Siri: In this chap, Jon goes to Gary for some girl advice. Set before Alanna's 17th birthday, probably about a month before.
Disclaimer: view the URL. FAN-fiction, not MY-fiction. Kapeesh??
Girl Advice
"Gary?" Jonathan said, leaning against the door of his friend's horse's stall. Gareth the Younger of Naxen or Gary, didn't even turn around.
"What do you want, Jon?" he asked, as he ran a brush over his mare's chestnut shoulder.
"I-" The prince hesitated, looking around. "I need some girl advice," he confessed. Gary stopped brushing and turned around.
"Jonathan of Conte, the ladies' man at court, needs girl advice?" he said incredulously. "Jon, are you feeling okay?" Jonathan nodded glumly.
"I'm feeling fine," he said. "Except for the fact that for once in my life, the lady seems oblivious. What should I do Gary?" The last was said in a plainative tone.
"You sound like a five year old," Gary informed his cousin. Jon made a face.
"Thanks ever so," he said dryly. "But seriously, Gary. What should I do?"
"Depends on the circumstances," Gary said slowly. "Who is this girl?" To his surprise, Jon's cheeks reddened slightly.
"She's very different," he said after a long pause. "You- don't know her." Realizing that he would get nothing else out of the prince on this line, Gary tried another one.
"Why do you need advice?" he asked, resuming the grooming of his mare.
"This girl," Jon began hesitantly. "I'm not sure how she feels about me, that's part of it. The other part, is- I'm not sure how I feel about her."
"That," Gary said, matter-of-factly. "Could be a problem."
"Exactly," Jon said gloomily. Suddenly, he let loose a flood of words, hushed, but quite a rant nonetheless. "We're friends, and I'm not sure if that's how she wants to keep it or not. The situation is a little- complicated, and when she gets distant I'm not sure if it's because she wants to be distant or because circumstances are forcing her to be distant. Sometimes she says things that- I don't know. Maybe I'm just too used to the court ladies! But I can't predict what she's going to do, I can't tell what she means or even sometimes what she's saying! And I find myself getting exceedingly jealous whenever she flirts with anybody. I've kissed her once, but she was feeling a little –sick, I guess- and then someone walked in who couldn't find out anything. And I see her all the time, and I'm going to go crazy if I have to deal with this much longer!" His tirade finished, Jon leaned against the stall door. "Can you help me?" Gary stood, open mouthed. He didn't know it was possible for his cousin to be flustered by a girl.
"So you don't have divine powers when it comes to women!" was the first thing that came to his lips. Jon's gaze turned from desperate to bemused.
"What gave you that crazy idea?" he asked.
"Because," Gary said lamely. "They always flock around you, and you never seem off-balance with them, unlike the rest of us. Like, around Lady Delia, most of us are tongue-tied, but you never are!" He sighed as he envisioned the lady. "But who wouldn't be, what with her emerald eyes, her perfect figure-"
"Who cares about Lady Delia?" Jon said in exasperation. "You can talk about her later! Right now I need some help!" The look Gary turned on his cousin was utterly flabbergasted.
"Who cares about Lady Delia?" he repeated slowly, incredulously. "Who cares about Lady Delia?" His face was utterly shocked. "Jon, who cares about Lady Delia?" His voice squeaked on the last word and Jon winced.
"I didn't mean that Gary," he said quickly. "I just-"
"If this other girl means so much more," Gary asked. "Why can't you just go with her and let me take Lady Delia?" Jon blushed again.
"It's too complicated, Gary," he said hastily. "Explaining the reasons why I can't would take too long. Besides, I'd break too many promises if I told you."
"If you told him what, Jon." Jonathan jumped at the sound of his squire's voice. Alan stood directly behind his knight-master.
Gary was about to open his mouth and tell him when Jon cut him off. "Nothing, Alan," he said quickly. "It's nothing." Alan looked from one to the other with suspicious amethyst eyes.
"I should hope so, Jon," he said quietly. He walked off without another word. Jonathan watched his squire leave and Gary watched Jon watch Alan.
It was at that moment that the first beginnings of a niggling suspicion that would plague him for the next year and then some began. A suspicion about Jon, Alan and this mysterious girl that Jon was so nervous about. But it was not fully in mind, before Jon started talking again, and the thought fled. Personally, Gary was glad that it hadn't shown its face; he wouldn't have liked having to ask.
"Gary, I really need help!" The prince looked desperate and Gary took pity on his friend.
"Bring the records from the Council meeting last week and I'll tell you tonight," Gary promised. "I'd help you now, but I'm a little bit preoccupied." His mare chose that moment to nudge him with her nose and step on his toe. Gary cursed loudly and fluently, with words Jon was certain his father wouldn't approve of.
"I can't see why Council records would interest you," he said. "But if you'll give me advice, I'll bring them!" He waved goodbye and walked out of the stables. Gary watched the prince go, shook his head and resumed grooming.
"He'll never understand the lure of finances," he confided in his mare.
