Title: If the Darkness Were Different
Author: shattered
Rating: PG or so.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, which should be obvious, because if I did, would I posting at FANfiction.net. I thought not.
Summery: A shifting in the Bazhir balance forces Alanna to go to the Covenant, but not simply to become a lady, but to become something *more*.
AN: It's been a while since I posted anything much less this so hope it flows in right. Sorry to anyone who was waiting.
If the Darkness Were Different
Sir Raoul of Goldenlake and Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen were general considered two of the best and most well liked of the younger generation of knights.
Raoul with his impressive, when indeed not daunting, stature, curly, black hair, and coal black eyes that seemed to radiate a gentleness quite contrary to his size, was one of the Prince's best friend and inherently trusted by many of the kingdom's hierarchy. And Gareth, Gary to his friends, was only slightly less physically impressive. Though in all honestly his sharp tongue and sharper mind had earned his almost as much animosity as they had admiration. And while his dark brown hair and eyes told of his relation to his father, Duke Gareth the Elder of Naxen the King's Champion, they hinted not at all to his relation with the raven haired, sapphire eyed Prince, who was in fact his cousin and good friend.
Right now however both of these upstanding young men were completely confused. Gary's question rang through their minds. 'What now?'
All three looked up from their various visual studies when the door which had swung back to a point where it was partially closed swung open again with a small swoosh of passing air. In the doorway stood his grace the Duke of Naxen, Gareth the Elder.
"Timon informed me that you had stayed, Sir Myles, but I hadn't realized that you two were here, Gareth, Raoul."
"We were in the hallway, Father, when we heard a scream. When we got here the Lady was glowing purple and then her and Jonathan started talking and the glow diffused into him. After it had completely faded she stood tried to walk when she collapsed." Gareth's answer was direct and to the point although through out he kept looking back at the tiny girl whose form seemed swamped by his friend's arms. Duke Gareth joined them and studied the still face of the lady.
"So this is the Lady Alanna of Trebond…" The quiet words were a bit confusing to the two knights, 'THE Lady of Trebond…?' Was there something particularly special about her beyond her healing gift?
"Yes." Myles' equally quiet admission. "It's hard to imagine someone so small being able to do all that it is said she can do."
"In all honesty, she probably can't do everything it's said that she can do. You of all people should know the changing nature of rumors." The Duke looked up, "come, Raoul, Gareth, grab anything of hers that is in here. We shall take her to her room. Stefan has already had the rest of her things brought up." He then turned towards the door, Raoul following behind him as Gary picked up the packet that the vervain had been in. Somehow Gary managed to fumble the leather envelope and as it was inverted a slip of paper fell out and to the floor.
The simple handwriting, free of the embellishments of calligraphy, that he saw when he went to pick it up struck him as unusual for a court lady. Gary read the note and then handed it to Myles. Myles read it and then handed it to the Duke.
"Looks like I'm left to do the normal things to reduce a fever." Myles stated.
"We'll be back with water and cloths, Myles. We'll help, after all he's our friend." Gary smiled at the knight before proceeding out the door.
"Yeah, Myles, we'll be back." Raoul agreed before carefully navigating the exit, being sure not to bump the girl he carried into anything.
Each of the three men was buried deep within their own thoughts, all considering the Lady and the Prince. By the time they reached the doors of Alanna's chambers they were no closer to any opinions than they had been at the beginning of the walk. The two knights entered as the duke left to return to his duties. Raoul gently tucked Alanna into bed after removing her riding boots. Gary placed the things he had gathered from the room on the desk and then moved to the door to wait for his friend.
"This is Thom's sister, Gary, her…" And Raoul raised his eyes to meet his friend's gaze. "She's so tiny, I know he said she was small, but…"
"But with everything else he says about her one can't help but expect her to be… larger than life."
"Yeah."
Unnoticed by either a dark head popped into the room, observing the moment of silence between the friends. "Hey, guys, what are you doing?"
The two turned to see the third as he stepped into the room. His slim build and dark features identified him as Sir Alexander of Tirragen, another of their friends. Alex was know as one of the best fencers in the palace second only to Duke Gareth, also a mathematics genius Alex was a notable contribution to his friends and country.
"Who's she?"
"Lady Alanna of Trebond."
"Thom's twin sister?"
"Yeah." With that answer Alex really looked at the small shape in the bed.
"I kind of expected her to be… I don't know… bigger." Soft chuckles greeted his comment.
"Yeah, us too." Was the reply from Raoul. "Come on, we said we'd go help Myles take care of Jon, you coming?"
"Of course. How's he doing, anyway?" Was Alex's answer as they left the room and headed towards the kitchen for the bowl, water, and cloths that they would use to calm the Prince's raging fever.
"He's a lot better off now. The sickness is gone, all that is left of it is the fever. I think she saved him, Alex, I really do." Gary responded.
They proceeded the rest of the way in silence. When they were a few doors down from Jonathan's door Alex stopped causing Gary and Raoul to stop, too. He needed to be certain, to be sure, after all, this was his friend, his prince, and he just wouldn't… couldn't trust in his progress without some more reassurance. "You really think he'll be okay? You really believe she did it? That she saved his life?"
"Yes. Yes, I do. I… I don't full know what she is but I know that she's definitely something. …Something great… I'm certain of it." With Gary's words and Raoul's confirming nod an unspoken proposition was given.
And with dark eyes meeting dark eyes meeting dark eyes it was accepted and though none of the three was entirely certain of what exactly they had agreed to they did know that they would protect, support, and hopefully befriend the purple eyed, copper headed healer-lady. That they were certain of, even if nothing else was clear to them.
AN: Hope you all liked it. Please review with constructive criticism or even just to tell me you liked it, assuming of course that anyone will like it. Please?
Thanks to previous reviewers.
love to all,
shattered