~ Chapter Three ~ Midwinter Festivities

"No!" Alanna exclaimed. "I will not go to some ridiculous ball where I have to wear lace and fluff and little jingly trinkets that bounce about, and, and, I'm not going to have to laugh merrily at every knight's stupid joke and have to - to - dance!"

Daniella looked at Alanna sternly. "You will go to this ball, Miss Alanna," she told her. "I may be your friend, but I am definitely not letting you shirk out of this Midwinter Ball! Or the Feast, either!"

"Stupid feast, stupid ball." muttered Alanna. "Stupid everything! It's not fair! Why couldn't Thom just have agreed." her voice trailed off.

Daniella frowned. "Agree to what, exactly?" she asked. Alanna shook her head. "Oh, nothing, never mind."

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Alanna peeked around the curtain and cringed. The sight before her was enough to make one girl puke - yes, just one unique girl, Alanna - there were couples dancing, and she could see the women laughing merrily, women standing, chatting to other women and men. ugh! Did Alanna actually have to join this group? She'd skipped the Feast by faking stomach sickness (although Daniella wasn't fooled, she let her skip the Feast as long as she promised to attend the ball), but she didn't know if she could do this!

Alanna took a deep breath and sighed. She knew she'd cop it from Daniella if she didn't show up, and Alanna had seen Daniella in a rage before. it wasn't very pretty.

Alanna sighed again, rolled her eyes and stepped out into the midst of the ball. She looked to her right and her left, not knowing quite what to do. She never paid attention in the ball lessons at the Convent.

Alanna fingered her amethyst necklace, a beautiful large gem on a gold chain. It had always made Alanna feel better, as it had been her mother's. It was very special to Alanna. It accentuated her beautiful purple eyes, and went well with the simple, low-line shapely, light purple dress that she wore.

"Lady Alanna."

Alanna turned to see Jon walking towards her. Alanna smiled. A familiar face! "Prince Jonathan," she greeted. "How are you?"

"Fine, fine. And it's just Jon," he told her. "No need for formality, unless around my mother."

Alanna smiled. "And it's just 'Alanna'. No Lady title, okay? I really don't like it."

Jon grinned. "I could somehow tell," he told her.

The musicians struck up a nice, moderate tune. "A dance?" Jon asked hopefully.

Alanna tried to wave it off. "I - I don't really. I mean, I - I'm not that fantastic." her voice wavered.

Jon smiled. "You'll be fine," he told her, pulling her onto the dance floor. Alanna allowed herself to be pulled, enjoying the brilliant sensation of being close to him. Alanna shook her head. What was she thinking? She wouldn't fall for this prince!

Jon pulled Alanna into the dancing position, close. Alanna took a breath. The top of her head came up to Jon's chest, just below his neck. The tune became slower, and their movement became slower. Jon gently pulled Alanna gradually closer, and Alanna found herself afraid to breathe.

Alanna looked up into Jon's sapphire eyes. Jon stared back into Alanna's own amethyst ones.

"You look very pretty in purple," he told her. "It makes your eyes even prettier. They sparkle." He touched a strand of hair that had come loose. "And I see you have control over your brilliant head of hair."

Alanna smiled, and laughed. "Yes, Daniella helped me. Which reminds me, I'd best look out for her, and make sure she sees more, or she'll think I faked out of it like the feast." Alanna realised what she had just admitted and put a hand over her mouth.

Jon laughed. "Don't worry, I won't squeal. Actually I wondered why you weren't at the Feast. I kind of thought you wouldn't be the Feast-and-Ball type."

Alanna gave him a mystic look. "Whatever made you think that?" she asked him.

~*~

"Who is that charming red head dancing with my son over there?" Queen Lianne asked a pretty chestnut haired lady.

Delia of Eldorne turned crimson at the cheeks. "Oh, that "Lady"?" asked Delia in a scornful tone.

