To::
FORGET-ME-NOT: ah, but they're not fighting with swords, are they??
REGEN: Because happy chapters are BORING, and it's a waste of a chapter when it could actually propel the story forward, that's why!
ATLANTIS FORESTER: Where did I say that Alex was somewhat handsome?????? HUH?? HUH??
SILVER ANGEL: yes, there are definitely not enough A/A's out there.
LARA: Take it that you don't like Jon, eh? A couple of wounds, eh? Hmmm...
WHITE-WOLF: *wondering* Why would you make Jon punch Alex in your story??
DROWNING ROOSTER: Read my AN at the bottom. That should cheer you up!
SNOWY-LOVE ANGEL: *laugh*
AERINBROWN: I wonder what Alex and Alanna woulda done in the fountin though... *mischevious grin*
LADY TARRILYN: White horse... sunset... The Princess Bride? *sigh* Sorry, I really wanna write a bubbly, mushy, fluffy chapter, but if I do that now, when I'm this close to the climax, it'll halt my momentum... and there's so much still left to do, and so few chapters to do it in!
LIL: Jon is a melted blob of cheese? Haven't heard that one before. *laughs*
DEMENTED-DREAMER: 5 times? You actually kept count? *wince* I hope my chapter doesn't disappoint... though it probably will...
LOVER OF THE DRAGON: Wow, an actual Alex lover. Not that there aren't others out there, but most of them I had to convert...
MELANIE C: *shocked* Of course I'm gonna finish the story! The thought of all of you hating me and being disappointed makes me cringe!
ERIS: You actually want Jon to DIE???? THEN ALEX WOULD GO TO JAIL! Or worse! (audible gasps are heard)
LADY MARIE: What was your idea???
XELENA: *laughs... and laughs... and laughs...* Very amusing review, though I actually couldn't understand quite a bit of it... like when you say "Tell me about it" without tellling me what line you're referring to!! Yes, Yulebane is contradictory. That is the point. And it sounded good, besides. But if Alex hadn't interrupted, what do you think Jon woulda done....?
KERCHARAFAITH4LYF: i figure I'm one of them people who do better at humor in writing than real-live humor
EMILY OF DURANAN: outta curiosity... why DID you read mine??
ELUSIVE KAT: It's ok... the laptop's back...
STARFIRE: Why is a first issue of HP worth more??
LADY OF THE ETERNAL LAND: He's interested in her because she saved his ma. He's confusing gratitude with love.
lilly, busybee, HuntressDiana, Doe3b, eiot, missy, Alenna, marple, starfire, leopard dance, devilkitti8, chickensoup3, & everyone else: THANKS FOR REVIEWING!!!
*sigh* As soon as I updated and logged off, I regretted it. Jeez, my last 3 chapters were really bad. *sigh* Especially the A/J scene.... oooo I wanna rewrite that so bad.... stupid fountain.
Thanks for the reviews, guys! I love y'all!
Chapter thirty--
Alex had had to dance with four maidens before he could reach the table and fetch two goblets of rich wine. Then he was delayed by a drunken knight who insisted on speaking to him. Finally after carefully picking his way across the ballroom so as not to spill a drop, he was again in the gardens.
He had told Alanna to meet him by the garden fountain. Alex grinned. He was sure that Alanna would be delighted by it--when she found it. Not that he didn't believe she was capable of finding her way through the small hedge maze. She had shown on more than one occassion that she was cleverer than she pretended to be. However, it would take even her quite some time to reach the huge fountain.
As Alex found the familiar path through the maze, he was reminded of the first time he'd been to the fountain. One free, boring afternoon Jon had showed it to them, Gary and Raoul and himself. They had spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how the water could be warm. Gary's theory that the water was pumped from the bathrooms was in the end accepted.
Not many people knew about the fountain. No, that wasn't true--EVERYBODY knew about the fountain, most were just too lazy or stupid to find their way through the maze, small as it was. Though it was a pity that they'd never seen the beauty of the elegant fountain, Alex considered it a good thing that they didn't knew. The fountain became a refuge on more than one occasion.
Alex rounded the last corner grinning, expecting to find Alanna. Indeed there was Alanna, and he began to call her name but stopped.
