*Disclaimer applies*
~ Chapter Thirteen ~ Reunited
Alanna waited nervously behind a wonderfully scented rosebush. She would finally see Jon again! She was so excited. She hadn't seen him for ages!
The large bell-clock struck eleven. Come on! Alanna thought. Please hurry, Raoul!
Suddenly Raoul popped his head behind the rose bush. "Alanna!" he whispered. "Come on!"
Alanna excitedly got up and slowly walked around the bush. Her heart pounding, she cautiously inched out of the shadows. She saw Jon standing there. He looked pale - must be the light, Alanna thought. She flung her arms around Jon's neck, hugging him tightly. Jon hugged her back rigidly.
Alanna took a step back. "What's the matter Jon? Aren't you happy to see me?"
Jon looked past Alanna into the distance, his eyes cold. "R-Roger," he managed to spit out.
"Roger?" Alanna asked, confused. "Who's. oh. Your cousin?"
Jon nodded, and a strangled groan escaped his throat. Raoul stepped forward, concern on his tanned face.
"Jon?" he asked. "Jon, what's the matter? What's Roger doing?"
Jon seemed to think for a second, before collapsing onto the ground.
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"Jon. Jon, are you awake? Jon."
Unsteady eyes opened, flickering. Alanna gripped his hand, knelt beside him - Raoul was supporting his head.
"Jon," Alanna breathed a sigh of relief, hugging him. "Oh, thank Mithros you're alright."
Jon looked about. "Where am I?" he asked.
"You're in the Garden," Alanna said. "In the front part of the maze. We took you away from the party."
Jon got up off the ground. Alanna stood, concern on her face. "Are you ok?"
Jon blinked. "I'm - I'm fine. Perfectly all right. Oh, thank the Gods you took me away from him."
Alanna frowned, concern upon her face. "From who?" she asked. Then she scowled. "From him... Roger, isn't it? I *knew there was something strange about him. Jon? What's he doing to you?"
Jon took a deep breath. "He had a focus of me," he said.
Alanna frowned. She disliked magic, and never studied it properly. "Focus? What's that?"
"It's a spell for finding someone - but if owned by a powerful sorcerer, can be used for mind and body control."
"And Roger has one of you?" Raoul asked, his eyes narrow.
"Yes," Jon replied. "He is using it to control me until tomorrow night - when - when he plans to murder me."
"Murder you?" Alanna gasped.
Raoul looked a little puzzled. "Whatever for?" he asked. "All that can be gained is suspicion on his behalf."
Alanna shook her head. "No... think about it Raoul. If Jon dies, who is next in line to become heir to the throne?"
Raoul's eyes narrowed even more. "Roger," he growled. "Why that scum..."
"He plans to kill me tomorrow night," Jon continued, "and then kill my parents in the next couple of years - making him King."
"You can't go back Jon, you can't," Alanna said, gripping his hand tight. "We'll take you away."
Jon shook his head. "No. Then he'll kill my parents and, when I eventually return, he'll kill me too. I'll just be prolonging my death and speeding up my parents'."
"Well you can't just go back!" cried Alanna, exasperated. "Then he'll kill you tomorrow night!"
Jonathan glared at her. "Don't you think I know that?" he snapped. Alanna flinched slightly. Jon's face immediately softened. "Oh, Alanna, I'm sorry," he said. "I'm really, really sorry."
He instantaneously hugged her. Alanna buried her head in Jon's chest, to hide her tears. She was so glad that Jonathan was all right, and it hurt her to see him in so much anguish. Raoul quietly slipped away, behind a bush, to let them have some time alone.
"Alanna," Jon said quietly. He made her look up into his eyes. "I want you to know, that whatever happens -"
"Oh Jon, don't talk like that," Alanna interrupted.
He silenced her by putting a finger to her lips. "I want you to know," he continued, "that I love you. I love you very, very much Alanna. I never thought I'd meet a girl who makes me feel this way, Alanna. You are the perfect combination of stubbornness and beauty, delicacy and ability, intelligence and humour. You lighten my days up like the sun, and I would never, *ever want *any harm to come to you."
