AN: sorry if there are many differences from the book in regards to how the Goddess is, but I don't have anything to refer to!!
Chapter twenty-four----
"I have waited too long to meet with you, my daughter," the Goddess confessed as she sank down to the damp earth. "Yet surely you knew this moment would come."
All Alanna could do was gape mutely. Speak? With her? There must have been some mistake.
"No?" The Goddess pressed her lips together tightly for a moment. "Then that is my fault. It has indeed been too long. Four years too long. Or even before that, if you think about that twin of yours."
"Thom? What about him?" Alanna asked eagerly. "Will you tell me where he is? How can I find him?"
"I cannot tell you, but those things will reveal themselves soon. I have much to explain, and to amend, and little time to do it in." Her stern expression stopped Alanna from speaking further. The Goddess looked thoughtful, as if trying to gather her thoughts. Uncomfortably, Alanna stroked the purring cat in her lap.
"I cannot explain all," the Goddess began slowly, and Alanna prepared herself for a long tale. "And indeed, if I did, you would most likely not understand it."
"I would!" Alanna burst.
"Patience, daughter. Ther first thing I must say is that fate (or destiny, however you choose to see it) has been cheated. How, or why, is rather complicated. You were meant to have a brother. He was stolen from you, and from your father as well."
"By who?"
Her full lips curved to an angle of half sadness and amusement. "Their intentions were virtuous, I assure you. They have raised him well, and he has, I suppose, become a vessel at those times when it was supposed to be you through who we acted. That was how, in part, a wrong was set to rights."
"What?"
"As I said, I can explain, but you will not necessarily understand until later. Perhaps this would be easier for you to understand: there is a life placed before us when we are born, that we are meant to live. It is not set in stone; nay, it can be changed over time to suit the person who grows into it, or if before-unperceived events are to take place. Do you understand?"
"So," said Alanna slowly, "I was supposed to grow up with Thom?"
"And love him dearly. Then you would have become a knight, and he, a great mage."
Now Alanna knew there was a mistake. "Are you sure? Women can't become knights, and Father would never have let Thom practice sorcery...he never let ME, anyway."
"That was unfortunate," the Goddess murmured. "You should have been well on your way to mastering your Gift by now. Truly unfortunate. Yet you managed to cure the queen with your inexperienced power. I supposed my aid came too late, but I wished to see how you fared on your own."
"You helped me?"
"You asked for it, did you not? And a Goddess does not ignore the prayers of her devotees. It would not be prudent nor wise."
"So," said Alanna skeptically, "if 'fate was cheated' and all, like you said, why didn't you intervene or something?"
"I should have, many years ago," she admitted. "I tried; truly. It was not mere coincidence that brought you and dear Gareth together that evening many months ago, nor was it coincidence that made you trust him and speak to him so openly."
"What does Gary have to do with anything?"
"In your shadow life, he was one of your closest friends. As was the prince, Raoul, Geoffrey, and a certain George Cooper. It was I who brought you together, though that has not turned out as I wished. Ah, there is Alex, too." She smiled suddenly. "Yes, Alex. He is perhaps one of the only benefits in this mishap."
"What do you--"
"Patience, Daughter." The Goddess waved a hand. "Enough explanations."
"But--" Alanna began to protest. There were still so many unanswered questions!
"You have been having dreams. They are mine. Yet surely you understand what I have been trying to tell you?"
"Something evil will happen," Alanna said after a moment. "And it closely concerns Duke Roger?"
"What do you think of him?"
"I don't like him," said Alanna bluntly.
"It is good to trust your instincts," the Goddess said with a nod. "Yet think carefully, Daughter. Duke Roger is a dangerous and powerful man."
"And in close reach of the throne." Alanna's eyes widened with understanding. "He's out to get the throne! That's what you were trying to tell me in my dreams! So he was trying to kill the queen with sorcery; he's trying to murder the entire royal family!"
"Harsh accusations," the Goddess said neutrally.
