Chapter Twenty-Five: Back in Corus

As Alanna had told Duke Gareth, she and Aly left for Corus a little over a week after the funeral. The duke stayed until they left and rode back with them. Alanna and Gareth rode on horseback while Aly rode in a carriage.

The ride back was an enjoyable one. Aly and Gareth spent a lot of time talking, laughing with each other, and just acting like the close friends that they were. Aly reminisced about Alan's final words. He had given her his blessing for her to move on to Gareth, but it was just too soon.

When Aly, Alanna, and Gary arrived at the palace, they were met by Lianne, Roald, Jonathan, Gary, Raoul, and Duke Roger. Jon led Alanna away to the practice courts with Raoul and Gary following him to, as he said, ensure that Trebond hadn't made his squire soft. Lianne rushed over and hugged Aly tightly, who returned the hug.

"Black doesn't suit you, Aly." Lianne said as she hugged her tightly.

"They are mourning clothes, Lianne." Aly said. "They aren't supposed to 'suit' anyone."

"I am so sorry about all you had to go through with this Sweating Sickness business." Lianne said, finally pulling away.

"I understand," Aly said, smiling at her long-time friend encouragingly, "The safety of you and your family were at risk. The Provost shouldn't cut corners on a matter like that, and he didn't."

Lianne nodded, and then moved on to hug Gareth.

Roald walked up, "I am sorry for your loss, Lady Alianne," he said, "And I am sorry for the ordeal you and your sons were put through recently."

Aly curtsied. "Thank you for your condolences, your majesty, and as I have explained to her majesty, the mistake with the Sweating Sickness is forgiven and forgotten."

Roald nodded and then turned to Lianne and reminded her they had duties to attend to, and Gareth had pages to return to and a substitute Training Master to relieve.

Roger walked up to Aly. "Lady Alianne, I can only offer my most sincere apologies for my horrible mistake and false accusation. And I shall be approaching Squire Alan to offer him the same."

Aly fought to keep from glaring at the Duke with a cold glare and bit back a sharp and rather rude retort. She had a strange feeling that Roger's 'most sincere' apology was not very sincere at all. She took a deep breath before speaking. "You were simply trying to do what King Roald brought you to the palace for. No one can fault you for that, Lord Roger."

"I suppose you'd like the dampening spells lifted."

"Yes, Lord Roger." Aly said with a very slight, almost non-existent, curtsy.

Roger made quick work of restoring Aly's gift. She felt overwhelmed for a moment, after having gone almost two month without it, her Gift seemed foreign and out of place. She looked up at Roger, and he gave her a small bow. "If you will excuse me, I must return to finding the real culprit of the Sweating Sickness, as well as prepare more lesson plans for my class."

Aly nodded, and then headed up to her rooms. She had seen servants carry her luggage off soon after arriving.

Very soon after that, Alanna left the palace's grounds to get an ancient scroll that Sir Myles wanted. Aly soon felt very lonely and filled her time by being with Sir Myles, Lianne, or Gareth. Most of the time, it was with Gareth. A few days before Alanna returned from her quest for Myles, Gareth pulled Aly aside after supper.

"Aly?" Gareth asked.

"Yes?" Aly asked.

"I...I have something to ask you." Gareth said.

"What is that?"

Gareth took a deep breath, and then locked his gaze on Aly. The gaze was so intense that Alanna forgot that there were other people around.

"Aly, when you left to marry Alan on your father's orders, I was heartbroken. There was a part of me that hoped your would show up in the middle of the night, ask me to pack my bags, and tell me we were running away. The sensible part of me told me I would have to turn you down if that happened, but part of me wanted you to ask me anyway, part of me wanted to be able to ignore the sensible part of me, and agree to run away with you, marry you, and never return."

"Gary, what...what are you saying?"

"Aly, I am not going to mess this up, not like I did all those years ago."

"Mess what up? Gary, I'm confused."

"Alianne of Trebond, will you do me the honor and privilege of being able to tell everyone I am your suitor?"

Aly's breath caught in her throat, "Gary, I...well, see I..." Aly cleared her throat, "Your Grace-"

"Aly," Gareth said, a pained expression on his face. "Don't get formal on me. Please, not now."

Aly fought back tears, "I'm sorry, your Grace." Aly said. "I cannot accept your offer...I...I need more time. My husband died not even three months ago."

(Aly's POV)

I quickly turned away and ran to my set of rooms, tears streaming down my face. I reached my rooms, locked the door, and leaned up against the door.

Why! I yelled at myself. Gods curse it, I love him! Why did I say no? I slammed my hand into the door, hard enough to hurt myself. I gently shook my hand. I walked over to the couch and sat down on the sofa.

