Many thanks to those that reviewed this story. :) ][Hugs][
Oceanspike: Lolz. Thank you – I'm glad you think it's funny. You probably find it confusing because of the tangents that keep branching off from Alanna's thoughts, neh? Well, the plotline is quite simple and straightforward, as my aim for this story is not plot, but rather style of writing. Basically, Alanna has 'graduated', shall we say, from the convent – where I may add, she has resented every second she had spent there. To be of nobility rank, Alanna is being sent to court (the palace of Corus) to 'find a husband'. C'est tout. Simple, neh?
Miamouse: Haha. Truth be told, this is the first time I've fully indulged in writing through first person. Lolz. Admit it hun, how often is it we speak negative thoughts compared to how often we think them? I just tried to take Alanna's 'inner thoughts', and transfer them onto paper. In reality, she's just another girl as normal as you or I. Lolz. As for 'attention to detail' – I'm glad you brought that up, because I made her surroundings purposely ambiguous. Why? Because I'm writing through first person, I only write exactly what Alanna thinks. For example, I can proceed to describe the insides of the carriage, and the surrounding city of Corus – but that would defeat the purpose. No casual observer would pay that much attention to detail. :)
Sportzgurl: Thanks. :) If you are still confused, I suggest you read that little excerpt I left for Oceanspike. Shall you have any further question, please feel free to let me know through the comments board, or email me as jazzz125hotmail.com.
S: Haha. When I warned you of first person, I meant it literally – hard-core first person. Any thought that pops into Alanna's mind you will find translated on paper. :P Haha. And yes, she's definitely going to be interacting with people – especially a certain blue-eyed, black-haired someone. That's where the 'fun' comes in. Lolz.
Pinky: As I have been saying, because this is through the first person narrative, it has to have a lot of tangents and rambling. I know that I never stay focused on one subject all the time, if I'm just left alone to my thoughts – and I suspect Alanna's mind works the same way. :P
Xaralai: Thank you for your encouraging compliments. :) To be honest, this really is not my writing style. Lolz. I'm more of an angst writer determined to break free of her usual writing style and try something new. I'm glad you liked it, though.
Clueless: Your wish is my command. LOLZ.
For the love of the Gods!! For the nerve of Their Royal Majesties!!! Despite over a month of advance warning of my arrival, they still did not have a room prepared for me. In fact, they didn't have any available rooms at all!!
Talk about a warm welcome!
"It seems the right season for all you young women to be flocking to our courts. After all, the Prince does not get younger waiting." Then the King WINKS at me.
Can you believe the nerve of him?! What does he think we are? Sheep?! Goats?? Flocks indeed!
AND he is giving ME blatant hints about the personal love life of the 'Oh, I'm-So-Special-Because-Everybody-Bows-Down-To-Me Crown Prince of Tortall!
Well, I'll let that eligible Prince of Conte know that one female here won't be kissing his charming derriere.
-----
Definitely need a new plan to deal with this light. Although knowing my plans…pfff… let's just say my so-called plans have nasty habits of turning against me every time I formulate them. I'll be lucky to make it out alive and unscathed. (And being humiliated definitely counts as 'scathed'.) – I must be cursed or something, you know. Nothing ever goes as I plan them – if I say 'yes', the result will most definitely be a 'no'. It's as contrary as black and white!
Why, oh why, is life so unfair?
I don't see this problem happening to anyone else! EVERYONE I've ever read about always manages to extract themselves in tight corners. But oh no, it just so happens that MY plans never work that way!
Argh, it's said that abstract objects cannot be biased – well what the heck to do you call this?! Obvious, blatant, BIAS. Against me.
And to make matters worse, until one female decides they've had enough of mooning over our country's finest men, I doubt I'd be getting a decent ROOM anytime soon.
Meanwhile, guess where I'm installed? His Highness the Prince of Conte's study!! (Yes, there is a bed. And just to keep records straight, I've been told His Highness never sleeps – and never has slept – there...) Can you believe me luck??
Or, rather – my lack thereof?
-----
So anyways, I'm sitting here, on the thick, soft – ohhh, this was nice – couch, fuming at my so-called luck. No room, no personal treatment, and dancing 'part-ays' lined up for the rest of the week!
Aw, come on – you can't possibly blame me for being whiny about this. All in all, it's one lose-lose situation. I can't possibly win.
---
You know, for a place as large as this, it hasn't taken me very long wear out any inch of respect I had for it. Of course, I was only infatuated with the structure, not whatever and whomever the structure held, per se.
There is only ONE person I really wish to see. ONE.