Bathed in the moonlight stood not one figure but two, held in lovers' embrace and kissing passionately. Alanna, HIS Alanna, was... was kissing Jon... and Jon, his friend, was kissing Alanna.... Jon and Alanna.... Alanna and Jon...
Forgotten, he let go of the wine goblets in shock, not hearing them smash against the stone. White-hot fury coursed through his veins. His blood was afire. An animal growl escaped his throat as he drew his dagger. All reason fled from his mind. Never before had he felt as furious and betrayed as he did now.
All Alex could think of was drawing blood.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was the crashing glass that caught Jon's attention. He then realized that Alanna had been looking over his shoulder, an expression of horror on her face. Instinctively, Jon drew a dagger and whirled around, in a defensive stance and ready to fight.
Good thing, too. Jon had only enough time to throw up his dagger to ward off Alex's blow.
"Alex? What's going on?" Jon asked in confusion as he struggled to defend himself against Alex's furious attack. "What?"
"What are you DOING??" Alanna cried, rushing forward. Jon pushed her aside with his elbow. He didn't want Alanna to get hurt because Alex looked murderous.
Jon had never seen such a manic glint as the one in Alex's eyes now. For the first time, he was afraid of his friend. Alex was a better fighter than him, much better. And Jon was only barely sufficient at knife-fighting. If Alex wanted to kill him now, in the middle of the gardens, he could do so within moments before anybody came to Jon's aid.
Alanna glanced helplessly from one to the other. Already Alex's speed had tired Jon out; he was panting and gasping for air, and they were only minutes into the fight. Alex was quick, darting forward with his knife and then ducking away before Jon could react, attacking again almost instantly. Having no time to think, Jon threw out his knife whenever he glimpsed a glint of steel in the moonlight. He only just avoided physical contact with Alex's dagger.
If she tried to stop them, she might make it only worse, and endanger herself in the process. Alanna remembered the guards stationed by the walls... if she could only make it there in time...
But if she went to get the guards, one of them might be dead by the time she returned. It was more than likely. Even now, Alex snarled and dashed forward as Jon paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. Alanna gasped: Alex had cut deeply into Jon's sword arm. Impulsively, her hand flew to the ember at her throat, clutching it.
Jon switched the dagger to his left hand, feeling the fingers in his right grow cold, then numb. Between hands, his weapon was knocked aside by Alex. Now Alex held a dagger and Jon was weaponless.
Alex lunged forward suddenly; Jon ducked aside and grasped Alex's arm, his free hand struggling to pry the weapon from Alex's strong grip. They wrestled for a moment before Alex balled his left hand into a fist and struck Jon squarely across the face.
Jerking back--and relinquishing his hold--Jon cradled his bleeding nose. Alex immediately lunged again. Wildly, Jon kicked. Luck was on his side--he managed to knock the dagger out of Alex's hand. It clattered at Alanna's feet.
The smaller Alex tackled Jon to the ground and encircled his throat with his hands. Jon thrashed and hit Alex. That having no affect on him whatsoever, Jon pulled at Alex's hands, trying vainly to gain air. Finally, when the world had started to dim, Jon kicked Alex sharply in the kidney.
Gasping, they scattered apart. Jon's forgotten dagger lay between them. As one, they pounced on it. Alex was swifter. Closing his hand on the hilt, Alex grasped Jon's groping hand and swung the arm behind Jon's back.
The fight had been quick--the cold steel edge of Alex's dagger was now pressed against his neck.
A strange light shone in Alex's black eyes, now even darker with evil intent. Slowly, Jon raised his arms in a sign of surrender and sank to his knees.
"Alex?" Jon asked questioningly.
Suddenly, Alex seemed to shake himself. He stared in bewilderment at the dagger in his hand and then dropped it abruptly.
"J-jon?" He glanced around, from Jon to Alanna to the shards of glass by the hedges. Hastily he offered Jon a hand, which Jon stared at for a full minute.
"I-I'm sorry," Alex stuttered. "Forgive me, I don't know what came over me, I--"
Suddenly now that his life was no longer in danger and they were both weaponless, Jon's fear was replaced with indescribable rage. He stood swiftly, slapping aside Alex's hand.
