I GOT MORE LOTR BOOKMARKS! *does lil dance* Yeah, these are from the 2 Towers... (I lost my "hobbit/gandalf" one from the first movie... can't find it anywhere... *sobs*) HAPPY HAPPYZ!!!!!!
Chapter twenty-eight---
"She seemd very healthy," Roger commented to Jon as he fastened the gold buttons on his tunic. "Better than I've seen her look in years, in fact."
"Good," Jon said with visible relief. "So she'll make it to banquet?"
"No doubt about it," Roger said, smiling. "And I doubt she'll collapse from exhaustion this time. She might even dance, though I wouldn't recommend that just yet."
"Why not?" Jon asked. "You just said that she was looking better than she has in years."
"But it would not be wise to tempt fate, no? Your mother is still recuperating," Roger said sensibly. Jod nodded his agreement.
"You're right. Walking long distances still tires her, though she grows stronger daily."
"So, who might you be taking on your arm tonight?" Roger asked casually, changing the subject.
"No one," replied Jon with a laugh. "Though I doubt my arm would remain free for long!"
"What of Alanna?"
"What about her?" Jon asked sharply. "She's going with Alex, naturally."
"Really?" Roger frowned, twisting his jeweled ring around his finger. "What do you think of this?"
"It's none of my business," Jon said with a seemingly uncaring shrug. Then, "I confess, I'm jealous."
"What reason would you have to be jealous?" Roger asked curiously, still toying with the blue gem resting on his forefinger.
"It's stupid, I now," answered Jon, "as I can have any maiden in Tortall. They all fall readily at my feet. Maybe that's just it. Alanna doesn't worship me; she's a challenge. After Delia, I've realized that most maidens are too...soft."
"You wish for a 'hard' one?" chuckled Roger.
"They depend on a man's protection too much, and I'm not really much of a patient person."
"So you would prefer someone who could fend for herself?" concluded Roger with a raised eyebrow.
"I could spend a lot let energy, anyway," Jon said with a laugh. "And I don't really have enough time to cater to a woman's every need and whim."
"Understandable," Roger said neutrally. "As you'll be king oneday, you definitely don't have the time for that."
Jon nodded, smoothing back his dark hair. Turning to Roger, he smiled. "What do you think I should do?"
"Do?" Roger blinked, his hand movements pausing. "Why would you do anything?"
"About Alanna and Alex... they're clearly not the right people for each other," Jon said, beginning to pace as he thought. "Yes, Alanna is definitely not his type. And Alanna is so..." he glanced up with a sheepish smile, "so good, and powerful, and strong... she needs some one who would... compliment her better... someone..."
"Like you?" finished Roger. Jon flushed.
"Alex is my friend," he said flatly. "Has been for years... I shouldn't be meddling in his affairs... if he thinks that he's happy with Alanna, and she with him, then it's none of my business."
"If she's not happy?" Roger prompted. "He may be your friend, but you are still the prince," he pointed out, now fetching his sorcerrer's rod and twirling it around, admiring the light that reflected from it.
"What're you suggesting?" Jon demanded.
"You're right, he is your friend, but they're neither married nor affianced." He held up a hand to stop Jon from protesting. "You can still provide Alanna with a choice without doing anything to put your friendship with Alex in danger," Roger said reasonably. "You are still allowed your chance, are you not? Alanna has not yet declared a decision, so until then, she is yet free."
"Yes," Jon said softly, a new light in his eyes.
"You could win her still," Roger said. "You're not stealing her from Alex--she's not his, yet. You still have a chance."
"You're right," said Jon, now louder.
"My suggestion is that you start tonight. At the banquet, you have many an oppurtunity to show her your true emotions."
Jon winced. "Last time--"
"You've learned from your mistakes," Roger interrupted. "Have you not? You know what to do tonight."
"Thank you, Roger," Jon said with a grin. "Your advice is always the best."
"Now if I may offer another piece of advice? Let us go to banquet--I'm famished!"
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"Well, you're early!" Gary commented when they entered the half-empty banquet hall. Alanna snorted.
"So are you," she returned. "Suppose we're all punctual people then. Anything else to say?"
