Disclaimer: No matter how much I dream, everything here belongs to Tamora Pierce except, of course, the plot. And some minor things I made up here and there.
Title: Ghost of the Past
Author: Winky-wink
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Pairing: Alanna/Undecided?
Musical Affection: 'Gold Digger' by Kayne West
Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a Tamora Pierce fic. I'm mostly used to writing Harry Potter but I decided to branch out and try this out of the heck of it. I'm been infatuated with The Song of a Lioness Series for a good few weeks now. So, why not, right? Haha. Please be gentle.
Anyway I got this story from a small exerpt in Alanna, the First Adventure, where Alanna mentions Lady Catherine, a person who had planned to marry her father. Then it hints that Alanna and Thomscared her away by creating ghostsusing her Gift.I just thought it might be interesting to write about. And don't worry about this chapter. It's a prologue. Future chapters take place when Alanna's about sixteen. Don't stare like that. All the good story ideas are taken!
'Brigands demand your money or your life; women require both'-Samuel Butler
Alanna of Trebond rustled uncomfortably in her gown. Her father had made her wear a ridiculously lacey outfit just to welcome her. For what seemed like the millionth time, she sighed deeply, her patience running low. Who was 'her', you may ask? 'Her' was Lady Catherine of Galla, sister to Alanna's late mother. Lady Catherine was everything Alanna hated. A cruel-minded, vain, soft noble lady. However, the thing that Alanna hated most about her was the intention which she brought with her when she came to Trebond.
Thinking this, the young Trebond glanced at her father, wondering if he would actually fall to her charms. He was currently busy with his nose in a book, even now, as they stood outside on the steps of Trebond Manor, awaiting the carriage that was drawing ever closer in the distance. She frowned. No. He wouldn't fall to her charms. He never fell to anything's charms. Unless it was a book or a scroll.
Alanna's older-by-two-minutes-brother coughed gently on her other side. She turned her head, glad for the distraction.
"Feeling under the weather, dear brother?" Alanna asked, her voice hiding a certain teasing quality.
"Not in particular, no," Thom replied, wrinkling his nose, "She's here."
Alanna looked ahead and saw that Lady Catherine's carriage really had stopped in front of them. It was large, extravagant, made of the best quality oak in the land. 'If she's so rich, why does she want my father's gold?' Alanna thought, sullenly. She didn't care what her father said. She just couldn't bring herself to be nice to this woman. Alanna had never been good at putting up false pretences.
Lord Alan of Trebond finally shut his book and looked up, his face expressionless. Coram and Wesley, a servingman of her father's, came forward to help Lady Catherine out of her carriage. Thom and Alanna's father also stepped forward and looked to his children to follow his lead. Thom went forward easily but that was because he got to wear breeches and a comfortable tunic while Alanna was stuck with this-with this-distaster in aquamarine.
She took a step timidly, picking up her gown as her governess had instructed. These darned shoes were killing her feet, toe by toe! She grimaced as she lost feeling in her left foot. Still, she continued. Lord Alan would not forgive her easily for embarrassing him in front of the new guests. Finally, all the Trebonds were settled, earnestly, in front of the carriage as Coram opened it.
Lady Catherine leaned forward and smiled when she caught sight of them. Her light brown hair was bound into tight little ringlets all around her head. Her gown made Alanna actually feel more comfortable in her own. It was peach with a shower of jewels all along its length. It came to a tight fitting around her neck and because of the color of the gown so matching the color of her skin, she almost looked naked. Squinting, you would've been fooled for sure.
Lord Alan held out his arm for her and she took it, her smile widening. She stepped down, walking more gracefully than Alanna could ever wish to, she thought wistfully, and with an elegant sweep, she bowed.
"Lord Alan, you do not know how pleased I am to see you," she simpered, "And may I add, that you look quite dashing. How do you preserve yourself, sir?"
Lord Alan looked quite surprised by this sudden compliment and seemed to not know how to reply to it.
"Erm...I really don't do much, my Lady," he said, nervously, suddenly acutely aware of her hand on his arm.
"My, you must simply be magic musn't you?" Lady Catherine replied, keeping her smile in tact all the while.