"But isn't that what you're trying to tell me?" demanded Alanna in frustration. "It makes sense. I saw his Gift on the queen when I tried to heal her."
"Find more evidence to back your proof," advised the Goddess. Alanna chewed on her lip.
"So far, all of my dreams have been the same except for the one with George in it. What did that one mean?"
"Dreams are a troublesome way to send information," the Goddess said with a laugh. "They often arrive much more urgent and potent than you intend. If you wish, I can take them away."
"No," Alanna said automatically, surprising herself. "I might learn something."
"My daughter, they are but DREAMS, not reality nor truth," said the Goddess in dismay. "Give me your necklace."
Clutching it tightly, Alanna eyed the Goddess with a measure of suspicion. "Why?"
"Dear Alanna," laughed the Goddess, "I merely wish to see how well you have taken care of my gift."
"YOUR gift?" breathed Alanna as she slipped it over her head and handed it to the Goddess. The black rock glowed it the Goddess's hand like an ember, turning bright red and shrinking, crumbling like coal. When it was scarcely larger than her thumbnail, the fire died. With a laugh, the Goddess handed the necklace back to a wary Alanna, who saw that the coal was now covered in a transparent, violet coating.
"As I can give no further explanations, here is my advice: train harder with Gary; you will need skill of sword soon. Be kind to Alex, for it will reap many unseen advantages and avoid many problems. Learn to use your Gift. Ask the thief--he will help you. And listen to the scoundrel here," said the Goddess, stroking the black cat affectionately. "He will be a good companion to you, and a good advisor." Alanna glanced down and found the cat staring unnervingly at her. She shivered.
"Can you tell me how to find Thom?"
"He will find you," revealed the Goddess. "Watch Duke Roger carefully--there is only a little time left, yet do not be hasty."
"I have another question."
"So curious, the young."
"Explain how I was supposed to be a knight and Thom was supposed to be a mage."
"You are twins, and at the age of ten, looked remarkably alike. With you being sent to the Convent and Thom sent unwillingly to Corus, what better than to switch places? He would have forged your father's handwriting and gone to the Convent to learn sorcery while you went to Corus to become a knight." She tilted her head to the side. "Yet though you were separated, he has still become a mage just as you are still pursuing life as a knight."
"You mean I have a chance? To become a knight?"
"What is ironic is that if you hadn't been separated, your father would not have read you those fascinating history books about the lady knights of ancient Tortall. To answer your question, yes, you do have a chance." The Goddess stood. "The rain has stopped." Taking the hint, Alanna rose as well.
"How do I ask you for help? Do you have any other advice? When will I see you again?"
The Goddess shook her head again at Alanna's many questions, and only answered the last one.
"Soon."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm sorry, Roger," Jon said sincerely. "I was just so worried and frustrated...I shouldn't have questioned your loyalties."
"I understand," Roger replied amiably, placing a brotherly hand on his shoulder. "Yet everything is fine, now. And we owe it all to that remarkable friend of yours." He chuckled. "Another redhead."
"It seems almost as if red hair and violet eyes are a requirement for saving the royal family now," Jon commented in amusement.
"I wish to speak with Countess Alanna. She must have such great power."
"I didn't even know until that day," Jon said. "She's a close friend of Gary's. Did you know that Gary's teaching her swordplay?"
"How interesting," he remarked.
"I think it was her idea, too," Jon said with a laugh. "She seems that sort of person." His expression darkened suddenly, remembering what happened the night before.
"What is it?"
"Oh, nothing," Jon said quickly. "Alex has been courting her."
"Really?"
"I find it strange, actually. She doesn't really seem like his type." Jon strugged. "Then again, they say that love is blind."
"I wouldn't know," Roger replied with a smiled. Jon laughed and stood.
"Well, I'm going to see Mother again. I just wanted to apologize to you for my outburst."
"Apology accepted," said Roger, opening the door for Jon, who smiled in relief as he passed through. As soon as Roger shut the door, his expression turned to a scowl, and he growled.
