The ride was quite uneventful, and rather unpleasant for poor Jon, who was forced to put up with all of Alanna's pitiful bickering. By this time, Jon was wondering as to whether or not he aught to just give up on Alanna, and hope things would go back to the way they were while they were JUST friends.

"I know where ever you are taking me will be just as amazingly beautiful and exceptional as you, even if it does take forever to get there." Alanna forced her voice to sound pleasant and hoped it would continue to convince Jonathan of her love for him. She had to let this game go one for a little loner before she decided it call it quits. Maybe this would teach her precious prince a well-deserved lesson.

"Ah" Jon sighed in relief as "the flags" floated into view "finally." He whispered, but just loud enough for Alanna to hear.

"Finally?" she asked comically "is that supposed to mean you don't like spending time with me?" tears began to well up in her eyes. Jon could do nothing but stare. He was just about to witness Alanna shed a tear for the first time in all the years he had known her. Her eyes glassed over, any trace of tears he had thought he'd seen, were now gone.

"Oh Alanna," Jon sighed, while rubbing at his tired eyes. "Please, let us just sit, there is a beautiful hill which over looks the lake." Pouting, Alanna reluctantly agreed.

With their latest disagreement behind them, Jon and Alanna sat beside each other, cuddling and kissing.

"Wow," Alanna breathed in awe at the amazing scenery "this really is beautiful"

"Isn't it?" Jonathan smirked, clearly pleased with him self.

"Yeah. I just can't wait to bring our children here. Just think, all those wonderful memories yet to come." She beamed as if it were happening in that very moment. Jon suppressed a yelp of surprise.

"Ah sweetie? Did you saykids?"

"Of course I did silly. What do you think I said?" she laughed joyously, playing with a strand of his jet blackhair.

"But don't you think it's a bit early to start planning kids?" his voice was hopeful, thinking she would realise her talk of children was silly

"What is left to plan? I've already done most of it. I was thinking, it would be best if we made our first baby in a week or so. She will be a girl, and I think I will call her Alainna."

Peering from the corner of her eye, she saw Jon's face grow as pale as parchment. Jon twiddled his thumbs for a bit before he decided to speak. He knew how much this would hurt Alanna, but he wouldn't compromise his sight of Jon's movement as he turned to face her, alanna did the same, until both were facing one another. Jon's expression was the exact opposite to Alanna's jubilant one. Takingher small hands in his own big ones, Jon sighed heavily. Alanna looked at him strangely

"Jon?" she said, arching her eyebrow.

"I'm not sure if we should continue seeing one another. You're just moving way too fast for me to keep up. I mean children? I'm not even 21 yet. I'm sorry." Jon pulled his hands away swiftly and stood up head hung low ashis path gradually led further away from Alanna. The last glimpse he caught of his warrior maiden before he passed over the hill was the lustrous redhead, hiding her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

With Jon out of sight, Alanna sat up briskly, lifting her grinning face out of her hands. It had been hard to keep a straight face through the break up, butwithhim now gone, she threw her head back and laughed uproariously. Once again she had gotten exactly what she had wanted, even if it did require lying to her best friend.

"Oh but it was worth it." Chuckling under her breath, remembering the look on Jon's face as she brought up the topic of children. She only hoped he wouldn't feel to bad for breaking up with her, considering howconvincingly Alanna had acted out the break up scene. But if she knew Prince Jon like she thought she did, he would most likely ignore her fora few days to come, then pretend nothing happened Rapidly, she became aware of how cold it was getting outside. Deciding quickly that she aught to get back to the castle before she froze, she set of down the hill, toward the spot midnight had been kept.

"Dammit!" she said after having reached her desired destination, where Jon should have been waiting for her. He had left without her! Alanna fumed at the thought of having to walk home in the freezing cold.

"Well I suppose I did kind of deserve that." She said wretchedly thinking about the long distance ahead of toward the cobble-stoned path that would lead her right back to the palace, she hopedJon wouldn't take the news of her acting out the whole-romance thingtoo badly. She continued making her way down the path quickly, trying to keep warm. Stilllost in her thoughts, alanna didn't hearthe clater of horse hooves until they were already beside her. An old, wrinkled man with a weathered face, looked down at her from his dun coloured mount

"What are ye doin' walkin by yerself with a storm on the way. Are ye crazy or just plain stupid?"

"Just plain stupid" Alanna retorted sarcastically "and besides it's not going to rain…" to Alanna's dismay, a loud crash of thunder drowned out her last words and it began to rain heavily.

"Leave! Now!" Alanna yelled rudely at the old prune who was now grinning broadly. He obliged at once, still laughing. Alanna reviewed her situation. Walking home in the pouring rain drenched to the bone with no horse and no trees nearby. Boy, did she feel unlucky.

"I really don't think this day could have gotten any worse than it already has." She spoke through gritted teeth as she set off at a fast jog. If only Jon had taken her home. A realisation struck her. This was all Jon's fault! Strangely, she didn't feel sorry for him anymore.