~The first week Alanna had very little time to think about anything to do with the men-at-arms or Cordelia's offer, or even what she said about Kat. She was up to her neck in work and learning the routes to her classes and getting books and reading books, understanding and learning different curtsies, how to accept anything from flowers to a marriage proposal. I doubt I'll ever have to use that. But she learnt it anyway, and her teachers seemed to like her well enough… for the while anyway.
Trouble seemed to brew when Alanna began to learn about what duties she would have once she enters court and finds a husband.
"I don't see WHY we HAVE to get married!" she cried, arguing with her etiquette teacher, Sister Edgewood, once again. The whole room groaned, already had it with Alanna's outbursts about how women should be able to learn whatever they chose, whether it be fighting, owing a house or anything.
"Lady Alanna must I remind you ONCE AGAIN, that we have a DUTY to serve the crown in the best way we can, which means that we will marry and raise the boys that will fight for our realm. The men have the ability to fight for us, and if need be we aren't scatterbrains, Alanna, we know how to use means to fight for our homes, but only if NEED BE. We don't have to go out and fight in wars and raiders and bandits. Men are learning that as we speak at the castle, for the realm and us. Our studies are just as important. We learn how to take care of an estate as well as raise good, healthy children, listen to the townspeople and make changes to help them, fight off bandits if we have to but only if we ever have to. Now SIT DOWN and let me continue this lecture." Alanna opened her mouth, "another word and the whole class gets another 10 pages in the Etiquette for Young Women of the Goddess by Arla of Evanswood."
The classroom rushed into whispers of 'Sit down Alanna!' And 'Don't say another word Alanna!' And only for the reasons of her fellow peers did Alanna sit down, mumbling something about equality and knights. Edgewood turned back to the class and continued talking about who knows what. But this was the last straw for Alanna, she promised herself long ago that she would learn the ways of a knight, so even if she can't be one officially, she would learn how. After this class I'm going to find someone to teach me… Someone has to help me – I'm sunk in the water if they don't.
~
As much as Alanna despised asking for help, she made herself walk to the practice court where the men-at-arms warmed up and practiced their skills. A few men were there, stretching like the end or beginning of exercises. One man, a tall, burly armed man with dark eyes and even darker hair seemed to be the leader of the group of three. So if I were to ask for help, and not be a laughing stalk, I would have to talk to him. Alanna took one deep breath and called on all of her courage and said. "Excuse me, sir?" The men didn't hear her, or chose to ignore her. So she repeated herself, a little louder. "Excuse Me, Sir?" still no recognition of the small, red headed girl at the fence. Alanna's temper finally got the better of her. "HEY! YOU MEN STANDING DOING ABSOLUTLY NOTHING, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND LISTENING TO WHAT I'M SAYING – OR HAVE YOU'RE EARS RUN AWAY WITH YOUR COURTESY???"
The two men, shocked at what a booming voice the little girl at the fence had, or maybe it was what she said – a very un-lady like and un-noble way of getting anyone's attention. The third man however, the leader, burst out laughing, and he laughed until tears began streaming from his eyes.
"Did something I say amuse you sir?" demanded Alanna. "Or are you just laughing at your own folly for ignoring a Lady?"
The man tried to stop laughing, and eventually, under Alanna's glare, he controlled his laughter enough to ask. "So li'l lady as ye put it what can us o' the men-a'-arms do fer yer service?"
Alanna swallowed hard, this was the hard part, and she held up her chin and looked him square in the eye "I would like you to teach me the ways of a knight."
Now it was the two other men to begin laughing, and Alanna turned to glare at them. She looked at the first man's eyes, and he seemed to be thinking, was that a thoughtful look in his eyes?? Alanna couldn't tell. He wasn't laughing as the others were, which was a good sign. After an extremely long amount of time, it seemed to Alanna anyway, long after his friends left the yard, he finally got knocked out of his trance and looked around. "So ye wan' t' be trained as a knight do ye?" Alanna nodded. "an' ye'll be good an' do as I tell ye? I won't take any complainin' on behalf of yer sore muscles, or it's done. I druther take out my own screamin mother to th' lowliest healer than hear a youngen lady complain about things like that. –specially one who chooses this way o' life." Alanna nodded during his whole speech, understanding every word. He grinned, "Alright then, young lady what might be your name?"
Alanna's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "A-Alanna, sir, Alanna of Trebond!"
He held out his hand to shake. "Lucas Yerrik, pleased t' meet ye. Now Lady Alanna, yer classes start t'morrow, afore the breakfast bell. If yer up to the challenge, I'll see ye here then, at 'round 5:00 or so." Alanna gave him one last grin and walked back inside. I don't care if I just missed lunch, or half of my sewing class! I'm going to learn the ways of a knight!! Alanna grinned and went to her rooms to wait for the next bell, to giddy to keep it in, she wanted to find someone that would listen.
