A/N:This is a short filler chaperter.
Chapter 10 Getting Ready.
So over the next few weeks Alanna continued to have her 'Lady lessons' with Adela, which gave her the perfect excuse to not see Jonathan, however even after hours of practice Alanna still wasn't sure if she would be completely convincing as a Court Lady. She voiced her opinions to Adela frequently but the girl would always smile widely and tell Alanna that she would be fine and that everything would work out in the end.
"What am I going to do about Jonathan?" Alanna suddenly asked few days before the ball. She was practicing her dancing, something she was poor at doing as both a boy and a girl. Adela frowned to herself trying to find a way to answer the rather difficult question that Alanna had asked.
"well I don't believe that you should ignore him, after all it is Squire Alan who is angry at Prince Jonathan, not Lady Alanna. Maybe just wait and if he approaches you and talk to you, then be polite and talk back. After all it is just for the one night." Adela finally said. Alanna stayed silent. She had been hoping that Adela would simply tell her that she had every right to ignore Jon.
"I suppose that you are right. I just really don't want to talk to him." Adela stopped dancing with Alanna and stood still, her eyes boring into Alanna's.
"You can not ignore him forever. You are going to have to talk to him at some point. Besides the two of you are good friends. I know that your pride was hurt, but you are just going to have to get over it. You want to be a knight. I doubt that the code of chivalry allows you to ignore people when you choose to especially if they are the future King to the land!" Alanna stared at the floor not wanting to meet the other girl's eyes. She knew in her heart that Adela was right, she just didn't want to believe it.
"Fine I'll talk to Jonathan at this stupid ball, but only if he chooses to speak to me first!" she muttered. Adela smiled. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly fitting into place and the picture that was forming in her mind's eye was quite a beautiful one.
Alanna so desperately wanted to grab a hold of time and stop it from continuing forward. She was dreading having to attend this ball more and more the closer it got. Unfortunately time seemed to have other ideas and instead of passing by slowly, it seemed to speed up until it was the day of the ball and Alanna still felt unprepared. She wanted to find a place to hide and stay there until it was all over, but something in the back of her mind told her that by doing that she would be giving up. Alanna never gave up and ran away. She was far too stubborn to do that.
Alanna knocked on the door to Adela's rooms and fidgeted with the hem of her tunic whilst she waited. If she survived this night she was going to make Lady Alanna disappear, never to return again. This was all too much trouble and stress. Adela's maid Tatiana opened the door and showed Alanna into the sitting room, where Alanna sat down on the couch.
"I am afraid that I have some bad news." Tatiana told Alanna timidly. "Lady Adela was taken sick last night and she is unable to attend tonight's ball. She sends her deepest apologies and has put me in charge of helping you get ready today."
Alanna frowned, puzzled. When she had seen Adela the night before she had seemed fine, now she was sick. Some how it didn't seem to fit.
"Do you know what is wrong with Adela?" Alanna asked, hoping to get some answers.
"She has a cold; she will be fine in a few days time. There is no need to worry. Now shall we get started?" Alanna nodded, not overly satisfied with the answer that she had been given, but there was no point in pushing the point any further. Alanna struggled into the elegant ball gown that had been made especially for this night. This gown was a pastel blue/green with silver trimmings. It was too low cut around the neckline for Alanna's taste, but she didn't argue. There was a silver ribbon under her bust which was tired into an elegant bow at the back. She swallowed a potion that instantly grew her hair out down to her waist and darkened it to a deep red. Half her hair was then pinned up at the back the rest flowing down in their natural waves. Little cosmetic was put on her face, to highlight her natural features. She was ready for the ball. Alanna drew a deep breath and headed towards the small ballroom. Once outside the door she paused, gathered all the courage she could muster and pushed open the heave wooden door…
PLEASE REVIEW! if you have any idea's that you want included in this story then feel free to let me know and i can see what i can do
