~*~*~*~ Dreams of a Lady ~*~*~*~
Chapter One: Agony That Cuts Like A Knife
Genre: General/Action/Romance
Rating: PG-13.
Warning: This chapter might be offensive to some readers and mild graphic language is used.
Disclaimer: Characters and places belong to Tamora Pierce. I own the plot and my scattered original characters and the title comes from a song in the musical Into The Woods.
Author's Note: Finally got the computer set up Silly me sent the chapter to my beta reader's OLD addy. I'm so spacey sometimes Oh, and this chapter is dedicated to ThePenMage because she's such a sweetie And...well...she more inspires me to write fluff (angsty fluff ) but also inspires me to masochistic. ^_^ Luv ya doll
Also CHAPTER TWO ON NO REGRETS: THE FIRST CHRONICLE has been posted for those of you who read it
***
The small band made their way on cat's feet through the quiet, dark palace, George in the lead, to the humor of Alanna and the worry of the two knights accompanying them.
The three men wore deep green tunics marked with the insignia of the Church of Mithros in fine silver embroidery. Each wore a sword belted at the waist in scabbards also baring the silvery insignia. With cloaks of the deepest black hiding their faces, they could easily be mistaken for Guards of the High Priest. And then there was Alanna. She wore robes of the same dark black and had pulled the hood of her robes up even farther over her head than the men had. The robes were loose and flowing and disguised her gender and age well.
Looking at the group, you'd never mistake them for two knights, the best thief in Tortall and a young noble lady that knew far too much of masculine trades. And so they kept on in silence, George easily leading the way through the twisting corridors and hallways. He finally stopped them a few feet from the intersection of two halls and motioned for them to keep quiet.
"Jon's room is right down the left hall," he whispered softly, his voice grave. "Gary, Raoul, you take the lead, one on either side of Alanna. I'll watch the back. Alanna, you have a challenge ahead of you. You have to convince Jon's guards that you're the High Priest of the Church of Mithros that has just arrived this evening. Then, find a way to drug the guards and we'll slip past them into Jon's room. When in there, you'll have to dismiss the healers and clerics. After that, Gary and Raoul, you two will have to stand guard outside the door so Alanna isn't disturbed. Understood?"
Gary and Raoul, both surprised at the turn of events, nodded hesitantly.
"Alanna?" George asked, searching her face, his hazel eyes somber.
She nodded. "As ever."
George nodded an affirmation. "Let's go."
The three men straightened their backs so they stood at their full height and Alanna hunched hers slightly and they started down the hall, Alanna setting their slow pace.
"Halt trespassers " said one of the guards, a young man with limp blond hair, that Alanna assumed was a squire.
"Do not speak to His Eminence in that tone " Raoul reprimanded sharply.
The squire squirmed slightly, but was determined to show that he knew what he was doing. "My lord, I can not grant you access to His Highness's chambers without a formal writ from the king."
This time it was Gary that spoke. "Young man, as a Guard of the High Priest, I strongly recommend you step aside. His Majesty will not be happy when he finds out that you have marred the Church with your disrespect."
"Sean," the blond-haired squire said. "Please send for Duke Gareth. He should be alerted of these-" he cleared his throat nervously, "-visitors."
The other young man, a squire also, with dark brown hair nodded and was about to move when Alanna pushed past Gary and Raoul.
"Listen here, my children," she began, her voice deep and rasping. "Please accept the blessing of the Gods as a sign of our intention." And with that, she hobbled forward, her hands working in her pockets, dissolving the magical shield she had put around the rags.
The two squires seemed rooted to the spot, finally hearing the priest speak. They both nodded, as Alanna's Gift worked even faster then her hands were, gently nudging their thoughts, changing their mind sets slightly.
"Please, my children," Alanna continued in the same rasping voice. "Close your eyes so that I might bestow my blessing upon thee." Thankfully the young men did not question her words, and closed their eyes, if just a bit apprehensively. Alanna carefully took the helithame soaked rags from the pockets of her robe and with one fluid motion, forced the rags over the mouths of the squires.
