Hey everyone. Well here's the next chapter. Sorry for the long wait and I can't wait for school what about you guys? Well here it goes. Well just read. Enjoy!!!!!! R&R
Louise


CHAPTER THRITEEN: THE GIFT OF LIFE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT.

Alanna felt an icy cold hand touch her shoulder in the midst of darkness and it gave her some feeling of joy. She also heard a voice soft and commanding yet it sounded like a pack of hounds on a hunt chasing her to the light in the darkness. "Alanna, My Daughter, My Chosen, get up. Get Up. They need you. Your friends are counting on you. Get up," yelled the Great Mother Goddess.

"I can't!" she cried into the darkness.

"You can, Alanna. Where is the hope inside of you that you had when you were a child? Alanna, wake up. Get up. How did you become so cold, my child?"

"I can't; they didn't come to save me. Goddess, I can't"

"Yes, My Daughter, you can. They did come to save you. Now get up, get up."

"No I will not."

"Alanna, Jon needs you, everyone needs your help. Help them now. Stop being so cold. Love again, be reborn, and start over with a clean slate. Become warm again. Now get up; follow into the light. Join the battle," cried the Goddess to Alanna. "Now get UP!!!"

Alanna did as she was told and followed the pack of hounds to the white light. As she passed through, she felt her body and her sprit become warm again and fill with the hope of love in her future. She was home and alive she thought. She came into the forest alive and wearing breeches of silvery fabric, a shirt that was white and its collar went right to her back and stopped just about the middle of her shoulder blades. It was a v-neck shirt and had a single line of white about a centimeter in and all around the collar. (A/N Sailor moon style neck line/collar.) The sleeves were long and full. Around her neck was a strand of diamonds and her goddess's gift. Her boots were white and had a strip of sliver at the top. Her hair was brushed and in a ponytail. The best part was the solid sapphire star on her chest.

"A gift for the battle."

"Thank you, Goddess."

"Go and fight," and with that the Mother Goddess disappeared and Alanna went straight for the raging battle with Lightning at her side.

The battle was long and raged into the night. The Tortallans had taken the Count and Duke into custody and they would be used as ransoming tools for their side. Alanna had most of the glory and liked it. She asked Jon if she could switch tents with Thom so she could be closer to him. He of course said yes. Thom was happy to have a larger tent and space to breathe. Alanna yet again had over worked her gift and fainted into the arms of whom else but Jon. He took her back to her tent and let her rest. Duke Baird had fixed her arm earlier that day.

Alanna woke three days later to the sound of the wind rustling the trees outside and blowing through the tent. She rose slowly not wanting to move fast because something might break and that would not be good at all. Jon was sitting, reading a novel. He put it down and looked her in the eye. "Better?" he asked her.

"Yes, I am."

"Alanna, what happened? How did you get captured?" He asked as he sat on the side of her bed roll and brushed the knots out of her hair.

"Ummm.... Well I don't think you're going to believe the second part."

"Try me."

"Okay, I will then." Alanna began to tell him about what happened and how she was captured and how the goddess brought her back from what she called the Dark God's eternal sleep, which was where a person wandered in the darkness forever and never died. She told how she changed her clothing and the whole story, every thing from top to bottom. It felt good to have someone who loved her to hear the story first.

"What do you think?"

"Wow! What a story! You actually saw and talked to the Mother Goddess?"

"Yup. She is quite nice."

"Alanna, um," began Jon. "Um, well, can I ask you something?"

"Yes. Anything."

"You know the war put my life into perspective. When you were captured I was so scared I thought you were going to die so I came up with a rescue plan. Well, I was, um, wondering if you would- I don't know how to put this. But I'm just going to say it, okay?"

"Yes. Okay. Just say what you want to ask me Jon," Alanna answered.

"First sit here, ok?"

"Okay," was her answer as he led her to the stool that he was once sitting on. "Alanna, do you love me?" He asked in a sweet, calm voice.

"Yes, I do," she automatically answered to him.

"We have been friends for three years now and I need to ask this," he began. "We have been friends for the past two and a half years and now lovers for half of one. Alanna, Lioness of Tortall-" With that, Jon got down on one knee and then finished as he pulled a small box out of his pocket. "Princess of Bystine, Lady of Trebond, my sweet one, will you satisfy me in saying yes and marry me?" Jon held his breath not wanting to breathe. He wanted to freeze this moment of total un-certainty. There was a lot of room in this for a no. He hoped to the gods that it was a yes.

"Yes, my love. Yes, I will," was her answer.

Jon quickly rose to his feet and picked up Alanna and spun her around and around laughing and giggling. He put her down and slipped her ring onto her finger. It was a large princess cut diamond and fit perfectly. He kissed her, but it was not just a kiss. It was the kind of kiss that puts all kisses behind them. So full of love, it sent fire down Alanna's spine.

"Two days until I meet my future," Alanna thought "I wonder what the court will think of this."

GOOD? BAD? OR UGLY? LOUISE