Alanna's lip trembled; it was all she could do to stop bursting into tears. She never thought *she could feel this way either! She never thought she'd cry over a man, or kiss a man, or even want to *be with a man! She never thought she'd gladly give up everything for one person, she never thought her emotions would be in skyrocket and that she'd forget about everything else. She never thought that she'd like being lady-like, or even like impressing people!
But then she never thought she'd love a prince.
Alanna looked deeply into Jon's dazzling sapphire eyes, and gave him a small smile.
"I love you too, Jonathan," she said. "I love you so much, and I want you to know it. I never thought I'd admit it - but I love you."
Jon was smiling as he leant down close to Alanna's face. He gently pressed his lips onto hers, making Alanna's heart race. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he clutched her waist tightly. Their kisses went from soft and gentle to passionate and wild, and then tender and delicate.
"Huh-hum!"
Raoul gruffly cleared his throat, looking at them. "Ah - sorry to interrupt, but, ah, shouldn't we be getting back? We're quite a long way from the party and the guests - especially Roger - might get a bit... suspicious."
Alanna and Jon drew away from each other, Alanna slightly red and Jon looking a little flustered.
"Yes," Alanna agreed, regaining herself. "But what are we going to do?"
"I think," Jonathan began, "that we definitely need to kill Roger - or at least, find some evidence against him somewhere and charge him responsible for crimes committed against the crown - treason."
Raoul lowered his head. "I don't believe it," he said quietly. "I mean, Jon, he taught you to ride. He trained you with your Gift!"
A saddened look crossed Jon's face, and he bowed his head. "I know," he said, "I know. I couldn't believe it myself, until I heard it from Roger's own mouth."
Alanna instinctively hugged him. "It's ok, Jon. It's all going to be ok."
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By midnight they had a plan.
"Alright. It's settled. Alanna - I know this is a dangerous task, but I'm sure you can handle it." Jon looked at her pointedly, as if considering something in his mind. Then he drew up his right hand and held it palm up - a bright sapphire ball formed it his hand. Alanna resisted the urge to shiver - magic made her nervous. Sweat ran down Jon's face - then the ball of magic solidified and dropped into his palm. A deep, dark blue ball - only small, about the size of a large marble - lay there. He offered to Alanna.
"Here," he said. "This is to use if everything goes wrong. If Roger comes in - and only Roger - no one else - throw it at his feet." He looked at her gently, but firmly. "Use it as a last resort," he cautioned. "It is very, very powerful."
Alanna tentatively outstretched her hand. Slowly, with shaking fingers, she picked up the ball.
"It is called a Huru-Gai," Jon said. In the corner of Alanna's eye she saw Raoul recoil slightly. "DO NOT DROP IT," Jon said strongly. "Do you understand me? Do - not - drop - it. When you throw it at Roger, make sure he is at least three metres away from you."
Alanna nodded dumbly.
"Good," Jon said. He hugged her. "I love you," he said. "Don't go and get yourself blown up or anything."
Alanna hugged him back, tears stinging her eyes. "Luvootoo," she mumbled against his shoulder. She lifted her head. "I should say the same for you. Don't *you go get yourself blown up, or I won't talk to you anymore," she said threateningly.
Jon chuckled. "I promise, sweet, I promise," he assured her. "Now go," he said. He gave her one last warm, passionate kiss, before letting go of her. "We'll all be fine."
Alanna nodded, drew a deep breath, smiled weakly and turned to go. This was it. Jon's life - their Majesties' lives - depended on her and what would take place in the next hour or so.
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Phew! It took me AGES to think of a really good climax! But I have now, so that's ok. Please tell me what you think of this chapter (I know it's a bit short, but the next chapter is going to be BIG) and what you want to happen - and not just "KILL ROGER" because I get ten billion of emails that say that anyway.
Thanx!!