Instead of falling to the ground instantaneously, as they both should have, the blonde squire jerked aside, escaping the suffocating fumes.
"I knew it " he said a bit dully, as the helithame began to work, slower then it should have. He went to draw his sword, but was cut short when Alanna delivered a swift blow to his head, right behind his ear. He hit the floor with a sickly sounding thud.
Gary and Raoul cast Alanna reproachful glances, but George only grinned as they entered the room, looking foreboding in their cloaks of inky black. Alanna quickly surveyed the room. There was a large fireplace on one side, and on the other, there was a bed, and upon the bed Jon shook uncontrollably, rolling back and forth on the fine linen.
Six people watched over the Prince. Three were healers and two were lesser priests. The sixth and last person was none other then Sir Myles of Olua, who was now looking at the group in consternation.
"His Eminence, The High Priest of The Church Of Mithros, wishes privately to bestow his blessing upon Jonathan of Conté, his Royal Highness," Gary said, his voice a bit deeper then usual to throw off any suspicions the old knight could have had.
"I was under the impression that His Eminence was to arrive tomorrow," Myles parried, his voice challenging.
"The speed of the Gods was with us, noble servant of the Crown," Alanna said in her rasping voice.
"Curious," Myles shrugged. "I'm sure that King Roald would have alerted me of your presence?"
"The Gods work in mysterious ways, chivalrous one," Alanna replied, thinking just how true her words were. "And if not the Gods, who can help his Highness?"
It was at this moment, that the Prince was taken by another round of strong seizures, and he writhed about on the bed, moaning softly.
The healers and priests, who hadn't moved since Alanna's entrance, now examined the Prince, grim thoughts haunting each of their faces.
"Oh " said one of the priests, falling to the ground before Alanna's feet, "Do something, Your Eminence He grows worse with each passing moment "
Alanna looked from the limp, now sobbing form at her feet to the elder knight. "Well Sir Knight?"
"I never trust a man whose face I have not seen," the knight replied. The priest sobbed louder.
"You're wise, Sir Knight," Alanna said, attempting to buy time to think, "and you have learned well the lessons of a protector, but my lord, this is out of your hands."
The look upon the face of the knight did not change as he surveyed them. "You fear having an armed knight and protector of the Crown in the same room, Your Eminence? Why, Your Eminence, it has been by the swords of myself and my brothers-in-arms that the Church has been able to lead such a peaceful existence."
Touche, thought Alanna, chewing the inside of her cheek in thought. "My guards will disarm themselves, if you'd like, Sir Knight," she finally said, her tone darker then it had been.
Myles nodded. "That would be a start."
Alanna signaled for Gary, Raoul and George to do so, praying to Mithros, the Goddess and the Crooked God that Myles wouldn't recognize the arms carried by the knights. The men did so, setting a sword and dagger apiece on the ground before Myles's feet.
"Does this please you, Sir Knight?" Alanna asked, her words short and to the point.
"What about the tall one that stands behind you, Your Eminence?" Myles queried suspiciously. "I do not trust him and have reason to believe his is still armed."
"You have no such reason, Sir Knight," Alanna replied darkly, knowing that George was in fact still armed, with at least three more daggers, she guessed.
"Tell him to disarm himself completely," Myles ordered.
"It is as my lord wishes," Alanna said, spitting out each word with disdain, "but he should be carrying no other weapon."
"Do it," the knight said.
Alanna turned to George and he saw the panic in her eyes. "Can you take him down?" she whispered so quietly that she wasn't sure George heard it.
He gave her a small grin that clearly said, of course, darlin'.
"Do it," she ordered, so that all of the occupants of the room heard.