"Or maybe we're all very hungry," Alex said dryly, drawing laughs from both of them.
"So was that why you wanted to be here to early?" Alanna asked in surprise. Gary gave Alex a comradely slap on the back.
"Don't you know, Alex is always early," Gary said. "It's very annoying after a while, especially for those of us who like to sleep late when we can."
"You and Raoul," Alex said with a shake of his head. "To spend extra hours in bed is a waste of time when you could be up and about."
"Then I suppose you and Alanna get along well enough," said Gary. He received a swat from Alanna for this.
"Milords, milady," said a squire politely. He quickly ushered them into a table near the high table, where their majesties, Duke Roger, and Jon were already seated.
"No dinner partner?" Alanna asked Gary innocently. He shrugged.
"I've got my hopes set on the visting princess. Arrived today." Gary whistled. "Rare beauty, that one. Though I expect she'll already have her sight set on Jon."
Alanna nearly choked on her wine. "Visiting princess?" She recalled the fair blonde she had seen with Cythea's circle at the bathrooms.
"Princess Josiane of the Copper Isles," Gary said, somewhat whistfully. "Maybe I'll get one dance out of her." Then he noticed Alanna's sour expression. "Do you know her?"
"No," Alanna said, "but I've met some of the people she associates with."
"By your tone, I assume they're not good people?"
"How about: Cythea, Genevieve, and Melarie?" said Alanna with distaste. Alex stiffened.
"The ladies you--"
"Hit? Yeah, her." Alanna's expression intensified as in scanning the hall, she spotted the trio with the princess a few tables to their right. Alex followed her gaze.
"Alanna," he said softly in warning.
"Don't worry," she said, "I'm not going to hit her again. She's tried to cover up the mark with face paint." Alanna sniggered.
Gary looked from Alex's worried face to Alanna's amused one in confusion. "Care to explain?"
"Not really," said Alex. "Those weeks you were gone, three ladies insulted Alanna, and having JUST finished lessons with the Shang Wolf..."
"I hit her good," Alanna said with smug satisfaction. "Taught the bitch a lesson. Right in the eye---ha!"
Gary glanced to the petite blonde to view the pasty white around her eye. "Oh, right. Alanna'd already told me--I'd forgotten." He shot a glare at Alex. "I told you to watch her."
Alanna, sensing an argument, threw in, "Hey, who's she?" just as Alex opened his mouth. She pointed to a pretty brunette chatting to a silent Raoul.
"She's Lady Arenthis of Yulebane," Gary said. "At least, I think so. Didn't Geof court her for a while?"
"I think so," answered Alex with a frown. "Sitting next to her is Lord Riel, the old one, see him?"
Alanna looked at the noble who Jon had said would be jealous of her new title as Countess of Meekwater. He was thin with a sneering, pointed face decorated with a graying goatee and very long eyebrows, the only hair on his head. Lord Riel was remiscent of a sneaky, filthy rat.
"Ah, Riel and Arenthis... wasn't there an affair a few years back?"
"I doubt it," muttered Alanna, glancing from the doe-eyed woman to the evil-seeming lord. "I hope there wasn't anything. Oh, here comes the food!"
The deliciously wholesome meal was eaten through discussions of the people sitting in the banquet hall. In a very short amount of time, Alanna learned five years worth of court gossip and controversy, and the names of everyone in attendance. For the first time, she saw Sir Myles of Olau, a kindly-appearing man, sitting far from them; his nephew, Boran of Olau, had his back to her.
By the time they were in a heated debate over whether Lady Kimella was guilty of adultry or not, Alanna's favorite part of a state banquet had arrived. Artful creations in jellies, cakes, and sugar called subtleties were served between courses for diners to admire and eat. The first ones were simple, like the spun sugar crowns that represented the royal personages in attendance. By the end of the feast, they were works of art.
The last subtelty was a huge sculpture of Jon, made of molded suagr and marzipan. It was so lifelike that they burst out laughing at the proud expression on the sculpture's face, and the real prince's look of shock.
