As always, a very big thank you to SOPROL, my beta. The title was hers, by the way! Thanks SOPROL!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Chatting with Alanna

Aly was in the main room of her set of palace rooms reading when she heard her door open. She looked up and immediately put her book on the table next to her, while throwing up a magical barrier. "Alanna! You're back!"

"Hello, mother," Alanna said, giving her a hug. Aly jumped when she heard a soft Meow! in her ear.

"Alanna...is that a cat?" Aly said.

"This is Faithful," Alanna said, "I...well, I guess it's more he found me in the woods on my way back to the palace."

"Hello there, handsome." Aly said. She placed her finger under Faithful's chin, and scratched him. He purred and tilted his head upward, so Aly could scratch more of his neck. Then, he opened his eyes, and Aly jumped backward.

"Goddess, those eyes!" Aly said.

"That seems to be the general reaction when they see his eyes." Alanna said. "It was my reaction too."

"I thought, with you and Thom, I was use to seeing violet eyes. It was unusual enough seeing two little children running around Trebond with those eyes, but now a cat..."

"Jonathan says he's my familiar."

"I'd believe it!" Aly said, coming back over to start scratching Faithful's neck again, "Where did you say you found him?"

"It's more like he found me, and it was in the woods, last night. I had just gotten Moonlight out of the rain as best as I could, and gotten a small fire started, when he came out of a bush."

"How long can you stay? Does Jonathan need you back?"

"He gave me today off of my duties, to relax after traveling."

"Good. Listen, Alanna, I am glad you are here." Aly said. "I need to talk to you...and I need you to be completely honest with me."

"Alright..." Alanna said, sounding cautious, "What is it, mother? Are you alright? You didn't catch whatever killed father, did you?"

"No, I am in perfect health," Aly said. "Alanna, I need to talk to you about...well, romance."

"I'm not interested in romance, at least not yet. I just want to be a warrior maiden and go on adventures. I don't want to fall in love, mother."

"No, Alanna, I think you misunderstand my meaning." Aly said, "I'm not talking about romance for you."

"Then what are you talking about?"

"I am talking about romance for myself." Aly said.

"Romance for...yourself?" Alanna asked.

Aly nodded, "A few days ago...Duke Gareth came up to me, and...he asked to become my suitor, like when we were younger."

Alanna looked at her mother with surprise. "What did you say?"

"I...I told him no." Aly said, blushing.

"Why? I thought you said you still loved him?"

"I do still love him," Aly said. "But...things are different now."

"What do you mean, different?"

"Well...both of us weren't widows back then, and neither of us had to worry about our children, and I didn't have a daughter who was disguised as a boy and currently training to be a knight."

"The whole widow situation...You said Dad gave you his blessing to be remarried."

"He did."

"And if Duke Gareth is willing to move on and he wants to move on with you, then I suggest you do it," Alanna said. "And Gareth, Thom, and I have all grown up a lot, so it's not like either of you have to watch after us...and you two are friends aren't you?"

"Of course we are."

"Well, I was acting as a boy then too. Why should being your suitor be different?"

"But what about you? I know you don't like the idea of Gareth and I...or at least, you didn't at Trebond."

Alanna blushed, "I more was taken by surprise than anything else."

"The idea sent you panicking."

"Mother, listen to me." Alanna said. "You love His Grace, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Go ahead and try it." Alanna interrupted, "I will be uncomfortable for a while, but I will get over it. You have done so much for Thom and I...do something for yourself."

Aly smiled, "When did you start acting like a girl? You're being sensitive and understanding."

Alanna grinned at her mother, "There is a difference between acting like a girl and using common sense, Mother. If you like His Grace and His Grace likes you, then it makes sense that the two of you should be together."

Review Reply

Kate of Carlay: I am glad you liked the last chapter!

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Trisana Sarrasri: Here is the next chapter! Hopefull this helps out a little with the suspense.

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Sazerac: Yeah, it was short, I know. It was a bit of a filler chapter, and so is this one, but it's sort of not a filler chapter at the same time because this is a part of the overall plot.

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