Chapter three--
Alanna felt awkward in the gown that Gary had advised her to wear. It was her mothers'--a sleeless amethyst dress with a sheer lavender shawl and deep blue embroidery. Her hair was braided in a careful manner--by Lara, who'd insisted on it--with violet ribbons woven into it. This left her plain face painfully exposed. Lavender face faint touched her eyelids and dark pink hinted from her lips. The jewelry was far too fancy and heavy, large amethyst stones set in silver hung hung around her neck and her forhead, in a tiara-like fashion. Unlike the other ladies, she's never pierced her ears, so no weight could be forced on them.
"I feel like a dressed-up chicken in a pen of peacocks," she whispered to Gary, who stood next to her. He gave her a supportive pat.
"Don't worry about it, Alanna. You look fine. If you want, I can point out some ladies who don't look as good as you," he said, though in truth he actually couldn't, since Alanna's looks were so obviously plain. "Oh, here comes Elijah!"
Next to where Jon stood (the middle of the room), a sparkling violet light bursted. When the air cleared of sparks, a short red-haired man stood next to Jon.
"Welcome, Elijah, to Corus!" the king boomed. Alanna looked for the queen, and she was a sickly white color. However, she smiled warmly at Elijah.
"We thank you again for saving our son's life," she said, her voice trembling.
"What's wrong with her?" whispered Alanna to Gary.
"She's sick."
"Well, yeah, I could kind of tell."
"We have arranged this ball and feast in your honor," Jon said proudly. On cue, the musicians started playing. Nobles paired off and began to dance, though many walked forward curiously to meet Elijah.
"Does he have a title?" asked Alanna nervously. "What should I call him by?"
"Calm down, I'm sure you'll charm him. He doesn't have a title yet, but the king's considering giving him a knighthood," Gary explained as they waited their turn to meet the sorcerer.
"How does 'Your Mage-liness' or 'Your Sorcerence' sound?" whispered Alanna. Gary chuckled and patted her arm.
"It sounds stupid, but you can try it."
"He saved the life of the heir to the throne. Do you know how important that is?" Alanna said, glaring at him. Gary shrugged.
"Well, you never met Roger. If Jon had died, I think Roger'd make a great king."
"How could say something like that?" she hissed as they approached Elijah. "How...how can you even THINK something like that--"
"Lady Alanna of Trebond," Gary introduced. Alanna stopped mid-setence and stared at Elijah, gaping openly. Elijah wore a similar expression. Elijah not only had red hair, but his eyes were the same shade as Alanna's and he happened to be the exact same height.
"Uh...uh, it's an...honor to meet you, your...mage-liness," Alanna managed to stutter. Elijah recovered and bowed.
"Please, Lady Alanna. Allow me a dance."
Alanna glanced at Gary, who gave her a gentle shove forward. She forced a smile at Elijah as he led her into a dance.
"I...I'm sorry, but I don't...really dance," she said. He smile crookedly.
"Me neither, but I figured that it'd be an easy way to talk to you," Elijah answered.
"Oh. Uh...good idea. So...what to we talk about--ow!!"
"Sorry," Elijah apologized, as he'd just stepped on her foot. "Not to be blunt, but I daresay you look just like me."
"I was thinking the exact same thing," Alanna replied, watching her feet.
"Trebond. I've been there before."
"Yea? Well, where do you come from?"
"It's not important," Elijah said abruptly, obviously shying away from the subject. "But I was sent to learn sorcery when I was ten."
"Did you want to?" asked Alanna, remembering how her father had to tie her to the carriage in order to force her to go to the convent.
"Oh yes," Elijah replied, surprised. "I wanted very much. Do you have the Gift?"
"Well...I do, but I never use it," Alanna answered quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to," was her sharp reply. "There, now the song's ended. Thank you for the dance, er, Sorcerer Elijah."
She turned and left him without waiting for an answer. Gary was dancing with another maiden, so she sat quitely to wait for him to finish. While she waited, Jon sat down next to her. She smiled politely.
"You must be Alanna of Trebond, who Gary is to taken with," Jon commented. Alanna laughed sharply.
"We're already aquainted, Prince of Tortall."
"Please, it's Jon."
"Do you have anything to say, JON, or are you going to sit here all night attempting, badly I might add, at conversation?" Alanna said, knowing full well that she was being rude. Jon blinked and then leaned forward.
"What is it that you and Gary do every day? You ride off together and aren't seen again until late afternoon. I'm very curious and would like to know what he's up to," Jon told her pointedly.
"Do you always interrogate guests this way?" Alanna shot back. "If Gary wishes to tell you anything, he will do so on his own."
"Unless you've made him swear not to tell me."
Alanna stared at how he'd so easily guessed the truth. She looked away and spotted Gary walking their way. Attempting grace, Alanna stood and curtsied to Jon.
