Chapter Twenty-Two: Alan (Part I)

Aly arrived at Trebond two weeks later. Servants greeted her at the door and she left them with the carriage to unload her baggage and take it where it belonged. A servant led her to the master bedroom of the fortress, and let her in. The provost guard was right behind her.

Inside, Alan lay on a bed sound asleep. Maude was next to him on a stool, looking worse for the wear and out cold as well. Aly silently walked over, and placed a hand on her shoulder. The older woman jumped, and looked around.

"Lady Alianne, when did you arrive?"

"Just now," Aly said, "Maude, you look horrible. When was the last time you ate? Or slept in an actual bed?"

"Ate, a little over a day, slept, a little over a week." Maude said.

"I order you to go get some food from the kitchen immediately, and then you are to go and sleep and rest for the rest of today and all of tomorrow. I don't want to see you in this room before noon of the day after tomorrow."

"But what about Lord Alan?"

"I'll take care of Alan. You've already done more than your fair share of the work."

"You just arrived. You should rest. I am sure you are tired from your journey."

"I have slept well every night, and have had three good meals every day. You need the rest and food. I have the gift and plenty of common knowledge about non-magical healing and sicknesses. Go. I'll be fine today and tomorrow."

"Non-magical? What of your gift?"

"I have a dampener on my Gift-not now, I'll explain later." she added when Maude opened her mouth with a questioning look on her face.

Maude hesitated for a minute, but then nodded, and left. Aly summoned two maids and told one to keep an eye on Maude, and make sure she followed the instructions Aly gave her. She requested a cot, a pillow, and some blankets for herself, as well as a nightgown, robe, slippers, and a change of clothes from the second maid. Both rushed off to their errands.

Aly watched Alan closely, until it grew late and she changed into her nightgown and fell asleep on the cot. She woke up to movement on the bed.

"Maude?" a raspy voice she recognized as her husband called out in the dark.

Aly lit a candle, and walked over. "Hello, Alan."

"Aly?" Alan asked, "What are you doing here? How did you find out about-?"

"The servants know everything, and they talk...or write letters." Aly interrupted. "How long have you been sick?"

"I'm not sure." Alan said. "A few weeks, maybe a month or two."

"And it took the servants this long to tell me." Aly said, "As soon as you begin to show signs of improvement, I plan to gather the entire household together, and find out why it took so long for me to be informed. I could have come sooner, and you might be back on your feet again."

"I told them not to tell you." Alan said. "They were under orders."

"I know...they included that little fact in the letter they sent me." Aly said.

"How are Thom and Alanna?"

"They are both fine, and are doing well in their training."

"Good," Alan said. He glanced behind him. "Who is with you?"

"A member of the Provost's Guard."

"Why is he here?"

"The children and I are under investigation." Aly said.

"For what?" Alan asked.

"Sending the Sweating Sickness three years ago."

"What?" Alan asked. "You didn't do it, did you?"

"Of course not!" Aly said.

"Alright, don't bite my head off." Alan said. "It was just a question."

"A stupid question." Aly muttered. Alan didn't respond.

After a few minutes of silence, Aly smiled. "You know, it's been a long time since you have called me Aly."

"It's not my fault you've been gone for the past three and a half years." Alan said.

"It's been nearly fourteen years since you last called me Aly."

"Has not!" Alan said.

"Has too," Aly said. "It took three years of marriage to get you to call me Aly, not Alianne, and then after the twins were born, you became distant, and began calling me Alianne again."

"I almost lost you that day." Alan said. "It scared me."

"It scared me too." Aly said, thinking back to that day.

[FLASHBACK]

"Push, my lady!" Maude ordered. "You're almost there!"

23-year old Aly screamed as she pushed. "You've been saying that for the past gods-cursed hour!" she snapped. "Obviously, I wasn't almost there!" A servant who was helping Maude dabbed Aly's sweaty forehead with a damp rag.

Maude was beginning to sweat with the amount of magic she was pouring into Aly, fighting to keep her alive.

"I see a head, my lady." a servant said. "One more push, and you're done."

A servant helped Aly sit up, and Aly pushed with all her might, shoving her Gift into the push. She screamed, and the sound of a baby crying filled the room. Aly collapsed backwards, her breath labored.

"It's a girl." Maude said. "You have a healthy baby girl." The servant cradled the little baby. She walked back to Aly, and gave the baby over.

"Maude, tell Alan to get in here and meet his daughter."

Alan rushed to Aly's side when he was let into the birthing room.

"Meet your daughter, Alan." Aly said.

"Our daughter," Alan corrected, clearly in awe. "Our perfect little daughter."

Aly smiled, and then screamed again. "I thought the pain ended when the baby was born." Aly told Maude.

"It does, unless..." Maude's gift shone around Aly.

"Unless, what?" Aly asked.

"Looks like you have more than just a little girl. She's got a twin here."

"What!" Aly and Alan asked.

"Get ready to push, Lady Alianne." Maude looked at one of the servants. "I need a second healer in here, my Gift is drawing low." she then turned to Alan. "My Lord, this might get difficult, you might want to leave."