George stepped forward, drawing daggers from with in both of his boots and as he bent to set them before Myles, he swung out quickly with his left leg, sending himself the knight to the floor where George quickly pinned the heavier man, whose mouth he covered with a strong hand.
"Don't move," George said, his voice quiet and menacing. "I can slit your throat in a heartbeat, so I suggest you tell the healers and priests that you were mistaken, and I suggest you do it quickly. One wrong move and you'll find yourself dead, understood?"
Myles nodded, fire in his eyes.
George let him up, hazel eyes following his every move.
Myles made a big deal of brushing himself off, not making eye contact with anyone.
"Sir Knight?" George challenged.
"My good priests and healers, His Eminence wishes to be alone," he growled.
The healers and priests left quickly Alanna touching them with her Gift as they did, but the sobbing one embraced Alanna strongly before he did.
"Gods be with you, Your Eminence," he cried, and when he revealed his face to Alanna, she recognized him immediately.
"And with you, my child," she said softly in return, and kissed his hands in blessing. She squeezed his hands a bit tightly, letting him know she recognized him.
He grinned and bowed deeply, before leaving. Raoul shut the door behind him.
"Cooper " Myles said in shock.
"I thought you were leaving, Sir Knight," Raoul said in a hinting manner, deepening his voice slightly as Gary had.
Myles closed his eyes. "Goldenlake And that would mean that...that...Naxen? Gods How could I not have recognized your voices? What in the name of the gods are you three doing?" he demanded.
Alanna let her hood drop. "They smuggled me in here."
"You're Thom of Trebond's sister "
"Indeed I am and I'm here to do what my brother would."
Myles looked at her warily. "The King has given me express orders not to allow you in here as he believes you could be a danger to the Prince."
"The King also believes I was sneaking around behind his son's back. Some things just aren't true, my lord. Alex of Tirragen has set Jon against me, but nothing has set me against Jon and I want nothing more then to see if I can save him like my brother did so many years ago."
"I will not leave his side," Myles swore.
"Will you let me try to reach out to him with my Gift?"
"I-" But his answer was cut short by an agony filled moan.
Alanna rushed to the seizuring Prince's side. "Oh Gods Jon " she said, her voice pained and she took his hand in hers as he shook violently.
"Do it," Myles said.
Alanna gave him a watery smile. "Thank you, Sir Myles." Alanna then slid into a routine, examining Jon from head to toe. She looked in his eyes, in his mouth at his windpipes, but found nothing she didn't already know from her talk with Mistress Cooper.
There was silence around her. Gary and Raoul had taken to guarding the door as planned, Myles sat on the edge of his chair, and George half sat half leaned on the edge of the window. She relished the silence, as using her Gift still made her feel uncomfortable, and in the silence, she slowly reached out to Jonathan with her Gift.
When finally her Gift occupied his body, she saw what she had been afraid to see. A dark black coppery substance laced through his body in his veins, pooling around his brain.
He began to seizure again and Alanna whispered words of comfort to him. "Come on Jon," she said softly. "You've come so far...you can't die now."
"Alanna?" she heard an tortured voice croak.
"Jon Jon But how...how can you hear me?" she asked, softly, having been told that he was unresponsive and possibly catatonic.
"I...I never lost my ability to hear and see and think...all this time..." his words were cut short by a piercing scream and Alanna knew he was being attacked by the illness again.
"You've been awake through all this?" she asked in awe when his screaming subsided.
"Y-Yes. It hurts, Alanna...please...Alanna..."
Alanna bit her lip to keep from crying out as she reached her Gift through his veins. His blood was oily with the illness, and the illness was everywhere his blood was, attacking his body and biting as his flesh, destroying him bit by bit. She felt the illness wash over her Gift, shuddering at the intense burning that accompanied it. And slowly she began to trace it, trying to find what it targeted and how it worked.
Jon felt Alanna's Gift traveling through him, and it burned like a thousand fires when it met the illness. He felt the intense burning sear through his veins, drawing moans, or sometimes screams of pain from him as it traveled, pooling more and more around his brain, minutely dulling his senses as it did so.
