AN: SORRY SORRY SORRY!!!!!! I was on vacation, so I didn't get to write anything, and then when I got back, everything was so busy and hectic! But now I am back on track!!!
This chapter is short and boring. Hehe.
Chapter thirty-four--
In the next weeks, winter fully approached in all its bitterness. Through the howling winds and blinding flurries of snow and sting of ice, Alanna trained from dawn until well past dusk. While it took all her best tact and persuasion, she was at last able to convince Gary to let her fight in the Trial and teach her accordingly. For three weeks, she awoke to lessons with Gary and exhaustedly fell into bed after sessions with George.
Because of the unfriendly weather, their fencing lessons were forced indoors. Though she was never to learn how he managed it, Gary was somehow able to keep their activities from becoming public spectacles. Their training courts were devoid of any people.
She studied as she never had before. Nothing Gary told her was ever to leave her memory if she could help it! The days leading up to the Trial were to see her experience and knowledge increase dramatically. Bowen came by more than occasionally to offer his own expertise as well as give her another body to try her skill against. With two swordsman of dramatically different style and technique teaching her, Alanna also gained the art of adaptation and how to think on her feet.
Her muscles and body were driven everyday to the limit. Alanna was amazed at how different her hands looked now, heavily callused like those of a stranger, and how her arms were toned and strong, thick with newly acquired muscles.
Though she arrived at the Dancing Dove every evening weary, she gritted her teeth and paid close attention during George's instruction. Not only did she acquire knowledge of what bordered on extremely dirty tricks and maneuvers, she also gained skills in hand-fighting that were sneakier than anything the Shang Wolf could teach. Besides that, George was excellent with knives, and tutored her in this craft. Though nowhere near as good as her mentor, Alanna nevertheless became somewhat satisfactory at knife-fighting and -throwing.
Although he'd suffered severe injuries, Jon nonetheless recovered well, healing surprisingly quickly. He even came to forgive Alex, who kept apologizing profusely. At first, Alanna was afraid that Roger might try something while Jon was still weak and confined to bedrest, but Elijah assured her that he would make sure that nothing of the sort happened.
So, if there was anyone Alanna was worried for, it was Alex. When he wasn't busy apologizing to Jon and to her (even though both had forgiven him numerous times), he was brooding and sulky.
"Stop blaming yourself already!" she said exasperatedly one day when he was looking to be in a particularly foul mood. "For the last time, none of this was your fault! Now you can wipe that guilty look off your face and stop moping around like a convicted fellon. And no more of that self-loathing--it's not healthy."
Though he nodded, his expression didn't change and nothing else she said could convince him of his innocence. She soon desisted trying, as it took far too much effort and energy, and energy was something she was short on as of late.
Because George's "Gifting" lessons far from fulfilled her--as he seemed only able to teach her simple basics spells and pass on miscellaneous bits of advice due to the enormous gulf between the extent of his powers and hers--Alanna had to turn to Elijah for further education.
"I doubt I could help you," Elijah confessed with a frown when she asked. "Was George inadequate?"
"Inadequate? Er, well... no, but I would like to learn a lot more," Alanna said.
"The Trial is only a few days away... there's not much I could show you," Elijah said skeptically. "Na--"
"Every bit helps!" she said desperately. "If Roger resorts to sorcery--"
"--then I will inform their majesties and the Trial will be stopped," Elijah finished calmly. "Roger knows the rules. Yet I doubt he will try sorcery, as his confidence in his skill seems rather arrogant."
Alanna was left discontented and grumbling.
The final days until the Trial drew nearer and nearer. Vera, Elijah's wife, arrived in a flash of light during one afternoon, startling everyone in the inn.
"I've seen you before," Alanna said with a smile when they were introduced. "You were the one who brought Bowen to Corus and dropped him in the middle of the street."
Vera laughed delightedly. "Oh! You saw that, did you? You remember me!" As her eyes wandered over Alanna's features, however, her warm smile slipped. Alanna began to grow uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she demanded irritably. Vera started.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, and waved her hand as if to brush it aside, but she continued to look at Alanna oddly whenever she thought the subject wasn't aware.
