Chapter 9

Disclaimer: SOTL is owned by Tamora Pierce, I am merely a fan.

Disclaimer 2: I haven't written this stuff since January or something. Please let me get back into it. I need to reread the books.

Author's Note- Erin's back in action. If I was reading and reviewing your story, do me a favor and let me know what number the last chapter I reviewed was, and if you have anything new. I need to get caught back up.

That evening at dinner, Jonathan was thankful that only close friends sat with them. Dealing with the whole Court would've been a headache; because someone was bound to notice Thayet and George were no long with him and Alanna. In fact, he was concerned that Thayet and George might come down. He didn't really want to have to deal with anything awkward. Jonathan was one of those men who disliked awkward moments, as many did. He was fine in social settings, but awkward was not his forte.

When Alanna finally came down, he grinned and motioned for her to sit by him. She did, but he noticed that she did not smile back. "What's wrong?" he asked her quietly. She shrugged and picked at her meal. His brow furrowed. "Alanna." Showing almost maidenly shyness, she met his sapphire eyes with her own violet ones. She continued to chew. "I know something's wrong."

"Jonathan." She dropped her fork and gave him a serious look. "I just moved from my quarters into new ones. You think I won't be a little upset?" Jon smiled at her. That sounded like his Alanna.

"Sorry," he said. "I was worried you were having second thoughts."

She glared at him. "If I were having second thoughts, I would've said something already. Do you know me at all, your majesty?" Now her eyes were twinkling in that way only Alanna's could. Jonathan smirked and continued to eat his meal.

Raoul looked around. "I missed something. What did I miss?" Gary raised his hand in agreement—he was chewing. Gary's wife Cythera patted his arm, and Buri patted Raoul's.

"Men miss everything," the women told the two large knights. Raoul frowned.

"They're my two best friends. I have a right to know," he insisted.

"An' my cuzzin!" Gary added, his mouth full of food.

"Swallow first, dear," Cythera reminded her husband in the way one might remind a young child.

"Where are George and Thayet?" Raoul asked. Jon and Alanna exchanged a look. Raoul noticed this. His hands hit the table, causing everything to shake. "No."

"Yes," Alanna shot back a bit teasingly.

"You're not getting married?" Raoul and Gary asked in shock. Alanna, hearing chatter around the table she didn't even attempt to follow, put her head down on the table, gently hitting her forehead against the wooden surface. Jonathan suppressed a laugh at Alanna's action.

"You know I can't understand what you're saying when you all talk at once," he announced loudly. The table fell silent. "Questions?"

"Why?" everyone asked together.

Alanna's head snapped up. "None of your business." Before she could say anything that might get her into trouble, Jonathan shoved a roll into her mouth and covered it with his hand. Glaring at him, Jonathan saw violet fire dance around her fingertips.

"However rudely my lovely Champion just put it," Jonathan began, "she's right. For now, we'll just say that there were cold feet and doubts. All right?" He met the eyes of each one of his close friends. "All right?" Before anyone answered, Alanna burned Jonathan's hand with her Gift. He winced, but left his hand where it was. "I asked a question, and would like a response."

"All right," the people chorused. Alanna bit down hard on the King's hand.

"Ow! Great Merciful Mother!" Jonathan sucked his hand where she had sunk in her teeth. "That hurt." With a smug smile on her face, Alanna ripped into her roll.

The rest of the table dissolved into laughter, all seemingly forgotten.

Author's Note: sorry if that sucked. I need to go back and reread. Not to mention I had a 20 pound dog on my lap for the second half of that story. Dwight (my dog) says, "Please review!"