Chapter 10
"I can read the signs between us/And I feel its still inside when you come nearer/There's a stillness in the air/Like no one else is there/And every moment stays in the moment." –The Real Thing, Bo Bice
"Happy Midwinter, George!" Alanna greeted brightly, kissing George on the cheek. Jon pretend to be unaffected by this obvious show of affection.
"Alanna! Jon! What brings ye t' my home?" George asked.
"There is someone here to meet you," Jon replied. Rose stepped out from behind him. George's eyes widened as Rose removed her fur-lined cap, allowing her beautiful hair to spill free.
"George, this is my old friend, Rose Archer," Alanna introduced. "Rose, this is George Cooper, also known as the King of Thieves." Rose curtsied.
"Your highness," she said. George smiled.
"Another commoner friend, eh, lass?" he asked. Alanna nodded and shrugged. "What brings ye here, Demoiselle Rose?"
"I was sent by Coram Smythesson. I have a message from Rispah," Rose replied.
"Coram!" a voice shrieked. Plates clattered to the floor. Alanna turned and saw a buxom redhead looking shocked. "You have a message from Coram?" Alanna smiled.
"Rose, this is Rispah Cooper. Rispah, Rose Archer." Rispah hurried to Rose.
"Please, give me his message!" Rose produced a letter from the folds of her cloak and handed it to Rispah, who scurried away, clutching the letter tightly. Alanna laughed.
"So, how've ye been since I saw ye last, Alanna?" George asked. Alanna thought about the ring that hung on the same chain as her charm against pregnancy and ember stone from the Goddess around her neck. Should I tell him? Even Rose doesn't know yet. Alanna thought. She glanced at Jon, who cleared his throat.
"George, can we speak to you and Rose… in private?" Jon asked. Rose and George glanced at Alanna, who nodded. George took them to his rooms. Together, Alanna and Jon spelled the room.
"This is important. Alanna's using her magic," Rose commented.
"Alanna uses her magic a lot now a days, Demoiselle Rose," George told her.
"Please, just Rose," Rose insisted. "Your majesty."
"Then it is 'just George' to ye," George replied. Rose giggled. "Now, what is so important?" Alanna had slipped the ring on her left ring finger and was covering it.
"Alanna and I have some news," Jon told them. George froze and he watched Alanna. "Alanna?" Alanna removed the hand that covered her ring and held it out. Rose gasped.
"The Conté betrothal ring!" Even commoners knew of the ring that all future queens wore. It was in the books as one of the most valuable rings in the Eastern Lands. Rose jumped to her feet. "You two are betrothed!"
"Yes," Jon said, smiling. "Alanna and I are betrothed."
"I'm so happy for you!" Rose squealed, throwing her arms around Alanna. The old friends hugged and Rose admired the ring. Alanna looked at George, who was congratulating Jon, trying to hide the pain behind his eyes. Alanna went over to George and hugged him.
"I know you're upset, George. But you'll find someone. I promise," Alanna whispered. George hugged her back.
"And I know ye won't fail me, lass. I know ye won't," George whispered back, his voice thick with held back tears.
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"Mother? Father?" Jon asked, poking his head into his parents' room later that night. "May we come in?"
"Of course, Jonathan," Roald said. "Come in." Jon took Alanna's hand and they stepped into the room. Alanna admired the room that she would one day share with Jonathan. It was decorated in the royal blue and silver and there was a large canopy bed.
"Hello, Sir Alanna. It's a pleasure to see you again," Lianne said. Alanna saw that the queen was the same pale shade that Jonathan had been years ago, when the Sweating Sickness had been about to take him. A pang shot through her heart. The queen would probably never see her son wed.
"And you as well, your majesties," Alanna said, curtsying.
"Is there something you need, Jonathan?" Roald asked. "Because the ball is beginning shortly."
"Yes, father," Jon replied. He took a deep breath. "I have found the one I wish to marry." The monarchs' faces lit up with delight.
"That's wonderful, Jonathan! We shall announce it tonight!" Lianne enthused.
"Who is she?" Roald asked.
"Alanna," Jon replied, smiling at Alanna. They looked back at the king and queen. Their faces were tight. "What?"
"We were hoping it was someone more… royal," Lianne admitted. Alanna knew that the queen wanted to say "appropriate." She was a scandal and she knew it.
"Alanna's family reaches back to The Book of Gold, mother. She comes from an old family. And Sir Myles adopted her," Jon defended. "She is a perfect match."
