This is a re-post! I am so sorry! I posted the document I sent my betta rather than the one my betta sent me! So thoe of you who read this before 01-12-09 saw what my work looks like BEFORE my betta gets it and makes me look good. Sorry again! And thanks to The Shang Kudarung for pointing it out to me!
Chapter Fourteen: Catching Up
"May I help you, my lady?" a stable hand asked, offering her his hand to help her out of the carriage. She had finally reached the palace.
"Thank you" Aly said as the man helped her down "Would you know where to find Sir...um...Duke Gareth of Naxen at this time of day?"
"In his office" the stable hand said "He is the training master for the pages."
"Where is his office?" Aly asked.
"If you'd like, I can take you."
Aly nodded "That would be great, if you wouldn't mind."
"Right this way" he said, and started up to the palace.
"His office is just down this hall, my lady" the stable hand said. Just then, a door opened and a man walked out.
"Timon!" the stable hand said.
The man turned "Yeah?"
"A guest for His Grace."
Timon looked at Aly, and bowed "Is the duke expecting you?"
"No" Aly said "Should I make an appointment to meet with him?"
"Come on in, I'll see if he is able to speak with you" Timon said, and led Aly over to what she guessed was Gareth's office.
"If he asks for a name, just say that I'm a friend of his" Aly said.
Timon bowed, and knocked on the door.
"Come in" Aly's heart fluttered a little. She knew that voice.
Timon poked his head in "Are you busy, your grace? You have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Gareth's voice came from in the room "Who?"
"She wouldn't say" Timon said "She told me to say she is a friend of yours."
Aly held her breath. Would Gareth see her without her name? She wanted to see his reaction when she walked in.
(Gareth's POV)
Who wouldn't say their name before seeing me? And...did Timon say 'she said she was a friend'?
I realized Timon was waiting for my answer "Let her in."
Timon bowed, "Yes your grace". He left the room and I heard him tell my mysterious friend to come in.
I froze when my mysterious guest walked in. I hadn't seen her in about thirteen years, but I knew who she was the moment I saw her.
"Hello Gareth" the woman said "Or shall I call you your grace?"
I slowly stood up "Aly?" I said, a hint of awe in my voice.
Aly nodded "Yes"
"What-what are you doing here? Is Alan with you? I thought he would never want to come back to court."
"As scandalous as it is, I came alone" Aly said "The gossips won't shut up when they find out I am here."
"If I remember correctly, they wouldn't shut up when you were here thirteen years ago, either" I said "I also seem to recall that you didn't mind back then."
"Who says I mind now?" Aly said.
It was then that I noticed Aly was still standing "Please, Aly, have a seat. How rude of me to not invite you to sit earlier."
Aly sat, and I was not far behind her.
"Timon!" I called.
He popped his head in the doorway "Yes, your grace?"
"Please send Alan of Trebond to my office" I said "He should be in his history lessons with Sir Myles."
Timon bobbed his head "Yes, your grace."
I turned back to Aly "Gods all bless, Aly. I never thought I'd see you again."
(No POV)
Aly and Gareth soon took a walk down memory lane together, reliving times when they were together, as well as talking about events that had happened after they had gone their separate ways. Gareth had finished a story about his son, Gareth, the younger. Aly covered her mouth with her glove, muffling the sound. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"That must be Alan" Gareth said "Come in!" he called.
It was Alanna. Upon seeing Aly, Alanna's jaw dropped "Mother?"
Aly smiled "Hello Alan."
"Mother, what are you doing here?" Alanna asked "Did father come too?" Aly heard the panic in her voice.
"No, your father is still back at Trebond."
Alanna still had a look of bewilderment on her face.
"What's wrong Alan? Aren't you glad I'm here?" Aly asked.
"Of course I am, mother. It's just a bit of a shock, seeing you here, at the palace, where I am training." Alanna hoped her mother would get the hint.
Aly smiled "I know it will be awkward having your mother in the palace with you, Alan, but don't worry, this will only be temporary. I am looking for housing in the city. You'll only have to be burdened by my presence for a short time."
"It's not a burden, mother, but a letter would have been nice, it would have given me a little bit of a warning" Alanna looked at Duke Gareth, and bowed "I am sorry for ignoring you, your grace."
"That is alright Alan. I had called you in here to see that your mother was here, that was all."
"Oh" Alanna said "Well, mother, it is wonderful news that you are in the palace, but unless Duke Gareth plans to excuse me from class, I must be getting back to my lessons."
Aly and Alanna both looked at Duke Gareth. Aly put a bit of her old charm to work, and gave Gareth a look that said Please?
Gareth eyed Aly. She gave him a shy little smile. It had always worked on him when he had been courting her, and Lianne had told him it worked when she was little and wanted something. Would it still work now?
Gareth smiled and nodded "I suppose your mother's arrival can count enough to get you out of lessons for today. But I expect you be on time for supper, and make up all the work you miss" he told Alanna sternly "Otherwise I won't allow you to miss classes a second time."
