Past, Present and Future… All in one

--

She knew what was coming. Why else would he want privacy? She watched as her husband closed the door behind the Prince.

"What were you thinking of? Now everyone is talking about you and the Prince. Are you having fun, muddying the name of my family?"

"You do that perfectly well by yourself." Alanna bit her tongue, cursing whatever insanity had caused her to say those words. She let go when it began to throb painfully.

Ralon seemed to be shaking with anger. He looked uncannily like a pig she had once seen. He grabbed a fistful of her pinned-up hair, yanking it until, reluctantly, she stood to avoid her locks being pulled out in tufts like the one he currently held. His fist struck her cheek; she reeled backwards.

"Does it make you more of a knight, picking on those who can't fight back?"

When he came towards her again, she kneed him with all her strength. Ralon's eyes flashed; partially bent over, he roughly pulled her closer.

"I'll teach you to do that to me, wench!" She struggled; he merely laughed. Holding her arm with both hands, he applied pressure. A white-hot ache shot across her body part at the exact moment that a sickening crack met her ears. She gasped with pain as her legs gave way and she ended up on the floor.

'He's going to kill me,' she thought dully, not really bothered. 'And Jonathon wasn't supposed to be in here, so he can't say anything.' She closed her eyes as he lifted his clenched hand. 'Well, I'd just like to thank everyone for coming to my rescue-'

Three sharp raps sounded on the door. 'Would you look at that? Thank you,' she silently blessed the knocker. Ralon growled in frustration. His arm dropped to his side and he opened the door a crack.

"Malven. I want to see my sister."

'Ignore that. Curse Thom. Let him rot in hell. Well, after he's sent Ralon there.'

Ralon hesitated. "She's in a bad way."

"And you will be as well. Let me and my cousin pass."

"Somebody broke in here," Ralon said flatly. "She put up quite a fight. Isn't that right, Alanna?"

"No," she called. "I don't think it can be called breaking in when it's your room."

Thom pushed Ralon aside, and out of the room. "Go away," he said crisply. Ralon was given no choice; Thayet swept past him, with a well-aimed kick, and the door was closed.

"Get up," Thom ordered.

Alanna just looked at him. Her brother, for all his supposed intelligence, could be incredibly dense. She created an amethyst cloud around herself and began to heal her broken arm.

"I'll get him for this," Thom growled.

"That's nice, brother. Whilst you're doing that, would you give him a present from me? Tell him I'm going to have his baby." Alanna was glad the purple mist hid her smile from her twin.

"WHAT? YOU – AND… AND HIM? Seriously? I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Thom roared.

"Why?" Alanna spluttered, removing the veil of magic.

"I could have done that," Thom grumbled, indicating her arm, her imaginary pregnancy out of his mind for the moment.

"Yes, well, which healer did you have to borrow off to get rid of Duke Roger's utterly pathetic spell?" Alanna pointed out.

"It was urgent. I wanted to try the fire-water spell."

"It was on my exam day!"

"He was ruining the magical aura around Corus. My magic could have suffered!"

Thayet's beautiful eyes were slowly widening. "Explanation?"

"Yes, Alanna. Just how did you get pregnant?"

"They don't teach it at the palace?" Alanna's brows creased together. "Anyway, who's pregnant?"

Thom glowered at his wickedly grinning twin. He turned to Thayet. "Did you hear of the Sweating Sickness?" The brunette nodded. "Well, it gained strength from the death of its victims. One night, Jonathon, Gary, Raoul and Francis all contracted the virus. It happened to be the night I wanted to try a new spell. The Sickness was the strongest yet."

"He forgot to mention that it also happened to be the night of my magic exam."

"Yes, anyway, I borrowed-"

"Stole," Alanna added. "Magic from me. He dissolved the disease with my magical knowledge, and was the hero of Tortall. Never mind that it was my magic he used," she scowled. "Never mind that I failed my test by fainting into the tea I was serving."

"Oh, shut up," Thom said good-naturedly.

Thayet swallowed a smile. "Thom, you seem to have forgotten the reason we're here," she reminded him gently.

"Alanna, I want you to divorce Ralon."

"What's the or?" Alanna asked.

"Or I'll kill him."

"Or yourself! Thom, you know he's in league with someone powerful."

Thom looked at her, purple eyes shining with greed. "Yes, but with your help, I can overthrow him, and be known as the greatest sorcerer in the world."

"Or, here's an alternative. You could die, and be known as the most stupid idiot in the world," Alanna snapped. Turning to Thayet, she assumed a calm aura. "You are so lucky you don't have a brother to deal with."

"I don't know. Buri's pretty masculine."

The door creaked open. "Thank you, your Highness," the brunette at the door said, dryly.

Thayet's eyes flickered. Then she began to laugh. "That's funny, Buri. Alanna of Malven, Squire Thom of Trebond, meet Buri." Alanna and Thom were both scowling at the reminder of the part of their lives they hated most – Alanna her marriage, Thom his knighthood training.

Buri concealed her surprise and extended a hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Buri, how did you find us?"

Buri ignored Thayet's question. "Are you twins?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"It's just you have different fiefs," Buri explained.

"Marriage."

"They'll be the same soon."

The twins had spoken together, but Alanna prodded her brother's green tunic with her ring finger.

"What does that mean?" Her tone was joking, but her face betrayed her fear.

"I'm going to challenge Ralon and kill him."

--

Natalie, yes I was Rose Maiden. No, Radella and I don't know each other personally. And, if she doesn't e-mail me back, we won't know each other at all! J/k.

Thanks for letting me reach over 100!

And thanks anyone who reviewed Exposed, and Gone Forever. They ( this) broke my writer's block, which is why they were a bit… strange. Oh, thanks Radz for threatening my reviewers. They don't feel so safe now, do you? Death to George! Smiles

And, a couple of people have mentioned this. Now, could you please put in your pretty box who you want Alanna to end up with. So far, its like this.

Jon; 1.

George, Gary, Raoul, Myles, Roald (king), Alex, Francis, etc; 0.

Thanks.