Here's Chapter Four everyone!
Part Two: Corus
Chapter Four
Two weeks later Alanna and George topped the crest of a hill. Below then was Corus, spread out over the banks of the River Olorun. Alanna beamed, and looked at George, who grinned back, and rode down the hill into the city.
When she reached the city gates, she pulled up her reins to make Moonlight stop. The horse pranced, and Alanna reached over to pet her head. Extending her hand, Alanna smiled when she saw again the slim silver and amethyst engagement band around her ring finger. It was a reminder of George's love for her, and hers for him.
She waved to the gatekeeper, who recognized her and let her in. She beckoned to George, and the two rode through the gates, and into the city. When Alanna was about to turn onto Palace Way, George stopped her, and turned Moonlight toward a different part of the city- and toward the Dancing Dove.
Alanna grimaced. She didn't want to go to the Dove. There were too many reminders of past times and past people. She didn't want to become sad over those who had been lost when Claw had attacked the Rogue, or for George to start having second thoughts of leaving. "Please, let's just go to the palace, I don't think I can return to the Dove."
"Why not?" thundered George.
"Do not take that tone with me, Baron George Cooper of Pirates Swoop," she snapped, her temper getting the better of her. "I am Sir Alanna the Lioness of Trebond and Olau, full knight of the realm of Tortall and King's Champion, and I do not have to do whatever and everything that you do!"
"Lass, I-"
"Don't call me lass, I'm not a little girl any more."
At this George chuckled. "You hardly ever were a little girl, you spent more of you life bein' a little boy!"
"Well that doesn't mean you can call me 'girl' now. It's too late." Alanna retorted, trying to control her emotions. She was caught between anger and laughter. She ended up revealing the latter. "Well, I was a girl before I started training for my shield, and when I was training I was still a girl, but no one really knew- oh, now I'm confused, and I should understand this more than anybody. Well, however you sort that out, I'm a woman now."
"Of course you are, lady. I guess, since you seem so eager to return to the palace and your friends, that is where we go." He turned his horse, Beauty, and began to trot up Palace Way, and Alanna prodded Moonlight with her boot to catch up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Alanna should be back today" King Jonathon commented to Gary, his Prime Minister, and to Thayet, his fiancé, who were in the meeting room with him.
"Good," replied Gary. "How do you know? Is it because you're the Voice?" he lowered his voice so Thayet couldn't hear, "Or can you just sense when she's nearby?"
"Shut up, you great oaf," muttered Jon, "You know that we were done ages ago. I've got Thayet now, and I love her."
"More than Alanna?"
Jon considered this for a moment. "Yes, I believe I do."
"What are you two mumbling about over there," called Thayet.
"Absolutely nothing, my love," he pulled Thayet toward him, and kissed her. He heard the door open, but he didn't care, and neither did she. He heard Gary snicker, and then an all too familiar voice rang out.
"What a wonderful way to come back," Alanna, leaning on the door frame, was trying and failing to suppress laughter. "Well, I'm glad that worked," she gasped, and surrendered to whoops of mirth.
"What worked?" questioned Gary, feeling very left out.
"Intro - ducing - Jon and Thayet- to - each other," wheezed Alanna through her amusement.
"Alanna, welcome back," said Jon, more than a little red.
"From both of us," added Thayet. "I like it when all of us are together, and we have much to talk about."
"Didn't we exhaust the subject of you and Jon when you came to the desert?" Alanna wanted to know. "I'm pretty sure that I told you everything I could about him."
"Well, that's not all I wanted to talk about," Thayet protested. "I mean, can't we just talk? Do you not like to talk now?"
"Calm down, Thayet!" Alanna laughed. "There's plenty of time to talk later." Just then George came in. "There you are, I was just about to tell them." Alanna moved over to stand next to George. He wrapped his arms around her. "George and I," she paused, "are going to get married." She held out her hand so that they could see her ring.
They stared. Thayet recovered her composure first. "Congratulations!" she squealed.
Gary nudged Jon, "Convenient time for her to tell us, eh."