Luckily Nadia was cleaning her rooms at that moment, and she startled the maid for the second time since arriving as she jumped into the room.
"ye look as if yer on cloud nine, Lady," said Nadia. "An why would ye not be in class right now?" she eyed her suspiciously.
"Oh no!! Nadia nothing like that, and call me Alanna please!" Alanna sat on her bed, only to get up and walk around again. "I'm going to learn! They said I wouldn't be able to but they were wrong I was just talking to him and he said he would teach me! Oh am I ever the happiest person in the world! This day couldn't be better!"
"Okay there, slow down lad- I mean Alanna. What're ye bein' taught that's so wonderful?"
Alanna looked at her, "I'm being taught how to be a knight!"
~
A strong knocking at the door woke Alanna up the next morning, and she groaned as she rolled herself out of bed. Too excited to sleep, Alanna had gotten only a few hours of sleep, before Nadia was banging on her door, to wake her up at 4:40, just as she had asked. Yawning, she opened the door. Nadia bustled in; pushing passed a sleeping Alanna, ready to set the fire and placed a basin of water as well as a few rolls for Alanna to eat before she left. "Ye know I think ye're insane fer doin' this, but part of meself is respectful t' one who follows their dreams t' such an extent."
Alanna brushed off the compliment, "I'm just doing what I want to do, its nothing that special." And yawned again.
"An' how much sleep did ye get last night, young lady- no- young lady page?"
"Not enough, I'm afraid," Alanna drowned her face in the cold water to wake herself up – the piercing cold of the water nearly made her yelp.
"I thought as much, nobles always seem to think their above sleep – don't ye know yer bodies are th' same as ours? Ye need yer energy! Which is why I put in cold water fer ye to wash yer face in, I think it works the best." She smirked when Alanna scowled at her.
"Well I'd better go," she looked under her pillow for her breaches and shirt. They were missing, Alanna, shocked, looked at Nadia, who held out the washed and pressed clothes for Alanna to wear. Alanna in a burst of joy hugged the servant, much to both girls' surprise and went to change. She quietly walked out the back door – the one Nadia told her to go out, and walked to the practice court. While she was crossing the field a vision stopped her in her tracks. It was a tall, tall tree with a small fire. All around the tree was a thick fog, and oddly a small cat sat in front of the fire, watching the flames. Alanna shook her head clear and shrugged off the vision, forcing herself to forget it and continued towards the practice court.
~
Lucas was already there, stretching his arms and legs, waiting for the girl who was so eager to learn forms of combat. He smirked as he thought of his own daughter, so eager to learn new ways of fighting and defense, one of the reasons he agreed to this was because of her. He saw the young lady walk towards the court and hollered "Ye ready for a grueling exercise milady?" Alanna's expression said bring it on, and he grinned, oh she's going to be a sore girl t'day. And helped her over the fence.
They worked a bit of everything, so Lucas could see what she already knew, once he found out she's been taught how to use a dagger and a bow, he showed her a beginners exercise for the staff and strength growing exercises and limbering stretches that would help her weave through people and opponents. She could do those in her rooms, before she slept and before she came out to the field.
"They'll help ye a lot with all the movement's ye'll be learnin'. It'll build up yer arm muscles an' endurance fer the exercise."
He made her do the exercises with a wooden shield as he attacked her with a sturdy stick – so she could learn how to use a shield properly. She bruised and bruised and by the end of the lesson she felt as if she'd fallen off of a horse. He drilled until Alanna had them perfect to his inspection. Next he taught her how to fall properly – so she could hit the ground with the least amount of pain and bruising. It was not the case for the first times she'd tried it. All the work was very tiring for the already tired Alanna. When the bell rung for wake-up Alanna thought she was going to collapse. Lucas grinned again, "looks like yer time is up, Lady, Go clean yerself up fer yer long day o' schoolin'! I'm sure Nadia will have a bath ready fer ye, just as I asked. If ye run, ye'll have just enough time t' enjoy it a li'l." Alanna was too tired to scowl; He planned that, now I have to work all the way to my rooms if I want to clean up! Instead, to prove more to herself than anyone, she bowed mockingly to her instructor, who raised his eyebrows in surprise, and ran through the field, ignoring her screaming legs the entire way until she reached her room. Almost running into Cordelia walking with the brown-haired girl that snubbed her the first day here. Both gave her a funny look at why she was dressed as a man and as sweaty as a pig, but she didn't stop to hear what they had to say. Bath, bath, nice soothing bath, was all she could think of. Little did she know that the bath she took might be the only thing of comfort for the whole long day ahead of her.
~
At breakfast, she got to sit with one of the girls she met the first day, Adrianna was her name, thought Alanna. She smiled and took a place beside her. Unfortunately that snobby brunette also sat at her table, across the table from her. When she sat the girl looked down on her. "So Alanna," she began, "What ever were you doing this morning, dressed as a boy and all, running through the halls at such a ghastly time in the morning?"
