Disclaimer: Hum dee dum...does anyone ever read these things? Well if you do, none of the characters, other than Helena/Lady Winfred/Lincoln/Abigail are mine.
Title: Ghost of the Past
Author: Winky-wink
Genre: Romance/Humor/Drama
Rating: T (Just to be safe)
Pairing: A/J as of now.
Musical Affection: 'No Daddy' by Teairra Mari.
Author's Note: Kokari: Yeah, how much more special can you get an posing as a boy, right? Anyways, I don't like waiting forever for updates in my own writing and other people's too. The quicker the better in my opinion.
Yasthira: Oops, what a stupid fumble...yeah believe should've been become. I like using offhand remarks like that. It's interesting to see it build up. And thanks.
Lutefa: I know. And it gets even messier as the story continues haha.
Confusedknight: I'm glad you think it's realistic! I try. Anyways...yeah it is funny when you think about it. Alanna pretending to be a manly squire and a noble lady at the same time. Thanks for your nice review too.
epobbp: Here you are...an update!..
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Anyways, expect the plot to get even more messy and confusing as the story goes on. I'm not letting Alanna off easily in this story. Haha.
'It may be beauty that captures your attention but it's personality that captures your heart'-Anonymous
"Ow! Ow! Ow!" Alanna cried out, "Take them off! Off!"
Lady Winfred gave her a quick smack with her fan, "Hush. A noble lady always speaks in smooth, calming tones. Now, it isn't that bad, is it?"
The Lioness looked down at her feetwhich were shoved into a pair of beautiful green velvet shoes. The outers of these were studded with a design in a shiny bronze. The only set back to these shoes were it's heels. It hurt to have her feet arched at such an odd angle after years of wearing comfortable boots. But Lady Winfred had noted Alanna was just too short for a Conte. Conte's were tall and regal. Not short and stocky.
Alanna fought away the tears forming in her eyes, "No, I guess not."
"Good. You must wear these. All noble ladies do," Lady Winfred explained.
"Then all noble ladies have better endurance than I thought," Alanna muttered, attempting to walk with the feetkillers on.
"There is no beauty without pain, my dear," Lady Winfred said, flashing one of her smiles, "Now, show me your walk."
It was the sixth day of Alanna's lady lessons and they only had one more night of this torture before she had her coming out party as Alanna of Conte. The redheaded squire felt it was more like a bootcamp than lessons. She'd been plucked, waxed, polished, make-upped and dressed till she felt raw. She couldn't bring herself to believe that there were actual women who went through this their whole lives. However, using all her remaining strength, as she often did in training to be a Knight, she forced herself to walk in the most ladylike way she knew.
"Stop making that face," Lady Winfred scolded, "You look like you're giving birth."
It was hard not to make cringes of pain with the feetkillers on. Alanna forced a light smile on her face and tried again to walk, prettily.
Winfred watched her, closely, looking for a mistake. "Now show me how you sit with a gown on."
Alanna walked (still maintaining her small, gliding steps) over to the nearest leather chair and settled herself down while moving her skirts to the front and splaying them out over the chair itself. Her nails had been polished so they shone brightly. Luckily, they weren't coloured or she'd have a lot of explaining to do to her friends.
"Very, very, good, Alanna," Lady Winfred complimented, "You learn quickly. You have a few awkward mannerisms but nothing to draw grave attention. You'll do me proud. You'll do the Conte name proud."
She blushed under the degree of the compliments. She prayed against all odds that she would do Lady Winfred proud. For all her annoying smiles and her stiff noble lady rules, she'd still helped Alanna out in her hour of need. And the Lioness would remember it.
A sudden knock came at the door and Alanna looked petrified. If anyone saw her in here, there'd be trouble. An unknown noble lady with a boy's hair, strutting around in the room of the royal Aunt?
Winfred did not looked even the slightest perturbed, "That must be the healing woman here to fix up that hair of your's."
She stood up herself and went to the door. All the servingmaids were banished this time of day when Alanna came for her lady lessons.
"My hair?" Alanna blanked, "What healing woman? And what's wrong with my hair?"
Lady Winfred took one look at the mop of red that lay on Alanna's head and barely swept past her ears and laughed. Alanna felt her face growing hot and tried to keep her temper in check. Winfred opened the door and ushered in the healing woman that was to help with Alanna's hair. It was Eleni.
"Eleni!" Alanna cried, overjoyed at the sight of her.
