Author's Note: Hey all! Sorry about the long wait. First I had finals, so I had no time to get on and send my beta the chapter, and then my beta had finals, so she had no time to EDIT the chapter....but it's the holidays now, so chapters should be able to come a lot quicker....Happy Holidays to all of you!
Chapter Thirty-Six: Dreams Coming True
If someone had told Aly when she was younger that she would be getting up before dawn of her own free will, she would have called them crazy, but that was exactly what she was doing. It was early April, and she and Alanna were riding out to see Thom. Leaving this early meant two things: one, Aly and Alanna could talk as a mother and daughter, not mother and son. Secondly, it meant that there wouldn't be as many people on the road, so they could travel at a faster pace.
"Do you really have to go?" Gareth asked Aly as Alanna finished tying down the last of her mother's things to her horse.
"It's only a short visit to see Thom. I'll be back in a few weeks."
"I don't like having you be where I can't protect you."
"Alan will not let anything happen to me." Aly said.
"He better not," Gareth said, looking at Alanna seriously, "If he does, he'll answer to me in a few personal sword practices."
Alanna paled, "I assure you, your grace. No one wants that to happen less than me."
Aly laughed, "Satisfied?"
"No," Gareth said. "I won't be satisfied until you are back in my arms."
Aly kissed Gareth, "I'll expect to find you waiting here for me when I return."
"I'll be here," Gareth said, "We have a wedding to plan, my dear."
"You'd think they were nineteen again," Gary muttered to Alanna and Jon. He grabbed Alanna's hand and added-in a highly girly voice-"Oh Aly, I can't bear to part with you. Please don't go."
Alanna and Jon laughed along with Gary. Aly even chuckled a little.
"I heard that, Gareth." the duke said.
"Lianne and I have already talked. I have given her some ideas, she is going to look at them and see if she sees anything that she thinks needs to be changed, and when I get back, you and I will look at what she has thought up and start making our final choices." Aly said, kissing Gareth again. "Care to help me into my saddle so Alann-" Aly stopped herself before she said Alanna's full name. "-and I can get started? The sooner we leave, the sooner we get back."
Gareth nodded, and carefully helped Aly into her side-saddle.
"And so begins several weeks of riding side-saddle...this should be fun." Aly said sarcastically.
"You could have taken a carriage, you know." Gareth said.
Aly shook her head. "That would have slowed down our pace...which means more time away from you."
"Be safe." Gareth said with a final kiss.
"I will." Aly said, returning the kiss. She used the reins to guide her mare over to Moonlight and Alanna.
"Ready?"
Alanna nodded, "Let's go."
Alanna had told Aly about George messenger being shot down with five poisoned arrows. Aly had conveniently "forgotten" to mention that detail to Gareth. He never would have let her leave if he had known.
Alanna had been confident that George wouldn't be joining them, since she had given no one more than half a day's warning. Alanna had apparently been wrong. The thief was waiting for her at the gates to the city, dressed for riding and mounted on a sturdy bay.
"Jonathan told you," Alanna accused her friend.
"No. Stephan keeps messenger-birds. I've got you under tight watch, youngling, and it's well for you I do."
Alanna laughed and fell in beside George.
"I think he has you under a tighter watch than the guards have for the royal family, Alanna." Aly said, joining in on the laughter.
Alanna scowled at her mother. "Don't encourage him. He isn't coming with me once I have my shield." she looked pointedly at George. "Got it?"
George's only response was a smile.
The ride north was a good one. George was witty and entertaining; he had some wonderful stories to tell. They stopped at Trebond for a night. Coram was shocked to see George with them, and Aly heard him read Alanna a strong lecture. She also saw Alanna shrug it off.
"Oh, and Coram, there is some very interesting news from the palace." Aly said.
"What's that, my lady?"
Aly held up her ring. "The Lady of Trebond is to be the next Duchess of Naxen."
"His Grace proposed to ye?" Coram asked, "Congratulations."
"Thank you," Aly said. "I'll be sure to send word to you and Maude up here so you can both make arrangements to be at the wedding."
Another thing Aly and Alanna did during their day at Trebond was to spend time with the young man Coram was training as his replacement.
"No one can ever replace you, Coram." Aly had said that night. "Trebond has history, and you are a part of that history...this young man-" Aly said with a smile to the man "will just be a new part of its history."
Plans were made for Coram to come to the palace in November, in order to be there when Alanna underwent the Ordeal.
Later that night, Aly was sitting on the bed in the master bedroom of the fief. She still had memories of Alan dying in this room, and she fought to keep her emotions in check. One way she did this was by calling Alanna into the room.
