Jane Poll Results

In a poll of whether you wanted to see more of Jane of (Trebond) Malven, the results were as followed:

Yes to Jane: 5 votes

No to Jane: 2 votes

Didn't really care either way/Undecided: 3 votes

Ok...so I was trying to see how I can please as close to everyone as I could with these results, but the yeses were clearly the winners. I had a few people suggest a little more Jane every once in a while, but not too often, and I think that is what I am going to do. Hopefully this doesn't turn off any of you people who said no to Jane.

Chapter Eighteen: Duke Roger

After helping Jonathan, Alanna slept for three days. Aly spent that time shooing away prying nobles who tried to question Alanna about healing Jonathan. Those who managed to get past Aly were told that Sir Myles deserved the credit.

The chilly winter turned at last into spring. One morning, Aly got up earlier than usual. Gareth was taking the pages to Port Caynn, and Aly had offered to come along and help chaperone. It would give her an excuse to be with Alanna and Gareth, and she could also shop. As she was finishing up their early breakfast, there was a knock on her door. It was Coram, holding a bundle of bandages.

"Coram, come in." Aly said. She closed the door behind him. "What brings you here? And why are you carrying bandages?"

"Alanna asked for them." Coram said. "I don't know why. She's actin' weird."

"I'll come with you and see if I can find out what is going on." Aly said.

Coram shoved a bundle of linen over the screen that Alanna had darted behind. Aly walked around, and smiled as she saw what Alanna was trying to do. She smiled at Coram, who smiled back.

"Ye're turning into a woman, aren't ye?" he asked from the other side of the screen.

"No!" Alanna exclaimed.

"Yes." Aly said as she helped Alanna tighten the bandage around her chest.

"Lass, it's hardly somethin' ye c'n change. Ye're born with it-"

Alanna stepped from behind the screen. "Maybe I was born that way, but I don't have to put up with it!"

"Lass. ye've got to accept who ye are." Coram protested. "Ye can be a woman and still be a warrior."

"I hate it!" Alanna yelled, loosing her temper. "People will think I'm soft and silly!"

"Ye're hardly soft." Coram said. "And th' only time ye're silly is when we talk like this."

Alanna took a few deep breaths. "I'm going to finish what I set out to do."

Coram put his hand on Alanna's shoulder. "Alanna, child, ye'll only be happy when ye learn t' live with who ye are. I'll pick up some more bandagin' when I go down t' the city today, get along now, Ye'll be late, else." Coram bowed to Aly, and left.

"Coram is right, Alanna." Aly said. "Just because you are becoming a woman doesn't mean you have to drop out of training. It just means you have to be more determined then most boys."

In the beginning on August, the palace buzzed with news-the king's nephew, Duke Roger of Conté, had come to the palace. Alianne had heard a lot about him. He was supposed to be an amazing sorcerer. King Roald had called him back to the palace to teach the Gifted pages sorcery, and find out who sent the Sweating Sickness.

Lianne and Aly were laughing over times at the convent when there was a knock on the doors to the room. A guard walked in. "Prince Jonathan, sire, and Duke Roger of Conté."

Jonathan and Roger entered the room. Duke Roger of Conté was over six feet in height, with brown-black hair and a beard neatly trimmed to frame his handsome face. His eyes were a bright, riveting blue. He had a straight, perfectly carved nose; his mouth was red and full. His white, flashing smile was filled with charm and confidence. He was broad-shouldered and very muscular, with strong-looking hands.

Jon and Roger both bowed. King Roald and Lianne both stood up, and Aly followed suit.

"Welcome, nephew." Roald said. "I am glad to see you arrived here safely."

"Thank you, uncle. I am happy to be here." Roger turned to Lianne and Aly. "Aunt Lianne, I hope you are well. Uncle Roald said you were one of the first to be struck by the Sweating Sickness." he said with a bow.

"I haven't fully regained my strength, however I am doing better."

Roger eyes fell on Aly, "And who might you be? Surely I would remember such a beautiful young woman as yourself from when I was at court."

"This is Alan's mother." Jonathan said quickly.

"Your Highness, I have a name, and it is, by no stretch of the imagination, 'Alan's mother'." she curtsied to Roger. "Lady Alianne of Trebond, Your Grace."

