~*~*~*~ Dreams of a Lady ~*~*~*~
Chapter Four: Storm Clouds
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Disclaimer: I bet we could sneak through Tammy's cellar door and then, as long as we don't trip the alarm system, we could sneak upstairs to where she keeps George and Dom hidden. And do you know what? I've been thinking, let's steal Raoul too! Just for kicks. Oh, and extra credit to Tammy this chapter!
Author's Note: Oh great golly! Don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I haven't posted in forever, yes I know. I have sorta of a mildly workable excuse. First, writer's block. Yucky. Then, I had to reboot my entire computer. Then, the holidays…..then my randomly being depressed. I'm still randomly depressed, so I'm sorry if this sucks. Please be nice in the reviews, if you leave them. Okay, this chapter mirrors In The Hands Of The Goddess a lot! I mean, take out ITHOTG and you will see that I have many of Tamora's words in here. So will up coming chapters. Oh, and sorry about the bad formatting in this chapter. I lost Word when I rebooted and had to type this in Works….so yeah….I'll stop now and let you read the chapter…..
~~~
Alanna grumbled, pulling her cloak tighter about her shoulder. "When I get a chance, I'm going to kill the man that invented the cold!" she said darkly.
Moonlight whinnied softly, bobbing her head as if to say, "Then go and kill the gods themselves."
Alanna smiled at the mare. "Well, at least it doesn't get much worse."
A fat drop of rain landed on her nose. Several more followed, each earning a curse from Alanna and a whinny from Moonlight.
"I know, girl, I know," Alanna comforted, patting the mare's neck. "We'll be out of the rain soon." Spotting a stand of trees in the distance, Alanna urged the mare on, looking dourly into the wind and rain as thunder rolled forebodingly in the distance.
~~~
The horse and rider came to a half under a peculiar, almost frightening willow, glad to be out of the rain, which was coming down even harder now. Alanna did her best to brush the mare down and threw a blanket over her. She then made the best fire she could, but with the dampness it was difficult, and settled down before it with the throwing stars in hand. She very carefully unwrapped them, taking care not to prick her skin. George's messenger had been poisoned with one and she would not let the same happen to her.
She had to admit, who ever had made the stars had done an exquisite job. Alanna turned it over in her hand. Runes dotted the back as they did the front. Alanna counted the runes and found eleven total. She sighed. Thom had told her something about the number eleven in magic once, but she'd forgotten, not intending to ever really use her Gift. One rune was repeated on the star, and it even looked evil.
A rustle in the brush stirred her from her concentration and she looked up immediately, casting a searching look around the clearing. Her eyes stopped on a large patch of underbrush to her right and she sneezed twice. The movement stopped. Alanna took her dagger from her boot, just in case.
She went back to examining the stars, but was again shaken from her concentration, but this time by what sounded like a small cry.
"Hello?" Alanna called softly. "Who ever's out there, be aware, I am armed."
All sound and motion ceased and a small black cat tumbled out of the brush and ambled over to the fire.
Alanna couldn't help but laugh. "A cat? You were making all that noise? Impossible!"
The cat mewed testily and hopped into Alanna's lap.
Alanna sighed, and scratched behind the cat's ears. "You're all alone, just like me, aren't you?" she asked.
The cat purred, fond of the attention. Alanna looked the cat over. It most certainly wasn't someone's pet, and it couldn't be a farm cat. The last farm she had past had been a good five miles back.
Alanna laughed at the purring animal and began to scratch it behind the ears. It looked up at through large purple eyes, blinked, and began to purr noisily again.
"Oh Great Mother Goddess," she breathed, absentmindedly stroking the cat as her thoughts ran rampant in her mind. A cat with purple eyes? Who's ever heard of that?! she though. She ran through all possibilities, immortal, supernatural, what have you, but finally decided that there was nothing out of the ordinary about purple eyes. She had purple eyes, didn't she? Right, and there was nothing out of the ordinary about her.
