On the Streets
by jilla kala
a/n: ::gets on knees:: i am soooooooo sorry it took so long… again… but here's the next chapter… i haven't been here (tamora pierce fanfic) a lot and the start of the school year has been hell (i got like a pneumonia thing and missed a bunch of school and so subsequently am having trouble with my classes) and have had like, six hours of homework a night (slight exaggeration, but only slight) but enough of the pity party, now on to the story!! oh, and apologies for the OOCness of a couple characters, lemme know if u have a tip or two on how to make the characters better. Sorry again!
disclaimer: what you recognize belongs to Tamora Pierce… I only own the plot, Jua, her housemates, Ezra and umm… that's it so far…
dedication: this chapter is dedicated to Keziah, purpleblue and Cassidy Peterson for telling me some approximate ages, thanx :) (if I forgot anyone who told me, lemme know, cuz I only checked in chapter 8 reviews, sorry if I forgot anyone)
Chapter Eight
Jua rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she walked out of Jon's room. She had woken up awhile ago but he was still asleep and she didn't want to wake him, so she decided to come downstairs. When she reached the bottom of the staircase and went into the main room she found George, Gary, Alan and Raoul sitting in a circle on the floor. They hadn't realized she was standing there and so they continued in their discussion, they were talking about life at the palace lately and the new bet Gary had won. All the signs of the sensitive, emotional people they all were last night were gone, replaced by their normal selves. "Men," she sighed.
They all turned to look at her. "Oh, g'morning Jua, I didn't know you were up yet. What was it you said just barely?" George greeted her.
"Uh… nothing, I said 'hullo'" she answered with a sheepish grin as she sat down in the circle next to Raoul.
"So, Jon's not up yet?" Alan asked.
Jua shook her head; "He had a little bit too much to drink last night, so he's sleeping it off. When he gets up we're going to have to decide what to do about this whole situation." She paused for a moment before jumping up, "Oh! I forgot!" She rummaged around in her pocket for a second before pulling out a gold chain and handing it to George. "Could this be the chain?"
George looked the chain over. He nodded, "Where'd you get this?"
"Jon gave it to me, last night, before he left."
"He did?" Gary asked.
"Yeah, I forgot to tell you all, in the middle of everything."
"What did he say when he gave it to you?" George again.
"That it was the chain you were talking about. I think he knows we're right, now whether he's going to want to admit that and do anything about it," she paused, "well, that's another story."
"Well, what did we have in mind to do about it anyway? Before we make him decide anything. Were we gonna do anything about it, or just tell him?" Alan asked. Everyone was silent for a moment before Gary answered,
"Bring him back, naturally. He is the prince, and the rightful heir at that."
"I think so too," Raoul and Alan said at the same time. George nodded in agreement.
"I hate to be the one to bring up a potential problem," Jua said slowly, "but I think it needs to be considered. What if Jon doesn't want to go up there and be the prince?"
The others stared at her. They hadn't considered the possibility of Jon not wanting to go back with them. "That would be a bit of a problem, but I'm sure it won't come up. Who wouldn't want to be reunited with the family they had lost?" Raoul put in.
"I'm just saying, in case. We have to respect it if he doesn't want to." No one said anything. A couple people nodded in acknowledgement of what she had said.
"I'm hungry," George announced abruptly, standing up, "I'm going to go get some food. Anyone want anything while I'm out?"
"Muffins," Jua said.
"Eggs," Raoul suggested.
"Bacon," Alan chimed in.
"Cashews," Gary recommended.
"Cashews?" George questioned.
"I can't help it," Gary said with a shrug, "I like cashews." The others chuckled and George went off to round up the meal.
~*~
George came through the door with a sack full of stolen food just as Jon came downstairs. "Just in time," Jua grinned, "Food's here."
George and Jua went into the kitchen to make the breakfast while the others arranged crates to make a makeshift table in the center of the main room. Alan came into the kitchen a few moments later to make up a hangover remedy for Jon.
After the bacon and eggs had finished cooking and the muffins and cashews were put into bowls, the group sat down around the table the others had made. Everyone ate silently for the first few minutes; the only noise was the sound of people chewing on their morning meal. Finally Jua looked up from her bowl and asked the nobles why they weren't at the palace.
