*cowers* I know! I should be finishing other fanfics before starting new ones but... I can't help it! This idea came to me a few nights ago and hasn't been letting me rest until I write it. So please, no being mad at me, dear reviewers.
HEADS-UP! The stuff in the ** stars, means I'm borrowing it from Tammy, meaning it is not mine. And because I am computer illiterate the stuff in caps is suppose to be ittalics.
Twisted Fate
* Seizing that brief moment when Roger switched swords, Alanna lunged in, slashing the Dukes right arm. Roger yelled in fury as Lightening nipped through muscle. Making an impossibly quick recovery, the Duke lunged back and struck. Alanna stumbled, and the tip of Duke Roger's sword sliced down her chest from collarbone to waist.
The special corset she often wore in place of bandaging gave way, its laces cut through. It slid and buckled under her shirt, edges of lace-strings and (to Alanna's embarrassment) the curves of her breasts showing through.
Roger dropped his blade and stood back, his eyes wide with shock.
" Halt!" the King roared, coming to his feet. The crowded room was buzzing as he stared at Alanna.
" WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
" You'd better do something about that thing," Thom advised, stepping forward. "I'll explain."
All eyes were fixed on the Master in silver-edged black as Alanna ducked behind a hanging curtain, suddenly glad her lie was over with. She slid the ruined corset from under her slashed shirt as Thom said, " You'll have to excuse my sister, Majesties." Shaking her head over her brother's nerve, she overlapped the ends of the shirt and tucked them firmly in her breeches.
" You see, she wanted to be a knight," Thom was explaining. " I wanted to be a sorcerer. We traded places. I think I may gave had the better part of the bargain; I didn't have to lie to people I liked and respected all these years. Here. I brought our birth papers. Her name is Alanna. We're twins." * ((AN/ Going to my own stuff now!))
" This is an outrage!" The King said, obviously seething in his seat, his face turning red. " Is that why you challenged my nephew? Because you thought he would see through your disguise? You made those, you are killing my wife." He was in such a rage he stood and roared,
" Guards! Seize her!" Alanna was grabbed roughly by two burly men. She tried to struggle away from them. She saw Roger grinning evilly. She scream,
" No! It's not like that! He's the enemy, not me. Jon! Help me!" Jon ran forward and said,
" No! Father, don't you see? Alanna didn't hurt Mother, she's not evil, she-" He was cut off by the Queen saying in a shocked voice,
" You KNEW? You knew she was-was a GIRL? And you didn't turn her in? Jon, I'm ashamed. You-" The King cut her off,
" You!" He pointed at Alanna his face so red he looked like he would explode from anger,
" You were plotting treason against our Kingdom."
Jon yelled to his father,
" NO! Alanna's not the wrong one." In his anger the king ordered for guards to restrain Jon and all of Alanna's friends including Sir Myles who were trying to help. He bellowed,
" Take her to the dungeons for plotting against the realm of Tortall and may she rot there!" Alanna screamed in her fury and shouted to Roger,
" YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! I KNOW THE TRUTH, AND SO DO THE GODS! YOU'LL PAY!" And Roger only laughed harder as he watched Alanna dragged off to the dudgeons and all her friends restrained and yelling.
His plans were going better than he expected.
~*~*~
Jon walked down into the dungeon after arguing with his father for over two hours and getting threatened to be thrown in jail himself. He whispered in the dark,
" Alanna?" He heard a curse and saw in the dim lighting Alanna at the front of the cell.
" Jon..." She breath., her purple eyes shining. " What are they going to do to me?"
Jon hesitated, trying to find the best way to say what he knew he had to say,
" Alanna... The King, my father," He grimaced as he said the words, " My father". " He was really shocked. Everyone way and-" He swallowed and said, " He's ordered for you to be killed."
Alanna heard his words, but was unable to process them.
" He's ordering the d-death penalty?" Alanna stuttered, trying to understand, not wanting to understand. " You can't be serious. He's going to kill me? Goddess, save me!" She sunk to the ground shaking like a leaf in a storm. One thing echoing through her mind: She was going to die.
" Alanna!" Jon's urgent voice pushed its way into her head. " I cannot stay, they'll be angry if they find me. They'll accuse you of witchcraft or something-"
There was a clank for footsteps. Jon whispered,
" Goddess bless you, Alanna of Trebond." And he was gone.
