Chapter Seventeen: The Sweating Fever

Aly and Alanna were having a mother-daughter day shortly after the revelation that "Alan" and Ralon were cousins. Alanna was staring off into space, and Aly was watching her.

"You're being very quiet today, Alanna." Aly said.

"I'm thinking."

"Noble for your thoughts?"

"It's just...all this about Ralon being my cousin doesn't make any sense."

"What part of it doesn't make sense?" Aly asked. "Your Aunt Jane is your father's twin sister, and Ralon is her son."

"No, I get that part." Alanna said. "But...how come I've never met Aunt Jane before now?"

"Because we would have had to send her corpse back to Malven." Aly said.

"What?"

"Your Aunt Jane and I were sworn enemies."

"Like me and Ralon."

"Ralon and I," Aly corrected. "But, yes. If your aunt had ever come by Trebond, she would have been dead, because I would have murdered her about a day after her arrival. I think she knew it too."

"How is it she doesn't know she has a niece and a nephew, not two nephews?"

"I never told her I had a boy and a girl when I wrote both sides of the family. I just told her she was an aunt to two little babies, because I knew she would have tried to tell me the "proper" way to raise a daughter had I told her."

"So you kept my gender a secret for a reason?"

"I kept it a secret for your aunt's physical health, and my mental health." Aly said.

The Sweating Fever struck in March without warning. It spared no one-people in the city, palace servants, priests, even the queen. Duke Gareth was next.

Aly raced to Duke Gareth's rooms as soon as word reached her that Gareth had gotten sick. Alanna came with her. When they arrived, Gareth's son, Gary, was with him. Aly felt bad for him. His mother had died when he was young, according to Gareth, and now his father was sick with something that was killing people everywhere.

"Gareth," Aly gasped when she saw how sick he looked. She raced to his bed, and kneeled by his head.

"Aly," Gareth said, shivering. "You shouldn't be here when I am so sick."

"Neither should your son, and he's here." Aly said. This is why she had brought Alanna, "Alan, take Gary and you and your friends go find something to do to try and distract him from this."

"Yes, mother." Alanna said.

"And stay away from the city. It's spreading all over there." Aly said. "The last thing I need is to worry about you being sick."

Alanna bowed, and led Gary away.

Aly went between Lianne and Gareth's rooms on a daily basis. Both insisted she stay away before she gets sick, but she refused to listen. It went as far as she disobeyed a royal command from both Lianne and Roald to stay away.

"How is everyone?" Gareth asked one day as Aly was visiting him. "You told me it is even hitting the pages and squires now."

"Lianne is getting worse by the day. The king and Prince Jonathan are spending most of their time with her." Aly said, fighting back tears as she thought how bad off Lianne was. "And the Black God has claimed three pages and five squires."

Gareth sat up a little bit, "I don't see Alan."

Aly pushed Gareth gently back into bed. "He's with Raoul of Goldenlake. He's caught it now."

"What of Gareth? Alan? Prince Jonathan?"

"All are fine. With you being sick, I've been watching after Gary for you, making sure he stays as healthy as possible." Aly assured him. "All the healthy pages are stepping up with this sickness hitting them. If they aren't sick, they are filling in for all the sick servants. Making beds, washing dishes, cleaning the stables. I help them when I am not being an annoying friend who won't go away."

"It's annoying you won't listen to Lianne and I." Gareth said, "But it's touching you to care about us."

"Roald too." Aly said.

"What?" Gareth said.

"You said it's annoying that I won't listen to you and Lianne," Aly said, "I won't listen to King Roald, either. He has ordered me on Lianne's behalf to stay away, and I still see her daily."

"How is it you can spend hours at a time at Lianne's side, then spend hours at my side, and not get sick?"

"I'm honestly not sure." Aly said.

"Get out of her, Aly." Gareth said, giving her a weak shove. "I'll never forgive myself if you catch this because of me. I know Lianne wouldn't forgive herself either."

Aly stood up to leave, and rested a glowing hand on Gareth's head, letting her healing Gift seep through him.

"With as draining as this is, I might as well help while I can. I gave a little to Lianne too." she said. She kissed Gareth's sweaty forehead, and swayed when she stood up. Gareth reached out to her.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Gary." Aly smiled at Gareth. "I guess I used too much of my Gift. It happened when I help Lianne too. It probably doesn't help that I have gotten little sleep since Lianne got sick, and even less since you were sick."

Gareth squeezed her hand weakly. "Try to get some sleep, Aly. Your sons need you here with them."

Aly hated it when she went to visit Gareth a few days later, and told him that Gary had caught the Sweating Sickness. Gareth had cursed loudly, and prayed to all the listening gods that Gary would get better. Aly joined him in his prayer.

One night, Coram knocked on her door. She paled when she saw the look on his face. He had the same look as when he had told her about Lianne and Gareth.

"Lianne? She's not dead, please, Coram, tell me she's not dead."

Coram shook his head, "It's not the queen."

"Gareth?" Aly asked.

"Not his Grace, either." Coram said.

"Who?"