When Alanna's Gift stopped moving and tried to burn out the substance, the pain tore through his flesh like a hot dagger, slowly, deliberately slicing through his soft flesh. He tried to hold back the scream, but it was no use.
"Jon..." Alanna said, her voice cracking. "Stay with my Jon."
The illness sent spasms through his body, raking his flesh with invisible needles and pins. His thoughts and Alanna's presence faded in his mind as the seizures grew worse.
"Jon " she shouted to him, earning only screams in response. "Jon "
He thrashed about in agony, biting his lip so hard it bled freely, his hands gripping his own flesh, nails tearing into his pale skin.
"Jon Come on...I can't lose you now Jon " She sent her Gift directly to his brain and found that the illness was attacking the organ. Alanna knew that she'd have to burn it out completely, that there was no other way, and quickly began to work as Jon's Gift began to fade faster and faster.
Though he could no longer sense her in him, Jon knew Alanna was burning out the illness and he felt it throughout his whole body. Another wave of the dagger-like pain swept through him, filling every inch of his body and tearing so deep he thought he would be ripped apart, piece by bloody piece until all that was left of him was a pile of bones covered in black coppery bloody. He screamed.
Alanna chewed her lower lip and kept working, knowing that Jon was slipping faster and faster. His Gift was but a flicker now, and if she wasn't successful, he'd soon be lost forever.
And then, Jon let go. He stopped struggling against the illness and let it consume him, his Gift flickering out like a candle.
"Jon " Alanna shrieked, no longer feeling his life force pulsing through his veins. "Jon "
But Jon was nowhere to be found. Instead she saw the Black God in the foggy, cloudy distance, heavily cloaked, bending over Jon's soul.
"No " Alanna cried, unleashing her Gift completely.
"His time has come," the god said.
"No Take me instead It is not his time "
"Daughter," said a new voice, a haunting husky voice Alanna recognized immediately, "It is not your time to die."
"It isn't Jon's either Take me "
"It cannot be done," said the darkly clad god. "My time here draws to a close."
"Alanna " came one final cry from Jon's soul and she reached out and latched onto him and strongly held her ground.
"If he goes, I go with him," she repeated, violet eyes flashing dangerously.
"Daughter," the Great Mother said sharply in a warning, "it is not your time "
"I won't leave him " she shouted, her voice cracking. "Come on Jon, don't die on me You can't die now Tortall needs you "
"Alanna..." he whispered urgently, voice racked with pain, and Alanna felt him struggle as she began to feed his Gift with her own.
"He is yours if you can take him," the Black God said, his voice rolling like thunder yet laced with a sad doubt.
Alanna, her mouth set in a grim line, pulled Jon up with all the power she could muster, feeling herself fade as she did so, every last particle straining to help him, to hold on.. As she pulled, she burned out more and more of the illness, but her Gift was slipping faster and faster as time passed.
Finally, Jon shook, grasped again by the seizures, and Alanna knew that she had fought death and won, if only barely.
But could she still save him? Her Gift was almost entirely diminished now, but still she worked to burn out the illness and when she found the last particle, she fought it, and then fell, her own Gift barely a glimmer.
