Disclaimer: I do not own things that you recognize from the Song of the Lioness Series. I am just borrowing them. I also did not write the first two scenes in this chapter. That was the amazing work of my beta, SOPROL, with me doing a little tweaking here and there.
Chapter Forty-Nine: Jonathan's Coronation
Aly stared out the window in the sitting room of the Naxen Suites, holding Kahlan in her arms. Alanna just left to join Jonathan meditating in the Chapel of the Ordeal. Alanna, as King's Champion, was to watch over him during the night. Aly was content that her daughter found what she was meant to do.
A large hand on her shoulder startled Aly out of her thoughts. Gareth stood behind her with a look of concern on his face.
"Aly, what's wrong? You've been staring out of the window for the past hour."
"I'm just happy. I have a daughter who is settled in her knighthood as King's Champion, a son who is a sorcerer, and another daughter who was made out of the love of my husband and myself. I couldn't ask for anything else." Aly smiled. After a minute, Gareth joined her with his own smile.
"Good, I wouldn't want you to be unhappy." He kissed her tenderly on the lips. After seeing her parents kiss, Kahlan decided to make her presence known by gurgling softly and clapping her hands. Aly and Gareth looked down at their child and laughed at the pure beauty that was their family.
"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Aly asked suddenly.
"Not really, besides the obvious security threats that could possibly happen, but we'll have the Own there, under Raoul's command. Raoul and Jonathan are good friends, he won't let anything happen, and I won't leave your side unless the need arises for you to get yourself and Kahlan to safety. Why?"
"I don't know. I keep having this feeling that something bad will happen tomorrow, but I can't figure out what." Aly looked into Gareth's eyes. "It's probably nothing."
"Then come, let's get ready for bed as staring out a window won't help Alanna at staying awake through the night. We can see her and Jonathan in the morning." Gareth said, leading Aly away from the window. He took Kahlan gently into his arms and placed her softly in her crib, tucked her in, gently stroked the brown curls that were her hair, and and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Leading Aly to their own bed, Gareth kissed her softly. "I love you, you know."
Aly smiled. "I do, and I love you."
Aly and Gareth awoke well before dawn, with enough time to dress themselves and Kahlan and get to the Chapel of the Ordeal before too many people arrived. As family of the future king and King's Champion, they got the honour of being in the temple when the Chamber of the Ordeal's door opened. They got there in enough time to see the door being shut behind Jonathan. Alanna stood patiently in front of the door, waiting for her friend and - as Aly knew after Alanna confided in her one night, former lover - to emerge. Aly and Gareth stood off to the side with a clear view of the door and Alanna. Aly still couldn't shake the feeling of dread that she felt. What if Jonathan didn't survive the Ordeal? Roger was next in line for the throne. Aly shuddered at the thought of the once-dead sorcerer ruling the country. She would probably convince Gareth to flee the country if that was to happen. Finally, the door reopened and out came Jonathan, looking exhausted, but pleased. Aly smiled as Alanna caught Jonathan and with the aid of Gary, took Jonathan to his rooms to rest before the ceremony in the afternoon.
"They survived, then why do I feel this dread?" Aly wondered aloud, walking beside Gareth as they walked through the gardens of the palace with Kahlan asleep in Aly's arms.
"I don't know, but in case anything happens, always know that you have my heart." Gareth said.
"As long as you always carry mine." Aly said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek, which soon turned into a couple of kisses on his mouth. Kahlan shifted in Aly's arms, but remained asleep.
Aly was dressed in a blue silk gown with silver ribbon across the waist and neckline of the dress as well as at the end of the sleeves. Gareth stood next to her, dressed in a white shirt and blue tunic and hose. Gareth and Aly had even had the seamstress create a little dress of Kahlan, who was sitting in Aly's lap. It was a soft golden-colored dress made out of silk with white lace alone the waist. The skirt puffed up a little whenever Kahlan was sitting on someone's lap. She found it to be a lot of fun to push it down with her hands then watch it puff up again so she could push it down once more. Aly and Gareth watched with pride as the Mitheran Priest and Priestess of the Goddess, acting as one, blessed the silver crown and then Jonathan, who knelt before them. Aly wept, moved by the beauty of the moment. Aly looked around the room. She saw Alanna and Raoul, both at their different stations in the hall. She saw the King's Own standing around the room; the coronation was the responsibility of the Own. Next, Aly spotted a new friend of Alanna's. It was the Shang Dragon, Liam Ironarm. Aly had questioned Alanna about Liam one afternoon, and she insisted they were just friends. She said Liam didn't like the Gift. Aly couldn't help but wonder if maybe there was something that was trying to surface, that just couldn't. The chanting stopped as the crown was lower onto Jonathan's head. It glowed with the magic of the land, reaching down to envelope the new king. People-including Aly-gasped with awe as Jonathan flared with brilliance.