"It's Alan-"

"Goddess, no! Alan has it now?"

"No, no, my lady," Coram said quickly. He looked around to make sure there was no one nearby. "It's Alanna's friend, Francis. He's just passed on to the Black God."

Aly remembered to breathe again. Her friends weren't dead, and her children were still all perfectly healthy.

"Where is she?" Aly said. "If she's just lost a friend, I should be with her."

"She went to the chapel dedicated to the Black God."

Aly was about to turn a corner that led to the God of Death's chapel, when she heard Alanna's voice.

"Sir-if a person has power-something that can be used for good or evil, either way-should they use it?"

"A power such as magic?" Aly recognized that as Alanna's favorite teacher, Sir Myles.

"Well-yes. The Gift."

"It depends on the person, Alan. The Gift is simply an ability. Not all of us have it, just as not all of us are quick-witted or have good reflexes. Magic isn't good or evil by itself. I believe you should only use it when you are absolutely certain your cause is just. Does that help?"

"You couldn't give a person a yes or a no, could you?" Alanna asked.

"Not in this case. Moral issues rarely have yes or no answers."

Aly heard a door open. "Alan?" that was the prince.

"Thanks, Sir Myles." Alanna said. A moment later, Aly heard a door close. Aly turned the corner, and saw Sir Myles quietly sitting in the hall.

"Thank you, Sir Myles. You beat me here, and helped Alan."

Sir Myles looked up at Aly. "He is a good boy, Lady Alianne. He was raised well."

Aly smiled, "Thank you."

Sir Myles left, and Aly spent some time outside the chapel, debating whether or not to go in. In the end, she went to Alanna's room, and waited for her to return to talk.

"Sir Myles' was right, you know." Aly said when she and Alanna were alone, "Magic isn't good or evil by itself, and you are very blessed to have it."

Alanna sighed. "My magic terrifies me, but if I had listened to Maude, Francis wouldn't be dead."

"What did Maude tell you?" Aly asked.

"She told me I had to heal, to make up for all the lives I'll take when I'm a knight."

"Alanna, there is no guarantee that if you had healed Francis, it would have helped." Aly said, "He still might have died."

"But I could have at least tried!" Alanna shouted, her voice thick with tears. "Now, it's too late."

Aly held Alanna close, it scared her to hear Alanna thinking like that. "Don't you dare blame yourself for this, Alanna. It's not your fault." Alanna didn't answer, but Aly heard a sniffle. Her eyes grew wide. Alanna was crying! She hadn't cried since she learned to talk...she had discovered yelling and shrieking was more effective for getting people's attention than crying. Aly ended up staying with Alanna in her arms until Alanna was asleep. She carefully laid Alanna down, and tucked her into bed like she had done when she was a little girl, and gave her a light kiss on the forehead, and then left. She walked down to the chapel dedicated to the Great Mother Goddess and said a quick prayer.

"Great Mother, please be with Alanna. Help her learn to embrace her Gift, and help her to also realize that Francis died because that was how you and the other gods willed it to be."

Aly joined Alanna at the burial for Francis the next day, and the day after, the two of them were washing dishes when Timon and Coram came to them.

Coram's voice was gentle. "Th' Prince took sick last night. He's calling for ye, Alan."

Aly covered her mouth, "Prince Jonathan? Gods, no! He's our only heir, and Lianne can't bear any more children. We can't loose him!"

Alanna put down her dishcloth, she seemed to remain rather calm. "How is he?"

"Bad." Timon said.

Aly, Alanna, and the two servants who had been doing dished with them raced to Jonathan's rooms.

Aly went in with Alanna. She couldn't believe what she saw before her, and from the look on Alanna's face, neither could she. People were crowding around Jonathan's bed. The incense in the air was made her and Alanna both sneeze. The priests of the Dark God were canting prayers for the dying while the Chief Healer stood aside. Duke Baird was a beaten man. Jonathan was hallucinating already, and the healer had learned the people stricken this badly from the first always died. Aly could tell what her daughter was thinking. This was against all the common sense that came with healing. Before Aly could say something, Alanna turned to Coram.

"Get Sir Myles. Now." she said.

The burly soldier looked down at her. "Ye aren't planning something foolish, are ye?"

"No more foolish than this." she jerked her head at the crowded room.

Coram sighed, and met Timon's puzzled look. "Sh-he's Trebond." he explained. "Stubborn as mules, all of them. We'd best fetch Sir Myles." Alanna went outside and closed the door. Aly left with her, too angry to remain behind. "I'm going to the king. If he knows that is how they are treating Jonathan, I am a dancing bear." she said, and left.

Aly arrived at the private rooms of Roald and Lianne. She took a deep breath, and nodded for the guard to announce her.

Roald was sitting next to Lianne when Aly walked in. Lianne looked at Aly. "I don't like that look on your face." she said.

Aly curtsied, and walked over to stand next to Lianne. She gently grabbed her friend's hand.

"Lianne..."

"Something is wrong." Lianne said, looking at Aly. "Is it Alan? Has he become ill?"

