A/n: the story kind of jumps few years now. Thanks to all that reviewed: Jules-Gemma, Lady Knight, tortallanrider, elfsquire90, anonymous girl, Lady Shannon of RosePeak.

Chapter 4: walks in the garden

Four years later.

Alanna the newly crowned queen of Tortall was sitting at her desk re-reading a letter that she had just written. It had been four years since the death of the old queen, two years since the birth of her third child Lianne and Cythera's second child Daniela. A year and a half since Roald had passed on. A year since the birth of her fourth child Roald and six months since she and Jon had been crowned king and queen of Tortall. Alanna set the paper on the desk to dry and stood up. She pondered on what to do. Both Roald and Lianne were in the nursery and Gary had taken Chantelle, Jason and Robin on a picnic and was not due back for another few hours. She decided to go and find Jon. She walked over to her dresser and grabbed her clock as the weather was starting to become rather chilly. As she walked down the hall, she thought of all the places where Jon could be. Her first thought would be his study. As she walked down the hall, many people bowed or cutises to her muttering "you're highness." It was something that she still had not gotten used to.

When she reached Jon's study, she knocked before entering. Sure enough, Jon was sitting behind his desk, writing an important report. Alanna gently picked up a stack of books off the desk and quietly put them on the floor and sat on Jon's desk. Jon looked up at his wife and smiled, before returning to his report.

"I was thinking that after you are finished here we could go for a nice long walk in the royal gardens, as we haven't gone on a walk just the two of us is such a long time." Alanna said. Jon looked up once again a smile spread across his face.

"Sure I would love that," he told her. "I am almost done anyway, just give me a few more moments." Once he was finished he stood up and helped Alanna stand up.

They walked out into one of the many rose gardens. Alanna inhaled deeply, as she loved smell of the roses that had been enchanted to bloom all year around. Jon took her hand as they walked down one of the many well-worn paths, neither of them saying a word to each other. To Alanna it was the most relaxing thing she had done in a long time. They sat down on a near by bench, and Alanna rested her head on Jon's shoulder.

"I wish we could do this all the time. I wish that our lives were not so hectic. I wish we could just escape from it all when ever I felt like it." She whispered into Jon's ear.

"So do I Alanna, so do I. but you know just as I do that we can't stay out here for much longer. Gary and the children will be back soon and I have reports that need to be written before tomorrow morning." Jon said. Alanna sighed, knowing he was right, as usual. They suddenly heard footsteps running towards them on the gravel path. They looked up to see a young sandy haired page running towards them, looking rather out of breath. He halted in front of the royal couple and bowed low.

"You're highnesses, I have been sent to inform you that your present is requested in the royal council chambers immediately." He told them, with another bow. Jon leap up to his feet.

"Who informed you?" he demanded. He was the one that usually informed the council of meetings and as far as he remembered, he had not requested a council meeting that day. Alanna gripped Jon's arm rather tightly to stop him from advancing on the small boy. The page bowed in apology.

"You're highness the only thing I have been told was that I must bring you to the royal council chambers as the council demands to see you at once about an important matter that has arisen." He told them.

"Will you tell the council that we will be there in a few moments?" Alanna asked. The boy bowed for the final time and ran off. Alanna stood up, facing Jon.

"Look I will go and find the children and Gary, and send him to the meeting, while you go and see what this meeting is all about okay?" she told Jon, who nodded in reply. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips before departing. Alanna sighed to herself before heading to the stables to find Gary and the children.

Once Alanna arrived at the stables, she quickly found Gary and the children who had just arrived back from their picnic. Alanna hurried over and pulled Gary away.

"Look you have to go to the council rooms. The council has called an important meeting, I'm sure Stefan will look after your horse." Alanna quickly told him. Gary nodded then looked over at Robin, Chantelle and Jason who were all standing quietly in a line watching them.

"What about Robin? I can't take him with me." Gary said.

"I'll look after him. I'm sure Jason and Chantelle wont mind." Alanna told him. Gary smiled thanks and hurried off. Alanna faced to children.

"Let us go inside and play a game." She told them.

It was late at night when Jon returned. All the children were in bed fast asleep, and Alanna was sitting on her bed reading a book when Jon came in face pale. Alanna looked up.

"What is it now?" she asked. Jon just threw a piece of paper at her, which landed on the floor. Alanna got up off the bed, picked it up.

"Read it for your self." Jon said. Alanna read the small scrap of paper, her face turning pale.

A/n: a lot of the important scenes happen in the bedroom! Lol any way R&R. next chapter should be up in a few days.