Alanna paused slightly, wondering where in the name of Mithros she was going to go. Having the fortune to know absolutely no safe refuge in the palace, she decided to return to the library. At least she would be partially protected from Thom's sharp tongue there.
Thom preferred to pick on people who were too sure of themselves, or that he didn't particularly like. Or that had been the case when she had last seen him. She wondered how much nearly eight years of knight training had changed him. Convent school had changed her, however much she hated to admit it. Maybe for the better, maybe she had learnt from the conniving, manipulative sluts that had made up her year. Well, actually, she conceded, they hadn't been sluts when she had grown up with them. Just intending to do whatever it took to be Prince Jonathan's wife. She shook her head in disgust.
Reaching the library, she stopped. The reason for this was the direction the inside conversation was taking.
"I pity her, the poor thing. Ralon always was the bullying type, even when he began here."
A dry chuckle came from one of the men. The Prince, she presumed. "Thom didn't appreciate being tormented by Ralon. In fact, I believe he made his disapproval so... clear, that Ralon stopped for a while."
Alanna frowned. Thom had never told her of his bout with Ralon.
"But now there's nobody to disapprove, and not a soul to see what goes on behind closed doors. Only her servants will see the bruises, and they'll be too scared to tell."
"Shame," Jonathan mused. "I asked one of the convent girls, and she said that the girl paired up with Ralon was incredibly feisty."
His squire (well, Alanna had assumed the boy was Prince Jonathan's squire) laughed. "Sounds like she'd give you a run for your money."
"She was supposed to be attractive as well. Strange they wasted her on that pathetic excuse for a male." Jonathan had obviously decided to ignore his squire.
Alanna opened the door at this point. She had picked the perfect moment, and all eyes swung towards her.
"That's no way to talk about my husband," she scolded dryly.
Jonathan's blue eyes opened wide in shock. "You're married to..." he couldn't finish.
She curtsied, remaining on the floor. "Alanna of Malven at your service."
His squire stepped forward, having previously been leaning on a bookcase. "Geoffrey of Meron, squire to his Highness." Alanna inclined her head, already sunk into a curtsy. Geoffrey bowed. "Allow me to introduce Sacherell of Wellam, squire to Sir Francis of Nond, Nicholas of Stacine, squire to Sir Alexander of Tirragen, and Douglass of Veldine, squire to Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen." Alanna nodded each time in acknowledgement of the station.
"Lady Alanna of Malven, I must ask for forgiveness regarding my behaviour towards your husband. I hope you will excuse me." Prince Jonathan's blue eyes were serious.
Alanna had been about to stop him, and then decided that she liked him being apologetic. "No, I meant that those words are too nice. The words I use are too strong for the ears of a courtier." She smiled impishly, amethyst eyes dancing.
Raoul grinned. "So, I take it you're not too happy with your husband?"
Alanna stopped looking up at them all; from her position on the floor, it really hurt to crane her neck to glimpse the top of giants. Instead, she fiddled with the embroidery on her dress. "I doubt any bird would be happy with a cockroach for a mate." She shuddered slightly.
"Why are you not with your brother?"
Alanna flicked a quick glance up at Nicholas, who blushed. "I'm trying not to get him angry."
"Well, that's an unavoidable event." The tight voice belonged to Thom, who had been standing in the doorway for quite some time.
"Always eavesdrop, do you, brother?" The words were carefree; the way they came out was not.
"Just following the example set by my sister." He smiled sarcastically.
"But that conversation included me; ours did not."
"But it included a person of my own family. The only immediate family I have left."
"On the other hand, I'm not a Trebond any more."
"No, you are, will always be, just masquerading as a Malven." He spat on the floor, showing his loathing for both family and name. "You'd be better off dead than his wife."
Alanna stood, white-hot with rage. "It's not like I can change it! You keep acting like you can make everything better with a single spell. Some things need people to change them, Lord Thom. And you better think twice before you say anything of the sort to me again." She stormed out of the room, pushing past the equally angry Thom. Her steps came to a halt only because, once more, she had no idea of where she could retreat to fume over Thom before she did something stupid, like colouring his skin light purple. He probably wouldn't be too pleased with her if she did enact the spell; after all, the girl at the convent hadn't liked it too much.