~*~kaz~*~
~ Chapter Thirteen ~ Reunited
Alanna waited nervously behind a wonderfully scented rosebush. She would finally see Jon again! She was so excited. She hadn't seen him for ages!
The large bell-clock struck eleven. Come on! Alanna thought. Please hurry, Raoul!
Suddenly Raoul popped his head behind the rose bush. "Alanna!" he whispered. "Come on!"
Alanna excitedly got up and slowly walked around the bush. Her heart pounding, she cautiously inched out of the shadows. She saw Jon standing there. He looked pale - must be the light, Alanna thought. She flung her arms around Jon's neck, hugging him tightly. Jon hugged her back rigidly.
Alanna took a step back. "What's the matter Jon? Aren't you happy to see me?"
Jon looked past Alanna into the distance, his eyes cold. "R-Roger," he managed to spit out.
"Roger?" Alanna asked, confused. "Who's. oh. Your cousin?"
Jon nodded, and a strangled groan escaped his throat. Raoul stepped forward, concern on his tanned face.
"Jon?" he asked. "Jon, what's the matter? What's Roger doing?"
Jon seemed to think for a second, before collapsing onto the ground.
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"Jon. Jon, are you awake? Jon."
Unsteady eyes opened, flickering. Alanna gripped his hand, knelt beside him - Raoul was supporting his head.
"Jon," Alanna breathed a sigh of relief, hugging him. "Oh, thank Mithros you're alright."
Jon looked about. "Where am I?" he asked.
"You're in the Garden," Alanna said. "In the front part of the maze. We took you away from the party."
Jon got up off the ground. Alanna stood, concern on her face. "Are you ok?"
Jon blinked. "I'm - I'm fine. Perfectly all right. Oh, thank the Gods you took me away from him."
Alanna frowned, concern upon her face. "From who?" she asked. Then she scowled. "From him... Roger, isn't it? I *knew there was something strange about him. Jon? What's he doing to you?"
Jon took a deep breath. "He had a focus of me," he said.
Alanna frowned. She disliked magic, and never studied it properly. "Focus? What's that?"
"It's a spell for finding someone - but if owned by a powerful sorcerer, can be used for mind and body control."
"And Roger has one of you?" Raoul asked, his eyes narrow.
"Yes," Jon replied. "He is using it to control me until tomorrow night - when - when he plans to murder me."
"Murder you?" Alanna gasped.
Raoul looked a little puzzled. "Whatever for?" he asked. "All that can be gained is suspicion on his behalf."
Alanna shook her head. "No... think about it Raoul. If Jon dies, who is next in line to become heir to the throne?"
Raoul's eyes narrowed even more. "Roger," he growled. "Why that scum..."
"He plans to kill me tomorrow night," Jon continued, "and then kill my parents in the next couple of years - making him King."
"You can't go back Jon, you can't," Alanna said, gripping his hand tight. "We'll take you away."
Jon shook his head. "No. Then he'll kill my parents and, when I eventually return, he'll kill me too. I'll just be prolonging my death and speeding up my parents'."
"Well you can't just go back!" cried Alanna, exasperated. "Then he'll kill you tomorrow night!"
Jonathan glared at her. "Don't you think I know that?" he snapped. Alanna flinched slightly. Jon's face immediately softened. "Oh, Alanna, I'm sorry," he said. "I'm really, really sorry."
He instantaneously hugged her. Alanna buried her head in Jon's chest, to hide her tears. She was so glad that Jonathan was all right, and it hurt her to see him in so much anguish. Raoul quietly slipped away, behind a bush, to let them have some time alone.
"Alanna," Jon said quietly. He made her look up into his eyes. "I want you to know, that whatever happens -"
"Oh Jon, don't talk like that," Alanna interrupted.
He silenced her by putting a finger to her lips. "I want you to know," he continued, "that I love you. I love you very, very much Alanna. I never thought I'd meet a girl who makes me feel this way, Alanna. You are the perfect combination of stubbornness and beauty, delicacy and ability, intelligence and humour. You lighten my days up like the sun, and I would never, *ever want *any harm to come to you."
