Some books should be tasted
some devoured,
but only a few
should be chewed and digested thoroughly
Alright, so... I'm ssooooooooooooo sorry! I've had so many problems with my computer and I've been really busy with school and stuff... I am so ashamed! I hope you don't all hate me and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I shouldn't really be doing this right now, I have exams tomorrow but oh well, immersing myself in fantasy helps me to destress. I want to thank everyone who reviewed and also my friends who reviewed personally, Emily and Lindsey (, ummm... this chapter is a little different, POVs will be switching a lot but I hope you can tell it all apart, I still don't know how to upload italics, if anyone could tell me, I would greatly appreciate it. I also wanted to apologize about an error I made, I said Ryn's ex was Ryan, but it's actually Russell, oops, anyway, in this chapter, there is a bit of mushy stuff and a lot of dialog, I hope you don't mind. Flames are always welcome, and reviews even more so! ( alright, I'll stop babbling so you can read, have fun, enjoy!
P.S. I really am sorry it took so long!
Karma
~**~ Secrets Revealed
I should probably go, it could be fun, right? I'm sure there are lots of girls who would be delighted to go with me. Of course, I won't go if the others don't come which means I can't go, Raoul despises balls, and dances are pretty much the same, and Alanna hates them even more, especially since she'll have to go with a girl. Jon made a face, how could he even be thinking of going! But he knew why, it was so he could get away from the stress he'd been subjected to, by his feelings!
The week had been stressful enough with classes but every time he caught himself thinking about...her, the weight on his shoulders only seemed to exacerbate. The only highlight of his week had been on the first day, meeting Ryneka, he still did not truly understand what had happened that day except that as soon as they had touched, he had been filled with a glowing warmth, he had looked into her eyes, and understood everything, they were meant to be, not romantically of course, he would never steal her away from his new friend who was so obviously enamoured of her, no it was a different connection they had, one that could have been blood, or even soul. Her eyes, they were his! Her hair, like that of his mother but much more vibrant, without disease and sickness overshadowing her. The girl was entrancing, and she had an air to her that seemed almost casually stricken around herself, a wall of casualty that let nothing in. But Jon had pierced the wall, as had Ayden, and he had seen into her heart, he could not understand what he saw but he shared a bond with her that could not be broken.
Jon wondered if she had gazed so clearly into him as he had into her, had she perceived those intimidating feelings he had for his squire? Or his fear of someday ruling a country and letting down his people? Then he thought, what she had seen those thoughts? She would know he wasn't from this world! She would ask herself questions, what if she thought she was insane! He knew what it was that had acted between them, magic, he wasn't sure if it was his own, but he had felt a strangeness about that magic that lefty him befuddled. As far as he knew, she hadn't told anyone of the moment and she probably wouldn't for a while...
Jon was still thinking things over when Gary walked into the room and his thoughts reverted to something else he knew about the girl.
~**~
Maybe I should ask her...No... I couldn't do that to Ayden, he likes her way too much... But she's so beautiful... I can't...
Gary walked into the room so deep in thought he didn't even notice his cousin sitting in a chair, watching him discreetly. He was debating whether or not he should ask Ryneka to the dance that Friday, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the first day they met, but none of his friends seemed to want to talk about her, except Alan, of course, because he was always so curious but Ayden and Jon were always around when they tried to talk. That first day, when he had first laid eyes on her, he could understand Ayden's attraction to her, she was gorgeous and she seemed so... ethereal. Her handshake, however, had been very real, and he had felt something in that touch, something amazing, heat rushed through him, his blood pulsed in his ears. He looked at her and he saw something words could not describe, he could have sworn he saw her flicker, like an illusion cast onto her that had momentarily shimmered and revealed what lay beneath, and what he glimpsed beneath that deceit was a vulnerable little creature that was lonely and craved love and attention but could do nothing but give those things, she was trapped by her own morals, by her sense of duty, by her love.
Gary had fallen in love with her at that precise moment, well that was what he was calling it anyway. He felt for that little creature because he often felt that way too, trapped, by so many things... Gary sighed and shook his head, he flopped into an armchair and put his head into his hands, he couldn't ask her to the dance, the only one who could give her what she needed, that love and caring, that attention, was Ayden, and he knew it deep into his soul, but still... there was still that feeling, like he had to protect her from something... Gary shook his head again and thought about his father, about his homeland, he couldn't wait to get back home. I'll talk to Alan tonight, maybe he can give me some insight.
~**~
Alanna felt... she didn't know how she felt, stressed? No, that wasn't it... guilty? Maybe a little. Confused, definitely. She thought back to her encounter with Ryneka on the bus ride back to the new house they were renting, Alanna had had her suspicions about the girl for a while, that first day, she had acted very strange, and her and Jon... that was bizarre. So when she had been talking with Ryneka today, she had used the necklace the Mother had given her, and when Ryn had spoken of her encounter with Jon, and then of Gary, there had been a... spark or something, Alanna wasn't sure what it was yet but she intended to find out. Then she thought about another comment the girl had made, should she go to the dance on Friday?
