Chapter 15

"There is a light of day/Hold on, hold on/It's closer than you let yourself believe/When life cuts you like a blade/It's gone so wrong/You can't remember who you're supposed to be/Hold on, hold on to me." –Hold On to Me, Bo Bice

"I think that violet gowns would be simply lovely, don't you agree, Eliena?"

"Oh, yes, Lianne. I think that would be wonderful. What do you think, Alanna? Alanna? Alanna?"

"Alanna." Jonathan jabbed his elbow into Alanna's ribs.

"Ouch! What?" she demanded. She saw that the queen, her mother, and her betrothed had their eyes fixed on her. "Did I miss something?"

"Yes, Alanna. Lianne suggested that your bridesmaids wear violet gowns," Eliena replied, violet eyes dancing. "And asked your opinion."

"I don't care what color they are," Alanna replied.

"That settles it, then. Violet it is," Lianne decided. The scribe took it down. "And, Alanna, dear, we have to settle on your gown."

"My what?" Alanna asked.

"Your gown, sweet," Eliena replied. "You didn't believe you'd actually wear a tunic and hose to your own wedding, did you?" She looked amused.

"No, of course not," Alanna muttered.

"Do you have any idea what you want it to look like?" Eliena asked her daughter.

"As simple as possible," Alanna replied. "I don't want frills or lace or anything that will get in my way." Eliena and Lianne exchanged an amused glance.

"Darling, you should look like a delicate lady flower on your wedding day. I think lace, frills, and 'things that will get in your way' are ideal," Eliena said. Alanna glared at her mother.

"Mother. Please. I loathe frills," Alanna told her.

"Alanna, you should look dainty," the queen told her. "Soft and beautiful. Like a flower." Alanna shoved her chair back and rose to her feet.

"I would rather fight Duke Roger all over again than look soft, beautiful, and like a flower on my wedding day. It is my wedding, I will look however I say!" Alanna yelled. Jonathan tugged on her arm.

"Sit down, Alanna. No one is forcing anything on you," he told her, holding her eyes with his own. "Sit." Alanna sat, pouting.

"I think that's enough for today," Lianne remarked. "We can meet again tomorrow at the same time." She and Eliena rose and left the husband-and-wife-to-be alone. The door shut and Alanna glared at Jonathan.

"I will not look like a flower on my wedding day," she informed him. Jonathan's sapphire eyes twinkled with amusement.

"No one is going to force you to, Alanna. But, I do insist that you at the very least wear a proper gown," he told her. Alanna sighed.

"I'll wear a 'proper gown' so long as there aren't lots of layers, lace, frills, or anything like that," she conceded.

"What about beading? Do you have anything against some beads or embroidery?" Alanna ran her fingers gently along the lioness rampant that was sewn into the upper left of her tunic.

"Maybe a lioness rampant in the skirt or top to show who I am," Alanna mused. "That would be nice."

"I think that could be arranged," Jonathan said. He turned her toward him and pressed his forehead against hers. "Promise me something, Alanna."

"What?" she wanted to know.

"Promise me you won't make this difficult. Especially not for my mother. You know she isn't doing well. And I would hate to see your relationship with your mother injured because of a wedding," Jonathan replied.

"I think I could manage that," Alanna said, smiling impishly. She suddenly grew serious. "Under one condition."

"What?" Jonathan sighed.

"Let me go away before the wedding. On an adventure. Out of Tortall."

The room was eerily quiet. Jonathan pulled away from Alanna and sat back in his chair. Alanna watched him closely, waiting for him to say something. Praying he would say something soon. She should've known that this would be a bad time to ask. Why had she chosen that moment to ask? Why?

"I don't need an answer now," she told him.

"Good." Jonathan stood and walked to the door, pulling it open. "Because it might be a while before you get an answer." He walked from the room, closing the door in his wake.

Since when was I the one who needed to give him time to think something over? Alanna wondered.

Author's Note- there will probably be a couple filler chapters before something interesting happens. The song will change with the interesting occurrence. REVIEW.