"Foiled!" he spat. "My plans foiled by another red-haired brat!" Pulling the great, plush armchair closer to the fire, he threw himself into it and stared broodingly into the flames.
The entire court now knew that the queen had been sick from sorcery, so it would be too dangerous for him to continue with his previous plan. He needed a new one, and now he would have to keep a shrewd eye on the Countess of Trebond and Mirkwater.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"D'you have any suspects yet?" Devin asked casually as he pushed a tankard to Bowen, who shoved it aside with a glare.
"Maybe," he said. "We've already discussed this, Devin; leave me be."
"I still think it was a servant."
"And I still disagree. You say that the attacks, which included assasins and food poisoning, only started in the past few months."
"And the servants're fairly new, and untrustworthy."
"It would take someone who knows him well, and has for a long time," argued Bowen. "This is all obviously experienced and well-thought planning."
"So you accuse one o' us, we who are loyal to our king, to be plottin' this?" demanded Devin indignantly.
"It is my suspicion, yes," said Bowen. "I won't lie. You want my help, so you must listen to my opinion."
"This is absurd!" Devin declared. "You are questioning our loyalty!"
"No, I only question the loyalty of one of you," Bowen said tactfully. "Or perhaps a very small faction. Unless there is something that you and your king are not telling me? Has there been any unrest among the rogues lately?"
"No," Devin said hotly. "Why would there be? He is fair and doesn't look down on us."
"Yet there are always those who are hungry for power," Bowen pointed out. "And those willing to support a strong challenger."
"Not among the Rogue," Devin said. Bowen carefully ignored this comment.
"There must be a specific reason why these attacks have started NOW, of all times," Bowen muttered. "Why now? Why not before, or later? I still believe that there is information that you are not telling me."
"Then find it out for yourself. Isn't that what we hired ye for?"
Bowen glanced around the room. "It would help if you would tell me who these people are."
"Eat first, introductions later."
"No," Bowen protested. "Don't introduce me. If I want to find out information, I must not draw attention to myself."
"Fine. But eat first. You've been a bit jumpy lately, and food'll do ye good."
"My brother's coming to Corus," Bowen said gloomily. "And Vera, too. I expect them to come through the door any second now."
"Do they know you're here?"
"They know where I am, no matter what I do or where I go. It's a curse."
"He might help you," Devin said cheerfully. "So maybe it's not a curse, in this case."
"I don't need his help," Bowen said flatly. "I've been doing this for years. I can handle this on my own, without the Gift or his sorcery."
"Just a suggestion," said Devin with a shrug.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't flame because the way the Goddess is portrayed isn't accurate!!!! I really wish it could be...but wouldja really have waited half a year just so the scene could be 100% accurate? That's right, didn't think so!
(does the Goddess even have a name?)
Sorry the previous chapter was so short...but the author reserves the right to write abnormally short chapters when it suits her purpose!
THE TWO TOWERS OPENED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sobs* I didn't get to see it. My sister gets to see it on Friday (grr!!!) while I don't....and I'm the obsessed one!!!!! *wails* It's not fair!!!!!!
My mom's boss even gave her the chance to miss a couple hours of work just to see it (her co-workers got to miss work to see Star Wars Ep. I & II when they came out, too!), but she didn't want to pay $6 for the ticket to a movie she REALLY doesn't wanna see (she hates fantasy and sci-fi of all kinds...she only likes "realistic" and "historical fiction" genres...grr!!!! Same w/my dad....my parents just don't understand me!!!!!). I was like, lucky her! *sniffles* So I have to wait to see it.
SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYAYYAYYAY!!!!!!!!
*Ahem* But before you get all excited, that doesn't mean more chapter, necessarily, 'cuz my dad is threatening to "tutor" me to death over Physics and Algebra over the break....grrr....
But I will try my best...scout's honor! (though I was never a Girl Scout...but that's besides the point)
REEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!
