As usual, I owe a HUGE thank you to my wondderful, amazing beta, SOPROL!
Chapter Twenty-Four:
FuneralA month after Alan's death, the funeral was being held. Family and Friends had come from all over Tortall. Alan's sister, Jane, and her husband, Devin of Malven, showed up. Ralon, much to Alanna's delight, wasn't present. Aly told her later that she asked Devin why their son wasn't there, and he said that Ralon had recently been disowned, though he wouldn't say why. Alanna said it didn't matter why.
Aly and Alan's parents both came out. Different major scholars that Alan had worked with over the years came out. The only people Aly wished had shown up were some of Alanna's friends, Gareth, and Lianne. Maybe even Roald. At the same time, however, she was glad that it was only who it was there. It was hard enough explaining to Jane why Alanna was here, but Alan wasn't. Eventually, Alanna ended up having to go back and forth between being Alanna and being Alan, to keep Jane off the trail, as well as making sure no one else met "Alan".
Aly was in her room, preparing herself for the funeral. She heard a soft knock on her door.
"Come in." Aly said, adjusting the black veil that she would be wearing. Alanna, dressed in a black dress, and her hair magically made long just for the purpose of this trip and Thom, who was dressed in black breeches, a dark gray shirt, and a black tunic.
"You wanted to talk to us, mother?" Alanna asked.
"Yes, I did, both of you, sit down." Aly said. Alanna and Thom obeyed. Aly walked over to stand in front of them. "Now, I know that both of you are here out of your duty as your father's children. However, I want you to know that your father wasn't always shallow and distant like he was when you two were growing up. He actually was quite charming when he was younger."
"Charming?" Alanna asked, "But, mother, you told me that grandfather forced the marriage on you, and you hated it."
"Because it meant I couldn't marry my choice for a husband."
"Who was your choice?" Thom asked.
"Yeah, you never told me that part." Alanna said.
"Let me put it this way...Alanna, you wouldn't be training right now if I had married my choice."
"Why not?"
"Because your father would be the training master...and your current knight master would be your cousin."
"What!" Alanna yelped, "You...and Duke Gareth..."
Aly nodded, "Duke Gareth and I," she started. "Had a courtship when we were younger. It lasted about two years."
"Why did grandfather force a marriage on you if you and Duke Gareth were a couple?" Thom asked
"Because Gareth never got your grandfather's permission to court me, so he didn't know about it."
"I want to hear more about this." Thom said.
"I don't!" Alanna said, "I have to go back to training, and I just won't be able to look at the Duke the same knowing how close he came to being my father!"
"Then leave." Thom said.
Alanna stuck her tongue out at Thom, "If you start telling me the stories mom tells you, I'll show you what our almost-father has taught me."
"If you try anything, I'll show you what I've learned." Thom said, his hands glowing with magic.
"Enough, you two," Aly said, "Alanna, if you do not want to hear what I am about to say, then leave. Thom, you never use your magic to threaten anyone, especially not family."
An hour later, the funeral began. A priest for the Black God led the service. As Alan's body was lowered into the ground, Aly lost it. She turned and fled the site, tears running down her face.
Aly kept running, until she felt two arms grab her. She didn't look up, but opened her eyes, and saw mud-splattered boots. She lifted her face, and gasped.
"Gary!" Aly said, "W-what are you doing here?"
"I came here to support you." Duke Gareth said. "I may not have liked Alan, but you are my friend, and I know what being a widow is like."
Aly began crying again, and Gareth pulled her close. "I think I might have actually begun loving him before he died." she sobbed. "Why did he have to die once I loved him again? Now he is gone!"
"Shh..." Gareth said gently, "I know, Aly. But I am still here for you. I lo-" he stopped for a moment, and then spoke again, "I care about you, Aly. You are a very dear friend."
Aly pulled away from Gareth, and wiped her eyes dry. "Look at me. You've been here all of two minutes, and I am already using you as a handkerchief."
"That's fine," Gareth said gently, "Is the funeral over?"
"I just fled the burial," Aly said, "I'm not sure what happened after I left."
"The priest had us say a prayer to comfort your grieving soul, and then we finished the burial." Thom was looking at Duke Gareth while he talked to his mother.
"Thom, may I present Duke Gareth of Naxen, Alan's training master."
"Where is Alan?" Gareth asked.