The last evening before the trial Alanna spent with George, Bowen, Gary, and Vera and Elijah in George's chambers. Even Alex came, though after a chaste kiss and murmurs of blessings, he sat in a dark corner and didn't move, the now-common brooding expression worn on his handsome features. The Rogue had been wary of Gary, but after a brief interview, the knight was allowed to join them. (George's profession was not mentioned, but Alanna believed that Gary suspected.)
They talked of random, unimportant things. They had all reached an unspoken agreement not to discuss the event that was to occur that time the next day. Alanna didn't pay any attention to what was said but instead clenched and unclenched her fist around her pendant in anxiety.
Alanna was suddenly aware that someone had been calling her name, and lost in reverie, she hadn't noticed. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening," she said apologetically, looking very embarrased.
"You have no sword, Alanna," Bowen repeated.
This had never occured to her before, but her face paled as she now realized that she was not outfitted for a fight, possessing no weapons or armor of any sort.
"Mithros, I never thought of that!" she gasped. "D-d'you think anyone will let be borrow their sword?"
Bowen shook his head vehemently. "Nay, even if they would, that wouldn't do. You need to have a sword of your own, one that belongs to you and is yours--only then can you fight."
"I-I don't think I can afford to have one made for me," Alanna said, crestfallen, after taking a quick account of her funds. "And even if I did, there wouldn't be enough time. I'll have to buy a used one."
"I'm sure I can get her one," George said with a smile. "A new one, at that."
"By tomorrow?!!"
"Aye. It wouldn't be too much trouble."
"But... I'll need more than a sword! I don't have any armour, or a dagger, or... or..."
"Don't worry, Alanna. Armor isn't allowed in the Trial anyway," Gary reassured. "And daggers are much easier to come by than swords."
"No ordinary weapon will do," Elijah said suddenly.
"She'll have the best," George said.
"No." Vera shook her head and fixed Alanna with another of her peculiar looks. "Duke Roger will wield a sword with sorcery, no doubt. A normal sword would stand no chance against any weapon he might fashion."
"Roger making his own swords?" Elijah murmured. "It's probable--and he's had three weeks to create quite a powerful one."
"So then it's agreed," concluded Vera. "No ordinary sword will do for you in this fight."
"Then it will probably cost even more. Where am I going to get a sword like that?" Alanna wondered helplessly.
"From me," Bowen said suddenly. Everyone stared at him in shock. "I've in my possession a rather extraordinary sword, I think. For a while now I've been considering giving it to you, but I thought that perhaps you've already put in an order for one. Now, that it appears you haven't, I see that I can freely give the thing to you."
"You can't just GIVE it to me!" Alanna said, aghast.
"I've never used it before because, well, frankly it scared me," Bowen said, smiling mockingly at himself. "It's filled with magic, even I can tell that. I now ask pardon to leave you so that I may fetch it." So saying, he rose and left the room.
"I can't accept it!" Alanna cried. "I'll pay him!"
"You have no idea how much it's worth," Gary said, "but most likely more that you can pay. Just let him give it to you as a gift."
"I couldn't do that," she insisted.
"It doesn't look like you can do anything else," Gary pointed out.
Bowen returned to the room and drew a sword from a very plain leather sheath. Smiling, he presented it to Alanna on bended knee. "I can't believe I almost forgot this. Several years ago, I found it in Sir Myles's estate and he kindly allowed me to keep it. Well, now I bequeath it to you. It is now yours."
"Oh, I can't--I, I..."
"Of course you can," Bowen insisted. "Here, at least try it?"
Alanna stared at the sword. It looked old, but was shiny and clean as if new. Though plain, it seemed to have almost an elegance about it. Cautiously, she took the sword from him. The handle seemed to fit perfectly into her hand, the well-worn leather of the hilt almost conforming to suit her. She gave it a testing swing in the air. The weapon was so light, so perfect, so perfectly right for her. Instead of merely a sword, it became an extension of her body, of her arm.
