Alanna
Chapter 8
Author's Note: I think or at least suspect that this will be longer than the first few chapters! Quite an interesting chapter to write!
Also, please read my other fan fic:
Harry Potter and his Destiny
Lastly, I shall add a credits section at the end of every chapter, to give a big THANK YOU to everyone!
--------------------------
Alanna took in a deep breath in panic. Was that who she thought it was? Was that JONATHAN? "No… no… this cannot be happening…"she muttered to herself, and than to Mithros above, in a silent plea. Alanna knew that she would have to face Jonathan sooner or later, but never had she expected the 'later' to be now. She was not ready. In her mind, the final meeting with Jon was to be a private affair. Maybe in the gardens or something? Where they would sit down and talk it out, about their feelings and what had happened. It was NOT supposed to happen in public, in a dance at that.
Alanna willed herself to look up.
She did look up.
It was Jonathan, of course. After seeing his shoes for two years, Alanna would never forget them. (Note to all: Ok, so Jonathan's a prince, and he should have changed his shoes at least once in Alanna's exile… sorry about that, can't change it though… Let's just pretend he's a really thrifty guy eh?) It was black and leathery and had this 'Jonathan' feel to it.
Jonathan stared straight into her eyes. Alanna was lost in the swirl of brownness in his eyes, eyes with deliciously long eyelashes. He had not changed, inside perhaps, but externally, Jonathan had looked exactly the same as he did years before.
--------------------------
Jonathan however, was thinking the exact opposite of what Alanna was. He was thinking how much Alanna had changed. Gone was the short, coppery, boyish hair that she had donned. Alanna now had a mass of fine strands that hovered somewhere past her shoulders when let loose. (Years at court had taught him how to judge such things) She still looked the same, but yet, there was something different about her. Still the same old stocky built, the same old eyes and mouth, but there was a different air about her. Jonathan just could not put his finger on what it was.
--------------------------
Alanna gasped a little as Jonathan gently lifted her hand and placed it to his lips before asking her," May I have this dance, Lady Alanna?"
It was quite unlike what she was used to. Jonathan had never really treated her like what he treated the other women in court, Alanna had always noticed that. She had felt a little hurt at first, but slowly, she learnt how to push her emotions aside. Jonathan had never really treated her like the girl she was. However, he was treating her like a lady now.
"Lady Alanna" he had said.
Alanna felt like snorting, but decided to refrain from doing so. Snorting was not lady-like at all.
Without waiting for a reply, Jonathan gently ushered her to the dance floor and began guiding her slowly in a dance. Alanna struggled to keep up with his footsteps at first, but soon, she got used to the tempo of the beat. All this while, Alanna's heart was thumping wildly. She could not bring herself to look into Jonathan's eyes. She did not even know what to say!
The song was a slow one, and Alanna found it easier to keep up with Jonathan. "This is fun," she thought.
"Wait a minute, fun?! Was that what I just said? *(Yea, I know, should be thought eh? But said seems more correct, somehow) "Alanna wondered.
The lioness enjoying dancing?!
--------------------------
The King stared at the dancing duo is horror.
This was not happening. He could already hear whispers and murmurs, and he could feel eyes swinging to stare at them. Jonathan and Alanna. Jonathan and Alanna. A match that just COULD NOT happen.
He should have known that such a thing would have happened. He had got the full story out from the servants, Jonathan and some other people at the castle. He knew that the duo were in love before they were separated. However, he had secretly and ardently hoped that the love would die down. After all, their match was a dangerous one. The nobles would be displeased. Very displeased. The future ruler of Tortall, dancing with a girl, not just any girl, but a girl who had masqueraded as a boy to become a knight.
It was a dangerous match. Very dangerous.
He had to do something about it.
--------------------------
A few hundred miles away, a dark haired figure suddenly woke up, doused in sweat. It was not very late at night, and as others would say, "The night is still young', but Leo had never been a person to sleep late. In addition to the fact that his bones were aching terribly, after yet another day of intense practice.
He had dreamt.
He dreamt that Alanna was in danger. Alanna, his apprentice, who was miles away. For any other person, that was just a trifle, a bagatelle. A dream is only a dream, after all.
However, for Leo, it was dangerous.
His dreams usually came true.
Leo knew that he had the gift of foresight, he had known since he was young. Once, he had dreamt that his horse, Thunder, died. Sure enough, a few weeks later, Thunder contracted something and within a few hours, lay under a pile of soil, never to neigh again. Then there was the time where he had predicted the attack of bandits on the Shang village. Sure enough, it had happened.
Leo could not tell anyone what he had seen. He had seen Alanna, cold, lying on the floor of a strange, unfamiliar place, dead, with a gaping wound in her chest. He had seen her sword, Lightning, lying motionless beside her. He had heard the evil laughter of a maniac. He knew that he had to do something, Alanna was in danger, but he could not just tell anyone.
It was a little more complicated than that.
The Shang did not have gifts of any sort. And he was a Shang apprentice when he discovered his knack of predicting the future. Instead of telling anyone, or stifling it, Leo just chose to keep quiet about it. And no one had suspected anything. If they did, he would be in trouble.
Leo could not tell anyone about it. He could not.
He needed to go to Corus. Alone.
--------------------------
Lady Vera stared at the dancing couple in disgust.
"She isn't even pretty!" she grumbled inwardly. "She has beautiful eyes," Lady Vera admitted grudgingly, "and her hair isn't too bad, but aside from that, she resembles a toad! She's too short, too stout and not graceful enough. And her skin is too dark. What does the prince see in her? What about me? I am taller, more graceful, prettier… "She wondered.
--------------------------
After the dance, Alanna was giddy with confusion and she could hardly stand and think. Excusing herself, she muttered an apology before heading up the grand staircase towards her sleeping compartment. Her head in a whirl of emotions, she was about to push her door open when someone stopped her… Someone gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Alanna whirled back in surprise.
It was Thom.
Author's Note: That was shorter than I expected, but it's longer than the first 7 chapters! Yay!
Credits
Emiliana Keladry- for being a faithful reviewer.
AJ 4EVA- for continuously reviewing, encouraging me and spurring me on!
Arianla- for reviewing a lot! :D
To all other reviewers who had reviewed! THANK YOU! *hugs*
Lastly,
To my darling sister, who continuously pesters me to update! Thanks! Luv ya!
Next update- should be in 1-2 weeks time… have loads of tests this week and a french exam coming up… try to sneak in some time!
Thanks!