " I don't see what business it is of yours, Ralon." He retorted.
The boy called Ralon smiled nastily. " It's quite obvious, isn't it?" he sneered at Alanna. " Bet you don't know anything about your mother."
"I do!" Alanna cried angrily.
"Just what she said, not the truth." Ralon spat in her face. "She was a whore."
" She was not!" Alanna shouted. Her anger boiled up inside her. This awful boy was insulting her and Gary stood there as if nothing was happening! Alanna stepped closer to the boy and hit his face, hard. He stumbled and some of the other boys, who had been watching her curiously, laughed at Ralon. Others looked impressed that she, a girl, could hurt a boy who was a head taller than her. Gary also as staring openly at his cousin.
"How dare you!" Ralon screamed and lunged at Alanna. Gavin grabbed him.
" Get lost, Ralon." He snapped.
" No!" Ralon cried. " Not until this creature learns better manners!"
Before Ralon could attack Alanna or she could hit him again, three boys entered the courtyard. The first one stopped when he saw Ralon and walked towards them, a scowl on his face.
" What's going on here?" the boy asked. Ralon turned to him and, pointing to Alanna, complained,
" This beast dares to insult me-."
The new boy commanded,
"Be quiet." He turned to Gary and said, " What's happening, Gary?"
"Ralon's insulting my cousin, Jon." To Alanna he added, "This is His Highness, Prince Jonathan."
Alanna looked up at the prince who was also a head taller than her. He had dark brown hair and his bright blue eyes were watching her intently.
" What's your name, Carrots?" he asked.
Alanna flushed. When she was eight she had beaten up some village children for teasing her about her purple eyes and red hair. She was still extremely sensitive about the color of his hair, even though it was now a darker shade of auburn.
Of course, she couldn't hit the prince, so she replied,
" I'm not a carrot, Your Highness. My name's Alanna."
Prince Jonathan hid a laugh. " And you're Gary's cousin?"
Before Alanna could reply, Ralon cut in, " His infamous cousin, Your Highness. Her mother was Lady Marcella of Naxen and she is a scandal!"
" I don't think I asked you." Prince Jonathan said nastily. " In fact, I don't care."
Ralon scowled and slouched off as some of the boys watching sniggered.
Prince Jonathan turned to Gary and asked,
" Showing carrots around?"
Gary nodded.
" How long will it take?" the prince continued.
" Just a minute, Bran, I'm taking her up to her room now." Gary replied.
Alanna sighed thinking of the other wing she hadn't seen. The Thompsons, Duke Gareth, Gary and even Prince Jonathan all seemed so glad to be getting rid of her. She was about to make a rude retort, when Prince Jonathan looked at her mockingly and said,
" You won't find many people who want to talk to you, not with your mother being who she was." He waved to Gary and strolled off.
Gary led her to her rooms without talking and threw open a door in the Naxen section for her.
" Here is your room, Lady Alanna." He said before vanishing. Alanna went into a small sitting room with some with a few richly furnished pieces of furniture which spoke of more wealth than the young peasant girl had ever dreamt of. There was also a bathroom between the sitting room and her bedroom, in which there was a large, four-poster bed covered in white silk sheets.
Alanna, ignoring her dirty clothes threw herself on the bed as the tears filling her eyes spilled out. She was all alone in this heartless lonely world with no one who cared about her. At the moment, she didn't care what happened to her either.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna soon found a little bit of happiness in her new home, even if she had many problems as well, like the fact that the horse Duke Gareth had given her could barely walk let alone gallop as fast as Alanna wanted her to. The Duke would not be persuaded to even consider a different horse for his niece and nothing she said would sway his mind.
Alanna, fortunately, led a rather free life. She was allowed out whenever she pleased as long as she behaved herself in a lady like manner. At the same time, Alanna felt caged up. Lady Portia, the noblewoman Duke Gareth had hired to look after Alanna, disliked her charge a great deal and wanted little to do with her, but felt slightly responsible to give some sort of upbringing after her 'wild days in the woods'. When she felt guilty for neglecting Alanna, Lady Portia would sit her down and teach her as much as she could about the ladylike arts of singing, dancing, painting, playing the harp and general manners in an hour or two. She forced Alanna into stiff undergarments and dresses, stockings and shoes and made her wear her hair up. Lady Portia, a sour faced, middle aged lady of good breeding, was disgusted with Alanna when she returned dirty and disheveled after ridding, or her arguments and the things she didn't know of a proper lady's life and she wasn't afraid to tell her so.
