Yes, I am back! It's been a long time (a year I believe?) but I just couldn't stay away . This is my freshman year of high school so forgive me if I'm less than consistent. I will try to update often, and bring interesting twists in along the way.
"I think she might be."
Raoul stared at Theresa, wondering if he had heard correctly. Theresa stared back nervously. After a minute, she whispered his name.
"Sorry." He snapped out of his daze. "That was improper. Princess Theresa, I, Raoul of Goldenlake, humbly request permission to court you." He watched her face and was pleased to see that the grin that spread across it was genuine.
"Raoul, I could not find a better man in all the land."
"Oh yeah? Two days ago you'd thought you'd found one." His tone was teasing, but there was scorn and hurt in his eyes.
I can't tell Raoul that Alan is really Alana…(A/N: I spell Alana with one n and Rodger with a d. Deal with it.)
"I'm sorry," she said. "I've been so silly…" She really had been - Raoul had been after her since her 11th birthday. Now she was almost 15, and Raoul had been patiently waiting 4 years. All the kind gestures flowed through her mind. The expensive gifts on holidays and birthdays. His understanding ear when she was upset. His honest smiles when she had been happy. His quick excuses to keep her out of trouble with her brother. Tears started to pool in her eyes. "Oh Raoul, why am I so dense?!" She buried her face in her hands. "You were always right there, waiting for me. It took me so long to catch up!"
He gently put his arms around her. "Why are you crying? I didn't mind waiting for you to catch up. It's okay."
His forgiving words comforted her, but she continued to cry. She knew that even if he had not minded waiting for her to catch up, no person in the world could have watched unaffected when the one he was waiting for started down a different path.
The next day Theresa made a point of avoiding her brother. She didn't feel like explaining the romantic twists of the day before. She was exceptional at avoiding her brother, but someone else found her.
"Theresa!" The princess turned towards the voice calling her name. It was Alana.
"Hi Alan!" She smiled as the redhead caught up with her.
"I heard something interesting from Raoul," Alana began. "I was just wondering what's going to happen now."
"Life will continue on as it always has, and we, as the young people of the palace, will struggle to find purpose in this world."
"Don't get all philosophical on me now, Theresa. You know that wasn't what I was talking about. I want to know about…you know…"
Theresa grinned at her friend. "Don't tell me you want the finest details of my sexual fantasies, Alan. That is totally inappropriate!"
"What? I was just- and you- ugh…." Theresa laughed as Alana turned bright red and tried to keep her dignity when several of the other pages looked up after hearing Theresa's response to Alana's question.
"I've been selfish," Theresa said as she waved away the other pages. "And silly. I've been looking all around for something that was right in front of me. I was looking for a knight, and I finally found him." A soft smile found its way to her face. I don't know why I've acted so childishly. I don't know why I've been searching in all the wrong places. All I know is that now that I've found my knight, I don't want to let him go." She paused. "Raoul didn't tell Brother anything, did he?"
"I don't think so." Alana was giving Theresa a strange look. Is this the same girl that called for me while she was kissing boys just to spite me? "He's your 'knight'?"
"I think so. He's handsome, kind, strong, smart, protective, and he adores me. What else could I possibly find?"
"I don't think there's anything else." Alana smiled. "I'm glad this whole mess is resolved."
"Me too." Theresa's eyes gleamed with her signature look of mischief. "I've always wanted a girlfriend to talk to about this stuff!"
"What?" Alana stared dumbly at Theresa. "What are you talking about?"
"Now that I've discovered your secret, I can tell you so many things I can't tell anyone else. Jon wouldn't understand. Gary would poke fun. Talking to Raoul would be awkward. And I don't much care for Alex, but don't tell Brother I said that. Now that I have you I finally have a girl to talk to!"
"Theresa, I don't think I'm going to act as you're expecting me to. I'm not going to sit around with you and talk about dresses and hair and growing up to be beautiful. Don't you have any female friends in the palace?"
"No, they're all boring." Theresa put on a pout. "They're all older and talking about marriage and upholding their family name. I don't care about any of that yet."
For the first time, Alana saw past Theresa's bubbly, carefree shell, and saw the lonely little girl inside. "Theresa…are you telling me that all the friends I've heard you talk about around Jon and your parents and figments of your imagination?"
"Well, of course. I can't tell my parents I'm miserable having to act like a lady, can I? I can't tell them I'd rather spend time with the boys. They'd be mortified."
Alana looked at the princess, and then put her arm around the smaller girl's shoulder. "I guess I am your new girlfriend, aren't I?"
To my incredibly wonderful reviewers who probably want to shot me and probably don't read my stories anymore:
Mage of Dragons: I know. I don't like to spell Rodger without the 'd', and I've been spelling Alana with only one 'n' for so long, it's too late to turn back. Thank you for your wonderful compliments though.
x17SkmBdrchiczxx: ahem Technically I kept writing. I hope you like the latest chapter…
Silveni: I adore Raoul. I have no idea why, but I do. Therefore, he will become essential to the life of this story (as if he wasn't already)…
Cede: I don't know if I'll kill anyone or not…
Elmthesmartypants: Well I couldn't let her get in trouble, could I?
Kokari: I gave you a short chapter and a loooooooooong wait. Hopefully this chapter made up for that.
Brigitta Alyse: Resolved? This is only the beginning of the story! There's a whole other book I'm going to cover!
Nativewildmage: I've found most men in the real world try to be subtle and fail miserably, so why should fictional men be any different?
TPfreak: Thank you. )
Epobbp:I failed your request! FORGIVE ME!!