"Alanna? My goodness, what're you doing here?" Eleni demanded, dropping her sack of potions and herbs.
"You two know each other I suspect," Lady Winfred smiled, lightly, closing her door.
"Eleni's my friend's mother. The friend in the city who knows about my secret, you know him?" Alanna explained, standing up in the excitement and forgetting her ladylike composure.
"Sit down," Winfred snapped, "You can't always switch back and forth from man to woman everytime you're excited."
Alanna blushed at being reprimanded and sat back down. Eleni raised an eyebrow.
"So you're the young noble that needs help with her hair?" Eleni asked, "Explain to me why I'mso confused, please."
"It's a long story," Alanna mumbled, keeping her small hands in her lap like a noble lady would.
"She's posing as my daughter because she needs to pose as her own lover," Winfred told Eleni in Alanna's stead.
Eleni's eyebrows were now flyaway's in her unruly bangs but she asked no more questions. Instead she began unpacking her bag and brought out all sorts of concoctions that looked as if they had nothing to do with healing.
"What're you going to do to my hair?" Alanna questioned, feeling queasy, "I can't dye it or anything because what happens when everyone sees Alan with a new shade of hair?"
"Shh, prettyness," Lady Winfred hushed her, using her nickname for Alanna, "We are dying your hair and lengthening it. But Alan won't be phased by this because we're using a very secret ingredient that most women don't have."
"Which is?" Alanna inquired, knowing she had to ask, otherwise Winfred would just assume she knew.
"Magic, of course," the royal Aunt responded, simply.
"Of course," Alanna grumbled, rolling her eyes.
"Here, please, Alanna," Eleni called her over to a basin she'd set up. The Lioness obeyed even though she felt extremely timid.
"We won't do much so don't fret," Winfred said, coming over to the basin where Alanna's head rested so that she stood over her like some kind of eyeliner-wearing angel, "I just want to darken that beautiful red and bring it down to your elbows."
"Shall I make something to change her eye colour?" Eleni suggested, "It's too rare. Let's give it that sapphire blue the rest of you royalnobility have."
Winfred nodded, eager, "I can't wait till my nephew sees you tomorrow."
"What?" Alanna asked, trying to get up but she was forced back down my two pairs of strong hands, "Why would Jon see me tomorrow?"
"I invited him to your final lesson. Dance," Winfred added, grinning wickedly, "And so he can check your progress and note any things that are wrong with your behavior."
Alanna sighed, deeply, "I'll have to wear a dress, won't I? And the feetkillers?"
"And don't forget face paints," Winfred added, hersmile steadily growing.
Alanna groaned. She hadn't hoped to embarrass herself in front of Jon till a good day later. But tomorrow? When she was so unprepared? Strangely, another part of her felt giddy with excitement. Wasn't this what she secretly wanted all along? Having Jonathan see her as a girl? To realize she was a girl and a very eligible one at that? She fought the happy blush that creeped up her cheeks but she knew both the older women noticed and gave each other knowing glances.
Eleni spent a good hour or two studying the components in Alanna's hair to prepare the perfect vial of potion for her. She added all sorts of the ingredients that had smells that brought Alanna to dizziness even though she was already sort of lying down. Finally, just as the bell rang for dinner, they were done. The sun had set long ago and Eleni pressed a case full of vials of her special potion tucked within into Alanna's hands.
"Drink a pinch of the blue and your hair will become long and a brownish red whilst your eyes will become the infamous Conte blue for the next twelve hours," Eleni instructed, "Should you wish to change back to your normal hair and eyes before the twelve hours is up, swallow a teaspoon of the purple. Do I make myself clear?"
Alanna nodded, still hazy-eyed from the lasting smell of lavendar in the air. Eleni continued, sternly, "If you run out, m'lady knows where to contact me, quickly."
She bowed to Alanna and Lady Winfred one last time before sneaking out of the room. Winfred opened her window to let out the intoxicating scent of Alanna's hair potion. She sat down at a wooden chair and Alanna fell back again on the leather one.
"I always thought Eleni only worked potions for healing," she murmured.
Winfred laughed at this. "Where do you think she gets all her money? Medication is surely a worthy path but it doesn't pay half so well as beautification."
Alanna sank inbetween Douglass and Gary for dinner and began to chomp away, hurriedly. Gary nudged her.
"Why in such a rush?" Gary asked, grinning.
