Ok so this is the last chapter and then there's an epilogue,
"What took you so long?"
"I ran into someone."
"Who? My cousin?"
"No, what's that supposed to mean?"
"Your brother told me what happened, is that what was bothering you earlier?"
"No…yes I don't know."
"What else could it be?"
"Maybe hearing that you're going to kill your cousin… oops."
"What! Where did you hear that?"
"No where."
"Alanna don't Lie TO ME!"
"I'm not."
Roger got up and crossed the room and grabbed Alanna's arms. "Where did you hear it?"
"I…"
"Tell me!"
"I over heard it earlier."
"Did you tell any one?" he asked his grip on Alanna's arm tightening.
"Ow… Roger you're hurting me! No I didn't tell anyone, not a soul not even the babies."
Roger let go of her "Maybe Alex was right"
"What about Alex?"
"Pack your bags…and the babies' things, I'm going to send you away from Corus"
"What! Why?"
"Your safety is at stake! And the babies lives are in danger"
"You wouldn't care if I was dead if it wasn't for the magic I have…Gabriella and Anthony wouldn't be hear if it wasn't for my gift either"
"What?"
"You only married me because I am so powerful!"
"Alanna I…"
"Don't deny it! I heard you! Right after Delia said it would make everything easier if I was dead!"
Alanna's eyes grew wide as she realized what she said
"How much did you hear!" Roger demanded
"Not much…really, I barley heard anything" Alanna said
Roger took Gabriella and Anthony from Alanna's arms and carried them over to their cribs. He walked back over to Alanna and grabbed her wrists
"Tell me the first thing you heard!" Roger said
"No, I…I barley heard a word"
Roger turned Alanna's wrist a bit
"You knew I was planning on killing Jon and you knew what Delia said about you!" Roger snapped
"Roger, let go!" Alanna said, trying to break his grip
Roger tightened his grip slightly
"What do you know!" Roger snapped
"Roger!" Alanna said "Let go of me, you're hurting me again!"
"TELL ME!" Roger roared
Alanna let out a cry of pain
"What is going on!" Someone demanded from the entryway
Alanna turned around, her face soaked with tears. Jon stood in the doorway
"What are you doing here?" Roger asked
"I heard screams" Jon said "What was going on?"
"Nothing" Roger and Alanna said
"It doesn't look like nothing" Jon said "It looked like you were close to breaking Alanna's wrists!"
"Mind your own business cousin" Roger spat
"The protections of the ladies of my future kingdom is my business" Jon retorted "Alanna, what happened, you can tell me"
Alanna looked at Roger, then back at Jon
"Nothing" Alanna said "We…we had an argument, things just got a little too heated"
"Your wrists look swollen" Jon said "Come on, I'll take you to Duke Baird…then you and I can spend some time together while Roger cools off"
"I'm taking my children with me" Alanna said
"I'll carry one" Jon offered as he followed her to the cribs
"Here, take Anthony" Alanna said
"Alanna, the kids stay here" Roger said
"No, they are coming with me!" Alanna yelled
"I don't want my young children seeing you two start making out again!" Roger yelled
"What did you say?" Jon asked
"Don't deny it cousin" Roger said "Alanna has already admitted it…and my squire saw you anyway…in fact, don't bother taking my wife to the infirmary…I'll take her"
"Roger, I don't want you to take me" Alanna said
"You are not going with him." Roger said "So either you go with me or you stay here"
"She can't just stay here Roger" Jon said "She needs to have those wrists looked at"
"I agree…but I won't make her go"
"Just then, Thom walked in
"Why doesn't Thom take me?" Alanna suggested
"Take you? Take you where?"
"Squire Thom, take your sister to the infirmary" Roger said
"Alanna, are you ok?'
"Yeah" Alanna said "Roger and I were arguing, and things got a little too heated"
"Arguing?" Thom asked nervously "Over what?"
"Nothing" Alanna said
"Just go squire" Roger said
Thom and Alanna walked down the hall
"Alanna, what really happened" Thom asked
"Like I said, we got in an argument" Alanna said
"You always heave been, and continue to be, a horrible liar"
"There was an argument" Alanna said
"But that isn't the only reason" Thom said
"Thom, I don't want to talk about it" Alanna said "I might say something that'll get everyone into trouble"
"Like?" Thom prodded
"Like that fact that I…wait! You tried to trick me!"
"It almost worked"
"Alright lets just say I heard more of the conversation earlier than I led you to believe."
"How much more?"
"If I didn't tell Roger that, why would I tell you
"Because I am your twin"
"My twin? The same twin who only helped set my marriage up because of my gift?"
"You heard that?"
"Yes and that thing about Els being too smart."
"Listen Alanna, you don't know what is going on"
"I know you want to kill Jon" Alanna said "What more do I need to know?"
