(A/N - '~' is Alanna's dream (italic). Sorry it's been so long, it's probably going to be short, but less romantic - to make up for my last chapter!

~ Chapter Five ~ Sorcery

Alanna sat on her bed with a sigh. She removed her pointed shoes from her aching feet and stretched them out in front of her.

She sighed and fell back onto the bed. She'd had a tiresome day. After her encounter with Jon in the library, Alanna had returned to Daniella, who was still tongue-tied over Darien.

Then Thom had led her to the practice courts where she had watched every knight train with wonder in her eyes. How she'd longed to have gone out there and showed them a thing or two!

But Alanna had held back, and just watched in awe. She noted faults in every knight's movement, except for Prince Jonathan's. He was a magnificent fighter indeed! His agility, his speed - everything. He would be the only one to give Alanna a challenge - and didn't she know it!

So she'd watched the "magnificent" knights all morning, and then, when no one was looking, she snuck into the practise courts (wearing a pair of Thom's breeches and a shirt) and she snuck in and rehearsed her moves. Her trusty (yet old, worn and cheap) sword, Storm, did her good for that afternoon's practise.

She practised her butterfly sweeps, dodges, and everything else she'd been taught. After her practise she's felt very refreshed, and very, very tired.

Alanna fell asleep almost instantly, into a rough, dream-filled sleep.

~ It was on fire - the whole place! Alanna ran around and around, trying to find somewhere to escape. She heard her name being called distantly and mysteriously - It sounded like a bit like Jon, yet older.she'd heard that voice before, somewhere.

Over and over the orange mass swirled, and consumed the space around her, filling every little corner up. Finally, the substance started to consume her.

It was so painful, so exceptionally painful. Alanna tried to fight it - she clenched her teeth together hard, but it was so unbearable. Alanna screamed ~

Alanna sat up, wet with perspiration. Her dream - it had been so real - what was it? Or what provoked it?

Alanna lay down onto cold, wet navy sheets. She thought no more about her strange dream, and feel into, now, a dreamless sleep.

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The next morning Alanna went sleepily to get breakfast. She helped herself to a little fresh fruit, and some toasted bread. As she bit hungrily into a fruit top piled piece of toast, a handsome man approached Alanna. He wore a fine red rode with gold trimmings, and he carried a wizard's staff.

He sat into the seat across from Alanna. "Hello Lady Alanna."

"Um. hi," Alanna said tentatively. "Ah - do I know you?" she asked.

"We've met once before," the man said. "I am Duke Roger of Conte - Jon's uncle? I believe you know Jon well."

Alanna blushed pink, and then frowned. Where had she heard his voice before? And really recently, too.

"Well, I just wanted to make myself known to you." He smiled. Alanna saw that his teeth were as white as pearls. His sapphire eyes - so much like Jon's - glimmered below the chandelier on the roof and the candles that were placed around the walls. Alanna saw a beautiful jewel around Roger's neck - it was sapphire.

It twinkled in the light and made Alanna feel sleepy. "So, Lady Alanna - tell me what you know about Jon." Alanna frowned. She couldn't get her eyes off the gem. "Lady, Alanna," Duke Roger said, a little less patiently this time, "What do you know about Jon?" he demanded.

Alanna shook her head. She broke her gaze from the stone and rubbed her head, which had begun to ache. She looked at Roger weirdly and walked away from him. Roger cursed himself silently.

Alanna frowned. that voice.

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"Mother, you're being ridiculous!"

"Jonathan, don't you dare snap at me like that! I am your mother and your Queen!"

Jonathan sighed. "That may be so, but you're being unfair."

"I'm your mother, Jon," she said, walking over. "I'm allowed to be worried."

"But that's just it," Jon protested. "You're not worrying, you're telling me what to do."

"Oh!" Lianne cried out in frustration. "You are so stubborn! Can't you just accept that I don't want you to be socialising with this lady?"