"Don't you know?" Raoul teased, "Alanna arrives tomorrow. He's probably wanting to be off writing sonnets about her beauty."
The Lioness smiled, broadly, "Not quite. But you're close."
In all reality, she had to hurry off to her lady lessons and practice till the bell came for all squires and pages to go to sleep. She rubbed her tired eyes and noticed Jon smiling at her across the table. She smiled back, knowing they were the only two in on the dealings happening in the King's sister's chambers.
"She really is coming, right?" Geoffery demanded, "I don't want to be disappointed again. One more let down and I'll have to question whether or not this royal beauty exists."
"She'll be there, alright?" Alanna offered, "And you'll all see her. If not tomorrow then the day after at the ball in her honor."
"Better be there," Geoffery muttered, incoherently.
More than all her other friends together, Geoffery had been the most disappointed after Lady Alanna hadn't turned up. Alanna also suspected Geoffery had asked the most questions and been the most suspcious. He wasn't the cleverest of them all but he was the most curious.
Alanna continued to finish her dinner at a rapid pace, now becoming motivated by Geoffery's questions. She had worked so hard to become a Knight...what were a few balls and gowns after all? Jonathan, less watched, managed to finish his dinner even before Alanna, herself.
"Well I'm off," he stated, as he would've any other night, "Got work to do unfortunately. I'll catch the rest of you later, alright?"
"Wait, I'll go with you!" Alanna offered, cleaning off her plate, "You can help me with some of this history essay I've got due tomorrow."
"What history essay?" Douglass demanded, but Alanna ignored him.
Jon nodded and they both set off together, not setting even the littlest of suspicion in any of their friend's minds. Once out of the Mess Hall they both grinned at each other, happy to have gotten away, unscathed.
"So I suppose you'll be wearing a dress today, huh?" Jon asked, his eyes glinting in the humor of it all.
"Yes and if you ever tell anyone about tonight ever ever again I will claim a limb," Alanna declared, tucking her hands behind her back.
"It isn't that bad, is it?" Jon questioned, "I mean, it's not like you've never worn a dress before."
"I may have worn a dress before this little mess I've created but I can assure youI won't afterwards," Alanna decided, looking at a passing noble lady for how she walked.
"You won't?" Jon implored, sounding...was that disappointment?
Alanna hesitated to respond, "I don't think so. But I won't bet my life on it. Who knows, I could change my mind."
"Or someone could change it for you," Jon pointed out.
"Like who?" Alanna demanded, but their rather insightful talk was cut short by their arrival at Lady Winfred's door.
Jon knocked it and Lady Winfred opened it, obviously having shooed away the servingmaids. Today's gown was of a soft pink that flowed out elegantly at the sleeves. She smiled at the two of them and welcomed them in. Closing the door, she got down to business.
"Since the night is already aging, we must be quick. Alanna, change your clothes, get your face paints on, and-did you bring your vial? Yes? Good. Take it as you were told and then go into the cupboard in my back room. You'll find your shoes there waiting for you. Get that frown off your face and go on," she ordered. Alanna frowned and stalked away. Still, she couldn't help but overhear what Lady Winfred told Jon, "As for you, my you look handsome! And they say you aren't courting anybody? Why ever not?"
Sadly, she couldn't dawdle around and listen to this interesting change of topics. She firstly went to a wardrobe to retrieve the dress Lady Winfred told her was a suitable one for the niece of the King to wear as she came to visit him. It was a satin gown, shaded with pale yellow and a little bit of white. It was pretty, simple, and basic. Nothing too fancy for her first time, she thought, relieved. It had an off the shoulder neck line that Alanna was still not sure if she was comfortable with. The sleeves were barely there so that her apple white arms were there for all to see. She scowled at her permanent goosebumps and got out her make up kit that had been borrowed from Winfred. Even Alanna, who was not a frequenter of face paints could tell this particular set was exquisite and not something just any commoner had. She did her lips with a tinted pink and went on to her cheeks. She brushed on the faintest of rouge so it didn't really look like rouge so much as it did like she'd been running a long while and she was a lively young lady. She lined her eyes with gray as opposed to the black that Winfred preferred. She didn't have the dark lashes to blend in pitch black like that. Gray gave her a better look by making her eyes almost catlike.