"Yes," Lianne said in a surprised voice. "You know her? What's the matter?"

Until now Delia had been having a brilliant time, being of first-name basis with the Queen, Delia had thought Jon and easy target. Now that Alanna was going to spoil it! But Delia's anxiety quickly turned to joy. She had a chance here to ruin her!

Delia smiled devilishly. "Oh! It's just that. well."

"Go on," urged Lianne.

"Well," Delia began, an evil smile upon her face. "She was so naughty at the Convent, did you know she owned breeches?"

Lianne gasped. Delia smiled, knowing her work was having impact.

"Yes, and she wore them all the time. She purposely messed up her embroidery, she'd ruin it by mixing threads and double stitching, and she hated getting measured for dresses, do you know she almost got kicked out because she made such a fuss about having to get measurements taken!"

Lianne soaked all of this in. She squinted at Alanna, who was dancing closely with Jon now. "She doesn't look all that bad. She's not at terrible dancer, at least."

Delia nodded (knowing she has to agree with the Queen) and raised her eyebrows. "But you know," she said, letting out a disappointed sigh. "That may be her only quality - besides those manly things. She wanted to be a knight can you believe? And she hates to ride side-saddle, she always fought to ride the man's way. And in archery, instead of learning the ladies' bow, she'd always switch her long bow for a short mans' bow. And I know for a fact that someone came to the Convent to get her and take her somewhere to teach her fencing!"

Delia knew now that her news had sunk in. Lianne was clearly appalled. "I'll talk to my son after this," she said a-matter-of-fact-ly and excused herself from Delia's presence.

Delia nodded her off, and smile evilly at her dirty deed.

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The air was fresh out in the Garden, and Alanna thanked the Mother for the beautiful night. She took a breath of fresh air and swung her hand, which was clasped in Jon's hand. He laughed and drew her close.

Alanna looked up at his eyes with interest. Goddess! She thought to herself. I've been here, what, four days? And already I'm getting into this kind of trouble! But as she looked up into Jon's brilliant eyes, all her worries faded.

Jon leaned closer, and Alanna found she couldn't breathe, for the second time that night. What was this hold Jon had over her? Why did he make her stomach flutter like this?

Jon leant down, and their lips touched gently. Jon kissed her again and again, and Alanna kissed him back.

"Jonathan!" a clear, crisp voice called.

Jon and Alanna sprang apart. Queen Lianne appeared.

"M - m - mum," Jon stuttered.

"Jonathan, please," Lianne said, eyeing Alanna. "We have company," she said in a low, pointed voice.

Alanna smiled at the Queen, feeling uncomfortable. "Your Majesty," she said, curtsying.

The Queen smiled. "Now Jon - I need to talk to you," she said.

"Yes, your Majesty," Jon said. Lianne nodded, and walked away. Jon looked after his mother, looked at Alanna kissed her quickly, and followed Lianne out of the Garden.

Alanna touched her tingling lips and smiled after her Prince.

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Alanna returned to the ball, feeling light and floaty. A few other men approached her, asking for a dance, but Alanna used her old excuse, "she was feeling a little dizzy".

About an hour after Alanna had returned, Daniella came over to her, dragging some handsome knight by his hand. Alanna noted she was puffed and slightly red, and her hair was slightly frizzy at the sides. Alanna grinned. Someone had been dancing a bit too much.

"Alanna!" Daniella cried, coming over. "This is Sir Darian, he's lovely. We've been dancing."

Alanna smiled. She curtsied. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Alanna," she said, outstretching a hand for him to shake.

He looked at her, and Alanna remembered that women were supposed to offer their hand for a kiss. Alanna smiled through her teeth and turned her hand the "proper" way.

Darian took her hand and shook it. "Daniella said you hated being a lady -" Daniella turned red, "but I must admit I didn't believe her. I guess I was wrong - you seem very interesting, Alanna."

Alanna smiled (truthfully, this time). She had a good feeling she would like this young man.

