They were standing together on the balcony, Gary's arm round his betrothed's shoulder. She gave a little sigh of contentment, letting her gaze wander out across the stunning view of the city. Alanna couldn't remember feeling so peaceful since… well, ever. She no longer had to pretend to be somebody she wasn't, she was going to marry a man who she liked and would even teach her to fight, and all of a sudden she had gained a host of new friends. She felt as though the last six years of her life had been wasted. Somehow it didn't seem strange that she was sharing this moment with Gary; she was even coming to terms with the marriage. She wondered, vaguely, what Cythera and her new foreign friends were doing inside. She smiled at the thought; Jon had seemed very smitten with Sandry…And hadn't she noticed Raoul bringing Cythera onto the floor? Strange, he had a reputation for hating that kind of thing… As for Tris and Daja, they had probably sneaked back to their rooms by now. Mithros knows how Sandry had got them there at all!
The band struck up a new tune, delicate, soft and gentle, more written for listening to then for dancing to. (A/n: Bach air quartet, people.) as though ti was the most natural thing in the world, Gary put a hand on Alanna's forehead and rubbed his thumb over the skin above her eyes. She grinned up at him; he returned the smile. Slipping his arm around her shoulders, he drew her in again, until they stood side by side, brushing against each other. After a moment Gary said quietly,
"Alanna?"
The Lioness turned up again to meet his gaze. "Uh-huh?" She replied, with half her mind.
"About our marriage…"
That got her attention. He had said the forbidden word. They had an unspoken agreement never to talk about their betrothal. Alanna gulped, and nodded.
"Yes?" Great line, Alanna.
"I just wanted you to know… You can call it off if you want."
He waited, silently, for her answer, dreading what it might be. She considered his proposal seriously. He had thought she would.
"Why?" Her throat was so hoarse, it came out at just above a whisper, but Gary heard. He sat on the balcony rail with a sigh, and tried to articulate his scattered thoughts.
"I've seen you fight." He said at last. "And not just in the courtyard. I've seen the light that comes into your eyes when you talk sometimes, and I've seen you scream at your healers. I've seen you sit for hours by the bedside of a girl you'd never met, and I've seen you greet her and her friends with an overflowing heart. Sweet Mithros, Alanna, you're truly a lioness. What kind of a person would I be if I tried to cage that spirit, keep it locked up where it was full of sadness and grief? Truly, Aly, if you don't want to marry me, tell me now."
She was stunned. Silence reigned. Then, without looking at Gary or changing her tone at all, she murmured softly. "I'll marry you."
Gary could hardly believe his ears. Cautiously slipping his hand under her chin, he forced her gaze up to meet his.
"Are you sure, Aly?"
She smiled weakly. "Gary, if I searched for a year I'd never find another man at court like you. You taught me to fight, and I'll never forget that. You have no idea how much that meant to me." There was the tiniest catch in her throat at these words. At last she met his eyes, and the smile blossomed across her face.
"Of course I'll marry you."
