Chapter 29

It wasn't an excited scream. It was the scream of terror.

The door to the throne room swung open and men in the Tirragen purple and green and the Eldorne green and white (excuse me if that's wrong. I couldn't find what colors belonged to what fief) streamed in. Jonathan and Alanna, both dressed in proper armor (Alanna's gold) leapt to their feet. Alanna drew Lightning and began cutting men down at a furious rate. Magically, her crown stayed put.

Jonathan, Raoul, Gary, Duke Gareth, and the other knights who had real swords joined Alanna, but only her friends were as fast as she, and still slightly slower. They only knight who could match the Lioness for speed was against them. Myles had followed Eleni Cooper, who was working thread magic with other mages. Rose, Thayet, Buri, and some of the noble ladies were using bows and arrows. George and his followers were wielding deadly daggers.

"Jonathan!" Jon looked and saw Alanna in the doorway. "I have to find Alex!" Even from across the room, Jonathan saw the determination in her eyes.

"Go! And gods bless!" Alanna blew a kiss and ran to find Alex, thinking, As if I need another god blessing me. No offense, Mother, but you are enough.

She found Alex in his room, reclining in his desk chair, feet on the desk. He was in full silver armor. Alex must have known she'd come for him.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he asked, standing and walking to lean on the front of his desk. "The queen?" He gave a mocking bow. "Your majesty." Alanna spat a curse at him. "Now is that any way a queen should be speaking?"

"I may be queen, but I'm a lady knight first!" she retorted. "And Alanna through and through."

Alex smirked. "Getting soft I see. You've been spending too much time around Myles."

Alanna gasped in fury. "Don't you dare speak of my father that way!" Alex drew his sword.

"I've been waiting for this," he said. "Time to see who's really the better knight."

"Guard," Alanna snapped. They both guarded and Alex swung first, cutting down. Alanna blocked it and swung around, clipping Alex's arm. "Getting slow," she tsk-ed.

"You never used to talk in a fight, why start now?" Alex asked, teeth clenched. Alanna ignored it and made Alex keep blocking. She swung wildly, but with control, and watched a growing dear in Alex's dark eyes. She smiled and sent a stream of violet fire down Lightning's blade, ready to scorch Alex. The first time she did, he gasped. "Magic! No honorable knight fights with magic."

"It's a pity you have none then," she remarked coolly. "Because you are the most dishonorable knight I know."

The duel raged on, fueled by Alanna's drive. Alex had been working with Roger a long time, and she was determined to finish all traces of the sorcerer.

Finally, Alanna saw and opening. She sent another stream of magic down Lightning and knocked Alex's sword from his hand. She kicked in the center of his chest, knocking him to the ground. She pressed her foot into him, putting the tip of her sword to his throat, pressing so blood dripped out.

"Is this what it means to be the best knight, Alex?" she asked. Alex swore at her and she smiled, waggling a finger. "Ah, ah, ah. That's no way to talk to your queen." With that, she drew Lightning back and plunged it as hard as she could through the armor on Alex's chest. She knew she'd struck his heart when his face went ghostly pale.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

She staggered back into the throne room sometime later, to find bodies strewn. She saw no one she knew on the ground. Jonathan was on his throne, looking tired. He was surrounded by people and was bleeding. Alanna rushed to him. He smiled at her.

"Are you all right?" she asked, brushing sweaty clumps of black hair from his face and kissing him.

"I told Duke Baird not to heal me," he replied, voice growing slightly stronger with each word. "I knew you were alive. I wanted you to heal me." She smiled and kissed his cheek, pressing her own to his.

"You're mad," she whispered. "You could have died from blood loss." Her eyes were wet as Jonathan made her look at him.

"But at least I'd have died knowing you were alive," he whispered. "He's dead?" Alanna nodded, squeezing tears from her eyes. Jonathan chuckled and brushed them away. "I've never seen you cry this much, Alanna."

"And hopefully never again," she replied. "Now, let me see to those cuts."

Author's Note- one more chapter. I know the coronation was different than in the books, but I had to change it around. REVIEW.