" Really, your manners are quite disgraceful," she was wont to say, "and look at you, your hair all disarranged, you are quite out of place in the palace. Really, I don't know what His Grace was thinking when he let you stay here. You need a convent more than anyone. Though I don't know what I should expect, having your mother bring you up with her out of place ways and the gods know who for a father!. Truly, I just don't know how I put up you. Anyone else in my position would leave, I'm sure. If it weren't for my obligation to His Grace, I'm sure I would to! All my work, slaving away to turn you from this into a lady, an impossible task I guarantee and I get no, but no, gratitude from you! If it weren't for His Grace's goodness I really would leave!"
There was plenty more, always ending with how Lady Portia would leave if it weren't for Duke Gareth's goodness. Alanna was tempted to tell her to leave, for she knew Lady Portia only stayed because of how well she was paid, but she didn't want her uncle to punish her for being rude. Privately, Alanna thought it was Lady Portia who ought be punished for being so disrespectful to her and her mother. In her opinion, not that it meant anything to anyone else, the niece of a Duke should be treated with respect by someone below her, no matter who her father was.
Luckily, Alanna found a friend in Sir Myles of Olau, a middle aged knight who taught the pages and squires lessons. Sir Myles saw how miserable and lonely Alanna was and he tried to make her life a little better by practicing archery of fencing with her in his spare time. He cheered her up a great deal and he even tried to talk to Duke Gareth about Alanna's horse and Lady Portia on her behalf, but the Duke simply wanted to forget that he had a niece. Alanna soon found that Sir Myles was the one person who she could confide her secrets to. She told in all about her problems with Gary, Ralon and Prince Jonathan and how they treated her; ignoring or, if they had to speak to her, they did so rudely. Sir Myles was angry at their behavior and lectured his pages heavily on the Code of Chivalry, the behavior expected of a knight. Jonathan, Gary and even Ralon seemed to know exactly what and who he was referring to , but the behavior of all three stayed the same.
One day, Alanna was sent to Sir Myles with a message from Lady Portia concerning Alanna's education. Nervously, she knocked on the classroom door and entered. The whole class, including Gary, Jonathan and Ralon, turned around and looked at her. Tilting back her chin determinedly and looking at Myles only, Alanna said,
" Lady Portia would like to see you as soon as you have a moment, my lord."
Lord Orson smiled kindly. " I don't see why I can't go now. Squires, please finish this page I will be right back." With that, he strode out of the room. Alanna turned to go to, but Ralon jumped in front of her, blocking the door.
" Hello, witch." He sneered.
" I'm not a witch." Alanna replied looking Ralon in the eye. He stumbled back, shocked.
" Y-your eyes - they're purple!" he gasped.
" I'm so glad you know your colors." Alanna said sarcastically. Ralon grabbed her shoulder.
" Shut up, witch! Only witches have purple eyes!" he snapped angrily. " I've heard you've have magical powers too."
" I have the Gift." Alanna admitted, " In healing." She instantly regretted it, for Ralon shouted out,
"Hah! Proves it, witch!" he shoved her back abruptly. " Get lost and go ride that fat little pony you call a horse! Or run some more errands for your servants!"
Alanna's temper flared. Without warning she punched Ralon in the face, causing him to fall back on the ground. He put his hand to his bleeding nose, snarling at Alanna.
" If you won't act like a gentleman and treat me like a lady, then I won't act like one." Alanna hissed. " I suggest you leave me alone." Alanna turned contemptuously and left the room. She heard laughs from the other boys and she felt pleased with herself.
" Alanna? Have you been conversing with my squires?" It was Myles coming around the corner and startling her.
" N-no. They ignore me." Alanna spluttered quickly, her red face telling him otherwise. " I-I've got to go."
Myles watched her run off and then returned to his classroom to find Ralon sitting on the ground with a bleeding nose and all the other squires in an uproar.
" Silence!!" Myles roared " Ralon, who hurt you?"
" N-no one, sir." Ralon whispered. " I bumped my nose." The other boys laughed and after Myles had sent Ralon to wash himself they continued whispering about Gary's strange cousin who was able to knock someone a head taller than herself, and a boy at that, down in one blow.
