A/N: Sorry that this took a while. I got Point and Speak for Christmas, so
now I can talk and the computer types. Unfortunately, the computer doesn't
recognize anything I say. So back to typing it myself, I guess. Thanks to
everyone who has reviewed. I'd love it if you read my other story, 'She
Always Puts Me First'. It's really different and I want to know what
everyone thinks. Thanks again!
In two days time, the Tortallian army was able to go home. Alanna was riding with her friends, when a small black kitten crawled out of the bushes. Moonlight reared, and while Alanna calmed to her horse, Jonathan picked up kitten.
"Poor thing's half dead." He murmured, remounting his horse. He handed the kitten to Alanna and she gasped. The kitten had purple eyes! Her friends leaned over to see the kitten's eyes, all of them gasping with surprise.
"She was meant for you." Alex said softly. Alanna smiled as she placed the kitten on her lap and rode on.
"When are you going back to the convent?" Gary asked.
"After the Midwinter Festival." Alanna replied happily. Just then Duke Roger dropped back beside the four.
"Good day, Lady Alanna." He murmured, "I hope you're feeling better."
"Much better, your Grace." She replied shielding the kitten's eyes, so that the Duke wouldn't see her new pet. Duke Roger smiled,
"And you and Amalia are good friends, I hope?" He asked softly.
"Yes, very good friends, your Grace." Alanna didn't like the way Duke Roger was looking at her. He wanted something - and she wished she knew what. Jonathan, seeing how nervous Alanna was, changed the subject and soon Roger rode off.
"What's wrong, Alanna?" Gary asked.
"I don't know." Alanna shrugged, "he scares me." The kitten mewed softly as if to agree and Alanna stroked her absently. She just hoped that Roger hadn't seen the kitten's eyes.
"Come on, Alanna!" Gary pulled his cousin's hands, "Surely you've skated before?"
The palace pond had frozen over, so most of the court was taking advantage of it and ice-skating today. Jon was racing with Alex. Meanwhile, Gary was trying to convince Alanna to join them. Faithful, Alanna's cat, howled from the side of the pond. Alanna had found that if she listened closely to the kitten, it sounded as if he was talking.
What are you scared of? Faithful meowed.
"Not since I was six." Alanna snapped as she stepped onto the ice hesitantly. Gary pulled her forward, while Jon skidded to a halt in front of her, sending ice flying. He grabbed her hands a spun her around, making her scream and laugh at the same time.
"Stop it!" she cried as Jon returned her to Gary, grinning. Alanna soon relaxed and was skimming around the pond quickly by the time everyone began to leave.
You're really a child still. Faithful yawned. Alanna rolled her eyes and followed Jon, who was waiting for her. The rest of the group had already gone ahead and the woods were eerily silent in the growing darkness. Alanna stumbled over a branch, and Jon out his arm around her waist to steady her. she was very tired, and still weak, and she was grateful for Jon's strong arm around her.
You're still too sick for this, Faithful scolded, and do you enjoy cuddling up to Jonathan?
"How dare you, you prissy cat -." Alanna stopped, aware that Jonathan was listening to them. He looked at her oddly, but didn't say anything. Neither of them were paying attention to the path up ahead, so when a wolf snarled form the darkness in front of them, it startled them.
"Mithros! Wolves, in these woods!" Jonathan gasped. He let go of Alanna, pulling his sword out. The wolf growled and moved towards Alanna, his eyes never straying from her face. Wishing she didn't have to stand her like a helpless lady, Alanna twisted the ring. A green glow appeared around the wolf.
"It's sorcery!" she cried. Jonathan swung his sword at the wolf, who leapt towards Alanna. With a scream, Jon dove in front of her, cutting into the wolf's side. The wolf vanished into thin air.
"Are you alright?" Alanna asked as she dusted snow off of Jonathan. Jonathan nodded grimly.
"it almost killed you." He replied.
"Roger almost killed me." Alanna retorted, "Normal wolves don't appear and then vanish. That was pure sorcery."
"I know." Jonathan replied. He looked at her ring, "is that really a magic crystal?" he asked. When Alanna nodded, he sighed, "Roger's the only living person with Conte magic. If you're sure it was green - " Alanna nodded emphatically, " - then I guess I was wrong about him."
