"Well if it isn't Lady Alanna!" Solom laughed a hearty laugh.
"Let the lass be, we know who she's here for." Light-fingers waggled his eyebrows smirking.
"Fingers, that's the drink talking. If you aren't careful you might find yourself saying some dangerous things."
"Lass, let him be…" George said, from his position at the back of the Dancing Dove.
"Solom, I'll be upstairs for awhile, can you handle that bunch?"
"Yes your majesty." George grinned before leading Alanna upstairs.
He sat her down and then firmly kissed her.
"George, have I been got that long?"
"No…you've been gone longer." He leaned in for another kiss, but she turned her face.
"I didn't come to collect kisses George."
"Pray'tell, what did you come for then Lass?"
"I came for answers."
"Which answers?"
"What happened while I was gone?"
"Why don't you ask your new father?"
"George if you persist in answering my questions with a question I will go mad."
George flashed a crooked grin.
"Well, Jonny was set up with many a woman."
"Really?"
"The king is puttin' pressure on 'im to get married. Johnny isn't so happy about'it, but he's doin as his pa wishes."
"Really, what about in court, anything been happening?"
"The ladies 'ave 'ad some quarrels, but they were only bickers."
"What of the knights?"
"Nothin' that I've heard of, for the most part people were talking about you lass."
"Interesting, so nothing big has happened after I left?"
"No, not that I know of…so what have you been up to?"
Alanna told the tales of the Shang, the Yamani and the Bazhir. At the end George whistled at her.
"You've been through much Lady Knight."
"Right now I just want to stay at court, let the King know my face."
"Wise decision."
"Because I'll know the king, or because I'll be near you?"
"A bit of both…Lass, are you serious about us." George fixed her with a look.
"George, I'm not serious about anything right now. I'm still trying to find my place, I can't have love turning my life around."
"Then I can respect yer wishes, but should a better man come along, I will step aside."
"Thank you George, but for now, all I'm worried about is what the Goddess had planned for me."
"Knowing you, only good stuff."
"Goodbye George." She called.
"Goodbye Lioness." He said quietly.
As part of her lessons, Lianne made Alanna sit with the ladies in a sewing session.
"Lady Amelia has said to be flirting with Sir Marcus!"
"How scandalous!" one of the ladies cooed.
"Sir Marcus is betrothed to Lady Emily."
"Oh, but Lady Emily was courted by that handsome young duke."
Alanna almost slept, between the chatter and the warmth of the room, she felt herself drifting off.
Suddenly she heard, "And did you hear about Jonathan?"
She jolted awake, and pretended to sew again.
"Little Jonathan, no, what happened?"
"He can hardly be called little anymore. He was found with Lady Josephine in his room and then the royal delegation entered."
"Really?"
"Apparently his pants were around his ankles. His face turned so red when his father and mother entered. Apparently he was…"
"So ladies, how is the sewing going?" Lianne entered breezily.
"Well, how is everything with you Lianne?"
"Excellent." Lianne smiled.
"If you will excuse me ladies, I'm afraid that Lady Alanna and I have an issue to attend to."
Lianne gently tugged Alanna into another room.
"You're as white as a sheet!"
"I am?"
"What did they say in there?"
"Nothing it was…"
"About Jonathan, wasn't it."
"Maybe?"
"Well, if you tell me, I'll tell you if it's true."
Alanna told the queen the story, to which she got a laugh.
"If I found my son like that, the king would probably be elated. However, this didn't happen, even if it did, Alanna you need to learn to control your emotions."
Alanna sighed, "I can't help it."
"You're a woman, not a love struck teenager."
"You're right." Alanna sighed.
"Good, I expect to see you tomorrow. Oh, and you have a visitor waiting for you in your room."
Alanna went through the hallways thinking. Why did she feel giddy around Jon? He used to be her best friend, a companion, then a love interest. Now she wasn't sure where they were.
"Alanna, you're here!" A voice called out.
Alanna recognized the voice, and she turned around to see…