FINALLY MADE IT THROUH THE LONELY TO THE OTHER SIDE
There was no putting it off any longer. Alanna had to tell George, and she had to do it soon. So, early the next morning, she crept out of Jonathan's room, cloaking herself in magic. She didn't need anyone asking questions. She was enough of a scandal without it getting around that she and Jonathan were sharing a bed at night. With only whispered greetings to servants and Stefan the hostler, Alanna saddled Moonlight and rode into the City. She entered George's room through a back way, but he was already up. He raised his eyebrows upon her entrance. "Mornin'," he greeted. "What brings ye here at this early hour?"
"I need to talk to you," she said, sitting on his bed. "And I put it off until now, so maybe you've heard it from someone else or through the grapevine…"
He had, in fact, but he would pretend for her. "Heard what?" He went about sharpening one of his ever-present daggers. She avoided looking at him, and he said gently, "Ye can tell me, lass."
Without looking up, she blurted, "I'm betrothed. To Jon." The words sat for a moment, and she began to pace like a caged lion. "And I know you were in love with me and I'm sorry for not telling you before, but I just didn't know what to do. But you have Thayet now, and that's saying something. Thayet's great. She's probably better for Jon than I am, but for some insane reason he wants me to be queen, which sounds like a recipe for disaster-" She stopped abruptly, realizing George was laughing. She looked at him, somewhere between confused and annoyed. "Why are you laughing?" she demanded.
The thief wiped his streaming eyes. "Lass, ye act like ye need t' explain yerself." He rose and put his hands firmly on her shoulders, holding her eyes. "I love ye. I'm not goin' t' deny that. But yer right. I have someone else. She's not th' Lioness, but who is?" He kissed her gently, a parting gesture. "Ye'll make a great queen. Don't doubt yerself for a moment. Yer th' Lioness. Yer my Alanna. Ye can do anythin'."
"Not really," she said with a forced smile. "But I appreciate the sentiment." She cocked her head. "Did you know? You seem… fine. Or have I really been replaced so easily?"
George's hazel eyes danced. "I heard about it late last night."
"Thayet told you?"
"Ye still haven't learned?" He looked amused. "Servants talk. We got a couple of 'em in here late, tellin' us we were gettin' a new queen."
"Did anyone put together that it was little Alan?" the knight wanted to know. She's received an invaluable second education in the common room of the Dancing Dove.
"Maybe." George shrugged. "I'm not about t' go confirmin' or denyin' their suspicions. No need t' tell any of 'em that 'Johnny' was really Prince Jonathan." Alanna nodded. He was right. She trusted the men of the Dove, but only as far as one could trust a criminal. George was different, but she couldn't be sure enough that the others were.
She embraced her old friend. "Thank you, George." She smiled at him. "I thought this was going to be harder."
"Ye and me both, lass. Ye and me both."
Dropping her magical cloak, Alanna shut the door to Jonathan's room behind her. The soon to be king had just begun to stir – her trip into the city had been short. "Good morning," he said, a sleepy smile playing on his lips. "Where've you been?"
"Why?" she asked, climbing in next to him. "Did you miss me?"
"Yes. You're very warm," he answered, kissing her forehead. "You smell like horse."
"Well aren't you charming," she said sarcastically. "I went into the city to talk to George." Jonathan raised his eyebrows. "He's fine with it. Surprisingly so. Thayet must be good for him."
"Good." Jonathan stretched his long body. "The more people on our side, the better."
"What do you mean?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbow.
"Well." Jon placed his feet on the floor, back to her, to continue stretching the kinks out of his body. "It's as you said. You're still a bit of a scandal. There are some who don't exactly support you becoming queen. Mostly those who dislike change." Alanna gave his back a confused look. "The same people who thought you should have been banished after finding out you're a woman." She disliked the arrogance in his voice. "Nothing to worry about, love."
"Mhm." Alanna lay back, staring up at the ceiling. Jonathan went about getting ready. "Jon?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you love me?"
"What?" She sat up and looked at him. He wore breeches and no shirt.
"Why do you love me?"
He slid a white shirt over his head. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm curious."
He came over at sat at the edge of the bed. "It's not something I can easily explain," he told her honestly. "I don't keep a list in my head of all the reasons I love you. Why, do you?"
"No, I guess not." She frowned slightly, considering. "I guess I just… wonder, that's all."
"Do you think I'm doing this as some sort of delayed rebellion against my father?" he asked, blue eyes hard. "Or for some other wrong reason?"
"What? No!" Alanna jerked her outstretched legs away from him, swinging them over the side of the bed. "A person can't be curious?"
"You can be curious," he answered slowly, "but I don't want you thinking even for a second that I'm marrying you for any other reason than I love you and I want to marry you."
Alanna stood, and walked away from him. She sighed. "I just still don't understand, that's all. I'm still wrapping my mind around this is all." He said nothing. "Jon?"
"I don't want to argue about this again," he told her. She looked back and saw that he now stood clear across the room, leaning against the wall. "If you're not ready to be queen, Alanna, then maybe we shouldn't get married."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if you aren't sure, maybe we shouldn't do this. I'm practically king already, Alanna. You have to be okay with that."
"I am!"
"Okay with me being king or you being queen?" Alanna hesitated. Before she could say anything else, Jon cut her off. "That's what I thought." He shook his head. "I'll see you downstairs."
"Jon, wait!" But he'd already left.
Okay, that was terrible. I freely admit that. I'm trying to finish this, because now it's just weighing me down. I know how it's going to end. No worries.