A/N Added 12/26/03: It has come to my attention that an explanation is needed, to clarify a few things that are the most common questions/comments in reviews I receive. Yes, this is Alanna/Jon. And in this story, yes, Alanna and Jon are related. In fact, on her father's side, Jon is Alanna's 1st cousin once removed. And on her mother's side, they are first cousins. When I originally wrote this, I made my own family tree, in which instead of having Duke Gareth and Queen Lianne as brother and sisters, Gareth had married Lianne' sister. Making Alanna and Jon no relation on her mother's side, except by marriage. And therefore, as related by marriage and as first cousins once removed, it would be perfectly acceptable now for them to marry. And as this story is set in the equivalent of the Middle Ages, if they were first cousins, it would be perfectly acceptable for them to marry. Therefore, marriage is not a problem.
However, I do realize that with them being first cousins there is a problem. Not just with whether or not Alanna and Jon should be allowed to marry in their time period. But with the King, Queen and Jon's attitude towards Alanna. If the Queen was indeed Alanna's aunt, I highly doubt they would have ignored her when she moved into the palace. And even if they had, because she was a scandal and they didn't want to admit to being related to her, after she saved Jon's life and became friends with him, then I think it impossible that the King and Queen would continue to treat her as just another noble, when she was family. I don't know why I never noticed this before, but the fact that Gareth and Lianne being brother and sister in the books is mentioned only twice, and not in the first book, after which I started writing this story, may have something to do with it.
Therefore, for the purpose of this story only, Duke Gareth and Queen Lianne are NOT brother and sister. They are brother-and-sister-in-law. I know that's nothing how it was done originally, but that's the way it has to be for my version. Sorry for any confusion this has/will cause.
Disclaimer: All of the characters and places belong to Tamora Pierce. If they were mine, Jon and Alanna would be happily married and I wouldn't have needed to write another version, now would I?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Timon, Duke Gareth of Naxen's personal manservant, knocked on His Grace's study door. He shuffled in and bowed deeply, before presenting the Duke with a letter, which had just arrived. Duke Gareth nodded at Timon and dismissed him. He then proceeded to opening the letter, which lay on his desk. It was messily written and Duke Robert figured that it must be from one of his tenants.
Your Grace, (it read)
I'm very sorry to bother ye with this letter, but you see a young girl who lived in the woods near me house has recently come to live with me as her mother just died. Me and me wife were going to send her to a orphanage, but this girl says she's yer niece and I wouldn't of believed it if it weren't fur a letter I found that her mother had written to ye and I thought I send it to ye just in case it were true. The girl is living with me in Warton Town.
Sincerely,
William Thompson
Duke Gareth read this unusual letter with some annoyance. It was obviously a trick to get him to take in some strange girl. Yet, when he opened the other letter enclosed, he was surprised to see the gentle, sloping hand of a lady. Maybe, after all.
Dearest Gareth,
It has been so long since I last saw you: fourteen years at least. I know you have disowned me, sworn never to speak to me again, but for my daughter's sake I beg you to read and believe this letter. I have the fever and neither Alanna nor my magic can heal me now. Alanna is thirteen years old and needs a proper home. So far she has led an independent and lonely life, knowing few people. She can read, write and paint as good as any lady and is as good at riding, fencing and archery as any man. She has only known who I am for the past year, since her thirteenth birthday. To everyone else who knows me, I am a poor widow.
Please, Gareth, take her in and care for her. She needs little and will be very grateful, I am sure. She is the one person that I really love and to die knowing she is in safe in your hands would make me happy.
I grow tired know, but I must say one last thing. If you will respect my dying wish and take Alanna to the palace, please do not send her to a convent. Her temperament is much like mine and if she were to be locked up in a convent she might do something rash that she and you would both regret later. I apologize deeply for my wild act that has ruined our father's, yours and my happiness and caused you all so much pain and scandal. Alanna, I am sure will never do what I did, but for her sake and yours keep her with you and let her be free.
Once again, I am sorry. Thank you, dear brother, for forgiving me, as I'm sure you will. All my love, Marcella
Duke Gareth held up the small painting, which had fallen out of the letter. A young girl with wild auburn curls and bright purple eyes looked up at him. On the back was written,
Alanna on her twelfth birthday, painted by Marcella of Naxen.
