One of the Rogue
Authors Note: Thankyou for all the reviews! For AgiVega and Reedhare: "Carried by the Rogue" IS an Alanna/George fic...I can not STAND Alanna/Jonathan pairings. They may become friends, but nothing more then that. Well, please keep the reviews coming! They inspire me to write.
Fire of the Elements
Two Years Later
"Do you know the way to the west marketplace?" Asked a young noble, long blond hair hanging afront of his thin, pale face. The violet eyed girl eyed the noble suspiciously. She had never seen him before at the palace, and figured immediately that he was from out of the country, or to the far side, at least.
The easiest prey. Thought the violet eyed girl as she eyed the noble over. Stupid and ignorant.
"To the west of the Park. I can lead you, if you would like." Without an answer, the girl lead her mare Moonlight towards the Park. Noticing the noble following, not at all cautious, the girl's violet eyes shone a light purple. Not much longer.
"Attack! Sir...stop!" Screamed the girl, adding a worried touch to her voice. Usually she waited a while longer before tricking her prey, but this noble looked ignorant enough, and she had other jobs to do. Obviously not listening to her instructions, the noble turned, his eyes stalking the area around him. In a flash, the girl grabbed the purse and turned Moonlight to a gallop. When the noble turned only a few seconds later, purse and girl were gone.
"Alanna!" The familiar voice pierced the Dancing Dove, causing the violet eyed girl to turn from her conversation with Lightfingers, another thief of the Rogue. Nearby stood George, King of the Rogue. Even before Alanna had entered the Rogue, she had been friends with George. He was seven years older then her own fifteen years. Handsome enough for a man who was not noble, George was the greatest thief in years.
"What." Hollered Alanna back, content to scream when she wished to. She brushed a piece of shoulder length red hair from her eyes.
"Gary and Johnny are here." George's voice was cautious, knowing how Alanna did not enjoy reminders from her past. He scanned her violet eyes, searching for an answer, although he was almost positive what shw would say.
Alanna gazed thoughtfully at George. Then she answered," Sure. I have not seen them for a long time."Seeing George's shocked look, Alanna added,"Also, I doubt they will recognize me. I have grown longer hair, I am taller, and I am no longer dressing as a boy." Alanna did not add that she thought her eyes had turned even more violet then before...a few years ago they had been a light pruple.
George smiled down at her, "If that is what you choose. I am sure they will not recognize you." George turned to walk to the other room where Gary and Jonathan were waiting.
"Johnny...Gary. This is a new recuit to the Rogue...Alanna." George did not add how long - two years - Alanna had been with the Rogue.
Standing up, Jonathan and Gary each shook Alanna's hand. She smiled back, making sure to use her 'girl smile' instead of her old 'boyish smile'. Jonathan and Gary were just as she remembered them. Jon seemed to have grown an inch or two taller. She figured that they would both be last-year Squires by now. She wondered how Raoul and Alex were, but dared not to ask.
"So...are you two Squires?" Questioned Alanna, doing her greatest 'un-Alan' like presentation.
"Yes. Last year." Replied Gary politely. He seemed almost nervous, as if he did not wish to speak vulgar in front of a lady. Seeing this, George interrupted.
"Alanna here is one of the best of the Rogue. She has stolen as much as any other Rogue has in their lifetime in this little while that she has lived as a Rogue. Except me, of course." Added George slyly. His remark seemed to change Gary and Jon's attitude, and soon they were all talking as they once had when Alanna had still been a page.
Coversation passed, leaving Alanna's earilier identity hidden perfectly. After a few hours, Jon regretfully informed Gary that they had to leave. After quick good-byes, Alanna turned back to George.
"Does Raoul ever come?" Questioned Alanna, remembering another earlier friend of hers.
"Sometimes. Not too often though." Replied George. Then he grinned, a grin that could always turn Alanna's frown to a smile.
"They really missed you. Well, Alan of Trebond to be exact. But for a year all they ever spoke of was the "Page that Left." Apparently Duke Gareth informed them that your father called you back to take after him. They all seemed to believe it."
Alanna looked up at George. She was glad he had finally told her this - for two years she had been protesting against knowledge of her old friends. "Thanks for telling me George, but I would never go back, you know. I love being at the Rogue. I love being a Rogue. I would never go back to the Palace." With this, Alanna hugged George and stalked away from the Dancing Dove to her rooms.
Sighing, Alanna dropped herself to her mattress. It had been great to see Gary and Jon again, but the meeting had showed Alanna how much she loved the Rogue. All she hoped was that Jon and Gary never recognized her. After all, eventually they would have to put two and two together and...
Alanna coughed, spitting on the ground. The answer was clear. She had to limit her visits with Gary and Jon, however hard. She had lasted two years, after all. And she did not want any nobles in her life. Ever since her banishment from Trebond and Corus, Alanna had felt hard feelings towards nobles. Not even her brother, Thom, had kept in contact with her... and surely if he really wanted to see her he would write to George. After all, he was the most likely one she would run to for help! Her father had died just four months ago; information that George had received from his many and unknown spies. Nobody had even called for her, although Alanna suspected that Lord Alan had erased her name from the Will, Trebond files, and other files that Alanna had never been taught.
Yet, for all the trouble that pretending to be a boy had caused Alanna, she was glad, although only deep inside, that she had done what she did instead of going to develop more Sorcery. She never would have met George, or her other friends from the Rogue.
Because they are who really matter. Thought Alanna, bringing a brush through her red hair. If she was ever forced to never see George again, she would surely feel unwhole. George was the reason of her good nature, her ability to get over her Banishment as well as she ever could, and another strange feeling that she had never felt before.
Feeling sleep creep up behind her, Alanna allowed it to take over. However much she tried to forget, the Banishment had been good, in a small way, yet bad in an emotional way.
Maybe I should have waited before seeing them again. Was Alanna's last thought before she drifted into sleep.