"Lady Alanna?" The questioning voice belonged to Gareth the Younger.
She turned, eyes calming slightly. "Yes?"
"Don't worry about your brother. He'll cool down."
She raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Who knows him better, you or me?"
He grinned. "Fine. I'm guessing you don't know where the Malven rooms are." She shook her head. "I'll show you."
"Quickly, please. I don't want another showdown with my brother. Not yet, anyway."
"Jon'll keep him occupied for a little while." To her raised eyebrow, he said, "The Prince wasn't overly thrilled with the antics back there."
She shrugged. "Not my fault. I'm just a weak, innocent court lady."
He laughed. "Here's your room." Indeed, Malven was inscribed on the door.
"Thank you, Sir Gareth." She curtsied.
The knight shook his head. "Gary."
"If I call you that, will you stop the 'Lady Alanna' business?"
A firm nod was her answer.
"While you're here, you can tell me what Thom did to Ralon."
Gary smiled. "As you wish. I was taught to obey the requests of ladies." She rolled her eyes. "You've heard of hazing? And you know some enjoy it more than others? Well, Ralon, forgive me for saying this, was partial to the odd punch and slap whilst getting the first years to obey him. Thom wasn't grateful for this, and finally got so fed up; he placed Ralon on the top of Balor's Needle for three days. No one missed him."
"Doesn't sound like Thom. He'd make it lasting."
"Oh, the three days was in body. He remained up there for three months in his mind. My father wasn't exactly overjoyed with your brother."
"I can imagine." She paused, but he knew that some serious thinking was going on. "Why do you think I was chosen to marry Ralon? I mean, I know they didn't like me but..." She trailed off, but Gary sensed there was more, so he remained quiet. "I can't believe that even a bunch of malicious, conventional women would willingly give a female to a wife-hitting lunatic."
"Maybe they didn't know."
She gave a harsh laugh. "You knew, didn't you? Those gossip-hungry, scandal-craving, rumour-seeking idiots know everything there is that is slightly dishonourable about nobles. Well, anything that they can find. Rumours are swirled around, made into huge fantasy stories. If a woman smiled at a man, and another female got jealous, humiliating the first woman would be a priority. Believe me, I know how women can be."
Gary settled back in the chair she had offered him; Alanna sat cross-legged on the bed. "Go on," he prompted.
"Men think they run the world. They just do the fighting part. By and large, it's females. Men don't go to court for a reason that they've come up with. At the convent, it was "Sit straight; no man desires a slumped woman." "You can walk better than that. Chin up! Imagine if you were walking with the Prince. Would he like it if you took bigger strides than his?" and "You can do anything, child. Just set your mind to it." Every single day included men. I really can't understand why I hated it." She smoothed her skirts. "Look at me. I only met you today. I didn't mean to burden you. Thank you for listening and for showing me my room."
Gary got the very obvious hint, and stood. "It was my pleasure, La- Alanna. I will see you in the morning. Unless you are coming to dinner?"
She managed a twisted smile. "And put myself prey to more idiotic, money-grabbing females? No, thank you. But I appreciate the offer, even if I would rather die."
He bowed, and put up a hand to stop her curtsying. "Again, my pleasure. I shall see you tomorrow." He left the room, closing the door behind him.
Alanna sighed, changed clothes, and snuggled down into the blankets. Just like the Malven family, they were coarse and smothering. Instantly she threw them off, climbing down to curl on the rug. "I refuse to sleep in something that reminds me of those people," she declared with a low growl. Of course, the whole room was Malven property. Even she was considered as theirs. But that was a minor inconvenience and, like many of its kind, only temporary. "I will be a Trebond again," she vowed, before her lids grew increasingly heavy, and she was unwillingly forced into an uncomfortable sleep.
--
Heeheeheehee. I think I just paired Alanna with Ralon. Thanks to Radella for checking the characters. (I tend to go slightly OOC). Probably won't be able to update for ages - busy, then school. I hope you liked it. Piece of random info - the chapter was 1600 words, the author's note 50.