"Alanna " came a cry from within Jon's bedchambers and quickly her small limp body was drawn into strong arms where her heart slowed in her chest and finally stopped
***
Author's Note: I did the best I could given the situation. It is extremely difficult to write bloody angst when you're happy, or moderately stressed to the max. Just a little warning. I have an AP (advanced placement test) coming up and will be devoting TONS of time to studying for it, so the next chapter will not be up until after May 10th. Very sorry this one was late. It took me a bit to get it back from my beta because I sent it to her old e-mail on accident Silly me Very sorry Alright, reviewer thanks
To:
Tina-Bina (aka Silent Tina): Sorry if it's a let down. I was writing this chapter for you doll. But...like I said, angst on a full stomach is like trying to cry when....oh never mind. I'm crap with analogies. And sorry but he really really can't die just yet. I do have plans for the great lout, sadly enough. Sorry if this chapter had Alanna showing too much...care...toward the lardy dardy Prince for your liking. Your idea sounds fantastic though. ^_^ *many hugs and much love*
Forget-me-not: Sorry sorry sorry I'm an awful updater I'm glad you like my George George is my favorite TP character BY FAR Closely followed by Raoul. I like Raoul. Heehee. And yes, this will most definitely end A/G. But sadly, Alanna is a confused girl and likes the *ahem* attention she gets from Jon. Sad, but there will be some A/J fluff. Thanks so much for the review *hugs
Cytosine: Oh It's you *excited* Still luf ya e-mail addy Thanks so much for the nice squishy review Poison is nice to write. I like poison, thieves and elves. I like mixing them all together too. He he. ^_^ Thank you so so much And Gary and Raoul, I can't wait until they find out either. Tee hee hee. (I'll let you in on a tiny secret that only you can know: Raoul finds out first. Tee hee hee. Even before Jon.) Thanks for reviewing *hugs*
Read 24/7 and more: Thank you
QueenFrosteen: Erk. Very good point. I guess I didn't make it clear enough, but they don't know what's wrong with Jon in my fic. I hope this chapter helped clear that up a bit (I really should fix that ) I wouldn't mind if Jon died either, but sadly he's needed later. Damn. He he. *hugs* Thanks so much for the review
DevilsChick: Sorry for the slow updating. If it makes you feel better I almost killed off Jon. Then I didn't. Tragic eh? And, no, Alanna will NOT end up with Jon. He's too...yeah. We'll just leave it at that Thanks for the review
Pbwin: Two steps ahead of me, aren't ya? He he. That poor squire. Getting beatin' by a girl. Thanks so much for the review *hugs*
Lady Taliana: Sorry for the late update I will get started on your fic as soon as I can
White-wolf: You're like my favorite, did you know that? ^_6 *hugs* Thanks for the review dear
Chickensoup3: Aw *hug* Thanks *blush blush*
Keziah dahling: Dropped off the face of the Earth...that's a good alibi Thanks dear Thanks for throwing sharpies at me I love drawing on myself with permanent marker. And other people as well. *grin grin* Faithful is back full swing next chappie Thanks for reviewing You are mega wonderfulous *hugs hugs hugs*
Torz: I'm so so so glad you like my fics *blushes and grins* I'll put you on the update list Thanks for reading and reviewing Luf ya, doll
Morrigan: You know, I read a book called Hounds Of the Morrigan once, but I think it was prounoucned More-ee-an but meh, that was whiles ago. 6_6 That was random. Sorry Tee hee hee. And, hey, take it easy on Jon's family. They don't know she can save him. She has to come out looking like a heroine. Femme hero. Not the drug. *grin grin* Thanks for reviewing
Xelena: Wow Your review was coming from so many different angles Thanks...I think ^_^ *hugs hugs*
Overly Eccentric: NFG fricken ROCKS in concert. And in person. *grin grin* You just called me a fruit? ? Erk. No hugs for you
Hannirose: You may have noticed that I axed HP and The Endless Darkness. It returns this summer when I have time to make it make more sense and follow a plot. Concept eh? Thanks so much for the squishy review *hugs hugs*
Kittles: Sounds jolly. *grin grin* Thanks for the review dear *hugs*