"No!" Alan said. "I am not going to leave again." He quickly handed his newborn daughter off to a servant, then gripped Aly's hand. His hand glowed with his Gift. "I'm here Aly. Don't worry. I'll help bring this child into the world."

Aly smiled, and squeeze Alan's hand. Her magic began to glow around her hand as well.

A half hour later, Aly was giving her final push, and a second baby was born.

"Please tell me that was it." Aly said, shaking with weariness, her voice gone from the amount of screaming she had done.

"It's a boy, and yes, he was the last of it." Maude said, checking quickly with her Gift. Alan picked the baby boy up, and walked over, smiling like he had when he held their daughter.

Aly smiled. "What should we name them?" she asked. She never got an answer, however, as everything around her went black.

[END FLASHBACK]

Although Aly didn't know it, Alan was thinking about the same thing as his wife.

[FLASHBACK]

Aly smiled. "What should we name them?" she asked.

"I don't know." Alan said, "What do you think, Aly? Aly?"

Alan turned to look at Aly, just to see her faint, and fall back onto the bed.

"Aly!" Alan said. He motioned for a second servant to hold his son, and grabbed Aly's hand.

"We're loosing her, sir. She's going to the Black God." Maude said.

"Not if I have anything to do with it." Alan said. He took his purple Gift, and shoved it into Aly.

"Come on, Aly...come on." Alan said, anxiously looking at his wife.

[END FLASHBACK]

"I remember being thrilled about both the children, and then worried because my wife had fainted and the village healer said my wife was well on her way to the Peaceful Realms." Alan said.

"And when the twins were born, that was exactly how you were, but you were different after I regained my strength."

[Aly's Flashback]

The healing Aly received to save her life left her very weak and tired, and she slept for almost two weeks. When she finally gained her strength back, she ordered to see her husband and children.

"Oh, Alan, aren't they precious?" Aly said in awe as she held her daughter. "What should we name them?"

"Whatever you want, Alianne. They are your children."

"Alan, don't be so silly. They are your children too." Aly said.

"You're their mother. I am sure whatever name you pick will be perfect for them. I have some studies to get to." With that, Alan left.

"Maude?" Aly asked after Alan left.

"Yes, my lady?"

"What is wrong with Alan?"

"He was worried about you, my lady. He immediately started doing research into why the combined efforts of your Gift, his Gift, my Gift, and the second healer's Gift was almost not enough to save you. The only explanation he could come to was a divine one. He refuses to pray to any of the gods, and he refuses to be with the children."

"Why?"

Maude leaned close to Aly. "You didn't hear this from me, but I think he blames them for almost losing you. He blames them and the gods."

[END FLASHBACK]

"Was I really that bad?" Alan asked, his voice barely a croak. "Did Maude really think I blamed Alanna and Thom?"

"Did you blame them? Even a little? Even for the shortest amount of time?"

Alan's silence was answer enough for Aly.

"To answer your other question, yes, you were really that bad." Aly said. "It hurt to have you be so cold. I remember our third wedding anniversary, and that was one of the most romantic nights of our marriage...with the exception of the night that happened about three months later, when Alanna and Thom were conceived."

[FLASHBACK]

22-year old Aly giggled as Alan covered her eyes with his hands.

"Alan, where are you taking me?" she asked.

"You'll see soon enough, Aly."

"Come on Alan, you know I hate surprises, or you should, since we've been married for three years today."

"When it is out anniversary, your birthday, or Midwinter, I get to surprise you. That's final."

"Alan, come on, give me a hint." Aly said.

Alan led Aly on a for little while longer, and then he removed his hands. Aly gasped. The courtyard in the front of Trebond had been transformed. The sky was full of dim floating violet balls of magical fire, and there were torches and candles with real flames. In the center of the courtyard, Coram stood next to a very nicely decorated table set for two, the table held some of Alan's and Aly's favorite dishes.

Alan bowed. "May I escort you to our table, my fair lady."

Aly smiled, and tried to keep from giggling like a small convent girl. "You may, kind sir."

Alan led Aly to the table, and helped her sit in her seat, before taking his own seat.

I never thought I'd say this, but I think I might actually love Alan. Aly thought. I guess my father was right. I would thank him for setting us up...it took a little over three years for me to want to thank him, but it happened...I'll write him tomorrow.

Alan smiled at Aly. "Ladies first." he said.

Aly picked some of her favorites, and then Alan filled his plate.

"Should we thank the gods for the food?" Aly asked.

"We better. I'd hate for them to get angry with us on our wedding anniversary."

"I suppose that would cast a bit of a shadow over the evening, if one or both of us were to die."

[END FLASHBACK]

"Why didn't you want anything to do with me when we married?" Alan asked. "The day your father announced our betrothal, you yelled, and ran away. Was it something I did or said?"

"No, you didn't say or do anything. I just did not know you that well. The only time I saw you was at the presentation, and then out on the practice courts while I watched Gareth of Naxen."

