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Now on to Chapter Eight!
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She was there again.
She entered the large clearing, guiding her horse with ease, and immediately headed for the tall, oak tree near the center. After dismounting and wrapping her horse's reins around a branch of the tree, she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a book, seating herself in the shade of the oak.
Tyson, watching Alanna from a stand of trees, grinned. It was almost too perfect.
Slowly, and silently, Tyson led his horse around the edge of the clearing. Dismounting, he took his horse's reins and quietly started towards Alanna.
She was still immersed in her book, leaning against the tree, her legs tucked beneath her. When he was only a few feet away, she spoke. "Good afternoon, Lord Tyson."
Shrugging unconcernedly, but grinning, Tyson dropped all pretense of being quiet. "Good day, Lady Alanna."
She closed her book as he arrived at the tree. Giving a slight bow, he asked "May I join you?"
She nodded, and set down her book beside her. "Of course."
Tying his horse's reins beside hers, he then seated himself comfortably beneath the tree, leaning back on his hands.
"I received an invitation to your brother's wedding yesterday," he said.
Alanna rolled her eyes. "I'm not surprised. It's only been a week since the engagement, and already my mother has invited practically the whole town."
Tyson chuckled. "That sounds just like what my mother would have done."
Alanna gave a smile, her eyes losing interest.
"So what brings you out riding today?" He asked, hoping to interest her in a conversation.
Alanna shrugged. "The beautiful weather?"
From the careless way she said it, Tyson knew that wasn't it. "I don't think so."
Alanna leaned forward and crossed her arms, a small smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "Fine then, Mr. Know-it-all. Since you seem to know everything about me, you tell me why I came riding."
"Alright," Tyson said, leaning forward "The reason you came riding today was because you wanted to get away from your mother and all her wedding plans."
Alanna sat up, her mouth open slightly in shock. "How in Kyrria did you ever know that?"
Tyson gave a pleased smile. "Simple observation."
She shook her head as she leaned back again. "How's that?"
Tyson shrugged. "Just watching you and your mother together for a few minutes told me how different the two of you were."
"But how did you know I wanted to get away from planning the wedding?"
"Now that was a guess," Tyson admitted. "But I figured if there was a wedding to be planned in my family, I would be doing the same exact thing you are."
Alanna grinned, a sparkle coming into her green eyes. "You mean you would be hiding so you wouldn't have to stand in front of a mirror for hours while your maid of honor dress is being fitted?"
He faked a grimace. "Alright, maybe not exactly the same thing."
"That's what I thought," Alanna said, smirking as she tossed her hair back over one shoulder.
Tyson grinned and leaned back on his arms. He was having a great time. There was something about Alanna that just set his mind at ease, merely letting him enjoy himself.
They chatted another twenty minutes before Alanna reluctantly said she should be heading home. After mounting their horses, they trotted back to the road.
"I'll be seeing you around," Alanna said, nudging her horse around to face him.
"It's been a pleasure," Tyson said grandly, giving a bow as well as he could for being mounted on a horse.
"The pleasure is all mine," Alanna said with a laugh. "And don't expect me to curtsy. I'd probably fall off my horse."
Tyson laughed. He gave one more wave, then started off towards his manor.
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Alanna pulled on her horse's reins as she approached her manor, slowing down to a walk. She squinted her eyes in the bright sunlight. Whose coach was that? It didn't look like any she knew. Shrugging unconcernedly, she lightly kicked her horse into a trot and continued on to the stables.
She dismounted and led her horse into his stall. But as she went to remove her horse's saddle and brush him down, a servant appeared beside her. "Excuse me, miss, but your mother requires your presence in the parlor immediately."
"Like this?" she questioned, looking down at herself. Her dress was a little dirty from where she had sat to eat her snack, and she was a little sweaty, even in November. But it was nothing worse than what she usually looked like.
The servant shrugged. "She said immediately."
Handing over her horse to a stablehand, she accompanied the servant into the house.
"Do you know what my mother wants?" she asked as they went through the back door into the kitchen.
The servant shrugged. "A carriage arrived just a few minutes ago. One of the maids told me it had the royal emblem on it."
Alanna stopped walking for a moment to digest this information. "Royalty?"
"Or a royal advisor," he said, pausing to wait for her.
"But the wedding's not for three more weeks!" she said, confused, as she hurried to catch up with him. The only possible reason for any royalty to be visiting their middle-class noble family was for a wedding or funeral. So someone was obviously here to represent the royal family in Nicholas' wedding.
The servant shrugged again. "I know as much as you do, mistress."
They arrived at the parlor door, which was closed. Alanna nervously smoothed out her dress and ran a hand over her hair, which was pulled back in her standard loose braid.
The servant opened the door and stepped inside. "Lady Alanna Thetcher."