"It looks just like him!!" Alanna gasped. Gary could only nod his agreement, as he was bright red with laughter.
After that, musicians took the center of the room, and Gary left to greet Raoul. Alanna fidgeted with her gown, pulling at a loose thread until the lace began to unravel.
"Stop that!" Alex mock-scolded, taking her hand in his. "Now, we should probably go and meet with the good people? I'm sure you've many fans now."
Mumbling, Alanna rose to find two hopeful knights who looked sheepishly to one another. The shorter one, his white-blond hair cut neatly below his ear and slicked back with grease, stepped forward.
"Milady," he bowed. "Sir Alexander," he said, bowing to Alex. "I am Sir Ewaine of Trentt, if it please milady."
Nervously, Alanna glanced to Alex before answering with a deep nod, unsure of her skill with a curtsey.
"It, er, does please me, your knightship. Ow!" she hissed when Alex gave her a rather sharp nudge at this. He gave her a look.
"Lady," said the taller knight. He closely resembled his brother but for the fact that he was about Alex's height, and his hair was streaked by the sun with brown. "I am Sir Evuin of Trentt. May I have the honour of a dance?"
"It would be rude to decline," Alex whispered as Alanna looked to him questioningly. "Just tell him that the honour is his--but one dance! I get you for the rest of the night," he finished, grinning.
"Says who?" whispered Alanna back. "Sir Evuin," she said to the knight, "the honour is mine."
Alex scowled as the green knight led away his dinner partner in a light gavotte. After throwing a smirk his way, Alanna focused her attention on her feet. And, of course, the compliments Sir Evuin was showering her with.
"Your beauty overshadows that of the sun and moon combined," he gushed, eyes filled with adoration. "Your radiance outshadows those of goddesses before!"
"Wow, that's better than Alex's," she mumbled with a smirk. To Evuin, she said, "Perhaps we shouldn't risk the wrath of immortals?" What is it with men and angering gods, anyway? she thought.
"Ai, they could not hurt YOU, lady!" Evuin declared.
"Well, if I lost the Godess's blessing, then they very well could," Alanna replied tartly. If it were possible, Evuin's eyes widened even further.
"You have the blessing of the Goddess?" he whispered. Mentally, Alanna kicked herself.
"Don't we all?" she said quickly. Vehemently, Evuin shook his head.
"Nay, lady. Not all of us have such great power as you have." His expression bordered on reverence, making Alanna blush.
"Er, thank you, Evuin," she managed to say before the gavotte ended with a twirl. Before her dress had even settled, Alex had swept her away with a polite nod to Evuin and a glower at her.
"Jealous, Alex?" she said innocently.
"Of course not," he said, though a growl edged his voice. "You're mine."
"Oh, silly me, I was under the impression that I am my own person...but obviously, I was wrong," Alanna said with a laugh as he lead her into a slow sarabande.
"Of course you're your own person," Alex replied coolly. A few weeks ago, Alanna would've thought it a bland statement, given the careless shrug and blank face. Now that she knew him better, she could sense his irritation.
"He was flirting with you,"Alex elaborated.
"So?" replied Alanna innocently. "I see the other ladies flirt with you."
"I don't encourage it," he responded.
"Sure you do," Alanna said with a laugh. "Not as obviously as some other knights, but you enjoy the praise--admit it! Who doesn't? Anyway, it was more like extreme flattery than flirting, really."
Alex glared at her for a long moment before the corner of his lip curved upward. "You win."
"I know," answered Alanna cheekily.
As she let herself relax into his skillful leading, Alanna realized suddenly that this was the first time they'd ever danced together. "You're a good dancer, you know that?"
"So are you," said Alex simply.
"Ha! Not according to Dance Mistress!" said Alanna with a snort. "Gavotte, sarabande, courante, allemande... I was equally bad at all of them."
"I think you happen to be quite good at the sarabande," said Alex. As Alanna opened her mouth to argue, the dance ended, drawing a grin from Alex and a laugh from her.
"Lady Alanna?" a voice interrupted politely. Alanna found herself staring at a gold-embroidered tunic of soft brown velvet. She glanced up and met a familiar, piercing grey gaze.