"Then why?"

"Because I was nineteen, in love, and you were the man my parents wanted me to replace my love for. Plus, you were related to Jane, and I didn't like Jane, so I figured that marrying you would mean seeing more of her."

"Let's see...she came to our wedding, and came for a visit when she was pregnant with her son...what is Jane's son's name? Do you remember what she wrote us?"

"Ralon," Aly said. "I met him at the palace"

"What is he like?"

"His mother."

"I don't think you meant that in a good way."

"I didn't. He and Al...and his cousin didn't exactly get off on the right foot, and they were a constant problem for Duke Gareth of Naxen, who is training master."

"He's a duke now?"

"Yes, he is. With a son, Gareth, the younger."

"Who did he marry?"

"Jocelyn of Macayhill. She died nearly fourteen years ago when Gareth, the younger, was about three years old....Alan, can I ask you a question now?"

Alan nodded. "I sort of understand your distance with the kids, but what about me? Why did you become distant with me?"

"It was that ring from Gareth." Alan said. "I thought you were at least starting to like me-"

"I loved you, by that point, Alan." Aly said.

"Seeing that you had kept that ring made me realize you still loved Gareth...and I knew I could never be Gareth, nor could I come close to being like him."

Aly suddenly felt very guilty. She balled her gloved hand into a fist. She felt the ring push into her palm. Her relationship could have been a lot better with Alan if she hadn't kept the ring, but she had.

"Alan, why didn't you tell me how much the ring bothered you?" Aly asked.

Alan shrugged, "I thought you might think I was jealous."

"Were you?" Aly asked.

Alan sighed, and nodded. "But that doesn't mean you needed to know."

"Alan, had you told me, I would have told you it was just a simple promise ring."

"That ring was too formal to be a promise ring." Alan asked.

"It was originally an engagement ring, but then Gareth turned it into a promise ring when we knew we couldn't marry."

"What was the promise?" Alan asked.

"That we'd never forget each other." Aly said. She thought it best to leave off the part of the promise where they promised to always love each other.

Aly saw Alan fighting to keep his eyes open. "I'm keeping you awake."

"It's not a problem." Alan said. "I'm fine."

"You need your rest. It will help you heal."

"You just got here." Alan protested.

"I have been here for a few hours." Aly said. "I'll be fine. Now rest, Alan."

Alan nodded, and closed his eyes. Within a few moments, his even breathing told Aly he was asleep.

"My lady?" the guard asked.

"Yes?" Aly asked.

"Why didn't you correct your husband?"

"On what?"

"He asked how Alanna and Thom were." the guard said. "Your children are Alan and Thom."

"I think it is just the fever." Aly said. "And I felt it was best not to confuse him by correcting him. He meant Alan."

Reveiew Reply

Elfsquire90: Yeah, Roger was a bastard, but hey, bastards are fun to write

Dom-Loves-Kel: You'll have to keep reading to find out what happens with the searches. And it won't be too long, like Gareth said in the previous chapter, since Aly isn't responsible for the Sweating Sickness, it won't be a long investigation.

Sazerac: You're right, I wasn't happy with the last chapter, but it wasn't because people were saying Update soon, it was because that was the best I could come up with while having severe writer's block.

DomLuver: Yes, it was shorer than my usual. And no, Roger didn't put anything besides dampening spells on Aly. Too many people would have been able to testify that Rogert was the one who put the spells on Aly, so if he made her sick or anything, he'd be in trouble. Roger is slicker than that.

LittleMissGiggles'94': I am glad you like Aly and hate Roger, and I am glad you liked the chapter.

tamorapiercelover101: Glad you liked it!

Lady Leopard: Thanks!

brezzybrez: I am actually trying to make longer chapters, the chapter lengths vary on how many ideas I have for something. While I don't want to give a lot of shrt chapters, I also don't want long chapters that are broken and don't flow together really well.

inktongue: Yes, he is very sneaky.

a happy camper: I like your subtle hint at the end of the review to update soon. Very creative. As for the rest of your reveiw, 1) Yes, I know it was short, slight Writer's Block, sorry! 2) There will be Aly/Gareth moments in the future, I promise. 3) As you can probably guess from this chapter, I do not plan to have Alan find out. 4) While Roger is not under survalliance, he would be if something was to happen to Aly after he put the dampener on her, so he didn't add anything. He is too sneaky to get caught that easily. Thanks for your review.

LadyoftheRisingSun: I am glad you like this! I hadn't heard of anything like this either, which is what got my creative juices flowing.

Miakoda of Pirates Swoop: Thanks! Glad you liked it

dares to dream: Thanks! I hate when the internet is freaky. If it isn't fixed by now, I hope it will be soon for you.

spazzysassyangel: Glad you liked it

Lady Zarobiti: Thanks. And I didn't have Roger put extra spells on Aly just because it might look suspicious if he does too much with Aly magic-wise, and he is too slick o get caught by being careless.

Haely Potter: Glad you like it.

zropin: Thanks for the review.