I'm sorry this took so long. I don't have much time now so no personal messages right now but they will come!
Chapter 5 – Preparation "Is anything wrong, dear?" asked Eleni. "I'm fine," Alanna answered. "I just want to talk about a few things.""Like what?"
"I want to start those lady-lessons again," she began. "I'll need to, if I'm to be Queen,"
"Of course, dear! What was the other thing?"
"I want to know – what it's like to carry a child. If the rumours are true, you've done it several times."
"Oh, yes. I can tell you about everything. I've given birth, obviously, and I've had many miscarriages, unfortunately. During early stages and late stages. Stillbirths, the lot. The only thing I haven't had is an easy pregnancy. What do you want to know first?"
"Everything!"
And so, the two women began to talk. Many times, Alanna felt her feeling of dread grow. How was she going to survive this?
"And that's about all I can tell you, I'm afraid. You know, I don't think I'm the right person to give you those lessons, Alanna. I don't know the things that royals need to know. You should ask Her Majesty, Lianne."
"Oh, but you can help me a bit, can't you? Please?
"A bit, certainly." She stopped for a moment to think. "Or I can help you prepare for your wedding,"
"Later. The first meeting with the planner's tonight. When dining, what order do I use my cutlery in?"
"You stubborn girl. Fine, sit down."
*
After dinner that night, Alanna and Jonathan met the wedding planner, Master Wil, in a vacant office. Jonathan insisted that Raoul and Gary come, so Alanna insisted the same of George Cooper and Thom. These four seemed bored though, for the planner was only interested in the opinions of soon-to-be-wed couple.
"You need colours. The bridegroom's side needs two main colours, as does milady's side. What will your's be, Highness?"
"Er, the colours of Conte?" he asked.
"You want a bright colour and a metallic colour. Like, red and gold. What are the Conte colours?"
Jon glared at him. "Blue and orange, but I thought you would know that."
"Hmm, you'll want a metallic colour too, uh ..." He seemed deep in thought. "Aha! Blue and bronze! Now, milady, what of yours?"
Alanna started. So far she hadn't been included in the conversation, and she had taken to staring into Jon's eyes like a lovesick teenager. Then again, she thought, maybe I am.
"The colours of Trebond? Purple and yellow?"
"Make it purple and gold, and you're done. Now, let me write this down. Blue and bronze for his majesty, and purple and gold for his lady ... now. Being a Tortallan wedding, red and silver will be the colours decorating most of the chapel. Do you want a fancy wedding, or an elegant one, perhaps? Silly question, I know, for a royal couple, but I have been surprised."
"Uh … what do you think, Jon?"
He glared at her. "I thought girls were meant to be good at this sort of thing!"
"Technically, we are, but am I your ordinary girl?" He shook his head. "I didn't think so. Ask them," she suggested, gesturing to the four men almost asleep around them. They awoke from their stupor, aware that she had called upon them.
"Don't ask me, Lioness!" exclaimed George. "I'll do ye more harm than good. A hindrance rather than a help."
Gary and Raoul nodded. "Our talents lie elsewhere," the latter piped quickly.
The girl turned to her brother, pleading silently with her eyes. He nodded reluctantly.
"From what I know, a royal occasion should be fancy and elegant at the same time. None of this simple elegance rubbish. Go all out, I say."
Alanna grinned. "Knowing my twin, that information is probably quite accurate," she laughed. "Fancy elegance it is,"
Master Wil eagerly began to outline a plan, naming the objects and decorations that they would need.
*
"Are you nearly done, Veri?" enquired Alanna impatiently. "My hair's going grey while I wait,"
"Patience, dear girl," came the voice of Eleni, somewhat amused. "She'll never finish if you keep wriggling!"
"Not so tight!" Alanna cried, alarmed. "I have to be able to breathe!" She wrenched the material out of the seamstress' hands and attempted to loosen upper section of what would soon be her wedding gown. She succeeded only in pricking herself with the several pins holding it in place.
Veri the dressmaker scolded her for moving. "It needs to be tight, if it's low-cut," she explained patiently. "Otherwise everyone can see what's underneath,"
"But it's not meant to be low-cut!" she cried. "If it's tight there, then it'll be tight lower down too. I won't be able to walk and I'm growing down there anyway."
"But low-cut suits you perfectly!" the seamstress argued. "And it can have a flared skirt!"
"What about my belly?"
The woman took a moment to calm down. "I'll flare it from just below the breast. That way, you shouldn't be able to see the bulge,"
"Fine," she grumbled. "Have it your way,"
"Thankyou. Now, you sure you want this in amethyst? It doesn't really suit your skin colour. Now, a nice gold – "
"No arguing, Verinisa Haraperna," Eleni cut in sternly. "She's wearing amethyst. And anyway, it matches her eyes. Just because gold costs more doesn't mean she has to take it,"
"It needs gold trim, remember," Alanna growled.
"Yes, yes, I know," replied the seamstress impatiently. The final pin in place, she gently removed the dress from its owner. Alanna immediately stepped down from the footstool she was standing on and pulled on her breeches and shirt.
"I'm sorry I have to rush off, but I'm meeting with Jon and his parents soon and I need to get ready," she called as she ran out the door.
"Slow down!" the women cried in unison. Grinning, Alanna slowed to a walk.
It's hard, this baby business, she thought. I have to eat more, take it easy, have regular checkups, get a whole new wardrobe, and then when it's born I have to become a full-time mother, even with a nanny and staff in the nursery. My life will never be the same!
__________
Okay, that's it. CYA
Pen
Oh, I just remembered.
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