At the word magic Thom twitched. Alanna knew how he felt about magic but he would soon regret that twitch because it was a cause to that that Lady Catherine noticed him when she did.
"Thom? Is that you? Look how you've grown!" Lady Catherine said with false sincerity, snatching him up in a hug.
Alanna distinctly heard Thom murmur something like, "I'm only nine." but Lady Catherine seemed oblivious to it all and only pressed him tighter to her bosom. Alanna frowned. It almost looked like Thom was suffocating over there. However, after a moment or two she released him.
"If you grow any more handsome, young man, some lady will snatch you away from us all soon!" Lady Catherine teased, making Thom blush furiously and Alanna stifle a giggle, "Perhaps I should talk to your father and save you for my daughter now before it is too late?"
"Helena is here?" Alanna asked, not able to hide the distress in her voice.
Helena of Galla was just as bad as her mother. Alanna had been hoping that Lady Catherine would've left her behind. The girl thought that just because she was two years older than Alanna meant she could boss her around. Alanna, not being one to take things lightly, had punched her firmly in the eye. They had been enemies ever since.
"Why yes, and she is very excited to see you again," Lady Catherine replied with a smile which looked more like a smirk, "Helena! Come out here and greet your cousins and uncle!"
A soft-looking girl stepped forward and out of the carriage. She had light brown hair like her mother's but her's lay flat and straight down her back. She wore a forest green gown that looked rather pretty on her, Alanna admitted to herself. Helena's grey eyes traversed the scene before her and she plastered that same sickening smile her mother wore on her own face. It ruined her beauty.
"Dear uncle, it causes me all sorts of joy to see you again," Helena said, warmly, curtsying towards Lord Alan.
'Yeah, so you can take his riches from him,' Alanna thought, darkly, to herself.
"And, my wonderful cousins, oh! I've missed you so!" she cried, throwing herself on Alanna, "Especially you, Alanna."
Alanna thought the last part was added rather suspiciously. However, she didn't let it phase her.
"Uh, yes. I feel the same," Alanna lied through her teeth.
"Oh, Helena, take a look at this one here," Lady Catherine said, gesturing towards Thom, "Won't he make a fabulous knight someday?"
Thom flinched when she mentioned him being a knight. Alanna understood why. Fencing, swordfighting, wrestling, tilting, and knighthood weren't exaclty Thom's cup of tea. They were more what Alanna was accustomed to enjoying. They both dreaded the day two years into the future when they would have to live each other's dreams. Thom in Corus. Alanna in the City of the Gods.
"Yes, I'm sure he will," Helena said, not particularly interested in Thom. She turned back to Alanna, "Would you be so kind as to escort me to my chambers, my lovely Alanna? I know we have so much to catch up on."
It was an offer Alanna couldn't refuse. Literally. Lord Alan would have her hide if she did. She nodded and started to lead the way for Helena, all the while looking back at Lady Catherine who was in the middle of chatting up her father. Thom looked on in disgust.
"Tell me, young Trebond, are you over your childhood fantasies yet? Or do you still believe you can become a knight?" Helena questioned, smugly, once they were out of hearing vicinity.
Alanna gritted her teeth, "Yes. I don't believe I can become a knight. I know I canbecome a knight.
She said it with such conviction that she almost believed herself for a second. Hopefully Helena would be fooled too. Instead she just broke out in laughter. Alanna frowned and fought the urge to give her cousin a good thrashing.
"Funny, is it? We'll see who's laughing when I'm a knight!" Alanna cried, indignantly.
This, however, only caused more spurs of laughter from Helena, who was crying with the humor of it all. She couldn't even walk so Alanna had to stand there, impatiently, as she finished her little laugh fest. She was getting more heated by every second that ticked by. She would become a knight. She was sure. No one was going to stop her. Not Lord Alan even. And if Helena found that so funny then she was asking for a beating.
"Yes I suppose we will," Helena responded, after her giggles died away, "Although I still believe I'll be the one who'll do the laughing even then."
Alanna chose notto reply. She had too much dignity for it. And she also had very little comebacks. She would just wait till the time came and then she'd show Helena and everyone that doubted her what she was made of.
"But we really shouldn't argue since we are to be sisters," Helena said after a while in what she presumed was a reasonable voice.
