Chapter 9.... I think
"Let's review the facts." Jon stated. "Roger is after you because of your supposed SLIP, and Alex has got this thing for your other person. The squirt here." He glared as Avery "Is a god of sleep and the goddess has a sense of humor." He finished and set down the parchment. "It's really simple. You're screwed."
"JON!" Alanna yelled angrily. He jumped back.
"What do you expect me to do?!?!" He demanded.
"Something! Anything!" She yelled panicked. Jon thought for a moment before realizing something. Turning to Avery he asked
"Why don't you help?" Avery shrugged.
"I only rule children's dreams and illusions. That's all."
"Illusions?" Jon pondered. Avery smiled and jumped up. Changing form he became a tiger and leapt at the future heir. Jon yelled and ducked. The cat flew overhead and landed on all fours and smiled. The stood on it's hind legs and became a young boy again.
"Illusions. Very convincing as you just saw." He snickered and lay down.
"Say Jon, is there a party tonight?" She asked realizing something. If there was no party tonight then there would be no reason for a noble lady to be here. That meant that suspicion would be raised. Alanna groaned at the thought of the trouble. She was stuck. If there was, Roger would be there and see her. If there wasn't then it would be sort of odd to find a maiden wandering the halls. Treason might even be suspected!
"Yes, there is. Apparently they're having their own little parties for fun and also in celebration of the midsummer." Alanna didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Great!" She shouted and started parading around the room. Coming to a halt she realized something.
"What do I do if Roger comes after me?" she asked faintly.
"Hopefully he won't." When Alanna glared at his sarcasm he sighed.
"If this isn't friendship, I don't know what is. I'll keep him busy with war reports and strategies. That way, Roger won't see you. But no one will think it's odd that you're there. On ONE condition." He said to her relieved look. Holding up his index finger and twiddling it around, Alanna stared.
"I can't keep this up forever. Just, tell him the truth. From what you've said he already knows. Telling him what you really are couldn't hurt."
"ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?!" She demanded. "I don't trust him for a minute! I would never tell!" she began to pace, needing to get rid of some energy. Jon stared, then stated with a final tone.
"Alanna, tell him. He'll find it out sooner or later. And if you don't.." he struggled with the next words, then forced them out. "...I will." He strode out and Alanna was left there gaping.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is getting out of hand!" Roger yelled as the vision blanked out. Jon was slipping. His cousin had forgotten to ward the room, therefore Roger had been able to see the whole thing. The duke smiled and thought
"If Jonathan couldn't find him, then he'd be free to talk with the girl." Smiling the duke got up and walked out the door and down to the stables. A boy there panicked and brought his horse around. As Roger rode up to the gate the guard asked.
"Where are you going my lord?" Roger smiled and said
"Just a small ride, perhaps through the forest."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jon's plan was probably working. Alanna in her other form was dancing with Gary as usual, her friend had told her before the party in her squire form that he was going to try and grab her attention. And in a way he had. It wasn't everyday that a knight sang a ballad in front of an entire court. After Gary had danced himself out and Alanna was starting to feel sore she felt a small tap on her shoulder. Looking up she nearly choked. (A/N: Give you one guess who it is..)
"Hello Miranda." Roger said cheerfully. "May I have the honor of this dance?" he inquired as the music began again. She couldn't think of one valid reason to refuse. So with a heavy heart she stood and he swept her into the floor. He lowered his head and began to whisper silently.
"Alanna PLEASE! This is an important matter. I need your help."
"Help..?" She whispered faintly as they danced.
"There's a plot to kill Jonathan. I don't know how it's going to be done or when. All I know is who the traitor is!" He continued urgently. Alanna stiffened. Then without thinking asked;
"Who." Roger stopped and looked at her with despair in his eyes. Then whispered back one word.
"Me"
Disclaimer: Only story plot is mine.
"Let's review the facts." Jon stated. "Roger is after you because of your supposed SLIP, and Alex has got this thing for your other person. The squirt here." He glared as Avery "Is a god of sleep and the goddess has a sense of humor." He finished and set down the parchment. "It's really simple. You're screwed."
"JON!" Alanna yelled angrily. He jumped back.
"What do you expect me to do?!?!" He demanded.
"Something! Anything!" She yelled panicked. Jon thought for a moment before realizing something. Turning to Avery he asked
"Why don't you help?" Avery shrugged.
"I only rule children's dreams and illusions. That's all."
"Illusions?" Jon pondered. Avery smiled and jumped up. Changing form he became a tiger and leapt at the future heir. Jon yelled and ducked. The cat flew overhead and landed on all fours and smiled. The stood on it's hind legs and became a young boy again.
"Illusions. Very convincing as you just saw." He snickered and lay down.
"Say Jon, is there a party tonight?" She asked realizing something. If there was no party tonight then there would be no reason for a noble lady to be here. That meant that suspicion would be raised. Alanna groaned at the thought of the trouble. She was stuck. If there was, Roger would be there and see her. If there wasn't then it would be sort of odd to find a maiden wandering the halls. Treason might even be suspected!
"Yes, there is. Apparently they're having their own little parties for fun and also in celebration of the midsummer." Alanna didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Great!" She shouted and started parading around the room. Coming to a halt she realized something.
"What do I do if Roger comes after me?" she asked faintly.
"Hopefully he won't." When Alanna glared at his sarcasm he sighed.
"If this isn't friendship, I don't know what is. I'll keep him busy with war reports and strategies. That way, Roger won't see you. But no one will think it's odd that you're there. On ONE condition." He said to her relieved look. Holding up his index finger and twiddling it around, Alanna stared.
"I can't keep this up forever. Just, tell him the truth. From what you've said he already knows. Telling him what you really are couldn't hurt."
"ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?!" She demanded. "I don't trust him for a minute! I would never tell!" she began to pace, needing to get rid of some energy. Jon stared, then stated with a final tone.
"Alanna, tell him. He'll find it out sooner or later. And if you don't.." he struggled with the next words, then forced them out. "...I will." He strode out and Alanna was left there gaping.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"This is getting out of hand!" Roger yelled as the vision blanked out. Jon was slipping. His cousin had forgotten to ward the room, therefore Roger had been able to see the whole thing. The duke smiled and thought
"If Jonathan couldn't find him, then he'd be free to talk with the girl." Smiling the duke got up and walked out the door and down to the stables. A boy there panicked and brought his horse around. As Roger rode up to the gate the guard asked.
"Where are you going my lord?" Roger smiled and said
"Just a small ride, perhaps through the forest."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jon's plan was probably working. Alanna in her other form was dancing with Gary as usual, her friend had told her before the party in her squire form that he was going to try and grab her attention. And in a way he had. It wasn't everyday that a knight sang a ballad in front of an entire court. After Gary had danced himself out and Alanna was starting to feel sore she felt a small tap on her shoulder. Looking up she nearly choked. (A/N: Give you one guess who it is..)
"Hello Miranda." Roger said cheerfully. "May I have the honor of this dance?" he inquired as the music began again. She couldn't think of one valid reason to refuse. So with a heavy heart she stood and he swept her into the floor. He lowered his head and began to whisper silently.
"Alanna PLEASE! This is an important matter. I need your help."
"Help..?" She whispered faintly as they danced.
"There's a plot to kill Jonathan. I don't know how it's going to be done or when. All I know is who the traitor is!" He continued urgently. Alanna stiffened. Then without thinking asked;
"Who." Roger stopped and looked at her with despair in his eyes. Then whispered back one word.
"Me"
Disclaimer: Only story plot is mine.