Epilogue
A few days after Aly woke up, Alanna had once again left court to return to the Bloody Hawk. Aly began to wonder if Alanna would ever spend more than a couple of months at a time court, since the longest stay she had made since being knighted was only three months. Aly would talk to her when she returned about that.
Kahlan continued to grow, as all babies do. In September, her first birthday was celebrated quietly in Jonathan's personal chambers with only a selected few people; Gareth, Aly, Gary, Jonathan, Thayet, Buri, Raoul, Duke Baird and his family, including his one-year old son Nealan. Aly wrote to Alanna, gently scolding her for missing her half-sister's first birthday, only to receive a letter a few weeks later saying Kahlan would have many more birthdays, and it wasn't like she'd remember that her older sister wasn't there. The letter came with a parcel addressed to Kahlan. Inside was a beautiful blanket that Alanna said she wove with a little help from some of the women in the tribe. She said they wished the best wishes on the Voice's cousin for her birthday.
And so life began under the rule of King Jonathan. George Cooper and Sir Myles were made Spy Masters, although George worked behind the scenes while Myles served as the face of Tortall's Intelligence. As far as Aly was concerned, there was only one matter left for Jonathan to deal with, and Aly decided to take it upon herself to help him accomplish it.
One October morning, Aly knocked on the door of Jonathan's personal study, carrying thirteen-month old Kahlan with her. Jonathan was already attached to his young cousin. Gareth and Aly were thinking they might need to worry about him kidnapping her in his mother's place.
"Come in." Jon's voice called from the office. He looked up from a book in his hands as Aly entered, and grinned. "Hello Aunt Alianne, hello Kahlan."
"Can we pull the King of Tortall away from his official business?" Aly asked.
"Actually, I am not doing any official business." Jon said, "I'm hiding out from Gary. He's got a pile of paperwork that needs my signature."
"So you're hiding out in your study?" Aly asked. "Kind of an obvious place to be, isn't it?"
"It's so obvious, that Gary won't look here right away." Jon said, "I'd guess I have about an hour more until he finds me…what can I do for you, Aunt Aly?"
"I wanted to speak with you, and I was hoping you would be up for being kidnapped for an hour or two."
Jon looked at Aly for a moment, "I am fairly certain kidnapping the king is illegal."
Aly waved her hand in dismissal, "I know people." She smiled "It gives you more time to hide from Gary, and you'll be able to have time with me and Kahlan."
"Just the three of us?" Jon asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Well, us and Raoul and a few men of the Own…Raoul refused to allow me to kidnap you without some guards to keep you safe."
Jon grinned, "Alright. I think I am up to being kidnapped."
Aly nodded, "Come on. I have packed a picnic, and we are going for a ride."
Jonathan and Aly rode into the Royal Forest, with a handful of the King's Own guarding them. When they reached a clearing, Aly set up a small picnic, and offered food to the King's Own. Raoul, Jon, and Aly sat down on the blanket she brought with her, and Kahlan crawled over to Jon, and he pulled her up onto his lap.
"I think I am going to have to work on a royal decree that makes it illegal for anyone to court Kahlan…she is just too sweet to be allowed to go off and get married and spend all her time with whomever her husband is…he might take her off to some border fief, and we'll never see her again."
"No, we'd see her when her daughter switches places with her brother and comes here to train." Raoul said with a grin.
"And she will lie to the entire court, full of people she claims to love to help her daughter accomplish it." Jon said, grinning at Aly with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Watch it, your Majesty, or else I'll slap you." Aly said with a smirk. She hadn't gotten over her guilt about lying to those she knew and loved, but she had learned to laugh along with people about it.
"Raoul won't let you." Jon said.
"He's right, I wouldn't." Raoul said, then grinned, "So let me know when you are about to do it, and I'll look away."
"Some friend you are!" Jon said, laughing. He grabbed a roll and threw it at Raoul, who caught it.
