Chapter 9

"Tell me what we got/Tell me it's a lot/Tell me it's the real thing/Tell me not to change/And always be the same/Tell that's a good thing/It's a good thing/Tell me not to lie/Tell me not to wait/Tell me that you want the same things as me/Tell me that it's fate/Driving me insane/Tell me it's the real thing/That keeps me hanging on." –The Real Thing, Bo Bice

"I'd know that red hair anywhere," a voice remarked. Alanna spun and beamed.

"Rose!" she cried. The woman lifted her skirts and hurried over to Alanna. The women, a good 5 inches apart in height, hugged each other.

"Who's this?" Jon asked.

"Jon, this is Rose Archer. Rose, this is his royal highness, Prince Jonathan of Conté. Rose is an old friend from Trebond," Alanna presented. Jon smiled at Rose, who curtsied.

"An honor, your highness," she said.

"Please. Any friend of Alanna's is a friend of mine," Jon told her. "And my friends call me Jon." Rose was clearly excited about the prospect of being friends with the heir.

"How've you been?" Alanna asked. "Did your father marry you off?" Rose chuckled.

"No, not yet," she replied. "I've been fine. No need to ask how you've been these past 9 years!"

"Has it really been that long?" Alanna asked, the shock apparent in her voice.

"Yes. You've been a knight for almost a year. Midwinter is in 2 weeks!" Jon replied.

"Mithros. It seems like only a few months!" Alanna exclaimed. Jon turned to Rose.

"If you don't mind me saying, you don't talk like the commoners I know," he told her.

"I practically grew up in the fortress with Alanna and Thom," Rose explained. "Speaking of Thom… who is that woman he's with?"

"Lady Elizabeth of Goldenlake," Alanna replied. "They met a week or two back and I think he's going to court her."

"Thom of the books courting a woman?" Rose was obviously baffled. "Is she mad?" Alanna laughed.

"He's actually quite charming," she replied. "Elizabeth likes him."

"He's boring," Rose argued. "Always has his nose in those books of his. You always were the adventurous one."

"And I'm sure Trebond is simply thrilled that I'm the lady knight," Alanna said sarcastically.

"Father and mother couldn't be happier," Rose told her. "And I know some people who are secretly happy for you."

"Secretly?" Jon asked.

"People are afraid the king doesn't like it," Rose replied. Jon laughed.

"Once he got over the initial shock and anger, father was fine with it," Jon explained.

"Is there a room I can stay in?" Rose asked. "I've business in the city, but I couldn't leave without seeing you."

"What business?" Alanna inquired. Rose glanced around and leaned in.

"With the Court of the Rogue." Alanna and Jon exchanged a look. "Coram asked me to send a message to… Rispah."

"We can take you there," Alanna told her friend. "Jon and I are close friends with the Rogue himself." Rose's eyes widened in approval.

"You know the King of Thieves himself? You, Alanna, have some explaining to do. But not now. I'm exhausted." Rose yawned.

"You could stay in my rooms," Alanna offered. "I have a connecting room for a squire that you can use."

"If it wouldn't be too much of a burden, I'd like that," Rose replied, glancing at the small space between Alanna and the Prince. Alanna glanced at Jonathan, who nodded slightly.

"I'll show you there," Alanna said. "Excuse me a moment, Jonathan."

"Meet me in the courtyards," Jon told her. They walked in opposite directions. Alanna took a moment to look her friend over.

Rose was 5'6'' and lovely. Her hair was a lovely red brown. It was soft and silky, falling straight down her back to her butt. Her eyes were the same color as Alanna's namesake- a lioness. Rose's eyes were golden brown, and the gold sparkled when she was happy or mad. Alanna also admired her friend's figure. Alanna was short and muscular, but Rose was tall and willowy, like Josiane. Rose's fawn colored dress showed her small waist and curving hips and bust. Alanna couldn't help but wonder what Jon thought of the lovely commoner.

"You look well," Alanna said.

"Thanks, as do you," Rose replied. They walked to Alanna's rooms in silence.

"Here we are. The connecting door locks. I'll lock it when I go to bed. Be sure to lock this door as well. And, please, Rose, no spying," Alanna said. Rose smiled wickedly.

"Me? Spy? Since when?" she asked innocently. "But I did happen to notice you and the Prince." Alanna blushed. "I knew there had to be something there!"

"There's nothing going on between me and Jon!" Alanna snapped. "You know me, Rose."

"It's been 9 years, Alanna. You've changed," Rose remarked coolly. "And I have a feeling that there's more to you knowing the Rogue than you're telling me. But I'll leave you. Go see your Prince in the courtyards. I'm sure I'll find out eventually. You never could keep a secret." Alanna shot Rose a playful glare and left the room.

She went to the courtyards, where the light was fading quickly. Alanna pulled her cloak tighter around her body against the cold. I wish I were back in the desert, she thought grumpily, where it's WARM.

"She was kind," a voice remarked, startling Alanna. She whipped around, ready to unsheathe Lightning. The person chuckled and Alanna glared at him.

"Jonathan," she muttered. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I'm sorry, my sweet. I couldn't resist," he told her, drawing her into his arms.

"Don't call me my sweet. And let go. Someone might see," Alanna hissed, pulling away.

"Then let's find somewhere more private," Jon said, taking her hand and leading her to the same secluded spot they had used a day before. They sat and kissed for a while. Jon pulled back and looked straight into her eyes.

"I know I promised not to pressure you-" he began.

"Yes," she said. He blinked at her.

"Excuse me?" he asked.

"Yes. My answer is yes."

"That I promised not to pressure you?"

"No, dolt. I know what you're about to ask."

"Can I finish, please?"

"Go ahead."

"I know I promised not to pressure you, Alanna, but my mother isn't doing well. I don't know- I don't know if she'll live much longer. I want her to live long enough to see me betrothed. So, Alanna, can you give me an answer? Will you marry me?" Alanna didn't say anything for a moment, creating a dramatic tension. "Alanna?"

"You're a dolt. Of course I'll marry you!"

"That's what you were saying yes to?"

"Yes!"

"You'll really marry me? You'll be queen one day."

"Yes, I know all that. I love you, Jonathan. I went to see George earlier. And I told him that I was going to marry you." Jon looked like a child getting his first Midwinter gifts. He threw his arms around her and kissed her with all the passion and love that he had. Alanna pushed him away momentarily.

"What?" he asked.

"Don't you have something for me?" she teased.

"Oh! Right!" Alanna laughed and Jon fumbled for something. "Here it is!" He pulled a golden chain out of his tunic. From it hung a golden ring with a ruby surrounded by yellow diamonds set into it. It was the ring Alanna would wear to show the world that she was betrothed. And the ruby surrounded by yellow diamonds was the same ring that every previous future queen had worn. And now she, Sir Alanna of Olau, would wear it.

She was betrothed to the heir to the kingdom.

Author's Note- Yes, there is SOME significance to Rose and Elizabeth. I PROMISE. I wanted to make Alanna betrothed in this chapter for some reason. It was very important to me. Maybe cause I want them to make that trip to the city the next day. And I DO want Alanna and Jon to announce the engagement at Midwinter. Not EXACLTLY spoilers, just a hint of what MAY come later. Oh. If you get a review reply from me now, it will be signed with "Erin." Why? Because I'm sick of writing Daisy on some and Erin on others. Check my pro for a reason why.

Do not forget to review!