"Sisters?" Alanna snorted, "You're so sure even though your mother and my father aren't even bethrothed yet?"
"Dearest Alanna, haven't you yet realized it?" Helena answered with a sigh, "My mother always gets whatever she wants. And right now what she wants is your father."
"More like his gold and silver!" Alanna retorted.
Helena seemed to look at her in a whole new light, "You're clever, Trebond, that's for sure. But that sharp tongue of yours won't get you anywhere unless you use it sweetly."
"I don't need advice from you, thanks very much," Alanna huffed, stopping in front of a large mahogany door that was going to home to Helena for a few days. Or at least Alanna hoped it would only be for a few days.
"Hmm, nice room," Helena commented, "Though, not as nice as the palace. Mother and I were there just last month, did you know? I saw Prince Jonathan there. Only a year older than me. And, Mithros, he is to die for."
Alanna rolled her eyes. Expect Helena to notice only the boys when she went to the palace. She didn't want to let Helena think she was interested in all this but she really was. In her own way. She fought off the urge to ask her questions but curiousity got the better of her.
"Did you see any knights? See any battles? I hear they have a week of jousting where they-" she stopped and frowned, realizing that Helena wasn't even paying attention to her.
Instead she was studying the material that the curtains were made of. Great Mother Goddess! Was that all the girl could think of? Alanna wondered, shaking her head. She tried to get Helena's attention to ask her questions once again.
"Did you see any knights?" Alanna asked, trying to keep her voice level and calm.
"Hmm? Oh yes, I did. Sweaty things they are. But-," Helena's eyes glazed over, "They are extremely handsome. Especially Sir Fireth of Jakal."
Alanna groaned. She hadn't wanted to hear about how sweaty or how handsome the knights were. All she wanted was to know was how they lived, what they did on a daily basis, how many battles had they fought. That sort of stuff. But why was she so disappointed? She should've known she wouldn't have gotten this information from Helena. She was least likely of all people. Alanna gave up and stomped out of the room, whilst Coram entered it, carrying Helena's bags.
He winked at her but she wasn't in the mood to return it. She was more restless than ever before. She also felt more hopeless than ever before. Alanna had never wanted to be a knight more than she did now. But the chances of that happening seemed to be growing thinner and thinner by each passing day.
"Oh, Lord Alan, please! You do flatter me too much!" Lady Catherine giggled, raising her fork to her mouth.
"My Lady, all I do is speak the truth. You look simply stunning," Lord Alan replied, smiling.
Alanna could not believe this. It had been a week since Lady Catherine and Helena's arrival and already the effects the visit were having on Lord Alan were obvious. Suddenly Alanna didn't feel the least bit hungry. She looked across the table at Thom, who seemed to be feeling the same though he hid it better. But who wouldn't be disgusted by this...atrocity first thing in the morning at their own breakfast table? Alanna was strongly against her Aunt Catherine becoming her Stepmother Catherine. The mere thought caused shivers to run up her spine. She desperately had to do something to prevent a marriage from happening. Just what that would be, she had no clue.
However, that didn't stop her from cornering Thom after breakfast.
"We have to do something," Alanna said, simply, hoping he would understand what exactly they had to do something about. He did.
"I was just going to say the same, sister," he nodded, "I'm still working out the what factor though. Come, let's go discuss this in the library."
Alanna made a face, "No, not the library. Helena might find us there. Let's go to visit Coram, she'd never go there."
Thom opened his mouth to argue but Alanna had that scary look in her eyes again. He decided it was better to just do this on her terms lest she dunked his head in the pond again.
They both hurried to where Coram stayed. A little house, not far from Trebond manor. He opened the door for them both, groggy-eyed. He obviously had another of one his hangovers. He looked the two of them over and moved away from the door, leaving it open. Thom and Alanna took this to mean they could enter. Thom seemed unnerved but Alanna felt just as comfortable here as she did in all the lavish living up at the manor. She was no ordinary noble, afterall.
She and Thom sat at a wickety old table, while Coram went off to his own business around the house. Immediately, the twins began to swap ideas about how to rid themselves of Lady Catherine.
"We could always play pranks on her till she left," Alanna said, looking at Thom.