Next came the potion. Alanna was the most nervous at this part, hoping that Eleni hadn't mixed anything up and instead of getting brownish red hair and blue eyes, she'd end up with a tail and donkey ears. She sniffed it, tentatively. Without another act of hesitation she downed a small bit of it. The affect was immediate. Alanna looked at her reflection in the mirror as her hairbecame a shade or two darker and grew, rapidly, down to her elbows. The transformation in her eyes was even more fascinating. It felt like the violet pools rippled as drops of blue fell within until it consumed the purple. Soon she saw Jon's eyes look back at her. She smiled. The overall affect wasn't bad. Not bad at all.
Alanna hurried to complete the final step of her transformation by getting out another pair of shoes that Winfred had set out for her. These were a shiny white that blended well with the white tips of her gown. She tried not to cringe as she stood, feeling extremely uncomfortable in these feetkillers. Hopefully, after all this was over, she'd never have to wear these ever again. Then she thought of Jon and how disappointed he'd seemed when she said she hadn't wanted to wear dresses anymore and the pain lessened.
'If he asked,' Alanna thought to herself, 'I wonder if I'd keep wearing them.'
A few minutes later, she came out of Lady Winfred's bedroom into her sitting area where Jon and his Aunt awaited her. When she came out Winfred clapped her soft hands together, "See? Didn't I tell you she'd look marvelous, nephew?"
Alanna went red and shelooked at Jon. He smiled at her, warmly, "And I didn't doubt you for a second, Aunt. I knew you wouldn't underwhelm me. Not that it was too hard making Alanna beautiful, was it?"
"Oh, stop it," Alanna rolled her eyes, but her cheeks were suddenly redder than her rouge allowed it to be and a smile was creeping up on her lips.
"Not really," Winfred smiled, graciously, "She's a good student."
"Thank you, Lady Winfred," Alanna mumbled, "You're a good teacher."
"Come now. All these compliments have got you delirious. We still have work to do. Time to dance," Winfred decided, standing up and gesturing Jon to follow suit. He did. "We'll start off without music."
The other two nodded as she went on, "First, Alanna, I want you to be sitting. Go to that leather chair you always like. Jon, you go ask her to dance like you would any other lady and Alanna, let's see how you respond, alright?"
Alanna and Jonathan agreed and the former went to sit down at her leather chair, carefully walking like a lady. She hoped Jonathan approved. She sat down, sweeping out her gown. Here she waited, with a fan in her hand, as Winfred had instructed.
Lady Winfred came to stand beside her to watch the interaction that was about to occur between her two charges. Jon walked over. Alanna was envious of his larger, more comfortable, strides. He came to stand in front of her.
"Good evening, Lady Alanna," he greeted and gave her a smile that made all other noble ladies want to jump into his waiting arms right then and there.
"Same to you, Your Highness," Alanna responded, just as she'd been taught. She blinked a few times. Lady Winfred said blinking quickly was always found extremely attractive. Most men took it as batting eyelashes.
"I must say I'm surprised to see a lady of your beauty all alone tonight," he commented, just as he'd done millions of times before.
Winfred looked to Alanna to give an equally witty reply but Alanna's mouth had gone dry. Even though both she and her Knightmaster were acting, their chemistry felt so real. She forced some saliva in her mouth, wishing he'd been the one to supply her with it.
"I'm not alone anymore am I?" Alanna replied, working her brain for something to say, "Not now that you grace me with your company."
The royal Aunt was impressed by her answer even though it'd taken her a little longer than most to think it up. Jon smiled, "Why don't we move this conversation to the dance floor, m'lady?"
"That can be arranged," Alanna smiled, forcing down her grin that was about to break through.
He offered her his arm and she took it, gingerly, like a noble lady might. She stood and they walked to a fake place they set up to be a dance floor in their imagination. Lady Winfred followed up, grinning.
"Perfect!" she commented, "Alanna you did very well. Jon-well you were just yourself, weren't you dear? My, my, my. You must ask me to dance with you next ball. Now, let's drop our little act and get to the actual dance lesson, shall we? Jon, in your stance."
Jonathan slid one of his hands down to Alanna's lower back and she shivered, unintentionally. His hand was sending shivers and tingling feelings all throughout her body. His other hand clasped one of her's, leaving Alanna with a hand she had no idea where to put.
"On his shoulder, darling! On his right shoulder. There you go. You two have the perfect stance. Very attractive," Winfred noted out loud, "Jon lead please. Just the typical waltz you might do at the Midwinter Festival Ball."