"You like it?" Bowen was grinning.
"I love it," Alanna breathed. "I don't see how I ever lived without it. It's almost like being reunited with an old friend." She stopped ubruptly. "It feels so familiar..." Suddenly she felt faint. "George... it's-it's the sword from my dream."
George paled. "The one where--"
"Yes, that one! I know it is!" as if to prove her point, Alanna swung the sword again. "It felt exactly like this!"
"Then that's a good omen," George said with a rather relieved grin. "You cut through the darkness with it b'fore. You'll do it again."
The moment from her dream came back to her--how the sound of an inhuman cry filled her ears as she slashed through the darkness and brought back the light. Alanna laughed suddenly.
"Thank you, Goddess!" she cried, and threw her arms around Bowen. "And thank you, too!"
"May I see it?" Elijah asked politely. Alanna handed the sword to him. A strange look appeared on his face as he hefted the sword. He handed it back almost at once. "Bowen is right," he said, his voice sounding odd. "There's so much power contained in it. Against Roger... at last I'd say you've a fair chance."
"What are you going to name it?"
Alanna started, looking to Alex, who had risen from his seat and spoken for the first time during the entire evening. "What?"
"You have to name your sword," he said, somewhat impatiently. Alanna tried a few thrusts with her newly-acquired weapon and marveled at the firelight that reflected from it, remembering the brightness of the flash in her dream.
"Lighting," Alanna said softly, then firmly, "Lightning. I dub thee Lightning."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another short chapter, as there wasn't much to be said in this one either.
I forgot what Lightning is supposed to look like, so no doubt my description is completely wrong (though I tried to avoid much description to avoid just that!!). Somebody tell me right now how it's supposed to look like and I will happily make the corrections.
Hmmm.... I think two more chapters and possibly a very short epilogue oughta do it. Maybe one more chapter, but that seems unlikely.
*sighs miserably* I hate writing fight scenes.
This chapter is short and boring. Hehe.
Chapter thirty-four--
In the next weeks, winter fully approached in all its bitterness. Through the howling winds and blinding flurries of snow and sting of ice, Alanna trained from dawn until well past dusk. While it took all her best tact and persuasion, she was at last able to convince Gary to let her fight in the Trial and teach her accordingly. For three weeks, she awoke to lessons with Gary and exhaustedly fell into bed after sessions with George.
Because of the unfriendly weather, their fencing lessons were forced indoors. Though she was never to learn how he managed it, Gary was somehow able to keep their activities from becoming public spectacles. Their training courts were devoid of any people.
She studied as she never had before. Nothing Gary told her was ever to leave her memory if she could help it! The days leading up to the Trial were to see her experience and knowledge increase dramatically. Bowen came by more than occasionally to offer his own expertise as well as give her another body to try her skill against. With two swordsman of dramatically different style and technique teaching her, Alanna also gained the art of adaptation and how to think on her feet.
Her muscles and body were driven everyday to the limit. Alanna was amazed at how different her hands looked now, heavily callused like those of a stranger, and how her arms were toned and strong, thick with newly acquired muscles.
Though she arrived at the Dancing Dove every evening weary, she gritted her teeth and paid close attention during George's instruction. Not only did she acquire knowledge of what bordered on extremely dirty tricks and maneuvers, she also gained skills in hand-fighting that were sneakier than anything the Shang Wolf could teach. Besides that, George was excellent with knives, and tutored her in this craft. Though nowhere near as good as her mentor, Alanna nevertheless became somewhat satisfactory at knife-fighting and -throwing.
Although he'd suffered severe injuries, Jon nonetheless recovered well, healing surprisingly quickly. He even came to forgive Alex, who kept apologizing profusely. At first, Alanna was afraid that Roger might try something while Jon was still weak and confined to bedrest, but Elijah assured her that he would make sure that nothing of the sort happened.
