Chapter 5: Roger, and his plan

The man stared into his crystal orb. This girl was strange, the fiery red hair, the purple eyes, yet her magic was powerful, very powerful. No matter what spell he tried, he could not break the barrier that surrounded her gift.

If the girl married Jonathon, and produced an heir, he would have twice as much work to do. Eliminating the girl would prove a problem, she was after all a princess, maybe even the future queen of Tortall.

His cousin Jonathon had managed to avoid all of the death traps he'd set, from the sweating sickness to the assassins he'd paid to kill the heir, he'd always been saved by a random act of help. The day everyone thought Jon was going to die, a mage from Carthak(spelling?) had been passing through and saved him from death.

"Damn it! What the hell am I supposed to do now? She's gone and disrupted my plans!" He yelled into his bedroom. It would be odd if both the prince and princess went missing, everyone in the palace would be interrogated, what if something slipped out.

"May I make a suggestion my lord?" A chestnut haired woman came through the door came up to the man, and curtsied deeply.

"Delia, just the girl I wanted to see," the man replied in a deep, sexy voice. Delia was a slut, and a fool. She thought every man wanted to be with her, but he had to admit, she came up with good plans.

He gave her his hand, and she kissed it, looking at him through lowered lashes. With a pull of his muscular arms, she was in his arms, her lips on his. He kissed her passionately, she would never betray him, he promised her that she would one day be queen.

He broke the kiss, and started talking about her relation ship with the prince of Tusaine,"How goes things with Prince Thom?"

"Things are going smoothly, for the moment. He's no idiot though, he's starting to have doubt's about my love for him, but I've managed to convince him for now. It doesn't help that the princess thinks he should stop seeing me, I can tell, they are too close, but I will find a way to make them hate each other. I have a plan, though, that I will share with you later. In the mean time, I have a way to get the princess out of the way, after that you can take care of Jonathon." Delia stated quickly. Roger had promised that if she became the queen of Tusaine, they would side together, and their countries would become one. He said he'd find some way to get rid of Thom, and she trusted him, with all her heart.

"Well, the ball is tonight..." Her words went on to explain the plan. "Take her out to the rose garden, and I'm sure Jonathon will come looking for her, and that's when you strike."

"Delia, I love you!" He went on, she was stupid, but he was sure, with all his charm and elegance, he could make this plan work.

---------------------------------------------------

. . . . .

"I'm fine, really, I just feel a little dizzy," she told the prince who's eyes were full of concern.

"Well I'll help you back to your rooms if your positive, though I think you should go see a healer," Jonathon watched her face, looking for any signs that would show her of a weak state.

"Please, mother will be looking for me soon, I really have to get back now," her words held a finality to them. She didn't want him to know that it felt like a hand had been trying to grab at her gift.

"Very well," his next words surprised even him, "if you ever want to be alone, you are welcome here, always."

She blinked in surprise, she'd expected him to say something against her intruding in his personal space, but this? This was a human act of kindness!

"I thank you prince Jonathon," she smiled genuinely at him for the first time in his presence.

Mithros! His heart almost jumped out of his stomach, she was so beautiful when she smiled!

---------------------------------------------------

"Introducing Prince Jonathon of Conte, and Princess Alanna of Tusaine!" Boomed the Herald.

Alanna wasn't nervous at all, she was born to the stairs, she'd practiced hours of etiquette so as not to trip or stumble on them.

Every eye in the room was on the royal couple, the men's wistful, the women's envious. Dressed in violet silk with a low neckline, studded with red gemstones, Alanna looked perfect. Her hair hung loose, with diamonds entwined into the fiery red curls. A simple ember lay at her throat, a piece her mother had advised against, was simple, but brought out her other features.

Jonathon looked just as good, dressed in silk black breeches and a midnight blue shirt that accented his eyes.

She stole a glance at him, she couldn't help herself, and saw that he was gazing at her in a way that made her blush.

They made their way over to the king and queen were Roald greeted them.

"Princess Alanna, I hope you enjoy your stay here, and will decide to make it your home. You will always be welcome in our palace," he smiled, but it was instantly wiped away when Lianne (is that her name?) Broke into a coughing fit. Her face was white, and an older man, Sir Gareth the Older came running over.