"Shh… do you want to get us all killed?"
"I wouldn't be killed" Alanna said "I really wouldn't mind if Delia was killed…and if you and Alex are stupid enough to get involved, you deserve to die"
"You wouldn't? how could you prove you weren't involved?"
Alanna was quiet
"You see? You can't"
"But…if I tell someone…"
"You wouldn't dare"
"Oh yes I would"
"You wouldn't"
"I would"
"You wouldn't"
"I would"
"You wouldn't"
"What are you new? Of course I would"
"If you tell someone Roger might just kill you."
"He would not, he doesn't want to raise Gabriella and Anthony on his own"
"Well he would certainly make your life miserable… what ever he did to you earlier would be nothing in comparison."
"I have rights as a woman!" Alanna said "If he tries to hurt me, I will turn him in at the temple of the Goddess
"Yes but you would have to get to them and Roger wouldn't let you out of his sight."
"He can't watch me while he is teaching; he has no need for the babies and I to be in his classes"
"He could find a way to make sure you don't get anywhere lots of people are on his side."
"If dad couldn't control me, the sisters at the convent couldn't control me, and you can't control me, how will Roger? I am a woman that no one wants to mess with. I have the Prince's trust…oops"
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing"
"You said you have the Prince's trust" Thom said
"No I didn't"
"Yes you did… what do you mean by that?"
"I…I just mean that he and I…have talked a lot since I came here"
"I don't believe you… why don't you tell me the truth you can trust me."
"Squire Thom!"
Thom and Alanna turned around. Jon was walking down the hall towards them
"Yes your highness?"
"Go away" Jon said "I will see to it that Alanna makes it to the infirmary and back to my cousin safely"
"Sir, my orders were to…"
"You have new orders" Jon cut in "Go back to Roger and let me see to it that Lady Alanna gets taken care of"
"Yes your highness" Thom said with a bow
As Thom walked back down the hall he thought "Roger is going to kill me"
"So feel like filling me in on what really happened Lady Alanna?"
Alanna bit her lip
If I tell him, I am condemning my brother, my husband, my friend's husband, and the Queen of that's evil to death…hmm…Delia being dead doesn't sound half bad…
"Lady Alanna" Jon said snapping Alanna back to reality"
"Hmm?"
"What really happened between you and Roger"
"We got into an argument" Alanna said
"Over?" Jon prodded
"Uh…multiple things"
"Like?" Jon asked
"Well, he was jealous of you and I kissing for one" Alanna said
"Sorry about that, I got a little-"
"Oh no, don't apologize! I didn't have a problem with it"
"But…"
"I know I'm married but that doesn't mean I like the man."
"I see" Jon said
"In fact, I like Roger as much as you like Cecily"
"How do you know about that?"
"I have my sources"
"Jennaya told you didn't she?"
"Yup"
"Jeesh… well what else was wrong?"
"We were having…diplomatic dispute"
"Over?"
"Nothing" Alanna said
"I hate using my authority this way, but oh well" Jon said "Alanna you're going to tell me what's going on…all of it…right now!"
"Well…you see…" Alanna started letting out a nervous laugh "It is a very funny story"
Maybe if I keep laughing, he might forget what we are talking about…Please Goddess, let him forget.
"Alanna stop stalling tell me… Now!"
"You know, we need get my wrist looked at" Alanna said quickly
"The sooner you tell me the sooner we get there." Jon said
"Well, the argument might have had something to do with the fact that Roger and Delia, queen of all that's evil are plotting to kill you" Alanna said
"What" Jon said, in disbelief
"Oh…and you know Alex's behavior?"
"Yes…"
"He is helping, along with my brother"
"You do realize that I have to arrest all four of them right?"
Alanna lowered her gaze "I know"
"How did you find out?" Jon asked "Your not…"
"No! No, no, not at all!" Alanna said "I diplomatically overheard"
"You eavesdropped!" Jon accused
"If you want to call it that…" Alanna said
"Allright… Guard… I need you to get my father to meet me at the infirmary."
"Yes your highness" the guard said
"YOU. DID. WHAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!"
Thom cringed "I…I left Alanna alone with Jon"
"Why did you do something that…what is the word I am thinking of…oh yeah, STUPID!
"Um… Jon ordered me to."
Roger repeatedly hit his head against the desk
"my Lord?... What should we do?"
"You should get out of my face before I slice you in half with my sword" Roger said "And I need to find Alanna before she ruins everything"
"Yes sir" Thom said
King Roald grabbed the examination table to keep from collapsing
"I…I don't believe this" Roald said
"Believe it father I've asked Alanna multiple times and the story is basically the same."
"And how do you know that Lady Alanna isn't involved?"
"She told me so"
"She told you so? That doesn't mean anything"
"I really love the trust this kingdom has in it's ladies" Alanna said "If you don't believe me use a truth drug and ask me again."