It could be fun, in spite of the fact that she would have to go with a girl, and she had lots of new dance moves to show off. Alanna laughed at herself internally and shook her head, she'd think about it, for now, she had more important things to think about, like the visit tonight.
~**~
"What do you mean, you invited her? You didn't tell any of us!" Jon yelled.
"I know, I'm sorry, it just kind of... came up, ok?"
"No, not ok, what are we supposed to do for supper? How are we going to keep her entertained, and how are we going to get rid of this mess before she gets here?!?" Jon, wasn't really mad at her, Alanna knew, he was panicking! That's so cute! She thought, then realized what she had just thought, No it isn't! she reprimanded herself.
"What are you so worried about? Your mother always used to spring ladies on you and you never complained!" Alanna asked, a mocking grin spread across her face at his expression, he was angry now but that was better than letting his friends see him panic.
"Of course I never complained! I am a prince, I am not allowed to complain! And I never had anything to worry about anyway, I had servants, we don't have any here! they cooked, I can't! they cleaned, I can do that, but never this amount in such a short period of time! And we had people who kept them busy, either that or they felt so fortunate to be in my presence that it didn't matter what I did."
"But now it does matter?"
"Of course it matters! I like to be respected for who I am, not for who my parents are."
"Very good, because that attitude is why I am proud to know you." Alanna told him with a knowing smile, Gary and Raoul grinned and agreed. Jon smiled back at her, now understanding what she had done. "And, moreover, you have us! I can cook, I know the rest of you can't" the boys hung their heads, it was true, all they could do was skin a rabbit and roast it on a spit. "If you all work together, I'm sure you can manage this clutter in time for our visit and we can all entertain a single guest, certainly." She said, always the diplomat. Everyone laughed and set to work on picking up the things that had been strewn across the floor in their hurry in the mornings before school.
Faithful sidled over to her, and rubbed his side against her legs she smiled at the silent appraisal. Jon made his way over too, he smiled at her and cocked his head sideways, thinking. She smiled back, wondering what he was about to say. Then he seemed to decide he didn't want to say it so she shrugged and turned back to the cupboards to find something for supper. She was about to pick out some spices for the lasagna she had decided to make, a hand slipped into hers, and dragged her into the hallway that led to their room, when they got there, Jon let go and closed the door behind them. She looked at him, and realized with surprise that he was blushing, he was so adorable when his face was red! Stop that! She told herself sternly, he's probably just a little embarrassed at having lost his temper earlier.
"I wanted to apologize for having lost my temper earlier." Jon said with a sheepish smile, he circled around her and sat down on the bed.
See? Yeah, but why would he drag you over here just for that? The little nagging voice at the back of her mind retorted. She smiled at her knightmaster. "That's alright, but you have to admit, I saved your butt back there." She told him with a self-satisfied smile.
Jon stuck his tongue out at her childishly. "I was doing perfectly fine!" He said, puffing out his chest. Alanna laughed and so did he. "No, seriously, thank you, you probably saved me in the eyes of the others." He smiled gratefully, and she saw genuine thanks in his eyes. She smiled back.
"No problem, it's my job as your squire, not to mention your friend." She spoke truly.
Jon's smile widened. "So, are you going to the dance on Friday? I was thinking of going but I don't want to go if you aren't going to be there." Jon watched her, was that a flicker of hope in her eyes?
"I was thinking about it but I really don't want to if I have to go with a girl." She laughed and made a face, Jon though, didn't laugh.
"Is that right?" He asked, getting up from the bed and advancing on her, she tried to back away only to find the door pressed up against her back, the doorknob painfully digging into her side. He kept closing in, until his face was only two inches from hers, then he leaned into her, sliding his hands unto her hips and placing his lips onto hers gently, she was shocked to find her hands sliding slowly up his chest and over is shoulders to play in his gelled hair. When he slid his tongue across her lower lip, she shivered, and opened her mouth hesitantly in response, she felt him smile against her face, felt the intimate scraping of his teeth on her lip, his tongue delving deeper into her mouth, touching hers, feeling the hot, wet interior of her mouth tenderly. She reached into his mouth with her own tongue, feeling the softness of his tongue under hers, the resistance of his cheek, the taste of him was sweet and slightly minty, she ran her tongue experimentally across the roof of his mouth and he shivered with pleasure, she smiled at her success. As he moved in to taste her again he pressed her more firmly against the door, his mouth already atop hers, she moaned in protest as a sharp pain exploded through her side.
Jon immediately pulled back. "I'm sorry, was it too much? Did I bite you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!" His face was so full of concern, Alanna could only smile and shake her head as she rubbed her side, he noticed and raised an eyebrow, she pointed at the offending doorknob. "Oh, well that's a relief."
"For you maybe," Alanna said with a smile, "that thing hurt!"
Jon laughed, "I suppose it would. Would you like me to help with the pain?" He asked suggestively.
"I would love you to but right now I have to go make supper and I don't think your friends will appreciate your lack of assistance with the mess you were complaining about only moments ago." Alanna told him with a smile, the embodiment of casualty even though she was shaking inside. "And fix your hair, we have company coming over, don't forget, you also have to call and ask Ayden if he'd like to come over for supper too, it's only polite."