Alanna bowed, a bit confused at the interaction between her mother and training master "Yes, your grace."
Aly got up and curtsied to Gareth "Thank you, your grace."
Aly walked with Alanna to Alanna's rooms, where Coram was relaxing after a shift with the palace guards.
"Lady Alianne?" Coram asked, sitting up.
"Hello Coram".
"What are you doing here?" Coram asked, fidgeting nervously.
"I came here to visit a child of mine who is in page training" Aly said, motioning to Alanna. Aly decided to have fun at Coram's expense, and put a stern expression on her face.
"My lady, I can explain" Coram said "You see, the lass kept her head covered until we stopped for midday, and that was when I found out. I wanted to take her right back to Trebond and go get Thom, but she convinced me not to. I didn't help them go against Lord Alan's orders, I swear it!"
"Relax Coram" Aly said, smiling "I knew I would be finding Alanna here when I arrived" Aly said.
"You know about the switch then?" Coram asked nervously.
"Know?" Aly asked, and laughed a little "I helped with the switch."
Coram looked at Aly with shock. Aly decided it was time for a change in topic "So, would there be a certain family servant and daughter of mine who will help me unpack my luggage? No doubt the palace servants have already brought it to my rooms."
The three of them made their way to the rooms that Lianne had had arranged for her. Aly opened the door before leading Alanna and Coram in and closed the door behind them.
"By the way, I was in the City of the Gods to see Thom."
"How is he?"
"He is doing well. He's enjoying his lessons at the convent."
"Good. I wouldn't have been."
"He couldn't stop talking about his classes" Aly said with a little laugh "He told me what he had already learned and what he was learning in each-"
"Um, mother? Not that I'm not thrilled to see you, but...how long are you staying?" Alanna interrupted.
"I'm not sure."
"Is everything alright at home?"
"Everyone is healthy, if that is what you mean" Aly said.
"Everything is alright with you and father?"
"Things with your father and I are the same they have been for the past few years."
"Did you two get into a argument?"
"Never mind" Aly said.
"What happened?" Alanna asked.
"I said never mind, that means you drop the matter, Alanna."
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Everyone froze. The knock started again, but this time, there was a distinct rhythm to the knock. One knock, Two knocks, One knock, and then repeated three times. Aly grinned, as she went over to open the door.
Alanna frowned as she heard shrieking, both her mother's and someone else's. Then, there mother stepped aside, and a woman with dark brown hair came in. One her head, was a small crown. Alanna bowed. She was followed by two men in the uniform of the palace guard. One of them spotted Coram and nodded a greeting. Coram nodded back.
"Good afternoon, your majesty" Alanna said.
"I heard you had arrived" Lianne said, ignoring Alanna, and focusing on Aly "Oh, Aly, it is so good to see you again!"
"It's great seeing you, Lianne! You look great!" Aly said "How have you been?"
"I've been well, what about you?"
"Fine" Aly said, and embraced Lianne "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too" Lianne said "You should have written me more."
"You should have written me" Aly shot back. She turned and saw Alanna and Coram staring at her, and looked as if she was surprised to se them "Oh, Lianne...This is my son, Alan. My other son, Thom, is training to be a sorcerer. This is one of our family's servingmen, Coram Smythyson."
Lianne smiled at Alanna "Hello, Page Alan. My son has told me a lot about you."
"Speaking of you son...when do I get to meet my godsson? You told me I just had to come and meet him" Aly asked.
"As soon as you are settled in, I'll arrange a meeting between you and Jonathan" Lianne assured Aly "So? How long until you abandon me again?"
"I'm looking for housing in the city" Aly said.
"You're staying for good then?" Lianne asked excitedly.
"If not for good, then for a while, and I'll come down for visits often enough to make the purchase of the house worth it."
"Well, I am going to see to it that you enjoy every moment you are here" Lianne said "We can go on picnics...we'll have to have guards, of course, and rides through the words...again, I'll need guards, and we can go into the city-"
"Let me guess...with guards?" Aly said.
Lianne shrugged "Being queen has it's advantages, but it also has it's disadvantages...like I can't be away from the palace without guards tailing me."
"Where can we go without guards?"
"Anywhere on the palace grounds. There are enough palace guards wandering around, that no one could harm me. We can also be in my rooms, or your rooms. Although, there will be guards outside the door" Lianne sighed, and looked over her shoulder at the guards.
"Would you two please wait in the hall?" Lianne asked. Aly's eyes widened. She had never heard a hint of authority in Lianne's voice. Now, her voice was full of it. The guards bowed a left, closing the door behind her.
"Aly, I am so glad you're here. I haven't stopped talking about you and the stunts you pulled as a teenager both here and at the convent since I received your letter. Gareth and Roald can vouch for me, I was talking about you to them."
Aly blushed "Lianne, my son does not need to know how I acted when I was younger."
Lianne smiled at Alanna, then turned back to Aly "Don't worry, I won't tell him."