Jon began moving and Alanna tried to follow even though she had no idea how to move her feet. She looked down, trying to avoid missing and stepping on the Prince's feet. She had a feeling the heeled backs would hurt an awful lot as it went through one of your toes.
"Alanna, look up. Not down. Just move your feet in this way...left right left right left right right left," Winfred ordered.
The Lioness attempted this and fumbled over her own gown. "That's easier said than done!"
Lady Winfred shielded her eyes with one hand, "We're going to have a very long night."
Alanna was wearing the yellow dress again as she waited by a manor on Conte Road. She looked extremely odd. A single noble lady, dressed in all her luxury, standing alone by the side of the road, looking anxiously every which way. She held a shawl, tightly around her, and pattted her slightly curly brownish red hair, softly. Passersby looked at her in wonder. What was such a pretty lady doing here all alone?
The young lady in question tried not to be phased by their staring. Most of all she had to hold herself back from the lingering eyes of the men. They looked everywhere! Was this something noble ladies had to put up with all the time? To Alanna's great relief, she noticed a white carriage drawn by white stallions pulling up around the corner. This was the particular carriage Winfred had told her to watch out for. This was the carriage that was supposed to have driven her here all the way from Dalesdike, a lesser known fief. Apparently the carriage driver had been told to stop along Conte road for a lone noble lady, wearing a yellow gown because he stopped at her side without any question.
"Alanna of Conte?" he asked her, stepping down, as did two footmen.
"Yes," she nodded and noticed the back of the carriage was packed with trunks and other luggage. It looked like she really had come from Dalesdike and earlier from Scanra.
"My lady," the carriage driver bowed, "Please, shall I help you in?"
She was about to snap, 'I can get in on my own fine, thanks,' before she realized that would sound awfully unladylike. She took his offered arm and let him hoist her on the closed-roof carriage. She sat down on the peachy velvet that streched over the seats. She heard the footmen lift the small bags she'd had with her on the back of the carriage and, finally, with a lurch, they set off. Alanna leaned back on her seat. She was already tired even though she hadn't done anything. She was tired of charading around as other people when all she ever wanted to be was Alanna, the Knight. Alanna, the hero. Why was it, that at the end of the day, she was always torn between being a boyish squire or a soft noble lady? She cast away these darker thoughts and let the clicking of horse's hooves against the cobbled street calm her.
A good fifteen minutes later, Alanna felt the carriage sway to a stop. Were they at the palace? She resisted the urge to stick her head out the window and check since that didn't feel like a very ladylike thing to do. And, anyways, she still wasn't quite used to her long reddish brown hair and didn't know how to handle it once it was caught in the light wind that whipped through Corus, today. However, her curiousity did not have to wait long for it's hunger to be fed. In about a minute, the carriage doors lurched open. One of the two footmen were standing there, bowing and offering her his arm. She took it softly, as she'd been taught.
It was an awfully strange feeling returning home as a visitor. Her eyes went up to the tower where her quarters were with Jonathan. How she wished she could sleep there tonight. But Lady Winfred had strongly disagreed, saying Alanna would have to spend at least the first three nights in her royal chambers before sneaking off to her squire's quarters. The footmen led her up to the palace steps where the great doors were only juttering open.
The hall was beautifully decorated for her, though not quite at the extreme it had been when Lady Winfred and the Carthaks had arrived. She looked to the procession that had come to welcome her. King Roald, Queen Lianne, Duke Gareth, Roger, Lady Winfred, a few Carthakis, and Jonathan. She smiled at them; hoping it was the type of smile someone would give their family. It was so hard not to bow at their feet when she was so used to treating the royal family as her betters. And now she was one of them! Oh, the irony of it all.
"Lady Alanna, we welcome you to the palace," King Roald greeted her, "As your Uncle it gives me great joy to see my sister's daughter after all these years."
Even though he barely knew his niece well enough to realize she was an imposter, his smile was so genuine she couldn't help but return it. He had some of the same charm that Jon had. Alanna curtsied and noticed Winfred looking on, approvingly.
"Thank you, Uncle," Alanna said, softly.
She bowed to Queen Lianne and Duke Gareth in turn. Then came her mother. She had a feeling that noble lady or no, that a daughter would greet her own mother with a little bit more enthusiasm.
"Oh, mother, how I have missed you!" Alanna sighed, clasping Lady Winfred's hands in her own and then giving a curtsy.