"Yes, mother." Jon said and grinned at her, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and asked, "Do you really like it?"
Alanna relaxed a little and nodded vigorously as she tweaked a few of the spikes. "Mmmmmmmmmmm... very much!" then, before Jon could say anything, she left him to it and went back to her lasagna, Great, she thought, now I'm going to look incompetent because supper will be late! She shook her head and walked back to the kitchen.
~**~
"Mmmm... smells good! What's cooking? Who's cooking?" Ayden cried from the front door, swinging it closed behind him.
It was now almost six o'clock and Alanna had only just removed her lasagna from the oven. The apartment was filled with the suggestive aroma of pasta. "It's lasagna and I made it." Alanna called to him, walking out of the kitchen into the front hall, removing her oven mitts. "I hope you like it, but if you don't, too bad."
"Don't worry, I'll like it. I love pasta!"
"Good," Alanna smiled. She walked back to the kitchen and stripped herself of the apron with the words "Kiss the Cook" on it. "I hope Ryn likes it too. Oh, we'll have to wait another ten minutes or so for the lasagna to cool down." Alanna walked out of the kitchen and into her and Jon's room to change into some nicer clothes.
A knock at the door brought Alanna out of her room a minute later, it was Jon. "Ryn is here, she was asking for you, she seems a little anxious." Jon frowned slightly.
Alanna nodded, "Tell her I'll be right there." Jon left and Alanna followed shortly. Ryn was sitting seeminlgy lackadaisically (A/N: I've always wanted to write that!) on a couch with Ayden and talking freely about his new hairstyle. When she spotted Alanna, she smiled and waved but was too polite to conclude her conversation with Ayden. When they were done, Alanna offered to show Ryn around, her guest agreed, but instead, they went directly to Alanna's room and sat on the bed to talk.
"So what really happened today?" Ryn asked as soon as Alanna had settled herself on the bed facing her.
"What do you mean?" Alanna asked uneasily, shifting her weight.
"I know something other than what I remember happened today on that bench, and I'd like to know what, I know it's probably embarassing for me but I have to know what I told you. And how did you make me forget?" Ryn asked, perplexity sculpting her features.
She remembers? How could she? I used the Gift! Alanna thought. "Why do you think I did anything? You had a bit of a breakdown, maybe your mind rejected the memory." Alanna grasped at an idea.
"I know, believe me. And my mind wouldn't discard a memory in the expanse of a few seconds. So what did you do, and what did I say?" Ryn asked in a no-nonsense voice.
No dodging that! Alanna thought flippantly. "Well, it's kind of a long story and we only have a few minutes before supper, but here's the short version." Alanna sighed and decided to tell Ryn what had happened, later she would give her her thoughts on what was happening and why, and also what she had done to make her forget. "You started crying and saying you didn't know what to do and then asking if you should tell him or not—I'm guessing you meant Gary—" Ryn nodded carefully, "and then you asked 'and what about Jon, huh? And Ayden?' I was a little thrown off by that," Alanna shrugged. "That's about it."
"Alright," Ryn nodded again, a little as if she were trying to convince herself that it was real.
Just then, there was a knock and Gary popped his head into the room a little shyly. "Jon says supper's ready, Alan, Ryn." He nodded to them and left to the kitchen. Ryn was smiling goofily and blushing furiously.
~**~
"Supper was delicious!" Ryn told Alanna reverently, dabbing the corner of her mouth with her napkin and pushing her empty plate ahead of her. She patted her stomach, "Where did you learn to cook like that? Not most guys can do that."
"No big, I learned a while back, just picked it up as I went I guess." This wasn't true, Alanna had only learned to make lasagna this Tuesday but it wasn't that hard once you knew how. She rose from the table and started collecting dishes and carrying them to the sink, Ryneka followed. "Oh, don't do that, you're the guest!" Alanna exclaimed.
"That's alright, I like to help, and it's not like the boys are going to do it1" Ryn smiled and winked at Alanna so the others couldn't see. Immediately, all the boys scrambled to their feet, their chairs scraping on the kitchen floor. They hurriedly cleared the table, Alanna and Ryn laughing all the while as they settled on a couch in the living room that flowed from the kitchen with bottles of Root Beer. The young men also started the dishes so at Jon's suggestion, both of them retired to Jon and Alanna's bedroom.
They sat down comfortably on the bed, sipping their sodas. "So, let's get on with it," Ryn said, her face set resolutely. Supper had been uneasy, Ayden and Ryn made small talk and spoke freely but every time Ryn would catch Jon, Alanna or Gary's eye, she would fall into a lapse of silence for the next few minutes before Ayden shook her mentally with a joke and brought her back to Earth, the way only he knew how. She would smile and answer him accordingly then move on to a different topic of discussion. The noise around the table was mostly made by Ryn, Raoul and Ayden. Alex didn't speak at all except to compliment Alanna on her cooking and subsequently excuse himself to his room for the rest of the night, saying he had much studying to do.