~~~
She had gone back to studying the rune, her new pet asleep on her lap, when she sneezed very suddenly. She sat bolt upright, knocking the cat, yowling at the mistreatment, from her lap. She sneezed four more times and when she finally regained the ability to breath, she swore loudly and tried to wipe her watering eyes with the hem of her sleeve. When she looked up, she saw a tall stranger standing beside her fire. She blinked her watery eyes and looked up once more, certain that her mind must be playing tricks on her. When she saw the figure looming there still, she quickly unsheathed the sword George had brought her and pointed it at the figure.
Suddenly, she felt very foolish. Very foolish indeed. The cloaked stranger had shown no signs of attacking her or anything of the sort. Still, her thief's instincts told her to be wary. She lowered her sword, though she kept it firm in her hand.
"May I be of service?" she asked quickly, trying to ignore the cat that was clawing at her boot. The cat mewed indignantly, begging to be picked up. Alanna took her shining eyes off the tall stranger only long enough to tell the small black cat to hush.
"I saw your fire through the trees," said the figure in a voice that made Alanna tremble. It was as if she could sense countless tears, countless smiles and eons and eons of memories in that voice that sounded like the wind tickling the top most branches of the tallest trees, a voice that was husky and comfortingly soft. "Would you permit me to warm myself?"
Alanna hesitated for a split second, before finally nodding. The stranger pulled back the hood of the flowing cloak, revealing to Alanna perhaps the tallest woman she'd ever seen. Alanna felt the slightest pang of jealousy. She has always been rather short. She studied the woman further, eyes tracing over porcelain white skin from luminous slits of emerald eyes, down to full red lips. She looked in envy at the woman's long, black locks that fell loosely about her shoulders. In short, the tall woman was perhaps the most beautiful Alanna had ever seen.
The stranger sat down gracefully, making Alanna flush as she sat down in a rather ungraceful manner.
The woman gave her a small half smile. "It is not often you will see one so young alone beneath this tree." She paused, taking in the wary look upon Alanna's face with slight amusement. "There are strange tales about this tree." She paused again. "And what passes beneath it."
The kitten leapt back into Alanna's lap, causing Alanna to jump slightly, though not enough for her to take her eyes off the woman seated across from her. She cursed to herself. She hated surprises, almost as much as hated the cold…
"I was caught by the storm," she said guardedly. "This was the first shelter I found, and it was welcoming enough for a weary traveler." Though I'm finding it less and less welcoming as time passes…
"Indeed," said the woman, as she looked her over. She still smiled that unnerving smile. "So, my daughter," she said in her husky voice, "you have set out bravely, perhaps sacrificing your life to save your Prince."
Alanna blinked, and opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again but could find no words. She shut it again. How would this stranger know about her trip? Any girl could be riding towards Corus. She thought that thought over. Perhaps not. But still, there was nothing too far out of the ordinary about a girl traveling towards the capital, and there was nothing that would have alerted the woman about her connection to the Prince.
"I was merely traveling to the capitol for I have family there," Alanna said, stepping very carefully around anything that could be considered out of the ordinary. "And should the Prince be in any danger, I'd pay him my respects, of course."
The woman was silent for a while, studying her very carefully. "Ah, you do have family in the capitol, don't you? How does your brother fare, young one?"
Stunned again, Alanna quickly said, "Fine," while thinking of how the stranger would know about her brother. Many girls had brothers training at the palace, but how could this stranger assume that she did? True, if Alanna hadn't disguised herself, she would have looked shockingly like her brother, who many knew, as he was the Prince's squire, but Alanna had disguised herself earlier that day, and she bore no resemblence to her brother now.
The lady laughed a dark, yet pleasant laugh. "Do not try to hide behind lies, my daughter. I know how you worry about your brother, and the Prince."
"I do not lie, traveler," Alanna said through clenched teeth.
The woman laughed again. "Oh, you silly little girl! How little you know of the ways of the world! How little you know of the divine!"
"Th-the divine?" Alanna asked softly.
