A/n: thanks to all my reviewers Lady Knight, Saphron, Charlie and lola, Dom's Angel, anonymous Girl, Elfsquire90, hello angels. i wont b posting 4 awhile as all week i have dance rehersals and performances sigh

Chapter : In which something happens

A week went by and Alanna spent that entire week in her room, crying never coming out. She did not let anyone except the maid come in, and that was only to clean and bring her food. she wanted to be left alone. Cythera became worried. It wasn't like Alanna to lock herself away from the rest of the world. On the day of Thom's funeral, she went to Prince Jonathan for help. She timidly knocked on his door.

"Come in." he called. She opened the door and quietly closed it behind her. She curtsied. He looked at her.

"What can I do for you?" he asked her. He was sitting at his desk trying to do some paper work.

"I came about lady Alanna. She hadn't come out of her rooms for days. I'm worried. I don't think she even know that it's Thom's funeral today. You're her friend. Can you help her?" Cythera asked him quietly. At the word, Thom Jonathan's eyes had gotten a burning feeling, but he quickly blinked it away. He sighed.

"I'll go talk to her." He stood up and walked to off her room, Cythera following.

Alanna lay on her bed; her pillow was still wet from crying. She didn't care. She had been lying on her bed, wallowing in self-pity for so long that she had forgotten what day it was, but she didn't care. She didn't care about anything anymore. She felt as though she was missing half of herself, as though someone had ripped out half of her heart. She hatedherself.She had the gift but hadfailed to heal Thom.She hadn't even remembered about her gift, untill they were back in the palace and it was too late.In the back of her mind something was telling her that it wasn't her fault and thattoday was important, but she could quiet remember why it was so important. She sighed and rolled over. She knew she should get up and do something, but she just didn't feel like it. She felt like just lying there. Suddenly there was a knock on her door.

"Alanna? It's Cythera. Please open the door. I need to talk to you. I need to know if you are ok."

"Go away, i'm fine. Just leave me alone." Alanna shouted. There was a small silence and then…

"Alanna open the door." It was Jonathan, and he was giving her a royal order. Sighing she slowly got up and opened the door. Both Jonathan and Cythera entered the room. Jonathan looked at her in shock. She looked terrible. Her hair looked as if it hadn't been brushed in days, she was still wearing the dress she had worn the night Thom had died. It was so dirty and torn it was beyond repair. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was ever so pale. He sat down in a chair.

"Alanna you do know what day it is today don't you?" He asked her gently. She shook her head slowly.

"They are burying Thom today," Cythera told Alanna quietly. Alanna's eyes began to swell up, but she willed herself not to cry. "The ceremony will start in a few hours." Alanna nodded her head dumbly. Cythera sighed. "Are you coming to his funeral?" Alanna glared at her. How dare she speak to me like that. Alanna thought.

"Of course i'm going. What kind of person, sister would I be if I didn't go," she said angrily. "Besides he was my brother. I want to pay my last respects. I think you should leave." Alanna pointed to the door. Cythera sighed again got up and left. Jon however stayed where he was. Alanna glared at him.

"I told you to leave." She snapped. He looked her in the eyes. She looked away.

"Alanna," he began quietly. "I know you're hurt. But you're not the only one. He was my squire and my best friend. I know what you're going through, but life must go on. Do you think Thom would have wanted you to stay in your room all day every day, or would he have wanted you to go on? Think about it. I'll be back in an hour to escort you to the chapel." Alanna looked at the floor. He has a point. She sighed.

"You don't have to escort me. I can find my own way there." She replied.

"I know, but I want to escort you." And with that, he stood up and headed to the door.

"Why?" she called out to him. "Why are you being so nice to me?" he looked at her puzzled.

"Because you are my friend. And that's what friends do." He told her. He smiled at her. She gave him a weak smile in return. He closed the door quietly behind him. Alanna when to her wardrobe and begin to look for an appropriate dress to wear.

True to his word, Jon knocked on her door just over an hour later. A very different Alanna opened the door this time. She stepped back to let Jon in. he looked at her. She looked beautiful. Her hair was brushed and sightly curled. Her dress was black, it wasn't overly fancy yet it wasn't too simple. Her neckline was low but not to low. Her face was plain, with only dark liner around her eyes. Her face was still rather pale, but that could be fixed with a walk in the sun.