"Bowen? What are you doing here?" she gasped, glancing around as if officers would march up at that very moment and seize them. Bowen chuckled.
"No, not 'Bowen.' I'm 'Boran of Olau,'" he told her as her jaw dropped lower.
"So Sir Myles is your UNCLE??"
"Not really," Bowen said honestly. "But I regard him as the father figure in my life. We're not related by blood, but by common interests."
"What?"
"He's more or less raised me, if I must be honest," explained Bowen. Now he bowed courteously to Alex. "Milord of Tirragen, if I may speak with your lady for a moment?"
"Of course you can speak to me," Alanna said quickly, leading him away from an extremely jealous Alex.
"He's just overpossessive," explained Alanna with a grin once they were a safe distance away. Bowen chuckled.
"I could tell from his expression. Now, we can talk; I thought we made arrangements to meet the next night. Why didn't you show?" he asked patiently as he pulled out a chair for her. Gathering her crimson skirts, Alanna did her best to sit gracefully.
"Didn't you hear? I healed the queen and fell asleep for the three days after," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"You make it sound like it's a crime," Bowen said mildly as he sat beside her.
"Well, you said you're not a noble."
"These people think I am. I came to ask Myles for aid and decided to stay afterward for the banquet," said Bowen good-naturedly.
"Um--ah," said Alanna, still obviously confused.
"He's was my mentor," said Bowen. "He taught me everything I know. Well, not everything, but a great deal of it. I needed his help with... something."
"I take it that you're not going to tell me?" Alanna said lightly. Bowen regarded her carefully, his searching grey eyes seeming to see through to her soul.
"Perhaps it would be safe to tell you some," Bowen said carefully.
"You can trust me!" Alanna said quickly, eagerly.
"I think--I do believe that is true," said Bowen with a smile. "You're a good person, Lady Alanna--"
"Just Alanna, remember? And of course I'm a good person! I'm not a BAD person, am I?"
"Myles," began Bowen slowly, "was a former spy. He may not look like much now," he said quickly at Alanna's skeptical frown, "but in his day he was the best. Even now, no one knows more about the Tortallan lands and those around them than Sir Myles."
"So," said Alanna with an arched brow, "he taught you the tricks of the trade. Espionage, Bowen?"
"Among other things," Bowen said vaugely, waving his arm.
"Who are you spying for now?"
"I'm not spying."
"You just said--!"
"It is among my many... professions," stated Bowen calmly.
"You're not making any sense," Alanna cried in frustration. Bowen shrugged.
"My life doesn't make much sense, truth-to-tell. Let me just say that I do a number of things to scratch a living and leave it at that."
"You don't--" Alanna frowned. "You don't do anything.... dishonorable, do you?"
"You mean raiding? Thieving? Kidnapping? Or is assasination more on your mind? No, none of those happen to be my profession," he told her carefully.
"But you have done some of them before." Alanna gave him a stern look.
"You're insightful, miss," Bowen said, admiration sparkling his eye. "True, I have done some of those before."
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
"I've been at war," Bowen said neutrally.
"Oh no, Alex is coming," Alanna said, looking over his shoulder. "Run for it."
Bowen laughed. "He'd make you a fine husband, I'd say. I think I'll take your advice and leave. See you again some day, Alanna."
"Tomorrow for lunch!" suggested Alanna quickly as she watched Alex advance, scowling. "At the Dove."
"Aye, tomorrow then," Bowen said, leaving with a grin and wave.
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HAHA, I felt like Alanna needed a lil' worshipping... our heroine deserves it after all, no?? ^-^
"Oh, silly me, I was under the impression that I am my own person...but obviously, I was wrong," Stolen line from Will & Grace... it was so perfect, I couldn't resist!!!
Yay, I figured out how I'm going to do EVERYTHING!!!!! Well, except how to work George into the ending: so far everybody has a role except him... our key characters at the climax will be Alex and Jon followed closely by Roger and Alanna and backed by Bowen, and maybe Myles. Shite, I can't figure out a way to make Gary and George fit. Gr....
