Chapter Sixteen
"JENNAYA!" Duke Garreth called "JENNAYA! WAKE UP! THE ABASADOR AND HIS SON ARE HERE!"
Jennaya opened the door. "Daddy, please tell me that Alanna and Roger haven't been married yet and that my engagement to Lavan was just a bad part of the dream"
"You have been saying that for the past 5 weeks"
"And I am still hoping it will come true"
"Sorry to crush your dream" Duke Garreth said "Now put on your best dress. Ambassador Vanyel and his son, Lavan, are waiting in the ballroom"
"But I don't want to go to the ballroom!" Jennaya whined
"Jennaya Katherine, stop acting like a child. Now, you can either get dressed and come down on your own, or I will get servants to dress you and I will drag you down to the ballroom myself. See if I won't!"
Jennaya sighed "Alright, I'll come down, but I won't be nice to the ambassador or his son"
"You will if you want to feel the sun on your back before your wedding day"
"Fine, but I won't be happy about it"
"That I can live with, just as long as you a nice"
Jennaya grumbled and cursed under her breath while she got dressed and while she followed her father to the ballroom
When the two arrived in the ballroom, Jen saw Lavan standing there next to his father. Lavan had light brown-almost blonde-hair and turquoise eyes. His father had the same color hair and green eyes (Lavan's mothers are blue)
Lavan and his father bowed. Gary returned the bow and Jen curtsied
Maybe I can make Lavan request that we not get married…
"Hello Jennaya. It is a pleasure to see you after all these years" Lavan said
Jennaya smiled, but didn't say anything. Duke Garreth cleared his throat loudly
"The pleasure is mine"
Well, actually, it's my father's but it is suppose to my pleasure so…
"Look, here comes my son and nephew" Duke Garreth said
The two boys bowed
"Lavan, how quickly until you take our Jen away? She can't wait to marry you and move to Tusaine"
Mental note to self…KILL GARY! Oh no! I'm turning into Alanna! Anger management… Anger management… Anger management…BREATH JENNAYA!
"Yes" Jon said with an evil grin on his face, "She can't stop talking about how excited she is"
MUST. KILL. JON!...wait, that's treason…no, I really don't care, I'm going to kill Jon…ANGER MANAGEMENT! ANGER MANAGEMENT!
"Jon?" a soft voice called
The princess from Scanra, Princess Cecily, was visiting, as Tortall was hoping to have a peace treaty with them
"Oh man, she found me, Come on Gary"
Jen stuck her foot out ever so slightly and Jon fell, face first
"HE'S IN HERE PRINCESS CECILY!"
"I'm going to hurt you Jennaya"
"Jonathon…company"
"Oh there you are you Jon."
This is so much better then killing him…and I won't be executed for doing it
(Jen's POV)
"Father, might we all find somewhere else to gather, Jon and Cecily don't have long before she returns home. We should give them their privacy"
Jon sends me a death glare. Cecily has a very pleased expression on her face
"Of Course, we can take this to my office, Come on Garreth, you too"
"No! Uncle, I would like to have Gary with me."
"Now, now Jon, you need time with Cecily… Gary would only get in the way"
It is good to have father on my side
Jon opens his mouth to protest
"Uncle Roald!" I called
Jon stiffens "So, Cecily, what shall we talk about?"
"Yes Jennaya?" Uncle Roald asked walking in
"Never mind, it isn't important"
"Then why…were you doing something to Jonathon?"
"Oh…um…"
"Yes" Jon hissed
"Ah, Jonathon, I'm glad to see you are taking your mother's advice and spending more time with Cecily"
"Anything for the kingdom, father" Jon said with a forced smile
Yep, much better then death
"Father, don't you think Jennaya and Lavan should spend more time together?" Gary asked
Jon smiled
"Yes, Lavan is a knight, he has to return home soon"
And the death threats are back
"An excellent suggestion you two"
"No it isn't!" I exclaim
All eyes are on me
"Lavan has only just arrived, he should rest, we can talk tomorrow"
"I'm not tired" Lavan said
Curse you Lavan! You couldn't play along?
"So, that's that" Jon said "I will endure…I mean…sit with Cecily, and Jen will sit with Lavan"
"Sound like a good idea to me" Garry said "What do you thin Jen"
"I…I…I…"
"See that Lavan? She is so pleased with the idea, she is speechless
That isn't why I am speechless!
"Alright, come on Jen."
"Right and Gary, you leave them alone… all four of them."
"In fact nephew how about you go help the squires practice?"
"Yes sire."
So sorry Jon
"Father, I really think Gary should stay"
"Jennaya was right Jonathon" Duke Garreth said " Gary would only get in the way"
I was right…and I still have to be with my fiancé…this is so unfair!
A few minutes later
"So…you're a knight."
"Yes I've been one for three years now."
"You know, my brother and cousin are knights"
"I know"
"So…what do you think of Tortall?"
"I haven't really seen anything"
"No? We should go for a ride. My friend Alanna is an excellent rider…she could come with us and make sure we see all of Corus"
"Maybe tomorrow, why don't we talk today?"
"Um…ok"
"So…what do you like to do?"
"Talk with my friends"
"I mean other than that"
"Drive my brother and cousin crazy"
"Yes…I noticed that in the ballroom"
"That was some of my finest work"
"Really? That work is so... well, it was amateur's work"
"Amateur?"
"I was doing that sort of stuff when you were throwing peas at dignitaries"
"I was aiming for my cousin…wait. You did that sort of stuff? Does that mean…"
"Yes, I too was a prankster…still am actually. That is why my father wants me to marry. He is hoping I will marry a respectable young woman who would show me the error of my ways and…I think he picked the wrong woman. Which I am perfectly fine with by the way"
Jen and Lavan started smiling and laughing
"Well what about you? I'm sure your father expects me to straiten you out too" Lavan said
"Something like that"
Jennaya and Lavan were laughing again when Jon and Duke Garreth walked in
"Glad to see the two of you are working out" Duke Garreth said
"Cecily and I are going to take a ride through Corus, care to join us?" Jon asked
"Not today" Lavan and Jennaya said
Jon glared at Jennaya. She stuck her tongue out at him
Jon walked over to his cousin
"How is it you get along with yours, and I need a chaperone to keep from killing mine?" Jon said in a harsh whisper
"At least you two aren't officially engaged"
"You know what, I am a bit tired, would anyone care to show me to my rooms?" Lavan asked
"I will" Jen said
"Thank You"