"Thanks, I was about to grab one of these for myself." Raoul said before biting into the roll.
Aly laughed at the two fully grown men acting like young pages. Jon and Raoul were laughing too. Then Jon turned to Aly.
"You said you had something you wanted to discuss with me?"
"Yes, I did." Aly said, smoothing her skirts. She looked over at Raoul. "Raoul, could you please…"
Raoul nodded, "I'll disappear for a few minutes." Raoul said. He got up and began joking with a member of the Own. Aly wasn't sure which member of the Own it was. Once she was sure he wasn't listening, she turned to Jon.
"Jonathan, as king, you have a duty to your people to make sure that, once you have grown very very old and die - and mark my words, you will be very old before I will allow you to die - there will still be someone to lead the country."
"So you are talking about an heir."
"Yes, and a legitimate one at that." Aly said. "Tell me, Jon, how do you plan to accomplish that without a wife?"
"I am still looking for the right woman to rule at my side." Jonathan said.
"You haven't thought of anyone?" Aly asked.
"Alanna won't marry me, you know that."
"Tortall would crumble around all of us if she did." Aly said. "You two would be fighting too much to be good rulers. Don't tell me you haven't thought of anyone else."
Jonathan looked at Aly carefully. "Do you have someone in mind?"
"Thayet." Aly said.
"Princess Thayet?" Jonathan asked.
"No, there is a Thayet who runs a bakery in the Lower City, I was talking about her." Aly said sarcastically, "Yes, of course Princess Thayet."
"You know my mother said her family has bad blood."
"I also know your mother, although her intentions were always good, didn't always know what was best." Aly said.
"I still don't know." Jonathan said.
"I've been here at the palace, Jonathan. I've seen you spend a lot of time with her; I've seen the way you look at her."
"Well, she is royalty, so she knows what is expected of her in court."
"And you think she's the most beautiful thing your eyes have ever seen." Aly said.
"And she has already shown that she knows a thing or two about leadership." Jon continued.
"And you think she's the most beautiful thing your eyes have ever seen." Aly said again.
"And women in her homeland can't rule, so it's not like she will have to return home ever."
"And you think she's the most beautiful thing your eyes have ever seen." Aly said. "Just admit it."
Jon smiled. "Yes, alright? I think she's the most beautiful thing my eyes have ever seen."
"Do you want my opinion, Jonathan?"
"If I say no, will that stop you from giving it?"
"No," Aly said, "I think you're in love."
"In love?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes," Aly said, "And Thayet is a wonderful person, with some great ideas that would help with the kingdom."
"She doesn't want to be royal, though." Jon said.
"So Johnny the merchant's son can suddenly have a sister or cousin." Aly said with a wink.
Jon laughed. "You know I won't be able to get away with that old charade anymore."
"My point is, you and Thayet can be more than king and queen." Aly said, "You can both make sure you have time when you are just Jonathan and Thayet, two people who happen to live in the palace."
"-and happen to sleep in the monarch's suite, and happen to have crowns." Jon said.
"You two can be whatever you want when you are alone." Aly said. "Do you honestly think Gareth and I are the same behind closed doors as we are in public?"
"Even if I did ask Thayet to be my queen, I don't think she's interested."
"See how she feels when she returns from visiting Alanna." Aly said.
"Do you know something I don't?"
"I am nearly twice your age, Jonathan." Aly said, "Experience has taught me many things you have yet to learn. Just think about what I said about Thayet. Maybe try the name out…Queen Thayet of Conté."
After about an hour, Aly and Jon packed up the picnic and rode back to the palace. George stopped Jon and Aly as they walked past him in the halls of the palace on the way back to Jonathan's study.
"I made sure no one noticed you were missing, Jon…but Gary is getting a bit annoyed with not knowing where in this palace you are."
Jon grinned. "Thanks George…give me a few more minutes of piece, then subtly suggest my study…I guess I should do some royal duties today."