"Oh, please! Just 'Lord Roger' is fine." Roger said. "And as I told your son, I'd do away with that if I didn't think I'd shock Duke Gareth. 'Your Grace' makes me feel old."

Aly curtsied again. "Very well, Lord Roger."

"Lady Alianne and I went to the convent together. We have been friends ever since." Lianne explained.

"Really?" Roger gave Aly a charming smile. "Well then, I better be on my best behavior around you, my lady. It wouldn't do for me to misbehave and have you report me to their majesties."

Aly didn't smile. She got a bad feeling about Duke Roger, although she couldn't explain it. "Yes, you had better be careful around me. My children will be the first to tell you I don't put up with those who cause trouble." she turned to Lianne. "It was lovely being with you Lianne. However, I really must be leaving."

Lianne nodded at Aly, but her expression was one of complete confusion. Aly knew Lianne knew she didn't trust the young duke. Aly also knew that Lianne would question her about it later, in private.

Shortly after Roger's arrival, each page or squire was summoned to an interview with the king's nephew: He tested them all for the Gift. Gossip said he would find it even if a boy tried to hide it. Alanna was one of the last to be called. The night before her interview, Alanna was with her mother. Aly was pacing around the room as she talked to Alanna.

"I don't like the idea of you being alone with him. He has powerful magic according to everyone in the palace, and you haven't been fully trained. He could force your secret out of you, and there is no guarantee he wouldn't tell their majesties if he did."

"Mother, it's just an interview." Alanna said.

"Don't waste your breath on me with that brave front, Alanna. I know you are thinking the same as me."

Alanna bit her trembling lip. "If he does figure it out and tells everyone?"

"We'll have some explaining to do." Aly said. "Both here and with your father. And you're brother will have some explaining as well."

Alanna glanced up at her mother, and Aly saw a flicker of fear in her eyes.

About an hour after her interview, Alanna told her mother about what Coram had said. "I think Coram had been nipping at some wine." she finished.

"I wouldn't be too sure," Aly said. "He's right; there are sorcerers with the power to control one's thoughts or actions."

"But being protected by the gods?" Alanna said. "Come on, mother. That is ridiculous."

"Maybe not," Aly said. "Back when you and Thom were still at Trebond, I was doubting you'd be able to pull this off, remember?"

Alanna nodded.

"And remember what you told me?"

Alanna shook her head. "Not very well."

"You said Maude saw that you would both succeed in the fire. That means the gods mean for it to happen. If they mean for you to succeed, why shouldn't they put a magical barrier over your gift?...and no, I am not drunk Alanna. Coram knows what he is talking about, and you would be wise to take him more seriously."

Aly and Gareth were returning from a ride in the Royal Forest one fall afternoon when Alanna and Jonathan came in, both leading two very fine mounts.

"What is this?" Aly asked Alanna as Duke Gareth helped her dismount from the side-saddle she had been riding in.

"I had a friend in the city who knew I was looking for a horse. When they found one, they let me know. I don't know much about horses, so I had Jonathan come with me to help make sure it was a good mount."

"While we were there, Alan's friend showed me this one." Jon said gently stroking his horse's coat. "I couldn't pass it up."

Aly looked at Alanna. She knew Alanna wasn't telling her everything, and she wanted to know what her daughter was leaving out. Who was this 'friend in the city'? She also knew Alanna wouldn't tell her. She'd just go to Coram and ask him.

Coram didn't know anything about Alanna's mysterious friend. Aly knew Alanna wouldn't do anything stupid or dangerous, but she didn't like not knowing everything her daughter did.

Author's Note:

Many of you were asking how I would handel Alanna getting her monthlies, or with her mother in the palace, how would George find out her secret? That is in the next chapter.

Disclaimers

1) The chilly winter turned at last into spring from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 133

2) "Ye're turning into a woman, aren't ye?" he asked from the other side of the screen

"No!" Alanna exclaimed

"Lass, it's hardly somethin' ye c'n change. Ye're born with it-"

Alanna stepped from behind the screen. "Maybe I was born that way, but I don't have to put up with it!"