Alanna bristled at the tone, "Is what I do a concern of yours, lady? Last I learned we're here to learn our own lessons, not each other's. Or should I ask you what you were doing up so early this morning?"
"I was going to breakfast, the earlier you go the more time you get to choose who you sit with, although today it seemed as if I wasn't so lucky."
"Yes, it appears that way, you seem to have missed you stall, I mean sorry your table all together. I believe the cows are all in the field – shouldn't you be joining them?"
Obviously Delia wasn't prepared for that. She stood up. "At least I know what I am, Lady Alanna. Or should I start calling you Page Alanna?? Perhaps you should start learning to bow instead of curtsy? We'll send you to his Majesty with our blessings – with the men-at-arms that take us to Corus!" She stood up with the two girls on either side of her following. Alanna turned a deep shade of red and turned her eyes to her plate. She ate her food quickly and left the room in a rush, not noticing that two girls followed her out.
"Alanna!" called a familiar voice. She turned to see her followers. One was Katariina, who almost fell twice as she caught up to her; the other was Cordelia, who didn't run by gracefully walked very fast. I should get her to teach me to walk like that one day. Thought Alanna as she waited the girls to catch up.
"Goddess Alanna! You run like a horse!" Kat said in between breaths. She held onto Alanna's shoulder to steady her.
"Yes, Alanna you do run rather quickly." Cordelia looked wary, and then said "is it true? What Delia said? That you were in the practice courts? With the men-at-arms?"
Alanna looked her in the eye, "yes its true."
Horrified, she exclaimed, "Why?? What would you ever do there??""
"All my life, Cordelia, I've wanted to be a Knight, the first Lady Knight in centuries! Then I got sent here and my dreams were shattered… Now I have a chance to at least get the training I want, it's like almost getting back my dream." Cordelia looked at her as if she's as crazy as a cat talking to trees.
"So now you're going to learn the life of a –a knight??" Alanna nodded. "You are a piece of work, Alanna, I don't know how long you will manage before you break down, but for trying to follow your dream to such an extent, why its something so thrilling that I can only respect you farther."
Alanna shook her head,why does everyone keep saying that? "I'm only doing what I want, nothing more, nothing less." Cordelia patted her shoulder and walked to her rooms. Kat finally had enough breath to stand up looked at her in awe.
"So you're actually getting trained by a man? A man here??" asked Kat.
Alanna nodded once again Was this so unbelievable?
"That's just too much for words! I don't even know what to say!"
Alanna laughed, "so that's all I have to do is shock you for you to be quiet?"
Kat's eyes grew wide. "Do I really talk that much?"
Alanna laughed again and put her arm around Kat's shoulder, "that much and more, my dear!"
"Oh Goddess, well I think I shall try to stop. It's such a bad habit –talking too much. Why my own mother didn't cut out my tongue is beyond me…"
Alanna laughed again and led her friend to her first class before walking to her own. The morning went by all right as far as classes go; the afternoon however was a different story.
~
Lunchtime was when the exercise of the morning caught up to Alanna, that and the tiredness she felt from the lack of sleep made her grumpy and not in a mood to talk or listen for that matter. She warned the people around her that she was in a bad mood, and those that had already experienced a Morning Alanna left her alone. The ones that didn't got a taste of Alanna's sharp tongue. The talk around the table was minimal, all the ladies afraid to bring out the worst in the small lady eating her meal quietly at the end of the table. Only when she got up and left did the table pick up again. Mostly talk about the court gossip; the sickness had hit the town of Corus and the worry of it spreading was on everyone's minds.
The next class, by far Alanna's worst, sewing, was a nightmare for Alanna. Not only was Delia in this class as well, but also since she had missed the day before, her work was doubled and she was under the careful watch of the teacher, Sister Reddlark. Any mistake in the sewing was pointed out and Alanna had to begin again.
"See, Lady Alanna, you can't do this perfect yet, ONCE you can achieve perfection, then and ONLY then will you be able to miss any class of mine. Remember that, all of you remember that." The class shuddered; no one could defy a command of Reddlark. She could get a group of 10-year-old boys to listen to her if she wished. Her curly dark hair and slightly hooked nose reminded many of a fairytale witch and when she was hunched over your work, you had better be doing your best. She only seemed to like Delia, and even then she corrected her when a mistake was made.
The rest of the afternoon droned on, her last two classes were history and mathematics, ones that any student could fall asleep in. And sleep she did. Alanna was so tired she didn't attend supper, instead went straight to her rooms and to bed. She groaned as her aching muscles protested her change of clothes and only stopped their cries until she was under the covers with her head on the pillow. She fell asleep instantly, into a dreamless, re-cooperation sleep.
~hehe review s'il vous plais!
~CJ~