"But why not?" Jon exclaimed. "Alanna is a beautiful girl, and she's really nice and kind. You're not even giving her a chance! You're judging her based on what other people have said!"

"I have good sources," Lianne snapped back. "And besides," she said he voice calmer now, "I wish for you to meet Lady Delia. Lady Delia is a lovely and mature young lady, much more dignified that that other lady you've been socialising with lately."

Jon rolled his eyes. "This is ridiculous," he told his mother.

Lianne ignored his comment. "Lady Delia," she called. "Delia, are you there?"

Lady Delia of Eldorne swept into the room in a glittering emerald and cream dress. Her silver shoes just poked out from under the hem of the brilliant garment. Her chestnut hair was piled up on top of her hair in tumbles and curls, and her lips shone crimson.

"Prince Jonathan," Delia said in a soft, purring voice. "I am honoured to meet you." She elegantly curtsied low. Jonathan bowed. "As I am to meet you," he said, taking her extended hand and kissing it.

"Your Majesty," someone said behind Lianne.

Lianne turned. "Yes?" she asked.

"There is someone here that wishes to see you and his highness," the doorman (A/N - I've got no idea what the hell they're called!!) said, indicating to Jon.

Lianne frowned. "Right now? Well, I suppose - just for a minute though."

The doorman nodded and left. A few moments later, in came a strikingly pretty copper haired young lady dressed in a bold crimson. Jon smiled to himself. Alanna.

Alanna curtsied graciously at Lianne's feet. "Your Majesty," she said.

"Oh," Lianne said, a fake smiled on her face. "You must be Lady Alanna."

Alanna nodded. "I am, your Majesty. Forgive me for intruding this little - gathering," she glanced at Delia, who gave Alanna evils, "but I desperately needed to talk to your son, His Highness."

Lianne looked at her down her nose. "About what?" Lianne asked.

Alanna pressed her crimson skirt down. "It's my brother," she said. "He's doing some - experiment - and he wished for the Prince to be there immediately. He's calling for him - please, when my brother experiments with his Gift, well - it's best that you come, your Highness."

Jon nodded. "Please excuse me, Lady Delia, Mother, but, it's Thom - I really should be there overseeing his use of his Gift."

Lianne nodded her head stiffly and slightly, and Delia curtsied graciously. "I'm sure you wouldn't leave unless it was urgent," she said. Jon nodded, and left quickly with Alanna.

"What's the matter?" Jon asked.

"I don't know," Alanna said worriedly. "I just knocked on his door, and he didn't reply, so I opened it and he was there, with his Gift all around his, and he told me to get you."

Jon nodded, a grim look on his face. He was one of the only people that knew how extensively far Thom had gone in his sorcery studies. Jon shook his head. Thom was such an idiot! He was supposed to wait until Jon or Roger was there supervising him!

Jon raced into Thom's room to find him on the floor. Alanna cried out and ran over to him. "What's the matter?" she cried. "What did he do?"

Jon shook his head. "Help me carry him out." Thom had an amethyst tinge around him, and looked pale. Alanna approached Thom cautiously. Why did he have to experiment with his Gift? Alanna hated hers. She was afraid of it - although very few people knew.

Jon and Alanna managed to take Thom to the Hospital Wing, which was right near Thom's quarters, thankfully. Thom was placed on a bed just as a man, quite old, entered, followed by Jon.

"Oh, Good Mithros," cried the man. "What's he done this time?"

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Okay, okay, crap chapter, don't flame me, please!!!!!!!!!! *Sobs hysterically* oh, please don't flame me, its like ten at night and I've just not won this competition I was dying to win on this radio show. oh life SUX! But anyway, I know it's a shit chapter and I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. but what HAS Thom been doing? And who IS that man and why was ROGER supervising THOM'S magic study? Ok, ok, I'll shut up. anyway, you'll have to wait for the next chapter because I need to figure out what's going to happen next! Lolz,

~*~luv kaz~*~