Chapter Three

Alanna sat in one of the large plushy chairs in Delia's room, purple eyes closed listened to the music coming from other rooms. Her sewing was resting in her lap. It was another hankie. She had a problem of giving them away.

Not because she was good hearted, rather just to spite Delia. When their footman had gotten hurt pushing the carriage out of the mud, Delia had yelled at him for getting it stuck in the first place. Alanna wiped the wounds clean with her hankie, and bound it, not saying a word.

All of her hankie's were the same. Small purple violets on the edge of a white small piece of cloth. Nothing special, other ladies who looked good in purple had the same thing on their own. Alanna simply felt that it was her right to have purple somewhere in the thing that most men would remember her by.

"Alanna," Delia whispered, looking up from her own sewing. "What do you think of the prince?" her voice was soft, and it made Alanna, wonder what her friend was up to. Quickly, she thought of a response and pricked herself with her needled, and not wincing. Her fingers and palms were soft, but her finger tips were as callused as a swordsman's.

"He's handsome," she said quickly. "But gray is not his color. He should wear blue's or oranges… he's one of the few people that orange won't look blotchy on him." She shrugged, and pretended that was all she was thinking of.

"Lanna!" Delia pouted and looked at her. "Not what I meant, we already know he's attractive! No, what do you think of his power! Didn't it seem to just…" she searched for the right word, her attractive face drawn into an ugly one when she was thinking. Wrinkles on her forehead, and scrunched up eyes and lips.

"It makes him alluring," Alanna said and shrugged. "The gift does that." It wasn't true, the gift didn't lure anyone to Thom, and Alanna hid her own away, only using a little when alone. Her looks, and manners drew people towards her, not her gift! She didn't need it to help her! She had feared it as a child, and she hated it now!

Going back to her stitching, she was thinking of the Prince herself. Tonight she would be introduced at court. What luck, at Midwinter too! It gave her an excuse to dress exquisitely, not just beautifully, and a legitimate reason to flirt and wrap everyman around her finger, even the prince.

"What do you think of him?" Alanna asked, just to wipe the expression from Delia's face. It really was annoying her. Delia looked startled, and started to blabber on about his beauty, his power that just seemed to radiate from him, and how he had looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. How surely, he must be attracted to her.

Alanna nodded, and took it all in. Every man was attracted to the Delia, her beauty was different than normal standard, but still softer than her own. Delia had brown hair that could hang in smoky ringlets to frame her face, and her green eyes were natural.

Alanna's on the other hand. To be attracted to her, a man must have exotic tastes. Her fiery red hair was in waves down to her shoulders and if she didn't brush it the right way was rather knotted and unruly. Her purple eyes often sparkled in any light, and frightened many conservative and pious men, and women alike. Her looks drove many away, but no one would deny that she was beautiful, and the ones that she attracted were often exotic themselves, beautiful in how different they were.

"Delia," Alanna warned and looked up. "You're doing it again." Delia blushed, and shook her head. Quickly, she apologized from babbling on about nothing, and certainly in the presence of another lady.

That was not what annoyed Alanna; the fact that Delia had mentioned her childhood dream had. Only Thom could tease her about it and not catch her wrath. Thom was her twin, her brother, and once part of her. Even though that was no longer, she still had the illusion that she was close to at least one person in the world.

It would have been a horrible thing to have Delia as the only person in the world that cared for her. Alanna shook her head at that thought and stood up. Her lips found both of Delia's cheeks. "I'll see you tonight, Darling." She picked up her sewing basket and waved her good bye before walking out of the door.

In the halls she bumped into someone and grumbled, picking up her things. A large hand covered hers and she was pulled to her feet. "Lady Alanna," the smooth voice said. "Let me."

At her feet, Prince Roger was picking up her things, and practically kneeling at her things. Inwardly, Alanna was jumping for joy, loving this situation; but she kept her expression one of gratitude and smiled. "Thank you, Highness," she murmured and looked at him. His smile caught her attention, and he carried her basket offering an arm.

"Lady Alanna," he said with a smiled. "Don't thank me, it was my fault…I've been wondering, is your charming friend Delia planning on attending the ball tonight?" Alanna shrugged.

"As far as I know," she whispered. He's playing with me, she realized and inwardly smirked. He wants be jealous and willing to do anything to get him. And he wants to see if I'm stupid… well I'm not! "She had gloves sat out." She smiled and walked with him, as the same pace. His smile grew, as if he approved of her answer.

"And you Lady Alanna? Are you attending tonight?" Alanna nodded and smirked. It was not a very lady-like expression, but she managed to make it so.

"Indeed, your Highness," she said, her tone indecisive. "I am. Honestly, do you think I would travel so far to not?" She smiled as they reached her door. It was not far after all, actually, just three doors down from Delia's, but their courtly speed made it take them a few minutes.

"I shall look foreword to it," he whispered, in the same tone. His lips politely found hers. "Midwinter's luck Alanna."