The woman smiled and in her head Alanna suddenly saw images she had seen as she had strolled through the calm temple district. What stood out most in her mind were the tall, elegant marble statues of the Gods, the strong form of the warrior Mithros, the shadowy figure of the Black God, the tall, beautiful of the Goddess.
Alanna's mouth fell open. "You can't be!"
"Can't I? My daughter, it is time that you and I spoke. Events have not gone in the manner intended, and for that reason, you've have not yet been given the chance to fulfill your destiny. You should know, young one, that you are one of my Chosen."
"M-me?" Alanna asked, her gruff front dissolving into confusion.
The Goddess nodded. "You."
Alanna finally snapped out of her shock. "I never asked to be Chosen for anything and I never asked to speak with the gods."
The Goddess nodded. "Yes, I know. You wouldn't have asked if upon your dying breath. I've noticed things about you, young one. You prefer to do things for yourself, no matter the risk. And that is why you have been Chosen, my daughter. You have been chosen because you have a dream that you will not let go of, a dream that you should not be ashamed to have. It is time for this change to come about in the world. Soon, events will fall into place that will change your path forever, and you, youngling, must be prepared to face them." By now, the small kitten had angrily leapt from Alanna's lap and had bounded over to the Goddess, yowling and hissing. The Goddess picked the cat up, shaking her head and frowning slightly. "Do calm down, Small One," she said, while stroking the cat with a long, graceful finger. "She is merely surprised. She will be just fine." She turned back to Alanna. "You cannot let your fear stop you in the coming months."
Alanna was taken back. "I'm not afraid."
"You will be," the Goddess said with an air of mystery hanging out the words. "And you will have every right to be, of course. But those fears are nothing to what fears you will not admit to yourself."
"I fear nothing!" Alanna said, hotly, though she could not hold the Goddess's eye as she said it.
"But you do, my daughter. In your heart, you have four fears that you have not come to terms with. You fear failure, above all else."
Alanna blinked and for a while said nothing. Finally, she said softly. "All my work, my dreams, the secrecy, what will it be worth if nothing comes of me?"
The Goddess looked deeply into Alanna's eyes, causing the girl to shudder. "You will not fail, my daughter. How can you? Even if not recognized, you will still do good things for Tortall, that I am sure of. As long as you are pure of heart, you will suceed."
"What else do I fear?" Alanna asked. "I might as well know."
"You fear being exposed," said the Goddess, setting the kitten down.
Alanna looked away. "Of course." She sighed. "It will all be for nothing if I'm found out now. They will stop me from adventuring, you can be sure."
The Goddess gave her a sympathetic smile. "You fear exposure of your thief's lifestyle as well."
"With good reason. It's a mite hard to be a noble and a thief at the same time. I don't want to betray either lifestyle to the other."
The Goddess nodded. "You have a difficult path before you."
"Well," said Alanna, "what else?"
"You fear your nobility, young one."
Alanna opened her mouth to speak, but found no words.
The Goddess continued, "You cannot change what you were born, Alanna. But, you are wise to use it to your advantage. Do you perhaps fear it because of the Rogue, George Cooper? Do you think he would think less of you if you were nobler?"
Alanna bit her lip. "I don't want to be nobler then I am." She sighed. "Perhaps I do tend to downplay it around George. But, when he found out I was a noble, that time in the market, I felt so…ashamed…"
"Why? You have no reason to feel shame because of your heritage."
"Nobles can be so…corrupt though. They use people…it's not something I want to do…"
"Then don't. Be the kind of person you want to be, while being a noble. It is possible, daughter. You will change things. Do not be afraid to be who you are."
Alanna sighed once more. "Well, what's the last one?"
"The Duke of Conte."
"Roger? I don't fear him!" Alanna said quickly.
The Goddess fixed her with a stern gaze.
"Okay," said Alanna, "I do fear him. I know I have no reason to, but I do! There's no proof that he's behind anything, but still I find him frightening. He's too slippery!"
The Goddess gave her a small smile. "Such is the way of man. Now, my daughter, you have come to terms with your fears. What will you do?"