Aly was staring at Alanna and gave a small laugh.
"What?" Alanna asked, smiling at her mother. "What's so funny?"
"You," Aly said, "I can't believe it's already been over seventeen years since I gave birth to you on this very bed. Now, you are only eight months away from being a knight."
"And what about you" Alanna asked, smiling, "Soon you are going to be Duchess Alianne of Naxen."
Aly grinned and toyed with the engagement ring on her finger, "Duchess Alianne of Naxen," she said dreamily, "I loved the sound of it when I was nineteen, and I love it now that I am almost forty" Aly sighed wearily, "Well, I suggest you get to bed. We have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow."
Alanna nodded and got up. She reached the door and turned around, "Mother?"
"Yes, Alanna?" Aly asked.
"Are you...that is to say, are you going to be alright in here? I...I know you loved father, and I know he died in this room." Alanna grinned, "I also know that is why you called me in here, to make you forget that little bit of information for a while."
"It's just one night, Alanna," Aly said, "I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Alanna asked, "I could stay in here if you want."
"I am the mother here, Alanna." Aly said. "I am supposed to offer to stay in your room and scare off your nightmares, not the other way around."
Alanna shrugged. "You are just the one who had the more recent nightmare."
"I am also the one who had the dream come true if you'll remember." Aly said.
"That engagement ring?" Alanna smiled.
"The ring, and another one." Aly said.
"What dream would that be?" Alanna asked.
"Come back in here, and close the door." Aly said, "Servants are horrible about keeping secrets."
Alanna obeyed, and sat down on the bed beside Aly.
"The first night after I had recovered from my-for lack of a better word-condition after you were born, I had a dream. It was about you."
"Me?" Alanna asked.
Aly nodded, "I had a dream that you grew up to be a strong, successful woman...of course, my dream won't come fully true until you are married, living on your husband's lands and wearing a dress with children running around you."
Alanna made a face, "I don't want a husband or children."
"You could change your mind." Aly said.
"Not likely."
"But it is a possibility." Aly said.
"What about Thom?" Alanna asked, changing the topic, "Did you dream Thom grew up to be happy and successful?"
"No, I didn't," Aly admitted as she took Alanna's hand. "But I raised you both the same, and you are both doing something you enjoy and always dreamed of doing, so I have no doubt in my mind that your brother will live to have a long, happy, successful life, just like you."
Alanna smiled, "I hope so."
"I know so," Aly said, and patted Alanna's hand, "Alright now, off to bed with you. Even if you don't need your sleep, I do. I am an old woman."
"You are not old, mother," Alanna said as she left, "Old women aren't planning their weddings."
Disclaimer
1)The thief was waiting for her at the gates to the city, dressed for riding and mounted on a sturdy bay.
"Jonathan told you," Alanna accused her friend.
"No. Stephan keeps messenger-birds. I've got you under tight watch, youngling, and it's well for you I do."
Alanna laughed and fell in beside George.In the Hands of the Goddess p. 193
Review Reply
SeekDreamsAndFindHope: Yes, yes, your decree past (I won't mention the fact that I had planned this since before you issued that decree). As to your question about Aly and Gareth when Alanna is revealed, you (I love saying this next five words) will just have to wait!
xXthenextbookwormXx: If by will they go through with it with the king's permission, Roald has already said they could get married....but remember, Gareth still thinks Alanna is "Alan"....(evil grin)
Soraya the All Speaker: Lol, yeah, poor Lianne...
elfsquire 90: Yes, it was a typo....and thank you for the help, Sue.
LittleMissGiggles'94': I am glad you liked it! I don't know how people didn't guess, I thought I had made it pretty clear it was going to happen....and if they didn't have bridesmaids/maids of honor back then, then they did now!
Anjalit2624: I am glad you liked the chapter, and thank you for the suggestion for the wedding!
Mistyrious One: I am glad you liked it!
Trisana Sarrasri: I am glad you liked the chapter.
sara: lol....when isn't Roger annoying? But don't worry, Aly and Gareth deserve a happily ever after.
elf warrior princess: I am glad you liked it.
Miakoda of Pirate's Swoop: Thanks for the review!
Tishica: Thanks!
Anonymous: I promise you, Gareth and Gary will find out BEFORE the wedding, but I will not tell you when exactly.
MystayaRose: Yeah, that was pointed out to me earlier....it was a typo, I forgot to cut Aly off before she said the whole name. Thanks for pointing it out to me.
a happy camper: I am glad you liked this chapter. And as I have said before....I can only update as fast as I can send my beta chapters and she can proof them....