"He is playing host. The guests are all back at the house for the reception." Thom said, with a bow. "It is a privilege to meet you, your grace."
"Come on, your grace," Aly said, "Allow me to escort you to the house. I'll have a servant prepare a room for you to stay in, and I'll have some servants take care of your mount and luggage. Thom, go on ahead, and find Alan. Tell him that Duke Gareth is here. He should greet his Training Master."
Thom nodded, and ran ahead.
"Alanna!" Thom called out as he reached his twin.
Alanna turned, "What is it Thom? Is mother alright?"
"She's fine," Thom said quietly as he reached her, "but you better turn into Alan, and fast."
"Why?"
"Duke Gareth came to give the entire family his condolences...that includes Squire Alan of Trebond."
"The duke is here?" Alanna asked, her voice cracking on the last word, "Here at Trebond?"
"He's walking with mother right now."
"Can you keep people entertained?"
"The daughters taught us a few petty spells that armatures often use to make themselves look much more powerful than they are, and some spells meant to purely entertain-" Thom started.
"Use them." Alanna interrupted, and then ran off to change into a pair of dark breeches, a shirt, and a tunic.
Just as Aly and Gareth were arriving at the front steps of Trebond, Alanna ran out dressed as Alan.
"Your Grace," Alanna said, bowing as she tried to get her breathing back to normal "What a surprise."
"I am sorry for your family's loss, Alan."
Alanna bowed again, "Thank you, your grace."
"Jonathan is asking when his squire will be back, though he understands that you need to be with your family first."
"You're Prince Jonathan's squire!" Aly said, "When did this happen?"
"In Persopolis." Alanna said casually.
"Alan, let me explain three wonderful inventions to you...they are called paper, ink, and quills. When you dip the quill into the ink, and write words on the paper. You can then write and send a letter...like one to your mother about how you are now the Prince's squire!"
Alanna rolled her eyes, "To answer your question, your grace, our family leaves in a week, and then Thom returns to the City of the Gods a few days after that. Mother and I leave the day after Thom."
"Duke Gareth! How nice of you to come and be with our family during our time of grief." Aly growled as Jane came over.
Duke Gareth bowed his head while Aly growled nextto him, "Lady Jane, I am sorry for your brother's death. Being his twin, it must be hard on you."
Jane dragged Gareth off to tell him a sob story that Aly heard the words, "I feel like part of me had died with him." before she was out of earshot.
If Alan was that much a part of you, why didn't you come to Trebond when he was sick? Or even when he was healthy? She thought. She snapped out of her thoughts when she nearly ran someone over.
"I see young Gareth of Naxen came."
Aly looked up to see her father, and then glanced back the way she had just come. Alanna was already gone. "Yes, he came to give us his condolences."
"I thought he didn't like Alan."
"He didn't, but he and I are friends, and Thom is under his training, so it's only right that he come." Aly said.
"Speaking of Thom, did you know that he is quite advanced in his Gift?"
"King Roald's nephew, Duke Roger, is training pages in squires with the gift. Thom is an eager student when it comes to magic. He always has been." Aly said, trying to dodge the questions without arousing suspicion.
"How long were you down at Corus, Alianne?"
"Almost four years."
"And you didn't come here to visit once?" Sir Thomas said.
"Alan and I had a fight before I left." Aly said.
"And I suppose Sir Gareth was a nice form of comfort, wasn't he?" Thomas asked, with a hint of scorn in his voice.
"Duke," Aly said harshly, "He is Duke Gareth, and yes, he has been a great friend to me."
"Just a friend?"
"Enough, father," Aly said. "I know you don't like Gareth because of what happened when I was nineteen, but let it go. That was nearly eighteen years ago. I went through with your wishes, gave Alan two children, and stayed by his side before the twins went their separate ways for training. Even when I was away and there was no chance of Alan finding out, I was never unfaithful. As soon as I knew of Alan's illness, I came here to stay with him and try to heal him until he died. You can ask the village healer if you don't believe me. I was a loyal wife. I won't have you scolding me, not at my husband's funeral, not ever! I am not a child anymore!"
"I am sorry if you feel like I am scolding you, Alianne, it is just that most widows aren't flirting with a former suitor at their husband's funeral. Most decent women consider it an insult to their late husband's memory."
"I wasn't flirting," Aly said. "And if and when I decide I want to move on, that is my choice, not yours. Just like whom I move on with is my choice."