"Pleasure talking to you, JON." With that, she grabbed Gary's arm and led them away. Gary shook his head and loosened her iron grip.
"You didn't have to be so rude. He was just being friendly," Gary said as he led them into a dance. Alanna snorted.
"More like trying to pry information out of me." Gary laughed.
"What did you think of Elijah?"
"You didn't see it?"
"See what? See you dance together? Oh, I saw that alright."
"No, his eyes. They're just like mine."
"You mean purple? Yeah, I didn't realize that 'til you were standing across from each other," Gary admitted. He smiled. "Strange. The two of you could almost pass for twins. Ever consider that you weren't always an only child?"
"What? You mean that I might have had a twin and we were separated at birth??"
"It's a definite possibility."
"Well, I don't think so," Alanna said flatly.
"Why do you refuse to consider the idea?"
"I just do, so drop it."
"Alright, fine. Now, can we talk about Jon?"
"No. There's nothing to say."
"Sure there is," Gary said, giving her a stern look. "We can talk about how you could be nicer to him the next time you talk. Let's try it. Pretend I'm Jon. Now, what would you say to me?"
"You're not Jon."
"Oh, you're impossible," Gary sighed. "Well, what about Raoul? What do you think of him? Since you refuse to talk about either Elijah OR Jon." Alanna shrugged as the song ended.
"I don't know."
"Well, would you mind terribly if you had to talk to him?"
Alanna sighed and bowed her head, as if in thought. When she finally looked up, she rolled her eyes.
"Oh...fine, I'll meet your circle of friends."
"And..."
"And...I'll do my best to be CIVIL, and...friendly."
"Thanks Alanna. I know that took a lot, coming from you."
"Yeah, yeah. Now I'm going to RETIRE from the evening, alright? Good-night."
"Good-night Alanna." As Alanna walked away grumbling, Gary reached out and touched her shoulder. "And by the way? You look nice."
"Thanks, Gary."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
So, what'd ya think? I'm having writer's block right now and I can't continue this story, so help me out here!!!! Encourage me! Give me advice! Point out my flaws! Anything! Just review, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I WILL NOT WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER UNLESS I HAVE AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS!!!! AND THEY BETTER BE LONGER THAN A SENTENCE, TOO!!!!!)
Another AN: I've discovered that writing Fanfics are so much more fun than regular stories, cuz everybody knows what you're talking about, so you don't have to do as many adjectives or explaining, and your chapters can be super short!!
Alanna felt awkward in the gown that Gary had advised her to wear. It was her mothers'--a sleeless amethyst dress with a sheer lavender shawl and deep blue embroidery. Her hair was braided in a careful manner--by Lara, who'd insisted on it--with violet ribbons woven into it. This left her plain face painfully exposed. Lavender face faint touched her eyelids and dark pink hinted from her lips. The jewelry was far too fancy and heavy, large amethyst stones set in silver hung hung around her neck and her forhead, in a tiara-like fashion. Unlike the other ladies, she's never pierced her ears, so no weight could be forced on them.
"I feel like a dressed-up chicken in a pen of peacocks," she whispered to Gary, who stood next to her. He gave her a supportive pat.
"Don't worry about it, Alanna. You look fine. If you want, I can point out some ladies who don't look as good as you," he said, though in truth he actually couldn't, since Alanna's looks were so obviously plain. "Oh, here comes Elijah!"
Next to where Jon stood (the middle of the room), a sparkling violet light bursted. When the air cleared of sparks, a short red-haired man stood next to Jon.
"Welcome, Elijah, to Corus!" the king boomed. Alanna looked for the queen, and she was a sickly white color. However, she smiled warmly at Elijah.
"We thank you again for saving our son's life," she said, her voice trembling.
"What's wrong with her?" whispered Alanna to Gary.
"She's sick."
"Well, yeah, I could kind of tell."
"We have arranged this ball and feast in your honor," Jon said proudly. On cue, the musicians started playing. Nobles paired off and began to dance, though many walked forward curiously to meet Elijah.
"Does he have a title?" asked Alanna nervously. "What should I call him by?"
"Calm down, I'm sure you'll charm him. He doesn't have a title yet, but the king's considering giving him a knighthood," Gary explained as they waited their turn to meet the sorcerer.
"How does 'Your Mage-liness' or 'Your Sorcerence' sound?" whispered Alanna. Gary chuckled and patted her arm.
"It sounds stupid, but you can try it."
"He saved the life of the heir to the throne. Do you know how important that is?" Alanna said, glaring at him. Gary shrugged.
"Well, you never met Roger. If Jon had died, I think Roger'd make a great king."
"How could say something like that?" she hissed as they approached Elijah. "How...how can you even THINK something like that--"
"Lady Alanna of Trebond," Gary introduced. Alanna stopped mid-setence and stared at Elijah, gaping openly. Elijah wore a similar expression. Elijah not only had red hair, but his eyes were the same shade as Alanna's and he happened to be the exact same height.