So, if there was anyone Alanna was worried for, it was Alex. When he wasn't busy apologizing to Jon and to her (even though both had forgiven him numerous times), he was brooding and sulky.
"Stop blaming yourself already!" she said exasperatedly one day when he was looking to be in a particularly foul mood. "For the last time, none of this was your fault! Now you can wipe that guilty look off your face and stop moping around like a convicted fellon. And no more of that self-loathing--it's not healthy."
Though he nodded, his expression didn't change and nothing else she said could convince him of his innocence. She soon desisted trying, as it took far too much effort and energy, and energy was something she was short on as of late.
Because George's "Gifting" lessons far from fulfilled her--as he seemed only able to teach her simple basics spells and pass on miscellaneous bits of advice due to the enormous gulf between the extent of his powers and hers--Alanna had to turn to Elijah for further education.
"I doubt I could help you," Elijah confessed with a frown when she asked. "Was George inadequate?"
"Inadequate? Er, well... no, but I would like to learn a lot more," Alanna said.
"The Trial is only a few days away... there's not much I could show you," Elijah said skeptically. "Na--"
"Every bit helps!" she said desperately. "If Roger resorts to sorcery--"
"--then I will inform their majesties and the Trial will be stopped," Elijah finished calmly. "Roger knows the rules. Yet I doubt he will try sorcery, as his confidence in his skill seems rather arrogant."
Alanna was left discontented and grumbling.
The final days until the Trial drew nearer and nearer. Vera, Elijah's wife, arrived in a flash of light during one afternoon, startling everyone in the inn.
"I've seen you before," Alanna said with a smile when they were introduced. "You were the one who brought Bowen to Corus and dropped him in the middle of the street."
Vera laughed delightedly. "Oh! You saw that, did you? You remember me!" As her eyes wandered over Alanna's features, however, her warm smile slipped. Alanna began to grow uncomfortable under her scrutinizing gaze.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she demanded irritably. Vera started.
"Oh, it's nothing," she said, and waved her hand as if to brush it aside, but she continued to look at Alanna oddly whenever she thought the subject wasn't aware.
The last evening before the trial Alanna spent with George, Bowen, Gary, and Vera and Elijah in George's chambers. Even Alex came, though after a chaste kiss and murmurs of blessings, he sat in a dark corner and didn't move, the now-common brooding expression worn on his handsome features. The Rogue had been wary of Gary, but after a brief interview, the knight was allowed to join them. (George's profession was not mentioned, but Alanna believed that Gary suspected.)
They talked of random, unimportant things. They had all reached an unspoken agreement not to discuss the event that was to occur that time the next day. Alanna didn't pay any attention to what was said but instead clenched and unclenched her fist around her pendant in anxiety.
Alanna was suddenly aware that someone had been calling her name, and lost in reverie, she hadn't noticed. "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening," she said apologetically, looking very embarrased.
"You have no sword, Alanna," Bowen repeated.
This had never occured to her before, but her face paled as she now realized that she was not outfitted for a fight, possessing no weapons or armor of any sort.
"Mithros, I never thought of that!" she gasped. "D-d'you think anyone will let be borrow their sword?"
Bowen shook his head vehemently. "Nay, even if they would, that wouldn't do. You need to have a sword of your own, one that belongs to you and is yours--only then can you fight."
"I-I don't think I can afford to have one made for me," Alanna said, crestfallen, after taking a quick account of her funds. "And even if I did, there wouldn't be enough time. I'll have to buy a used one."
"I'm sure I can get her one," George said with a smile. "A new one, at that."
"By tomorrow?!!"
"Aye. It wouldn't be too much trouble."
"But... I'll need more than a sword! I don't have any armour, or a dagger, or... or..."
"Don't worry, Alanna. Armor isn't allowed in the Trial anyway," Gary reassured. "And daggers are much easier to come by than swords."
"No ordinary weapon will do," Elijah said suddenly.
"She'll have the best," George said.
