A/N: So I haven't updated in a while...sorry! I don't know how often I'll be able to from now on, or if this is the last chapter or what-not...but don't worry by the end of this chapter you'll know. REMEMBER! I WRITE THIS ON THE FLY! Just to clarify. And sorry for those of you who don't think this story has enough substance...but I think it has plenty! So keep all your negative comments to yourself!
ENJOY the latest chapter!
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"So when do I get to meet your mother?"
Aly ducked her head underneath Braden's arm. They were walking towards her father's office so they could have a brief meeting with the other spies before the ball that night in the honor of the group going to Maren.
"Sorry?"
"When will I able to grace your mother's presence with my introduction?"
Aly looked at him. "My, my. Big words for a man, eh?" Braden winked and grinned and put his arm over her shoulders again.
"No really. When?"
"Since when are you so eager?"
"Since when are you so keen on avoiding the situation?"
"What situation?"
Without hesitating like Aly suspected him to he responded, "The situation of me meeting your mother?"
Aly's mind raced. What had she wanted him to say? Why did she expect him to falter?
"Aly?"
"Oh. I'm not. I just enjoy teasing you." She sighed - she'd think on this later. "Tonight at the ball I suppose. And I guess you'll meet Thom too. He's the scholar in the family."
"Ah, yes of course. The Baron's eldest."
She rolled her eyes and the pair continued on their way to The Baron's office.
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"I've been told to request that you be nice to this one, lass."
"This one?"
George sat down on their bed and Alanna sat down next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder as he put his arm over her shoulders and rubbed her arm. "Yes, the latest one Aly is currently seeing."
Alanna sighed audibly and looked up at her husband. "How long will this one last?"
George looked at her kissed her quickly. "She's been seeing him for a while actually. He's one of the Player-spies as well. Used to work for me."
Alanna groaned softly. "A thief?"
He kissed the top of her head. "No, spy. Please be nice and civil to this one, Lass. And pray to the Goddess that he's a keeper."
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Had she really wanted him to mention marriage? Was she really ready to settle down with Braden? Was he the most interesting man of all?
She was toweling her hair after just bathing. She contemplated all these questions during her bath and she was just as clueless as before.
She had no idea.
"ALY!" There was a sudden shower of knocks on her door; "Aly! Do you have a dress for tonight yet?"
Aly opened the door (she was thankfully dressed) to find Yuki and Kel standing there. "Do you have a dress for tonight yet?"
Aly's eyes widened, "Oh gods, I completely forgot..."
Before anyone could say anything, Yuki grabbed the younger girl's arms and dragged her to a special wing of the Palace.
"Where-"
"Lalasa's been spending any free time she has in the Palace the past few days to make dresses only for Royals and Guests of Honors-"
"-Which would be us," Yuki finished. She softly shoved Aly into a large room with women running around with needles in their mouths. "Lalasa!"
Lalasa came over, her hair in a frazzled bun with a frown on her face. But when she saw Kel, Yuki and Aly she smiled. "Ladies! How can I help you?"
"These two," Yuki pointed at her two friends, "need dresses for tonight. Very nice dresses." She leaned over and whispered something in the dressmaker's ear.
"Oh, of course!" Aly noticed her brown eyes had widened slightly, but said nothing. She tried to adjust her Sight, but she was dragged over to a stool where she stood on and waited to be fitted.
"What color, dear? An older woman asked her. But before Aly could open her mouth, Yuki chimed in, "Green for Aly and pale blue for Kel!"
"Perfect!" Lalasa said a few stools over where she was working on a dress for Aliya.
"Aly! Last minute to?"
Aly nodded. "Don't move, miss." She straightened and held her arms and chin up as a bold emerald green, silky fabric was wrapped around her body.
"Mistress?" Lalasa came over. "Well, the Queen's dress is sleeveless and she has a shawl, so do the same for Aly and Kel's." She looked at the color of the fabric. "Hm...that might be to bold; especially if you're one of the Guests of Honor..."
Aly nodded. "A lighter color perhaps?"
"Not pink?"
"Clash with her hair."
"Purple?"
"Too much like the Lioness."
"Oh but her dress is silver this time!"
"Blue?"
"Kel's is blue!"
"Black?"
"NO!"
"Light green?"
"With dark green embroidery?"
"BRILLIANT!"
Lalasa shooed all of the other women who had gathered around Aly away so she could get to work on Aly's new dress and then Kel's.
An hour later Aly walked back to her room with her dress and friends in tow. "See you ladies at the ball then?"
Yuki and Kel waved and walked off to their own rooms so they could get ready and wait for their own men to pick them up. Men. She liked the sound of that.
She had a man.
Not a boy.
A man.
She unlocked her door, put her dress on her bed and went to the mirror, taking out her face paints. She put a trace amount of light pink eye paint on her lids and black paint on the lashes to make them longer. She put a light pink gloss on her lips - it tasted sort of like sugar...Braden had better like it and took out her hair pins. She took the top layer of her hair and rolled it into loose, large, ringlets before putting it into a horse tail. She put a very thin and delicate silver headband her Grandmother Eleni had given her on and looked in the mirror. Her hair didn't look to fancy, but nice enough for a ball. She carefully put her dress on, and then her silver flats. She put her shawl over her shoulders just as there was a knock on the door.