George grinned. "Aye, Jon. I'll give you ten minutes, lad."
As Aly and Jon walked on alone, Aly shook her head. "Does he miss anything?"
Jon laughed. "I doubt it."
Once Jon and Aly reached Jon's study, Aly took Kahlan from his arms. "I'll give you some peace and quiet until Gary drowns you in a sea of paperwork."
Jon nodded and entered his office. He saw the book he had been reading when Aly came in laying on his desk and sat down to continue reading. However, he found he couldn't get back into it. He finally gave up and put the book aside again. He began thinking about what Aly had told him during their private picnic that morning.
Thayet was beyond a doubt the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she had wonderful ideas, and she had the knowledge that would make her an excellent co-ruler.
"Queen Thayet of Conté…" Jonathan said to himself, "King Jonathan III and Queen Thayet of Conté."
...and that is the end of Lady of Trebond.
Author's Note: Usually, I have a long list of those who reviewed to this chapter, buy it is 1am, and while I am not tired, I am feeling lazy...so thanks to all my reviewers (you know who you are) and double thanks to those of you who have stuck with this story from the beginning almost a year ago...it's been a long process, but hopefully you all enjoyed it. Now, I a lot of people are asking about a sequel or a spin-off focusing on Kahlan...I DO plan on writing it, but I just started my Second Year of college a little over a week ago, so I need to take some time to re-adjust to time management that works with college, so it might be a little while in coming...the best way to know that the story has started is to have me on your Author Alert. I hope to have it up in a month or two, but I don't have much written, so we'll see.
A infinity of thanks to my amazing Beta, SOPROL for helping me out with this story. It was so much better with your help! (Some of the scenes in this story were written by her)
Review Reply
silver cat 777: Yes, I am thinking of doing a sequel on Kahlan, but as I said in my author's note, it will be a few months until I expect to have it posted, because I am just starting another year of college up, so I need to get my mind out of summer-mode, and in to school-mode.
Elfsquire 90: I am glad you enjoyed it.
DomLuver: Thank you for your compliments, and I am sorry about the long wait, but my beta had family things to handle, and she got it back to me just as I was starting up a new year and semester of college, so life was hectic.
LittleMissGiggles'94': It's done now...I am glad you liked the story!
StarVamp: I am glad you liked that part of the chapter...I was a little nervous about how that line would go over.
Anjalit2624: I am glad you liked the story...yes, there will be a sequel, but it will focus on Kahlan, not Aly.
sonotalady: Thanks :)
thegypsy: Thank you for the condolences, I am sure my beta's family appreciated them (btw, you were the only one to offer them, and mention family before fanfiction, so I commend you on that). Well...you have seen the end of this story, so what do you think?
Aria657: I am glad you liked this story! I do plan to do a sequel, focusing on Kahlan, but it will have to wait for a bit until I am settled into school mode.
Trisana Sarrasari: I am glad you liked this story...it is finished, however I will be doing a sequel focusing on Kahlan, and that will take place during Protector of the Small, with an occasional flashback to immortals.
xXthenextbookwormXx: Yeah, I decided I wanted Liam alive, so as the almighty author, I made it so. I will be doing a sequel, but like my author's note says, it will have to wait a little, as I am in school now, and I still have some things to figure out...but I think I have figured out what Kahlan's place among the ladies and warriors will be...thanks for your suggestion, it was a good one.
Cry of the Wolf Child: I also understand where you are coming from, but the way I am taking it is, yes, seven wounds would still be fatal, if the arrows hit the right places, and if enough blood was lost...but this is the Shang Dragon, so he has probably learned some techniques about fighting while wounded, which would help him, and I know I am probably stretching reality here, but I am saying he was able to get help before losing too much blood, and the arrows didn't hit him in vital areas...that is the nice thing about fiction, is it doesn't always have to be realistic...I just love Liam too much to kill him off.
Nook Book1998: Thanks!