Daniella and Darian moved off, probably to do more dancing, Alanna thought, and as Alanna watched the pretty couples dance graciously she was approached by Thom

He came up to her with his big grin, the one so much like Alanna's own, and Alanna knew he meant to pester her with questions about her night.

"My dear Lady Alanna, may I be honoured with a dance?" he asked in a polite voice, bowing down deep.

"My dear Squire Thom," Alanna said, in a bored, posh voice. "Aren't you meant to be serving?"

Thom grinned. "Break," he told her. "So I came to see how my beloved sister was."

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Well I'm fine," she told him. "So you can go back to your serving."

"Aw," Thom said. "Not even one dance?"

Alanna laughed and shook her head. "You're in your server's uniform," she told him. She looked at his pleading eyes. "Dancing with an proper lady when you're only a squire makes you popular, does it?" she asked jokingly. Thom nodded his head vigorously. Alanna laughed. "Alright then," she said.

Thom led her onto the dance floor and struck up first position. The music began and Thom whirled her round. Alanna laughed.

"You're quite a good dancer, Thom," she told her twin. Thom smiled.

"Unlike you, my dear Alanna, I paid attention in my social classes."

The two where quite a sight. Both were identical, aside from Alanna's womanly figure and longer hair, and they looked funny with Alanna's clumsy movements and Thom's graceful poise.

"So, how was the charming Prince tonight?" Thom asked innocently.

Alanna looked at her brother sharply. "Oh, he didn't have much time to talk to me, his mother whisked him away," she replied casually.

Thom shook his head. "Don't try to hide from me, sister dear, I saw you sneak out with the brilliant Jonathan just then."

Alanna blushed and Thom chuckled merrily to himself. "I knew it!" he cried. He said in a singsong voice, "I knew he had a crush on you, I knew, I knew, I knew!"

Alanna turned a deep red. "Oh, shut up Thom! Or I'll tell about your little "happenings" with girls!"

Thom acted as though he didn't know what she was talking about, but Alanna saw through him easily.

"Yes. what was her name. Yvetea? (A/N - Yvetea is Ye - vee - tee - a (short "a") And what was the other's? Alissandra?" Alanna taunted.

Thom was fuming. "How did you know." his voice trailed off as Alanna laughed at about how easily he had given himself away.

"Yvetea and Alissandra both went to the Convent I was at, silly," she told him. "Yvetea was a year above me and Alissandra was one of my friends. They told me, stupid!"

Thom sighed and bowed his head. "Don't tell," he mumbled.

Alanna smiled. "I won't if you won't," she said.

Thom shook his head. "I don't know anything! I can just guess." he sighed, and twirled Alanna one last time before the music stopped.

Alanna smiled as she curtsied to her brother. She lent close to his ear.

"He kissed me," she whispered. She leant back and smiled mysteriously.

Thom gaped at her. "He. he. WHAT?" he yelped. People turned to stare. Thom blushed and quietened his voice.

By the time he had regained himself, Alanna was walking away. Thom raced to catch up with her, and stopped in front of her. Alanna wove between him and the other people around her until she was in a clearer space.

Thom didn't give up that easily. "You're joking," he puffed, once he had finally caught up with her.

Alanna she her head. Then she glared at him sternly. "Don't you tell you little brat," she ordered him. "Or I'll spill about those girls -"

Thom cut her short. "I won't, I won't." he said. "But - a guy, the Prince, kissed you. how did it make you feel?"

Alanna sighed and smiled, a mystic look in her eyes.

"Magical," she said.

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Phew! Four and ΒΌ pages! How do you like it? Please R&R! I'm going to be really mean and ask for at least twenty reviews before the next chapter! (A/N it's not fair my friend is beating me in reviews, she's only got two chapters, like me, but she's got like, three times the amount of reviews! Damnit, come on people!) ;) lolz, luv ~*~kaz~*~