Chapter twenty-four----
"I have waited too long to meet with you, my daughter," the Goddess confessed as she sank down to the damp earth. "Yet surely you knew this moment would come."
All Alanna could do was gape mutely. Speak? With her? There must have been some mistake.
"No?" The Goddess pressed her lips together tightly for a moment. "Then that is my fault. It has indeed been too long. Four years too long. Or even before that, if you think about that twin of yours."
"Thom? What about him?" Alanna asked eagerly. "Will you tell me where he is? How can I find him?"
"I cannot tell you, but those things will reveal themselves soon. I have much to explain, and to amend, and little time to do it in." Her stern expression stopped Alanna from speaking further. The Goddess looked thoughtful, as if trying to gather her thoughts. Uncomfortably, Alanna stroked the purring cat in her lap.
"I cannot explain all," the Goddess began slowly, and Alanna prepared herself for a long tale. "And indeed, if I did, you would most likely not understand it."
"I would!" Alanna burst.
"Patience, daughter. Ther first thing I must say is that fate (or destiny, however you choose to see it) has been cheated. How, or why, is rather complicated. You were meant to have a brother. He was stolen from you, and from your father as well."
"By who?"
Her full lips curved to an angle of half sadness and amusement. "Their intentions were virtuous, I assure you. They have raised him well, and he has, I suppose, become a vessel at those times when it was supposed to be you through who we acted. That was how, in part, a wrong was set to rights."
"What?"
"As I said, I can explain, but you will not necessarily understand until later. Perhaps this would be easier for you to understand: there is a life placed before us when we are born, that we are meant to live. It is not set in stone; nay, it can be changed over time to suit the person who grows into it, or if before-unperceived events are to take place. Do you understand?"
"So," said Alanna slowly, "I was supposed to grow up with Thom?"
"And love him dearly. Then you would have become a knight, and he, a great mage."
Now Alanna knew there was a mistake. "Are you sure? Women can't become knights, and Father would never have let Thom practice sorcery...he never let ME, anyway."
"That was unfortunate," the Goddess murmured. "You should have been well on your way to mastering your Gift by now. Truly unfortunate. Yet you managed to cure the queen with your inexperienced power. I supposed my aid came too late, but I wished to see how you fared on your own."
"You helped me?"
"You asked for it, did you not? And a Goddess does not ignore the prayers of her devotees. It would not be prudent nor wise."
"So," said Alanna skeptically, "if 'fate was cheated' and all, like you said, why didn't you intervene or something?"
"I should have, many years ago," she admitted. "I tried; truly. It was not mere coincidence that brought you and dear Gareth together that evening many months ago, nor was it coincidence that made you trust him and speak to him so openly."
"What does Gary have to do with anything?"
"In your shadow life, he was one of your closest friends. As was the prince, Raoul, Geoffrey, and a certain George Cooper. It was I who brought you together, though that has not turned out as I wished. Ah, there is Alex, too." She smiled suddenly. "Yes, Alex. He is perhaps one of the only benefits in this mishap."
"What do you--"
"Patience, Daughter." The Goddess waved a hand. "Enough explanations."
"But--" Alanna began to protest. There were still so many unanswered questions!
"You have been having dreams. They are mine. Yet surely you understand what I have been trying to tell you?"
"Something evil will happen," Alanna said after a moment. "And it closely concerns Duke Roger?"
"What do you think of him?"
"I don't like him," said Alanna bluntly.
"It is good to trust your instincts," the Goddess said with a nod. "Yet think carefully, Daughter. Duke Roger is a dangerous and powerful man."
"And in close reach of the throne." Alanna's eyes widened with understanding. "He's out to get the throne! That's what you were trying to tell me in my dreams! So he was trying to kill the queen with sorcery; he's trying to murder the entire royal family!"
"Harsh accusations," the Goddess said neutrally.
"But isn't that what you're trying to tell me?" demanded Alanna in frustration. "It makes sense. I saw his Gift on the queen when I tried to heal her."
