Chapter 6 The Ball

A/n longest chapter to date!


Alanna looked at herself in the full length mirror. It was finally the night of the Ball where she would be introduced formally to the court as Lady Alanna of Trebond. Alanna slowly turned around, admiring herself from every angle. She was wearing a light violet dress that hugged her small frame. The edging had been embroidered with gold thread and there was a gold swirling pattern up one side. Her hair had been darkened and grown out to her waist with the help of a small potion. It had been curled so it hung in lose ringlets down her back. Her eyelids had a gold power brushed over them and her lips were red and full.

"You look beautiful." Adela stated.

"I feel beautiful," Alanna told her truthfully. "For the first time in my life I feel truly beautiful."

"We should get going, other wise we shall end up being late." Adela said. Alanna nodded and followed the girl out the room.


Within minutes they reached the small room that held he girls who would descend down the Queen's stair case. Alanna gave her name to the Harold and stood nervously looking at all the other court girls, who were talking quietly fixing themselves to make sure they looked perfect. Alanna felt out of place. All these girls had been looking forward to this moment for all their lives. Alanna was only there so she could show Jon that she was more than his Squire. Adela felt her unease.

"Don't worry, you'll be fine." She reassured her. The Harold called for silence and lined them up, putting Alanna last, which didn't bother her. She would rather be last then to be first. The Harold left the room and seconds later Alanna could hear him announcing the first girl. Finally Alanna was the last one left. As she stood by the door, waiting for them to call her name and open the doors, she took a deep breath. All she had to do was walk down the steps with out stumbling and curtsy at the end. What ever happened after that was out of her control.

"Introducing Lady Alanna of Trebond." Called the Harold. The doors swung open and Alanna stepped out onto the stairs. As she descended down the stairs all eyes were on her. She could see Gary and Raoul standing in a corner. They seemed happy to be there. She slowly scanned the room and saw Jonathan who was staring openly at her. Once she had reached the bottom of the stairs she dipped in to a curtsy as the crowd applauded and music struck up. Alanna made her way over to Adela.

"You did very well." Adela commented, smiling.

"And it is all thanks to you." Alanna replied. Gary walked up to them and bowed.

"Lady Alanna may I have this dance?" he asked. Alanna looked at Adela who gave her a slight nod. Alanna turned to Gary and smiled.

"It would be my pleasure." She said.

"I'm Sir Garath by the way." He told her. Alanna nodded, unsure how to reply. He lead her to the dance floor as a lively waltz struck up. Out of all the things that Adela had taught, Alanna had found dancing to be the hardest. But tonight she danced as if she had been a lady all her life. When the dance ended Gary took her back to Adela. No sooner had he gone, Jonathan showed up. He stopped short of Alanna and bowed.

"Lady Alanna," he said formally. "May I talk to you alone?" Out of the corner of her eye Alanna saw Adela smile.

"You may." Alanna said.


Jonathan took her outside into the Royal rose garden.

"You look… um… nice." He said lamely. Alanna blinked. Nice? When ever she had imagined this moment he ha called her beautiful, pretty even, but never nice.

"Nice… I look nice. Thanks Jon." She said sarcastically, as Jon frowned.

"What else am I supposed to say? What were you thinking?" He demanded. He hadn't meant it as a question, merely a statement, but Alanna got the wrong idea.

"What was I thinking? What is that supposed to mean? I decided to be who I was meant to be. Incase you hadn't noticed Jonathan I am a girl! Girls wear dresses! She yelled.

"That's not what I meant. But now that you think about it, don't you think that it look just a little suspicious that Squire Alan disappeared with out a trace and his sister Alanna shows up and they happen to look pretty much the same?" he yelled back, frustrated.

"No I don't! It's my life, and this is who I am. But I get it Jonathan. You look at me now and you see Squire Alan in a girls dress. You never saw me as a girl, you simple saw we as one of the boys. Well guess what Jonathan, I am a girl whether you like it or not. I have breasts, get used to it!" she screamed. And with that she turned around and stormed back to the palace.

"Alanna wait!" he called, but it was too late she was gone. Jon sighed and sat down on a bench, his head in his arms. He was confused by their fight. Was it really over the fact that he hadn't called her beautiful? He had wanted to, but when he saw her, she had looked so much more. He couldn't describe it. He had wanted to tell her that she was the most beautiful woman in the world. He had wanted to kiss her and tell her that he loved her. But instead that had gotten into their worst fight ever just because he couldn't find the right words and had said all the wrong ones. He got up and headed back to the palace, he had to find her and put things straight. He had to tell her that he loved her even if it was the last thing he did.


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