Suddenly, Alanna yelled, "Jonathan!"
Aly stood up and spun to look at her daughter as the earth beneath everyone moaned and shook.
Panic filled the room as people rushed to get away from anything that could fall and break. Men with weapons came flooding in to the Hall. Over all the screams, Aly heard Alanna scream in agony.
"Alanna!" Aly yelled. She turned to Gareth. "Something's wrong. I have to get to Alanna" Gareth nodded, and Aly raced towards Alanna, not even bothering to put Kahlan down.
Aly reached Alanna, and fell to her knees. "Alanna! What is it?"
"Thom," Alanna panted, "Something's-wrong with-him."
"Guard the king!" Alanna yelled to Raoul as she lurched to her feet. Faithful was at her side as she hurled out a nearby door. Aly didn't think past what Alanna said. Thom, something's wrong with him. That was all she needed to know. Aly didn't even notice she was holding Kahlan anymore. Her son was in trouble. She raced out of the hall after Alanna.
When she reached Alanna, she was with George. She reached them in time to hear George make a comment.
"What color would purple and orange make?" he asked, "Roger's Gift and the Trebond Gift?"
Aly felt sick at the thought.
Inside Thom's parlor, the air was heavy, almost liquid. Alanna froze, almost causing Aly to run into her, and Kahlan made her presence known once more when she whimpered in Aly's arms. Aly looked down at Kahlan in surprise for a minute and then started to comfort her. She considered taking Kahlan back to Gareth in the Hall, but immediately thought otherwise…there was too much fighting going on there, Kahlan wouldn't be safe…and there was no guarantee Aly would reach the royal nursery without running into more rogue guards.
"What is it, lass?" George whispered to Alanna in response for her sudden stop.
Alanna fumbled at her waist, taking the pouch off her belt. "The Jewel!" She pressed it into his hands. "You have to take it to Jon. What was I thinking of, to carry it away from him? George, please!"
The pouch was lost in the thief's large hands. "Alanna, I can't be leavin' you-"
"You have to!" she cried. "I can't use it. Jon can. And I have a feeling he'll be need it!"
George hesitated as a second shock made the ground shiver under their feet.
"Alanna's right, George." Aly said. "Jon is the only one who can use the Jewel! Don't worry about Alanna, I'm here with her."
Grimly George stuffed the pouch in the front of his tunic. "I'll get it to him, never fear." He kissed Alanna swiftly then ran for the Hall of Crowns.
Thom was in his bedroom. The air in the parlor was nothing compared to the air in here. It pressed on Aly's lungs, so that she couldn't breathe. Kahlan let out a strangled cry at this new level of discomfort. Aly tried to console her as she kneeled next to Alanna, who was checking vital signs.
"Thom?" Aly asked, laying a hand on him. He was cool, alarmingly so after weeks of being too hot. She saw Alanna reach for her ember stone.
"What is it?" Aly asked.
"Thom's Gift is leaking out of him" Alanna said, and she reached out to save him.
Thom's eyes flew open. He gripped her hands. "Don't! I'm-bound to him. He'll drain you through me-"
"Roger?" Alanna whispered. Thom nodded. Alanna saw Faithful. "Faithful, go for-"
"No time!" Thom snapped. "Listen! His Gift-attached to the sorcerer resurrecting him." Alanna moved closer to hear him. Aly didn't hear what he said, but she saw him smile, and then Alanna growled.
"Who cares if your Gift is bigger!"
It was then that Aly saw Kahlan. Her whole body was glowing with her magenta Gift, a mix of the Trebond Violet and the Naxen Rose Gifts, as she crawled to Thom and reached out for him "Ta-om" she said.
"Kahlan no!" Aly said, but she was too late. Kahlan put her hand on Thom.
"No!" Thom said, and tried to push her away. Every time he did, Kahlan just put her hand right back. Aly picked her up and Kahlan cried, repeatedly saying Thom's name
"Ta-om! Ta-om! Ta-om!"