Jonathon steered her away, but she saw the queen take Gareth's arm, being escorted out of the room.

"May I have the honor of dancing with you?" He asked his voice attentive, yet his face told her he was world's away.

"You may, but please, what is wrong with your mother?" He led her onto the floor and they started a slow waltz as he started talking.

"No one really knows, she'd gotten sick numerous times, but she's never recovered. Some of the best healers have checked her over, but no one can help. I'd do anything, anything, for her to be healthy again," his face showed sorrow, like none she'd ever seen before. His mother was an important person in his life, like most mothers were, and he'd probably give his life for her.

Jonathon glanced down at her, he was about six inches taller, and she found that maybe the marriage might not be so bad, but only if he would let her fight, she couldn't hide that, never.

His arms had a tight hold on her back, his hand warm in hers. He drew her closer to him, Alanna reluctantly moved closer, she couldn't just pull away in front of the whole court, many people were watching them, but she knew she didn't love him, she might have felt attraction, but definitely not love. She couldn't rush it, she didn't want to.

"Jonathon," a tall man with coal black hair and light blue eyes walked up to the prince. "May I cut in?" Jon hesitated, and Roger used this to his advantage. "Maybe you should go check on your mother, she may need you," he hid a grin, knowing his cousin would leave.

Reluctantly dropping Alanna's hand, he bowed saying, "I shall soon return," with that he exited the room hurriedly.

Alanna looked up at the man and discovered he looked a little like Jonathon, the same hair, but a lighter blue eye color. Being tall he looked down at her, he was quite handsome, yet she wasn't attracted to him.

"Princess," he bowed gracefully, "My name is Roger of Conte, and I'm delighted to meet you."

She curtsied, for the thousandth time that night, and gave him her hand. He kissed it, sending shivers up her spine, then released it. "Will you honor me with a dance?"

How was she supposed to refuse She didn't want to dance with this man, but if she went off by herself, the men would flock over her like hungry animals.

"Of course," she said, careful to hold back emotions in her voice. She asked herself, if she was afraid of the prince's cousin, was she? Thom would have a laugh at that one, she wasn't afraid of anything, she couldn't be, and if she was, it certainly wouldn't be a harmless man. Yet she had a bad feeling.

They danced three waltzes together, unaware of the glances they were getting by the people of the court, and from a man on one of the grand balconies, overlooking the ballroom.

She admitted, he was a good dancer, they floated around the room, this man couldn't be that bad, she thought silently, quenching earlier thoughts of fear.

"Would you like to take a walk in the palace gardens? Jonathon might be coming through their from my aunt's room," he asked her quietly, letting none of his intentions slip out. He'd seen Jon on the balcony, and knew he would follow. Excellent.

Sick of the heat in the ballroom she accepted, but in her mind she was hesitant, she knew why people went out into the garden, but surely Roger knew of her betrothal.

----------------------------------------------------

Roger looked pleased with himself, and she wondered why. They'd been sitting on a bench surrounded by beautiful roses, but she was starting to get cold. What she really wanted was to go back to her rooms, she didn't want to be with a man tonight, whether it was Roger or with the prince. She wanted out of this dress, and into something more comfortable, so she could explore more. Or maybe she'd go look for Thom, unless he was with that horrid girl. She hadn't seen him all night, probably off in some corner, doing something he wasn't supposed to.

Footsteps were approaching, they were only a few feet away. She was about to stand up, hoping it was Thom, when Roger forced her over to him. She had no time to react, he forced her lips on to his.

Sorry, it's a stupid chapter. You probably fell asleep halfway into it, but I think it's better than my last. Anyways, thanks to everyone who reviewed, let me go over some instructions to you, move the mouse to the bottom left corner. There should be a cute little blue-purple box, all you have to do is click submit a review and write your comments! It's easy!

To my reviewers

MakaiTenshi : I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Maria: Thanks, I'm not sure what you'll think of this one, but I hope you won't kill me because of dislike! Hehe

Kore yan: I'm not sure, but I think it'll work out in the end.

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed. 30 reviews to next chapter??