'What is the meaning of this', demanded Alanna on entering the prince's
rooms. 'What in the world are you playing at'?
'I'm afraid I am quite bewildered at what you are speaking of and what...'
'Don't give me that crap Jon, I'm sick and tired of your immature games as it is. Why would you not just let this annulment be? I know you hated being trapped in a loveless engagement as much as I, so why did you have to petition to your father for an extension?'
'There are a number of issues here that I would like to address' replied Jon with calm serenity. 'The first of which is your behaviour in annulling the engagement in the first place. Did you not know that as prince and your betrothed that it is I and only I whom has the power to alter the situation in any way and your behaviour today was both impertinent and disrespectful? Also' he added before she could cut in 'has no one ever told you that entrance to my room is restricted to myself and those I choose to see. If you wish for my company I may join you in your room for that is my privilege and not yours.
'Yes it is your right to claim me whenever you wish, your highness,' spat Alanna, 'But let me say this. What ever you are playing at here will never work do you hear, I've had enough of this arrogant superiority and your selfishness for the concerns of my feelings. As soon as the roads open I will return to my own country whether you indulge me with your permission or not.'
With that she stormed out of the room leaving the prince staring blanking at the place she had stood.
That night he crept out again after midnight and rode to the clearing where he had last found the princess practicing her sword. He edged as close as he dared without risking being seen. He was bewitched, enraptured, he could not turn away. The move of her body, the sheer determination in her eyes affected him in a way he would not have thought possible. He had an urge to want to join her, to know her and to have her love, yet he knew it wasn't possible.
'Yes it isn't possible' thought Jon bitterly 'it just isn't possible'. Yet he didn't want her to hate him for what he had to do ...
'I need to make it up to her, I need some time alone with her,' thought Jon, as he became lost in his thought, gazing out at the beauty in front of him.
Princess Alanna woke up to a timid knocking on her door. Moaning, Alanna rose up and moved towards the door.
'Yes?' She inquired, making out the faint image of a serving maid holding out a letter to her.
'If you please mam', the maid said softly, 'it's a letter from her majesty.'
Alanna dressed hurriedly yet carefully for it was not everyday one was called to attend on the Queen. She placed on her head her tiara, the sign of her royalty, to her the sign of her entrapment, and set off down the halls. The palace was quiet; most of the court was out hunting in the snow for the midwinter feast they were to have tonight.
'Good luck to them', Alanna thought, 'I for sure wouldn't like to spend all day in the cold', as she wrapped her shawl closer to her body.
Soon she arrived at the queen's presence chamber and was admitted in by two rather hostile looking guards. The queen was sitting in the centre of the room, embroidering an alter cloth of gold for the temple of the goddess. Around her the ladies in waiting were arranged elegantly quietly concentrating on their work or entertaining the queen with works of music or poetry.
'How elegant these ladies are' thought Alanna, 'why cannot I be like them, my station in life has given me the status of a princess, I am above these women yet every time I see them I feel inferior, awkward and pretentious, I who am destined to be queen of them and everyone else in this nation.'
'Ah, Alanna, you have come', said the Queen imperiously, holding out her hand for Alanna to kiss.
'Your majesty' Alanna curtsied, taking her hand, 'I believed you wanted to see me.'
'Yes,' the Queen almost faltered and she looked a little flustered for a moment. 'I'm afraid I have some news you would not like,' said the queen, looking anxiously at Alanna. 'It appears that Jonathan, with his father's approval, would take you to stay for a month at his country estate.'
'WHAT???' cried Alanna, 'this can't be possible, I made it quite clear to him last night that I wanted nothing more to do with him. Please, I cannot go and spend a month with someone I share such mutual hatred with; it would be too cruel, too cruel.'
'I understand your anger at these arrangements, goddess knows I do, but I cannot undo them. Jonathan and the king have the monopoly of control on the matter and I can do nothing but watch. I beg you Alanna,' pleaded the queen 'indulge them this once and it will turn out well, I know it. I pray to the gods that it will turn out well'
'I cannot pretend to be happy about these arrangements' commented Alanna tersely 'but we both understand that it must be so. For my love for you and my country I will endeavour to endure it but I can make no promises. I would however like the prince to oblige me in a promise. If matters do not change within the month that I stay with him I would like the permission to return home. That is all I require. That is my condition.'