Now, however, there was silence again as Alanna tried to figure out how to lay out this information for Ryneka. "Alright, first of all, you have to know something..." Alanna started, stopped, and sighed, Ryn had to know, just like Ayden had had to know, it was just too bad she couldn't talk it over with Jon first, oh well. She went on to tell Ryneka the same things she had told Ayden, omiting the part about her brother and mother. "I know it all seems a little absurd but it's all true," Alanna said. "Here, I'll show you," she offered.
"How?"
"Like this," Alanna raised a hand and reached inside herself, she pulled her Gift into her hand until it glowed a bright violet.
"Wow," was all Ryneka could muster.
"Yeah, well, there's lots more where that came from. Everything I said is true, about Jon and Raoul, Alex and Gary."
"So let me get this straight, Jon is your knightmaster and Prince of your realm, he's an only child, and therefore, only heir to the throne. Raoul is a knight, and a friend of yours, so is Alex, Gary is too, but he's also Jon's cousin on his mother's side. You are a squire—that of Prince Jonathon, you've an extraordinary gift, magic, as does Jon. Yours is pruple and his blue, is that right?" Alanna nodded serenely. "I see,,," Ryneka trailed off for a moment, deep in thought, then her face cleared suddenly. "Oh I get it! You..." she laughed and shook her head as if at her own blindness, "you're a girl! It's so obvious!"
"WHAT?!?" Alanna cried.
"You are, aren't you!" Ryneka asked, a grin widely spread across her face. "I knew it! That's why you like Jon!" Thankfully, she kept her voice down so she wouldn't be heard by prying ears. "Yes, you probably got someone to forge a letter to the king for you, or the training master or whatever. Then you acted as any boy, to get the respect you deserve. Ayden told me you kept asking about girls wearing pants and that you seemed amply proud of yourself for it. because you believe men and woman should be equal, even from the medieval point of view you entertain, no offense."
"How did you know all this? How could you figure it out so easily?"
'Oh, well, because, I'm perceptive, I can put two and two together and I rad a lot of medieval fiction in which girls are the heroines."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"Well, as a society, that's something we are very proud of—being equal that is, and we like to right fictious stories about heroes who turn the tides in the favor of democracy."
"Ok..."
"So, of the people here, from your world, only Jon knows, am I right?"
Alanna stared wide-eyed at the brunette. "Yes, you are, how did you know that?"
"I'm not really sure... does it matter?"
"Yes..." Alanna trailed off, "you see, I have this idea..."
"Idea?"
Alanna nodded, "I think this 'perceptiveness' of yours might actually be a manifestation of the Gift... that and those 'feelings you were talking to me about."
"How could it? there isn't any magic in this world."
"Maybe, or maybe it's really because you aren't from here... I don't know... this will take much thinking..."
"Well, you do that, meanwhile, are you going to go to the dance on Friday?"
"Yes, I've decided I will, why?"
"Well, are you going as yourself?"
"I don't unders... Oh no! No! I couldn't!"
"Oh but you could, I'll help, we'll get you all nice and pretty for Prince charming!"
"Really?"
"Sure, you've got major potential. And the dresses aren't so restricting or voluminous."
"Alright, I'll do it!"
"Good. Ummm... can I tell Ayden?"
"I suppose, I know I can trust him, I'm just a little apprehensive about telling people this, it might slip or someone might overhear."
"Don't worry, you aren't surounded by evil plotting men who wish to hurt your Prince, alright, chill."
"Alright..." Alanna agreed slowly, thinking about Alex.
Ryneka smiled, then, Jon knocked three times in rapid succession and called for the two to come out and have some tea. Once they were all settled in the living room, teacups in hand, Faithful came trotting in from his nap on the windowsill, it was still fairly bright outside, at 7:30 pm or so. Everyone watched as the small cat wandered into the room, head high, and bypassed Alanna, to paw at Ryn's leg!
"What?!?" Raoul and Gary cried. "He wants to sit with someone other than Alan? Someone he doesn't even know?!"
"What are you talking about? Faithful does what he wants." Alanna told them sternly.
Ryneka ignored them all, picking up the cat and draping him easily on her shoulders, like it was the most natural thing and petting him slowly, letting her fingers run down his tail in a familiar gesture. Alanna frowned, she couldn't belive it, Faithful had actually picked Ryn over her? She supposed he had his reasons but he usually would have told her what they were first. Then she realized, Ryn had draped him so his head was on her left shoulder instead of her right, Faithful never let anyone do that! Alanna slowly moved closer to the cat to look into it's face and was surprised to find it wasn't Faithful at all! This cat had sapphire eyes, like it's master's!
"I don't know what you're all talking about," Ryn said, "but this is Trust—Tru, not... Faithful, was it?"
"Guys, she's right, the cat's got blue eyes! As blue as Faithful's are purple!" Everyone frowned and muttered, Yes, Alanna thought, this will take much consideration!
YAY! I'm finally posting! Yay! Lol, I really want to thank EVERYONE for reviewing, I can't write you an individual note because if I do, I won't post right NOW. So, thx again, thank you ESPECIALLY to Mistyfox14 (Kat) for her extremely needed push to post! Alright, I will speak to you all later, I hope ya'll enjoy this chapter, he next one is coming up soon I hope. Plz review, you're all welcome to flame. Bubi, thx again Kat!