She opened the door slowly, saying, "You're here early..." She could tell Braden was about to respond with something witty, but instead he just stared at her. He stepped into her room slowly, still staring at her. His eyes skimmed over her entire body - soaking her all in.
"You look-" But he couldn't even finish what he was going to say. He slowly and sensually slid the shawl slowly off her shoulders so that it fell on the floor. She watched it fall but then looked back into his eyes. They were dark again - as dark as the steel hinges of the palace gates. Her dress in turn, had given her eyes a deeper green hue than usual. His eyes bore into his before he slowly brought his lips down to her into one of the most passionate kiss they had experienced.
They slowly and reluctantly broke apart. "You look beautiful." Those three words caused Aly to blush - she rarely blushed.
"Thank you." She had been too consumed in his eyes and his stare, that she hadn't really seen his outfit. He was wearing a charcoal tunic with black pants and boots. A dagger hung on his black belt. His black hair was as untidy as ever and Aly affectionately ruffled it as he bent down to pick up her almost-forgotten shawl. His face broke into a grin when he stood up again.
"Shall we, milady?" He put the shawl back on her shoulders and put his arm out to escort her.
"Thank you, kind sir."
"Aliya Van Trey and Rhys Lansig." The herald announced each Player's name and their companion - who also happened to be a Player as they walked down the Hall's stairs. As Guests of Honor they of course had to be announced.
"Christopher Barrett and Rhonda Harper."
Aly and Braden were the last Players to be called - only before Kel, Dom, Neal and of course the Royal Family.
"Ivy Parker Shea, Morgan Shea and their children Donovan and Nari Shea."
"Theodore Locke." (Theo offered to go alone as there was an odd number of Players - Jade had dropped out at the last second).
"Breathe," Braden whispered in Aly's ear as they approached the top of the stairs. She looked at him and he winked - his way of reassuring her as they couldn't hold hands. She squeezed his arm gently as the herald announced, "Braden Tyler and Alianne Cooper of Pirate's Swoop." She and Braden descended the stairs gracefully and Aly could see everyone in the hall; she spotted her mother and brothers easily. When they finally reached the end Aly let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, and went to stand next to the other Players.
After the Royal Family sat on their thrones, the Players, Kel, Dom and Neal knelt before them so that King Jonathan and Queen Thayet could honor and bestow gifts on them for their journey. After this mini-ceremony, the ball began and noise filled the hall quickly.
"Now?" Braden took her hand and looked at her pleadingly.
"Fine," she sighed and walked with Braden over to where her mother and father were standing.
"Mother? Father?" Alanna turned around and laid her fierce amethyst eyes on Aly and then Braden.
"Aly!" She hugged her daughter quickly. "And you must be Braden."
He bowed and took her hand, "Pleased to meet your acquaintance Sir Alanna." He skillfully kissed her hand and stood up. "Baron, how are you?"
"Fine, thank you Braden." He looked at Aly and winked. He had told Alanna to behave...
Thank you she mouthed to her father just as Alan and Thom strolled over.
"Aly, dear!" Thom took Aly in a bear hug, "You're finally on your way to a suitable career!"
"Yes, and all before you've graduated dear brother."
He waved a hand. "Oh, come now. Who's keeping score?"
Alan nodded at Aly and Braden. "Hello, Braden."
"Ah, Braden! Of course!" Thom took Braden's hand it shook it vigorously. "I've heard wonderful things," he leaned in and whispered, "you are apparently as interesting as my uncles and myself." He winked at Braden and Aly looked at the two suspiciously.
"Well, now that everyone is introduced, Braden and I should really be going-"
"Oh, but Aly I've only just-"
"Come on, Braden, let's dance. Now." She made sure her eyes flashed amethyst.
He gulped and took her hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you Sir Alanna, Thom."
"Please, just Alanna."
Aly dragged Braden away and towards the dance floor. "Did she just tell you to call her Alanna?"
"Yes, why?"
Aly shook her head; she was now slightly dizzy. Her mother, being civil to basically a stranger? Weird. Her father must have really talked to her...
"Care to dance milady?" He hadn't forgotten how amazing she looked in her dress. Even if she couldn't really read him because of his Gift, she could tell he was staring at her and only her.
And she liked it.
She put one hand in his and the other on his shoulder. His right hand went on the small of her back and they began to dance to the music - a slow waltz. (A/N: Does that even exist? Or is a waltz already excruciatingly slow?) "Your mother seems nice."
"Let's not talk about my mother..." She looked up at his grey eyes. He nodded and looked away from her intense glare.
They danced in silence for a few songs before Neal and Yuki came over. "Hello Yuki. Nealan."
"Ouch!" He put a hand to his chest, "And what have I done to you lately?"
She smiled sweetly as Yuki rolled her eyes. "I know he'll be in good hands what with you, Dom and Kel watching him. Speaking of Dom and Kel..." Her eyes roamed around the Hall and finally rested upon a pair dancing slowly - and extremely closely - in a far corner. "I swear if that stupid law is changed soon..."