'I'm afraid I am quite bewildered at what you are speaking of and what...'
'Don't give me that crap Jon, I'm sick and tired of your immature games as it is. Why would you not just let this annulment be? I know you hated being trapped in a loveless engagement as much as I, so why did you have to petition to your father for an extension?'
'There are a number of issues here that I would like to address' replied Jon with calm serenity. 'The first of which is your behaviour in annulling the engagement in the first place. Did you not know that as prince and your betrothed that it is I and only I whom has the power to alter the situation in any way and your behaviour today was both impertinent and disrespectful? Also' he added before she could cut in 'has no one ever told you that entrance to my room is restricted to myself and those I choose to see. If you wish for my company I may join you in your room for that is my privilege and not yours.
'Yes it is your right to claim me whenever you wish, your highness,' spat Alanna, 'But let me say this. What ever you are playing at here will never work do you hear, I've had enough of this arrogant superiority and your selfishness for the concerns of my feelings. As soon as the roads open I will return to my own country whether you indulge me with your permission or not.'
With that she stormed out of the room leaving the prince staring blanking at the place she had stood.
That night he crept out again after midnight and rode to the clearing where he had last found the princess practicing her sword. He edged as close as he dared without risking being seen. He was bewitched, enraptured, he could not turn away. The move of her body, the sheer determination in her eyes affected him in a way he would not have thought possible. He had an urge to want to join her, to know her and to have her love, yet he knew it wasn't possible.
'Yes it isn't possible' thought Jon bitterly 'it just isn't possible'. Yet he didn't want her to hate him for what he had to do ...
'I need to make it up to her, I need some time alone with her,' thought Jon, as he became lost in his thought, gazing out at the beauty in front of him.
Princess Alanna woke up to a timid knocking on her door. Moaning, Alanna rose up and moved towards the door.
'Yes?' She inquired, making out the faint image of a serving maid holding out a letter to her.
'If you please mam', the maid said softly, 'it's a letter from her majesty.'
Alanna dressed hurriedly yet carefully for it was not everyday one was called to attend on the Queen. She placed on her head her tiara, the sign of her royalty, to her the sign of her entrapment, and set off down the halls. The palace was quiet; most of the court was out hunting in the snow for the midwinter feast they were to have tonight.
'Good luck to them', Alanna thought, 'I for sure wouldn't like to spend all day in the cold', as she wrapped her shawl closer to her body.
Soon she arrived at the queen's presence chamber and was admitted in by two rather hostile looking guards. The queen was sitting in the centre of the room, embroidering an alter cloth of gold for the temple of the goddess. Around her the ladies in waiting were arranged elegantly quietly concentrating on their work or entertaining the queen with works of music or poetry.
'How elegant these ladies are' thought Alanna, 'why cannot I be like them, my station in life has given me the status of a princess, I am above these women yet every time I see them I feel inferior, awkward and pretentious, I who am destined to be queen of them and everyone else in this nation.'
'Ah, Alanna, you have come', said the Queen imperiously, holding out her hand for Alanna to kiss.
'Your majesty' Alanna curtsied, taking her hand, 'I believed you wanted to see me.'
'Yes,' the Queen almost faltered and she looked a little flustered for a moment. 'I'm afraid I have some news you would not like,' said the queen, looking anxiously at Alanna. 'It appears that Jonathan, with his father's approval, would take you to stay for a month at his country estate.'
'WHAT???' cried Alanna, 'this can't be possible, I made it quite clear to him last night that I wanted nothing more to do with him. Please, I cannot go and spend a month with someone I share such mutual hatred with; it would be too cruel, too cruel.'
'I understand your anger at these arrangements, goddess knows I do, but I cannot undo them. Jonathan and the king have the monopoly of control on the matter and I can do nothing but watch. I beg you Alanna,' pleaded the queen 'indulge them this once and it will turn out well, I know it. I pray to the gods that it will turn out well'
'I cannot pretend to be happy about these arrangements' commented Alanna tersely 'but we both understand that it must be so. For my love for you and my country I will endeavour to endure it but I can make no promises. I would however like the prince to oblige me in a promise. If matters do not change within the month that I stay with him I would like the permission to return home. That is all I require. That is my condition.'