"Well I know," Jon spat. "You tried to kill me." At this, Alex's eyes widened uncharecteristically.
"Of course not, I--"
"Then you've got us fooled, because it sure as hell seemed like it," said Jon angrily. "If you wanted to fight me, you could've challenged me like a man, not attacking with my back turned."
"I didn't," Alex said, now just as angry himself.
"Oh, really?" Jon returned sarcastically.
"A duel then," growled Alex. "Swords. At the courts tomorrow evening. Winner gains the spoils."
"Thirty gold nobles," Jon said.
"WHAT?" Alanna cried.
"A hundred, then. Not that money matters to me," Jon added. "Three hundred gold nobles."
"No," Alex sneered. "Alanna."
"What?" Alanna and Jon said at the same time.
"Whoever wins the duel gains Alanna's hand in marriage," Alex said. Jon didn't bother arguing--it was obvious that Alex had witnessed what had happened.
"Fine," Jon snapped.
"WHAT??" Alanna shrieked as they turned to walk in separate directions. "I am not a... a... what about what I think of all this?? What is wrong with you two??"
Both of them were walking away from her, Jon to go back to the palace and Alex obviously to go into the city. Alanna gaped after the both of them, unable to do anything but shake her head in shock.
'Shut your mouth,' someone mewed.
Mewed? Alanna glanced down to find Faithful rubbing himself against her sodden ankles.
"Did I just..." Alanna wondered aloud.
'Yes,' Faithful replied in annoyance.
"Can everybody hear you, or am I just hallucinating?"
'People can hear me, when I want them to,' Faithful told her. 'Now, about those two gentlemen...'
"I'm hallucinating," Alanna said to herself. "I'm traumatized and in shock. My cat is NOT talking to me."
'I'm not "your" cat,' Faithful said irritably, 'Now, about those two gentlemen...?'
"Are you a familiar?" Alanna wondered. "Is that why I can understand you? Or is it because the Goddess gave you the ability? Or maybe I am just going insane...?"
'About those two gentlemen?'
"Oh, I know, can you believe their nerve??" Alanna burst, obviously over the fact that her cat was able to communicate with her. He was, after all, a very special cat, given the fact that the Goddess had spoken to him.
'Aren't they silly?'
"Oh, silly doesn't EVEN begin to describe it," Alanna ranted, picking up a now very clean and well-groomed Faithful. "They act like I'm an object. Can you believe that they're fighting over me? ME! As if I were some prize to be won!!"
'Humans are intersting creatures,' Faithful responded.
"What am I supposed to DO?" Alanna moaned.
'Do? Marry the winner,' Faithful answered, followed with a meow that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
"I could try to talk to them about it..."
'They won't listen,' Faithful replied instantly, now cleaning himself.
"Why not?"
'Are you completely naive? You know what I'm talking about,' Faithful explained in annoyance. Alanna swallowed, nodding.
"When I touched the ember... they both glowed with orange light."
'Sorcery,' Faithful finished.
"But how? Is someone, WAS someone controlling them?" wondered Alanna aloud.
'Then again, Alex is a jealous person,' Faithful said.
"But he would never try to KILL anyone!"
'Except when someone's kissing you?'
Alanna glared down at Faithful. "What am I supposed to do now? I have to stop them from dueling!"
'Why? Let it all play out.'
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" demanded Alanna.
'True, I do find it rather amusing.'
"We have to do something before then! If somebody IS controlling them with sorcery, then that person could make them kill each other in a duel!" cried Alanna.
'Now I wonder who would want to do that,' Faithful said sarcastically. Alanna frowned at him.
"Why haven't you spoken before?"
'Because I never felt like it,' yawned Faithful.
AN: this scene was too fast-paced for my preferences, but I couldn't find ANY way at all to make it longer... so.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"By the gods, why didn't you tell us?" squealed Nelly and Meganne. Alanna blinked and then groaning, put her pillow over her head.
"What time is it?"
"Two hours past midnight," Nelly answered, sitting on the edge of Alanna's bed. Alanna fought the urge to kick her off.