True to his word, Jon showed up at the door of Gary's room with a tall stack of papers and a lot of food. Gary was very glad to see him, though much happier to see the food and the papers. Jon was left staring as Gary pulled the papers from his grasp, sat in a chair and began reading them, word for word.
Jon ate and waited for several minutes, before he lost his patience. "I need help!" he said firmly. "Read council records after you help me."
Gary opened his mouth, then closed it. "All right, all right. Mithros, Jon! Couldn't I just read the part about-"
"No."
"Alright already!" He attempted to look serious. "Tell me your problems."
Jon sighed. "There's this girl. She's-" His eyes misted over slightly. "-amazing. And I can't stop thinking about her."
"Do I know her?" Gary asked.
"N- no," Jon stammered. Again, something Gary had never seem him do. His cousin was rarely taken aback by much, and never to the extent that he stammered. Whoever this girl is, I'd like to meet her. She must be pretty amazing. "She's amazing- and so confusing. Sometimes she acts like she's my best friend- and then, she gets angry and moody."
Gary shrugged. "She's a girl- what can you expect?" Jon shook his head.
"But- girl- stuff- has never affected her before now," he protested. Gary raised an eyebrow. How long has he known this girl? He voiced his thought, only to receive the evasive reply of, "A while." Jon's being very closemouthed. That's odd. Usually, he can't wait to brag about his newest conquest.
"I'm too scared to say anything," Jon confessed. "I don't want to ruin our friendship- especially since I see her so much. And she seems so- embarrassed. But-" He put his head in one hand. "I'm confused!" Gary chuckled.
"Jon- I don't know- why don't you ask George? He'll probably have better advice than-" Jon's head shot up.
"No."
"Why not?" This is really strange for Jon. He reacted so absolutely. And I know he talks to George about all sorts of stuff that he doesn't even talk to Alan about, and Alan's his best friend- and we all know it, except maybe him and Alan.
"Because."
"I would suggest you ask Alan," Gary joked. "But he would have even worse advice than me!" Jon's eyes filled with something close to horror.
"Don't tell him." His voice was commanding and allowed no disobedience. "You cannot tell him, Gary. If you do-" He shook his head. "I have to go. Enjoy the Council records." He stood and left. Gary stared after him, surprised by the abrupt departure.
Why can't I tell Alan? Why would Jon care? It's not like Alan would care- But as he thought about it, he remembered all the times he'd caught Alan watching Delia and Jon at parties. Maybe he would care- The little suspicion started waving for attention. He buried himself in the Council records, trying and succeeding to ignore it. Ironic that Jon comes to me for advice, and leaves with me needing advice- advice on what to do when I think two of my best friends- Oh look at how fascinating these records are!!
Jon paused at the door leading to Alanna's room. He cracked open the door just a little, and slipped inside. He stood for moments, just inside the door, watching the sleeping squire. The things you want most, are those you can't have. You can look, an unseen watcher, but you cannot touch or tell. And those are the things that hurt most of all.
Reviewer Responses:
Thank you to Jowa, t, pinky, Wildphire, PsychoLioness13, hushykid3, Black Rose J, and ossini for reviewing!
knighted lioness: He will eventually. points up
nala: good idea! And it was one of the Atlantis Forester ones- I read it and am sad that she hasn't updated it since it was a really good fic. I might do that. Thanks for the idea!
Shadowdancer: Zhai'helleva clansib! All we fanfic people are one big happy clan! huggles nice fanfic people, who write and review thanks so much!
Lady Queenscove: please don't bite! :)
Death Goddess Assassin: on the moving doorframes, I speak from experience! And Misty ROX! She's an awesome writer. So is Tammy, btw. But I can assume you already know that!
Katrina Swan: again, I speak from experience on the moving doorframes! And as to whether I'm going to continue it points up and down. And Gary will find out- eventually.
farleydunlop'04: I didn't edit it, but I have done a bunch of 17th birthday rewrites. The other two –if that's what you're thinking of- is Moonlit Walks, and My Lady. Try those and see if that's what you were thinking of!
Kerowyn-Dawnfire: nice charrie pics for your penname! Lol, Misty is an awesome writer! And I did and will update!
CTHKSI: I'm keeping this fic primarily Gary's POV, but I do play with POVs. If you want other POVs, go to my page and check out some of Siri's other fics.
Molly: Hate to disappoint you, but I'm not an A/Gary fan. So this fic is going to be mostly AJ, maybe a little AG, depending.
Kassi of Stone Mountain: Siri says she doesn't want to leave, as that would require complicated head transplants. Thanks for the review! And you're right- guys can be such jerks. Not all, and not all the time, but they can be.
milky way bar: my best friend sides with the angry voices in my head! Woe is me!
Peachy Garlic: This is the first time I've written this. I have done a lot of POVs of Alanna's 17th birthday, though. Maybe that's what you're thinking of. And thanks!
Siri: The next chap will come out sometime between now and October. We're not making any promises! But we will try to update as soon as we can. This story is fun! :) Zhai'helleva! Queen's Own