And ironically, I've spent the past 5 years cursing him for not agreeing with my plan. My ingenious, and oh-so-brilliant plan that could have gotten HIM out of knighthood training, and ME out of the convent.
Damn my brother and his stubbornness…
A knock sounds at the door. I yank it open with such force the person on the other side loses his balance and falls into me, grabbing my neck to keep from tumbling over. Argh!! I've never met such a klutz!
-----
I become aware of my face being pressed against a muscular chest (as I'm sure any observer would notice – it's not that I'm impressed or anything, right?), clothed in a silky garment of royal blue.
A scent of spicy cologne and something distinctly different altogether reach my nose. I look up – and see snatches of bright blue. So much intense blue in such close proximity...I feel like I'm drowning. His arms are still wrapped around my neck…
A moment passes.
Then two.
Dear Goddess!! I'm standing in the Prince's study, the first day at court, and I'm already in the arms of some court stranger!!
But those eyes… What shade of blue ARE they, exactly? It is totally unfair for any species of the human race to possess such magnetic eyes. And by magnetic, I'm really not joking… Magnetic as in mesmerizing – thoroughly seductive…
-----
-Cringe- What am I THINKING?!
Lord, it's not my fault! What is wrong with this man? He knocks on the door, and ends up FALLING into me. ME!!! What does he think I am?!! And now he's staring at me like he's never seen an individual of the female population!!
"Do you have any common courtesy? Any noble civility?!" Using a few of those Shang tricks I had picked up over the years, I kicked him in the stomach.
Hard.
I swear, I only intended to distance myself away from this source of disturbing masculinity. (I mean, that's not a crime, is it? Any girl has the right to defend herself in the face of an unwanted advancer…)
But like most of my other good intentions – it seemed to fall through.
Unfortunately, he was taller than I expected. Much taller. My foot ended up connecting solidly with his – well…erm…
Let's just say I did hit something…
The more… tender part of his body.
-----
At least it had the desired effect. He fell back – away from ME, which was all that mattered – with a grunt of pain.
And standing right behind him, now revealed due to my little 'accident', was my reflection. My very own.
Copper hair – shortly cropped, purple eyes widened with amused surprise… I've never had the grace to look like a fish out of the water, I think indignantly.
Oh My God, Oh My God!!! THOM!!!!
He smirks as he sees the recognition dawn on my face. "So, this is what they taught you as the convent, Sister?"
I jump on him with a shriek that did justifiable credit to whatever teachings the Daughters had taught me, launching myself into his arms with enough force to knock him over. He laughs and spins me around.
(I conveniently 'forget' all about the sweet revenge I had planned for…oh, ever since I stepped into the convent?)
"It's so good to see you again!" His voice had changed; it had become deeper – deep enough to wring the heart of any female.
Except me, of course. (Eww. -Mental cringe-)
"Thom! You look…" I stare at him, at a loss for words. Honestly, if I wasn't his sister, I sure as hell would be falling for him. (Urgh. -Shudders- Bad, bad, mental image.)
But he looked so different! Lean and muscular… Tall…
"Good?" He supplies cheerfully – waaay to cheerfully, tweaking my nose.
-----
He just did – what?! My twin – TWIN, just TWEAKED my nose, like I was a two-year old!
All right, that is a bit much… I stare him in the eye, blatantly ignoring his amused glance, and shooting him a death glare of my own.
Believe me, I've had plenty of practice with those.
"Listen here, brother dear, I may have spent 5 years at the convent, but don't think I can't whip you within an inch of your life. One more - "
At that fine moment, a dramatic groaning broke through my tirade.
-----
Wha-???
Do NOT tell me I have lost my mind. Not that that's possible or anything. You know. I mean, I know I'm obviously sane. But I just – aiy, forget it.
"Jon! Are you all right?" Thom went over to someone leaning against the wall – someone who was panting slightly and looking a bit apprehensive.
Someone with soft, dark hair, and blue eyes. (Hmm... Azure blue?) Oh man – he can't still be in pain, can he? I mean, I didn't hit him that hard…
All right – maybe I should apologize – I admit, the Shang way is not something to be fooled with. No, I shouldn't. I was justified. HE was the one who came onto me.
"I think so."
I notice his hands are still hovering protectively over that – well, that unfortunate victim of my misjudgement. HA! He's definitely nuts, if he expects a confession from me. Whooo! HAHA. I almost lost it with laughter. I definitely need a new description for him – whatever I do, I can't call him nuts. That reminds me too much of that – ha, that incident.
"I didn't know such a lovely Lioness could be so ferocious, my Lady." He looks at me, and grins cheekily, the perfect picture of innocence.