Next chapter: Romantic interlude in the gardens with A/A, and Jon tries, yet again, to steal our beloved's heart. HEHE!
LAPTOP IS GONE AGAINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter twenty-eight---
"She seemd very healthy," Roger commented to Jon as he fastened the gold buttons on his tunic. "Better than I've seen her look in years, in fact."
"Good," Jon said with visible relief. "So she'll make it to banquet?"
"No doubt about it," Roger said, smiling. "And I doubt she'll collapse from exhaustion this time. She might even dance, though I wouldn't recommend that just yet."
"Why not?" Jon asked. "You just said that she was looking better than she has in years."
"But it would not be wise to tempt fate, no? Your mother is still recuperating," Roger said sensibly. Jod nodded his agreement.
"You're right. Walking long distances still tires her, though she grows stronger daily."
"So, who might you be taking on your arm tonight?" Roger asked casually, changing the subject.
"No one," replied Jon with a laugh. "Though I doubt my arm would remain free for long!"
"What of Alanna?"
"What about her?" Jon asked sharply. "She's going with Alex, naturally."
"Really?" Roger frowned, twisting his jeweled ring around his finger. "What do you think of this?"
"It's none of my business," Jon said with a seemingly uncaring shrug. Then, "I confess, I'm jealous."
"What reason would you have to be jealous?" Roger asked curiously, still toying with the blue gem resting on his forefinger.
"It's stupid, I now," answered Jon, "as I can have any maiden in Tortall. They all fall readily at my feet. Maybe that's just it. Alanna doesn't worship me; she's a challenge. After Delia, I've realized that most maidens are too...soft."
"You wish for a 'hard' one?" chuckled Roger.
"They depend on a man's protection too much, and I'm not really much of a patient person."
"So you would prefer someone who could fend for herself?" concluded Roger with a raised eyebrow.
"I could spend a lot let energy, anyway," Jon said with a laugh. "And I don't really have enough time to cater to a woman's every need and whim."
"Understandable," Roger said neutrally. "As you'll be king oneday, you definitely don't have the time for that."
Jon nodded, smoothing back his dark hair. Turning to Roger, he smiled. "What do you think I should do?"
"Do?" Roger blinked, his hand movements pausing. "Why would you do anything?"
"About Alanna and Alex... they're clearly not the right people for each other," Jon said, beginning to pace as he thought. "Yes, Alanna is definitely not his type. And Alanna is so..." he glanced up with a sheepish smile, "so good, and powerful, and strong... she needs some one who would... compliment her better... someone..."
"Like you?" finished Roger. Jon flushed.
"Alex is my friend," he said flatly. "Has been for years... I shouldn't be meddling in his affairs... if he thinks that he's happy with Alanna, and she with him, then it's none of my business."
"If she's not happy?" Roger prompted. "He may be your friend, but you are still the prince," he pointed out, now fetching his sorcerrer's rod and twirling it around, admiring the light that reflected from it.
"What're you suggesting?" Jon demanded.
"You're right, he is your friend, but they're neither married nor affianced." He held up a hand to stop Jon from protesting. "You can still provide Alanna with a choice without doing anything to put your friendship with Alex in danger," Roger said reasonably. "You are still allowed your chance, are you not? Alanna has not yet declared a decision, so until then, she is yet free."
"Yes," Jon said softly, a new light in his eyes.
"You could win her still," Roger said. "You're not stealing her from Alex--she's not his, yet. You still have a chance."
"You're right," said Jon, now louder.
"My suggestion is that you start tonight. At the banquet, you have many an oppurtunity to show her your true emotions."
Jon winced. "Last time--"
"You've learned from your mistakes," Roger interrupted. "Have you not? You know what to do tonight."
"Thank you, Roger," Jon said with a grin. "Your advice is always the best."
"Now if I may offer another piece of advice? Let us go to banquet--I'm famished!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Well, you're early!" Gary commented when they entered the half-empty banquet hall. Alanna snorted.
"So are you," she returned. "Suppose we're all punctual people then. Anything else to say?"
"Or maybe we're all very hungry," Alex said dryly, drawing laughs from both of them.