Okay, Aly, I told myself. you told Gary no for a reason, now all we have to do is figure out what that reason was. I sat down at my desk and made a list of reasons and excuses to say no to Gareth.

1) Alan just died

2) I really don't love him as much as I think

3) I'm too old to get involved in a new relationship

4) I can't be courted by my best friend's brother

5) Alanna and Gareth's son are good friends. It would be awkward for him to become her step-brother

6) Alanna is Prince Jonathan's squire. Being cousins would complicate things

7) Trebond needs my attention.

8) Gareth doesn't know Alanna's secret

I looked over the list, and immediately crossed numbers 2, 3, and 4 off the list. When Gareth was the first thing I thought of in the morning and the last thing at night, when he was the only reason I had not returned to Trebond, there could no doubt for my love for him. And I was only 40 years old, that is still plenty young enough for a relationship and Gareth is older than me. As to courting my best friend's brother, I remembered many conversations with Lianne when we were younger about how much fun it would be to be sisters.

I looked at the first excuse: Alan just died. It was true, I had come to love Alan, but as he was dying, he said he knew I loved Gareth. He had given his blessing to get involved in a relationship with Gareth. I crossed that excuse off the list.

I looked at the fifth and sixth excuses. Alanna and Gareth's son are good friends. It would be awkward for him to become her step-brother; and Alanna is Prince Jonathan's squire. Being cousins would complicate things...I has solid evidence for that. Alanna had nearly gotten sick when she heard that I and Gareth had had a relationship before I married Alan. I sighed. Maybe I could talk to Alanna, I thought. She was a reasonable girl when she wanted to be.

I came to the next excuse: Trebond needs my attention. I gave a very undignified snort. Coram was doing a fine job as the Steward, and it's not like Trebond fell to pieces without me their while Alanna was in page training. I crossed that excuse off the list. That only left one more thing: Gareth doesn't know Alanna's secret.

This one held my attention. It wasn't like I could just tell everyone about Alanna now that she was a squire. Prince Jonathan already knew, according to Alanna. If her other friends were as good of friends as they seemed, they would forgive her and be understanding. Gareth might have issues about it for a very short time, but he was reasonable enough to know that Alanna wasn't talented because everyone thought she was a boy...it was because she had worked hard and practiced. Lianne would be mad, not because I lied to her, but because I hadn't included her in the plot. Roald was understanding, but everyone's understanding had its limits, and I doubt his understanding stretched far enough to accept Alanna's secret without any problems.

I got up from the floor in front of my door and went into a jewelry box I had. I played with the two pieces of jewelry in my hand. One was the wedding ring Alan had given me years ago. The other was the engagement ring Gareth had given me even longer ago.

Two rings. Two men. I thought with a sigh

I had promised Gareth I would always love him when he converted the engagement ring into a promise ring. I promised I would always love him and that we would meet again some day. A proper woman never breaks her promises to a gentleman.

However, on our wedding day I had vowed before Mithros and The Great Mother to love and honor Alan. I vowed to never be unfaithful to him. Even with Alan's blessing, I felt like having Gareth court me would mean being unfaithful to him. A proper woman never breaks her vows to a gentleman, and a wise woman never breaks a vow she made before a god, let alone the two most powerful gods.

Alan had told me I should be with Gareth as he was dying, and when I needed him the most during the burial, Gareth was there. I remembered what Gareth had told me the day I left him to go with Alan to Trebond. I had said that Alan didn't like court, and as his wife, my place would be with him. Gareth's response had been The gods have their own ways of making things happen. Was Alan's death and then Gareth showing up at the funeral signs from the gods we were suppose to be together?

"Goddess, help me make a choice." I said in prayer. I closed my eyes and sighed. I would wait for Alanna to return, and then talk about it with her...at some point.

Author's Note: Hey everyone! I hope that you all like this chapter! I don't know when the next chapter will be up, because I fell down some stairs and am now on crutches, with the computer in my room (where my writing is) is currently unale to be reached. I am hoping to learn how to manage it to wear I can get bck on it, but I can't make any promises. Plus, it is finals week at school...so it would be hard-pressed anyway.

Now that you have read, REVEIW! (They make great painkillers for ankle injuries)

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waking dawn: Glad you like it, and as you can see in this chapter, she isn't moving entirely too fast

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dares to dream: Glad you like it, and yeah, I know a month is a long time, but I was thinking there should be a lot of people at Alan's funeral (family, mostly) and there aren't any planes, trains, or cars in Tortall to speed up the journey. Maude preserved the body so it wouldn't be all ew.

a happy camper: Sorry to disappoint you on the number of chapters. Yeah, another reviewer pionted out my mistake that Aly knew about Jon being Alanna's knight master and then she didn't...she isn't suppose to know until Gareth told her. I am glad you liked the teaser, and I never mind long reviews