Alanna's lip trembled; it was all she could do to stop bursting into tears. She never thought *she could feel this way either! She never thought she'd cry over a man, or kiss a man, or even want to *be with a man! She never thought she'd gladly give up everything for one person, she never thought her emotions would be in skyrocket and that she'd forget about everything else. She never thought that she'd like being lady-like, or even like impressing people!
But then she never thought she'd love a prince.
Alanna looked deeply into Jon's dazzling sapphire eyes, and gave him a small smile.
"I love you too, Jonathan," she said. "I love you so much, and I want you to know it. I never thought I'd admit it - but I love you."
Jon was smiling as he leant down close to Alanna's face. He gently pressed his lips onto hers, making Alanna's heart race. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he clutched her waist tightly. Their kisses went from soft and gentle to passionate and wild, and then tender and delicate.
"Huh-hum!"
Raoul gruffly cleared his throat, looking at them. "Ah - sorry to interrupt, but, ah, shouldn't we be getting back? We're quite a long way from the party and the guests - especially Roger - might get a bit... suspicious."
Alanna and Jon drew away from each other, Alanna slightly red and Jon looking a little flustered.
"Yes," Alanna agreed, regaining herself. "But what are we going to do?"
"I think," Jonathan began, "that we definitely need to kill Roger - or at least, find some evidence against him somewhere and charge him responsible for crimes committed against the crown - treason."
Raoul lowered his head. "I don't believe it," he said quietly. "I mean, Jon, he taught you to ride. He trained you with your Gift!"
A saddened look crossed Jon's face, and he bowed his head. "I know," he said, "I know. I couldn't believe it myself, until I heard it from Roger's own mouth."
Alanna instinctively hugged him. "It's ok, Jon. It's all going to be ok."
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By midnight they had a plan.
"Alright. It's settled. Alanna - I know this is a dangerous task, but I'm sure you can handle it." Jon looked at her pointedly, as if considering something in his mind. Then he drew up his right hand and held it palm up - a bright sapphire ball formed it his hand. Alanna resisted the urge to shiver - magic made her nervous. Sweat ran down Jon's face - then the ball of magic solidified and dropped into his palm. A deep, dark blue ball - only small, about the size of a large marble - lay there. He offered to Alanna.
"Here," he said. "This is to use if everything goes wrong. If Roger comes in - and only Roger - no one else - throw it at his feet." He looked at her gently, but firmly. "Use it as a last resort," he cautioned. "It is very, very powerful."
Alanna tentatively outstretched her hand. Slowly, with shaking fingers, she picked up the ball.
"It is called a Huru-Gai," Jon said. In the corner of Alanna's eye she saw Raoul recoil slightly. "DO NOT DROP IT," Jon said strongly. "Do you understand me? Do - not - drop - it. When you throw it at Roger, make sure he is at least three metres away from you."
Alanna nodded dumbly.
"Good," Jon said. He hugged her. "I love you," he said. "Don't go and get yourself blown up or anything."
Alanna hugged him back, tears stinging her eyes. "Luvootoo," she mumbled against his shoulder. She lifted her head. "I should say the same for you. Don't *you go get yourself blown up, or I won't talk to you anymore," she said threateningly.
Jon chuckled. "I promise, sweet, I promise," he assured her. "Now go," he said. He gave her one last warm, passionate kiss, before letting go of her. "We'll all be fine."
Alanna nodded, drew a deep breath, smiled weakly and turned to go. This was it. Jon's life - their Majesties' lives - depended on her and what would take place in the next hour or so.
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Phew! It took me AGES to think of a really good climax! But I have now, so that's ok. Please tell me what you think of this chapter (I know it's a bit short, but the next chapter is going to be BIG) and what you want to happen - and not just "KILL ROGER" because I get ten billion of emails that say that anyway.
Thanx!!
~*~kaz~*~