a/n: this chapter is dedicated to all the wonderful people who have reviewed, and it takes place a couple hours after the last chapter.
Disclaimer: what you recognize belongs to Tamora Pierce… I only own the plot, Jua, her housemates, Mr. Fishes and umm… that's it so far…
Chapter Five
Jon and Jua were seated on the floor of his room repairing some of his old clothes. They were working in silence, each thinking their own thoughts, when Jua jumped up saying excitedly, "I have the best idea!"
Jon looked up surprised. "What?"
"You know how we were all talking about the ball tonight, in honor of the kings birthday?"
"Yeah…"
"Why don't we go?"
"Go? We can't go Jua, we're commoners, and thieves at that."
"So? I know lot's of thieves who go to the royal balls, as long as you have some fancy clothes, and they aren't that hard to get, and you act like a noble, no one ever knows, I've done it before, George has, and he's wanted by the Provost, everyone does it," she said. Then putting on a puppy-dog face she knelt down in front of him, "please, pretty please?"
Jon had to laugh at her, "Alright, we can go."
"Whoo hoo!" Jua yelled as she gave him a big hug, almost knocking him over, "Now we need to get us some clothes…"
~*~
Meanwhile: Alan, Gary and Raoul were sitting in Gary's room trying to help him write his toast for the ball that night. So far, it wasn't going very good.
"I have no idea what to say!" Gary moaned for about the hundredth time that afternoon.
"Gary, you say that every year and you always end up with something good." Alan said, trying to comfort his friend.
"Two years! So many times!" Gary replied sarcastically.
"Gary, come on, he's just trying to help you know," voiced Raoul who had been quiet for most of the afternoon.
"Alright, I'm sorry Alan."
"It's alright Gary, I understand."
"Listen, why don't we take a break from this for awhile, we can talk about something else then go back to it, it might make it easier," Raoul suggested.
"Good idea. Hey, I have a question for you two; did you notice anything odd about that Jonathan boy? Did he remind you of anyone?" Gary asked.
"No, Gary. You're the only one who thinks he looks familiar. I've never seen him before in my life," Alan sighed, "And he's never seen you before either, we've been over this already."
"I know, I know, but I never get this strong of a feeling of recognition about someone unless I do know them from somewhere…"
"Gary, you're wrong this time, ok? You don't know him. There's nothing wrong with that," Raoul told him.
"Alright, let's just get back to this toast thing, ok?" Gary said. Then he added under his breath so the others couldn't hear him, "and I do know him, I just don't know from where yet."
~*~
An hour later Jon and Jua had both gotten together clothes to wear to the ball that night. Jua had found a black dress, with a string of white pearls wrapped around the waist, in her closet from a previous ball she had gone too. In Tilton's meager closet she found a bright blue tunic and new black breeches for Jon to wear. They were in the process of doing up Jua's hair and make-up for the ball that night. Jua was seated on the one chair in the room, an uncomfortable wooden thing. Jon stood behind her trying to do her hair up for her. When he was completed with the style, Jua had given him directions on how to do it; he handed her a cracked handheld mirror.
"Well, what do you think?" he asked cautiously.
"Umm, to be honest, it looks like a drowned cat, even with my instructions," she said slowly. Needless to say, she took it down and did it over while the two laughed about his "talents" when it came to hair.
A couple hours later Jua's hair and face paint was finished and they were ready to go to the ball.
~*~
The two left the house and walked up to the palace gates. When they were just outside the gates they stopped. Jon used his gift to get the dirt off of their clothes and straighten their hair.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Jua asked him.
"Mistress Cooper taught me." George's mother had been teaching Jon how to use his magic for the last six months; George had kept his word about finding someone to teach him.
"Well, thank you, now, shall we?" she asked taking his arm and going up to the guards who let the "noble couple" inside without any problems. "See, now was getting in here so hard?"
Her question fell on deaf ears. Jon was looking around the hall into which they had just entered. Jua followed his gaze to the ornate tapestries hanging on the wall. The hangings showed pictures of great battles and moments in Tortallion history. She tugged his arm, "Come on, it's even better in the ballroom," she said as she led him down the hall towards the sound of music playing.
