Chapter 11

"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 me 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." –The Real Thing, Bo Bice

"Jonathan!" a voice called. Alanna and Jon turned. Alanna used all her strength not to gag.

Coming toward them were a willowy blonde princess (Josiane) and a green-eyed brunette (Delia). Both looked gorgeous, and towered over Alanna. Delia and Josiane kissed Jonathan on the cheek. Alanna silently fumed. Just because he, for a short time, had kept them as lovers did not mean they had the right to come and kiss him on the cheek in front of her. She, Sir Alanna of Olau, was his betrothed! Not Princess Josiane of the Copper Isles. Not Delia of Eldorne. Alanna of Olau.

"Lady Delia, Princess Josiane, you look simply stunning," Jonathan flattered, kissing each woman's hand as a good prince should. Alanna's smile was half smirk. He was treating them with common courtesy, no more and no less. He turned to Alanna. "And I'm sure you know my be- best friend, Sir Alanna of Olau?" Alanna and Jonathan locked eyes. He'd had to catch himself before calling her his betrothed.

"Of course. Good evening, Sir Alanna," Josiane said, curtsying.

"Good evening Alan. Oops, I mean Alanna," Delia remarked. Alanna smiled, a touch of ice and a touch of sympathy in her smile.

"It is lovely to see you again, Lady Delia. Have you managed to find yourself another lover in the past… oh, it must be at least… 5 years?" Alanna asked. Delia gave her a sickeningly sweet fake smile.

"3 years, Sir Alanna. Only 3," Delia corrected.

"Oh, excuse me. I must have lost track of time in my absence. How rude of me to assume you older than you are," Alanna apologized. Jonathan barely contained his laughter.

"Etiquette never was one of your strong suits, Alanna," a voice remarked. Alanna turned and saw her "friend", Sir Alexander of Tirragen. For Jonathan's benefit, Alanna smiled.

"Alex. It's been too long," she said.

"Yes, it certainly has. No one has given me a good fight in too long," Alex agreed. They shook hands. It didn't escape Jon's notice that Alanna had hugged both Raoul and Gary and joked with the big knights, but was barely managing to be polite to Alex. He couldn't help but wonder why she was being so formal with their old friend.

"What have you been up to, Alex?" Alanna inquired.

"The usual. Serving as a knight, you know," he replied vaguely.

"Alanna, may I speak with you for a moment?" Myles asked, coming over and placing his hand on his adopted daughter's shoulder.

"Of course, father," Alanna replied, making sure Delia, Josiane, and Alex caught that Myles was now her father. Myles raised an eyebrow, but ignored the comment. "Excuse me, Sir Alex. Lovely to see you again, Princess Josiane. Lady Delia. Goodbye, Jonathan." Myles guided Alanna away. She turned to him. "What is it?"

"Father?" Myles asked. Alanna shrugged.

"What could I do? Everyone knows you adopted me. I may as well at least pretend we're an 'appropriate' family," she replied. Myles chuckled. "Now, what did you need to speak with me about?"

"Nothing, actually," Myles admitted. "I saw that you were uncomfortable with Alex, Delia, and Josiane. I thought I'd save you."

"What would I do without you?" Alanna asked, relieved.

"I don't think I want to know," Myles replied, ruffling her hair and kissing her on the cheek. "I believe that the banquet will be beginning shortly. And your brother wants to see you." Alanna nodded and went to find her twin.

She found him standing with Elizabeth and Raoul. After a quick talk with Raoul and a hello to Elizabeth, Alanna turned to Thom. "Myles said you wanted to see me? If you wanted to see me, then I am going to leave. But if there was something you actually wanted to say, please make it fast. I need to be in the dining hall."

"If you will excuse us, Sir Raoul, Lady Elizabeth?" Thom asked. The cousins nodded and left. Thom turned to Alanna. "Are you aware that we can bring people back from the dead?" Alanna froze.

"By the Gods, Thom. If you're even considering trying something so gods-cursed stupid, I swear by the Great Mother that I will wring your neck," Alanna said seriously.

"I wouldn't, Alanna. You know that," Thom told her, matching her tone for seriousness.

"Good," Alanna said, eyes sharp. "Because you could get yourself killed. And if you killed yourself doing something you knew was dangerous-"

"Alanna, listen to yourself. You are telling me to be careful. You, dearest sister, are the knight. The same knight who disguised herself as boy to earn her shield, the same one who saved the heir to the kingdom from the Sweating Sickness when healers were being killed, the one who, with said heir, rescued the Bazhir from the Black City, the same knight who is a Bazhir shaman… must I go on?"

"No," Alanna snapped. "Don't. I get it."

Thom smiled. "Good. Now, I believe you had to get to the dining hall?"

Alanna glared at her and swore at him. Thom looked amused and made a remark about the time she was spending with Coram and George. Alanna lunged at him, but Thom laughed and dodged it. She walked away, grumbling about her brother.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"May I have everyone's attention, please?" King Roald asked, rising from his seat at the head of the long table. All chatter stopped and all eyes were turned to the king. "Her majesty and I have an announcement to make. We are thrilled to announce that our son, Prince Jonathan, is betrothed." A murmur went through the room. Many speculated, others were surprised, and still others were upset- that was mostly the ladies who knew it wasn't them. "Jonathan?" Jonathan rose. Alanna was seated across from him, fiddling with her skirts. "Men and women of Court, her majesty Queen Lianne and I are proud to announce to you that our son, Prince Jonathan, is betrothed to Sir Alanna of Olau." Alanna rose as yet another murmur rippled through the men and women. This time, everyone was shocked and somewhat scandalized. Alanna and Jonathan smiled at each other from across the table. Finally, Myles, Thom, Raoul, Gary, and Elizabeth began to applaud. Others joined in, even if they were unhappy with the match. Alanna smiled thankfully at her friends and family.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"I still can't believe you didn't tell us!" Raoul exclaimed later that night.

"Raoul, you know we couldn't tell you until we told my parents," Jon said.

"We're your best friends. And I'm your cousin. I'm sure they wouldn't mind," Gary responded. Jon sighed. He was getting a little tired of hearing about it from his friends.

"I think it's splendid," Alex remarked. Raoul, Jon, and Gary looked at him.

"You do?" Jon asked, slightly surprised.

"Oh, yes. I certainly do," Alex replied. No one caught the evil glimmer in his eyes.

Author's Note- R-E-V-I-E-W. Oh, and check the profile.