Disclaimer: you know the deal. the characters/ places are not mine just the plot.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Raging Hormones

Briskly Alanna turned on her heals and stalked out the door; muttering to herself about
stupid males who thought of women as their territory, like they owned them. "It's impossible and
WRONG to even think that you could own another person. A person with their own will and
soul that you're trying to crush. I hate men! They're the major part of all of a woman's
problems. Like *men*tal illness and *men*strual cycle. Are we finding a pattern here? It's all
men's fault!" Alanna exclaimed frustrated with everything that was happening. Hearing George's
strong footsteps behind her; Alanna picked up her pace until she was running blindly down the
hall. Alanna was upset with the fact that many tears were streaming rudely down her face without
permission. *Talk about raging hormones.* Alanna thought grumpily. *I'm acting like...I don't
know...a WOMAN! Instead of a knight. Like I am!* Alanna was upset with her behavior.

"Alanna stop," George pleaded.

"No! I'm not your possession!" She hollered at him fighting more tears.

"I never said that," George defended.

"Lair!"

"Alanna..." George called exasperated.

"George leave me alone!" Alanna kept running pushing herself harder and harder as
George's footsteps became nearer. Suddenly Alanna realized she had no idea where she was
running to. Seeing the door to George's study open, she threw herself inside and slammed the
door roughly in George's face. Her hands fumbling, Alanna latched the door defiantly. George
groaned when he heard the door click. Slowly Alanna lowered her self to the ground right in
front of the door that separated her and George. Childishly Alanna crossed her arms over her
chest trying to catch her breath. Which was difficult considering tears kept threatening to make
their way out again. *Well, I hope the baby likes exercise as much as I do seeing as I'm three
months pregnant and haven't stopped training a bit.*

"Alanna," George interrupted her thoughts. "How can we talk with this thick door
separating us?"

"We don't need to talk. You need to go away though!" Alanna grumbled.

"Yes, my sweet, we do need to talk."

"No! I'm not your 'sweet'! What do we have to discuss?" Alanna demanded.

"What just happened." George said patiently.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Alanna said stubbornly.

"Alanna, don't do this to me..."

"Just leave me alone! For awhile... I have a lot on my mind, and I just need to sort things
out. Just go!" Alanna heard George sigh regretfully.

"If that's what you want."

"It is." Alanna replied quickly.

***
Alanna was unaware of how much time had passed. She hadn't changed positions in over
an hour and her body was loudly protesting from the lack of movement. Alanna stood, stretched
her soar muscles, and then stopped with a smile her stomach was growling fiercely. *I am eating
for two now.* she thought wistfully. She then heard the rustling of someone outside the door.
Alanna shook her head. *Would he never give up?* Alanna moved over to the window and
discovered it was just passed mid-day. Alanna stared at the beautiful landscape losing herself
inside the virtue of the undisturbed land. How she longed to be away from all these pestering
problems.

Coming out of her wondrous daydream, she heard the retreating footfalls of who ever was
outside the door. Alanna made her way across the room and unlocked the door. Alanna listened
carefully incase someone else was waiting for her behind the closed door. Once she was sure she
was completely alone, Alanna stuck her head out the door and searched the long corridors. It was
absolutely abandoned. She pulled on the heavy door so it came fully open. On the cold stone floor
she sighted a rose. A single, unadorned yellow rose. Despite her anger, Alanna smiled lovingly,
and bent to retrieve the flower. She lifted it to her nose and sighed. It scent was as beautiful
as the blossom itself. Gazing at the floor again, Alanna saw a small piece of folded parchment.
Slowly unfolding the paper, Alanna's heart melted at the words before her. Scribbled
affectionately in George's distinctive scrawl was the most touching thing Alanna had
ever read. He anger vanished.

'Everyone says ye only fall in love once. That's not true. Every time I see ye're sweet face, I fall in love all over again. I love ye and I hope ye're ready to talk soon.

All me humble heart belongs to ye,

George'

CHAPTER NINE
Horse's Bring People Together