"No." Vera shook her head and fixed Alanna with another of her peculiar looks. "Duke Roger will wield a sword with sorcery, no doubt. A normal sword would stand no chance against any weapon he might fashion."
"Roger making his own swords?" Elijah murmured. "It's probable--and he's had three weeks to create quite a powerful one."
"So then it's agreed," concluded Vera. "No ordinary sword will do for you in this fight."
"Then it will probably cost even more. Where am I going to get a sword like that?" Alanna wondered helplessly.
"From me," Bowen said suddenly. Everyone stared at him in shock. "I've in my possession a rather extraordinary sword, I think. For a while now I've been considering giving it to you, but I thought that perhaps you've already put in an order for one. Now, that it appears you haven't, I see that I can freely give the thing to you."
"You can't just GIVE it to me!" Alanna said, aghast.
"I've never used it before because, well, frankly it scared me," Bowen said, smiling mockingly at himself. "It's filled with magic, even I can tell that. I now ask pardon to leave you so that I may fetch it." So saying, he rose and left the room.
"I can't accept it!" Alanna cried. "I'll pay him!"
"You have no idea how much it's worth," Gary said, "but most likely more that you can pay. Just let him give it to you as a gift."
"I couldn't do that," she insisted.
"It doesn't look like you can do anything else," Gary pointed out.
Bowen returned to the room and drew a sword from a very plain leather sheath. Smiling, he presented it to Alanna on bended knee. "I can't believe I almost forgot this. Several years ago, I found it in Sir Myles's estate and he kindly allowed me to keep it. Well, now I bequeath it to you. It is now yours."
"Oh, I can't--I, I..."
"Of course you can," Bowen insisted. "Here, at least try it?"
Alanna stared at the sword. It looked old, but was shiny and clean as if new. Though plain, it seemed to have almost an elegance about it. Cautiously, she took the sword from him. The handle seemed to fit perfectly into her hand, the well-worn leather of the hilt almost conforming to suit her. She gave it a testing swing in the air. The weapon was so light, so perfect, so perfectly right for her. Instead of merely a sword, it became an extension of her body, of her arm.
"You like it?" Bowen was grinning.
"I love it," Alanna breathed. "I don't see how I ever lived without it. It's almost like being reunited with an old friend." She stopped ubruptly. "It feels so familiar..." Suddenly she felt faint. "George... it's-it's the sword from my dream."
George paled. "The one where--"
"Yes, that one! I know it is!" as if to prove her point, Alanna swung the sword again. "It felt exactly like this!"
"Then that's a good omen," George said with a rather relieved grin. "You cut through the darkness with it b'fore. You'll do it again."
The moment from her dream came back to her--how the sound of an inhuman cry filled her ears as she slashed through the darkness and brought back the light. Alanna laughed suddenly.
"Thank you, Goddess!" she cried, and threw her arms around Bowen. "And thank you, too!"
"May I see it?" Elijah asked politely. Alanna handed the sword to him. A strange look appeared on his face as he hefted the sword. He handed it back almost at once. "Bowen is right," he said, his voice sounding odd. "There's so much power contained in it. Against Roger... at last I'd say you've a fair chance."
"What are you going to name it?"
Alanna started, looking to Alex, who had risen from his seat and spoken for the first time during the entire evening. "What?"
"You have to name your sword," he said, somewhat impatiently. Alanna tried a few thrusts with her newly-acquired weapon and marveled at the firelight that reflected from it, remembering the brightness of the flash in her dream.
"Lighting," Alanna said softly, then firmly, "Lightning. I dub thee Lightning."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another short chapter, as there wasn't much to be said in this one either.
I forgot what Lightning is supposed to look like, so no doubt my description is completely wrong (though I tried to avoid much description to avoid just that!!). Somebody tell me right now how it's supposed to look like and I will happily make the corrections.
Hmmm.... I think two more chapters and possibly a very short epilogue oughta do it. Maybe one more chapter, but that seems unlikely.
*sighs miserably* I hate writing fight scenes.