Yay! Chapter two. Thanks to all who reviewed. I'll thank you individually at the end.
Chapter 2 - Whoever Said Life Was Fair?
After the Ordeal of the Voice, some weeks later, the four-person party was riding back to Corus. Alanna was nervous, though - her history was full of scandal. She wasn't sure if they'd let her come back as a knight at all, let alone marry the Prince as one. She dreaded the day when she would be forced to act as a woman and forget she ever won her shield; she had never expected it to happen so soon.
During the weeklong ride to Corus, she worried about many things, but one was troubling her the most. Alanna was not ready for children. Although she had promised to remove her charm a month after they wed, she still was unsure.
"What is troubling you, my dear?" Myles asked her, his voice full of concern.
"I'm fine, father," She forced a weak smile.
Myles was not fooled. "Is it about the wedding?"
"Yes - no, well, sort of," she stammered. "I should have listened to you!" she exclaimed. "I'm not ready for children, I can feel it here," she gestured towards her heart, then to her stomach. "Jonathan promised me a year of roaming, but I don't think that would be enough."
"It's not to late for ye to pull out, lass," Coram reminded her, riding up to them. "Ye only have to if ye want to,"
"I do! But, oh, if only it was different!" she cried, not caring who heard. "If only it were someone else, like George or someone. I could have time to myself after we wed, instead of rushing into the next step."
Jonathan heard and waited for them to catch up. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Oh, Jon," She pulled Moonlight over, sobbing. "I'm sorry! I just ... I only ..." she faltered. Jon knew enough to fill the gaps.
"Lioness, you mean everything to me!" he comforted. "If you don't want to, we'll not do that for a while. Do you understand me?" he added sternly. She nodded gratefully, but she was still anxious.
"But, it's my duty! I can't not bear a child, it would be a civil disaster if I didn't!"
"My parents will understand, my sweet. I'll make them,"
But as Alanna listened to Jon reassure her, she made up her mind. "Don't worry, Jon."
Jon was taken aback. "What do you mean, don't worry? You're the one that doesn't have to worry, not me!"
"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say, 'Don't worry, Jon. I'll do it',"
"But - but - " he struggled to find the words. "What made you change your mind?"
"I couldn't upset you and your parents like that. It's my duty, and I'll fulfil it. No, wait. You don't always get what you want in life, and I may as well get used to it. No, stop. I haven't finished. As long as I get a year to roam with Coram like I planned, I'll live."
Jon looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to say more. When she kept silent, he spoke up.
"You didn't have to do that, you know," he croaked, his voice husky. "We'd survive if you waited a little longer,"
"You know me. Once I've made up my mind, that's it. Race you to Coram!" she suddenly cried, her spirits sufficiently risen. She took off at a gallop.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Jon called after her, kicking his mare Midnight into high gear. Alanna, already with Coram, chuckled. "Whoever said life was fair?"
Individuals: ZagZig722: Thanks! I love it when people say my stuff is good!
imogenhm: Thanks, lol. It's a little late, but here is the new chap!
Shadow-In-The-Pitch-Black: Thanks for the tip, I'll try to remember that. You're alright at reviews! Waddaya mean?
Wake-Robin: Thanks! Uh, am I just weird or what...what's rofl?
Emerald Eyes22: Thanks, but I think it's been done before!
eat paper: Interesting...do you mean that as in good or bad? It doesn't matter, I'm just curious.
Thankyou everyone, your reviews mean so much to me! Like I said last time, hit the little button and I'll give you a little message here! Is that alright?
~Pen~
Chapter 2 - Whoever Said Life Was Fair?
After the Ordeal of the Voice, some weeks later, the four-person party was riding back to Corus. Alanna was nervous, though - her history was full of scandal. She wasn't sure if they'd let her come back as a knight at all, let alone marry the Prince as one. She dreaded the day when she would be forced to act as a woman and forget she ever won her shield; she had never expected it to happen so soon.
During the weeklong ride to Corus, she worried about many things, but one was troubling her the most. Alanna was not ready for children. Although she had promised to remove her charm a month after they wed, she still was unsure.
"What is troubling you, my dear?" Myles asked her, his voice full of concern.
"I'm fine, father," She forced a weak smile.
Myles was not fooled. "Is it about the wedding?"
"Yes - no, well, sort of," she stammered. "I should have listened to you!" she exclaimed. "I'm not ready for children, I can feel it here," she gestured towards her heart, then to her stomach. "Jonathan promised me a year of roaming, but I don't think that would be enough."
"It's not to late for ye to pull out, lass," Coram reminded her, riding up to them. "Ye only have to if ye want to,"
"I do! But, oh, if only it was different!" she cried, not caring who heard. "If only it were someone else, like George or someone. I could have time to myself after we wed, instead of rushing into the next step."
Jonathan heard and waited for them to catch up. "Why didn't you tell me before?"
"Oh, Jon," She pulled Moonlight over, sobbing. "I'm sorry! I just ... I only ..." she faltered. Jon knew enough to fill the gaps.
"Lioness, you mean everything to me!" he comforted. "If you don't want to, we'll not do that for a while. Do you understand me?" he added sternly. She nodded gratefully, but she was still anxious.
"But, it's my duty! I can't not bear a child, it would be a civil disaster if I didn't!"
"My parents will understand, my sweet. I'll make them,"
But as Alanna listened to Jon reassure her, she made up her mind. "Don't worry, Jon."
Jon was taken aback. "What do you mean, don't worry? You're the one that doesn't have to worry, not me!"
"You didn't let me finish. I was going to say, 'Don't worry, Jon. I'll do it',"
"But - but - " he struggled to find the words. "What made you change your mind?"
"I couldn't upset you and your parents like that. It's my duty, and I'll fulfil it. No, wait. You don't always get what you want in life, and I may as well get used to it. No, stop. I haven't finished. As long as I get a year to roam with Coram like I planned, I'll live."
Jon looked at her expectantly, as if waiting for her to say more. When she kept silent, he spoke up.
"You didn't have to do that, you know," he croaked, his voice husky. "We'd survive if you waited a little longer,"
"You know me. Once I've made up my mind, that's it. Race you to Coram!" she suddenly cried, her spirits sufficiently risen. She took off at a gallop.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Jon called after her, kicking his mare Midnight into high gear. Alanna, already with Coram, chuckled. "Whoever said life was fair?"
Individuals: ZagZig722: Thanks! I love it when people say my stuff is good!
imogenhm: Thanks, lol. It's a little late, but here is the new chap!
Shadow-In-The-Pitch-Black: Thanks for the tip, I'll try to remember that. You're alright at reviews! Waddaya mean?
Wake-Robin: Thanks! Uh, am I just weird or what...what's rofl?
Emerald Eyes22: Thanks, but I think it's been done before!
eat paper: Interesting...do you mean that as in good or bad? It doesn't matter, I'm just curious.
Thankyou everyone, your reviews mean so much to me! Like I said last time, hit the little button and I'll give you a little message here! Is that alright?
~Pen~