To:
Magixpawn: It's not like I INTEND to make you guys wait this long!! I try not to, really!
Eccie87: Hmmm...actually, I'm pretty sure Tammy woulda done somethin' completely different...but we'll never know, cuz she didn't. ^.^
Veralidaine: Yup. My parents are psycho-crazy. About Algebra. and Physics. Grrr. But about your question concerning Alex and Roger...read on...
White-Wolf: why can't you talk? And {love (friendship wise)}--LOL! And what's w/ "huzzah?"
Chickensoup3: yeah, well i suck at fluff anyway. Angst? What angst?
StarFire: Yeah, nuthin' wrong with being a LOTR freak.
Drowning Rooster: {yay! you reviewed my fic!} I did? can't remember. Must check it again.
AerinBrown: WHY don't you want Alanna to be a knight? And Bowen does need to meet someone& settle down. (maybe alanna? ;-))
LeopardDance: I really don't know how to bring up the subject of Ralon. I keep changing my mind about what I want to do with him. And about Faramir...hmmm, I sorta see whatcha mean.
MoonWing: Actually, I liked FotR better. But TTT was still awesome! =)
Ladyluck: yes, you should definitely try the whole longer-review thing more often! *grins*
Eve of Mirkwood: I know! Haldir *sniffles*
Mortal Angel: Maybe it'll end up an a/a. But...I dunno. My hands are possessed...it's up to THEM to decide
Rinamin: WOW, long review! *kisses* But about Bowen's name...you're thinking too LOTR-y. Bowen is an actual name. But I initially based him on Boromir, and he sorta grew outta that (i flipped a baby name book open to the Bs and was like, "oh, Bowen! OK!") About the Box thing...I thought he was talking about a box seat, you know, like in theatres?
Mystic Wood: You're right about the HP thing. But how is Alanna un-meek and threatening in other Convent fics?
Lady Fire Eyes: Of COURSE I don't mind if you keep yabbering about LOTR! (but I love praise, too! =))
StarFire: Yeah, that was too cool!
Rebecca, Lara, (blank), (another blank), (yet another blank), Lady Lake, Forget-me-not, and everyone else: love ya lots, thanks for reviewing!!!
I HAVE OVER 300 REVIEWS!!!!!! Hugs and imaginary treats to everyone! Drinks to all who're legal! LOTR merchandise to whoever wants it!!! *giggles*
Chapter twenty-six--
This is nice, Alex thought, then was horrified that such a simplistic thought had entered his head. But he had to admit, it did feel nice. The air was not cold, only crisp and cool, smelling fresh with the world clean and sparkling.
And Alanna was fast asleep in his arms. Strange though it was, it felt...right, somehow, for her to be there, with her head resting in the crook of his neck and strands of her red hair covering her face like a veil and tumbling down in not waves but ripples.
By the gods he had missed her. In the North, when it was cold and wet, it was Alanna he thought of and longed to return to Corus to. Her image gave him a small happiness on the dreariest nights.
When the palace loomed close, he was very reluctant to wake her up. The moment seemed perfect, and he was loath to end it. He waited until the last moment--when they were actually inside the stable and Stephan was frowning at them--that he sighed and shifted to rouse her.
"We're here," Alex said quietly into Alanna's ear, giving her a gentle shake. "We're back at the palace. In the stables if you want to know, and he's giving us strange looks, so you'd best wake up now."
"I'm awake," Alanna grumbled, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Humph. You just woke me up from the best sleep I've had in a long time," she complained as Alex helped her down and handed the reins of Gary's horse to the stable master.
"Why do you say that?" Alex asked curiously.
"It's just..." Alanna hesitated, not sure what he would say if she told him about the dreams or the Goddess. "It's because I'm with you," she finished with a smile, and took his arm, her other one still cradling a now-awake cat. He frowned slightly at her hesitation, but didn't say anything. The cat wriggled out of her hold and scrambled up her nightgown, settling himself on her shoulder, where he sat rather comfortably.
"I've never seen a cat do that before," Alex commented, and in response the cat glared at him. "How about naming him 'Scowl?' That all he seems to do. Or at least, to me."
"No, he scowls at me, too," Alanna said between yawns. "But it would be just a cruel as naming him 'Fluffy.' Meganne named her cat that." She shuddered, making the cat dig in with his claws. Alanna winced.