"Dad, we can save the truth drug on her and arrest Roger, then ask him!"
"We can't arrest someone because some girl just out of the convent says they have committed treason…no offense" he added as Alanna opened her mouth
Alanna put on a sweet smile "None taken your majesty"
None taken my a-wait…Anger management…remember anger management
Just then, Roger walked in "Alanna! There you are! I swear, when we get back to out rooms…"
Noticing Jon and the king, he switched his thought
"I…plan to have a long talk about how scared I was when Thom said he had left you alone"
"He was on orders" Jon said "I told him to leave and I'm glad I did"
"Why?"
"Guards!" Jon yelled "Arrest Duke Roger on charges of treason!"
"What!" Roger demanded
"Don't worry Roger you aren't the only one." Roald said "We are sending guards out to find Lady Delia, Squire Thom, and Sir Alexander"
"What about the girls how can you be sure they didn't have something to do with this." Roger demanded
"We can't" Jon said "I'm sorry Alanna, but both you and Elspeth have to be questioned under a truth drug"
"I understand"
"Wait…" Roger said "I am being arrested without being questioned, and the girls get to be questioned without even being real suspects!"
"Dad, Roger has a point" Jon said "Let's just question him under the drug now and get it over with"
"I have some truth drugs in my office your majesty" Duke Baird said suddenly
Everyone shot the duke a questioning glance. Baird shrugged "I have every other kind of drug there is"
"Please go get it Duke Baird" Roald said
Minutes later, Roger was being questioned under the strongest truth drug that was legally in Tortall (key word: Legally)
"Were you plotting to kill me?" Jon asked
"Wow, that was blunt" Alanna said
Jon shrugged
"Not just you" Roger said "We were going to kill your parents first"
"Wow… Guards go get those people my son mentioned earlier…and Liane, and Duke Garreth, the older"
The guards left
Alanna stepped up to Roger "Is your hair still naturally brown? Or did you just dye all the grey hairs?"
Everyone looked at Alanna like she was insane
"What? I always wondered"
"I dyed my hair"
"I KNEW IT!" Alanna said "Elspeth owes me twenty bucks"
"Why?" Jon asked
"We had a bet on that about…3 weeks ago"
"Back to business" Roald said "Did Lady Alanna or Lady Elspeth have anything to do with the plots?"
"No" Roger said "If Alanna hadn't been eavesdropping…"
"…diplomatically overhearing" Alanna interrupted
"Lady Alanna, if you can not keep quiet during the interrogation, then wait in the waiting room"
"Yes your majesty"
"As I was saying" Roger said "If Alanna hadn't been eavesdropping, they never would have found out and…I wouldn't be here right now"
"Why were you hurting Al…Lady Alanna earlier?"
"Why did you kiss her earlier."
"Why were you what?" Roald asked
"I'm not the one under interrogation here" Jon said "Now Roger answer the question"
"Answer mine" Roger said
"Yes Jonathon, I would love to hear this" Lianne said
"Uh…COMING GARRY!"
"Garry didn't call you" Lianne said
"Uh…got to go" Jon said as he ran out of the room
"Jonathon Jasson of Conte!" Lianne said "'Get your royal ass in this chair Now!"
"Did the queen just say 'ass'?" Alex asked as he was 'escorted' into to the room
"Do you have a problem with what I said Sir Alexander?"
"No, your majesty"
Just then, Elspeth came in
"Alexander! What in the hell is the meaning for me have to watch my husband get taken away by the guard!"
"Uh…"
"Don't test me Alexander, I am a pregnant woman!"
"Well you see, Roger and I…we got into a little bit of tiny, microscopic really, bit of trouble"
"Doing?" Elspeth said
"Uh…Roger, what were we doing?"
"Attempting to kill Jon, my uncle, and my aunt" Roger said
Elspeth put a smile on her face "Your majesties, might I borrow my husband for a minute?"
"Go ahead" Lianne said
"Thank you" Elspeth said "Alex, come here"
"Uh…I think I'll…"
"Now Alexander!"
"Ok"
Elspeth grabbed one of Alex's ear, once his ears were level with her lips, she yelled "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!". She hit him on the side of the head "ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME INTO A SINGLE MOTHER BY GETTING YOURSELF KILLED!"
"Sorry Els."
"DON'T 'ELS' ME ALEX!" Elspeth said "NOW, TURN AROUND TO THE NICE ROYAL FAMILY AND THANK THE GODS I AM NOT THE ONE IN CHARGE OF YOUR PUNISHMENT!"
"Yes dear" Alex hung his head
Elspeth hit him in the back of the head before turning and storming off.
"Lady Alanna…why don't you go make sure Lady Elspeth it alright."
