CHAPTER TWO
Planning
"Aylah!" Alanna cried exasperated. "I've been here for three bells. I was here this
morning for five bells. How much longer?" The lady knight wanted to know.
"Be patient m'lady. Almost pinned," Aylah–the best dress maker in Tortall–replied.
"And does it have to be so form fitting and low cut?" Alanna asked trying to pull the
dress higher on her chest. Aylah slapped her hands.
"Don't touch it! It's absolutely perfect. You're quite lovely."
"Right!" Alanna replied sarcastically.
"Come. Come look in the mirror." Aylah bade the woman.
Alanna stepped carefully off the stool and moved over to the mirror. The knight gasped.
"That's me?"
"Yes m'lady."
"You sure? I'm beautiful! Look at me. Oh, thank you, Aylah. The gown is wonderful!"
The Lioness exclaimed hugging the small seamstress tightly.
Indeed it was. The dress was violet with pale lavender accents on the sleeves, bodice,
corset, and hem line that made Alanna's purple eyes even brighter. The dress felt like a second
skin. The low cut did look good.(To Alanna's amazement.) Showing off her full shapely breasts.
"Aylah, Im speechless. It's great! And I have a figure!" Alanna exclaimed.
"That you do."
Alanna whirled around ready to strike. "Jon! You rat! You startled me! What so you
think you're doing here?" The king took her hand and she turned modeling the dress for him her
anger melting. He whistled. "If I wasn't married and I didn't know you better, I might chase after
you!" Jonathan said honestly.
"And I'd run!" She retorted.
"You're spectacular, beauteous, wonderful, extravagant...."
"ENOUGH! I know I am." She said teasingly smiling. "I think Im really ready." Alanna said
more to herself than to Jon or Aylah.
***
"Do you know what I think?" Alanna asked Eleni her soon-to-be-mother-in-law.
(*a/n: but wait...who's Eleni's husband? Myles–Alanna's adoptive father. And Eleni is George's mother.
So....wouldn't George be Alanna's adoptive step-brother or something like that??*)(* at least they're not
blood related right? Tell me what you think of this concept please*)
"What do you think, dear?" Eleni asked.
"Well, even with all the stress and questions that this wedding is causing–well, it's actually kind
of fun planning it. Do you know what I mean?"
"Well, yes. I guess I do. Even though mine and Myles's wedding was hastily done and small it was
still glorious to me," Eleni told the girl. "But...." She trailed off.
"What is it? What"on you mind?" Alanna questioned.
"You don't think–even the tiniest bit–that you and George are rushing things. I mean you've only
been engaged for barely a month and with just two weeks to the wedding...." Eleni stopped.
"Oh Mother," George had come to Alanna's rescue. (Not that she would admit to needing been
rescued.) "Really," he said putting his muscular arms around his mother. "Think about what you saying.
How long have you known Myles?"
"A year," she admitted.
"How long were you engaged?"
"Two weeks but...."
"No 'but's. I've me lioness since she was jus' ten years old."
"And how old were you?" Eleni demanded.
"Seventeen. So?" Eleni and George both had resentful looks on their faces.
"Enough! Stop it!" Alanna shouted. "You're giving me a headache!" The knight sighed and walked out.