Chapter Nine

We would like to thank all our reviewers: Lady Cherri, Pie of Doomeh, inuyashaswife12, PolskaGirl, fjk (for chapter 7) and Elavie, Lady Empathy, Lady Cherri, fjk .

for all those who also read the circle of magic I'm finishing The Will of the Empress its really good. Also has any one read terrier I'm wondering if it was a good book. let me know if any of you liked it. Susan

Three weeks later

Jen, Elspeth, Alanna and a lot of servants rushed around Alanna's room. Well…the three noble girls weren't rushing around but the servants sure were. Alanna sat there as servants named Sarah and Anna got her clothes ready and two others, Susan and Kathleen did her hair and makeup.

Why do I have to have all of these people running around me?

"Alright my lady all we have to do is get you dressed and you are ready to go." Kathleen said

"Do I have to go?"

The servant named Sarah smiled "You are the bride, you have to go"

"But I don't want to, and you can't make me….. can you?"

"No, we can't" said Anna

"But King Roald and Prince Jonathan can" Susan said

"Come on Lanna let the girls do their job."

"Why should I? I don't want to get married…any of you girls interested in trading places with me?"

"Well…." Anna started

"Anna!" Kathleen and Susan said quickly.

"Anna fancies Duke Roger…just like any other woman who has seen him" Sarah said

"I do not!"

"Do too!"

"Sarah! Anna!" Kathleen snapped "Sorry about them my ladies."

"Its ok and I mean it you can trade places any time"

"In that case…" Sarah said

"Sarah!" another servant snapped "We are servants! Dukes are out of our league!"

"But Princes aren't?" Sarah said

"For the millionth time! I did not sleep with Prince Jonathan!"

"Ew!!! My cousin had…. EWWWWWW!"

"You were caught in his private chambers rushing to get dressed! Jon was rushing to getting dressed as well"

"Girls!" Kat said loosing her temper.

"Again I say EWWWWWWWWW!"

"See I'm not the only one who needs anger management."

"Anger management?"

Everyone turned and saw Prince Jon in the room

"Your highness!" The servants curtsied

"Jon…did you…ugh!"

"Did I…what?"

"Did you and that servant over there…you know…"

"No!" Jon said "Angel, didn't you set them strait?"

"I tried your highness"

"Ok! Everyone listen and listen good because I will only say this once! Angel and I did not sleep together! I walked in on my squire and Angel…you know…"

"EWWWWWWWWW!" Elspeth shrieked "That's my brother!"

"Permission to be excused your highness?" Angel asked, her cheeks turning redder bythe minute

"Permission granted"

Angel curtsied and ran from the room, her face redder than Alanna's hair

"Poor girl" Alanna said "Oh well…she still has freedom"

"Alanna don't start." Jen groaned, "Jon, Alanna needs to get dressed so..."

"No problem just came in to see how you were doing and to tell you my mom is going to come and see you in a bit."

"Ok thanks Jon."

Jon left and Alanna let Susan, and Kathleen help her with the dress while Anna and Sarah helped with the accessories .

"There my lady." Sarah said "You'll have every man in court wishing they were Duke Roger when you walk down that aisle"

"I can hardly breathe. I hate corsets."

"We all do Lanna."

"How is everything in here?"

The servants dropped into a low curtsy, as did the ladies

"She is ready your majesty" Susan said

"Very good. One of you stay behind, the rest of you go see what else you can do to help get ready. We have a wedding in 1 hour"

"Yes your majesty," the girls chorused and all but Kathleen left leaving the nobles and royalty to talk.

"So, Lady Alanna, are you excited about your wedding?"

NO! I don't want to get married! I NEVER wanted to get married and I never, ever, ever will want to get married…EVER!

"Yes, your majesty"

"Did anyone ever tell you, you can't lie well Lady Alanna?"

"The sisters at the convent told me once a day…at least"

The queen grinned "you and my niece are so much alike isn't that right Jen?"

"Yes aunt majesty."

Alanna grinned "I hope I'm not exactly like her, your majesty"

"Why is that?"

"I will actually care about how I conduct myself when in the presence of everyone"

Alanna shivered at the thought

"Are we talking about the same Jen?"

"Aunt…please don't…not today"

"Alright now I have to. I'm guessing Jen never told you the story about the time that she and Jon…"

"No Aunt I'm begging you."

"I want to hear this" Alanna said

"JON!"

Jon came running into the room

"What?"

"Aunt wants to tell everyone about…you know what"

"Mother, I think Dad wants to see you in the hall"

"Now, now Jon, it is nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Mother, I'm begging you…"

"I already tried that Jonny"

"Shut it Jenny"

"Oh! That reminds me of when…"

"Mother!"

"Lets see it all happened one summer when the ambassador from Tussaine was visiting…"

"MOTHER!"

"…yes and Jon and Jen were sitting next to each other, heaven only knows why we allowed them to go."

"Just kill us now" Jen said

Just then, Duke Garreth came walking by

"Dad!"

"What?"

"Aunt is trying to tell everyone the story about me and Jon when I was 4. Help!"

"Oh, you mean the one that happened that one summer when the ambassador from Tussaine was visiting…"

"Dad! Don't help her! Help us!"

"Now where is the fun in that? Lets see if I remember correctly Jonathan pulled Jennaya's hair and so she hit him he pinched her and then she flicked her peas at him but they hit the ambassador instead and it started a very weird negotiation… which reminds me… Jennaya sweetie I have something to tell you."

"Father how could you!"

"You did throw the peas at him"

"I was aiming at Jon. He wasn't suppose to duck!"

"Well there was no way I was going to be hit by peas…"

"Children! Now Jennaya where was I…oh yes you're supposed to marry the ambassador's son."

"Forget it!"

"You don't have a choice"

"You could marry Roger and I'll marry the ambassador's son" Alanna said

"No" Jennaya said

"I thought you didn't want to get married" Elspeth said

"I don't" Alanna said "But if I marry the ambassador's son, I'll have more time to get use to the idea"

"Not going to work"

"Come on Alanna, my cousin isn't that bad" Jon said

"Thanks"

"I was talking about Roger"

"You know what…screw you!"

"Mother!"

Jon lunged at Jen

"Daddy!"

"Jonathon!"

"Jennaya!"

"Sorry." The cousins said in unison

"Now come on the rest of us have to get ready, see you later Lady Alanna."

Down the hall.

"Dad how can you do this to your little girl? I understand that I had to get married to someone but that doesn't mean you don't have to tell me."

"I was going to tell you but not until a little later but then I found out that the ambassador is coming for the wedding and I wanted to make sure you knew."

"Why didn't you tell me before now I mean all you had to do is write a letter or tell me as soon as I got here. Its not like you didn't know for long I was four when the whole pea thing happened!"

"Just clam down and be polite you messing this up could make Tortal look bad."

"Alright father may I go? I want to talk to Elspeth."

"Go ahead just be ready for the service."

"Alright Dad," Jen said and ran off to find her friend.