"You look really beautiful." He told her. Alanna blushed as her heart speed up.

"Thank you. You don't look to bad your self." She told him whilst smiling. He looked down to what he was wearing. A black tunic with a black shirt and a blue tunic.

"It's not the best," he joked. "But it will have to do. Shall we go now?" He offered his arm to her. She took it.

"Yes. Lead the way." She said smiling up at him.

When they arrived at the chapel, most people were already there. When they entered, everyone turned around to see who had arrived. When they saw Alanna arm in arm with the prince whispers broke out everywhere.

"Did you see her? She is with the Prince! Wonder what he sees in her" a blonde haired girl whispered to her friend.

"Do you think they are here as friends or do you think they are 'involved' with each other?" her friend replied.

"Don't listen to what they are saying. It's not like anything they say is true." He told her. She nodded. They took their seats with Gary, Raoul, Cythera and Gary's father Duke Garath. The funeral wasn't to long, it was simple just the way Thom would have wanted it. The whole time Jon had held Alanna's hand in his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze every now and then. After the funeral was over, they headed to one of the smaller ballrooms for a 'quiet gathering.' Alanna was standing with Cythera, Gary - who were flirting with each other- and Jon, when a tall man with brown hair came over with a young woman not too much older that Alanna. She had blonde hair. She had a young girl on one hip, and was holding the hand of a young boy. The man bowed.

"May I introduce myself? I am Sir Matthew of Musco and this is my wife Lady Julia, my son Kieran and my daughter Jessiker." The man said. "Im so sorry for your loss. Thom was a good friend of mine. He even saved my son Kieran. I just don't understand who would have wanted to hurt Thom. Or why." Alanna who had been thinking the same thing over the past couple of days didn't say anything instead she knelt down and looked the little boy in the face. He had startling blue eyes and blonde hair that fell into his face.

"Why don't you and your sister come with me? I'll take you somewhere you can play whilst ma and da talk with us older people." Alanna told him gently. The boy nodded. She took his and his sisters hand and led them to the nursery. She hadn't gone more than ten or so paces when Jon came up from behind her.

"I'm coming with you." He told her. She shrugged and kept on walking. They walked in silence. Jon was the first to break it.

"After you have dropped them off do you want to come for a walk in the gardens with me?" he asked her.

"Sure I can't see why not." They arrived at the nursery. They told the two kids that their parents would come and get them once they were finished talking and headed out towards the palace rose gardens. Alanna inhaled deeply. She loved the smell of roses. They came to a bench. They sat down. Jon picked a rose from a nearby bush and gave it to her.

"A beautiful rose for a beautiful lady." He murmured. She blushed and took the rose tucking it behind her ear. A shadow fell across them. Alanna looked up. It was Sir Rolff. Ugh, Alanna thought why can't he just leave me alone. Especially today of all days.

"Lady Alanna it is a great pleasure meeting you again," He said as he grabbed her hand and kissed it. She snatched it away and wiped it on her dress. "I am so um…sorry….to hear about you brother…but life must go on…" and with that, he wondered off. Alanna looked down, the tears rolling down her cheeks. Jon stroked her cheek, whipping away her tears.

"Alanna whats wrong?" he asked gently.

"He wasn't sorry. The least he could have done was sound sorry." Jon put his fingers under her chin, making her look up at him. She stared into his eyes, as her heart sped up. She found it hard to breath. Whats wrong with me. I have never felt like this before. She though. Slowly Jon kissed her lips. She found her self-kissing back. They were interrupted by a voice.

"Jon? Lady Alanna? Are you out here?" Jon and Alanna leapt apart as Gary came around the corner. He smiled when he saw them.

"Oh there you are. Look Jon I have been looking for you everywhere. I know this is bad timing and all. But Jon your cousin Duke Roger has just arrived at the court and im sure he would love to see you again." Gary told Jon. Jon stood up and held is hand out to Alanna, who took it.

"Do you want to come Alanna? Im sure Roger would love to meet you." Jon told her. Alanna nodded. Jon smiled at her. Together they made their way back to the palace hand in hand, leaving Gary standing alone. Gary smiled to himself. It looked as though he dear cousin and Lady Alanna were fast becoming more than good friends. He walked off in the opposite direction looking to Raoul to tell him of the latest 'development.'

A/n: enter roger next chapter. I love Roger he's so evil. I love writting about him! please R&R you really make my day!