"Well," Alan explained in between bites of his bacon and muffin, "we figured it's more important to be here right now, and besides, Their Majesties will forgive us when we bring Jon back, so…" he shrugged and took another bite of bacon. Jua nodded, satisfied, and continued eating. Jon on the other hand wasn't so happy.
He slammed his cup down on the homemade table, fruit juice spilling over the edge. Everyone looked at him questioningly.
"What?" he practically yelled.
"Umm, Jon, something wrong?" George asked carefully.
"No, nothings wrong George," he replied, voice dripping in sarcasm, "what could possibly be wrong with me. I mean, after all, five of my friends told me last night I'm not the person I've always thought I am, and now they want to whisk me off to a whole new home. Of course nothing's wrong!" He practically yelled the last part before storming off.
"Gods," Raoul said after a moment, "Where'd he get that temper from all of a sudden?"
"It's a noble thing," Jua said with an innocent grin as she stood up to follow the angry thief. Alan gave a rude hand gesture to her retreating back.
~*~
Jua tried the knob on Jon's door, but found it locked. "Jon?" She called as she knocked.
"Go away!" came the shout from inside.
Mumbling under her breath about "stupid moody boys" she pulled a lock pick out of her boot and proceeded to unlock the door. When she got it she pushed the door open and stood in the doorway. She held the pick up for his glaring eyes to see, "I could have done this the easy way you know." He turned away and she went and sat on the bed beside him. "So, what's wrong kid?"
He didn't answer. "Jon. Talk to me."
Still no answer.
She placed her fingertips under his chin and turned his face so he was looking at her, "What's wrong?"
He looked away before answering, "I don't know them."
"Know who?"
"My… my," he gulped, "My par… the King and Queen."
"You can get to know them."
"I already had parents, I don't need more."
Jua sighed; this might take awhile she thought to herself.
~*~
Half an hour later the two came down the stairs, Jua in front. In answer to the questioning looks of the others waiting for them she mouthed, "He's calmed down some, and is willing to talk about going." The others nodded in understanding. When the two sat back down everyone was silent for a moment until Jua cleared her throat.
"Jua, uh, thinks I should talk to you three about the King and Queen before I make a decision," Jon said, the comment directed to the three pages and squires although he was looking at his hands.
"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Gary asked.
"What are they like?" The group spent the next couple hours telling the thieves all about the King and Queen and the other people in the palace, stopping to answer any questions anyone had.
~*~
Meanwhile, the guards at the palace were looking frantically about for the two large squires and the redheaded page. None of them had been seen since the night before.
"Corus isn't that large of a city," Duke Gareth the Elder roared, "they can't have gone that far!" The person that his anger was directed at, Ezra, the captain of the palace guard, paled slightly before the angry duke.
"I'm sorry your Grace, my men have been out looking since the three did not show up for breakfast, and there is no sign of them. Their horses are in the stables and the only things missing from their rooms appear to be the swords they all carry. No one in the stables or any of the servants have seen them."
"Find them! Their Majesties are getting worried. Its not every day three noble children disappear from a guarded castle!"
"Yes, your grace," Ezra said as he bowed before turning and hurrying out of the Duke's chambers, barking orders to his guards.
Duke Gareth sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, the beginnings of a headache creeping up on him. Where could my fool son and his friends gotten to? He wondered.
~*~
The sun was beginning to set by the time the chatter about palace life had died down. Everyone looked expectantly towards Jon. He took a deep breath, letting it all out before he said, "When do you guys want us to leave?" The others grinned and clapped him on the back before Gary suggested getting up to the palace as quickly as possible, as everyone at the palace was probably getting very upset at the missing knights-in-training. Everyone quickly ran up to Jon and Jua's rooms, quickly throwing some of their belongings into bags. It had been decided that Jua would go with them and would probably stay at the castle for a couple of days while everything was decided.
"Pack lightly," Raoul told them, "We can always come back and get more later."
Soon everyone was ready and they were on their way, after Jua scribbled a quick note to the others in the house, explaining that they would be back later, they had gone on trip for a couple of days.
The walk seemed to go slowly, everyone was talking at once, making plans and guessing what would happen when they got there. Everyone that is, except Jon, who seemed to be in a bit of a daze.
"Come on, you're falling behind," Jua said with a laugh as she nudged him to go faster.
