Alanna and George's Rooms

"I didn't see you for most of the night," Alanna stated as she removed the make up from her face. "Where did you disappear to?"

"I had a few things to deal with, sorry I should have told you." He replied smoothly.

She glanced briefly at him in her mirror, he wasn't giving anything away or even showing any signs of guilt. That hurt, but she bit her lip and said nothing, they'd both been unfaithful. She did regret it slightly, but she mainly blamed it all on her having a moment of vulnerability and weakness, which was due to George and Thayet. Jon just happened to be her only support at the time… It was all getting too complicated. She just wished things could go back to the way they were and she would still have a husband that wasn't cheating on her and loved her, and no one would have committed any deeds of unfaithfulness. If only.

Due to her prolonged silence George walked over to her wrapping his arms around her, it made her feel like another small part of her had just died because of the way that he could just go from Thayet's embrace to hers so easily. Did she really mean so little to him? Was he just doing this to keep up the image that he did love her? Would he rather just not touch or have anything to do with her at all? This game of deceit was getting all too much and it was only the start. How was she going to cope with this?

Jon and Thayet's Rooms

Jon glanced at his wife as she briskly undid her hair, "where did you get off to?" he asked innocently. "People were starting to ask questions about your absence you know."

"Oh…" She said looking slightly startled, "I just had a few things to deal with, I probably should have told you." She looked at him and gave an apologetic smile. She's good he thought to himself, if I hadn't known the truth I almost certainly would have fallen for that. Which hurt but he tried not to take it personally, he too had cheated as well.

"You are rather quiet tonight," she commented when he didn't reply. "Did something happen while I wasn't there?"

Too right he thought, something bloody happened between you and George while you were away.

"Are you alright?" She said sounding genuinely concerned.

"I just need to be alone for a bit," he said turning and walking out of the room.

The Next Day – Library

"Mithros Jon! What are you doing? Alanna exclaimed as she saw her King sprawled on an armchair asleep.

"Well I was sleeping," he said rubbing his eyes groggily, "until some knight decided to wake me up."

"Oh! Some KNIGHT!" she pushed him playfully, "I'll sho you some knight in a minute. Come on lets go to the practice courts, it's been ages since we last sparred."

"Ughh! It's so damn early 'lanna."

"Actually it's not."

"What do you mean it's not?"

"It's quarter to twelve Jon, it's almost noon."

He looked at her stunned, how could he have slept that long.

"Yeah," she said looking down at him, "you were pretty out of it. People have been in and out of here all day and you haven't woken. Lots of them found it pretty amusing actually."

"That sounds so embarrassing." He looked at her sleepily, "please tell me you're joking?"

"Of course I'm joking silly, I came in early this morning and saw you so I made sure we closed the library until you woke."

"What where you doing up so early?"

She looks down scuffing the toe of her boot against the floor.

"I couldn't sleep so I got up and went for a walk early."

He looked at her concerned.

"Alright, yes it was George okay but I'd say you weren't coping any better either."

"Please," he said looking at her pleadingly, "they won't know, just once?"

She shook her head firmly the guilt written across her face.

"Jon… I can't, it's not that I- It's just that- we can't Jon just leave it at that."

She felt a little bit bad but she really couldn't, not right now anyway.

"Just one night, or day," he was practically begging her to sleep with him.

"No Jon," she said quietly but firmly and brushed her fingers through his hair as she walked out.

"Oh there you are!" Thayet said gliding across the floor towards him. After his very recent conversation with Alanna he really didn't feel like talking with Thayet and putting on an act. Life was getting complicated.