I know that most of you don't like Alanna in the last chapter but she will redeem herself. I made her a pain in the arse because I think that she does have certain double standards when it comes to other women and because it is her son as well…so no one is good enough. Anyway onwards….

Chapter Eleven – The Downfall

The drumming of his fingers on the cold wooden table brought no comfort to Thom, neither did watching the going ons of the royal stable. Sighing loudly, Thom turned once more to the large stack of papers which was pile high and grimaced at the work. He had no heart for it, in fact he had no energy for doing anything ever since the disastrous dinner when he walked out.

That had been three days ago. He cursed himself while raking his hand through unwashed hair as he thought back again to the later night events. He would have caught up with Emilie and try to apologise for his ma behaviour, try to heal the damage and try to make her smile again.

However a servant called him when he was half way down the corridor and begged that he would go straight ahead to Numair's rooms as he needed his expertise. Although Thom tried to persuade the servant that he would come as soon as he could, the servant would not allow him to leave without following at that precise moment. It was only when he revealed that the King needed this vital information from Numair but the black mage was unwilling to give the details until he had a second opinion.

Grudgingly admitting that it was a lost cause, Thom fell in behind with the very nervous servant and headed in the totally opposite direction of his Emilie. His only comfort was sending a short pray up to the Mother Goddess asking that Emilie would have a peaceful dream.

The work that Numair wanted him to look over to took most of the night and the subsequent morning, he had to appear in front of the King with his insight. By the time he had returned to the room it was midday and it was that time that he noticed a letter on top of table with a green ribbon tied.

Perplexed Thom lifted the letter and carefully opened it as he sat at his desk. The lingering perfume which could be smelt from the paper indicated that it was Emilie. The scent of oranges. Hastily, Thom unrolled the parchment and read the lines which he hoped were full of brimming laughter at last night's fiasco.

Nevertheless, the words on the paper made Thom paled considerable as he read on further until the end. Unable to think straight because of the growing fear that was filling his being, Thom made to door with the letter still grasped in his hand with every intention of going to Emilie's room.

And he did. Thom strode purposefully to the door of his beloved and without caring at the noise which he was making by banging the wood loudly and causing courtiers to stop and stare. After a few minutes of continued knocking, Thom finally believed the words in the letter. Turning away, slumped shoulders, Thom dragged himself back to his room under a cloud.

His little display at Emilie's door brought his father to drop in later that night to see what was happening. As George walked in and saw his son's head down on the table with half a bottle of strong spirits gone and a glass clutched in his hands, he could see that it wasn't pretty.

"Go away da", slurred Thom as he lifted his head was deliberate slowness so that it would start swimming again.

"Afraid I can't do that", George said with a softness of a father. He moved into the room and made a bee line for the bottle taking it out of Thom's reach before Thom could realise and protest.

After that George was wise enough to start making a strong brew of tea and settled a very sugary cup of tea down in front of his son while he sat across the table, waiting patiently. His son groaned and pulled a face at being mothered but like a good boy, he began to sip and regain a sense of surroundings.

"I'm sorry that you saw me like this", Thom commented sincerely as he held his head between his hands.

"I'm secretly glad", replied his da with a laugh, "it makes me happy to see my black mage son having some folly like the rest of us."

Thom snorted loudly and took another sip.

"I have heard that Emilie has left the palace," the Baron stated innocently.

"I know." Thom stared above his father's head, trying not to cry, to block out a deep black hole which was about to swallow him whole.

"Yes, your display outside her door got a few stares and whispers", George looked his Thom with sadness.

"Well, it be the talk of the courts for at least a month", Thom said very bitterly and he handed the letter with the green ribbon which looked very tatty. "Emilie sent me this…she kept her word."

George read the letter and was moved. "She's gone to see Neal at Fort Hope."

"Yes."

"And say that she would not want to come between you and your mother."

"Yes."

George laid the letter down again and was quiet for a long time like he was pondering on the greater aspect of life.

"I love her", Thom whispered into his hands, "she makes me smile constantly."

"So why haven't you gone after her", exclaimed the Lioness at the door.

Both men swung their heads at the entrance and saw Alanna dressed in gear for riding. She stepped into the room gingerly and made her way to her son and kneeled in front of him, grasping his hands.

"Thom I have been quite sharp Emilie", her hand fixed his tousled hair, "but I'm going to act like that to every women you bring home…I'll just have to get use to Emilie if you love her."

"Ma couldn't you have told me this before now?" enquired Thom.

"I had to play the evil mother-in-law to make sure that she was serious about my first child", Alanna, "though I apologise if I drove her away."

George coughed to break up the bonding session. "She also had to go to Fort Hope on the King's business."

"She IS", shouted Thom and quickly stood up and then quickly collapsed back into the chair and groaned heavily. "When I get my hands on her, I'll….."

Although Thom was making hand movements of choking an invisible neck, his father interrupted cheekily, "Kiss her."

"You're going no where until you have had a good night sleep", Alanna said as she manoeuvre her body to heave her son to his room.

"I can walk ma", Thom said with embarrassment evident in his voice and wriggled out of her grip then walked straight into his desk. "I'm fine…I'm fine!" He waved and closed the bedroom before a loud ouch! came from the inside.

Both parent chuckled.

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Emmm, don't know what this is all about but hopefully there is a planning working in the little grey cells…sorry for the shortness of the chapter.