"Alianne-"
"No," Aly whispered harshly, "If you try to stop me from being with Gareth a second time..." Aly stopped, leaving the rest up to his father's imagination to figure out the rest for a moment, "It took me two years to forgive you for making me leave Gareth the first time. You better believe I won't forgive you a second time. I will cut you out of my life, and leave you out. Permanently."
(Gareth's POV~ Trebond Guest Room)
I sighed as I sat down on the bed in the room Aly had prepared for me. Even in mourning clothes, she was beautiful.
Stop it, Gareth, I told myself firmly, She just buried her husband this afternoon! She won't be thinking about another man for a long time. I thought about what she had said as she had cried into my tunic earlier that afternoon. It had killed me to hear the pain in her voice, and to see the tear running down her face. And it didn't kill me just because she was my friend and she was in pain. I couldn't lie to myself. It killed me because that meant her pain was real, and her love for Alan was real. I thought back to when I had buried Jocelyn. My pain and love for her had been real then too, although once I accepted the fact that Aly and Alan were going to be together, I had no problem loving Jocelyn, especially when I realized how much fun she was. Eventually, I had opened my heart up again to love. Is it possible Aly could do the same? I thought back further in time to when Aly and I said good-bye before she left to marry Alan. I had turned her engagement ring into a promise ring, with a promise that we would always love each other and would one day be together again.
I wonder if she still has that ring? I thought as I blew out my candle and covered myself with warm and comfortable blankets, letting sleep take me captive.
Teaser: I felt like sending a little teaser your way...simply because I don't think I've been evil very recently, and I have to meet my quota.
"Gary, what...what are you saying?"
"Aly, I am not going to mess this up, not like I did all those years ago"
Author's Note: Wow, I did not expect the reaction I got to Alan dying. Almost everyone who had asked me to kill Alan early on were saying things like 'why did you kill him' last chapter. Ah well, I guess that is what I get for humanizing the guy, making Aly love him again, and then killing him
Reveiw Reply
Certified Lunatic: Yeah, Alan actually gave Aly and Gareth a blessing. And it wasn't so much Roger pardoned them as the Provost ended the case when there was no evidence of them being behind the Sweating Sickness
Elfsquire90: First you say why didn't I kill him...and then you act upset that I did kill him! Sigh, but you weren't alone in that
DomLuver: Gareth, like I said in this chapter, is a widow. His wife died when Gary was young.
Sazerac: The last chapter (and this one) actually weren't reveiwers demanding I update soon. I have other stories that I am working on or have finished, and I don't want to post then while I am working on this, but the other stories are begging me to post them, so I was trying to finish them up, but I might put them up later anyway, because I still have a long way to go. I slowed down a bit on this one though, so hopefully it is better.
LittleMissGiggles'94': I am glad you loved it
Dom-Loves-Kel: Aly is technically going to run trebond, but she is doing it from the palace. It is like in the books where Coram acted as Steward, and sent everything to Alanna since Thom was too wrapped up in his magic to run the fief, only it is going to Aly instead.
Anjalit2624: A lot of people felt the same way you did about Alan dying.
brezzybrez: Yeah, I was completely addicted to them...every spare moment I had in class, even if the bell would ring in two minutes, I had the book out on my desk and I was reading them. I agree, I wasn't thrilled with the last book, and it was a bit of a letdown how she ended it...I was leaning towards a battle scene. I am glad that you liked the last chapter, and you'll have to keep reading to see how the Aly/Gareth things works out.
elf warrior princess: Thanks for the review.
dares to dream: From the little you mentioned about Twilight, I say we should agree to disagree and move on. Sound good to you? (author holds out hand for dares to dream to shake) Roger scares everyone, not just you...yes, I am full of surprises, and there are more surprises on the way!
If Only I Had A Name I Liked: I am glad you like the story so far!
littledrummergirl257: I hate waiting too...and the great thing about being the author is that I don't HAVE to wait for the next chapter! Hehehe
Trisana Sarrasri: WOW! Such a wonderfuil compliment! Thank you so much.
Lady Leopard: First everyone wants me to kill Alan, and then everyone gets upset when I do! There is no pleasing you people, is there! (author, who is unable to keep a strait face, doubles over laughng). But seriously, I had a lot of people feel the same way, myself included a little.
ShadowMoonDancer: I am glad you liked it.
spazzysassyangel: I am glad!