"And I you," Winfred replied, her voice actual sounding teary. She stroked Alanna's hair, good-naturedly.
"Cousin, you grow ever more beautiful," someone said, eyeing her. It was Roger.
Alanna felt very uncomfortable but she managed to muster a, "Thank you, dear Roger."
He kept looking at her as if sizing her up. Even though she had on layer upon layer of corset on petticoats on gowns, she still felt naked under his gaze. He finally looked away and gave her his most winning smile. Alanna gave him a smile too, albeit a weaker one.
"I don't remember your hair being quite so red," he commented, smoothing some hair away from her face, "But then again who am I to complain when it suits you so wonderfully."
"Mind if I greet her, Roger?" Jonathan interjected, relieving Alanna from the Duke of Conte's touch.
Roger grinned at him in a more stiff manner than he had used before, "Of course."
Jon ignored him and bowed, deeply, "Welcome to Corus, dear cousin of Scanra."
Alanna gave him her first real smile of the day, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"Call me Jon, please," he urged, straightening, "We are cousins, after all."
She nodded and noticed that a good number of nobles and a few squires and pages had assembled to glimpse the royal cousin from up north. Alanna noticed Geoffery and Douglass there too, among the squires and tried to look away. It was strange how they looked at her. For the first time in their lives they saw her not as a boy but as a woman. A woman ready for courting, she thought with a shiver.
"Shall we proceed to the Noble's Mess Hall? Lunch will be served in a few minutes," Duke Gareth suggested, offering Lady Winfred his arm. She took it and the Queen took the King's. Jonathan and Roger glanced at each other. One of them would escort Alanna and the other would be alone. But who to what?
"Lady Alanna, why don't you relieve my cousin and escort him to lunch?" Roger offered, playing the part of a good cousin.
However, this time Alanna was thankful for his act. It would've been hell to have her hand on his and walking all the way to the damned Nble's Mss with him. Jonathan held out his hand and she slid her hand on his forearm. The two of them and Roger set off to their meal. After a minute or two they dawdled and Roger was soon out of sight.
Jon leaned in and whispered in her ear, "You're doing a good job."
His warm breath tickled her ears so she moved farther away. Her heart stopped beating rapidly but justbarely. Her arm was still on his. "You think so? I didn't mess anything up?"
He shook his head, "No. Just-when you first came in you looked scared but you relaxed later on."
"I'm surprised I managed to relax, what with Roger touching my hair," Alanna muttered so quietly only the two of them could hear.
Her Knightmaster made a face, "That was rather strange but not too out of sorts. Roger likes to flirt, even with family. You still aren't all paranoid about him, right?"
Alanna didn't want this to be the time when she upset him so she gave him the answer that he'd want to hear. "No, of course not."
"Liar," he munbled but smiled all the same at the thought of her lying for the betterment of his own feelings.
The Lioness had never been to the Noble's Mess Hall as a diner, just as a server. It was weird to see fellow pages and squires running about to serve her when only yesterday she'd been doing the same job as them. At the table she sat in, she was accompanied by Lady Winfred, Jon, Duke Roger and, to Alanna's great distaste, Delia. She was grateful for a table far from the prying eyes of Helena and Lady Catherine. When they saw her, they'd know her even if her Knight and squire friends didn't. They would know her facial structure of that she was sure. And Catherine would see her small pointed nose and straight away see Lord Alan's own small pointed nose. The squires waiting on their tables were Geoffery and Sacharell, Alanna noted to her great amusement. Someday, when she was much older, she'd have to tell this awkward story to her own grandchildren.
"Delia, you haven't met my cousin from Scanra have you?" Roger said, cutting his roast beef.
Alanna watched the knife in his hand very steadily. It glinted and she was afraid that he'd take it and jam it into Jonathan's heart any second. Instead he held it as he lifted his meat to his moist lips. The Lioness stared, almost in a trance. Delia's voice broke her out of it.
"No I haven't," she started, sweetly, "May I ask your name?"
"Lady Alanna of Conte," Alanna answered, robotically. The name had been drilled into her brain so many times, it was hard to forget.
Delia gave her a small smile, "I'm sure we'll be the best of friends, Alanna."
The Lioness could barely stop herself from snorting. In an attempt to stop she gave out a light cough. "Yes, of course. And may I ask your name?"
"Delia of Eldorne," she replied, "Good friend to both your cousins."
