Chapter 1
Alanna woke up the next morning, her hands went to the charm as they always did after she and Jonathan has spent a night together. It wasn't there. She looks around frantically for it. Finally she spots it on the table. She ran over and put it on, then went and lay back in bed. Her mind contemplating what she and Jon had done the night before and of the many consequences that might arise now. Jon awoke about an hour later. He laid a kiss on her lips and then said. "I love you so much, will you marry me?"
This was worse for Alanna now, what was she to say? She didn't know how to respond to a question like this especially after the news that their little night of fun may have got her pregnant. "Jon, I don't know?" She looked at him; her violet eyes piercing his soul, as if the were trying to see into his thoughts.
"What do you mean you don't know?" He said returning her gaze. He was shocked and hurt. Here he had just asked her what he had thought about doing for years, and she says she didn't know. Did she not love him as he thought she did? Or was she just as confused about this as he was.
"Jon, that's a bid commitment, and I don't know if I am ready to get married, especially to you. You're in line for the throne, and if I married you I would have to be queen, and, oh, Jonathan, you know how I feel about that."
"You wouldn't have to be queen, Darling. I could give up the throne."
"No," she said firmly, "You are not to give up what you dream most about for me. I am a knight, and that is all I want to be, you need to marry some princess that will give your kingdom everything it needs to be secure."
"But darling that is…" Jonathan starts to say, but Alanna puts her finger to her lips…
"No, I don't want to hear any more about it, Jon. My answer is no, if fact, I am leaving in the morning. The girls have pasted the rite and there is no reason for me to stay here." Alanna quickly gets dressed and leaves her tent, she runs out far into the sand, away from the village, and when she is not longer in site she starts to cry. Tears stream down her face.
"He loves you, Alanna, why did you do that." Faithful says coming up behind his mistress.
"I don't need to be chained to anyone I need to be free, I am the Lioness."
"Freedom comes at a cost, are you sure it is one you are willing to pay. Are you willing to trade Jonathan's love for a life of loneliness and pain? Never having a place to call your home, never having anyone to love you…"
"I don't need to hear this from you, Faithful." Alanna says before running back to camp. "Courm," she yells, "We are leaving in the morning." Then collapses back on her bed in tears.