Duke Gareth felt tears fill his eyes as he looked at the painting so like his sister at that age. Only Marcella's child could have purple eyes like her and only Marcella could have written that letter. It strongly reminded Duke Gareth of the girl he had known and loved until she ran away from her convent when she was sixteen with some man. The whole court had been shocked and the old Duke of Naxen had disowned his daughter. Robert had supposed she had died or was living in some village somewhere, a poor wife of a peasant. He was convinced that this child in Warton Town was her daughter and his niece.
" Timon?" the Duke called. His faultless manservant appeared instantly, bowing.
"Your Grace?" he murmured politely.
"Please tell two of my most trusted guards that tomorrow morning they will be going to Warton Town to a William Thompson's house and bringing back a young lady here." He handed the painting to Timon. " This is Alanna, my niece. Send my carriage with them and tell them to bring anything of hers with. Understand?"
Timon nodded mutely, a look of surprised puzzlement rested on his usually unemotional face before being erased quickly. He bowed lowly and left the room. Duke Robert smiled and began composing a letter to send to the King.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A week later, the Naxen carriage pulled into the entrance courtyard. People mingling around turned and stared as the young girl in a faded, worn dress climbed out of the carriage. She barely glanced around before following Timon down long halls and spiraling staircases until they reached Duke Gareth's private rooms.
Alanna followed Timon silently. Her face showed no emotion and she looked rather haughty, but she was really very scared of the large palace her mother had talked so much about. When Timon stopped at the door of her uncle's room, she wished she had never come. All too soon the door opened and Alanna found herself face to face with the austere figure of the Duke of Naxen. He was a tall man with chestnut brown hair, soft blue eyes and a strict, but kind, face. Alanna curtseyed low, before noticing the two paintings on the wall.
"That's my mother!" she gasped. " And Grandfather!"
Duke Gareth looked surprised.
"Good day, Alanna." He said softly. "You recognized your grandfather?"
"Yes, Your Grace." She murmured. "Mama had small paintings of him, and of you"
The Duke smiled. " Now, Alanna, you are here at my wish and, therefore, I expect you to be polite and ladylike to everyone. Normally young ladies of your age are sent to a convent until they are sixteen, but your late mother requested that you remain at court. You shall have perfect behavior at all times and never misbehave, or I shall send you away. Most probably you shall be lonely, but that is one of the consequences you shall have to live with that if you wish to remain here. Understood?"
Alanna swallowed. " Yes, Your Grace." She would never want to go to a convent, but life in the palace didn't seem much better.
Duke Gareth called Timon back in.
" Bring Gary here, please." He ordered. As Timon left to obey, Duke Gareth turned to Alanna. He thought she looked lonely and upset, for all she hid her feelings well.
The door opened and a young man ambled in. He had dark brown curly hair and sparkly brown eyes and was smiling amiably. No one could miss the likeness between him and Duke Gareth.
" Yes, Father?" he asked.
Duke Gareth motioned to Alanna. "This is my son, Gary. Gary, this is your cousin, Alanna, whom I spoke to you about. I would like you to show her around court and then take her to the Blue Room. Introduce her to some of your friends, perhaps." Gary nodded, but he was frowning. Alanna could tell that her cousin was not happy about his duty, but had no choice but to obey.
Gary led Alanna out of Duke Gareth's room and showed her around the palace. Alanna found the maze of twisting corridors and spiraling staircases confusing and her head began to spin as Gary rushed on, mumbling unhelpfully. Finally they reached an outdoor courtyard where many boys between ten and fifteen were relaxing and fooling around.
" This is the pages and squires courtyard." Gary muttered.
A boy who looked about sixteen walked over to them, a sneer on his rat like face. His oily brown hair flopped over mocking eyes and his crooked yellow teeth grinned contemptuously. He looked over Alanna and sneered,
"Who's this?"
" My cousin." Gavin mumbled. The boy laughed.
"Oh? What's your name?"
" Alanna." She snapped.
The boy laughed again and turned to Gary.
" She isn't your father's sister's daughter?"
Gary turned bright red. " I don't see what business it is of yours, Ralon." He retorted.