"Lass. ye've got to accept who ye are" Coram protested
Ye can be a woman and still be a warrior"

"I hate it!" Alanna yelled, loosing her temper "People will think I'm soft and silly!"

"Ye're hardly soft" Coram said "And th' only time ye're silly is when we talk like this

Alanna took deep breaths "I'm going to finish what I set out to do"

"Alanna, child, ye'll only be happy when ye learn t' live with who ye are. I'll pick up some more bandagin' when I go down t' the city today, get along now, Ye'll be, else" Coram bowed to Aly, and left from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 134-135

3) Duke Roger of Conté was over six feet in height, with brown-black hair and a beard neatly trimmed to frame his handsome face. His eyes were a bright, riveting blue. He had a strait, perfectly carved nose; his mouth was red and full. His white, flashing smile was filled with Charm and confidence. He was broad-shouldered and very muscular, with strong-looking hands. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg 140

4) "Oh, please! Just 'Lord Roger' is fine" Roger said "And I'd do away with that if I didn't think I'd shock Duke Gareth. 'Your Grace' makes me feel old" from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg 142

5) Shortly after Roger's arrival, each page or squire was summoned to an interview with the king's nephew: He tested them all for the Gift. Gossip said he would find it even if a boy tried to hide it. Alanna was one of the last to be called. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg 144

Review Reply

Sazerac: Yes, I did miss you! I wondered why I hadn't seen your name in the last selection of reviews. I almost didn't post, because I was waiting for your review, but I decided that there were too many reveiwers who wanted to see what happened.

Gallan Princess: You're right, that is mean of you to want Lord Alan dead. But, you aren't the only one who has basically said I need to hurry up and kill him off. And I'll tell you what I told them...Aly and Alan's relationship, along with Aly and Gareth's relationship will all be worked out in due time...so you just have to keep reading to see what happens.

imokit: I know it was short-sorry! I couldn't think of much to do with it

DomLuver: Wow! That is a coincidence! As to the question you had about Aly helping Alanna with the Sweating Sickness, no, she did not help Alanna. She stayed with Roald and Lianne. Sorry, I had tried to make it clear that she was not there when Alanna saved him. I hope I cleared it up a bit in this chapter.

LittleMissGiggles'94': Your idea (which was also voiced by a few others) was the best compromise for those who didn't want any more Jane and those who wanted more. I am very glad you posted it.

epobbp: Thanks

dares to dream: I am glad she is fun to read about. She is fun to write about to. I will be putting her in the story every once in a while, but I want to please my viewers who didn't want Jane, so it won't be too often.

Kate of Carlay: I am glad you liked the lines from the previous chapter!

brezzybrez: There were a few people who, like you didn't want Jane. I hope my comprimise won't turn you away from the story. Everyone's opinions counted, and then I did my best to come up with a compromise that would suit almost everyone (it's impossible to please everyone all the time.

elf warrior princess: I am glad you like the story, and thanks for the advice about the breaks. I'll try to cut down on that a bit.

Syaokura Dragon: I am glad you have fun reading about Jane. I have fun writing about her (mainly because I can write about a person I hate at my school, and they don't even know it...even if it is a little mean of me)

Susan: As always, big sis, your opinion is important to me, but we talked about your suggestion on the phone, so you know how I feel about it. However, I won't rule it out...not yet, anyway. I'll see how things go.

MoonShadowDancer: By "take it to the end" I gather you mean to Lioness Rampant? If you did, I already planned on doing that. and by "have her get in trouble" do you mean have her be involved in Roger's plot? If so...that is a really good idea. If not, please clarify what you meant by it...and I'll still think having her be involved in Roger's plot is a good idea.

spazzysassyangel: Thanks!

OathkeeperKeybearer: I am glad you love the story, and I am not sure how I came up with it...the plot bunny just came and visited me one night, I guess. I wasn't even sure if I should have posted, so I am glad you like it. Yeah, Aly and Alanna are alike, I worked hard to make it like that (Alanna had to get her temper and feirceness from someone, and it sure wasn't her father!). Thank you for your comment about the curve ball, that was a random idea that I wasn't going to put in, but then I couldn;t get it out of my head.

peddyviolin: Thanks! And thanks about the grammar check. Neither my betta nor I caught that.