A bright light burned in Alanna's eyes and she saw Duke Roger of Conte sneering down at her. He snarled,
" A girl? You must be strong to have got past my probing. So why, Alanna of Trebond." He spat her name out like it was a vile word, " Why become a knight? So you could bed all the men in this palace? Including my nephew?" Alanna snarled and threw herself at the bars, trying to get at the duke.
" You won't get away with this. I swear by Mithros. If you try to harm any of the royal family, I will kill you."
Roger's normally handsome face twisted into an ugly mask and he shouted a spell Alanna had never heard before.
Alanna felt the spell hit her like a cannon shot. Then she started to burn, starting from the inside. Then her limbs felt like they were being cut of slowly, one by one. She scream from pain, falling to the ground, writhing wishing the pain to end.
" GODDESS HELP ME!" She roared. Then as quickly as the pain began it stopped and a bright white glow surrounded her. She fought for breath. Looking up she saw that the Duke had left.
Alanna lay in a miserable heap. Sobbing for all she was worth. She had passed all the tests, fought as hard if not harder than the other boys. She had been good enough to be the Princes squire. And now it was all for nothing. They would kill her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Alanna felt herself giving into despair. She bit her lip angrily, she would NOT give up! She slapped her arms and walked small circles in her prison, trying to keep warm.
" Lass," She heard a quiet whisper. Alanna jumped and cursed. The voice struck a match and Alanna saw that it was George.
" George. They're going to kill me." She said coming close to the bars. In a whispered conversation she told George all that had happened. He nodded and said,
" I won't let that happen. Not while there is still breath in my lungs. Jon said that the trial would be three days hence. But it seems as though they've already stated your fate." He ran a hand through his hair and looking Alanna in the eye said,
" I can get ye out of this. But... But there's somethin' ye have to do in return, there's no help for it. My people would rise against me if ye don't." Alanna waited a second then impatiently said,
" What is it? Tell me George, I am not afraid."
George sighed and said softly without meeting her violet eyes with his hazel ones,
" Ye have 't swear by the Trickster God 't serve, in the court of the Rogue. There is no other choice, I am sorry lass." Alanna bit her lip, serving the Rogue would go against all she had learned here. All the training of right over wrong and defending her country and its people. She asked George,
" Can you give me time, to think about it?"
George nodded but said,
" They will kill ye, Alanna. It's this or death, I can't help ye as much as I wish I could. And for that I am sorry." Then he said,
" I will come 't ye again at dawn of the third day, the day of ye'r trial." He hesitated then said, " I know that ye're in love with the prince, lass but... I will always love ye." He reached through the bars and tenderly lifted her chin. He kissed her softly, but passionately then whispered, barely taking his lips away from hers,
" Goddess willing ye will live. Think it over, Alanna." Then as quietly as he came, he was gone.
Alanna sat and shivered those three days. Surely death for a cause she believed in was worth it. But Roger would kill the Queen and Jon and the King and take over the throne.
If she joined the Rogue she would have a chance, perhaps she could save then yet. Perhaps....
Alanna struggled in the dark for three days with these thoughts. Seeing no one except for the guard who came once a day to bring her some food. She was nearly insane from pent up energy and anxiety by dawn of the third day. And she had still not made up her mind on what to do. She could try and argue her way out of the death penalty but she knew if she did manage to get a pardon she would be disowned from her family and end up having to work as a maid servant or perhaps worse.
Alanna shivered and struggled going back and forth. Before she would have thought the choice would have been easy. To join the Rogue would ensure that she would be cared for. She knew George would make sure she was not hurt in any way. And maybe she could be a woman. Alanna remembered her lessons with George's mother. She would take care of Alanna.
So when George came for her she was waiting. She stood stiffly when he came into the dark dungeon, quiet as could be.
" Lass, have ye come 't a decision?"
Alanna nodded then remembering it was too dark for him to see her said,
" I have. I will join you in the court of the Rogue."
George reached through the bars and whispered,
" Will ye swear, Alanna of Trebond, swear 't the Trickster God that ye will serve the Rogue loyally and faithfully 't the best of ye'r abilities? Until the Trickster God releases ye from His services?"
Alanna took a deep breath and said,
" I swear. By Our Mother, The Goddess. I swear I will serve the Rogue until the Trickster God sees fit to release me. I swear."
George nodded sololmly and meeting her eyes squarely said,
" So mote it be."
It was done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So? Good first chapter? Bad first chapter? PLEASE review and let me know if I should continue. I really think this story has some potential but I want all of your advice. Review and you shall get an Ice Cream Sundae! Yay.
