It had been almost a month since Alanna had come back. Now she had a routine back at the palace. Get up early, go practice weapons with the other knights, go to a meeting, practice throwing knives with George, go to another meeting and maybe eat somewhere in between.
When she woke up this morning she saw a note scribbled on a crumpled piece of paper next to her.
-Lass,
I have to go down to Port Caynn for a while. Myles wants me to see why there is unrest between the Rogues. I need to see if I can possibly find out the cause. Don't worry about me.
Love,
George
P.S. Remember to eat and don't tire yourself out too much while I'm gone.
Sighing at the note she folded it and put it on her dresser where it would be safe from damage.
Dressing in comfortable breeches and a tunic Alanna grabbed her sword and trotted off towards the practice courts. After practicing until she was tired, this lately was sooner and sooner. Alanna always shook that idea out of her head telling herself that she was just tired because she was waking up early and went to sleep late.
Knowing that she needed to go to another meeting with all of the King's advisors present she sauntered back to her rooms and cleaned up. After she dressed properly in a tunic with the Pirates Swand breeches she walked to the libraries where the meeting was to be held. As she walked into the room she nodded at Gary and Jon who were already in their seats discussing something very quietly.
"She looks ill doesn't she?" remarked Jon as a statement more than a question
"Why don't you talk to her after the meeting?" suggested Gary "Find out what's going on"
As they were discussing Alanna's health someone cleared their voice. Looking up from their conversation they noticed that Lord Imrah had a very annoyed look on his face.
"Can we please start this meeting so I can get back to my duties?"
Standing and feeling harassed Jon stood saying "As these past four weeks have been a bit of daze due to the delegation coming, the continuation of this famine, and the lack of support from neighboring countries."
As the king continued many of the Lords and Knights took notes trying to catch every vital piece of information that might be able to help their people. "Very soon a Captain Harlen and his crew will be coming to discuss the pirate raids along the coast and he might have some way to ascertain some grain for our depleted fields…"
Alanna didn't hear the rest of what he said. All of the sudden she was extremely dizzy and nauseous. Looking around the room she realized that she needed to leave. But how? She couldn't just get up and walk out of the room. Alanna couldn't hold it down any longer. Standing up and almost falling over the table she ran out of the room as voices called after her.
All the men were looking at each other in surprise and astonishment. What was so grave that the Lioness would run out in the middle of an address from the king? As the men started to murmur to each other Myles and Jon exchanged worried looks and went after her.
She was halfway down the hall when she started heaving up what little she had eaten for breakfast. After what seemed like an endless amount of time she stopped and tried to stand but faltered a little. A pair of strong arms pulled her to her feet trying to steady her.
"Thanks" she murmured "Sorry Jon I just don't feel so…"
She couldn't finish her sentence because she was hit with another wave of nausea.
"Here Jon, I'll take her to back to her rooms. Then I can send for Eleni or Duke Baird to come and check her out." said Myles, as he surveyed his daughter through worried eyes.
"No! I'm fine, I swear Myles!" She managed to get out, starting to fight the hold that Jon had on her shoulders. "Really I just think that I ate something that didn't sit right with me."
"I'm sure that what it is Alanna. Since you've been eating soo much lately" Jon said dryly "I'll just make sure Alanna gets back to her rooms okay and then I'll be along later. You can finish up the meeting right?"
As Jon reached for Alanna's arm to keep a firm hold on her just incase she became violently sick again, she started to pull away.
"I'm only going to help you back to your rooms fair maiden. I have no other intentions" Jon replied with a wink
"No, you should go back to your meeting. I'll be fine"
"Yes, Jon I can make sure that she gets back okay. After all I am her father"
As he handed the Lioness over to Myles and was about to leave when, he heard he becoming sick again. When this happened Jon started to reach with his Gift to her but she pulled away. As that subsided she said "I'm fine and I would know if I had any serious problems. I'm a healer, remember?"
"Fine, just don't over work yourself, we can't have a realm with a sick Champion." Stated Jon with true concern as he turned for a final time to go back to his briefing.
When they reached her rooms Alanna unlocked the door and sat down rubbing her temples. Now she just felt tired and worn out. All the symptoms that she had earlier were almost gone.
Myles walked around her room and sat down in the chair next to her dresser surveying his daughter. "Alanna?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you know that you're not wearing your token from the goddess?" he remarked
"It must've fallen off. Another thing I have to do. Look for a small fine chain that could be anywhere!" She cried as her hand went to where she wore her token from the goddess and her pregnancy charm, only it wasn't there.
On that note he stood up and surveyed her dresser. He saw a small note and opened it. I shouldn't have sent George away especially when she has so much to worry about. Myles thought to himself. In the corner of his eye he saw the purple stone lying on the ground
We walked over and picked them up. Looking intently at it he noticed that a pregnancy charm was attached. Turning a new thought over in his head Myles walked over and put the chain on Alanna.
"There! One less thing you have to do. You should take off the rest of the day Alanna and relax. I'll send someone along later to check up on you.
"Thanks Myles but I really am okay" the Lioness said as she made her hand glow violet conducting a mock examination, trying to convince the spymaster as she ushered him out of the door
"Oh, but you see Alanna that I can see a lie from miles away. That's what you get from always being suspicious of others." He said as he winked at her
As soon as he left Alanna knew that she needed to find out what was bothering her. Calculating in her head what was wrong with her, Alanna could only come up with one answer: she was pregnant. It made sense with her growing hunger, loss of energy, sickness in the morning, and waning patience. Well she was always waning in patience but that was beside the point.
"Oh no, no, no. Oh no, this can't be happening now. There is too much to do. How can I fight while I'm pregnant? No, this isn't the time for a family. If only George was here."
Then she would have someone to confide in. She knew that his joy would turn her sorrow around. At this she started to break down. Sitting dejectedly on her bed she stared outside the window thinking of her next plan of action.
'I'll just have to keep this from everyone until Jon's done with me' she thought. 'No one can know until my duty is done. I am a knight first of all that was the deal I made with myself so long ago. No one made me give up arms to take a family. That just came along one day.' Filled with worry Alanna lay down on the bed and drifted off to sleep, missing the quiet knock on her door.