Sadly, Lianne couldn't stay long. Queenly duties called her away. Soon after she left, Aly turned to Alanna "So tell me all about training so far. How have things been?"
"The training is really hard, and has high demands, but I can handle it."
"Ye wanted to quit, earlier" Coram said.
"Quit?" Aly asked "Alanna of Trebond, I thought you were raised better than that!"
"Well, I'm still here aren't I?" Alanna said.
Aly gave Alanna a suspicious look.
"The work is getting easier, and as I spend more time on a page's schedule, I am beginning to adjust" Alanna said.
"And what about your friends? You have the prince, I've heard" Aly said.
"I'm not quite sure they see me on the level of friendship, but I spend time with the prince, and his cousin, Gareth the younger of Naxen. I also spend time with Raoul of Goldenlake, Francis of Nond, and Alex of Tirragen."
"What would you call them, if not your friends?"
"Acquaintances" Alanna said with a shrug "And they seem to have given themselves the title of my protectors."
"Protectors?" Aly asked sharply "Protectors from what?"
"No one" Alanna said, cursing silently to herself for telling her mother about it.
"Alanna, I demand an answer" Aly said.
"Just another page who keeps bullying me" Alanna said "Don't worry mother, I have it under control."
"What is the page's name?" Aly asked.
"Why?" Alanna asked.
"A name, Alanna. I want a name."
"Ralon" Alanna said with a sigh "Ralon of Malven."
"Well, maybe I'll just have to have a talk with this Ralon of Malven's mother."
"No!" Alanna had to fight from shrieking "Mother, please. I'll be laughed out of the palace as soon as Ralon tells everyone my mother had to step in and fight my battles!"
"Alanna, no gentleman bullies a lady" Aly said.
"Do you plan to tell his mother that? Because if you do, you'll ruin my secret" Alanna said.
"Alanna, I have to do something" Aly said.
"You can do something. You can buy your townhouse, keep your mouth shut about Ralon, and help me keep my secret" Alanna said "That would be great, if you could just do that much for me."
Aly looked warily at Alanna.
"Please mother? That will be more than enough."
"Alright. I promise, I won't speak to the Lady of Malven."
A look of relief came over Alanna's face "Thank you, mother."
"So, how badly do I get to pound Ralon?" Raoul asked Alanna at supper that night.
"What?" Alan asked.
"What did Ralon frame you for with my uncle" Jon asked.
"Nothing. I wasn't in any kind of trouble" Alanna said.
"Then why did my father call you in to his office?" Gary asked.
"My mother arrived at court today, completely unannounced, and the duke thought I should be informed" Alanna said "Then, he gave me the rest of lessons off to spend with my mother."
"That's it?" Alex asked "Your mother arrived at court?"
"Yes" Alanna said.
Raoul looked disappointed. Alanna rolled her eyes "Raoul, if it will make you feel better, I can lie and say Ralon got me in terrible trouble."
Raoul grinned "That gives me an excuse to beat him."
"Just don't tell him I said that to you, or else he'll beat me" Alan said.
Raoul wrapped an arm around Alanna "I'd like to see him try to mess with you, Alan."
Alanna shook her head, and went back to eating supper.
Review Reply
brezzybrez: here is the next chapter!
dares to dream: Thom having a social life would be interesting...and you'll just have to wait and see if I make him listen to his mother. Yep, Gareth and Aly are back together...as are Lianne and Aly! That could be dangerous...or could it? I guess you'll have to wait and find out about that as well. hehehe....am I evil yet?
Lady Light: I assume you meant what is Alanna going to notice between her mother and Gareth...read and you'll find out what Alanna finds out as she find it out.
Kate of Carlay: This was the actual reunion, but there will be more on Aly and Gareth during her first few days of court life.
LittleMissGiggles'94': A lot of people have asked how Alanna will handel her mothrer's relationship to Duke Gareth...you'll just have to keep reading to find out, like I told the others.
Merkaba7734: Well, you got to see what Alanna's reaction to her mother's arrival
Lady Zarobiti: When I read about your request to have Aly find out about Alanna's fights with Ralon, I laughed. I had just written that part before going on computer to look for reviews the day I got yours! Hope you liked it
a happy camper: All the points you made are good ones...and I have already had one request to have Thom obey his mother, so we'll see how that goes. As to Alanna's monthliues, I have a plan for that. Don't worry...Alanna and George's love life won't be affected
The Shang Kudarung: I was laughing do hard after reading your review...as I was in a library at the time, I got in trouble for it, but oh well! It was worth it. Keep reviews like that coming.
chiilachic: Thank you!
Sara Jane: Three words...Here is More
Anjali: Well...Gareth is a widow, but Aly is still married..you'll just have to wait and see what happens!
.14karatgold.: Thank you so very much! I love feedback like that. I hadn't even noticed I had quoted a movie until you review! But I re-read it, and realized you were right...by the way, it was Princess Diaries, with a little word changing on my part.
Anjalit2624: Hope you liked the last chapter!
hi there: Thanks!