Much love,
Hannah.
HEADS-UP! The stuff in the ** stars, means I'm borrowing it from Tammy, meaning it is not mine. And because I am computer illiterate the stuff in caps is suppose to be ittalics.
Twisted Fate
* Seizing that brief moment when Roger switched swords, Alanna lunged in, slashing the Dukes right arm. Roger yelled in fury as Lightening nipped through muscle. Making an impossibly quick recovery, the Duke lunged back and struck. Alanna stumbled, and the tip of Duke Roger's sword sliced down her chest from collarbone to waist.
The special corset she often wore in place of bandaging gave way, its laces cut through. It slid and buckled under her shirt, edges of lace-strings and (to Alanna's embarrassment) the curves of her breasts showing through.
Roger dropped his blade and stood back, his eyes wide with shock.
" Halt!" the King roared, coming to his feet. The crowded room was buzzing as he stared at Alanna.
" WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
" You'd better do something about that thing," Thom advised, stepping forward. "I'll explain."
All eyes were fixed on the Master in silver-edged black as Alanna ducked behind a hanging curtain, suddenly glad her lie was over with. She slid the ruined corset from under her slashed shirt as Thom said, " You'll have to excuse my sister, Majesties." Shaking her head over her brother's nerve, she overlapped the ends of the shirt and tucked them firmly in her breeches.
" You see, she wanted to be a knight," Thom was explaining. " I wanted to be a sorcerer. We traded places. I think I may gave had the better part of the bargain; I didn't have to lie to people I liked and respected all these years. Here. I brought our birth papers. Her name is Alanna. We're twins." * ((AN/ Going to my own stuff now!))
" This is an outrage!" The King said, obviously seething in his seat, his face turning red. " Is that why you challenged my nephew? Because you thought he would see through your disguise? You made those, you are killing my wife." He was in such a rage he stood and roared,
" Guards! Seize her!" Alanna was grabbed roughly by two burly men. She tried to struggle away from them. She saw Roger grinning evilly. She scream,
" No! It's not like that! He's the enemy, not me. Jon! Help me!" Jon ran forward and said,
" No! Father, don't you see? Alanna didn't hurt Mother, she's not evil, she-" He was cut off by the Queen saying in a shocked voice,
" You KNEW? You knew she was-was a GIRL? And you didn't turn her in? Jon, I'm ashamed. You-" The King cut her off,
" You!" He pointed at Alanna his face so red he looked like he would explode from anger,
" You were plotting treason against our Kingdom."
Jon yelled to his father,
" NO! Alanna's not the wrong one." In his anger the king ordered for guards to restrain Jon and all of Alanna's friends including Sir Myles who were trying to help. He bellowed,
" Take her to the dungeons for plotting against the realm of Tortall and may she rot there!" Alanna screamed in her fury and shouted to Roger,
" YOU'LL GET WHAT YOU DESERVE! I KNOW THE TRUTH, AND SO DO THE GODS! YOU'LL PAY!" And Roger only laughed harder as he watched Alanna dragged off to the dudgeons and all her friends restrained and yelling.
His plans were going better than he expected.
~*~*~
Jon walked down into the dungeon after arguing with his father for over two hours and getting threatened to be thrown in jail himself. He whispered in the dark,
" Alanna?" He heard a curse and saw in the dim lighting Alanna at the front of the cell.
" Jon..." She breath., her purple eyes shining. " What are they going to do to me?"
Jon hesitated, trying to find the best way to say what he knew he had to say,
" Alanna... The King, my father," He grimaced as he said the words, " My father". " He was really shocked. Everyone way and-" He swallowed and said, " He's ordered for you to be killed."
Alanna heard his words, but was unable to process them.
" He's ordering the d-death penalty?" Alanna stuttered, trying to understand, not wanting to understand. " You can't be serious. He's going to kill me? Goddess, save me!" She sunk to the ground shaking like a leaf in a storm. One thing echoing through her mind: She was going to die.
" Alanna!" Jon's urgent voice pushed its way into her head. " I cannot stay, they'll be angry if they find me. They'll accuse you of witchcraft or something-"
There was a clank for footsteps. Jon whispered,
" Goddess bless you, Alanna of Trebond." And he was gone.