Alanna let out a long breath. "I do not know. I suppose I can do nothing but what I have been doing, and keep an eye out for the duke. I will prove myself, somehow, and then I guess that I will show the world what I truly am…"
"A brave dream, young one. I have great faith in you, and I am not alone in that feeling. You will move rock embedded in the layers of time. You will change the world, my daughter." The Goddess gently shooed the cat down from her lap and reached into the fire, drawing from it a glowing coal. "My time with you draws to an end, child. Take this from my hand."
Alanna looked up at the Immortal in shock. Sure, she was a goddess, but that was asking a bit much. She met the Goddess's glowing green eyes again and trembling, she reached out her hand and took the coal.
It was cold! In her surprise, she was barely able to hold onto it as she looked at it. It was encased in a thin layer of the clearest crystal, and glowed softly. Near the top, there was a hole, just large enough to permit a chain to slip through.
The Goddess rose gracefully, taking in Alanna once more. "Your fears have been brought to your attention, youngling. It is your responsibility to over come them. Do as you know you must, but my daughter, never, ever, regret who you are for a moment. You have a hard path to walk, dear one, but walk it you must. Do not fail me, Alanna of Trebond."
All of the manners she learned flew back to her and she jumped, rather ungracefully, to her feet. "I will not fail you," she promised, clasping the glowing ember in her palm. "Well, I'll try my best not to."
The Mother smiled. "I could ask no more of you, my daughter." She looked to the kitten, seated at Alanna's feet. "Guard her well, Small One."
The small kitten mewed, causing Alanna to wonder if he was only a simple kitten.
The Goddess held out her hand. "Wear my token, and be brave, but be wary of this wood. I was not jesting when I said there are strange tales about this tree. Do not stray past your fire. Fare well, my daughter."
Alanna kissed the immortal's hand, feeling a bizarre energy flow through her body like lightning. "Fare well, my Mother."
With a small smile, the Goddess walked over to Moonlight, and spoke softly to the mare, caressing her as gently as she spoke, then, she raised her hand to Alanna a last time and was gone.
*
AUTHOR'S NOTE: That chapter should have been easy to write! But no!!!!! It was impossible! I didn't much like the fears I chose for Alanna, and I didn't much like this chapter at all, but it was what I planned, and there was literally no way around it. George would have traveled with her, if I hadn't done this whole scene….I'm sorry if it wasn't as good as usual. Next chapter should be better. Alanna will reflect on life a bit, and she will meet up with Raoul and Gary in the city. Later, she will meet up with George, but something will not be right. Tee hee.
Anyway, thanks to:
Fluffy the Teddy Bear Slayer: ^.^ Thanks!!!
Annie Lyon: *promptly falls off chair* Th-the best alternate Alanna?? SQUEE!!!! *hugs annie* Oh yay! You're are the sweetest!!!! I'm soo soo sorry for the mega late posting! And, it might look like it will be Jon, but trust me. It's George all the way!!!
Charmgirl: Thank you!!!! *hugs*
Lady Dyana: Pro?!?!?! IEEEEEE! (((hugs))) THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so the awesome reviewer!!!!
Silenttina: Well, thank you for visiting my website. You'll be happy to know that the second edition will be better. I was thinking….how can I kill the prince and make it look like an accident. That would piss a LOT of people off. So, I was thinking intense physical and mental agony? How does that sound? How about GRAPHIC physical and mental agony?? Oh, and I added you to my MSN! But hey, question. Why silentTINA??
Christie: Yearlies? Hmm?? Oh, and time to write this? Note that this chapter took forever to get out! Sorry about that!! *hugs*
Bubblegum*girl: Thank you!!!
Adri: You get mondo hugs!!! (((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) because you are most definitely the coolest! You made me feel undepressed! Thank you!!! Did you read the cookie??? Read it!!! I was thinking, instead of killing Jon, how about lots and lots of agony? More fun to write. What are your thoughts? I really don't want to mess things up TOO bad, after all. Well, you are, as always, the greatest. Hugs, wub and cookies and all that related rot.
Lady Arabian Knight: Thanks!!!