"Find more evidence to back your proof," advised the Goddess. Alanna chewed on her lip.
"So far, all of my dreams have been the same except for the one with George in it. What did that one mean?"
"Dreams are a troublesome way to send information," the Goddess said with a laugh. "They often arrive much more urgent and potent than you intend. If you wish, I can take them away."
"No," Alanna said automatically, surprising herself. "I might learn something."
"My daughter, they are but DREAMS, not reality nor truth," said the Goddess in dismay. "Give me your necklace."
Clutching it tightly, Alanna eyed the Goddess with a measure of suspicion. "Why?"
"Dear Alanna," laughed the Goddess, "I merely wish to see how well you have taken care of my gift."
"YOUR gift?" breathed Alanna as she slipped it over her head and handed it to the Goddess. The black rock glowed it the Goddess's hand like an ember, turning bright red and shrinking, crumbling like coal. When it was scarcely larger than her thumbnail, the fire died. With a laugh, the Goddess handed the necklace back to a wary Alanna, who saw that the coal was now covered in a transparent, violet coating.
"As I can give no further explanations, here is my advice: train harder with Gary; you will need skill of sword soon. Be kind to Alex, for it will reap many unseen advantages and avoid many problems. Learn to use your Gift. Ask the thief--he will help you. And listen to the scoundrel here," said the Goddess, stroking the black cat affectionately. "He will be a good companion to you, and a good advisor." Alanna glanced down and found the cat staring unnervingly at her. She shivered.
"Can you tell me how to find Thom?"
"He will find you," revealed the Goddess. "Watch Duke Roger carefully--there is only a little time left, yet do not be hasty."
"I have another question."
"So curious, the young."
"Explain how I was supposed to be a knight and Thom was supposed to be a mage."
"You are twins, and at the age of ten, looked remarkably alike. With you being sent to the Convent and Thom sent unwillingly to Corus, what better than to switch places? He would have forged your father's handwriting and gone to the Convent to learn sorcery while you went to Corus to become a knight." She tilted her head to the side. "Yet though you were separated, he has still become a mage just as you are still pursuing life as a knight."
"You mean I have a chance? To become a knight?"
"What is ironic is that if you hadn't been separated, your father would not have read you those fascinating history books about the lady knights of ancient Tortall. To answer your question, yes, you do have a chance." The Goddess stood. "The rain has stopped." Taking the hint, Alanna rose as well.
"How do I ask you for help? Do you have any other advice? When will I see you again?"
The Goddess shook her head again at Alanna's many questions, and only answered the last one.
"Soon."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm sorry, Roger," Jon said sincerely. "I was just so worried and frustrated...I shouldn't have questioned your loyalties."
"I understand," Roger replied amiably, placing a brotherly hand on his shoulder. "Yet everything is fine, now. And we owe it all to that remarkable friend of yours." He chuckled. "Another redhead."
"It seems almost as if red hair and violet eyes are a requirement for saving the royal family now," Jon commented in amusement.
"I wish to speak with Countess Alanna. She must have such great power."
"I didn't even know until that day," Jon said. "She's a close friend of Gary's. Did you know that Gary's teaching her swordplay?"
"How interesting," he remarked.
"I think it was her idea, too," Jon said with a laugh. "She seems that sort of person." His expression darkened suddenly, remembering what happened the night before.
"What is it?"
"Oh, nothing," Jon said quickly. "Alex has been courting her."
"Really?"
"I find it strange, actually. She doesn't really seem like his type." Jon strugged. "Then again, they say that love is blind."
"I wouldn't know," Roger replied with a smiled. Jon laughed and stood.
"Well, I'm going to see Mother again. I just wanted to apologize to you for my outburst."
"Apology accepted," said Roger, opening the door for Jon, who smiled in relief as he passed through. As soon as Roger shut the door, his expression turned to a scowl, and he growled.
