Chapter Eleven
No! Don't run Alanna, you are no coward. Only cowards run.
Alanna's feet were firmly planted. She was starting to feel warm. True, a marriage wasn't a blood bond, but it was a bond nonetheless
"I…I…I…"
"Do" Mouthed Roger
"Do" whispered Jennaya and Elspeth at the same time
"I…I…"
Alanna looked around the room. Her father was sitting in the front row. Alanna knew he was packed and planned on leaving as soon as the father-daughter dance was over. Thom was mouthing the word 'Do'.
"I…"
"Excuse us" Jennaya said pulling Alanna along to the side where no one could here them easily.
"Talk amongst yourselves" Elspeth said and followed Alanna and Jennaya
Jennaya turned to face Alanna
"Alanna, what has gotten into you? What, you can curse out a sister at the convent, but you can't say 'I do'?"
"No, I can't. I'm not ready"
"Yes you are Alanna, you are ready. The Great Mother Goddess wouldn't have let the wedding take place if you weren't ready.
"We were suppose to have another seven months!"
"You'll probably be pregnant by that time…I could be pregnant by that time"
"Elspeth!" Jennaya scolded in a harsh whisper
"I'm sorry, it's true and y'all both know it"
"She's right" Alanna said "But I still…I can't do this! I'm only 16!"
"So?"
"So, I…I can't believe I'm saying this…I want to go back to the convent!"
Jennaya and Elspeth gasped. Jen's hand quickly found it's way to Alanna's forehead
"Alanna, are you sick?" Elspeth asked, genuine concern in her voice
"I…I…never paid attention in my classes! I need to go back to the convent"
"Elspeth, I think we might need a healer" Jen said
"We are all going to be married soon. I'll be married in 6 months and Jennaya will be married in 13 months" Elspeth said
"We can't always have the futures we dream about Alanna" Jennaya said "If we could, you'd be a knight, I'd be marrying someone I love instead of the son of a man I threw peas at when I was 4, and Elspeth…well…"
"…I'd be a much better rider"
Thom and Lord Alan walked over
"Alanna, are you alright?" Lord Alan asked
"She just as a case of cold feet" Jen said
"I understand. I'm sure the King and Queen could postpone the wedding. You could have it in the summer like it was originally planned"
"No!" Thom said "Duke Roger hates to wait for anything. Alanna, I mean this with the deepest amount of love there is…get your butt back over there, say 'I do' and kiss your future husband before I have to hurt you damn it!"
"Don't knights learn anger management?" Alanna asked "Oh, by the way, you couldn't hurt me if you tried"
"Not now you two" Jen said
"Alanna, you never turn down an adventure. So think of this as a brand new adventure for you. The adventure of marriage. Now go on!"
Alanna nodded, straitened up, and returned to her place. Jen, Elspeth, Lord Alan, and Thom quickly followed her example
"Ready?" Roger mouthed, clearly annoyed
Alanna nodded
"Do you, Lady Alanna of Trebond, take Duke Roger to be your husband? To have and to hold from this day forward? For richer or poorer, in sickeness and in health as long as you both shall live?"
Alanna gulped "I do"