The Midwinter Festival continued at the palace. On evening Alanna stood alone, in a small balcony above the Hall, watching behind a curtain. She heard some one enter. Jonathan stood there.
"Lonely?" he asked.
"Quite." Alanna admitted, "What are you doing up here?"
"Escaping." Jon smiled. He tilted his head and looked at Alanna oddly, his face suddenly serious. "Do you dance?"
"They've tried to teach me." Alanna replied laughing uneasily to shake off the weird look Jon was giving her.
Jon placed a hand on her waist and picked up her other hand, waltzing around the small area. Alanna relaxed in his arms, letting him lead her.
"You dance well." Jon murmured in her ear. Alanna met his eyes and wished she hadn't. She looked away nervously, unsure what she should say.
Jonathan pulled her closer, smiling softly. Alanna stared at him, as he bent his head to kiss her.
"Stop it!" she pulled away, horrified, her arms separating her from the prince. Jon realized she was shaking and let go of her hands.
"I have to go." He mumbled, and he fled, leaving Alanna alone again. Breathing deeply, Alanna tried to control her thoughts. She didn't know what wrong with Jon - they'd been such good friends. Why did he want to ruin that friendship?
Faithful slid into the room, winding himself around Alanna's legs.
Maybe he's in love? He purred.
"That's crazy! Of course he isn't!" she sighed, "Why does everyone have to grow up?"
Alanna was very happy to leave for the convent a week later. Jon had been acting odd around her since their 'dance' and even Gary and Alex seemed different.
Faithful was taken to the convent. Lady Charlotte, with three cats of her own, sniffed, and said the Faithful probably has fleas.
Amalia and Clara listened, thrilled, to Alanna's account of the past few weeks. Alanna was deciding how far she should trust Amalia, when Amalia solved her worries for her.
"Alanna, I - I think there's something you should know about me." She mumbled on day, "I'm not Duke Roger's niece -."
"You're his daughter." Alanna interrupted, "I know." She then told Amalia about her visit to Jonakin Orson.
"He promised he wouldn't hurt you." Alanna whispered, "He keeps lying to me about everything." She sat down, sighing, "I've been thinking - he talks so much about his 'plans' and how you ruin them all. Maybe - just maybe - he brewed the fever. After all, if you hadn't been there, Jonathan would have died."
Alanna stared at her friend and sister.
"Do you think - could Roger have helped create the war? They obviously had inside information - and Jon again could have died."
"And again you ruined it." Amalia smiled, "he might have the powers, I don't know. And Princess Iliria might have helped him - with His Highness and all that. Though I don't know why they would want the letters if they were going to kidnap him anyway."
Alanna nodded absently, barely hearing Amalia. Thinking about Iliria brought Jon back to her mind. Just thinking about him scared her.
"What's wrong?" Amalia asked, "You've looked odd since I mentioned Iliria and Jonathan - oh! Is it Prince Jonathan? Do you - do you like him?" [A/N: ugh, how pathetic that sounds.]
"It's the other way around - I think." Alanna replied gloomily, "he kissed me and he tried to do it again. He acts completely normal, and then he looks at me oddly - and it scares me." Alanna looked up into Amalia's eyes. "I wish he wouldn't spoil our friendship." she whispered sadly.
You're too stubborn to see it as another form of friendship, Faithful remarked lazily.
"You're so comforting." Alanna snapped. Amalia stared at her.
"Did - the cat didn't just say that, did he?" she asked.
Alanna nodded, and petted Faithful.
"Don't let Roger see." Amalia advised, "I'm sure he's be overjoyed to meet a purple-eyed talking cat. Would he be able to hear him?
"You just did, Jon could sometimes. I think anyone with the Gift can." Alanna replied.
Amalia stood up, "Don't worry so much. Everything's going to be fine."
Alanna smiled, wishing she had as much faith as Amalia did. Until she knew more about Duke Roger, and what her feelings for Jonathan were, nothing would be fine.
Alex walked into Gary's room, and threw a piece of paper at him.
"Letter." He announced, "From Alanna."
Gary opened, curious because Alanna rarely wrote to anyone but Jon.
Dear Gary,
How are you? I wondered if you could do something for me. I didn't want to write to Jon about this, but do you think you could ask him question for me, casually bring it up? I want to know if Roger has the power to control other people's minds. Please, this is very important, the sooner you find out the better.
Alanna
Gary stared at this unusual letter and handed it to Alex.