She entered the room. The only occupants were her mother and two men, one much older than the other was. They both stood as she walked in.
Her mother immediately went to her. "Why there you are, Alanna dear." As she greeted her with a small hug, she whispered out of the corner of her mouth, "Why didn't you change?"
Alanna began to get a little irritated. Her mother had, after all, told the servant to send for her immediately. It's not as if Alanna had a sixth sense telling her when her mother wanted her to change!
"Your Majesty, may I present my eldest daughter, Alanna?"
Alanna jerked her head up. Your Majesty? Her mother had addressed the younger man, who looked about eighteen or nineteen, and had curly, brown hair and hazel blue eyes.
Realization struck her. Prince Daniel! King Roald's and Queen Isabella's first-born child, heir to the throne of Kyrria, standing in her parlor!
After a sharp nudge from her mother, Alanna hastily remembered to give a curtsy, which was perfect besides her shakiness, thanks to her dance lesson with Madame Lonche the day before. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Now she desperately wished she had changed. Glancing in the mirror hanging over the mantelpiece, she saw that her loose braid had started to come undone and that her cheeks were tinged pink from riding. It wasn't as if Alanna intended to chase after him, as other girls did. She just wished she didn't have to look like such a mess in front of royalty.
Looking back at the prince, she saw him bow. "It's my pleasure, Lady Alanna."
Alanna flushed with embarrassment as his gaze swept over her dirty dress and messy hair. She seemed to have a knack for looking horrible when meeting nobles. First Lord Tyson, with the incident at the lake, and now with the prince!
"Please excuse my daughter's appearance," her mother spoke up. "She just got back from her ride."
Alanna could have strangled her mother. Did she have to point out how bad she obviously looked!
Daniel only turned his piercing gaze back to the glaring Alanna with an odd look in his eye. "The lady likes to ride?"
"Yes, I find it quite enjoyable," Alanna said, somehow feeling she had to defend herself.
The prince nodded, seeming to lose interest. He gestured at his companion. "This is my friend and body-guard, Sir William of Frell."
The older man bowed as Alanna curtsied politely.
"Please have a seat," Lady Annette said, waiting until the prince had sat before taking her place as well.
As soon as Alanna had also been seated, her mother began speaking. "We're so glad you were able to accept our invitation to stay with us for a while."
Alanna, who was busy watching the two guests, suddenly jerked her head up to stare at her mother.
"We were happy to," Daniel said monotonously, as if he had gone through this scene a thousand times. "My mother insisted I come, as this was her childhood home, and I was glad to oblige."
Alanna was still staring at her mother, incredibly confused. Why in Kyrria had she not been told that the prince would be visiting?
"We are honored that you did so," Lady Annette said, indiscreetly elbowing Alanna, who mentally shook herself to clear her thoughts, then nodded her agreement with whatever her mother had said. "Do you know how long you will be staying?"
Prince Daniel nodded. "We hoped to stay until your son's wedding, which we of course would be glad to attend."
Lady Annette clasped her hands together. "Wonderful! I'm sure you'll love it here as much as your mother did!"
Alanna almost groaned out loud as she finally caught on to her mother's hidden plan. Not again!
The prince gave a polite smile. "I'm sure I will."
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After the prince and Sir William had been led away by servants to refresh themselves after their two-day journey from Frell, Alanna turned on her mother.
"Why didn't you tell me they were coming?" she said, planting her fists on her hips.
Lady Annette looked completely unruffled. "Why? Because I wanted it to be a surprise!"
"Were you planning on introducing me looking like I did?"
Her mother frowned. "Well, that wasn't part of the plan. The prince wasn't supposed to arrive until later this evening."
Alanna groaned. "When were you planning on telling me this?"
"This afternoon," Lady Annette promptly replied, then asked a question of her own. "Why do you care so much?"
Alanna stared at her. "Um, hello? This is our country's future ruler! And I just greeted him looking like I slept with the hogs!"
Lady Annette shrugged. "Don't worry. We'll make up for it."
Alanna shook her head. "Please tell me I'm right when I say I hope this isn't another one of your match-making games."
Her mother sighed dramatically. "Oh Alanna dear, don't you understand? This is an incredible opportunity for you! You have over three weeks to make the prince fall in love with you!"
Alanna gaped at her mother in disbelief. "Are you serious? The only reason you invited Prince Daniel to stay with us was so that I could make him fall in love with me?" She shook her head in consternation. "Well, I guess this shows us how well you really know me."
And with that, Alanna spun on her heel and strode from the parlor, across the entry hall, and into the kitchen. In her haze of anger, hurt, and disbelief, she didn't notice the young man watching her from the top of the staircase, a contemplative look in his hazel blue eyes.
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Well, this should keep you guys happy for a while! This was the longest chapter I've ever written!
Please Read & Review!