"Everyone's saying that the prince and Sir Alexander of Tirragen are going to duel tomorrow," Meganne said happily. "Isn't that grand?"
"The rumors are saying that they're fighting over YOU!" Nelly told her. "And that the winner gets to marry you! Is it true? Is it?"
"Not if I can help it," was Alanna's muffled response. "Now get OUT! I'll take care of everything in the morning!"
"So it IS true??" gasped Nelly.
"Get OUT!" Alanna screamed. "I need to sleep so I can worry about it in the morning!!"
"Oh, please, Alanna?" Meganne begged. "We want to know details!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"We knew Sir Alexander was already courting you, and then there was how the prince was oggling--"
"Oggling?" Alanna cried, sitting up.
"--you at the ball," Nelly said with a grin. "But we never imagined something like THIS would happen!"
"You're soooo lucky, Alanna!" Meganne sighed. "All the court ladies will absolutely DIE of jealousy when they hear this!"
"You are NOT going to be the ones to tell them," glared Alanna.
"Oh, not us! Lady Cythea's been telling everyone," Nelly informed her cheerfully.
"WHAT??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"I wish two fine men would duel over me!" Meganne continued unhelpfully as Alanna shooed them out of her room and the door was slammed in her face.
"Moody, isn't she?" Nelly remarked.
"Isn't she always?" Meganne returned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was gonna write more, but I figure my next scene might run a lil' long and then this chapter would be way too long. But I know a whole bunch of you are upset that the fight wasn't longer and that Jon didn't end up with more than a bloody nose and numerous bruises.
I have decided that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I can work Gary and George (or Raoul for that matter... but he really hasn't been important in this story thus far, has he?) into the climax of the story, so there will be a sequel where they get bigger parts. *cringes* Yes, you heard right, I am going to write a sequel. It will be short. As short as I can make it. (10-ish chapters, hopefully!! Nothing like this!!)
I will also have to push back the solution to the whole George's Assasin problem to the sequel. Duke Roger will not be reincarnated. Period. There is no WAY I'm bringing that psycho back from the dead. Then my sequel would be SUPER SUPER long.
FORGET-ME-NOT: ah, but they're not fighting with swords, are they??
REGEN: Because happy chapters are BORING, and it's a waste of a chapter when it could actually propel the story forward, that's why!
ATLANTIS FORESTER: Where did I say that Alex was somewhat handsome?????? HUH?? HUH??
SILVER ANGEL: yes, there are definitely not enough A/A's out there.
LARA: Take it that you don't like Jon, eh? A couple of wounds, eh? Hmmm...
WHITE-WOLF: *wondering* Why would you make Jon punch Alex in your story??
DROWNING ROOSTER: Read my AN at the bottom. That should cheer you up!
SNOWY-LOVE ANGEL: *laugh*
AERINBROWN: I wonder what Alex and Alanna woulda done in the fountin though... *mischevious grin*
LADY TARRILYN: White horse... sunset... The Princess Bride? *sigh* Sorry, I really wanna write a bubbly, mushy, fluffy chapter, but if I do that now, when I'm this close to the climax, it'll halt my momentum... and there's so much still left to do, and so few chapters to do it in!
LIL: Jon is a melted blob of cheese? Haven't heard that one before. *laughs*
DEMENTED-DREAMER: 5 times? You actually kept count? *wince* I hope my chapter doesn't disappoint... though it probably will...
LOVER OF THE DRAGON: Wow, an actual Alex lover. Not that there aren't others out there, but most of them I had to convert...
MELANIE C: *shocked* Of course I'm gonna finish the story! The thought of all of you hating me and being disappointed makes me cringe!
ERIS: You actually want Jon to DIE???? THEN ALEX WOULD GO TO JAIL! Or worse! (audible gasps are heard)
LADY MARIE: What was your idea???
XELENA: *laughs... and laughs... and laughs...* Very amusing review, though I actually couldn't understand quite a bit of it... like when you say "Tell me about it" without tellling me what line you're referring to!! Yes, Yulebane is contradictory. That is the point. And it sounded good, besides. But if Alex hadn't interrupted, what do you think Jon woulda done....?