"I think so," louder he said, "Well, this is astonishing, Lady Alanna. The knight who swore off love forever is getting married. Congratulations, and you George."
Alanna blushed, and George took over. "Thank you," he bowed, "from both of us, seein' as how my wife-to-be's mouth ain't workin'."
Alanna shot him a glare. "It most certainly is!" she countered.
"Sweet as ever," muttered Gary.
"Of course I am. I haven't changed."
"My lords and ladies-" a timid voice in the door started.
"Go on, Squire Machali of Nond," replied Jon.
"You have visitors." The squire completed his statement and ran out, unnerved at having to speak to the King, his Prime Minister, his lady Champion, and the Princess of Sarain all at once.
A blunt face poked into the room. "C'mon Raoul, it's safe. Only Jon, Thayet, Alanna, Gary, and George." Buri dragged Raoul in, despite his protests that he didn't want Jon to give him some outrageous assignment. Behind him followed Myles, Eleni, and, oddly, Coram. "What's going on?" asked Buri. "It looks like we missed something big."
"Just look at Alanna's hand," commanded Thayet.
Ever obeying of her mistress, Buri complied, the others following suite. Raoul grinned, Eleni gasped, and Myles smiled warmly. When Buri saw the ring on the knight's outstretched hand, her face filled with an odd expression. She looked up at Alanna, who snuggled closer to George. "Well, I'm surprised."
"What?" Alanna was a little hurt that Buri wasn't happy for her. Getting engaged was supposed to be a good thing.
"Nothing," Buri answered sullenly. The Lioness fixed her with a stare. "Well, I'll tell you later, ok?"
"Fine." The talk then turned to business, and when Alanna moved back to George, he pulled her onto his lap. Alanna smiled, and listened to the meeting, wrapped in her love's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few days later, George found Alanna in the stables, feeding an apple to Moonlight. "Lass, I've been lookin' everywhere for you. They sent me a letter, and they probably left one for you, too."
"A letter? What's so important about a letter?" George was being awfully mysterious. Why couldn't he just spit it out?
"Well. The trial for Jakat is ready and they need us there!" he finished in a rush. They mounted their horses and rode into the city.
"All right, we expected that, didn't we? It would be hard for us to have a case against him if we don't show up for the trial." Alanna was confused. She knew there would be a trial and that their presence would be required. She knew that George knew it, too.
"But this is different. He-"
"He what?" Now she was beginning to worry. What had happened?
"He- he- he has been spellin' the guards, and he is threatenin' to spell you if he ever sees you again. This is what makes the trial too . inconvenient. We don't know what he's capable of."
Alanna looked at him. "Can't they bind his magic? I did in the desert, remember?"
"You're a fair powerful sorceress, and you got him when he didn't expect it. I told you he spells everyone who goes near him. He seems to be a more powerful then we had thought. Not as powerful as the Conte Duke was, or even as much as you, but it stands to worry me."
"Perhaps I can be of service?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again Thanks to all of my reviewers!!!!!!!
Oneinamilliongirl: I'm so happy you like it!! *starts crying with joy*
CrystalLili: Thank you, good, and I tried to keep to Tamora Pierce's style of writing, since as I said in my summary, I did mean for this to be like a continuation of the Alanna books. George's accent Rocks!!!!! He's so cute!!!
Pheep: Thanks you, I'm glad you like it and don't mind if I take some time with chapter's five and six. I need it.
AsaHekA aka Slone: Thank you, I'll try!!!!
Verasilyn: Umm, what 's' word??? Sorry? I think I use it too much anyway. I personally think if Tamora Pierce meant for Alanna to be with Jon, she would have put her with him. George is the BEST!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To all of my faithful readers: The next chapter is only half-done, and I've been stuck on it for over a month!! I was thinking, I'll put up what I have so far, and you people can send me ideas of what to do, but I want at least 3 people to say in their reviews to this chapter that they will help me!!!!!!!!! Please!!!! Please!!!
FanFiction readers: Reviews make me happy! Please help make me happy by reviewing!!!
