Distant Memories – Epilogue
Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I don't own these characters, countries or anything. I just added in a few extra character's to make things exciting.
Author's note: Scared and nervous is I, the end is here!
»-(¯v´¯)-»
Alanna rode hard and fast. There would be no time to sleep and little time to eat and drink. She was determined to get back to Tortall as quickly as possible.
Jon had told King Roald, and Queen Lianne of the goddesses visit, though of course hadn't mentioned Alanna at all.
The King ordered to be kept from the rest of the party. Everyone was to act as they normal would. The Tortallans would leave in the morning as planned. When they had reached the Tortallan border the group would part. The Men, Knights and any warrior would head to Corus, while the women would be sent home.
As Alanna obviously didn't have a home to go to, as she couldn't exactly go to Trebond, she planned to change into breeches and a tunic when they stopped at the border. She'd wash her hair and remove any cosmetics left on her face.
All Alanna could do was hope no one would notice Lady Lana was gone. It was obvious that she needed some kind of story to tell when Alan appears. George had taught Alanna that the closer to the truth the story is the more believable it would be. She planned to just tell them the truth and leave out a few sections of the tale.
Her story was simple: As everyone knew Alan had been kidnapped and taken back to Tusaine. There he had been kept in a shoe box of a room, beaten by the Duke for information, and then placed into a prison cell. While the festivities had taken place, the duke had forgotten about his prisoner and Alan had discovered that the lock on his cage was in fact rusted and useless.
He had then broke the lock, slept in the stables for the night and left with the Tortallans in the morning, a hood concealing his face so he wouldn't be seen until they were safely back into Tortallan territory.
Alanna thought it would work; it wasn't far from the actual truth. She was wearing a cloak which concealed her face so her identity wasn't obvious, though she was still dressed as Lady Lana.
Though the Great Mother Goddess hadn't told Alanna when the armies would be attacking, was it yesterday? In a years time, perhaps? All she knew for certain was that it wasn't far off. The people she saw and recognized, in the vision the Goddess had shown her, hadn't looked much different then when she last saw them. It couldn't be far off at all.
After countless hours of riding and few stops for food and drink, they had finally reached the Tortallan border. There they would rest, sleep, eat, drink, or whatever they please for an hour and a half. The groups would then split.
Alanna took a walk to the nearest inn, carefully watching behind her, making sure no one else was headed in the same direction. She finally found an old tattered inn called The Wandering Bard.
As she walked towards the bar keeper, he said, "Yer, a pretty one. We don' see many like ye aroun'."
She smiled politely. There were a few other drunken people around the room. "Would I be able to get a room for the night?" The barkeeper gave her a key and in return she handed over a few coins.
Alanna headed up to her room, firstly she bathed. Afterwards she made sure her hair was knotted and looked dirty. She took some dirt from the ground and smudged it over her face. Then she put on tattered old breeches, and a once white shirt, buttons all done up. Alan wasn't going to look as if he had had an easy time being a prisoner.
She walked down the stairs and took a seat at the bar. No one paid any attention to her, but those who did mistook her for a male commoner, exactly what she had wanted. When the barkeeper went to deal with a rowdy group of customers, Alanna slipped the key to her room onto the bar top and walked out of the inn.
She had entered the room Lady Lana and exited as Alan. Putting on her cloak to conceal her face, Alanna walked back to the campsite. For the next hour she slept, she'd need her sleep when she got back to Corus and found her city in ruins.
Right now all that mattered to her was that she was back home again for the first time in months, and she didn't plan to leave again until she had her shield, which was still a few years away.
»-(¯v´¯)-»
They had finally made it to Corus and the picture to be seen was exactly what the Goddess had shown herThe City of Corus, under attack. Fire burned down the homes of commoners and houses had been looted. Dead bodies littered the street, blood was everywhere. Not much remained and there was little resemblance to the Corus Alanna knew. The only way in which it was recognizable was from the Palace, up the hill.
The enemy looked surprised; George and the rogues obviously hadn't been expected. Alanna noted the flag of the enemy was the one of the Royal Family of Tusiane. Near it was Count Jemis, laughing triumphantly.
As George's men fought with the well prepared army, Jemis made his way up to the Palace. Alanna could barely watch as her home was being ruined to bits.
Despite their best efforts George's men just weren't good enough against the army of Tusaine. Though they gave a damn good fight, one the opposition certainly weren't expecting.
George brought down quite a few men. No one could best him with knives and he had Marek watching his back. Alanna was sure that the army certainly hadn't expected troubles from the rogues, commoners' maybe, but not the rogues.
There was a cry of "Tusaine!" in the distance, as the third troop of men came galloping down the Great Road South. It looked as though there would be no chance of survival for George or his men now, they were greatly outnumbered.
"For Tortall!" The Knights rode down the hill and into the battle, Alanna one of them. She had finally come home from war, just to begin another.
But at least she was at home, where she had longed to be, with her prince, thief and family.
Where she belonged.
Her life wouldn't turn into distant memories, because she was home.
»-(¯v´¯)-»
Where one story ends another one begins! The sequel will be called: The Royal Diaries: Prince Jonathon Of Conte. A sneak peak will be put up soon!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed at any point of the story, thank you very much. I don't know if I could have got through the story without you all!
Another very big thank you to all those who put either me or my story on their fave's. Thank you!
Happy Reading,
Madame-S-Butterfly
xoxo