"So was that why you wanted to be here to early?" Alanna asked in surprise. Gary gave Alex a comradely slap on the back.
"Don't you know, Alex is always early," Gary said. "It's very annoying after a while, especially for those of us who like to sleep late when we can."
"You and Raoul," Alex said with a shake of his head. "To spend extra hours in bed is a waste of time when you could be up and about."
"Then I suppose you and Alanna get along well enough," said Gary. He received a swat from Alanna for this.
"Milords, milady," said a squire politely. He quickly ushered them into a table near the high table, where their majesties, Duke Roger, and Jon were already seated.
"No dinner partner?" Alanna asked Gary innocently. He shrugged.
"I've got my hopes set on the visting princess. Arrived today." Gary whistled. "Rare beauty, that one. Though I expect she'll already have her sight set on Jon."
Alanna nearly choked on her wine. "Visiting princess?" She recalled the fair blonde she had seen with Cythea's circle at the bathrooms.
"Princess Josiane of the Copper Isles," Gary said, somewhat whistfully. "Maybe I'll get one dance out of her." Then he noticed Alanna's sour expression. "Do you know her?"
"No," Alanna said, "but I've met some of the people she associates with."
"By your tone, I assume they're not good people?"
"How about: Cythea, Genevieve, and Melarie?" said Alanna with distaste. Alex stiffened.
"The ladies you--"
"Hit? Yeah, her." Alanna's expression intensified as in scanning the hall, she spotted the trio with the princess a few tables to their right. Alex followed her gaze.
"Alanna," he said softly in warning.
"Don't worry," she said, "I'm not going to hit her again. She's tried to cover up the mark with face paint." Alanna sniggered.
Gary looked from Alex's worried face to Alanna's amused one in confusion. "Care to explain?"
"Not really," said Alex. "Those weeks you were gone, three ladies insulted Alanna, and having JUST finished lessons with the Shang Wolf..."
"I hit her good," Alanna said with smug satisfaction. "Taught the bitch a lesson. Right in the eye---ha!"
Gary glanced to the petite blonde to view the pasty white around her eye. "Oh, right. Alanna'd already told me--I'd forgotten." He shot a glare at Alex. "I told you to watch her."
Alanna, sensing an argument, threw in, "Hey, who's she?" just as Alex opened his mouth. She pointed to a pretty brunette chatting to a silent Raoul.
"She's Lady Arenthis of Yulebane," Gary said. "At least, I think so. Didn't Geof court her for a while?"
"I think so," answered Alex with a frown. "Sitting next to her is Lord Riel, the old one, see him?"
Alanna looked at the noble who Jon had said would be jealous of her new title as Countess of Meekwater. He was thin with a sneering, pointed face decorated with a graying goatee and very long eyebrows, the only hair on his head. Lord Riel was remiscent of a sneaky, filthy rat.
"Ah, Riel and Arenthis... wasn't there an affair a few years back?"
"I doubt it," muttered Alanna, glancing from the doe-eyed woman to the evil-seeming lord. "I hope there wasn't anything. Oh, here comes the food!"
The deliciously wholesome meal was eaten through discussions of the people sitting in the banquet hall. In a very short amount of time, Alanna learned five years worth of court gossip and controversy, and the names of everyone in attendance. For the first time, she saw Sir Myles of Olau, a kindly-appearing man, sitting far from them; his nephew, Boran of Olau, had his back to her.
By the time they were in a heated debate over whether Lady Kimella was guilty of adultry or not, Alanna's favorite part of a state banquet had arrived. Artful creations in jellies, cakes, and sugar called subtleties were served between courses for diners to admire and eat. The first ones were simple, like the spun sugar crowns that represented the royal personages in attendance. By the end of the feast, they were works of art.
The last subtelty was a huge sculpture of Jon, made of molded suagr and marzipan. It was so lifelike that they burst out laughing at the proud expression on the sculpture's face, and the real prince's look of shock.
"It looks just like him!!" Alanna gasped. Gary could only nod his agreement, as he was bright red with laughter.
