The Secret of Trebond

By Jaelawyn Noble

This is dedicated to my friends, Jenni, Amber, and Linz, who have helped me through so much by just being there to talk. *shrugs* Suicide, depression, this stuff is never really mentioned in Tortall. Is Tammy trying to tell us that it never happens? *shakes head slowly* My recent deep seriousness [*holds up two fingers in the Peace fashion and tilts her head to the side, smiling with one eye close [Sailor Moon/Slayers pose]*] has caused me to write this So, I hope you all enjoy this little tale. Please don't flame me for some of the content. As you can tell, most of my tales are getting serious and melancholy. TOUGH! if ya don't like it.....

Alanna fell the floor of her room, crying as if she'd lost everything dear to her in the world. Her dress fell off her shoulders, and the blood slowly dribbled down her back. The pain was almost unbearable. How could she have been so careless to let her Father catch her?

Thom inched into the room, watching his sister, who was weeping on the floor. "Anna?" he asked softly, using the nickname he had for her.

She looked up, tears spilling from her eyes. "Oh Thom!" she cried out. "I've really done it this time!" Thom went to his sister, gathering her in his arms, hushing her tears.

"What did you do, 'Anna?"

Alanna's small body shook with tears. "I-I-I-I…." She sobbed, unable to speak anymore. Thom held her, letting her cry herself to sleep.

"Oh, 'Anna," he muttered, picking her up and putting her into bed. "If you could only leave off running off like a wild child. If only you could do things as Father wanted just once."

Alanna gazed off into the distance. She had been watching her children play when memory caught her. She wasn't aware that George was watching her until he touched her arm.

She yelped, and twirled, skirt slapping against her bare ankles. She saw his dancing eyes and hit his arm.

"Ow!" he cried, laughing. "What was that for?"

"For watching me! You…. Brute!" Alanna cried out. Thom watched his parents, and smiled. All was right for the moment.

Alianne glared at her brother and threw leaves at him. "Five years old, and you still haven't learned!" Thom laughed, tackling her into a huge pile of leaves.

Alanna laughed at the children and felt George's arms around her, protective and strong. She sighed, her joy gone. Could she ever be completely herself? Be completely honest?

She doubted it.

Alanna woke up, looking through the white silk hanging of her bed to the drag tapestries in her bedroom. Each one showed signs of ladylike behavior. An annoying reminder that she was female, expected to be a lady, and marry and have lots of children. She snorted, drew the hangings closed on her bed, and went back to sleep. Her back still hurt, and had begun to bleed through her dress. She sighed and turned over so that she lay on her stomach.

Soon enough she slept.

When she awoke again, Thom sat on her bed. A pipe was in his hands, and he was about to play when he saw her eyes flicker open. He put the flute down on the table beside the bed.

"You better now?" he asked, looking at his sister with worry. Alanna looked at him with a sigh and shook her head. "Pain?" She nodded. He smiled shyly and put his cold hands on her back. She winced, but knew that if Thom didn't heal her, the wounds could become infected. And she was not exactly happy with that idea.

Warm magic flew into her cuts and spine. She wiggled a bit with the pain and unease and settled down.

When Thom was done healing his sister's poor, battered skin, he looked at her, waiting for thanks. To his amusement, Alanna had fallen asleep sometime when he had begun to heal her. He pulled the blankets over her small, thin body and picked the pipe up, playing a soft, flowing tune of melancholy.

Alanna watched as Alan climbed the short tree in the meadow, and grab leaves, and throw them down on his siblings' heads. Alanna smiled as Thom mock-shook a fist at him and yelled something that was probably not something nice, as Alianne and Alan burst into laughter and giggles.

"Don't you wish we could join them?" George asked softly, kissing Alanna's neck.

"Hmm... Well... Now that you mention it," Alanna said, eyes twinkling with mischief.

He looked at her. "Your serious?"

Alanna's smile broadened. "Catch me if you can!" she cried out, running down the hill. She laughed and let out a whoop of joy as George tackled her and they fell into a pile of leaves. George smiled and kissed her as they laid in the leaves, and as more leaves fell around them.

The children laughed and jumped into the pile of leaves with their parents, ending their kiss.

George laughed and helped Alanna up, as Alianne hit the back of her mother's legs, knocking Alanna into George's arms while Alianne fell on top of Thom.

Alanna's violet eyes sparkled with joy, but George noted that there was deep unhappiness and sadness in those violet eyes.

Alanna sat at the window seat. The windows of the twins' study were wide open, and she could hear the music drifting up from Trebond Village, and Alanna revealed in it.

She and her twin were never allowed to attend the commoners' festivals. If the truth be ever told, Alanna wished to go with all her heart. the music lifted her up and made her want to dance. To dance like a "heathen," as her father so nicely put it.

Thom slipped into the room and pulled her hand. She looked at him as he kept tugging. He smiled at her secretly and held a finger to his lips. She slid off the seat and let her brother pull her to the door.

She pushed it open and they clambered down the stairs, pushing the back garden door in Alanna's room open. Thom left his sister standing there as he turned back and shut the door softly, locking it, then pocketing the key. He ran back over to her and pulled her after him once more.

She followed, puzzled. When she tugged his arm to stop, he did. She looked at him, about to speak. he shook his head, putting a hand over her mouth. He lead her down to the village and they weaved their way to the village square.

When they got there, the music had changed to that of a jig. Thom leaned close to his sister and whispered, "Happy Birthday, 'Anna."