---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lianne of Conté
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lianne watched her son from a palace window as he said goodbye to Alanna. Jonathan looked so serene, so sad. Lianne knew that Alanna was sad too, but that she felt compelled to leave because she'd hid her identity and then killed Duke Roger.
In her heart, Lianne knew that the lady knight would come back to Corus some day. After all, she was carrying Jonathan's heart away on her journeys. Lianne had hope that Alanna would return it to him later.
Jonathan and Alanna were both too headstrong to have a successful marriage. Jonathan needed someone who would settle down and bear his children, and Alanna needed someone who would put up with her stubborn ways. Lianne hoped that they'd realize this on their own. She didn't want to force Alanna to become the court lady that Jonathan's position demanded.
Even if it wasn't fit for her to say so, Lianne admired the courage and determination that Alanna must have possessed to become a knight. She didn't have the heart to break her.
She watched Jonathan kiss Alanna, and then the new knight mounted her golden horse and galloped away.
Please let them see on their own that they wouldn't be happy, Lianne prayed.
Jonathan walked back to his two big friends. One of them thumped him on the back in consolation.
It's what is best.