Witch Child: Sorry for the SLOW update So, Romeo buying potion from the alchemist eh? I was the alchemist in a reading for my lit class. *grin grin* And I did a soliloquy of Balthazar (Romeo's servant) that was pretty darn good. I'm an aficionado of Shakespear, tried and true, through and through. Thanks for the review *hugs hugs*
Undiscovered Actree: Please please send me more of your fic when you get it written Can you send it to zeepunkeepixie13@aol.com instead though? I use that addy more Sorry for not killing Jon. I forgot that I actually need the poor bloke later on...I will not stop updating I hope to get them up faster over the summer Thanks so so much for the review *hugs*
snoweylove-angel: Thank you for the wonderfulous review Alanna didn't do anything to Alex. Alex kissed her (against her will ) in front of Jon. And Alanna and Jon weren't really on speaking terms. *hugs hugs* Thanks doll
Jazy716: Thanks for the review
Lady Rianna Dragoneye: Your new name is SOO cool *grin grin* There will be small doses of A/J fluff in the future, but very small doses and not lasting for very long. Sorry, dahling. That's the way the dice roll. Sneaking into the palace...isn't treason exactly, but sneaking into Jon's room and going directly against the mandate of the king is. And to the monarchs, Alanna's intentions are unknown. Thanks for the nice squishy review (Some one has been asking about my fic ? ? ? ? *melt melt*) Thank you so much *hug hug*
dandylioness: Thanks
Anonymous: I think I'll crochet "A little treason is good for the soul" on a pillow or something. Good motto to live by. Oh I updated No Regrets about two weeks ago (Maybe it was more...so confused) but it won't have showed up on my profie because of the FFN and FP split thingie Finally someone interested in it The assassin...hmm. How to phrase this. The assassin has a very...knowledgeable master. You'll figure it out, you're a smart girl. ^_^ Golly all those questions Well, I hope this chapter answered some of them Thanks for the squishy review *hugs hugs hugs* Luf ya much Sorry for late postage
Michy dear: Thanks for reviewing Sorry this is sooo late (Blame the fact that...never mind...) SO SO SO sorry for lateness Thanks for reading As always, you are the rockin'est Luv ya much *hugs hugs hugs*
Adri, the insane girl who gave me SUCH a nice long review and has dropped off the face of LJ lately and who I am starting a cult dedicated to evil blonde men with: I had such a good name for our cult it was like ...e-something. E standing for evil. It was good...too bad I forgot it....You are SOOOOOOO sweet *hugs hugs hugs* Golly I wish Jon could have died. Alanna could have gone to George for...cheering up...and things would have gone further then a hug and pat on the back...and...*fume fume* I really don't know how you missed the character stealing. Joren...mmmm...we need a good fan art of him for the front page of our cu–I mean club. You thanked me for existing That makes me so very happy Chronicles got flamed by the way. Stupid flamer. I shall eat him and he shall be dead. *grin grin* I was doing art of Seraphina last night, and she SO didn't end up looking right, but cool all the same. I'll scan the final copy and shove it up on my website somewhere. Anyway. I'd love to rant on to you, and you know I would but my fingers are getting tired and there seems to be no end to the responses. So ack. Love you the mostest *hugs and glompages of hugs and kisses and...er...evil blondes.*
Sunny1388: Thanks for the nice squishy review
Shinigami Clara: Thank you for the nice review And the Japanese I know very little Japanese...only what I learn from an odd assortment of translated manga You read my fics in the middle of the night You daft girl (That's when I write them Tee hee hee ) Sorry you nearly got in trouble Thank you for reading and reviewing, and yes, I do plan to bring in Myles. *grin grin*Thank you so much for the squishy review *hugs hugs*
Reviewer: Plot holes and typos are my specialty *wink* I'm very glad you like it. Sorry for the SLOWNESS of the A/G. It frustrates me as well. And don't fret for Gary just yet. ^_^
Fluffy The Teddy Bear Slayer: ,
Kadevi-Chan: Thanks for stopping back How's the website coming I totally lost the link...blame my computer for crashing. Repeatedly. Thanks so much
That took forever. I'd say more, but my fingers are too bloody tired Go read the Chronicles My original
Thanks so much for reading
Hugs and tons of love to you all,
Sara
punkpixie87