The other two men at the table grinned, broadly. Alanna almost vomitted at the way she took them over. Couldn't they see that's all she had? Beauty and charm? The only real contest she'd ever win would be for the fastest time for spreading your legs apart for men.
The last course of lunch came. A peppermint pudding. Alanna took it in small spoonfuls as Lady Winfred said women did. Lunch ended soon and most all at Alanna's table cleared away. Some, like Jon and Lady Winfred, waited for her to leave near the exit. Near the end, as the nobles began to clear out, a certain blonde-haired page whispered something wicked into her ear.
"Lady Alanna. I've heard a lot about you from a redheaded friend of mine," he whispered.
She looked up and came face-to-face with Geoffery who looked at her with a michevious smile. She returned it. Which, she realized, must not have been ladylike but who really cared?
"You're a friend of Alan's?" she asked, although she knew full well the answer.
Geoffery nodded, "Who else?"
"See him anywhere yet today?" Alanna questioned, wondering what reason Jonathan had given everyone for her absence.
The squire shrugged, "Jon-I mean, the Princesays he's sick and off to the healer's quarters getting better. Apparently he'll be gone for three days. When he awakes he'll be sorry he missed your arrival, I'm sure."
Alanna nodded, trying to look disappointed, "What is your name then, squire?"
"Geoffery of Meron," he replied, solidly, "But I'm not the only one who knows of you. My friends-Douglass of Veldine, Gareth, the younger, of Naxen and Raoul of Goldenlake are dying to meet you too. Everyone wants to meet the goddess that cast her spell over our Alan."
She blushed, "So what say you? Am I a goddess?"
"I choose not to answer that question," Geoffery grinned, devilishly, "Either way I lose. Say yes and I'll get the lights knocked out of me for flirting with my friend's girl. Say no and I'll get the lights knocked out of me for offending my friend by not fliritng with his girl."
"Hey you! Haven't you anything better to do than trifle a noble lady?" someone scolded Geoffery.
They both looked up into the pink face of a hazel-eyed man, about five years older than Jonathan. He was wearing a light blue tunic, rimmed with yellow. The colours of Legann. Geoffery scowled but backed away. Alanna smoothed her face so she didn't scowl herself. She didn't like this treatment of her friend, that was for sure, but it wouldn't be the place of a noble lady to argue.
"Good afternoon, m'lady-?" he paused.
"Alanna of Conte," she responded, giving him a curtsy.
"Oh! The royal cousin," the young man bowed, "Welcome to Tortall. My name is Imrah of Legann."
Alanna nodded, politely, realizing this was a young man of importance. One day, soon, he might be the ruler of one of the most important fiefs in all of Tortall. It was no point in making an enemy of him, especially since she would have to work with him sometime in her future. If not as a noble lady, then as a Knight. Legann was often raided by pirates bound from the Copper Isles.
"So, how are you liking it here? Different from Scanra I wager?" he inquired, sitting down beside her.
"Very much so," Alanna agreed, "It's rather more...stable here, I must say."
Imrah laughed, "Yes, one King. One line. Contes. No civil wars, fortunately. I hear the news that brings you here, Lady Alanna, and I congratulate you."
"Huh?" Alanna raised an eyebrow then lowered it and tried not to look so surprised. Was there something Lady Winfred had forgotten to tell her? Instead she tried to take on a look of comprehension, "Thank you. It's very much appreciated."
"I guess this means we shall be seeing a lot more of each other since you'll be in Tortall for a while I daresay," he commented with another chuckle.
Alanna was starting to feel unnerved, "Right. Riiight. So what exactly-"
The bell rang for the squires to get to their next classes. Imrah cursed, then blushed. "I apologize for my language, fair lady but I should've been out to meet my squad by now. Sorry, m'lady. I hope we can continue this conversation later?"
"Of course," Alanna bowed her head as he walked off. She was suddenly deep in thought. What in the world was Imrah congratulating her about? And what did it have to do with how long she'd stay in Tortall? It might be nothing but then again it might be everything. As soon as she caught Lady Winfred or Jonathan she'd consult them about this odd occurance.
For now, however, she needed to make her way to her guest chambers. A haven where she could finally take off these feetkillers!
Author's Note: So what do you think? Haha, what do you think Imrah is congratulating her about? You'll find out next chapter or if not then, then the one right after. Oh and next chapter comes a family dinner with-who else but the royal family! And then comes the ball... where "Alanna" meets all of"Alan's"friends.
winky-wink