Nicole: *meekly* I'm sorry for taking ever so long!!! Please don't strangle me!!!! Please!! I'll be a good writer!! I promise!!! *puppy dog eyes* Pwease?? I've given much thought to killing Jon. As tempting as it is, what would happen to the Conte line? That could be very messed up. Maybe I'll have an angry Thayet murder him when Roald is of age….Ohh….I like that idea….evil!Thayet…ooo…well, I was thinking for Jon perhaps some really really really graphic agony! How does that sound? Thanks for linking me!!!! ^.^ You are so the best!!! Oh. And I can share. (Dom and George) Sorry again for latish posting. I will try to have more Chronicles soon. I'm just stuck as far as where to go next in accordance to the plot…..
Michy: Mich!!!! (((((((((hugs)))))))))) I am very very happy with Puxie. I enjoy it quite much! And Puck is like one of Billy's best characters!!! I got a book of 4 Shakespearean comedies for Xmas, Midsummer's in there! Woot!!! Gimpy????? That poor poor animal…..well, many hugs to you! You rock!!!!!
Krazy Kitty: Aloha! (I don't know where that one came from. I was being creative….leave me alone!!) I almost did put a scene of Alanna screaming "GEORGE COOPER! WHAT IN THE GODS' NAME WAS THAT?!?!" but I thought the ending I wrote was a bit….easier on the palatte, so to speak…..I LURVE LURVE LURVE Kel/Joren!!! (Even more then Draco/Hermione…go fig….) Thank you thank you!!! Sorry your teacher's a bum!! Much wub! ^.-
Katie: Thank you!!
Sakura-Chan: Sorry for my slow postage!!!!!
Dragonlady: Dude, first of all, it is ALL about Silk. Duh….tee-hee. But Pol rocks too…..How does Jon meet Thayet? Have you no patience??? Hee hee. Sorry. You'll just have to wait! Thanks!!!!!! *hugs*
Devilkitti8: I would NEVER have not written a sequel. Not with such fluffy delighfulness planned!! *grin* Thanks much!!!! *pats Kitti on head* Tee hee
Witch Child: Sorry if you're still alls alone on the message board! As I have said, I'm a dork, and I lost the link!! Tee hee!!! And, I'm glad you like the minute bits of fluff!!! *hugs*
The Pen Mage: Yee! I'm glad you liked the random fluffage!!! And be wary, more fluff in maybe….counts…three chapters!!! I hope…..sheesh! Yes, Alanna's dense. So is George. Darn dense characters…. And they can be in each other's arms if I want them to be. George's arms are just stickin' out of his bedroll. His arms are cold, but that's okay, cuz Alanna is in them. So there. Thank you for all the fluff related affection!! I always LOVE your reviews! Way to make me feel squishy!!! *hugs* Oh wait, there's more! Oh yay! Sorry about evil computer. See above for explanation. And hey, while it may be only barely plausible, it was fluff, right??? Alanna can't fall off her horse! It's mildly out of character….PG-13 for language. And maybe a *cough*dream*cough* in the nearish future…ohhhh…I think I like that idea! Thanks!!!! I'd have reviewed more if FFN would have allowed me! Many apologies that I'm not up to speed in your fic! I have not been on FFN in a longish time! I will SO read it as soon as I can!! You are so the most wonderfulous!!! (((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))
Anonymous: Hello! Psh, it would be a shame if I got myself killed trying to kidnap George….wouldn't it….but hey…it'd be for a good cause…. Sorry about slow posting. Sorry about no more Chronicles yet!! I will get some up in the next month! Maybe…
QueenFrosteen: Thanks!!! George can be shared…
Temptress: I have decided to let Jon live. Now, before you yell, he will SUFFER. A LOT. IN. MY.FIC. Oh…I hope I'm not coming off as evil…oops… tee-hee. Sorry for random out of characterness….
Willow: Oh you little fluff monger!! You're so cute! *pinches cheeks* Not to ruin the surprise, but it will be A/G and Jon will suffer, cuz I really don't like him. Thanks for reading and reviewing!!