Alright, so... I'm ssooooooooooooo sorry! I've had so many problems with my computer and I've been really busy with school and stuff... I am so ashamed! I hope you don't all hate me and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I shouldn't really be doing this right now, I have exams tomorrow but oh well, immersing myself in fantasy helps me to destress. I want to thank everyone who reviewed and also my friends who reviewed personally, Emily and Lindsey (, ummm... this chapter is a little different, POVs will be switching a lot but I hope you can tell it all apart, I still don't know how to upload italics, if anyone could tell me, I would greatly appreciate it. I also wanted to apologize about an error I made, I said Ryn's ex was Ryan, but it's actually Russell, oops, anyway, in this chapter, there is a bit of mushy stuff and a lot of dialog, I hope you don't mind. Flames are always welcome, and reviews even more so! ( alright, I'll stop babbling so you can read, have fun, enjoy!
P.S. I really am sorry it took so long!
Karma
~**~ Secrets Revealed
I should probably go, it could be fun, right? I'm sure there are lots of girls who would be delighted to go with me. Of course, I won't go if the others don't come which means I can't go, Raoul despises balls, and dances are pretty much the same, and Alanna hates them even more, especially since she'll have to go with a girl. Jon made a face, how could he even be thinking of going! But he knew why, it was so he could get away from the stress he'd been subjected to, by his feelings!
The week had been stressful enough with classes but every time he caught himself thinking about...her, the weight on his shoulders only seemed to exacerbate. The only highlight of his week had been on the first day, meeting Ryneka, he still did not truly understand what had happened that day except that as soon as they had touched, he had been filled with a glowing warmth, he had looked into her eyes, and understood everything, they were meant to be, not romantically of course, he would never steal her away from his new friend who was so obviously enamoured of her, no it was a different connection they had, one that could have been blood, or even soul. Her eyes, they were his! Her hair, like that of his mother but much more vibrant, without disease and sickness overshadowing her. The girl was entrancing, and she had an air to her that seemed almost casually stricken around herself, a wall of casualty that let nothing in. But Jon had pierced the wall, as had Ayden, and he had seen into her heart, he could not understand what he saw but he shared a bond with her that could not be broken.
Jon wondered if she had gazed so clearly into him as he had into her, had she perceived those intimidating feelings he had for his squire? Or his fear of someday ruling a country and letting down his people? Then he thought, what she had seen those thoughts? She would know he wasn't from this world! She would ask herself questions, what if she thought she was insane! He knew what it was that had acted between them, magic, he wasn't sure if it was his own, but he had felt a strangeness about that magic that lefty him befuddled. As far as he knew, she hadn't told anyone of the moment and she probably wouldn't for a while...
Jon was still thinking things over when Gary walked into the room and his thoughts reverted to something else he knew about the girl.
~**~
Maybe I should ask her...No... I couldn't do that to Ayden, he likes her way too much... But she's so beautiful... I can't...
Gary walked into the room so deep in thought he didn't even notice his cousin sitting in a chair, watching him discreetly. He was debating whether or not he should ask Ryneka to the dance that Friday, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the first day they met, but none of his friends seemed to want to talk about her, except Alan, of course, because he was always so curious but Ayden and Jon were always around when they tried to talk. That first day, when he had first laid eyes on her, he could understand Ayden's attraction to her, she was gorgeous and she seemed so... ethereal. Her handshake, however, had been very real, and he had felt something in that touch, something amazing, heat rushed through him, his blood pulsed in his ears. He looked at her and he saw something words could not describe, he could have sworn he saw her flicker, like an illusion cast onto her that had momentarily shimmered and revealed what lay beneath, and what he glimpsed beneath that deceit was a vulnerable little creature that was lonely and craved love and attention but could do nothing but give those things, she was trapped by her own morals, by her sense of duty, by her love.
Gary had fallen in love with her at that precise moment, well that was what he was calling it anyway. He felt for that little creature because he often felt that way too, trapped, by so many things... Gary sighed and shook his head, he flopped into an armchair and put his head into his hands, he couldn't ask her to the dance, the only one who could give her what she needed, that love and caring, that attention, was Ayden, and he knew it deep into his soul, but still... there was still that feeling, like he had to protect her from something... Gary shook his head again and thought about his father, about his homeland, he couldn't wait to get back home. I'll talk to Alan tonight, maybe he can give me some insight.
~**~
Alanna felt... she didn't know how she felt, stressed? No, that wasn't it... guilty? Maybe a little. Confused, definitely. She thought back to her encounter with Ryneka on the bus ride back to the new house they were renting, Alanna had had her suspicions about the girl for a while, that first day, she had acted very strange, and her and Jon... that was bizarre. So when she had been talking with Ryneka today, she had used the necklace the Mother had given her, and when Ryn had spoken of her encounter with Jon, and then of Gary, there had been a... spark or something, Alanna wasn't sure what it was yet but she intended to find out. Then she thought about another comment the girl had made, should she go to the dance on Friday?
It could be fun, in spite of the fact that she would have to go with a girl, and she had lots of new dance moves to show off. Alanna laughed at herself internally and shook her head, she'd think about it, for now, she had more important things to think about, like the visit tonight.
