Alanna
Chapter 7
Author's Note: Due to popular demand (Sounds like a product... lol) I shall try my very best to make my chapters longer! Please do not expect like 5000 word chapters...but I shall try to make it hit close to 1500 words! *Try* Thanks!
Also, the dotted line signifies a change in scene or person. I will try and get the objective views of various characters, instead of just Alanna. Thanks.
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Alanna lifted up an intricately-designed silver spoon and scooped up some soup. The soup was thick and filled with herbs, and was cooked by the best chef one could find in Tortall, yet Alanna did not feel hungry. The atmosphere was not right.
She could feel the intense penetration as multiple pairs of eyes bore into her mercilessly, waiting for her first mistake. Alanna felt a sense of bitterness flood her insides. She felt like screaming to them, "GIVE ME A BREAK! I HAD BEEN LIVING IN A JUNGLE FOR TWO YEARS! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? PERFECTION?!" However, she knew that they would not let her off their scrutiny. Everyone, or at least most of the nobles, were just waiting for an opportunity to insult or criticize her. "Her make-up is too thick. Her dress sense is atrocious. She walks like a commoner. She has no grace or beauty. Her etiquette is haywire..." Alanna could already imagine the voices whispering. Her hand shook a little. She urged herself not to lose her temper, and above all, not to look up.
-------------------------
Meanwhile, Prince Jonathan of Conte was also in emotional turmoil. He did not know what to do. What happens if your ex-lover or at least the girl that you had loved had to leave the country and two years later, she suddenly comes back, equipped with superb fighting abilities and stunning hair? Jonathan muttered an inaudible curse under his breath. In addition, he had not said a single word to Alanna after that eventful day two years before. "What should I do?" He wondered. One thing that knighthood did not give him- the ability to think logically in such awkward circumstances.
Was her heart going pitter-patter now? Did she still have the feelings she had two years before? Did she still love him? Or had she pushed him out of her life forever? Was her heart stony cold? Did she hate him?
Questions, questions and more questions. A barrage of endless 'why's' and question marks attacked his mind. Questions.
And not a single answer.
Jonathan silently cursed again.
-------------------------
King Roald sighed. He too, was in a predicament. An important, dangerous one. Alanna of Trebond had become two things- a gift or a threat.
She had changed. She was more silent, more brooding. Yet, he could see the intelligence emanate from her big, purple eyes. He shuddered, involuntarily. More importantly, however, she had become a superb fighter.
The two years of exile had obviously done her some good. Instead of giving up on her fighting abilities, Alanna had developed it. Alanna's agility, speed and strength had improved tenfold over the two years. She had been a decent fighter before she left the city. Now... words could hardly describe her. She had beaten Alex, the best knight Tortall had seen for many years, as though he was just an amateur. It had been an embarrassing defeat for everyone, especially him. How could someone beat a knight? Especially someone whom he had kicked out of Knight training two years before. In that short space of time, Alanna of Trebond had become... become...
King Roald sighed again.
He had this peculiar gut feeling that Alanna of Trebond could be of great service to Tortall. She could be part of his army, in the face of war; she would be a great asset. Or she could teach the knights-to-be. A half knight, with amazing Shang abilities- ("Did she train with the Shang? Looks like she did" He thought.) Would be fantastic as a tutor or a commander. Most Shang never stayed more then a few months, but Alanna might. However, the nobles would complain. He knew that. There would be a revolt, a petition, even a revolution if he did take Alanna into his service.
Either way, trouble was sure to come.
Alanna of Trebond- a curse and a gift.
--------------------------
Miles away, Roger of Conte steadied his frazzled nerves. Plan B was going to take another huge chunk of his gift to brew. It was just like Plan A, only slightly different, and with a small twist. It was similar, as it too needed his full effort or the potion would go haywire.
Carefully, he removed a small, jagged shaped root from a vial containing a sticky yellow liquid. Taking out a small but sharp knife, Roger sliced out a small portion, no wider than a few millimeters, but still enough to be fatal. He placed it in a small crystal bowl. Next, he took out an assortment of ingredients, most unknown to the ignorant and threw it into the bowl. Lastly, he removed a needle from a bag and pricked his thumb. Two jewels of blood slithered down his finger and with an inaudible 'plop', landed in the bowl. The ingredients were complete.