He raised an eyebrow, "They'd all know it was us. Who else would dare play a prank on Lady Catherine?"
"How 'bout we beat on Helena till Lady Catherine realizes that we couldn't work as siblings? Or, even better, how about we beat on Lady Catherine, herself?" Alanna grinned, stating the idea that appealed to her most above all.
"Now you're just being silly," Thom frowned.
"Alright. Alright. Hmm...uhh...we could talk to father? Tell him our wishes?" Alanna suggested, losing all hope.
"You've run out of ideas, haven't you?" Thom said, quietly.
They both sat in a quiet misery for a moment. Both of them thinking about how their father had never truely respected them or loved them for that matter. How he hadn't hugged Alanna till her mother had died. Neither of them liked to think about how their father didn't care but sometimes...sometimes it all came with a sudden sadness they just couldn't handle. Not at nine years old anyways.In an instant Alanna couldn't take it anymore.
"Well if you're so smart why don't you think of an idea, braniac?" Alanna demanded, angrily.
Thom looked up at her, face still dazed from thought, "I did have an idea, actually."
Suddenly Alanna was all ears, "What is it?"
Thom hesitated.
"You're not going to like it," he declared.
"Then don't tell me," Alanna snapped, stubbornly.
"But it is the only way as far as I can see," Thom commented, thoughtfully.
"Ok, then, tell me. I can handle it," Alanna gave in, "Anything to get rid of that witch up at our home."
"Well, it involves a bit of magic you see-
"Magic? No way am I getting involved then! You have enough magical talent for the both of us!" Alanna exclaimed, knowing there was no way she was going to partake in magic.
"Alanna, don't be so difficult. I'm good yes but the type of magic I want to do requires more strength than I have. I'm just a beginner, you know," Thom argued, hoping to make his twin see sense.
"Why does it have to be magic?" Alanna grumbled, clearly distraught.
"Well, what is Aunt Catherine's greatest fear?" Thom inquired, obviously knowing the answer.
Alanna knew too, though she hated to admit it, "Magic and...ghosts."
"Exactly! She hates all that supernatural stuff, you see? So if we magicked some ghosts up, you know, created illusions of ghosts, maybe just maybe we can frighten her out of Trebond," Thom said, his eyes gleaming at the talk of magic.
"I wish we could frighten her out of Tortall," Alanna added, cheekily.
"Frighten who out of Tortall?" Coram asked, walking in with a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses.
"No one," the twins replied quickly in chorus.
Coram set down the lemonade and glasses and looked the two of them over, suspiciously. Thom and Alanna tried to put on their most innocent faces.
"Now listen, I don't want either of ye to go about frightening anybody. Especially not Lady Catherine. Especially not with magi-"
"Oh, look at the time! We have to go, Coram!" Alanna exclaimed, cutting across him, "Sorry! We'll see you tomorrow, perhaps? Come, Thom, let's go."
Thom gave Coram a quick look before hurrying after Alanna. Coram closed the door behind them. Well, he had tried. But once those two got an idea in their heads, it was extremely hard to get it out.
Lady Catherine pratically skipped up to her room but she didn't. She was far too dignified to ever skip. There were things a noble lady could do and things a noble lady couldn't do. Skipping was a don't. Marrying a rich man to get even more richer yourself was a do. And that was exactly what she was doing. She opened the door to her chambers. A maid was putting the finishing touches on her bath by sprinkling rose petals over the soapy foam.
"M'lady," she curtysed towards Lady Catherine.
Catherine only sneered, "Get out of my sight before I'm forced to punish you for even coming into my sight."
The maid blushed a bright red and scurried out as if she had just been burned. Catherine watched her go, not particularly interested. She had just reached her lacings to undo them when she heard a quick swish as if something had just sped by. She quickly looked up and snapped her head around the room. Nothing was out of order. No one was in the room although a curtain was rustling. Catherine shook her head and smiled to herself. All this romance and wooing business was getting to her head. Not that she really needed to try anymore. Oh no, she had Alan wrapped around her finger.
She had almost had all her lacings done and was just about to removed her corset when she heard another swish. This time she looked up and studied the room more carefully. She could feel beads of sweat begin to form on the back of her neck.