Neal didn't say anything - he must not have been paying attention - but Aly understood. She winked and whispered to Yuki, "When I get back, I'll figure something out."
Yuki smiled. "I know. Shinko already told me how you and Roald convinced the King to let Dom go on your journey." Aly slyly smiled as Braden excused them and led them back to the dance floor.
"What law?" He asked once they had resumed their previous dancing stance.
"The one that says men in the King's Own can't marry."
Braden thought for a second before saying, "That's a pretty stupid law."
"And that, is why I have to change it as soon as I get back."
He looked down at her again and asked teasingly, "And how do you plan on doing that, Anne?"
She rolled her eyes playfully at the pet name and said, "Why use my amazing persuasion powers of course."
He laughed softly. "Persuasion powers? I don't believe I've ever seen these powers of yours..."
"Why do you think Kel, Neal and Dom are coming with us on our mission?"
Braden smiled. "My little Anne is a Court Persuader then, hm?"
She smiled and nodded - too happy to speak. He said "My"..."My little Anne!" Did that mean anything though?
"Want to see more of my persuasive powers?" She lowered her voice and made it huskier in what was a more seductive tone.
His eyes widened slightly - he was caught off guard. He kept his cool however and leaned in so his breath tickled her ear, "Of course, Anne." She shivered slightly and led him off the dance floor just as a faster song started to play. "Won't people notice if we leave though?" Braden hadn't been to many Court functions, so he knew very little about them.
"No. People are too caught up in themselves-" they passed a dark hallway right outside of the Hall doors and Braden swiftly pulled her into it cutting her off with a deep kiss.
When they pulled apart both of their breaths were ragged. "Oh..." She took his hand and they walked quickly back to her rooms.
As soon as they opened the door Braden kissed her again. He slid the shawl off her shoulders and moved his fingers in a slow and sensual circle on them. Her body tingled and she almost lost her balance. She moved her own hands over his chest; her mind pleading that he take it off. He must have read her mind for a second later his tunic was off and he was once again kissing her passionately. He felt her legs almost give way underneath her and he quickly picked her up. They broke apart for a moment but it seemed like a lifetime. He placed her on the center of the bed and he sat down next to her. Before he could say anything she kissed him again. His mind was lost in thoughts of her kisses and of her body. In a second she was lying down on her bed, her red and blonde ringlets flowing around her shoulders, and he was above her. Her hands explored his chest (which she absolutely loved), and his own slipped her dress straps off her shoulders. He hesitated to see if she minded, but she didn't. Her eyes turned their emerald green again and he became lost in them again...
She did that on purpose he knew; "You are persuasive, Anne." She grinned and kissed him again.
"I love when you call me Anne."
"Anne." She giggled like a little girl but was silenced when his lips were on hers again. Her mind was racing with thoughts of his bare chest and his lips when she realized that her dress was now at her waist. She looked down at her breast band, and up at Braden. His eyes were darker than ever - almost black. He looked concerned though, "I'm sorry-"
"Don't." She put her hands in his hair and pulled him closer to her. She wove her hands through his jet black, unkempt hair and kissed his jaw bone. He shivered and she smiled against his cheek. This was nice...
"Anne?"
"Hm?" She kept kissing his jaw and his neck, her hands were on his back again.
"I-I love you."
She stopped kissing him and leaned back against the bed. "Wh-what?" She was suddenly very aware of her bare stomach and her breast band.
He looked scared and she hated it. "I love you." He hesitated, waiting for her to respond. When she didn't right away he tried to get up, "Oh, well, um - I guess I'll um-"
She put a finger to his lips and whispered, "I love you too." Before she could do anything else he leaned in and kissed her again. He kissed her jaw bone and she shivered with delight as he continued to kiss down her neck and to her collarbone. He fingered the breast band, and she nodded. He clumsily unclasped it and sucked in a breath.
She moved over to the side of the bed and blew out the candle. She was about to adjust her Sight when his lips made a trail up her stomach and she giggled slightly.
He loved her!
He loved her!
She wanted him to continue, but he finally came to his sense when she giggled. "Anne, I'm sorry..."
"Why?" she whispered? He sat up, his legs straddling her own, and she wiggled free to sit up in front of him. "It's okay..."
"Can we just - lay here now?"
Aly smiled. "You know I love to just lay here with you."
"I know." Even in the dark she could he was smiling. "I really do love you, Anne." He laid back down and waited for her to put her breast band back on.
"And I really do love you, Braden."
He smiled lazily as she laid down beside him and put a hand on his chest. His one arm was underneath her neck and the other was over her waist. "So I am interesting enough then?"
She smiled sleepily and said before falling asleep in his arms, "Oh very interesting..."
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DID YOU LIKE IT? I enjoyed writing it immensely. I've noticed these last two chapters have been very long and kinda fluffy...hope no one minds. Idk why I've been doing that...oh well. And of course I wasn't going to have them sleep together yet...duh. You'll just have to wait - and NO there will be NO details! So don't expect any!
REVIEW!
AE!