Roger took another deep breath. Grabbing a chain that was around his neck, he clutched it tightly. He shut his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, he could feel a faint trickle of his gift flowing down his veins. It was followed by a sudden surge. The magic was working.
Roger stayed in that calm position for almost an hour, oblivious to his surroundings. All throughout, a seemingly never-ending trickle of his gift flowed. However, Roger could feel it slowly dwindling. The spell was almost complete. Suddenly, a violent tremor overtook Roger's body. He started to shake and vibrate, involuntarily. An imaginary hand grabbed Roger and shook him continuously before punching him hard in the stomach.
Roger felt the air constrict inside him and everything stopped.
The spell was complete. In the bowl, there was no longer an assortment of ingredients; instead, there were a few drops of a lurid red liquid. Roger felt a smile stretch from his one cheek, to the other.
Then, he slumped onto the floor, exhaustion overtaking him.
------------------------------
The dinner had gone better than expected. At least she had not made a very obvious blunder. For one moment, she panicked when she realised that she did not know what spoon to use for desert, but taking a peek at the person across her, she mimicked her moves like a parrot, and thankfully, she had pulled it off with a smile.
Now came the part that she had dreaded, dancing.
She had never been good at dancing, she was never very petite and her feet just did not seem to go the way it was meant to. However, Leo had been a master at dancing and had given her a crash course. She can not dance to save her life, but at least her moves resembled dancing.
Alanna sighed.
She surveyed the dance floor with a mixture of curiosity and distaste. It was full of dancing couples, and she spotted a few faces that she recognized distantly. Just then, she noticed a pair of shoed feet just in front of her.
Very familiar shoes it was.
Author's note: Okay, so It did not reach my target, but hey, 1225 words ain't a bad start! Please read and review, and thank you EVERYONE for reviewing! :D I will try my best to update- like one chapter every week... I am super busy... but thanks anyway!
Author's Note: Due to popular demand (Sounds like a product... lol) I shall try my very best to make my chapters longer! Please do not expect like 5000 word chapters...but I shall try to make it hit close to 1500 words! *Try* Thanks!
Also, the dotted line signifies a change in scene or person. I will try and get the objective views of various characters, instead of just Alanna. Thanks.
--------------------------
Alanna lifted up an intricately-designed silver spoon and scooped up some soup. The soup was thick and filled with herbs, and was cooked by the best chef one could find in Tortall, yet Alanna did not feel hungry. The atmosphere was not right.
She could feel the intense penetration as multiple pairs of eyes bore into her mercilessly, waiting for her first mistake. Alanna felt a sense of bitterness flood her insides. She felt like screaming to them, "GIVE ME A BREAK! I HAD BEEN LIVING IN A JUNGLE FOR TWO YEARS! WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? PERFECTION?!" However, she knew that they would not let her off their scrutiny. Everyone, or at least most of the nobles, were just waiting for an opportunity to insult or criticize her. "Her make-up is too thick. Her dress sense is atrocious. She walks like a commoner. She has no grace or beauty. Her etiquette is haywire..." Alanna could already imagine the voices whispering. Her hand shook a little. She urged herself not to lose her temper, and above all, not to look up.
-------------------------
Meanwhile, Prince Jonathan of Conte was also in emotional turmoil. He did not know what to do. What happens if your ex-lover or at least the girl that you had loved had to leave the country and two years later, she suddenly comes back, equipped with superb fighting abilities and stunning hair? Jonathan muttered an inaudible curse under his breath. In addition, he had not said a single word to Alanna after that eventful day two years before. "What should I do?" He wondered. One thing that knighthood did not give him- the ability to think logically in such awkward circumstances.
Was her heart going pitter-patter now? Did she still have the feelings she had two years before? Did she still love him? Or had she pushed him out of her life forever? Was her heart stony cold? Did she hate him?
Questions, questions and more questions. A barrage of endless 'why's' and question marks attacked his mind. Questions.