Oh. My. God. He's got one lady-killer of a smile. (My subconscious chooses to pass the fact that HE is smiling at ME, even after I had caused him crucial pain.)
All witty repartees I had planned automatically flies through the window.
Vanished.
What am I supposed to say to that type of comment? Should I be pleased, or insulted? Arghhh – this is the useful stuff they should have taught us at the convent!
All right. You can handle this. Breathe, Alanna. Deep breathes, now. Breathe in – and out. In, and out.
NO!! Getting positively dizzy means you haven't been breathing out…
Again – In, and out…
-----
"Highness, this is my sister – Alanna of Trebond." Thom introduces me, and gives me a wink.
This shakes me out of my reverie. Haha! I can breathe again! Oh, how I can always count on Thom to get me out of tight situations.
Wait. Did he just say – oh. Ohhhh.
"And Sister dear (damn! How dare he put in those same italics I had used on him against me?!), this is the Crown Prince of Tortall – Jonathan of Conte." There is now an open smirk on his face, and I can see that evil glint in his violet eyes.
Uh-oh.
Goddess, have mercy.
-----
At the conspicuous moment, a servant garbed in the red and gold colours of the royal wing appeared around the corridor bend.
"Please, your Highness. His Majesty would like you in his study as soon as possible…"
I swear, those were the sweetest words I've ever heard. In just another moment, Jonathan was going to disappear! Gone! Saved by the – servant! Yes!! I could dance with relief.
Did I just – oh never mind. I'm not even going to ask.
"Just a minute. Tell father I'll be right there."
I freeze.
The Prince turns to me expectantly, a broad grin on his face, his eyes twinkling. Cerulean blue?
"It's a pleasure, I'm sure, Lady Alanna." He gives me his hand.
Did I even remotely feel the tiniest bit of remorse for kicking him?! You've got to be joking. Every second of that was worth it.
I shoot him a famous death glare. The smile widens.
I swear, Hell will freeze over the day that guy doesn't smile.
Damn. What is with these people and turning their lips upwards all the time? Is this some sort of knighthood thing? First Thom, and now THIS twit of a Prince. I hate – absolutely HATE – that killer of a smile. (And of course, my heart is beating erratically because I'm so fed up with that smile – there is NO other reason. I repeat, NONE.)
-----
My brother coughs from his position behind Jonathan. (Pfffff. Brother my derriere. Which true brother would subject their twin sister to such a sadistic situation?!)
Thom. I am going to kill you as soon as I can get my hands on you… You'll so never know what hit you. And Mithros curse whoever invented the stupid Code of Chivalry.
That was just plain cruel.
-----
"Your Royal Highness", I mutter, kissing the hand he presented me. (Twitch, twitch) With the Prince still grinning like the complete scumbag that he really was, I – oh, get ready for this! – I curtsied. Yeah, well, I can afford to spare my pride once in awhile, but now is not the time.
What did I ever do to deserve this?!
Wait – what do you think you're doing? NOT charming. NOT gentlemanly – okay, maybe gentlemanly, but NOT WANTED!! LET GO OF MY HAND!!! (Oh… I would be able to do a more thorough job of this outburst if he wasn't the Prince or Tortall, AND if the stupid so-call 'chivalrous' Code didn't specifically demand this.)
"Please, call me Jon." His lips linger on my hand – and I resist the urge to kick him again. It's the body heat that's getting to me – how his lips feel is NO concern to me whatsoever. Puh-lease. And call – him…Jon?! Wha- who?
-----
Uhh… I don't think my breathing is in my control anymore. Ha! Maybe I'll allergic to him. Oh wait – he's twice as bad as any allergen. Three time as bad… maybe even four –
He chuckles as I mumble something completely unintelligible. He catches my gaze again, and holds it before turning away.
Damn grin.
----
Uh-oh. That's definitely an unhealthy amount of collective heat pooling in my cheeks. No – it's not because of him. Why would it –
-----
I can't be affected by him, can I? Nah-uh.
Not possible.
In his wildest dreams.
For one thing, I don't believe in love at first site (Pfff. How cliché). Two, there is nothing about that – that y-chromosome (that's ALL he is) I like. In fact, he had the nerve to COLLIDE into me, and his eyes –
Oh Goddess. Those eyes.
Cobalt blue?
-----
A/N: Another chapter completed. I did warn you this is going to be a rather short, fluffy story, neh? Lolz. Comments or reviews? How about – oh, let's say 15 comments in reward for my looong chapter? Haha. Thank you for reading. :)