"But, Jonathan. Think of the Court," Roald said. "Alanna is a fine young woman, I'm sure, but-"
"Excuse me, your majesties, but would you like me to step outside?" Alanna asked. "This seems to be a private discussion." Lianne smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Alanna. That is very polite of you," the queen replied. Jon looked meaningfully at his parents as if to say, "See? She's polite." Alanna squeezed Jon's hand and went to stand outside. She paced the hall, hands entwined in her violet silk skirt.
"Jonathan, think of the Court," Raoul said. "She killed Duke Roger. She concealed her sex for 8 years-"
"I love her, father," Jon cut in. "That's what matters."
"Jonathan, we love you and we trust that you are making the right decision for you, but you must think of the good of Tortall," Lianne said. "Do you really believe that Alanna, a lady knight, and, from what my brother tells me, one of the greatest knights he's trained, is the right choice for the future queen?"
"She would have to give up her shield," Roald told his son. "She wouldn't be permitted to roam any longer."
"I would give her a year to get the itch out," Jon said. "And she said she would."
"Jonathan, she will want to fight in any battle," Roald disagreed. "She will always think herself a knight."
"Father, she will further aid our relations with the Bazhir. I am the Voice of the Tribes. She is a member of the Bloody Hawk and their Woman Who Rides Like a Man. She and I saved them from the Black City. We are practically gods to them, father," Jon explained. "And she's smart. She knows war tactics. She would be able to aid me in leading the army into war; gods forbid I have to deal with any. And I love her. Isn't that what should matter?"
"Love is a wonderful thing, Jonathan. But you must think of your kingdom," Roald said.
"Roald, he seems intent on marrying her with our blessing or not," Lianne remarked, laying a hand on her husband's arm. "And I think Jonathan knows what he is doing."
"You're right, my dear," Roald sighed. "He would never make a rash or uncalculated decision. Shall we announce the engagement at the ball tonight?"
"I think that would be the wisest choice," Lianne replied. "Jonathan, does she have the ring?"
"She's had it for a week or so. It hangs on a chain around her neck," Jon told her.
"Bring her back in so we can properly bless the marriage," Roald instructed. Jon smiled and swung the door open.
"Alanna! Come in. They're going to bless it!" Jon whispered. Alanna let out a squeak and hurried to the door. She walked in and smiled pleasantly, barely able to contain her excitement. She felt silly, being as excited as she was, and quite feminine. She curtsied.
"I hear you have the ring," Roald said. "Can you give it to Jonathan please?" Alanna reached for the golden chain that hung around her neck. She undid the clasp and slid the ring off, careful to leave the ember and her charm against pregnancy on it. She pressed the ring into the palm of Jonathan's callused hand and hooked the necklace around her neck once again. "Jonathan, get down on one knee in front of her." Jonathan did so and Alanna smiled. He was shorter than she was now! Jonathan was looking up at her with dancing sapphire eyes, looking like an excited little boy.
"Repeat after your father, Jonathan," Lianne instructed.
"I, Jonathan of Conté, offer you, Sir Alanna of Olau this ring in exchange for your hand in marriage," Roald said.
"I, Jonathan of Conté, offer you, Sir Alanna of Olau, this ring in exchange for your hand in marriage," Jonathan repeated.
"Alanna, repeat after me. I, Sir Alanna of Olau, accept the ring given to me by you, Jonathan of Conté, and agree to marry you," Lianne said.
"I, Sir Alanna of Olau, accept the ring given to me by you, Jonathan of Conté, and agree to marry you," Alanna repeated.
"I, King Roald of Conté, give my permission and blessing for my son and heir, Prince Jonathan of Conté, to wed the lady knight, Sir Alanna of Olau."
"And I, Queen Lianne of Conté, give my permission and blessing for my son, Prince Jonathan of Conté, to wed the lady knight, Sir Alanna of Olau, who will take my place as queen in the instance of my death or my husband's abdication." Alanna and Jon smiled at each other.
"Jonathan, put the ring on Alanna's finger," Roald instructed. Jon did so, sliding the beautiful ring easily onto Alanna's tanned ring finger. "You are now officially betrothed." Jon stood and hugged Alanna tightly. Lianne and Roald rose. They hugged and kissed the fiancées. Roald gripped his son's shoulders. "You chose wisely, my son." His eyes were full of pride. Lianne smiled at Alanna.
"You will make a beautiful queen, Alanna. If the gods will it, you will be one of the greatest queens Tortall has ever seen." Alanna smiled and the queen hugged her.
"I will do you and your husband proud, your majesty," Alanna said. "I promise I will not let you, King Roald, Jonathan, Tortall, or the gods down."
Author's Note- that was kind of strange, I know. Be ready for the ball in the next chapter: imagine Raoul and Gary's reaction! And, will Roger return? REVIEW!