When they got to the ballroom they stopped just inside the doors and looked around; Jon to see what his first ball looked like, and Jua trying to find their friends. Soon she spotted Alan, Gary and Raoul over in a corner talking to a group of young ladies. Gary and Raoul were obviously flirting with the girls while Alan was looking uncomfortable. (a/n: yes, i know he would be serving, but he is taking a break for a few minutes.)
Jua nudged Jon in the direction of the group. When they got close enough that Alan noticed them, he sent them a look that plainly said, "Help me!"
Jua leaned in and whispered to Jon, "Alan, is famous for his strong dislike of anything social."
"Oh, I see," Jon said with a nod. The two continued over and said a quick 'hi' to Alan, who had to get back to serving. Jua walked over closer to Gary and Raoul and said, very lady like, "Hello, Squire Gareth, Squire Raoul."
The two looked confused for a minute before they started laughing.
"Jua! Jon! Haven't seen you two in awhile," Raoul said with a laugh. The two girls they had been talking to shot Jua nasty looks. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, we couldn't miss his majesty's birthday celebration now could we?" Jua said, adding slyly, "and Gary's toast to the king."
Gary shot her a look, and it was not a very nice look either. Of course, being the type of person she is, Jua just laughed at him. The four of them, Jua, Jon, Gary and Raoul, talked for a while and without their knowledge the two ladies had left, feeling very put out.
About an hour later dinner was served in the Banquet Hall and everyone took their seats to eat a fancy dinner of various roast meats and vegetables. Throughout the meal Jon and Jua would slip a piece of roll or a bite of turkey into the bags they both had, for later meals. About two hours into the meal it was time for people to give their toasts and the entertainers to sing songs and tell stories. When Gary stood up to give his toast Jua caught his eye and winked, while Alan, who had come out with the other servers to hear the toasts, gave him an encouraging smile and mouthed, "good luck."
It turned out that Gary had no reason to be nervous, his toast came out wonderful, as Alan had predicted, and everyone congratulated him on it later. About two hours after he gave his toast, Gary excused himself from the ball, saying good night to the king and queen and gave his friends the excuse of having to get up for classes in the morning.
On his way to his room he had to walk down a long corridor, which had dozens of paintings hanging on the walls. He had seen them all many times before so he didn't give them more than a quick glance. Suddenly he froze, chills shooting up his spine. He glanced back to where he had been looking just a second ago and realized exactly where he recognized Jon from…
a/n: aren't i evil?? i'm sure tho, because you are all very smart people, you can figure out where gary recognizes jon from… so… please review, because all your nice reviews are what motivate me to keep updating this (tho i am still very slow about it… i'll just have to try and work on that...) anyway, i hope everyone enjoyed this… and below I have included thank you notes to everyone who has reviewed…
Thank you notes:
Lilue: i'm glad you like my fic…
Angel-Goddess: thank you for the spelling of that, i knew i had it wrong…
ThePenMage: that's alright, and don't worry about reviewing my story every chapter… and i know my fic is confusing, i did it on purpose, aren't i evil?? But yes, it will all be explained in the upcoming chapters…
IceByrd67: lol, i'm working on more… and i'll try to think of titles for ya, if I come up with anything i'll let ya know
Arram Salmalin: thank you, and hopefully i'll get another chapter out soon…
Mage Melery: i'm hurrying… don't worry
Giovanna: well, since you said please… and if your whole "EXISTENCE" depends on it… ::winks::
MagixPawn: More chapters are on the way…
Jackie: thank you, i'm glad you like it
hyperchick88: I'm glad you think this is a "GREAT IDEA," i don't get many of those…
Pyro-Punk: thank you for reviewing
JJJLCC: actually, you didn't confuse me at all, and it will all be explained in upcoming chapters…
Everyone who reviewed: thank you for your wonderful reviews, i feel so loved ::grins::