Forgotten Child
Chapter One: Palace Tension
Tortall FanFic
((This story is set in Tamora Pierce's Tortall. It uses many of her wonderful and beloved characters as well as my own creation. This story is one that will be done by chapters and I will only continue to try to complete this story if I get feedback, I don't see any point continuing to write if no one likes it.))
((It is good that you read Chapter One: Forgotten Letter, first.
~*~ Palace of Tortall~*~
Gary sat on the fence waiting patiently for his turn. The young knights where cooped up on the palace grounds for at least two more months. Midwinter was just beginning and where told to come home for the festivities. Tiring of sitting in stuffy drawing rooms, drinking tea and listening to the young courtiers gossiping, they took refuge to the practice fields. Pages were given the next two weeks off so it freed the fields.
"Gary, mind taking a few passes, he isn't even paying the slightest bit attention," Raoul grumbled.
The very large knight swung limp and weak passes at his opponent. Even thought Jon blocked it wasn't much of a duel when your opponent just keep bringing up his sword to block a pass and put it right back down again.
"I could have killed him twenty times by now," he said shouldering his blade and glaring his large coal black eyes at the spaced out Prince.
"Hmm, I would say forty at the least," grinned Gary.
"Jonathan!" roared Raoul.
"Finish him off then," told Gary.
Raoul gave Gary a rotten grin as his eyes filled with laughter. No very often would one have the opportunity to knock a royal flat on his bum. Raoul wasn't stupid, he wasn't going to let this one slip his grip.
Lunging in with fury, the Knight brought his practice blade up and under the Prince's extended arms sending his sword soaring to the air. At the same time Raoul crouched down and brought his leg around knocking Jon off balance. The Prince staggered backwards blankly and fell hard to the ground.
Jonathan finally shock his head violently, shaking out of his trance, and took the hand offered to him. Raoul pulled him to his feet once more. He gave his friends a wary smile before taking his place on the sidelines, all with out a single word.
Raoul wasn't told about the letter Alanna had sent to Jon. Gary suggested that they should let Raoul know, but Jon said not yet. He wasn't sure if Alanna was being serious, or if it was just a twisted way to get her back with him.
"You know Alanna; she is more stubborn than you even. After what you told me about your fight, I would say she hates your guts." Gary said later that night.
They had been sitting silently in front of the large fireplace in Jonathan's room. The wine in the prince's hand had not been touched, Gary refilled his own glass, he was running out of idea's to make Jon talk.
A knocked came from the door but neither moved. The knocks continued and soon became heavy bangs.
"Open up, won't you?" It was Raoul.
Gary sighed deeply as he put down a glass and went to let their friend in. "About time you got here," Gary told him.
"Yeah, well I was busy," he huffed as he made his way to the chairs in front of the fireplace. "Still sour about falling down, Jon?" he asked with a big grin. Gloating wasn't usually Raoul's thing, but every now and then it was amusing.
Gary locked the door and rejoined them. He eyed Jonathan closely, looking for any sign but he only sat there, holding his wine glass and staring blankly into the fire. His bright sapphire eyes had lost their brightness, they where now whitewashed and distant.
"Okay, I have been patient enough. You had better tell me what is going on," Raoul said at last. Gary poured him a glass of wine and only shrugged.
"Jon, if you don't tell him I will, it isn't far for us to keep this for Raoul," informed Gary.
"Thank you," Raoul accepted the glass. "So there is something wrong."
Gary got up and walked back into his cousin's bedchamber, he returned caring a small golden box. He placed it in front of the Prince. "Open it, Jonathan."
Jonathan gave Gary a cold look before touching the lock, his blue Gift formed at is fingertip and the lid popped open. Gary handed the letter to Raoul who wasted no time in reading it.
Raoul whistled before handing it back to Gary. He was the type that took things calmly. "How long ago was this?"
"Two months ago," Gary said.
"What? Two months and you didn't tell me?" roared Raoul.
"We don't know if she is really wi…wi.." Jon finally spoke but couldn't bring to say the dread truth, 'with child,' "or if she is just wanting to get me back."
"Great Goddess, Jonathan! Listen to yourself, do you really believe that nonsense?" Raoul snapped bitterly. "We are talking about Alanna, you should know her better than us all."
"I know!" shouted Jon throwing his full glass of wine into the fire. His anger began to boil. The wine made a small explosion as the glass shattered.