"Thank the gods, no." Aly said with a small smile to reassure her friend. "However...." Aly took another deep breath. "The Sweating Sickness...Jonathan was struck by it last night."

"No!" Roald said in shock. Lianne gasped.

"How bad?" Lianne asked.

"He is already delusional. Usually when they are this bad off from the start they..." Aly couldn't bring herself to say the last word, but she didn't need to. The King and Queen knew what happened when a patient was delusional the first day.

Roald started praying, and Lianne began crying.

Once Roald was done with his prayers, Aly looked at him. "Your majesty, there are priests for the Black God chanting spells and burning incense for those who are already dead. No one can breathe in that room! I know Prince Jonathan's chances aren't great, but he stands no chance in a room like that!"

Roald stood up, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "I'm clearing that room out right now. Black God have mercy on anyone who even thinks on hesitating to leave....they won't be shown any by me."

"Alan has already sent our servant to get Myles. He figured Myles could take care of everything."

Roald nodded, and sat back down. "I trust Myles to know what to do."

Aly pulled up a stool, and sat next to Lianne.

"I thought I ordered you to avoid being next to Lianne when she is sick." Roald said.

"You did...I am just not listening." Aly said.

Disclaimers:

1) The Sweating Fever struck in March without warning. It spared no one-people in the city, palace servants, priests, even the queen. Duke Gareth was next, and the Lord Provost. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 104

2) "Sir-if a person has power-something that can be used for good or evil, either way-should they use it?"

"A power such as magic?"

"Well-yes. The Gift"

"I depends on the person, Alan. The Gift is simply an ability. Not all of us have it, just as not all of us are quick-witted or have good reflexes. Magic isn't good or evil by itself. I believe you should only use it when you are absolutely certain your cause is just. Does that help?"

"You couldn't give a person a yes or a no, could you" Alanna asked

"Not in this case. Moral issues rarely have yes or no answers"

"Alan?"

"Thanks, Sir Myles" from Alanna: The first Adventure; pg. 107 + 108

3) Alanna put down her dishcloth "How is he?"

"Bad" Timon said from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 109

4)People were crowding around Jonathan's bed. The incense in the air was made her and Alanna sneeze. The priest of the Dark God were canting prayers for the dying while the Chief Healer stood aside. Duke Baird was a beaten man. Jonathan was hallucinating already, and the healer had learn the people stricken this badly from the first always died. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 110

5) "Get Sir Myles. Now" she said

The burly soldier looked down at her. "Ye aren't planning something foolish, are ye?"

"No more foolish than this" she jerked her head at the crowded room.

Coram sighed, and met Timon's puzzled look "Sh-he's Trebond" he explained "Stubborn as mules, all of them. We'd best fetch Sir Myles. Alanna went outside and closed the door. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 110

Author's Note: I know that was a lot from the book, but I felt, since I was talking about the sweating sickness, I needed what the book said.

Reveiwer's Choice

A lot of people seemed to forget about Jane until I made her Alanna's aunt. Which is a shame, because she is super fun to write. So...

Do you want to see more of Jane in the story?

A) Yes

B) No

Review Reply

abyssgirl: I am glad you liked it.

Sam White: I am glad you liked it. In the first book, we find out that Alanna and Thom had a godsmother who tried to get Alan to marry her, but I hadn't put any real thought into writing it into the story. Hm...I'll have to think about that. And I explained the whole Jane not knowing Alan is Alanna in the chapter you just read, so there is your answer to that.

brezzybrez: Tell you what. If you can make it where there are more than 24 hours in a day so I can eat, sleep, do college application stuff, homework, study for tests, AND post more often, I'll post more often. I will try harder to update more often though. I don't want to overwelm my betta either, though.

Kate of Carlay: I am glad you liked it.

epobbp: A lot of people agreed with my beta on that comment

Sazerac: You're right...I find it hard to believe you saw what was coming when you tell me you saw it coming after it came. (that probably makes no sense at all)

dares to dream: Yeah...cousins. That really blew a lot of people out of the water. And I sort of always saw Ralon as a Momma's boy, so it was fun to create it. hehehe. I like what you would of added to Alanna's retort about falling off the roof. After reading what you wrote I saw Aly saying "No you would not, trust me, I would know. You'd live. You would live because I would use my gift to make sure you lived, just so I could yell at you for being on the palace roof in the first place!" haha. You have no idea how tempted I was to go change the last chapter and add that.

MoonShadowDancer: Glad you liked it.

DomLuver: A lot of people seemed to forget about Jane. That is why I created the poll up above.

imokit: glad you liked it!

LittleMissGiggles'94': Glad you liked it.

Susan: Glad you liked it sis.

elf warrior princess: Aly will eventually meet Jane, but it is going to be a little while until she does. Yes, Alanna has already met George. Alanna/George's relationship is the same with the story.

Lady Leopard: Glad you liked it.

zropin: Glad you liked it. Yes, George will be in here.

a happy camper: I hope when you figure out how you like it, you decide you like it. And a late reveiw is better than none.