A bright light burned in Alanna's eyes and she saw Duke Roger of Conte sneering down at her. He snarled,
" A girl? You must be strong to have got past my probing. So why, Alanna of Trebond." He spat her name out like it was a vile word, " Why become a knight? So you could bed all the men in this palace? Including my nephew?" Alanna snarled and threw herself at the bars, trying to get at the duke.
" You won't get away with this. I swear by Mithros. If you try to harm any of the royal family, I will kill you."
Roger's normally handsome face twisted into an ugly mask and he shouted a spell Alanna had never heard before.
Alanna felt the spell hit her like a cannon shot. Then she started to burn, starting from the inside. Then her limbs felt like they were being cut of slowly, one by one. She scream from pain, falling to the ground, writhing wishing the pain to end.
" GODDESS HELP ME!" She roared. Then as quickly as the pain began it stopped and a bright white glow surrounded her. She fought for breath. Looking up she saw that the Duke had left.
Alanna lay in a miserable heap. Sobbing for all she was worth. She had passed all the tests, fought as hard if not harder than the other boys. She had been good enough to be the Princes squire. And now it was all for nothing. They would kill her and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Alanna felt herself giving into despair. She bit her lip angrily, she would NOT give up! She slapped her arms and walked small circles in her prison, trying to keep warm.
" Lass," She heard a quiet whisper. Alanna jumped and cursed. The voice struck a match and Alanna saw that it was George.
" George. They're going to kill me." She said coming close to the bars. In a whispered conversation she told George all that had happened. He nodded and said,
" I won't let that happen. Not while there is still breath in my lungs. Jon said that the trial would be three days hence. But it seems as though they've already stated your fate." He ran a hand through his hair and looking Alanna in the eye said,
" I can get ye out of this. But... But there's somethin' ye have to do in return, there's no help for it. My people would rise against me if ye don't." Alanna waited a second then impatiently said,
" What is it? Tell me George, I am not afraid."
George sighed and said softly without meeting her violet eyes with his hazel ones,
" Ye have 't swear by the Trickster God 't serve, in the court of the Rogue. There is no other choice, I am sorry lass." Alanna bit her lip, serving the Rogue would go against all she had learned here. All the training of right over wrong and defending her country and its people. She asked George,
" Can you give me time, to think about it?"
George nodded but said,
" They will kill ye, Alanna. It's this or death, I can't help ye as much as I wish I could. And for that I am sorry." Then he said,
" I will come 't ye again at dawn of the third day, the day of ye'r trial." He hesitated then said, " I know that ye're in love with the prince, lass but... I will always love ye." He reached through the bars and tenderly lifted her chin. He kissed her softly, but passionately then whispered, barely taking his lips away from hers,
" Goddess willing ye will live. Think it over, Alanna." Then as quietly as he came, he was gone.
Alanna sat and shivered those three days. Surely death for a cause she believed in was worth it. But Roger would kill the Queen and Jon and the King and take over the throne.
If she joined the Rogue she would have a chance, perhaps she could save then yet. Perhaps....
Alanna struggled in the dark for three days with these thoughts. Seeing no one except for the guard who came once a day to bring her some food. She was nearly insane from pent up energy and anxiety by dawn of the third day. And she had still not made up her mind on what to do. She could try and argue her way out of the death penalty but she knew if she did manage to get a pardon she would be disowned from her family and end up having to work as a maid servant or perhaps worse.
Alanna shivered and struggled going back and forth. Before she would have thought the choice would have been easy. To join the Rogue would ensure that she would be cared for. She knew George would make sure she was not hurt in any way. And maybe she could be a woman. Alanna remembered her lessons with George's mother. She would take care of Alanna.
So when George came for her she was waiting. She stood stiffly when he came into the dark dungeon, quiet as could be.
" Lass, have ye come 't a decision?"
Alanna nodded then remembering it was too dark for him to see her said,
" I have. I will join you in the court of the Rogue."
George reached through the bars and whispered,
" Will ye swear, Alanna of Trebond, swear 't the Trickster God that ye will serve the Rogue loyally and faithfully 't the best of ye'r abilities? Until the Trickster God releases ye from His services?"
Alanna took a deep breath and said,
" I swear. By Our Mother, The Goddess. I swear I will serve the Rogue until the Trickster God sees fit to release me. I swear."
George nodded sololmly and meeting her eyes squarely said,
" So mote it be."
It was done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So? Good first chapter? Bad first chapter? PLEASE review and let me know if I should continue. I really think this story has some potential but I want all of your advice. Review and you shall get an Ice Cream Sundae! Yay.
Much love,
Hannah.