"Uh...uh, it's an...honor to meet you, your...mage-liness," Alanna managed to stutter. Elijah recovered and bowed.
"Please, Lady Alanna. Allow me a dance."
Alanna glanced at Gary, who gave her a gentle shove forward. She forced a smile at Elijah as he led her into a dance.
"I...I'm sorry, but I don't...really dance," she said. He smile crookedly.
"Me neither, but I figured that it'd be an easy way to talk to you," Elijah answered.
"Oh. Uh...good idea. So...what to we talk about--ow!!"
"Sorry," Elijah apologized, as he'd just stepped on her foot. "Not to be blunt, but I daresay you look just like me."
"I was thinking the exact same thing," Alanna replied, watching her feet.
"Trebond. I've been there before."
"Yea? Well, where do you come from?"
"It's not important," Elijah said abruptly, obviously shying away from the subject. "But I was sent to learn sorcery when I was ten."
"Did you want to?" asked Alanna, remembering how her father had to tie her to the carriage in order to force her to go to the convent.
"Oh yes," Elijah replied, surprised. "I wanted very much. Do you have the Gift?"
"Well...I do, but I never use it," Alanna answered quickly.
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to," was her sharp reply. "There, now the song's ended. Thank you for the dance, er, Sorcerer Elijah."
She turned and left him without waiting for an answer. Gary was dancing with another maiden, so she sat quitely to wait for him to finish. While she waited, Jon sat down next to her. She smiled politely.
"You must be Alanna of Trebond, who Gary is to taken with," Jon commented. Alanna laughed sharply.
"We're already aquainted, Prince of Tortall."
"Please, it's Jon."
"Do you have anything to say, JON, or are you going to sit here all night attempting, badly I might add, at conversation?" Alanna said, knowing full well that she was being rude. Jon blinked and then leaned forward.
"What is it that you and Gary do every day? You ride off together and aren't seen again until late afternoon. I'm very curious and would like to know what he's up to," Jon told her pointedly.
"Do you always interrogate guests this way?" Alanna shot back. "If Gary wishes to tell you anything, he will do so on his own."
"Unless you've made him swear not to tell me."
Alanna stared at how he'd so easily guessed the truth. She looked away and spotted Gary walking their way. Attempting grace, Alanna stood and curtsied to Jon.
"Pleasure talking to you, JON." With that, she grabbed Gary's arm and led them away. Gary shook his head and loosened her iron grip.
"You didn't have to be so rude. He was just being friendly," Gary said as he led them into a dance. Alanna snorted.
"More like trying to pry information out of me." Gary laughed.
"What did you think of Elijah?"
"You didn't see it?"
"See what? See you dance together? Oh, I saw that alright."
"No, his eyes. They're just like mine."
"You mean purple? Yeah, I didn't realize that 'til you were standing across from each other," Gary admitted. He smiled. "Strange. The two of you could almost pass for twins. Ever consider that you weren't always an only child?"
"What? You mean that I might have had a twin and we were separated at birth??"
"It's a definite possibility."
"Well, I don't think so," Alanna said flatly.
"Why do you refuse to consider the idea?"
"I just do, so drop it."
"Alright, fine. Now, can we talk about Jon?"
"No. There's nothing to say."
"Sure there is," Gary said, giving her a stern look. "We can talk about how you could be nicer to him the next time you talk. Let's try it. Pretend I'm Jon. Now, what would you say to me?"
"You're not Jon."
"Oh, you're impossible," Gary sighed. "Well, what about Raoul? What do you think of him? Since you refuse to talk about either Elijah OR Jon." Alanna shrugged as the song ended.
"I don't know."
"Well, would you mind terribly if you had to talk to him?"
Alanna sighed and bowed her head, as if in thought. When she finally looked up, she rolled her eyes.
"Oh...fine, I'll meet your circle of friends."
"And..."
"And...I'll do my best to be CIVIL, and...friendly."
"Thanks Alanna. I know that took a lot, coming from you."
"Yeah, yeah. Now I'm going to RETIRE from the evening, alright? Good-night."
"Good-night Alanna." As Alanna walked away grumbling, Gary reached out and touched her shoulder. "And by the way? You look nice."
"Thanks, Gary."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
So, what'd ya think? I'm having writer's block right now and I can't continue this story, so help me out here!!!! Encourage me! Give me advice! Point out my flaws! Anything! Just review, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I WILL NOT WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER UNLESS I HAVE AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS!!!! AND THEY BETTER BE LONGER THAN A SENTENCE, TOO!!!!!)
Another AN: I've discovered that writing Fanfics are so much more fun than regular stories, cuz everybody knows what you're talking about, so you don't have to do as many adjectives or explaining, and your chapters can be super short!!