After that, musicians took the center of the room, and Gary left to greet Raoul. Alanna fidgeted with her gown, pulling at a loose thread until the lace began to unravel.
"Stop that!" Alex mock-scolded, taking her hand in his. "Now, we should probably go and meet with the good people? I'm sure you've many fans now."
Mumbling, Alanna rose to find two hopeful knights who looked sheepishly to one another. The shorter one, his white-blond hair cut neatly below his ear and slicked back with grease, stepped forward.
"Milady," he bowed. "Sir Alexander," he said, bowing to Alex. "I am Sir Ewaine of Trentt, if it please milady."
Nervously, Alanna glanced to Alex before answering with a deep nod, unsure of her skill with a curtsey.
"It, er, does please me, your knightship. Ow!" she hissed when Alex gave her a rather sharp nudge at this. He gave her a look.
"Lady," said the taller knight. He closely resembled his brother but for the fact that he was about Alex's height, and his hair was streaked by the sun with brown. "I am Sir Evuin of Trentt. May I have the honour of a dance?"
"It would be rude to decline," Alex whispered as Alanna looked to him questioningly. "Just tell him that the honour is his--but one dance! I get you for the rest of the night," he finished, grinning.
"Says who?" whispered Alanna back. "Sir Evuin," she said to the knight, "the honour is mine."
Alex scowled as the green knight led away his dinner partner in a light gavotte. After throwing a smirk his way, Alanna focused her attention on her feet. And, of course, the compliments Sir Evuin was showering her with.
"Your beauty overshadows that of the sun and moon combined," he gushed, eyes filled with adoration. "Your radiance outshadows those of goddesses before!"
"Wow, that's better than Alex's," she mumbled with a smirk. To Evuin, she said, "Perhaps we shouldn't risk the wrath of immortals?" What is it with men and angering gods, anyway? she thought.
"Ai, they could not hurt YOU, lady!" Evuin declared.
"Well, if I lost the Godess's blessing, then they very well could," Alanna replied tartly. If it were possible, Evuin's eyes widened even further.
"You have the blessing of the Goddess?" he whispered. Mentally, Alanna kicked herself.
"Don't we all?" she said quickly. Vehemently, Evuin shook his head.
"Nay, lady. Not all of us have such great power as you have." His expression bordered on reverence, making Alanna blush.
"Er, thank you, Evuin," she managed to say before the gavotte ended with a twirl. Before her dress had even settled, Alex had swept her away with a polite nod to Evuin and a glower at her.
"Jealous, Alex?" she said innocently.
"Of course not," he said, though a growl edged his voice. "You're mine."
"Oh, silly me, I was under the impression that I am my own person...but obviously, I was wrong," Alanna said with a laugh as he lead her into a slow sarabande.
"Of course you're your own person," Alex replied coolly. A few weeks ago, Alanna would've thought it a bland statement, given the careless shrug and blank face. Now that she knew him better, she could sense his irritation.
"He was flirting with you,"Alex elaborated.
"So?" replied Alanna innocently. "I see the other ladies flirt with you."
"I don't encourage it," he responded.
"Sure you do," Alanna said with a laugh. "Not as obviously as some other knights, but you enjoy the praise--admit it! Who doesn't? Anyway, it was more like extreme flattery than flirting, really."
Alex glared at her for a long moment before the corner of his lip curved upward. "You win."
"I know," answered Alanna cheekily.
As she let herself relax into his skillful leading, Alanna realized suddenly that this was the first time they'd ever danced together. "You're a good dancer, you know that?"
"So are you," said Alex simply.
"Ha! Not according to Dance Mistress!" said Alanna with a snort. "Gavotte, sarabande, courante, allemande... I was equally bad at all of them."
"I think you happen to be quite good at the sarabande," said Alex. As Alanna opened her mouth to argue, the dance ended, drawing a grin from Alex and a laugh from her.
"Lady Alanna?" a voice interrupted politely. Alanna found herself staring at a gold-embroidered tunic of soft brown velvet. She glanced up and met a familiar, piercing grey gaze.
"Bowen? What are you doing here?" she gasped, glancing around as if officers would march up at that very moment and seize them. Bowen chuckled.