"Foiled!" he spat. "My plans foiled by another red-haired brat!" Pulling the great, plush armchair closer to the fire, he threw himself into it and stared broodingly into the flames.
The entire court now knew that the queen had been sick from sorcery, so it would be too dangerous for him to continue with his previous plan. He needed a new one, and now he would have to keep a shrewd eye on the Countess of Trebond and Mirkwater.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"D'you have any suspects yet?" Devin asked casually as he pushed a tankard to Bowen, who shoved it aside with a glare.
"Maybe," he said. "We've already discussed this, Devin; leave me be."
"I still think it was a servant."
"And I still disagree. You say that the attacks, which included assasins and food poisoning, only started in the past few months."
"And the servants're fairly new, and untrustworthy."
"It would take someone who knows him well, and has for a long time," argued Bowen. "This is all obviously experienced and well-thought planning."
"So you accuse one o' us, we who are loyal to our king, to be plottin' this?" demanded Devin indignantly.
"It is my suspicion, yes," said Bowen. "I won't lie. You want my help, so you must listen to my opinion."
"This is absurd!" Devin declared. "You are questioning our loyalty!"
"No, I only question the loyalty of one of you," Bowen said tactfully. "Or perhaps a very small faction. Unless there is something that you and your king are not telling me? Has there been any unrest among the rogues lately?"
"No," Devin said hotly. "Why would there be? He is fair and doesn't look down on us."
"Yet there are always those who are hungry for power," Bowen pointed out. "And those willing to support a strong challenger."
"Not among the Rogue," Devin said. Bowen carefully ignored this comment.
"There must be a specific reason why these attacks have started NOW, of all times," Bowen muttered. "Why now? Why not before, or later? I still believe that there is information that you are not telling me."
"Then find it out for yourself. Isn't that what we hired ye for?"
Bowen glanced around the room. "It would help if you would tell me who these people are."
"Eat first, introductions later."
"No," Bowen protested. "Don't introduce me. If I want to find out information, I must not draw attention to myself."
"Fine. But eat first. You've been a bit jumpy lately, and food'll do ye good."
"My brother's coming to Corus," Bowen said gloomily. "And Vera, too. I expect them to come through the door any second now."
"Do they know you're here?"
"They know where I am, no matter what I do or where I go. It's a curse."
"He might help you," Devin said cheerfully. "So maybe it's not a curse, in this case."
"I don't need his help," Bowen said flatly. "I've been doing this for years. I can handle this on my own, without the Gift or his sorcery."
"Just a suggestion," said Devin with a shrug.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't flame because the way the Goddess is portrayed isn't accurate!!!! I really wish it could be...but wouldja really have waited half a year just so the scene could be 100% accurate? That's right, didn't think so!
(does the Goddess even have a name?)
Sorry the previous chapter was so short...but the author reserves the right to write abnormally short chapters when it suits her purpose!
THE TWO TOWERS OPENED TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sobs* I didn't get to see it. My sister gets to see it on Friday (grr!!!) while I don't....and I'm the obsessed one!!!!! *wails* It's not fair!!!!!!
My mom's boss even gave her the chance to miss a couple hours of work just to see it (her co-workers got to miss work to see Star Wars Ep. I & II when they came out, too!), but she didn't want to pay $6 for the ticket to a movie she REALLY doesn't wanna see (she hates fantasy and sci-fi of all kinds...she only likes "realistic" and "historical fiction" genres...grr!!!! Same w/my dad....my parents just don't understand me!!!!!). I was like, lucky her! *sniffles* So I have to wait to see it.
SCHOOL'S OUT, SCHOOL'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAYYAYYAYYAY!!!!!!!!
*Ahem* But before you get all excited, that doesn't mean more chapter, necessarily, 'cuz my dad is threatening to "tutor" me to death over Physics and Algebra over the break....grrr....
But I will try my best...scout's honor! (though I was never a Girl Scout...but that's besides the point)
REEEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWW!