Chapter 4
"Here I go/Step into this stop light on the stage/Finally realizing that I've come of age/Running my own race/Down life's lonesome road/So here I go/We only get one life we gotta live/Let's hope we find the strength just to forgive." –Willing to Try, Bo Bice
"Where is Alanna?" Jonathan asked some time later. Gary and Raoul shrugged.
"I haven't seen her," Raoul replied. "Maybe she left. Mithros knows I want to!" Gary's eyes were halfway out of his head.
"What is it, Gary?" Jonathan inquired, peering at his cousin.
"Great Mithros!" Gary breathed. "Look!" Raoul and Jon turned their heads.
Standing not far from them was a petite woman. Her dress was cut in a flattering style for her muscular frame. She was tanned, and the light blue-violet color of the dress accented that. Her straight copper hair brushed her bronze shoulders, bringing out the different red tones in her hair. When the woman turned, the knights saw that the dress played up an unusual feature- her violet eyes.
"Alanna!" they exclaimed in unison. The Lioness searched for the source of her name and spotted her friends and prince. She smiled and walked over.
"Hello," she greeted. The men were speechless, their jaws dangling. Alanna laughed. "Close your mouths!" They obeyed, still ogling their friend. "What is wrong with you?"
"You're a woman!" Raoul exclaimed. Alanna laughed.
"Of course I'm a woman, Raoul!" she said. "I've been one since birth!"
"But… you really are," he went on. "The dress… and the hair… and the-"
"Quit while you're ahead," Jonathan advised, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. He smiled at Alanna. "You look lovely, Alanna."
"I still see Alan of Trebond in a dress. Mithros, this is going to be difficult!" Gary cried. Alanna, Raoul, and Jon laughed.
"Alan of Trebond and Alanna of Olau are the same person," Alanna replied. "Just female and with a different name."
"I like you better this way," Jon announced. Alanna turned bright pink. Her mind returned to that night in the garden, a mere year or so before…
"Excuse me," she mumbled, putting her head down. "I have to go…" She scurried away, cursing softly.
Coward, she thought, I'm a knight. I've fought in war and I can't even dace my former lover.
This is different, another part disagreed, he insulted you.
But he loves you, the first part retorted, he asked you to marry him. And don't say you didn't see the look in his eyes.
"It's like having a conversation with Faithful," Alanna muttered.
Author's Note- is it just me, or did this chapter match up nicely with the lyrics? And the chapter before, too! REVIEW.