Hello to my readers. Hope you like this chapter. I have added a new plot to the story plus the Roger plot which is the main one. If you have any ideas who George should end up with, and if I should bring Thayet in, let me know. Just so you know I don't really like Thayet. But this chapter has been long time coming because I have been writing a story on my own about high school, and plus it's exam time. Chapter 3-7 are edited now and up. Enjoy!!!! Louise
CHAPTER TEN: LOVES, WINGS, WEDDINGS, CALL TO DRELL.
Alanna sat uneasily in her saddle. Before they left they had received word that her Vavo, The Dowager Empress, her Titi and Tita, the Emperor and Empress plus some of the court's most up-standing nobles of Bystine were here at Trebond.
As they passed though the Trebond and Great North Road Pass, Alanna looked up to her waiting future. As the sun roamed over the mountains stretching it's light into each corner of Trebond and Tortall, it shed the darkness from the night and chased it away to bring forth the day. Trebond was a sight in the morning light. The worn old part of the castle was the pride of their father and it's four towers that represent south, east, north and west was newly painted cream. Its flags whipped in the wind, and the castle's guards lined the walls in Trebond Gold and Purple. Then there was Alanna's pride: the newly added quarters of the Riders, their barracks and the added practice courts. The lovely gardens were filled with the scents of roses and lilies and even from the great distant they could be still smelled. The white stone was trimmed in gold and crystals.
The horses' corrals, guest stables, and castle stables for the residents of the palace that were there all year round were made of maple wood and white stone. Unlike the Rider's buildings which were trimmed in red and gold, the stables were trimmed in the Trebond colours. On the east side of Trebond a large Guest wing had been added, and across the back of Trebond was a large ballroom with windows that went up the walls. French doors led to a large terrace that wrapped around the ball room. The grass was cut short and the town below was bustling even at the early hour. The Merchants and people were setting up for the day. The food was being cooked and prepared to sell. Noble women bought dresses and shops were opening. Lazy boys were just waking up or were getting hit to wake up. Everyone was in a good mood except Alanna of Trebond and Bystine, for today her father was getting married. Some people began to call Trebond the second home of Royalty after the capital.
As they passed under the Great Gates of Trebond, the knight became grateful that they could get a hot bath and change. The morning breakfast was being cooked and it smelled wonderful. The Yugess and squires took the Riders' horses to the stables if they had a Yugess or Squire. If they didn't the Rider did it themselves. The palace stable hand took the knights' horses and Thom took Jon's. Their horses were taken to the Guest Stables. Above the great stable doors said "Omy Omg Itrey" which translated meant "Home of honored guests." It amused Thom. Jon, Gary, and Raoul were shown to large rooms. All the rooms were well furnished and each door had a name plate with their name on it so they could find their room without an escort. Jon loved his room. It was large and the bed was in the middle of the room. It had a fireplace with a roaring fire in it. The bathroom was to the right of the door coming in. The French doors led to a balcony that overlooked the terrace of the ball room and the north grounds of Trebond.
It was a Magnificent room. Jon heard a small knock at his door. He went to open it and found Thom. He told him that he was in his old room or his room. Thom said, "If you need to find me for any reason, come to the top of the great stairs, make a left, then pass the hall of mirrors and the hall of Lords and Ladies. Then you will see a set of stairs that will lead you all around the palace. Take the left that will lead to Alanna's and my rooms. Don't take the left or you will end up at your rooms." He left Jon to rest and then joined the others for breakfast.
Alanna flopped on her bed and welcomed in the maids to fill her warm bath. When they had finished, Alanna changed into her bath robe then picked out her days clothing which consisted of long straight legged pants, a bodice, and a full sleeve shirt. Then she sank into her bath of hot, steaming water. It felt wonderful on her aching muscles, and sore back, and she didn't want to leave. As Rabe entered her room, she dropped her large bag at the door and took out her journal. How could Prince Thom cast such a powerful shadow on her feeling? I never felt this way about any Lord or man for that matter in my whole life. Well, except my father maybe. she thought. As she began to write in her journal on her bed her eyes became heavy and thick. The weight of her head pulled her down onto her pillow and she fell fast asleep- as deep as the ocean of the west.
As the clouds began to rise in the west two knights could be seen dueling and laughing. Both were tall and strong. One was blonde and one was dark haired. Their sleepy Squires were falling asleep on the railing of the fence that cased in the practice court. Then a young red head squire came to watch the young knights and offered to show them to the palace tailors to get new clothing for the wedding party that night. As they left, the large knight could be seen tapping their young squires on their head to wake up and come along.