"Poor Alanna, she's probably too scared to write to Jon." Alex remarked, as he read it.
"Did I hear my name?" Jon walked in just then. He didn't seem to notice Alex and Gary's confusion as they attempted to hide the letter. "Who's scared of me?"
"Uh, no one." Alex said quickly. "We weren't talking about you."
"Oh, really, just some other Jon?" Jon asked skeptically, "I heard Alanna's name too."
Sighing, Gary motioned to Alex to give Jon the letter. Jon hadn't mentioned Alanna since she had returned to the convent, but he didn't seem angry with her like he had been a few weeks ago.
Jon laughed as he read the letter, and handed it back to Gary.
"I'll write her back." He said, "I don't know she was so scared of me."
Alanna,
I hope you and Faithful are fine. Everyone's all right here, except for my mother, who has a terrible cold. Am I really so scary, you won't even write to me? I'm sorry about that last week at the palace. Please don't be angry with me, and I'll try not to get carried away around you from now on.
Answer to your question: yes, Roger could probably control someone's mind. What are you thinking of now? Be careful. Roger seems to be more dangerous than I thought and he could kill you if you mess around with his plans.
Jon
Alanna was very startled when she saw Jon's writing on the letter. By the end it, though, she was smiling. Even the small romantic mention in the first paragraph didn't bother he.
Then she remembered the purpose of the letter - Amalia had been right. Alanna was also worried about the queen's cold. Had Jon mentioned that on purpose, because it too could be Roger's work?
Alanna threw the letter in the fire. It was hard for her to communicate with Jon now. The letter came and went secretly - if Lady Charlotte ever read one, Alanna didn't know what would happen. Also, it was becoming risky to send letters. Duke Roger had the power to stop a messenger. He might even have spies at the convent, and there was no Alanna trusted to take verbal messages. So far she had been lucky. She knew her letters had been reaching Jon, and that his replies weren't forged. Roger would have never admitted to being able to control a war, or alluded to the troubles between herself and Jonathan.
Don't worry, Faithful yawned, it's not like there's anything you and Jonathan need to talk about.
"I do." Alanna replied, "I want to know about the Queen's cold. I want to know if he's responsible for all that we think he is."
You can't send anything, it's too dangerous, Faithful snapped. As usual, he was right. For him, it was the end of the matter. For Alanna, it was just the beginning.
In two days time, the Tortallian army was able to go home. Alanna was riding with her friends, when a small black kitten crawled out of the bushes. Moonlight reared, and while Alanna calmed to her horse, Jonathan picked up kitten.
"Poor thing's half dead." He murmured, remounting his horse. He handed the kitten to Alanna and she gasped. The kitten had purple eyes! Her friends leaned over to see the kitten's eyes, all of them gasping with surprise.
"She was meant for you." Alex said softly. Alanna smiled as she placed the kitten on her lap and rode on.
"When are you going back to the convent?" Gary asked.
"After the Midwinter Festival." Alanna replied happily. Just then Duke Roger dropped back beside the four.
"Good day, Lady Alanna." He murmured, "I hope you're feeling better."
"Much better, your Grace." She replied shielding the kitten's eyes, so that the Duke wouldn't see her new pet. Duke Roger smiled,
"And you and Amalia are good friends, I hope?" He asked softly.
"Yes, very good friends, your Grace." Alanna didn't like the way Duke Roger was looking at her. He wanted something - and she wished she knew what. Jonathan, seeing how nervous Alanna was, changed the subject and soon Roger rode off.
"What's wrong, Alanna?" Gary asked.
"I don't know." Alanna shrugged, "he scares me." The kitten mewed softly as if to agree and Alanna stroked her absently. She just hoped that Roger hadn't seen the kitten's eyes.
"Come on, Alanna!" Gary pulled his cousin's hands, "Surely you've skated before?"
The palace pond had frozen over, so most of the court was taking advantage of it and ice-skating today. Jon was racing with Alex. Meanwhile, Gary was trying to convince Alanna to join them. Faithful, Alanna's cat, howled from the side of the pond. Alanna had found that if she listened closely to the kitten, it sounded as if he was talking.
What are you scared of? Faithful meowed.
"Not since I was six." Alanna snapped as she stepped onto the ice hesitantly. Gary pulled her forward, while Jon skidded to a halt in front of her, sending ice flying. He grabbed her hands a spun her around, making her scream and laugh at the same time.