"No, not 'Bowen.' I'm 'Boran of Olau,'" he told her as her jaw dropped lower.
"So Sir Myles is your UNCLE??"
"Not really," Bowen said honestly. "But I regard him as the father figure in my life. We're not related by blood, but by common interests."
"What?"
"He's more or less raised me, if I must be honest," explained Bowen. Now he bowed courteously to Alex. "Milord of Tirragen, if I may speak with your lady for a moment?"
"Of course you can speak to me," Alanna said quickly, leading him away from an extremely jealous Alex.
"He's just overpossessive," explained Alanna with a grin once they were a safe distance away. Bowen chuckled.
"I could tell from his expression. Now, we can talk; I thought we made arrangements to meet the next night. Why didn't you show?" he asked patiently as he pulled out a chair for her. Gathering her crimson skirts, Alanna did her best to sit gracefully.
"Didn't you hear? I healed the queen and fell asleep for the three days after," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"You make it sound like it's a crime," Bowen said mildly as he sat beside her.
"Well, you said you're not a noble."
"These people think I am. I came to ask Myles for aid and decided to stay afterward for the banquet," said Bowen good-naturedly.
"Um--ah," said Alanna, still obviously confused.
"He's was my mentor," said Bowen. "He taught me everything I know. Well, not everything, but a great deal of it. I needed his help with... something."
"I take it that you're not going to tell me?" Alanna said lightly. Bowen regarded her carefully, his searching grey eyes seeming to see through to her soul.
"Perhaps it would be safe to tell you some," Bowen said carefully.
"You can trust me!" Alanna said quickly, eagerly.
"I think--I do believe that is true," said Bowen with a smile. "You're a good person, Lady Alanna--"
"Just Alanna, remember? And of course I'm a good person! I'm not a BAD person, am I?"
"Myles," began Bowen slowly, "was a former spy. He may not look like much now," he said quickly at Alanna's skeptical frown, "but in his day he was the best. Even now, no one knows more about the Tortallan lands and those around them than Sir Myles."
"So," said Alanna with an arched brow, "he taught you the tricks of the trade. Espionage, Bowen?"
"Among other things," Bowen said vaugely, waving his arm.
"Who are you spying for now?"
"I'm not spying."
"You just said--!"
"It is among my many... professions," stated Bowen calmly.
"You're not making any sense," Alanna cried in frustration. Bowen shrugged.
"My life doesn't make much sense, truth-to-tell. Let me just say that I do a number of things to scratch a living and leave it at that."
"You don't--" Alanna frowned. "You don't do anything.... dishonorable, do you?"
"You mean raiding? Thieving? Kidnapping? Or is assasination more on your mind? No, none of those happen to be my profession," he told her carefully.
"But you have done some of them before." Alanna gave him a stern look.
"You're insightful, miss," Bowen said, admiration sparkling his eye. "True, I have done some of those before."
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
"I've been at war," Bowen said neutrally.
"Oh no, Alex is coming," Alanna said, looking over his shoulder. "Run for it."
Bowen laughed. "He'd make you a fine husband, I'd say. I think I'll take your advice and leave. See you again some day, Alanna."
"Tomorrow for lunch!" suggested Alanna quickly as she watched Alex advance, scowling. "At the Dove."
"Aye, tomorrow then," Bowen said, leaving with a grin and wave.
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HAHA, I felt like Alanna needed a lil' worshipping... our heroine deserves it after all, no?? ^-^
"Oh, silly me, I was under the impression that I am my own person...but obviously, I was wrong," Stolen line from Will & Grace... it was so perfect, I couldn't resist!!!
Yay, I figured out how I'm going to do EVERYTHING!!!!! Well, except how to work George into the ending: so far everybody has a role except him... our key characters at the climax will be Alex and Jon followed closely by Roger and Alanna and backed by Bowen, and maybe Myles. Shite, I can't figure out a way to make Gary and George fit. Gr....
Next chapter: Romantic interlude in the gardens with A/A, and Jon tries, yet again, to steal our beloved's heart. HEHE!
LAPTOP IS GONE AGAINNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!