"If you're going to ride up there, don't scratch!" she told him firmly. Then she yawned.
"So have you had enough sleep, or are you going to head off straight to your chambers and sleep further?" Alex asked.
"Probably the second one," Alanna laughed, though rather tiredly. "So I'll see you again in the evening. How will you ever survive the afternoon without me?"
"I suppose I must find a way to manage," Alex said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Duke Roger wishes to see me, so I it seems that while you sleep, I will be speaking with my former knight-master." Suddenly Alanna froze.
"Why would he want to see you?" she asked suspiciously.
"I used to be his squire," Alex explained.
"Y-you...did?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?" Alex asked curiously.
"Nothing; it's nothing. I'll go catch up on that sleep now," Alanna mumbled, and stepped away quickly, though clumsily in her sleepy state, with Alex looking curiously after her. After she'd left the stables, Alex exited the stables as well, in the other direction. He walked so swiftly that he almost ran into someone walking INTO the stables.
"I'm sor--Alex!" Jon exclaimed in surprise. "You're back!"
"Good to see you too," Alex said dryly.
"Well, of course," Jon said quickly.
"Going for a ride?" Alex asked, jerking his head in the direction of the stables. "I wouldn't in those clothes."
"What? Oh, no. Listen, Gary's horse was stolen last night, and Al--"
"Alanna rode him," explained Alex. "I met her in the road. The horse and Alanna are back, safe and sound, though tired and wet."
"Good," Jon said in obvious relief. "I was just going into the stables to check with Stephan again. Well, good to see you," he grinned, clapping Alex on the back.
"Yes, now you say so," said Alex wryly, causing Jon to laugh.
Suddenly, Jon frowned as he remembered something. "By the way..." He paused.
"What?" Alex prompted. "Out with it."
"Is it true... are you courting Alanna?" Jon asked. Alex started.
"Where did you hear that?" Alex said cautiously, trying hard to crush the flutter of hope he felt at those words.
"Oh, well, palace rumors and all," Jon said quickly.
"Where did you hear that?" Alex repeated.
"You know how gossip is about these things," Jon said, grinning. "But really, Alanna of Trebond... don't you call her FIRETOP? Well, she's--"
"Where did you hear that?" pressed Alex. "Where did you hear that I was courting Alanna?"
"From Alanna," Jon said, his grin fading into a scowl.
At that, the little flutter changed into a huge surge of relief. Alex couldn't prevent the large smile from spreading across his face. So she acknowledged it, accepted it. Before he'd left, he hadn't felt sure, as she had seemed resistant to him... but he had hoped that maybe when he was gone, she could ponder over his parting words... and it seemed that she had, which was more than he'd expected.
"Well?" Jon demanded
"What? Oh, yes it's true," Alex said.
Being too caught up in his own delight, he didn't notice Jon's angry expression.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Is that all?" the knight asked, frowning over the papers. Bowen nodded grimly from the seat across the desk, looking very out of place in the book- and paper-filled study. He anxiously watched his mentor reread the notes and shuffle the parchment. He felt very out of place, sitting in the seat with his best clothes, as that was what it had required to get into the palace.
"I've tried everything," he said, almost apologetically or defensively.
"Everything?" The elder man raised an amused eyebrow, causing Bowen to flush.
"Well, anything I could think of. Like I said, the assasin must have grown tired, bored, or scared. He hasn't been trying anything for a while. Maybe it's because he knows that I'm searching, or maybe it's something else. Still, there's not much I can do but wait for another attempt. We don't have enough information from the last attempts. It could be anyone."
"Have you tried talking to--"
"Yes," Bowen said. "I've talked to them all." He frowned. "Sorry for interrupting," he added, and bowed his head the smallest fraction out of respect.
"Even the other servers?"
"There aren't that many, and I even talked to the cook and her assistant, and their friends who buy the food. And those who sell the food."
"And the people who recommended them?"
"And those who overlooked and hired them."
"Very thorough. Well," said his former mentor, "I have complete faith in you, Bowen. If you've done everything in your ability, and you still can't find the assassin, then I suppose he just can't be found."
"Of course he can be found!" Bowen cried indignantly. "Any assasin can be found, even the best. And I won't just... quit!!"