~**~
"What do you mean, you invited her? You didn't tell any of us!" Jon yelled.
"I know, I'm sorry, it just kind of... came up, ok?"
"No, not ok, what are we supposed to do for supper? How are we going to keep her entertained, and how are we going to get rid of this mess before she gets here?!?" Jon, wasn't really mad at her, Alanna knew, he was panicking! That's so cute! She thought, then realized what she had just thought, No it isn't! she reprimanded herself.
"What are you so worried about? Your mother always used to spring ladies on you and you never complained!" Alanna asked, a mocking grin spread across her face at his expression, he was angry now but that was better than letting his friends see him panic.
"Of course I never complained! I am a prince, I am not allowed to complain! And I never had anything to worry about anyway, I had servants, we don't have any here! they cooked, I can't! they cleaned, I can do that, but never this amount in such a short period of time! And we had people who kept them busy, either that or they felt so fortunate to be in my presence that it didn't matter what I did."
"But now it does matter?"
"Of course it matters! I like to be respected for who I am, not for who my parents are."
"Very good, because that attitude is why I am proud to know you." Alanna told him with a knowing smile, Gary and Raoul grinned and agreed. Jon smiled back at her, now understanding what she had done. "And, moreover, you have us! I can cook, I know the rest of you can't" the boys hung their heads, it was true, all they could do was skin a rabbit and roast it on a spit. "If you all work together, I'm sure you can manage this clutter in time for our visit and we can all entertain a single guest, certainly." She said, always the diplomat. Everyone laughed and set to work on picking up the things that had been strewn across the floor in their hurry in the mornings before school.
Faithful sidled over to her, and rubbed his side against her legs she smiled at the silent appraisal. Jon made his way over too, he smiled at her and cocked his head sideways, thinking. She smiled back, wondering what he was about to say. Then he seemed to decide he didn't want to say it so she shrugged and turned back to the cupboards to find something for supper. She was about to pick out some spices for the lasagna she had decided to make, a hand slipped into hers, and dragged her into the hallway that led to their room, when they got there, Jon let go and closed the door behind them. She looked at him, and realized with surprise that he was blushing, he was so adorable when his face was red! Stop that! She told herself sternly, he's probably just a little embarrassed at having lost his temper earlier.
"I wanted to apologize for having lost my temper earlier." Jon said with a sheepish smile, he circled around her and sat down on the bed.
See? Yeah, but why would he drag you over here just for that? The little nagging voice at the back of her mind retorted. She smiled at her knightmaster. "That's alright, but you have to admit, I saved your butt back there." She told him with a self-satisfied smile.
Jon stuck his tongue out at her childishly. "I was doing perfectly fine!" He said, puffing out his chest. Alanna laughed and so did he. "No, seriously, thank you, you probably saved me in the eyes of the others." He smiled gratefully, and she saw genuine thanks in his eyes. She smiled back.
"No problem, it's my job as your squire, not to mention your friend." She spoke truly.
Jon's smile widened. "So, are you going to the dance on Friday? I was thinking of going but I don't want to go if you aren't going to be there." Jon watched her, was that a flicker of hope in her eyes?
"I was thinking about it but I really don't want to if I have to go with a girl." She laughed and made a face, Jon though, didn't laugh.
"Is that right?" He asked, getting up from the bed and advancing on her, she tried to back away only to find the door pressed up against her back, the doorknob painfully digging into her side. He kept closing in, until his face was only two inches from hers, then he leaned into her, sliding his hands unto her hips and placing his lips onto hers gently, she was shocked to find her hands sliding slowly up his chest and over is shoulders to play in his gelled hair. When he slid his tongue across her lower lip, she shivered, and opened her mouth hesitantly in response, she felt him smile against her face, felt the intimate scraping of his teeth on her lip, his tongue delving deeper into her mouth, touching hers, feeling the hot, wet interior of her mouth tenderly. She reached into his mouth with her own tongue, feeling the softness of his tongue under hers, the resistance of his cheek, the taste of him was sweet and slightly minty, she ran her tongue experimentally across the roof of his mouth and he shivered with pleasure, she smiled at her success. As he moved in to taste her again he pressed her more firmly against the door, his mouth already atop hers, she moaned in protest as a sharp pain exploded through her side.
Jon immediately pulled back. "I'm sorry, was it too much? Did I bite you? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you!" His face was so full of concern, Alanna could only smile and shake her head as she rubbed her side, he noticed and raised an eyebrow, she pointed at the offending doorknob. "Oh, well that's a relief."
"For you maybe," Alanna said with a smile, "that thing hurt!"
Jon laughed, "I suppose it would. Would you like me to help with the pain?" He asked suggestively.
"I would love you to but right now I have to go make supper and I don't think your friends will appreciate your lack of assistance with the mess you were complaining about only moments ago." Alanna told him with a smile, the embodiment of casualty even though she was shaking inside. "And fix your hair, we have company coming over, don't forget, you also have to call and ask Ayden if he'd like to come over for supper too, it's only polite."
"Yes, mother." Jon said and grinned at her, he ran a hand through his disheveled hair and asked, "Do you really like it?"