~*~
By the time the group, minus George, as he didn't want to chance a run in with the Provost, arrived at the palace gates, it was dark.
"Hello!" Gary yelled through the gate, the guards appeared in seconds. The unlocked the entrance when they saw who it was.
"Squires Gary and Raoul, Page Alan. How good of you to show up. Everyone is looking for you. You're in lots of trouble. Hey, who are these two?"
"Friends of ours," Alan replied cryptically. With a shrug the guard let them in.
~*~
"I just don't understand why they would do this, they are just barely getting done with their punishments from the last time…" Duke Gareth was telling Kind Roald and Queen Lianne when he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Lianne answered.
A breathless page pushed the door open. Almost forgetting to bow in his haste to tell the adults his news.
"Gary, Raoul and Alan are back," he said quickly.
"Good," Duke Gareth growled, "When I get my hands on those boys…" His voice trailed off ominously.
"Send them to their rooms, Duke Gareth will be in to speak to them shortly," Roald told the boy. The page shook his head,
"Begging your pardon, Majesties, but I was told to tell you to come to the entrance hall immediately."
"Why?" Lianne asked, a hint of worry tainting her voice.
"There are two people with them, a boy and a woman, and Squire Gareth claims that the lad is Prince Jonathan."
a/n: again, so sorry about the long wait, and now I'm sorry for the bit of a cliffhanger, but it seemed like a good place to stop. Thank you very much to you reviewers who have stuck with me through my long absences, hugs to all of you. If you would like me to let you know when I update (as rarely as it seems to be *tear*) leave your email address in your review.
Thank you notes:
Keziah: your welcome. no problem. thanx for the ages. i'm glad you think i portrayed the characters well. and he's at court now :)
Wind Elf: thanx for the email, and i'm glad you enjoyed it
purpleblue: thank you for the age, i always thought it was about 18 too.
MagixPawn: i know! i'm such a procrastinator. *is horrified at herself* and then it took me forever on this chapter too, stupid school, stupid pneumonia, it keeps me away. :( sorry, no kissing in the chapter. But there will be, don't worry.
Devilkitti8: don't give up on me. I'm going to finish, it just takes me awhile, I have to do other stuff that is "more important" to quote everyone I know, bah, school sux. And btw, your story wasn't stupid, it was original and i liked it, where did it go?
Sally Po: sorry about any OOCness. I try, but oh well. If you have any tips on how to make them more in character, I'd appreciate it :)
The Dark Lady: I'll try, although with school that's sometimes hard. Thanx for the review.
Kiayla: don't worry, most of us are a tad crazy, some of us (me) are bit for than a tad crazy ;) hehe
Y should I tell you?: here's another chapter, don't kill me please! Glad you think this is good. One question… why am I an idiot?
ally: I'm glad you love it. thanks for the review.
Angel-Goddess: you're welcome! thank you. don't worry, pressure is what I need sometimes, otherwise I just procrastinate and stuff. And you didn't put too much pressure on me, so don't worry. and thank you for putting me on your fav authors list :)
Libcer: Thank you! Thanks for your review.
ThePenMage: your welcome. and thank you for your review. :)
Keita: I'm glad you think this is a good plot, its not that weird, I get all caught up in stuff I'm reading too :) I am flattered. Very. Thank you.
Arram Salmalin: don't hit yourself too hard, that kills brain cells ya know. Jk. Thank you. aww man. Now I feel bad. You said you were going to look everyday for a new chapter, and I waited… how long now?? Months?? My bad… hehe. and yes he is :)
Prophetess of Doom: luv the pen name :) thanks for your review.
blacwolve: school… *shudder* keeps me from writing. Thanks for reviewing.
daydreamer: *hands daydreamer a tissue* don't cry. Sorry this took so long… darn school.
Cassidy Peterson: thank you for the ages. I hope you don't feel like poopoo anymore. Sorry this took so long.
Princess Amara of Conte: thank you. I have to agree that a/j is good. Although, I haven't decided just yet exactly what pairings I'm going to use. But I'll keep that in mind.
Bluebell of Mindelan: why thank you :) I believe I went and reviewed for chapter three, of your story, if I didn't, go ahead and yell at me, cuz I know I meant to.
Shadowseeker003: I'm glad you like it.
Acura Kasalin: thank you!