"Calm down," chuckled the desk knight as he finally set down the papers. "I know you're not a quitter--that's one of the things that make you great--"
"But I'm not," Bowen argued. "Else I would find the assasin!"
"Well, who would want to kill him?"
Bowen visible struggled with a decision. He had not yet told Myles exactly WHO he was employed to protect, that he was trying to find who was attempting to assasinate the King of the Thieves. It wasn't that he didn't trust Myles, he just wasn't sure how he'd take it.
Myles sighed. "Bowen, why come to me? You're intelligent, quick, persistent, insightful, cunning...why do you need me?"
"Because you're the best," Bowen said instantly. "You taught me so much, but not everything, and I thought that... maybe you could..."
"First of all, I used to be a spy," Myles said with a kind smile, "and I'm hardly the best anymore. I daresay that you're far better. And don't bother denying it," he added when Bowen opened his mouth to protest. "Anyway, this is hardly spy work, so I'm afraid I won't be much help."
"Please?" Bowen pleaded. "If you can do anything... maybe you could talk to him... or, or..."
"Very well," Myles said with a sigh. "I'll do what I can to help...and talk to," he glanced down at the paper, "George."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, now you know who Bowen learned it all from--Myles! (though you still don't know exactly WHAT he learned, huh?)
O! A thought just struck me! Ooh, inspriation! But sorry, can't tell you. ^.^
And it appears that I'm still not quite sure if Alex is evil or not...*frowns* I had SO thought that I knew...but apparently not. And I really didn't think Alex was Duke Roger's squire...but aparently so. *frowns again* See, my hands ARE demonically possessed! This story doesn't belong to me, the ideas all came from my fingers, not my brain. =|
Sorry that the chapter's short, but it's mostly a bridge chappie, ya know. I'm pretty sure the next one will be long, as it will feature Alex and Roger's conversation. That should be interesting...
I'm thinkin' to have Alanna have another chat with the Goddess again, sometime. That one was not enough. Anybody agree?
And if Alex does turn out to be evil...Alanna could always go with Bowen, right? ;-)
And I just realized something else...how exactly IS Alanna gonna find Thom? Grr...
And exactly HOW LONG is it gonna take JKR to write the 5th HP book?????
Magixpawn: It's not like I INTEND to make you guys wait this long!! I try not to, really!
Eccie87: Hmmm...actually, I'm pretty sure Tammy woulda done somethin' completely different...but we'll never know, cuz she didn't. ^.^
Veralidaine: Yup. My parents are psycho-crazy. About Algebra. and Physics. Grrr. But about your question concerning Alex and Roger...read on...
White-Wolf: why can't you talk? And {love (friendship wise)}--LOL! And what's w/ "huzzah?"
Chickensoup3: yeah, well i suck at fluff anyway. Angst? What angst?
StarFire: Yeah, nuthin' wrong with being a LOTR freak.
Drowning Rooster: {yay! you reviewed my fic!} I did? can't remember. Must check it again.
AerinBrown: WHY don't you want Alanna to be a knight? And Bowen does need to meet someone& settle down. (maybe alanna? ;-))
LeopardDance: I really don't know how to bring up the subject of Ralon. I keep changing my mind about what I want to do with him. And about Faramir...hmmm, I sorta see whatcha mean.
MoonWing: Actually, I liked FotR better. But TTT was still awesome! =)
Ladyluck: yes, you should definitely try the whole longer-review thing more often! *grins*
Eve of Mirkwood: I know! Haldir *sniffles*
Mortal Angel: Maybe it'll end up an a/a. But...I dunno. My hands are possessed...it's up to THEM to decide
Rinamin: WOW, long review! *kisses* But about Bowen's name...you're thinking too LOTR-y. Bowen is an actual name. But I initially based him on Boromir, and he sorta grew outta that (i flipped a baby name book open to the Bs and was like, "oh, Bowen! OK!") About the Box thing...I thought he was talking about a box seat, you know, like in theatres?
Mystic Wood: You're right about the HP thing. But how is Alanna un-meek and threatening in other Convent fics?
Lady Fire Eyes: Of COURSE I don't mind if you keep yabbering about LOTR! (but I love praise, too! =))
StarFire: Yeah, that was too cool!
Rebecca, Lara, (blank), (another blank), (yet another blank), Lady Lake, Forget-me-not, and everyone else: love ya lots, thanks for reviewing!!!