Alanna relaxed a little and nodded vigorously as she tweaked a few of the spikes. "Mmmmmmmmmmm... very much!" then, before Jon could say anything, she left him to it and went back to her lasagna, Great, she thought, now I'm going to look incompetent because supper will be late! She shook her head and walked back to the kitchen.
~**~
"Mmmm... smells good! What's cooking? Who's cooking?" Ayden cried from the front door, swinging it closed behind him.
It was now almost six o'clock and Alanna had only just removed her lasagna from the oven. The apartment was filled with the suggestive aroma of pasta. "It's lasagna and I made it." Alanna called to him, walking out of the kitchen into the front hall, removing her oven mitts. "I hope you like it, but if you don't, too bad."
"Don't worry, I'll like it. I love pasta!"
"Good," Alanna smiled. She walked back to the kitchen and stripped herself of the apron with the words "Kiss the Cook" on it. "I hope Ryn likes it too. Oh, we'll have to wait another ten minutes or so for the lasagna to cool down." Alanna walked out of the kitchen and into her and Jon's room to change into some nicer clothes.
A knock at the door brought Alanna out of her room a minute later, it was Jon. "Ryn is here, she was asking for you, she seems a little anxious." Jon frowned slightly.
Alanna nodded, "Tell her I'll be right there." Jon left and Alanna followed shortly. Ryn was sitting seeminlgy lackadaisically (A/N: I've always wanted to write that!) on a couch with Ayden and talking freely about his new hairstyle. When she spotted Alanna, she smiled and waved but was too polite to conclude her conversation with Ayden. When they were done, Alanna offered to show Ryn around, her guest agreed, but instead, they went directly to Alanna's room and sat on the bed to talk.
"So what really happened today?" Ryn asked as soon as Alanna had settled herself on the bed facing her.
"What do you mean?" Alanna asked uneasily, shifting her weight.
"I know something other than what I remember happened today on that bench, and I'd like to know what, I know it's probably embarassing for me but I have to know what I told you. And how did you make me forget?" Ryn asked, perplexity sculpting her features.
She remembers? How could she? I used the Gift! Alanna thought. "Why do you think I did anything? You had a bit of a breakdown, maybe your mind rejected the memory." Alanna grasped at an idea.
"I know, believe me. And my mind wouldn't discard a memory in the expanse of a few seconds. So what did you do, and what did I say?" Ryn asked in a no-nonsense voice.
No dodging that! Alanna thought flippantly. "Well, it's kind of a long story and we only have a few minutes before supper, but here's the short version." Alanna sighed and decided to tell Ryn what had happened, later she would give her her thoughts on what was happening and why, and also what she had done to make her forget. "You started crying and saying you didn't know what to do and then asking if you should tell him or not—I'm guessing you meant Gary—" Ryn nodded carefully, "and then you asked 'and what about Jon, huh? And Ayden?' I was a little thrown off by that," Alanna shrugged. "That's about it."
"Alright," Ryn nodded again, a little as if she were trying to convince herself that it was real.
Just then, there was a knock and Gary popped his head into the room a little shyly. "Jon says supper's ready, Alan, Ryn." He nodded to them and left to the kitchen. Ryn was smiling goofily and blushing furiously.
~**~
"Supper was delicious!" Ryn told Alanna reverently, dabbing the corner of her mouth with her napkin and pushing her empty plate ahead of her. She patted her stomach, "Where did you learn to cook like that? Not most guys can do that."
"No big, I learned a while back, just picked it up as I went I guess." This wasn't true, Alanna had only learned to make lasagna this Tuesday but it wasn't that hard once you knew how. She rose from the table and started collecting dishes and carrying them to the sink, Ryneka followed. "Oh, don't do that, you're the guest!" Alanna exclaimed.
"That's alright, I like to help, and it's not like the boys are going to do it1" Ryn smiled and winked at Alanna so the others couldn't see. Immediately, all the boys scrambled to their feet, their chairs scraping on the kitchen floor. They hurriedly cleared the table, Alanna and Ryn laughing all the while as they settled on a couch in the living room that flowed from the kitchen with bottles of Root Beer. The young men also started the dishes so at Jon's suggestion, both of them retired to Jon and Alanna's bedroom.
They sat down comfortably on the bed, sipping their sodas. "So, let's get on with it," Ryn said, her face set resolutely. Supper had been uneasy, Ayden and Ryn made small talk and spoke freely but every time Ryn would catch Jon, Alanna or Gary's eye, she would fall into a lapse of silence for the next few minutes before Ayden shook her mentally with a joke and brought her back to Earth, the way only he knew how. She would smile and answer him accordingly then move on to a different topic of discussion. The noise around the table was mostly made by Ryn, Raoul and Ayden. Alex didn't speak at all except to compliment Alanna on her cooking and subsequently excuse himself to his room for the rest of the night, saying he had much studying to do.