And not a single answer.
Jonathan silently cursed again.
-------------------------
King Roald sighed. He too, was in a predicament. An important, dangerous one. Alanna of Trebond had become two things- a gift or a threat.
She had changed. She was more silent, more brooding. Yet, he could see the intelligence emanate from her big, purple eyes. He shuddered, involuntarily. More importantly, however, she had become a superb fighter.
The two years of exile had obviously done her some good. Instead of giving up on her fighting abilities, Alanna had developed it. Alanna's agility, speed and strength had improved tenfold over the two years. She had been a decent fighter before she left the city. Now... words could hardly describe her. She had beaten Alex, the best knight Tortall had seen for many years, as though he was just an amateur. It had been an embarrassing defeat for everyone, especially him. How could someone beat a knight? Especially someone whom he had kicked out of Knight training two years before. In that short space of time, Alanna of Trebond had become... become...
King Roald sighed again.
He had this peculiar gut feeling that Alanna of Trebond could be of great service to Tortall. She could be part of his army, in the face of war; she would be a great asset. Or she could teach the knights-to-be. A half knight, with amazing Shang abilities- ("Did she train with the Shang? Looks like she did" He thought.) Would be fantastic as a tutor or a commander. Most Shang never stayed more then a few months, but Alanna might. However, the nobles would complain. He knew that. There would be a revolt, a petition, even a revolution if he did take Alanna into his service.
Either way, trouble was sure to come.
Alanna of Trebond- a curse and a gift.
--------------------------
Miles away, Roger of Conte steadied his frazzled nerves. Plan B was going to take another huge chunk of his gift to brew. It was just like Plan A, only slightly different, and with a small twist. It was similar, as it too needed his full effort or the potion would go haywire.
Carefully, he removed a small, jagged shaped root from a vial containing a sticky yellow liquid. Taking out a small but sharp knife, Roger sliced out a small portion, no wider than a few millimeters, but still enough to be fatal. He placed it in a small crystal bowl. Next, he took out an assortment of ingredients, most unknown to the ignorant and threw it into the bowl. Lastly, he removed a needle from a bag and pricked his thumb. Two jewels of blood slithered down his finger and with an inaudible 'plop', landed in the bowl. The ingredients were complete.
Roger took another deep breath. Grabbing a chain that was around his neck, he clutched it tightly. He shut his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, he could feel a faint trickle of his gift flowing down his veins. It was followed by a sudden surge. The magic was working.
Roger stayed in that calm position for almost an hour, oblivious to his surroundings. All throughout, a seemingly never-ending trickle of his gift flowed. However, Roger could feel it slowly dwindling. The spell was almost complete. Suddenly, a violent tremor overtook Roger's body. He started to shake and vibrate, involuntarily. An imaginary hand grabbed Roger and shook him continuously before punching him hard in the stomach.
Roger felt the air constrict inside him and everything stopped.
The spell was complete. In the bowl, there was no longer an assortment of ingredients; instead, there were a few drops of a lurid red liquid. Roger felt a smile stretch from his one cheek, to the other.
Then, he slumped onto the floor, exhaustion overtaking him.
------------------------------
The dinner had gone better than expected. At least she had not made a very obvious blunder. For one moment, she panicked when she realised that she did not know what spoon to use for desert, but taking a peek at the person across her, she mimicked her moves like a parrot, and thankfully, she had pulled it off with a smile.
Now came the part that she had dreaded, dancing.
She had never been good at dancing, she was never very petite and her feet just did not seem to go the way it was meant to. However, Leo had been a master at dancing and had given her a crash course. She can not dance to save her life, but at least her moves resembled dancing.
Alanna sighed.
She surveyed the dance floor with a mixture of curiosity and distaste. It was full of dancing couples, and she spotted a few faces that she recognized distantly. Just then, she noticed a pair of shoed feet just in front of her.
Very familiar shoes it was.
Author's note: Okay, so It did not reach my target, but hey, 1225 words ain't a bad start! Please read and review, and thank you EVERYONE for reviewing! :D I will try my best to update- like one chapter every week... I am super busy... but thanks anyway!