I HAVE OVER 300 REVIEWS!!!!!! Hugs and imaginary treats to everyone! Drinks to all who're legal! LOTR merchandise to whoever wants it!!! *giggles*
Chapter twenty-six--
This is nice, Alex thought, then was horrified that such a simplistic thought had entered his head. But he had to admit, it did feel nice. The air was not cold, only crisp and cool, smelling fresh with the world clean and sparkling.
And Alanna was fast asleep in his arms. Strange though it was, it felt...right, somehow, for her to be there, with her head resting in the crook of his neck and strands of her red hair covering her face like a veil and tumbling down in not waves but ripples.
By the gods he had missed her. In the North, when it was cold and wet, it was Alanna he thought of and longed to return to Corus to. Her image gave him a small happiness on the dreariest nights.
When the palace loomed close, he was very reluctant to wake her up. The moment seemed perfect, and he was loath to end it. He waited until the last moment--when they were actually inside the stable and Stephan was frowning at them--that he sighed and shifted to rouse her.
"We're here," Alex said quietly into Alanna's ear, giving her a gentle shake. "We're back at the palace. In the stables if you want to know, and he's giving us strange looks, so you'd best wake up now."
"I'm awake," Alanna grumbled, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Humph. You just woke me up from the best sleep I've had in a long time," she complained as Alex helped her down and handed the reins of Gary's horse to the stable master.
"Why do you say that?" Alex asked curiously.
"It's just..." Alanna hesitated, not sure what he would say if she told him about the dreams or the Goddess. "It's because I'm with you," she finished with a smile, and took his arm, her other one still cradling a now-awake cat. He frowned slightly at her hesitation, but didn't say anything. The cat wriggled out of her hold and scrambled up her nightgown, settling himself on her shoulder, where he sat rather comfortably.
"I've never seen a cat do that before," Alex commented, and in response the cat glared at him. "How about naming him 'Scowl?' That all he seems to do. Or at least, to me."
"No, he scowls at me, too," Alanna said between yawns. "But it would be just a cruel as naming him 'Fluffy.' Meganne named her cat that." She shuddered, making the cat dig in with his claws. Alanna winced.
"If you're going to ride up there, don't scratch!" she told him firmly. Then she yawned.
"So have you had enough sleep, or are you going to head off straight to your chambers and sleep further?" Alex asked.
"Probably the second one," Alanna laughed, though rather tiredly. "So I'll see you again in the evening. How will you ever survive the afternoon without me?"
"I suppose I must find a way to manage," Alex said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Duke Roger wishes to see me, so I it seems that while you sleep, I will be speaking with my former knight-master." Suddenly Alanna froze.
"Why would he want to see you?" she asked suspiciously.
"I used to be his squire," Alex explained.
"Y-you...did?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?" Alex asked curiously.
"Nothing; it's nothing. I'll go catch up on that sleep now," Alanna mumbled, and stepped away quickly, though clumsily in her sleepy state, with Alex looking curiously after her. After she'd left the stables, Alex exited the stables as well, in the other direction. He walked so swiftly that he almost ran into someone walking INTO the stables.
"I'm sor--Alex!" Jon exclaimed in surprise. "You're back!"
"Good to see you too," Alex said dryly.
"Well, of course," Jon said quickly.
"Going for a ride?" Alex asked, jerking his head in the direction of the stables. "I wouldn't in those clothes."
"What? Oh, no. Listen, Gary's horse was stolen last night, and Al--"
"Alanna rode him," explained Alex. "I met her in the road. The horse and Alanna are back, safe and sound, though tired and wet."
"Good," Jon said in obvious relief. "I was just going into the stables to check with Stephan again. Well, good to see you," he grinned, clapping Alex on the back.
"Yes, now you say so," said Alex wryly, causing Jon to laugh.
Suddenly, Jon frowned as he remembered something. "By the way..." He paused.
"What?" Alex prompted. "Out with it."
"Is it true... are you courting Alanna?" Jon asked. Alex started.
"Where did you hear that?" Alex said cautiously, trying hard to crush the flutter of hope he felt at those words.
"Oh, well, palace rumors and all," Jon said quickly.
"Where did you hear that?" Alex repeated.