The boy called Ralon smiled nastily. " It's quite obvious, isn't it?" he sneered at Alanna. " Bet you don't know anything about your mother."
"I do!" Alanna cried angrily.
"Just what she said, not the truth." Ralon spat in her face. "She was a whore."
" She was not!" Alanna shouted. Her anger boiled up inside her. This awful boy was insulting her and Gary stood there as if nothing was happening! Alanna stepped closer to the boy and hit his face, hard. He stumbled and some of the other boys, who had been watching her curiously, laughed at Ralon. Others looked impressed that she, a girl, could hurt a boy who was a head taller than her. Gary also as staring openly at his cousin.
"How dare you!" Ralon screamed and lunged at Alanna. Gavin grabbed him.
" Get lost, Ralon." He snapped.
" No!" Ralon cried. " Not until this creature learns better manners!"
Before Ralon could attack Alanna or she could hit him again, three boys entered the courtyard. The first one stopped when he saw Ralon and walked towards them, a scowl on his face.
" What's going on here?" the boy asked. Ralon turned to him and, pointing to Alanna, complained,
" This beast dares to insult me-."
The new boy commanded,
"Be quiet." He turned to Gary and said, " What's happening, Gary?"
"Ralon's insulting my cousin, Jon." To Alanna he added, "This is His Highness, Prince Jonathan."
Alanna looked up at the prince who was also a head taller than her. He had dark brown hair and his bright blue eyes were watching her intently.
" What's your name, Carrots?" he asked.
Alanna flushed. When she was eight she had beaten up some village children for teasing her about her purple eyes and red hair. She was still extremely sensitive about the color of his hair, even though it was now a darker shade of auburn.
Of course, she couldn't hit the prince, so she replied,
" I'm not a carrot, Your Highness. My name's Alanna."
Prince Jonathan hid a laugh. " And you're Gary's cousin?"
Before Alanna could reply, Ralon cut in, " His infamous cousin, Your Highness. Her mother was Lady Marcella of Naxen and she is a scandal!"
" I don't think I asked you." Prince Jonathan said nastily. " In fact, I don't care."
Ralon scowled and slouched off as some of the boys watching sniggered.
Prince Jonathan turned to Gary and asked,
" Showing carrots around?"
Gary nodded.
" How long will it take?" the prince continued.
" Just a minute, Bran, I'm taking her up to her room now." Gary replied.
Alanna sighed thinking of the other wing she hadn't seen. The Thompsons, Duke Gareth, Gary and even Prince Jonathan all seemed so glad to be getting rid of her. She was about to make a rude retort, when Prince Jonathan looked at her mockingly and said,
" You won't find many people who want to talk to you, not with your mother being who she was." He waved to Gary and strolled off.
Gary led her to her rooms without talking and threw open a door in the Naxen section for her.
" Here is your room, Lady Alanna." He said before vanishing. Alanna went into a small sitting room with some with a few richly furnished pieces of furniture which spoke of more wealth than the young peasant girl had ever dreamt of. There was also a bathroom between the sitting room and her bedroom, in which there was a large, four-poster bed covered in white silk sheets.
Alanna, ignoring her dirty clothes threw herself on the bed as the tears filling her eyes spilled out. She was all alone in this heartless lonely world with no one who cared about her. At the moment, she didn't care what happened to her either.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Alanna soon found a little bit of happiness in her new home, even if she had many problems as well, like the fact that the horse Duke Gareth had given her could barely walk let alone gallop as fast as Alanna wanted her to. The Duke would not be persuaded to even consider a different horse for his niece and nothing she said would sway his mind.
Alanna, fortunately, led a rather free life. She was allowed out whenever she pleased as long as she behaved herself in a lady like manner. At the same time, Alanna felt caged up. Lady Portia, the noblewoman Duke Gareth had hired to look after Alanna, disliked her charge a great deal and wanted little to do with her, but felt slightly responsible to give some sort of upbringing after her 'wild days in the woods'. When she felt guilty for neglecting Alanna, Lady Portia would sit her down and teach her as much as she could about the ladylike arts of singing, dancing, painting, playing the harp and general manners in an hour or two. She forced Alanna into stiff undergarments and dresses, stockings and shoes and made her wear her hair up. Lady Portia, a sour faced, middle aged lady of good breeding, was disgusted with Alanna when she returned dirty and disheveled after ridding, or her arguments and the things she didn't know of a proper lady's life and she wasn't afraid to tell her so.