KERCHARAFAITH4LYF: i figure I'm one of them people who do better at humor in writing than real-live humor
EMILY OF DURANAN: outta curiosity... why DID you read mine??
ELUSIVE KAT: It's ok... the laptop's back...
STARFIRE: Why is a first issue of HP worth more??
LADY OF THE ETERNAL LAND: He's interested in her because she saved his ma. He's confusing gratitude with love.
lilly, busybee, HuntressDiana, Doe3b, eiot, missy, Alenna, marple, starfire, leopard dance, devilkitti8, chickensoup3, & everyone else: THANKS FOR REVIEWING!!!
*sigh* As soon as I updated and logged off, I regretted it. Jeez, my last 3 chapters were really bad. *sigh* Especially the A/J scene.... oooo I wanna rewrite that so bad.... stupid fountain.
Thanks for the reviews, guys! I love y'all!
Chapter thirty--
Alex had had to dance with four maidens before he could reach the table and fetch two goblets of rich wine. Then he was delayed by a drunken knight who insisted on speaking to him. Finally after carefully picking his way across the ballroom so as not to spill a drop, he was again in the gardens.
He had told Alanna to meet him by the garden fountain. Alex grinned. He was sure that Alanna would be delighted by it--when she found it. Not that he didn't believe she was capable of finding her way through the small hedge maze. She had shown on more than one occassion that she was cleverer than she pretended to be. However, it would take even her quite some time to reach the huge fountain.
As Alex found the familiar path through the maze, he was reminded of the first time he'd been to the fountain. One free, boring afternoon Jon had showed it to them, Gary and Raoul and himself. They had spent the rest of the day trying to figure out how the water could be warm. Gary's theory that the water was pumped from the bathrooms was in the end accepted.
Not many people knew about the fountain. No, that wasn't true--EVERYBODY knew about the fountain, most were just too lazy or stupid to find their way through the maze, small as it was. Though it was a pity that they'd never seen the beauty of the elegant fountain, Alex considered it a good thing that they didn't knew. The fountain became a refuge on more than one occasion.
Alex rounded the last corner grinning, expecting to find Alanna. Indeed there was Alanna, and he began to call her name but stopped.
Bathed in the moonlight stood not one figure but two, held in lovers' embrace and kissing passionately. Alanna, HIS Alanna, was... was kissing Jon... and Jon, his friend, was kissing Alanna.... Jon and Alanna.... Alanna and Jon...
Forgotten, he let go of the wine goblets in shock, not hearing them smash against the stone. White-hot fury coursed through his veins. His blood was afire. An animal growl escaped his throat as he drew his dagger. All reason fled from his mind. Never before had he felt as furious and betrayed as he did now.
All Alex could think of was drawing blood.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was the crashing glass that caught Jon's attention. He then realized that Alanna had been looking over his shoulder, an expression of horror on her face. Instinctively, Jon drew a dagger and whirled around, in a defensive stance and ready to fight.
Good thing, too. Jon had only enough time to throw up his dagger to ward off Alex's blow.
"Alex? What's going on?" Jon asked in confusion as he struggled to defend himself against Alex's furious attack. "What?"
"What are you DOING??" Alanna cried, rushing forward. Jon pushed her aside with his elbow. He didn't want Alanna to get hurt because Alex looked murderous.
Jon had never seen such a manic glint as the one in Alex's eyes now. For the first time, he was afraid of his friend. Alex was a better fighter than him, much better. And Jon was only barely sufficient at knife-fighting. If Alex wanted to kill him now, in the middle of the gardens, he could do so within moments before anybody came to Jon's aid.
Alanna glanced helplessly from one to the other. Already Alex's speed had tired Jon out; he was panting and gasping for air, and they were only minutes into the fight. Alex was quick, darting forward with his knife and then ducking away before Jon could react, attacking again almost instantly. Having no time to think, Jon threw out his knife whenever he glimpsed a glint of steel in the moonlight. He only just avoided physical contact with Alex's dagger.
If she tried to stop them, she might make it only worse, and endanger herself in the process. Alanna remembered the guards stationed by the walls... if she could only make it there in time...