Alanna finished her bath and dressed. As she left her room she did not forget to lock the door. That was the last thing she needed: someone going into her room and breaking all of her things or worst of all finding her Journal with all her secrets from the Convent. The marble floor was cold because of the chill of the morning air. It had begun to rain about an hour before breakfast. The rain had brought a swift wind with it and some thunder was beginning to start up. Everyone hoped it would stop for the wedding that morning. The breakfast chamber was large, and had long solid wood tables and chairs. A head table had been added for the King, Queen, Emperor, Empress, Dowager Empress, her father, and soon to be mother to sit. Most nobles were just waking so many weren't there yet. Alanna picked up her tray and filled it with little amounts of food, for she knew how much food there would be at the wedding. It wasn't long until the Nobles began to come to eat. The once quiet chamber was now loud and unruly. The last nobles to arrive were Thom ,Gary , and Raoul. "Morning Everyone," chimed Thom. Everyone at the table laughed and the three sat down. "The buzz about the wedding is amazing and the Bystine nobles are so well dressed. Are they always in such fine clothing?" Gary asked.
"No it's only because they are in the company of Monarchs of Tortall, the Dowager Empress and most of the royal family of Bystine. They see it as respect to dress finely for them," were the words out of Alanna's mouth.
After breakfast it stopped raining and it smelled so fresh and clean. The sun once again came out and shed it's rays and heat on the earth. Alanna and Jon were quietly walking thought the gardens when he told her he loved her and kissed her passionately. From her balcony, unknown by Jonathan and Alanna, Lady Delia heard and saw all and she was not pleased. After she fixed her hair she left her room in search of Alex. When Alanna returned to her room she found her room open. She opened the door to find her Vavo and Tita here with seamstresses to make her dress for the ball tonight. Alanna detested the thought of getting a dress made and getting poked with pins.
As Alanna looked in her mirror she couldn't believe what they had sewn in such a short amount of time, which to her would have been an impossible task to complete but they did. The only people in her room now were her handmaidens who were trained in ladies arts as well as fighting arts. There were one of her four from Bystine, Imperial Lady Isis. Her newest lady was a Tortallan, Lady Marsha of Goldenlake. She told her any women of court other than lady Delia would see this as a great honor. You would almost get as much honor to your family name as serving the Queen. But you got more in the eyes of the Bystine Court.
As they pinned Alanna's hair and dusted sparkly green shadow on her eyes and the rest of her light amount of make up, Alanna remember the wedding ceremony. Her new stepmother looked so lovely. Her white gown made her blonde hair even whiter and her green eyes pop. Her father looked so happy and proud to be beside his new wife and new Lady of Trebond. Alanna did not like her new mother's name with the title. It didn't fit with "Trebond." She recited her step-mothers name in her head. "Tabitha, Lady of Trebond and Countess of Rose Valley." Ugh she hated it but the woman was the most pleasant woman to be around. They she heard Marsha's voice cutting into her thoughts telling her they were done and she could look now.
Alanna got up from her chair to look. She was so beautiful and Delia would be green with envy at the Wedding ball. Her gown's under dress was simple white silk that was a v-neck and had spaghetti straps. The neck line of her under dress was trimmed in diamonds and sliver thread. Her over dress was all one piece but sewn so it looked like separate pieces. It closed and was v-neck like her under dress. Her sleeves flared into bell sleeves at the elbows. Her shoulders had three layers of see through silk the same dark Violet as her dress and they looked like small wings. She was wearing a diamond choker, that was three strands attached to make one large strand. In her hair she wore a small diamond tiara. Her curls were pinned up and had small scattered diamonds in it. On her feet she wore violet ballet flaps and they had hard souls. Her face make up was light and shiny. Her lips had gloss on them and she was done. She was an admirable choice for a princess in this gown. She looked like she had her title of Nobility and had the look of some authority, even with out her glorious sword around her waist.
As she walked to he ballroom, Alanna studied every tile on the floor and every painting on the way like she had done when she was a child. For some reason she was very nervous tonight and her two handmaidens could tell. "Don't worry. You can do this, Princess." said Marsha and Isis together. Alanna heard her name being called and Alanna was ushered into place by Marsha and Isis. As they waited for the doors to open, Alanna took one deep breath and her nervous energy was gone. Then the great wood and silver doors opened and the last breaths were taken before descending down the stairs into the ballroom. "No turning back now" Alanna thought. "I hope to the goddess I don't trip."
A week had passed since the wedding and the new lady and lord were on vacation. When the Riders got a letter from the King asking the Riders for help holding the bank of River Drell, Alanna sent a reply saying they would. The day they left it was cold and raining. It felt more like hail, but it rain nonetheless. Company Three was staying for bandit problems that might arise. Alanna and the rest of the Riders left for Drell. On the road south, they met someone they all knew. They all didn't think they needed an escort. They King must have though other wise.
GOOD? BAD?OR THE UGLY? TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. LOUISE.