"No, Kahlan" Aly said, securely wrapping her arm around Kahlan's chest, holding her so close to her side that Kahlan couldn't reach Thom. "You're not strong enough, darling."
Aly looked helplessly at Thom, when a thought hit her. Kahlan is not strong enough to help…but she was! She grabbed Thom's arm with her free hand and thrust her Gift into him.
"Mother, no!" Thom said. "Leeching spells!"
"Don't you dare tell me no, Thom of Trebond!" Aly yelled as she continued to shove her Gift into Thom. "Roger had dampened my Gift when your father died, so I couldn't save him like he saved me. I'll be damned if I let Roger stop me from saving you!"
"He'll-drain you!"
"I don't care!" Aly said. She saw Alanna reach forward, her own hand glowing "Alanna, stay back! I alone am doing this!"
"Mother, no." Alanna said. "It will kill you!"
"Then you can both tell Gareth I am sorry to make him a widow twice in his life. I haven't used my Gift a lot recently, I can go a while without any problems." Aly said.
As time passed on, Aly was vaguely aware of only a few things; Si-Cham came, Josaine came and killed him and Faithful, Alanna killed Josaine, and Alanna left. She was also vaguely aware that Kahlan was becoming increasingly unhappy with being held away from Thom, but no matter how much she kicked, wiggled, and screamed at her, Aly refused to lighten up on her hold.
"Mother, stop." Thom said. He was still weak, but his voice was a little stronger, and he wasn't struggling to talk.
"No!" Aly snarled and shoved more magic into her. She began to feel lightheaded.
"Mother, look at yourself!" Thom said.
"I don't care!" Aly said. "I only need to keep this up until Alanna has killed Roger."
"She might not make it until you are dead." Thom said.
Aly gave a weak laugh. "Have more faith in your twin, Thom. She is very motivated when she is angry, and I don't think she'd ever been madder than she is now."
Aly and Thom continued to talk, and the light headedness got worse as she continued to take care of Thom. Soon the room began to spin on its own. One of the last things Aly was aware of was Thom yelling "Mother!" and the room going black.
Author's Note: In the words of my beta, DUN DUN DUHHHHHH! Well said, SOPROL. Haha, yeah, I know I am just being evil ending the chapter right here.
Review Reply
Trisana Sarrasri: Thank you so much for the praise. I am glad you liked it.
LittleMissGiggles'94': I am glad you enjoyed the chapter. I am wrapping up Lady of Trebond now, and as soon as I figure out a few more last minute details, I plan on beginning to write a sequel about Kahlan.
SeekDreamsAndFindHope: I am glad everything is all better now. Thanks for the review.
sonotalady: Yes, that was what I meant, and I am glad the last chapter was better. I hope the coronation was done well.
xXthenextbookswormXx: I like that idea. I might have to play around with it a little bit.
Soraya the All Speaker: I am glad you liked how Aly held the omens...I pretty much inserted myself in there. I am the kind of person who rolls their eyes at the superstitions and Friday the 13th.
StarVamp: Yes, Kahlan is cute.
es: Liam mentioned in this chapter, featured in next chapter, yes.
Emmason Eppes: Thank you for that correction...neither my beta or I caught that...I will have to go back and change that.
spazzysassyangel: I am glad :)
25kait25: I am glad you liked it. No, I don't like the Twilight Saga...I am obsessed with it! lol...yes, I will read your story.
scarletblusssh: :) I am glad you loved it.
chiki-the-bomb: I am glad you think this is really good,and thank you for your opinion of how I wrote about Alan. I love to hear any opinions my readers have, even if they aren't all saying I am a perfect writer, in fact, I prefer reviews that don't flame me, but still say that there was something that was even slightly unliked about my writing. It keeps me from getting too big of a head, and it gives me something to work on, and that is what keeps me writing. So thank you. I had meant to portray it as Aly eventually loved Alan a little, just never as much as she loved Gareth. I might have to try to find a way to show that a little more before this story is up.
Miakoda of Pirate's Swoop: I am glad you liked the last few chapters
iloveredshoes: I know I didn't really show it, but Alanna did kill Roger for the second time. I was more focusing on Aly and Thom (and a little bit of Kahlan).
a happy camper: Yes, Jon is 23, not 20...that was a mistake that neither I nor my beta caught. Thank you for pointing it out.