But if she went to get the guards, one of them might be dead by the time she returned. It was more than likely. Even now, Alex snarled and dashed forward as Jon paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. Alanna gasped: Alex had cut deeply into Jon's sword arm. Impulsively, her hand flew to the ember at her throat, clutching it.
Jon switched the dagger to his left hand, feeling the fingers in his right grow cold, then numb. Between hands, his weapon was knocked aside by Alex. Now Alex held a dagger and Jon was weaponless.
Alex lunged forward suddenly; Jon ducked aside and grasped Alex's arm, his free hand struggling to pry the weapon from Alex's strong grip. They wrestled for a moment before Alex balled his left hand into a fist and struck Jon squarely across the face.
Jerking back--and relinquishing his hold--Jon cradled his bleeding nose. Alex immediately lunged again. Wildly, Jon kicked. Luck was on his side--he managed to knock the dagger out of Alex's hand. It clattered at Alanna's feet.
The smaller Alex tackled Jon to the ground and encircled his throat with his hands. Jon thrashed and hit Alex. That having no affect on him whatsoever, Jon pulled at Alex's hands, trying vainly to gain air. Finally, when the world had started to dim, Jon kicked Alex sharply in the kidney.
Gasping, they scattered apart. Jon's forgotten dagger lay between them. As one, they pounced on it. Alex was swifter. Closing his hand on the hilt, Alex grasped Jon's groping hand and swung the arm behind Jon's back.
The fight had been quick--the cold steel edge of Alex's dagger was now pressed against his neck.
A strange light shone in Alex's black eyes, now even darker with evil intent. Slowly, Jon raised his arms in a sign of surrender and sank to his knees.
"Alex?" Jon asked questioningly.
Suddenly, Alex seemed to shake himself. He stared in bewilderment at the dagger in his hand and then dropped it abruptly.
"J-jon?" He glanced around, from Jon to Alanna to the shards of glass by the hedges. Hastily he offered Jon a hand, which Jon stared at for a full minute.
"I-I'm sorry," Alex stuttered. "Forgive me, I don't know what came over me, I--"
Suddenly now that his life was no longer in danger and they were both weaponless, Jon's fear was replaced with indescribable rage. He stood swiftly, slapping aside Alex's hand.
"Well I know," Jon spat. "You tried to kill me." At this, Alex's eyes widened uncharecteristically.
"Of course not, I--"
"Then you've got us fooled, because it sure as hell seemed like it," said Jon angrily. "If you wanted to fight me, you could've challenged me like a man, not attacking with my back turned."
"I didn't," Alex said, now just as angry himself.
"Oh, really?" Jon returned sarcastically.
"A duel then," growled Alex. "Swords. At the courts tomorrow evening. Winner gains the spoils."
"Thirty gold nobles," Jon said.
"WHAT?" Alanna cried.
"A hundred, then. Not that money matters to me," Jon added. "Three hundred gold nobles."
"No," Alex sneered. "Alanna."
"What?" Alanna and Jon said at the same time.
"Whoever wins the duel gains Alanna's hand in marriage," Alex said. Jon didn't bother arguing--it was obvious that Alex had witnessed what had happened.
"Fine," Jon snapped.
"WHAT??" Alanna shrieked as they turned to walk in separate directions. "I am not a... a... what about what I think of all this?? What is wrong with you two??"
Both of them were walking away from her, Jon to go back to the palace and Alex obviously to go into the city. Alanna gaped after the both of them, unable to do anything but shake her head in shock.
'Shut your mouth,' someone mewed.
Mewed? Alanna glanced down to find Faithful rubbing himself against her sodden ankles.
"Did I just..." Alanna wondered aloud.
'Yes,' Faithful replied in annoyance.
"Can everybody hear you, or am I just hallucinating?"
'People can hear me, when I want them to,' Faithful told her. 'Now, about those two gentlemen...'
"I'm hallucinating," Alanna said to herself. "I'm traumatized and in shock. My cat is NOT talking to me."
'I'm not "your" cat,' Faithful said irritably, 'Now, about those two gentlemen...?'
"Are you a familiar?" Alanna wondered. "Is that why I can understand you? Or is it because the Goddess gave you the ability? Or maybe I am just going insane...?"
'About those two gentlemen?'