Gary and Raoul exchanged worried looks. "Umm, Jon, maybe we should go and let you get some rest." With that, Gary put the letter back into the box and they both left.
Out side the door the two knights whispered among themselves.
"What should we do?"
"Find out if it's true?" Gary suggested.
"Alanna wouldn't lie, but we need to make sure it came from Alanna.
"Hmm, okay. What should we do first then, talk to George? He said Alanna asked his mother to come and visit her."
"Good idea, we shall pay Mistress Cooper a visit," Raoul said clapping Gary's back as the walked off.
~*~Mistress Cooper's House~*~
"Somebody is here," George said suddenly. He jumped too his feet and rushed to the door to find two very large knights guiding their horses up the way. We waited until they handed them off to some stable men and opened the door to greet them.
"Hey George," said Gary as they all clasped hands and a quick hug, "What are you doing here?"
Raoul and George both laughed, "Don't ya remember, lad?"
Garry rolled his eyes, "I know it's your mom George, but I just thought you'd be busy. It's rather late and…"
"And strange beings just keep showing up on my mother's door steps late at night."
"Sorry I asked," he sighed and they all went in, Raoul and Gorge laughing.
"Would you boys like some tea, I made fresh cookies," Mistress Cooper asked from the kitchen.
~*~Palace of Tortall~*~
"Jonathan, you should eat something, my son," said Queen Lianne. Her and her son sat under a Grand Willow beside a small pond in one of the Palace's Rose gardens.
"I'm not hungry," he replied moody.
"Jonathan, you haven't eaten anything in days. You missed banquets, celebrations and balls, when are you going to tell me what is troubling you?" his mother fussed.
She sounds so worried, he thought. "Mother, please, don't worrie. I am fine, I just lost my appetite is all," he tried to reassure her, but she knew him better.
"If you ke…" she couldn't finish as a coughing spell overwhelmed her body. Jon was at her side in a flash and gently helped her too her feet. As they walked back to the Palace, silence lingered in the air.
"Mother, you should really end these afternoons out doors. It is not good for your health," Jon told her, breaking the silence.
They reached the doors as two servants bowed low and opened them, a servant inside saw the Prince holding tightly onto the Queen as she slowly lost her energy to walk. Quickly her rushed over to them and took a hold of her other arm.
The servant left Jon sitting at his mother's bedside. Lianne's coughing had quieted a little but she grew paler.
"Her Majesty not feeling well again?" asked a maid walking by. The servant was just closing the doors to the Queen's bedchamber.
"Hmm, sad isn't it," he said softly.
"Poor, Prince Jonathan, perhaps that's why he is so down. I heard his Grace saying that she may not make it to summer, Mithros willing she will," They gave once last look in the bedroom at the young prince holding his mother's hand.
~*~Mistress Cooper's House~*~
When they were all sitting around Mistress Cooper's table, a cup of tea in one hand and a cookie in the other did discussion open, "Well, lads?" George asked.
"Well, umm, you see George we came to talk with your mother, and umm well…." Raoul look to Gary for help. He wasn't the type to discuses things, or explaining.
"It's privet, George. I'm sorry, but it is confidential," Gary said.
"It's not because you or your line of work and all, George. We would ask even our own mothers to leave," threw in Raoul.
"Oh, well no problem. I have matters to attend to anyhow. Good night, Mother," he kissed his mother and left.
"So, gentlemen…?"
"The Palace as been in shambles these passed few months." Gary started. "The King is still furious about Duke Roger and Alanna. The Queen is di…" Raoul nudged Gary in the side before he could finish the word, "sick and so much is being put on Jonathan. Then two months ago, he received a letter from Alanna that just made things worse," Gary took a deep breath and slouched in his chair after is long speech.
"Yes, I know, and you came here because?" she knew what they wanted but felt it would be better that people would start excepting the facts.
"Well, umm, did you, umm…." Gary stuttered, something he did not do often. For being such a powerful speaker, he sounded like a young boy meeting Mithros himself. Taking a deep breath he blurted out, "Is Alanna with child?" He collapsed back in his chair as if it somebody told him there was a mistake and he had to take his Ordeal of Knighthood all over again.
Raoul stared at him, not sure if he wanted to slap Gary for being so silly about speaking or dance with joy that it was not he who had to utter the words.
Mistress Cooper only smiled.
((That's it for Chapter Two. Please review and thank you for reading this far))