"Stop it!" she cried as Jon returned her to Gary, grinning. Alanna soon relaxed and was skimming around the pond quickly by the time everyone began to leave.
You're really a child still. Faithful yawned. Alanna rolled her eyes and followed Jon, who was waiting for her. The rest of the group had already gone ahead and the woods were eerily silent in the growing darkness. Alanna stumbled over a branch, and Jon out his arm around her waist to steady her. she was very tired, and still weak, and she was grateful for Jon's strong arm around her.
You're still too sick for this, Faithful scolded, and do you enjoy cuddling up to Jonathan?
"How dare you, you prissy cat -." Alanna stopped, aware that Jonathan was listening to them. He looked at her oddly, but didn't say anything. Neither of them were paying attention to the path up ahead, so when a wolf snarled form the darkness in front of them, it startled them.
"Mithros! Wolves, in these woods!" Jonathan gasped. He let go of Alanna, pulling his sword out. The wolf growled and moved towards Alanna, his eyes never straying from her face. Wishing she didn't have to stand her like a helpless lady, Alanna twisted the ring. A green glow appeared around the wolf.
"It's sorcery!" she cried. Jonathan swung his sword at the wolf, who leapt towards Alanna. With a scream, Jon dove in front of her, cutting into the wolf's side. The wolf vanished into thin air.
"Are you alright?" Alanna asked as she dusted snow off of Jonathan. Jonathan nodded grimly.
"it almost killed you." He replied.
"Roger almost killed me." Alanna retorted, "Normal wolves don't appear and then vanish. That was pure sorcery."
"I know." Jonathan replied. He looked at her ring, "is that really a magic crystal?" he asked. When Alanna nodded, he sighed, "Roger's the only living person with Conte magic. If you're sure it was green - " Alanna nodded emphatically, " - then I guess I was wrong about him."
The Midwinter Festival continued at the palace. On evening Alanna stood alone, in a small balcony above the Hall, watching behind a curtain. She heard some one enter. Jonathan stood there.
"Lonely?" he asked.
"Quite." Alanna admitted, "What are you doing up here?"
"Escaping." Jon smiled. He tilted his head and looked at Alanna oddly, his face suddenly serious. "Do you dance?"
"They've tried to teach me." Alanna replied laughing uneasily to shake off the weird look Jon was giving her.
Jon placed a hand on her waist and picked up her other hand, waltzing around the small area. Alanna relaxed in his arms, letting him lead her.
"You dance well." Jon murmured in her ear. Alanna met his eyes and wished she hadn't. She looked away nervously, unsure what she should say.
Jonathan pulled her closer, smiling softly. Alanna stared at him, as he bent his head to kiss her.
"Stop it!" she pulled away, horrified, her arms separating her from the prince. Jon realized she was shaking and let go of her hands.
"I have to go." He mumbled, and he fled, leaving Alanna alone again. Breathing deeply, Alanna tried to control her thoughts. She didn't know what wrong with Jon - they'd been such good friends. Why did he want to ruin that friendship?
Faithful slid into the room, winding himself around Alanna's legs.
Maybe he's in love? He purred.
"That's crazy! Of course he isn't!" she sighed, "Why does everyone have to grow up?"
Alanna was very happy to leave for the convent a week later. Jon had been acting odd around her since their 'dance' and even Gary and Alex seemed different.
Faithful was taken to the convent. Lady Charlotte, with three cats of her own, sniffed, and said the Faithful probably has fleas.
Amalia and Clara listened, thrilled, to Alanna's account of the past few weeks. Alanna was deciding how far she should trust Amalia, when Amalia solved her worries for her.
"Alanna, I - I think there's something you should know about me." She mumbled on day, "I'm not Duke Roger's niece -."
"You're his daughter." Alanna interrupted, "I know." She then told Amalia about her visit to Jonakin Orson.
"He promised he wouldn't hurt you." Alanna whispered, "He keeps lying to me about everything." She sat down, sighing, "I've been thinking - he talks so much about his 'plans' and how you ruin them all. Maybe - just maybe - he brewed the fever. After all, if you hadn't been there, Jonathan would have died."
Alanna stared at her friend and sister.
"Do you think - could Roger have helped create the war? They obviously had inside information - and Jon again could have died."