"Oh, I know, can you believe their nerve??" Alanna burst, obviously over the fact that her cat was able to communicate with her. He was, after all, a very special cat, given the fact that the Goddess had spoken to him.
'Aren't they silly?'
"Oh, silly doesn't EVEN begin to describe it," Alanna ranted, picking up a now very clean and well-groomed Faithful. "They act like I'm an object. Can you believe that they're fighting over me? ME! As if I were some prize to be won!!"
'Humans are intersting creatures,' Faithful responded.
"What am I supposed to DO?" Alanna moaned.
'Do? Marry the winner,' Faithful answered, followed with a meow that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
"I could try to talk to them about it..."
'They won't listen,' Faithful replied instantly, now cleaning himself.
"Why not?"
'Are you completely naive? You know what I'm talking about,' Faithful explained in annoyance. Alanna swallowed, nodding.
"When I touched the ember... they both glowed with orange light."
'Sorcery,' Faithful finished.
"But how? Is someone, WAS someone controlling them?" wondered Alanna aloud.
'Then again, Alex is a jealous person,' Faithful said.
"But he would never try to KILL anyone!"
'Except when someone's kissing you?'
Alanna glared down at Faithful. "What am I supposed to do now? I have to stop them from dueling!"
'Why? Let it all play out.'
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" demanded Alanna.
'True, I do find it rather amusing.'
"We have to do something before then! If somebody IS controlling them with sorcery, then that person could make them kill each other in a duel!" cried Alanna.
'Now I wonder who would want to do that,' Faithful said sarcastically. Alanna frowned at him.
"Why haven't you spoken before?"
'Because I never felt like it,' yawned Faithful.
AN: this scene was too fast-paced for my preferences, but I couldn't find ANY way at all to make it longer... so.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"By the gods, why didn't you tell us?" squealed Nelly and Meganne. Alanna blinked and then groaning, put her pillow over her head.
"What time is it?"
"Two hours past midnight," Nelly answered, sitting on the edge of Alanna's bed. Alanna fought the urge to kick her off.
"Everyone's saying that the prince and Sir Alexander of Tirragen are going to duel tomorrow," Meganne said happily. "Isn't that grand?"
"The rumors are saying that they're fighting over YOU!" Nelly told her. "And that the winner gets to marry you! Is it true? Is it?"
"Not if I can help it," was Alanna's muffled response. "Now get OUT! I'll take care of everything in the morning!"
"So it IS true??" gasped Nelly.
"Get OUT!" Alanna screamed. "I need to sleep so I can worry about it in the morning!!"
"Oh, please, Alanna?" Meganne begged. "We want to know details!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"We knew Sir Alexander was already courting you, and then there was how the prince was oggling--"
"Oggling?" Alanna cried, sitting up.
"--you at the ball," Nelly said with a grin. "But we never imagined something like THIS would happen!"
"You're soooo lucky, Alanna!" Meganne sighed. "All the court ladies will absolutely DIE of jealousy when they hear this!"
"You are NOT going to be the ones to tell them," glared Alanna.
"Oh, not us! Lady Cythea's been telling everyone," Nelly informed her cheerfully.
"WHAT??????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"I wish two fine men would duel over me!" Meganne continued unhelpfully as Alanna shooed them out of her room and the door was slammed in her face.
"Moody, isn't she?" Nelly remarked.
"Isn't she always?" Meganne returned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was gonna write more, but I figure my next scene might run a lil' long and then this chapter would be way too long. But I know a whole bunch of you are upset that the fight wasn't longer and that Jon didn't end up with more than a bloody nose and numerous bruises.
I have decided that there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY I can work Gary and George (or Raoul for that matter... but he really hasn't been important in this story thus far, has he?) into the climax of the story, so there will be a sequel where they get bigger parts. *cringes* Yes, you heard right, I am going to write a sequel. It will be short. As short as I can make it. (10-ish chapters, hopefully!! Nothing like this!!)
I will also have to push back the solution to the whole George's Assasin problem to the sequel. Duke Roger will not be reincarnated. Period. There is no WAY I'm bringing that psycho back from the dead. Then my sequel would be SUPER SUPER long.