Another day proceeds...
Alanna is found eating her breakfast at a table acommpanied by her brother and his friends. She was told by her brother that he cannot stay with her today and continue their "shopping". Although Alanna was a tad bit disapointed, she did not let it show on her face.
"I can accompany Lady Alanna if it pleases you," Gary suggested.
Thom finished chewing his food before he answered.
"You would not mind?" He addresssed Alanna. She shook her head in response.
"Thank you Gary," Thom said.
"I thank you as well,"Alanna followed.
Gary grinned and replied nonchalantly," No need. It would be my pleasure."
This caused a rare smile from Alanna, which made Thom happy, and Gary pleased.
Walking back to her rooms before she is going to meet with Sir Gareth, Alanna was stopped in her path by colliding with a man. He had a dark complexion and a solid build, yet lithe at the same time.
"I'm sorry, my Lady, it so happens that I was not looking at where I was going," he said apologetically.
"No offense taken, my Lord, and I am sorry as well, for I too, were not looking," Alanna replied somewhat shyly and quietly, not meeting his eyes.
She could see from the corner of her eyes that he was grinning, presenting neat white teeth in perfectly aligned rows and columns.
"I did not catch your name, Lady. I am Sir Alexander of Tirragen. You can call me Sir Alex, if it is too long a title to say."
"Well, Sir Alex, my name is Alanna of Trebond."
"It is a pleasure meeting you, Lady Alanna, 'till we meet again." he bid, his way of saying farewell.
Alanna watched as he moved pass her on his way, and continued on her way to her room. When she entered her room, what she saw shocked her.
"Greetings Daughter,"
Alanna stared at the tall woman in front of her, not believing one could have such divine beauty, and godly voice. But did she hear right? Was this woman her mother? Perhaps back from the dead? But this woman looked nothing like the portrait hanging in the halls of Trebond.
Finally, Alanna recovered from her state of shock, and voiced the first question on her mind.
"Who are you?" was what came out of her mouth, before she could think of another way to say it, a more polite way.
"Daughter, can you not guess who I am?"
She tried to work her lips to form some kind of answer.
"A Goddess?" she suggested meekly.
"Yes," the Goddess grinned. "I am a goddess, The Great Mother Goddess is what you Tortallan would call me," she confirmed. "But lets not converse about me, more importantly, I came here to tell you certain things, and help guide you along your path of life."
"My path of life?" Alanna voiced.
"Correct, my dear Chosen one." Alanna tried not to fall down on her knees and cover her ears from the intensity of the voice, which sounded raucously like the bellow of wolves in a hunt, mixed with the echoes of enormous bells.
"This meeting would have happened earlier, if the fates had not decided a change of plans. Two years earlier, to be more precise. In order for this encounter to have some results, however, I would have to tell you what should have happened."
"What should have happened?" Alanna echoed, more confused than pained now, and more focused. She did not get where this was going, and why she would be a goddess's chosen. Wouldn't she have a better fate than this if she were?
"What should have happened," the godess repeated," was that the maid would not have happened to be dusting in the next room. In short, you would have been the squire, in Thom's place, and Thom would have been one of the greatest sorcerer in Tortall." The Mother Goddess, paused, letting the bewildered giril in front of her ponder over the thing said.
The Goddess wondered briefly how the strong and vigorous spirit that was to be transformed into this shy and contained girl, who was not famous for being pert, like she should have been. But, no matter the situation, Alanna would not be reduced to a simpering girl looking for pity.
"I could have been a Knight," Alanna concluded quietly, still not quite believing this. She looked up to hear what else was to be given to her.
"There are still alternatives, and there are many possibilities where Tortall can head to, but most of the weight is placed on your shoulder."
"So what I do has an effect, no matter the smallest deed?"
"I think you are catching on, Daughter."
"But what am I suppose to do? And why would I be chosen out of all the mass of human kind?"
"I cannot tell you.We gods merelyguide you, but the path is for you to choose.And as for the latter, you are unique, something that takes a whole lot to be. Do you find yourself as the other convent ladies?"
Alanna shook her head.
"As for the guiding part..." Here, the Goddess paused, and bent down and picked up a cat, gone unnoticed by Alanna until now.
The Mother Goddess stared into the creatures mesmerizing eyes, and told him,"You behave and make sure she stays out of trouble." Before the Goddess's hands even reached close to the ground, the cat pushed of with it's hind legs and jumped to the floor.
"That is all I have to give for now, Daughter," the Goddes said as she was heading out of the door. Before the Goddess was completely gone, leaving in their "godly" ways, Alanna heard the last words said, as distant as the Mother Goddes was in view.
"Until next time, Daughter."
I know this took a long time to update, but I couldn't think of anything yet. The meeting with the Goddess just popped into my head as I got to typing down this line :When she entered her room, what she saw shocked her.
How it got there, I don't know.
But anyway, thanks for all the reviews, and...yeah, thanks for all the reviews. I'm very glad you guys like it.