Alanna nodded and walked out of the infirmary
Alanna found Elspeth in her room
"Els?" Alanna said
"What?" Elspeth said
"I'm sorry" Alanna said "It's my fault that Alex was arrested"
"Did you tell him to commit treason?" Elspeth asked
"No" Alanna said
"Then you aren't to blame"
"I was the one who turned him in"
"So? I would have done the same thing to Roger…where are Gabriella and Anthony?"
Alanna gasped and raced off to her rooms. Anthony and Gabriella were both crying when she arrived
"I'm sorry Babies I almost forgot all about you two." Alanna said "You two aren't old enough to remember this are you?"
Alanna returned to Elspeth's room
"Oh…they are so adorable!" Els said as she took Anthony from Alanna's arms "You two have gotten so big!"
"You saw them just yesterday" Alanna said
"Yes but they are still soo big especially Anthony."
"Soon you are going to have a baby all your own…then I will keep stealing your baby away like you do with Anthony"
"Do I really steal him that much?"
"Yes…but I don't mind, twins are heavy to carry by yourself"
"Good point… what are you going to do… I'm only going to have one child and I can't imagine raising him or her alone."
"I haven't figured that out yet" Alanna said
"When did the twins get here?" Asked Jon from the doorway.
"About 5 minutes ago…once Elspeth kindly told me that they had been left in my rooms"
"And you call yourself their mother" Jon said shaking his head
"They aren't old enough to remember it… I hope"
"Don't worry they won't can I hold one?"
"Sure"
Jon came over and took Gabriella out of Alanna's arms
"Ok Els, give me my baby boy"
"But… he's sooo cute and… alright."
Alanna held Anthony and slowly started to rock him.
"This little girl is going to break some hearts when she gets older" Jon said rocking Gabriella
"And 'Alanna's baby boy' is going to break the noses of anyone who breaks her heart"
"That's right…"
"So…what were you two talking about?"
"What we were going to do…how are we going to raise the kids without the help of our husbands?"
"I'm sure that someone would be willing to help you… especially you Alanna."
"Oh really? Would you care to give me some suggestions?"
"Me…"
"You?" Alanna asked walking over "You would be willing to help-how did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Get Gabriella to sleep. Calming her down, sure, that's easy, but she is impossible to put down for a nap or at night"
"I guess she likes me."
"Well then, I guess you are just going to have to come over to my rooms during the afternoon and evening to make her sleep"
"I wouldn't mind that at all."
"I think I'll go…take a walk through the gardens" Elspeth said with a smile
They like each other! This is so awesome I can't wait until I see Jen.
Just then, Duke Baird walked in
"There you are Lady Alanna" Baird said "About three minutes after you left, I realized that hadn't gotten around to ever take a look at your wrists"
"Come on Anthony, mommy needs to see the healer"
"You're stealing him again"
"I don't care"
Baird walked over to Alanna and his green gift started flowing through his fingers into her wrists.
"Ouch!" Alanna said as Baird was finishing up
"Sorry, I have good news and bad news"
"What is the good news?"
"Your wrists aren't broken"
"And…the bad news?"
"your wrists are sprained and I would highly suggests you not hold the twins for about…an hour"
"You hear that Alanna? One hour" Elspeth said "Come on Anthony, let's go take a walk together"
"Stealing!"
"Not caring!"
"Baird! Tell her not to steal my son!"
"Elspeth, don't steal Alanna's son!"
"But…"
"No stealing my son!" Alanna snapped
"Fine, I'll take Mo-Mo instead"
"No touchie my monkey!"
Duke Baird turned to Jon
"Your highness?"
"Go" Jon said
"Thank you" Baird rushed from the room
"Wait Baird! Who will tell Elspeth not to touch my monkey?"
"Elspeth, no touching Alanna's monkey" Jon said
"But…but…but…"
"That's a royal order Lady Elspeth"
"Yes your highness, can I take Alexander for a little walk Alanna?"
"Yes you can."
"Jon, I have one question"
"What?"
"Why did you come in here to begin with?"
"Oh…um, my father decided the fate of your husbands, brother, and-"
"Delia, queen of all that is evil?"
"Uh…ok?"
"Just say yes Jon" Elspeth said
"Yes Jon" Jon said
"Very funny"
"Thanks"
"What is it!"
"What is what?"
"Jonathon!"
"Oh, right…the reason I'm here…with the exception of seeing Alanna of course"
"Just tell us!"
"They…they are going to be hung"
Authors' Note: Dun-Dun DONE! Ok so not really by the way some of you mentioned that the Alanna being kissed by Jon thing was wierd but he's always liked her so why wouldn't he kiss her and Alanna was to shocked to react.
If anyone was wondering why we made Thom a traitor just think about it for a second he's Roger's squire and a spineless jellyfish.
I hope you liked the chapter.