Part Two: Corus
Chapter Four
Two weeks later Alanna and George topped the crest of a hill. Below then was Corus, spread out over the banks of the River Olorun. Alanna beamed, and looked at George, who grinned back, and rode down the hill into the city.
When she reached the city gates, she pulled up her reins to make Moonlight stop. The horse pranced, and Alanna reached over to pet her head. Extending her hand, Alanna smiled when she saw again the slim silver and amethyst engagement band around her ring finger. It was a reminder of George's love for her, and hers for him.
She waved to the gatekeeper, who recognized her and let her in. She beckoned to George, and the two rode through the gates, and into the city. When Alanna was about to turn onto Palace Way, George stopped her, and turned Moonlight toward a different part of the city- and toward the Dancing Dove.
Alanna grimaced. She didn't want to go to the Dove. There were too many reminders of past times and past people. She didn't want to become sad over those who had been lost when Claw had attacked the Rogue, or for George to start having second thoughts of leaving. "Please, let's just go to the palace, I don't think I can return to the Dove."
"Why not?" thundered George.
"Do not take that tone with me, Baron George Cooper of Pirates Swoop," she snapped, her temper getting the better of her. "I am Sir Alanna the Lioness of Trebond and Olau, full knight of the realm of Tortall and King's Champion, and I do not have to do whatever and everything that you do!"
"Lass, I-"
"Don't call me lass, I'm not a little girl any more."
At this George chuckled. "You hardly ever were a little girl, you spent more of you life bein' a little boy!"
"Well that doesn't mean you can call me 'girl' now. It's too late." Alanna retorted, trying to control her emotions. She was caught between anger and laughter. She ended up revealing the latter. "Well, I was a girl before I started training for my shield, and when I was training I was still a girl, but no one really knew- oh, now I'm confused, and I should understand this more than anybody. Well, however you sort that out, I'm a woman now."
"Of course you are, lady. I guess, since you seem so eager to return to the palace and your friends, that is where we go." He turned his horse, Beauty, and began to trot up Palace Way, and Alanna prodded Moonlight with her boot to catch up.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Alanna should be back today" King Jonathon commented to Gary, his Prime Minister, and to Thayet, his fiancé, who were in the meeting room with him.
"Good," replied Gary. "How do you know? Is it because you're the Voice?" he lowered his voice so Thayet couldn't hear, "Or can you just sense when she's nearby?"
"Shut up, you great oaf," muttered Jon, "You know that we were done ages ago. I've got Thayet now, and I love her."
"More than Alanna?"
Jon considered this for a moment. "Yes, I believe I do."
"What are you two mumbling about over there," called Thayet.
"Absolutely nothing, my love," he pulled Thayet toward him, and kissed her. He heard the door open, but he didn't care, and neither did she. He heard Gary snicker, and then an all too familiar voice rang out.
"What a wonderful way to come back," Alanna, leaning on the door frame, was trying and failing to suppress laughter. "Well, I'm glad that worked," she gasped, and surrendered to whoops of mirth.
"What worked?" questioned Gary, feeling very left out.
"Intro - ducing - Jon and Thayet- to - each other," wheezed Alanna through her amusement.
"Alanna, welcome back," said Jon, more than a little red.
"From both of us," added Thayet. "I like it when all of us are together, and we have much to talk about."
"Didn't we exhaust the subject of you and Jon when you came to the desert?" Alanna wanted to know. "I'm pretty sure that I told you everything I could about him."
"Well, that's not all I wanted to talk about," Thayet protested. "I mean, can't we just talk? Do you not like to talk now?"
"Calm down, Thayet!" Alanna laughed. "There's plenty of time to talk later." Just then George came in. "There you are, I was just about to tell them." Alanna moved over to stand next to George. He wrapped his arms around her. "George and I," she paused, "are going to get married." She held out her hand so that they could see her ring.
They stared. Thayet recovered her composure first. "Congratulations!" she squealed.
Gary nudged Jon, "Convenient time for her to tell us, eh."