"You know how gossip is about these things," Jon said, grinning. "But really, Alanna of Trebond... don't you call her FIRETOP? Well, she's--"
"Where did you hear that?" pressed Alex. "Where did you hear that I was courting Alanna?"
"From Alanna," Jon said, his grin fading into a scowl.
At that, the little flutter changed into a huge surge of relief. Alex couldn't prevent the large smile from spreading across his face. So she acknowledged it, accepted it. Before he'd left, he hadn't felt sure, as she had seemed resistant to him... but he had hoped that maybe when he was gone, she could ponder over his parting words... and it seemed that she had, which was more than he'd expected.
"Well?" Jon demanded
"What? Oh, yes it's true," Alex said.
Being too caught up in his own delight, he didn't notice Jon's angry expression.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Is that all?" the knight asked, frowning over the papers. Bowen nodded grimly from the seat across the desk, looking very out of place in the book- and paper-filled study. He anxiously watched his mentor reread the notes and shuffle the parchment. He felt very out of place, sitting in the seat with his best clothes, as that was what it had required to get into the palace.
"I've tried everything," he said, almost apologetically or defensively.
"Everything?" The elder man raised an amused eyebrow, causing Bowen to flush.
"Well, anything I could think of. Like I said, the assasin must have grown tired, bored, or scared. He hasn't been trying anything for a while. Maybe it's because he knows that I'm searching, or maybe it's something else. Still, there's not much I can do but wait for another attempt. We don't have enough information from the last attempts. It could be anyone."
"Have you tried talking to--"
"Yes," Bowen said. "I've talked to them all." He frowned. "Sorry for interrupting," he added, and bowed his head the smallest fraction out of respect.
"Even the other servers?"
"There aren't that many, and I even talked to the cook and her assistant, and their friends who buy the food. And those who sell the food."
"And the people who recommended them?"
"And those who overlooked and hired them."
"Very thorough. Well," said his former mentor, "I have complete faith in you, Bowen. If you've done everything in your ability, and you still can't find the assassin, then I suppose he just can't be found."
"Of course he can be found!" Bowen cried indignantly. "Any assasin can be found, even the best. And I won't just... quit!!"
"Calm down," chuckled the desk knight as he finally set down the papers. "I know you're not a quitter--that's one of the things that make you great--"
"But I'm not," Bowen argued. "Else I would find the assasin!"
"Well, who would want to kill him?"
Bowen visible struggled with a decision. He had not yet told Myles exactly WHO he was employed to protect, that he was trying to find who was attempting to assasinate the King of the Thieves. It wasn't that he didn't trust Myles, he just wasn't sure how he'd take it.
Myles sighed. "Bowen, why come to me? You're intelligent, quick, persistent, insightful, cunning...why do you need me?"
"Because you're the best," Bowen said instantly. "You taught me so much, but not everything, and I thought that... maybe you could..."
"First of all, I used to be a spy," Myles said with a kind smile, "and I'm hardly the best anymore. I daresay that you're far better. And don't bother denying it," he added when Bowen opened his mouth to protest. "Anyway, this is hardly spy work, so I'm afraid I won't be much help."
"Please?" Bowen pleaded. "If you can do anything... maybe you could talk to him... or, or..."
"Very well," Myles said with a sigh. "I'll do what I can to help...and talk to," he glanced down at the paper, "George."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, now you know who Bowen learned it all from--Myles! (though you still don't know exactly WHAT he learned, huh?)
O! A thought just struck me! Ooh, inspriation! But sorry, can't tell you. ^.^
And it appears that I'm still not quite sure if Alex is evil or not...*frowns* I had SO thought that I knew...but apparently not. And I really didn't think Alex was Duke Roger's squire...but aparently so. *frowns again* See, my hands ARE demonically possessed! This story doesn't belong to me, the ideas all came from my fingers, not my brain. =|
Sorry that the chapter's short, but it's mostly a bridge chappie, ya know. I'm pretty sure the next one will be long, as it will feature Alex and Roger's conversation. That should be interesting...
I'm thinkin' to have Alanna have another chat with the Goddess again, sometime. That one was not enough. Anybody agree?
And if Alex does turn out to be evil...Alanna could always go with Bowen, right? ;-)
And I just realized something else...how exactly IS Alanna gonna find Thom? Grr...
And exactly HOW LONG is it gonna take JKR to write the 5th HP book?????