" Really, your manners are quite disgraceful," she was wont to say, "and look at you, your hair all disarranged, you are quite out of place in the palace. Really, I don't know what His Grace was thinking when he let you stay here. You need a convent more than anyone. Though I don't know what I should expect, having your mother bring you up with her out of place ways and the gods know who for a father!. Truly, I just don't know how I put up you. Anyone else in my position would leave, I'm sure. If it weren't for my obligation to His Grace, I'm sure I would to! All my work, slaving away to turn you from this into a lady, an impossible task I guarantee and I get no, but no, gratitude from you! If it weren't for His Grace's goodness I really would leave!"
There was plenty more, always ending with how Lady Portia would leave if it weren't for Duke Gareth's goodness. Alanna was tempted to tell her to leave, for she knew Lady Portia only stayed because of how well she was paid, but she didn't want her uncle to punish her for being rude. Privately, Alanna thought it was Lady Portia who ought be punished for being so disrespectful to her and her mother. In her opinion, not that it meant anything to anyone else, the niece of a Duke should be treated with respect by someone below her, no matter who her father was.
Luckily, Alanna found a friend in Sir Myles of Olau, a middle aged knight who taught the pages and squires lessons. Sir Myles saw how miserable and lonely Alanna was and he tried to make her life a little better by practicing archery of fencing with her in his spare time. He cheered her up a great deal and he even tried to talk to Duke Gareth about Alanna's horse and Lady Portia on her behalf, but the Duke simply wanted to forget that he had a niece. Alanna soon found that Sir Myles was the one person who she could confide her secrets to. She told in all about her problems with Gary, Ralon and Prince Jonathan and how they treated her; ignoring or, if they had to speak to her, they did so rudely. Sir Myles was angry at their behavior and lectured his pages heavily on the Code of Chivalry, the behavior expected of a knight. Jonathan, Gary and even Ralon seemed to know exactly what and who he was referring to , but the behavior of all three stayed the same.
One day, Alanna was sent to Sir Myles with a message from Lady Portia concerning Alanna's education. Nervously, she knocked on the classroom door and entered. The whole class, including Gary, Jonathan and Ralon, turned around and looked at her. Tilting back her chin determinedly and looking at Myles only, Alanna said,
" Lady Portia would like to see you as soon as you have a moment, my lord."
Lord Orson smiled kindly. " I don't see why I can't go now. Squires, please finish this page I will be right back." With that, he strode out of the room. Alanna turned to go to, but Ralon jumped in front of her, blocking the door.
" Hello, witch." He sneered.
" I'm not a witch." Alanna replied looking Ralon in the eye. He stumbled back, shocked.
" Y-your eyes - they're purple!" he gasped.
" I'm so glad you know your colors." Alanna said sarcastically. Ralon grabbed her shoulder.
" Shut up, witch! Only witches have purple eyes!" he snapped angrily. " I've heard you've have magical powers too."
" I have the Gift." Alanna admitted, " In healing." She instantly regretted it, for Ralon shouted out,
"Hah! Proves it, witch!" he shoved her back abruptly. " Get lost and go ride that fat little pony you call a horse! Or run some more errands for your servants!"
Alanna's temper flared. Without warning she punched Ralon in the face, causing him to fall back on the ground. He put his hand to his bleeding nose, snarling at Alanna.
" If you won't act like a gentleman and treat me like a lady, then I won't act like one." Alanna hissed. " I suggest you leave me alone." Alanna turned contemptuously and left the room. She heard laughs from the other boys and she felt pleased with herself.
" Alanna? Have you been conversing with my squires?" It was Myles coming around the corner and startling her.
" N-no. They ignore me." Alanna spluttered quickly, her red face telling him otherwise. " I-I've got to go."
Myles watched her run off and then returned to his classroom to find Ralon sitting on the ground with a bleeding nose and all the other squires in an uproar.
" Silence!!" Myles roared " Ralon, who hurt you?"
" N-no one, sir." Ralon whispered. " I bumped my nose." The other boys laughed and after Myles had sent Ralon to wash himself they continued whispering about Gary's strange cousin who was able to knock someone a head taller than herself, and a boy at that, down in one blow.