Now, however, there was silence again as Alanna tried to figure out how to lay out this information for Ryneka. "Alright, first of all, you have to know something..." Alanna started, stopped, and sighed, Ryn had to know, just like Ayden had had to know, it was just too bad she couldn't talk it over with Jon first, oh well. She went on to tell Ryneka the same things she had told Ayden, omiting the part about her brother and mother. "I know it all seems a little absurd but it's all true," Alanna said. "Here, I'll show you," she offered.
"How?"
"Like this," Alanna raised a hand and reached inside herself, she pulled her Gift into her hand until it glowed a bright violet.
"Wow," was all Ryneka could muster.
"Yeah, well, there's lots more where that came from. Everything I said is true, about Jon and Raoul, Alex and Gary."
"So let me get this straight, Jon is your knightmaster and Prince of your realm, he's an only child, and therefore, only heir to the throne. Raoul is a knight, and a friend of yours, so is Alex, Gary is too, but he's also Jon's cousin on his mother's side. You are a squire—that of Prince Jonathon, you've an extraordinary gift, magic, as does Jon. Yours is pruple and his blue, is that right?" Alanna nodded serenely. "I see,,," Ryneka trailed off for a moment, deep in thought, then her face cleared suddenly. "Oh I get it! You..." she laughed and shook her head as if at her own blindness, "you're a girl! It's so obvious!"
"WHAT?!?" Alanna cried.
"You are, aren't you!" Ryneka asked, a grin widely spread across her face. "I knew it! That's why you like Jon!" Thankfully, she kept her voice down so she wouldn't be heard by prying ears. "Yes, you probably got someone to forge a letter to the king for you, or the training master or whatever. Then you acted as any boy, to get the respect you deserve. Ayden told me you kept asking about girls wearing pants and that you seemed amply proud of yourself for it. because you believe men and woman should be equal, even from the medieval point of view you entertain, no offense."
"How did you know all this? How could you figure it out so easily?"
'Oh, well, because, I'm perceptive, I can put two and two together and I rad a lot of medieval fiction in which girls are the heroines."
"What does that have to do with it?"
"Well, as a society, that's something we are very proud of—being equal that is, and we like to right fictious stories about heroes who turn the tides in the favor of democracy."
"Ok..."
"So, of the people here, from your world, only Jon knows, am I right?"
Alanna stared wide-eyed at the brunette. "Yes, you are, how did you know that?"
"I'm not really sure... does it matter?"
"Yes..." Alanna trailed off, "you see, I have this idea..."
"Idea?"
Alanna nodded, "I think this 'perceptiveness' of yours might actually be a manifestation of the Gift... that and those 'feelings you were talking to me about."
"How could it? there isn't any magic in this world."
"Maybe, or maybe it's really because you aren't from here... I don't know... this will take much thinking..."
"Well, you do that, meanwhile, are you going to go to the dance on Friday?"
"Yes, I've decided I will, why?"
"Well, are you going as yourself?"
"I don't unders... Oh no! No! I couldn't!"
"Oh but you could, I'll help, we'll get you all nice and pretty for Prince charming!"
"Really?"
"Sure, you've got major potential. And the dresses aren't so restricting or voluminous."
"Alright, I'll do it!"
"Good. Ummm... can I tell Ayden?"
"I suppose, I know I can trust him, I'm just a little apprehensive about telling people this, it might slip or someone might overhear."
"Don't worry, you aren't surounded by evil plotting men who wish to hurt your Prince, alright, chill."
"Alright..." Alanna agreed slowly, thinking about Alex.
Ryneka smiled, then, Jon knocked three times in rapid succession and called for the two to come out and have some tea. Once they were all settled in the living room, teacups in hand, Faithful came trotting in from his nap on the windowsill, it was still fairly bright outside, at 7:30 pm or so. Everyone watched as the small cat wandered into the room, head high, and bypassed Alanna, to paw at Ryn's leg!
"What?!?" Raoul and Gary cried. "He wants to sit with someone other than Alan? Someone he doesn't even know?!"
"What are you talking about? Faithful does what he wants." Alanna told them sternly.
Ryneka ignored them all, picking up the cat and draping him easily on her shoulders, like it was the most natural thing and petting him slowly, letting her fingers run down his tail in a familiar gesture. Alanna frowned, she couldn't belive it, Faithful had actually picked Ryn over her? She supposed he had his reasons but he usually would have told her what they were first. Then she realized, Ryn had draped him so his head was on her left shoulder instead of her right, Faithful never let anyone do that! Alanna slowly moved closer to the cat to look into it's face and was surprised to find it wasn't Faithful at all! This cat had sapphire eyes, like it's master's!
"I don't know what you're all talking about," Ryn said, "but this is Trust—Tru, not... Faithful, was it?"
"Guys, she's right, the cat's got blue eyes! As blue as Faithful's are purple!" Everyone frowned and muttered, Yes, Alanna thought, this will take much consideration!
YAY! I'm finally posting! Yay! Lol, I really want to thank EVERYONE for reviewing, I can't write you an individual note because if I do, I won't post right NOW. So, thx again, thank you ESPECIALLY to Mistyfox14 (Kat) for her extremely needed push to post! Alright, I will speak to you all later, I hope ya'll enjoy this chapter, he next one is coming up soon I hope. Plz review, you're all welcome to flame. Bubi, thx again Kat!