"I think so," louder he said, "Well, this is astonishing, Lady Alanna. The knight who swore off love forever is getting married. Congratulations, and you George."
Alanna blushed, and George took over. "Thank you," he bowed, "from both of us, seein' as how my wife-to-be's mouth ain't workin'."
Alanna shot him a glare. "It most certainly is!" she countered.
"Sweet as ever," muttered Gary.
"Of course I am. I haven't changed."
"My lords and ladies-" a timid voice in the door started.
"Go on, Squire Machali of Nond," replied Jon.
"You have visitors." The squire completed his statement and ran out, unnerved at having to speak to the King, his Prime Minister, his lady Champion, and the Princess of Sarain all at once.
A blunt face poked into the room. "C'mon Raoul, it's safe. Only Jon, Thayet, Alanna, Gary, and George." Buri dragged Raoul in, despite his protests that he didn't want Jon to give him some outrageous assignment. Behind him followed Myles, Eleni, and, oddly, Coram. "What's going on?" asked Buri. "It looks like we missed something big."
"Just look at Alanna's hand," commanded Thayet.
Ever obeying of her mistress, Buri complied, the others following suite. Raoul grinned, Eleni gasped, and Myles smiled warmly. When Buri saw the ring on the knight's outstretched hand, her face filled with an odd expression. She looked up at Alanna, who snuggled closer to George. "Well, I'm surprised."
"What?" Alanna was a little hurt that Buri wasn't happy for her. Getting engaged was supposed to be a good thing.
"Nothing," Buri answered sullenly. The Lioness fixed her with a stare. "Well, I'll tell you later, ok?"
"Fine." The talk then turned to business, and when Alanna moved back to George, he pulled her onto his lap. Alanna smiled, and listened to the meeting, wrapped in her love's arms.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A few days later, George found Alanna in the stables, feeding an apple to Moonlight. "Lass, I've been lookin' everywhere for you. They sent me a letter, and they probably left one for you, too."
"A letter? What's so important about a letter?" George was being awfully mysterious. Why couldn't he just spit it out?
"Well. The trial for Jakat is ready and they need us there!" he finished in a rush. They mounted their horses and rode into the city.
"All right, we expected that, didn't we? It would be hard for us to have a case against him if we don't show up for the trial." Alanna was confused. She knew there would be a trial and that their presence would be required. She knew that George knew it, too.
"But this is different. He-"
"He what?" Now she was beginning to worry. What had happened?
"He- he- he has been spellin' the guards, and he is threatenin' to spell you if he ever sees you again. This is what makes the trial too . inconvenient. We don't know what he's capable of."
Alanna looked at him. "Can't they bind his magic? I did in the desert, remember?"
"You're a fair powerful sorceress, and you got him when he didn't expect it. I told you he spells everyone who goes near him. He seems to be a more powerful then we had thought. Not as powerful as the Conte Duke was, or even as much as you, but it stands to worry me."
"Perhaps I can be of service?"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cliffhanger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again Thanks to all of my reviewers!!!!!!!
Oneinamilliongirl: I'm so happy you like it!! *starts crying with joy*
CrystalLili: Thank you, good, and I tried to keep to Tamora Pierce's style of writing, since as I said in my summary, I did mean for this to be like a continuation of the Alanna books. George's accent Rocks!!!!! He's so cute!!!
Pheep: Thanks you, I'm glad you like it and don't mind if I take some time with chapter's five and six. I need it.
AsaHekA aka Slone: Thank you, I'll try!!!!
Verasilyn: Umm, what 's' word??? Sorry? I think I use it too much anyway. I personally think if Tamora Pierce meant for Alanna to be with Jon, she would have put her with him. George is the BEST!!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
To all of my faithful readers: The next chapter is only half-done, and I've been stuck on it for over a month!! I was thinking, I'll put up what I have so far, and you people can send me ideas of what to do, but I want at least 3 people to say in their reviews to this chapter that they will help me!!!!!!!!! Please!!!! Please!!!
FanFiction readers: Reviews make me happy! Please help make me happy by reviewing!!!