Arctic Princess: Sorry about slow posting!!
Chickensoup3: Thanks!!!!
White-wolf: Small flirtage, yes… Tee hee, thanks!
Keziah: Many hugs to you. Hey, if men are our slaves, want to share George with me? Tee hee. Glad you liked the flirting!! It was SO fun to write!!! (Makes you wonder why I don't write more………psh…) And, I have decided not to kill Jon. Too messy. Instead, graphic agony. Like that? Ohhh….the pretty little royal boy will suffer….*realizes she's drooling and her eyes are a scary shade of red* He he….right…much pain to the pretty prince…
Brenevae: Thanks!!!
Maria: Oh!!! Great golly! Your review made me feel all warm and squishy!! Thanks so much!!! So, why didn't Alanna tell George about the stars? She was a mite distracted. She has, afterall, found out that her brother is missing. She will in Corus, though, of course! And Delia…well…she has a very very important job in Corus…tee hee. She'll be comin' in the winterish months!
Mae: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Karen Keddle: Briar, eh? I s'pose that could be managed….
GlaiveGirl: Thanks!!!
Punk Princess: Oh! That was a splendid review! *Hugs* Thanks!!!!!!!! I'm so glad you liked it!!!!!
Heeeeeey you/Cassie: Thanks! I LOVE FLOGGING MOLLY TO DEATH! And I would love Dropkick Murpheys to death, but the cd I got by them skips and I have to get a new copy! I mean, they do "Rocky Road To Dublin" one of my FAVOURITE tunes ever! (The Young Dubliners did a version too!) Hey, this is reaching out on a limb, but ever heard of Great Big Sea???? Sorry. Not too much A/G fluff in the immediate future, but it will come. Wickedly written? Now THAT I like!!!
Silver Thorn: Thanks for reading!
EireVerde: What does your name mean anyway??? Oh, and glad you're enjoyin it!
Loki: Sorry to shorten your name. It's just too long! But, thanks so much for the review!
Lady Taliana: You're name sounds like Italiana. Sorry…its 2 am….and I'm VERY random right now….sorry for major delay in postageness! Your review was VERY entertaining! Thanks!!! (I'm not too much for espanol tampoco!! Oho ho ho ho ho! Look at my mad Spanish skills!!! I told you I was in a randomishh mood. But would you believe me? NO!!!!!!!!!)
Pbwin: I'm soooo soooo sooooo sorry for late updateage!! Thanks for stickin' with me!!!!
Dandylioness: Jon WILL suffer….tee hee hee hee hee. Okay…and he WILL be eternally grateful to Alanna….and………ieeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!! *randomly hugs dandylioness* 2 am….what did you expect….
Black Rose: Thankee! George and Alanna are not going to "get it on" any time soon….for one.….Alanna has SOME dignity (though not when it comes to the pretty boy prince….)
Snoopy: *titter* Thank you!!!!!! Glad you like it!!! *hugs*
Me3gogi: Thanks!!!!!!!!! *hugs*
Hannirose56: Patience young JedI….tee hee… Sorry….I'm done now…sorry for uber late postagenessness. Like that word? Ya well, 2 am….what can I tell you? Don't worry. Your evilness was brilliant!!
Starlight: Thanks!! ^.^
More Author's Note: For all who care to know, I'm scrapping my Harry Potter fic, to redo it. It should reappear sometime later in the year. Oh, and I just want to say, you guys are the most terrificest people in the whole wide world and you are what pushes me to write this fic! (Even when I have REALLY bad writer's block! **hugs to all of you** You guys are the bestest people on all of FFN! Thanks!!!!!!!
Oh, my friends and I are hosting a website together. It's www.whompingbananas.com You can find me at "the-igloo.whompingbananas.com" there isn't a whole lot there yet, but as I have time, there will be! It should be neat! I'm going to try to put some art up as well!!
Well, it is now about 3 am! So I'm posting and sleeping! GOOD NIGHT! I love you all!!
((much hugs and wub))
Sara
Punkpixie87