"Who's there?" she called, her voice sounding weak and alone, "Show yourself."
The 'thing' responded by breaking the vase on her bed side table. Catherine screamed. No one had knocked the vase down. It had just exploded into a thousand pieces. Mithros! This was not good.
Suddenly a deep voice rang loud and clear.
"Catherine of Galla!"
"By the Black God!" Catherine cried, clutching her corset to herself and backing away from her bed.
That was pointless, however, because the voice seemed to be everywhere. Resounding from every corner of the room.
"Catherine of Galla!" The Great Voice repeated again, "I am the Ghost of-err...-HONOR! And I am here to reprimand you for your sins!"
Horror swept across Catherine's face as she looked around the room in fright. In the air in front of her a figure was beginning to form. It was hazy at first but then it formed. It was the figure of a great, tall, lumbering man wearing a long black cloak.
Catherine screamed again and backed away from the ghost as far as possible until she was practically up against her bath tub.
"You have sinned, Catherine. You have come here to Trebond for unjust reasons! And for that you shall pay!"
"No..," Catherine merely whimpered.
"You'll also be paying for dressing like a slut!" The Ghost Of HONOR continued, "And giving birth to a boy-crazy slut just like yourself!"
"SHUT UP, will you!" The Ghost Of HONOR cried, instantly sounding whiney.
"I didn't say anything!" Catherine gasped, utterly confused.
"Eh?" The Ghost turned back to her, "Yeah I know. I wasn't talking to you."
Catherine, in all her terror, was still curious, "Who?"
"Who? Uhh, well...THE SPIRITS WITHIN!" The Ghost cried and lunged towards her.
Catherine gave one last ear-splitting shriek and tried to hide away from the Ghost of HONOR by jumping into her bathtub, clothing and all. The Ghost came and stood over her, seemingly amused.
"Well take this as a lesson! You must leave Trebond or I shall claim your meagre life!" The Ghost warned, before beginning to fade away.
Lady Catherine wasted no time in leaping from the bathtub and beginning to shove various contents from her wardrobe and stuffing them into her bags which were under her bed. In all her haste she didn't hear the laughing of the two youths behind her curtains. Thom and Alanna huddled together, trying to stifle their chuckles with their fists. They had won-this time.
It was all Lord Alan could do to stop Lady Catherine from leaving Trebond that very night, still soapy and shaking in her boots. But he could not hold her the next morning. As soon as everyone was up she ordered her and Helena's luggage in their carriage and almost half-dragged Helena out of Trebond Manor.
"But, mother, I don't understand!" Helena cried, as her mother practically ripped her arm out of it's socket, "Why are we leaving so soon?"
"I've seen spirits child!" Lady Catherine yelped, sounding half-mad.
Thom and Alanna fought to keep their faces dull and even sad but the twitching at the corners of their mouths gave them away. Coram stared at them, solidly. He suspected them, Alanna knew, but he had no proof. And, even if he did, she knew Coram wouldn't have turned the twins in.
Helena was thrown into the carriage, Lady Catherine clambering after her. Lord Alan rushed forth.
"Must you leave?" he asked, his sadness being genuine.
"Yes, I must! Now get out of my way!" Catherine yelled, as she shut the carriage door herself, "Trebond is haunted witht the spirits of the dead! Be warned!"
"Alrighty, off we go," the carriage-driver said, calmly.
He, along with everyone else, was fairly convinced that Lady Catherine had gone off the rocker. He pulled the reins and the horses hooves clattered against the pavement as they set off. Some servingmen opened the front gates, watching thehalf-mad lady go off in awe.
"Pity," Lord Alan said, looking after the carriage. He opened the book he'd had in his hand and set off indoors, in the midst of his reading.
Alanna took Thom's hand and squeezed it. He gave her one of his rare smiles.
Now that they had rid themselves of Lady Catherine at last, Alanna could turn back to her real life obstacle. Becoming a Knight.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. School starts for me tomorrow so I'm not sure when I'll update but you can expect it to be soon because I'm intrigued by this story at the moment. Anyway starting next chapter, the story will take place in Corus, at the palace, Alanna being a Squire, of course. So I hope you review. They really do give the Author encouragement to continue a story.
winky-wink