"And again you ruined it." Amalia smiled, "he might have the powers, I don't know. And Princess Iliria might have helped him - with His Highness and all that. Though I don't know why they would want the letters if they were going to kidnap him anyway."
Alanna nodded absently, barely hearing Amalia. Thinking about Iliria brought Jon back to her mind. Just thinking about him scared her.
"What's wrong?" Amalia asked, "You've looked odd since I mentioned Iliria and Jonathan - oh! Is it Prince Jonathan? Do you - do you like him?" [A/N: ugh, how pathetic that sounds.]
"It's the other way around - I think." Alanna replied gloomily, "he kissed me and he tried to do it again. He acts completely normal, and then he looks at me oddly - and it scares me." Alanna looked up into Amalia's eyes. "I wish he wouldn't spoil our friendship." she whispered sadly.
You're too stubborn to see it as another form of friendship, Faithful remarked lazily.
"You're so comforting." Alanna snapped. Amalia stared at her.
"Did - the cat didn't just say that, did he?" she asked.
Alanna nodded, and petted Faithful.
"Don't let Roger see." Amalia advised, "I'm sure he's be overjoyed to meet a purple-eyed talking cat. Would he be able to hear him?
"You just did, Jon could sometimes. I think anyone with the Gift can." Alanna replied.
Amalia stood up, "Don't worry so much. Everything's going to be fine."
Alanna smiled, wishing she had as much faith as Amalia did. Until she knew more about Duke Roger, and what her feelings for Jonathan were, nothing would be fine.
Alex walked into Gary's room, and threw a piece of paper at him.
"Letter." He announced, "From Alanna."
Gary opened, curious because Alanna rarely wrote to anyone but Jon.
Dear Gary,
How are you? I wondered if you could do something for me. I didn't want to write to Jon about this, but do you think you could ask him question for me, casually bring it up? I want to know if Roger has the power to control other people's minds. Please, this is very important, the sooner you find out the better.
Alanna
Gary stared at this unusual letter and handed it to Alex.
"Poor Alanna, she's probably too scared to write to Jon." Alex remarked, as he read it.
"Did I hear my name?" Jon walked in just then. He didn't seem to notice Alex and Gary's confusion as they attempted to hide the letter. "Who's scared of me?"
"Uh, no one." Alex said quickly. "We weren't talking about you."
"Oh, really, just some other Jon?" Jon asked skeptically, "I heard Alanna's name too."
Sighing, Gary motioned to Alex to give Jon the letter. Jon hadn't mentioned Alanna since she had returned to the convent, but he didn't seem angry with her like he had been a few weeks ago.
Jon laughed as he read the letter, and handed it back to Gary.
"I'll write her back." He said, "I don't know she was so scared of me."
Alanna,
I hope you and Faithful are fine. Everyone's all right here, except for my mother, who has a terrible cold. Am I really so scary, you won't even write to me? I'm sorry about that last week at the palace. Please don't be angry with me, and I'll try not to get carried away around you from now on.
Answer to your question: yes, Roger could probably control someone's mind. What are you thinking of now? Be careful. Roger seems to be more dangerous than I thought and he could kill you if you mess around with his plans.
Jon
Alanna was very startled when she saw Jon's writing on the letter. By the end it, though, she was smiling. Even the small romantic mention in the first paragraph didn't bother he.
Then she remembered the purpose of the letter - Amalia had been right. Alanna was also worried about the queen's cold. Had Jon mentioned that on purpose, because it too could be Roger's work?
Alanna threw the letter in the fire. It was hard for her to communicate with Jon now. The letter came and went secretly - if Lady Charlotte ever read one, Alanna didn't know what would happen. Also, it was becoming risky to send letters. Duke Roger had the power to stop a messenger. He might even have spies at the convent, and there was no Alanna trusted to take verbal messages. So far she had been lucky. She knew her letters had been reaching Jon, and that his replies weren't forged. Roger would have never admitted to being able to control a war, or alluded to the troubles between herself and Jonathan.
Don't worry, Faithful yawned, it's not like there's anything you and Jonathan need to talk about.
"I do." Alanna replied, "I want to know about the Queen's cold. I want to know if he's responsible for all that we think he is."
You can't send anything, it's too dangerous, Faithful snapped. As usual, he was right. For him, it was the end of the matter. For Alanna, it was just the beginning.