Standing on the top of the staircases of the grand ball room Alanna
nervously straightened her ruby skirts. She wanted to make a good
impression. Just because the prince was being hostile towards her does not
mean that she can give up. Once Alanna puts her mind to something she
would not give up on it and she knew that she had to carry this one out
until the end. As the light globes shone on her and the prince each on one
end of the staircase, claps were heard throughout the whole of the hall
and, with a fixed smile, Alanna descended the staircase to meet the prince
in the middle. His tense behaviour stuck her again and his kiss on her
hand was swift and he dropped it quickly. Pretending she had not noticed
anything, she allowed him to steer her towards his parents who again
greeted Alanna with the previous friendly tone. After that, Alanna and Jon
were to dance. During the dance, Alanna tried to provoke some
conversation, without much success. Jon simply did not want to know. As
soon as the dance was over, he took her to the nearest seat and went
immediately to the opposite side of the room.
Alanna was left feeling foolish and annoyed. It would be fine if Jon had treated her this way in private but in front knights, ladies, royalty and ambassadors, he had left her feeling rather foolish. However, she was soon rescued by Raoul who thought as little of Jon's actions as she did. Raoul had taken to Alanna as his own sister and was very disloyal towards his friends in that effect. Alanna however, had decided to try other tactics in order to make Jon accept and maybe love her.
On the next day, she put into practice her plan. She approached the practice courts dressed in her best. She had taken more than her usual efforts to dress that morning. As she approached the practice courts she straightened her skirts out for the tenth time and she entered. She immediately saw Raoul engaged in a vicious sword fight. Raoul was shouting angrily at Jon about something so Alanna lent further to catch what they were saying. 'How can you publicly insult her like that', he shouted 'no matter what she had done she did not deserve that'. 'Look' Jon angrily shouted back, 'I don't care what you or anyone thinks. The more that the princess understands how little she is wanted the better things will be for her. I will never love her and she will never love me. The marriage would be a sham and by encouraging it you will know that you have gone against the wishes of your prince as well as the wishes of your friend'. 'If I had hesitated in encouraging in this friendship, it would be for your friendship alone' retorted Raoul, 'I care nothing for your royal position and would still continue to do as I see fit. No matter how much you oppose this 'your highness', it will still happen and in time you will fall in love with her, depend upon it.' With that, he came up with and sweep and disarmed the prince with calm.
Alanna, on hearing this, instead of walking away as she had been trained to do, approached not Jon but Raoul with fire in her eyes but there was no warmth in her voice which was as cold as ice. 'I wish to speak with you sir,' she hissed, 'presently'. When they had walked out Alanna immediately flew into the rage well known in the royal family of twilight. 'WHAT WERE YOU DOING' she screamed, 'I CAN FIGHT MY OWN BATTLES. That was completely out of line, I do not need the sympathy from others for having to marry an arrogant, self-loving prince. I have tried, I have really tried. I had never ever had to do something this difficult but once I put my mind on something I tend not to change my opinion upon the matter but this is too much. I obviously am not wanted here. I'm sorry Raoul but I think on this fight, I'll have to give in, there is absolutely no way that this can work. As Jon had said, the marriage would be a sham and I wouldn't want that for anyone'. 'I'll be leaving as soon as the roads open up, at least then, Tortal will have a happy prince again'.
Sorry if it's a bit short and not up to scratch but as have French orals soon you should be proud that it has appeared at all. For those reviews that questioned Alanna's character, I think that she would act in the way she did. I mean, in the books, she had chosen to really follow Jon no matter what which really does show her loyalty to what she believes in (ref. first Daine book). Now if she could do that by being only a knight imagine what she would do if she was the princess in her own country and the intense responsibility upon her. Anyway, I've totally contradicted that with this chapter but its necessary for the following story. Read on.
Alanna was left feeling foolish and annoyed. It would be fine if Jon had treated her this way in private but in front knights, ladies, royalty and ambassadors, he had left her feeling rather foolish. However, she was soon rescued by Raoul who thought as little of Jon's actions as she did. Raoul had taken to Alanna as his own sister and was very disloyal towards his friends in that effect. Alanna however, had decided to try other tactics in order to make Jon accept and maybe love her.
On the next day, she put into practice her plan. She approached the practice courts dressed in her best. She had taken more than her usual efforts to dress that morning. As she approached the practice courts she straightened her skirts out for the tenth time and she entered. She immediately saw Raoul engaged in a vicious sword fight. Raoul was shouting angrily at Jon about something so Alanna lent further to catch what they were saying. 'How can you publicly insult her like that', he shouted 'no matter what she had done she did not deserve that'. 'Look' Jon angrily shouted back, 'I don't care what you or anyone thinks. The more that the princess understands how little she is wanted the better things will be for her. I will never love her and she will never love me. The marriage would be a sham and by encouraging it you will know that you have gone against the wishes of your prince as well as the wishes of your friend'. 'If I had hesitated in encouraging in this friendship, it would be for your friendship alone' retorted Raoul, 'I care nothing for your royal position and would still continue to do as I see fit. No matter how much you oppose this 'your highness', it will still happen and in time you will fall in love with her, depend upon it.' With that, he came up with and sweep and disarmed the prince with calm.
Alanna, on hearing this, instead of walking away as she had been trained to do, approached not Jon but Raoul with fire in her eyes but there was no warmth in her voice which was as cold as ice. 'I wish to speak with you sir,' she hissed, 'presently'. When they had walked out Alanna immediately flew into the rage well known in the royal family of twilight. 'WHAT WERE YOU DOING' she screamed, 'I CAN FIGHT MY OWN BATTLES. That was completely out of line, I do not need the sympathy from others for having to marry an arrogant, self-loving prince. I have tried, I have really tried. I had never ever had to do something this difficult but once I put my mind on something I tend not to change my opinion upon the matter but this is too much. I obviously am not wanted here. I'm sorry Raoul but I think on this fight, I'll have to give in, there is absolutely no way that this can work. As Jon had said, the marriage would be a sham and I wouldn't want that for anyone'. 'I'll be leaving as soon as the roads open up, at least then, Tortal will have a happy prince again'.
Sorry if it's a bit short and not up to scratch but as have French orals soon you should be proud that it has appeared at all. For those reviews that questioned Alanna's character, I think that she would act in the way she did. I mean, in the books, she had chosen to really follow Jon no matter what which really does show her loyalty to what she believes in (ref. first Daine book). Now if she could do that by being only a knight imagine what she would do if she was the princess in her own country and the intense responsibility upon her. Anyway, I've totally contradicted that with this chapter but its necessary for the following story. Read on.