Queen's Own: So I was thinking, Tammy never gives us any examples on Jon and Alanna's behavior directly following her birthday and their (cough cough) special night. So I pointed this out to Siri, and she took off running with this chapter. Set a few days after Alanna's birthday.
Siri: We've also got Delia being rejected. (cackle) Never liked her much anyway.
Disclaimer: Is it just me or are these things really annoying? But no, I do not own any of the characters used in this fic. Nada. Zilch. If you really want to sue me, all I have is a few crumpled old history tests and a stuffed dog my ex gave me on Valentine's Day when we were going out.
Rejection of an Unexpected Nature
I will not turn green, I will not turn green, Gary chanted silently to himself. Jon had only just entered the room and already, Delia was halfway into his lap. It was quite a contrast to the polite smile and wave she had favored him with. Looking over at Alan, Gary had to wonder what was going through those women's minds. Though the squire had made it clear that he didn't flirt with the court women, there were still those who were certain that they could be the one to get the notorious squire into their bed. Gary shook his head and stifled a laugh. He doesn't understand, he thought to himself. Even Delia had flirted with the lucky squire.
He turned his gaze back to Jon and Delia. Yet again, I shall watch my cousin dance all night with the woman of well, everyone's dreams, only to leave with her at the end of it to go do Gods know what in his room. He sighed, and took a swallow of wine. The world was an unfair place.
But as the set ended, he found himself wondering of the Gods did not love him after all. For Jon was doing the unthinkable. Despite Delia's obvious desire to keep him with her, he was politely disentangling himself and walking over to the cluster of women surrounding his squire. Gary couldn't believe his good fortune. Trying not to look in a hurry, he set down his wine glass, smoothed his tunic and made his way over to the beautiful woman. Alas, Roger beat him there. Slightly discouraged, he turned instead to Alan and Jon.
The prince had slipped inside the circle of women easily, and was flirting just as effortlessly. They had turned their giggles and fluttering eyelashes to him, much to Alan's obvious relief. Seeing Gary's eye on them, he beckoned his friend over. Gary obliged, weaving expertly through the many nobles.
"Hello Gary," Jon said, noticing his friend.
"Hello Jon," Gary replied. "Surprised to see you over here."
"How could I not be here, amongst such charming women?" Jon asked. The ladies flushed and giggled. Alan choked on his wine.
"Could I persuade you to leave their lovely company for a few moments?" he said. Jon smiled, and he and his squire excused themselves from the circle of now disappointed women.
Once safely outside the room, Gary turned to his friend. "Why aren't you dancing with Delia?" he asked. Jon laughed.
"Gary if you want her, you can have her," he said easily.
Gary's eyes narrowed. "Does this have anything to with that girl I saw you with the other day- Lenna?" Alan coughed yet again on a swallow of wine; Jon pounded his back.
"Alan," he said. "You really need to watch how much you're drinking. That's the second time tonight you've choked." Alan rolled his eyes.
"Oh stop it Jon," he said, laughing slightly. "I just can't resist the humor." Jon didn't comment, as his squire raised one coppery eyebrow.
"Gary, what gave you that idea?" Jon asked. "Lenna's probably back in Port Legann already."
"Port Caynn," Gary corrected him. "And what else could it be? You've –ah- disengaged yourself from the lovely Lady Delia, she of the-"
"Please don't wax poetic on us," Alan groaned. "I used to hear enough bad poetry from Jon."
"And," Gary continued, refusing to be deterred. "You're being much nicer to Alan, you've been acting oddly in regards to women lately, and there was that small matter of advice-" Now it was Jon's turn to choke on his wine.
"I don't want to know," Alan said, pounding his knightmaster on the back. "Goddess Jon, you need to watch how much you drink." Jon shot a mock glare at his friend.
"That's the only time Jon's ever needed girl advice," Gary informed the redhead. "I had never realized that he didn't have divine powers when it came to women." Alan snorted.
"Hardly," he said, giving the crown prince a look. "You should have heard him obsessing over Delia- what he was going to wear, what he was going to say-"
"Did I hear my name?" a familiar voice inquired sweetly. A look of annoyance crossed Alan's face and Jon frowned. Gary's eyes lit up.
"Lady Delia," he said, bowing over her hand and kissing the back. "How could we not be speaking of your radiant beauty?" Delia smiled, and stepped between Jon and Alan.
"Your Highness," she purred. "I haven't seen you much this week. Do you think we could- catch up?" Her tone was blatantly suggestive. The look of disgust on Alan's face for the way the woman was openly throwing herself at Jon was matched only by the look of wistful envy on Gary's.
"Lady Delia," Jon said, casting a desperate look at Alan over the top of Delia's head. "I don't believe we have much to catch up on. Unless you want to hear about our gambles and duels, which have been uneventful this week."
"You know how I love to hear you talk," Delia said sweetly. "Or- I'm sure these gentlemen won't mind if I say that- we don't have to talk." Alan's lips twitched slightly as Jon's eyes filled with a silent plea for rescue.
"Lady Delia, I would be happy to catch you up on what we knights have been doing this past week," Gary said quickly. "It would be a pleasure to spend time with such a lovely lady, even if Jon has things he believes to be more important." Delia looked quickly from him, back to Jon and then her eyes settled on Gary. Just as suddenly as she had latched onto Jon, she stepped back slightly.
"If you're sure, Jonathan," she said softly, curtseying and giving him a lovely view of her cleavage. "Then I will go with Sir Gareth instead."
Jon nodded regally. "Good night to you both."
Gary was having a hard time containing his glee as Delia took his arm and they glided back into the room. He mouthed a silent 'Thank you' over his shoulder as the door shut behind them.
As soon as the door shut, Alan collapsed into laughter. "Did you see her face?" he wheezed. "And when she curtseyed-"
Jon laughed too. "She wasn't exactly subtle." They reentered the room once their laughter was under control. The cluster of ladies they had been entertaining earlier flocked back around them as soon as they entered and, with a smile and an exasperated twinkling of purple eyes, they returned to their earlier conversations. Within moments, both had made their way to the dance floor, Jon with a black-haired woman who was fairly tall and Alan with a petite blonde who was for once, shorter than him.
Jon made sure to stay with those women and to never dance a set without a partner for fear of Delia's descent. Before long, though, she left, Duke Roger on her arm. Gary rejoined them at that point, sighing.
"And I was so close," he said. "What a woman." Alan laughed, as Jon was currently dancing with the petite blond.
"You're welcome to her," he said, his eyes watching Jon. "I think you're right about Jon, though he hasn't told me anything." Gary followed the gaze of his purple eyes, gone soft, and misinterpreted it.
"That's quite a blond," he said. "Small, thin- you've finally found a woman shorter than you." Alan looked at him.
"Care to repeat that on the practice courts," he said mildly. "Because you know, you'd regret it."
Gary wisely shut his mouth. But as he followed Alan's gaze yet again, that small suspicion began waving up and down in his head. It couldn't be- Why did they keep coughing? What aren't they telling me? And why isn't Jon with Delia- Delia the beautiful, the radiant-
"I know you know who Jon's newest conquest is," he said. Alan laughed, eyes sparkling mischievously.
"And you'd never believe me if I told you," he answered. "Besides, what makes you think I'm going to tell you?" Gary rolled his eyes.
"Keep your secrets," he said. "I'll find out soon enough."
"I'm sure you will," Alan agreed, for once not arguing.
"So who is it?" Gary asked. Alan laughed, shaking his head.
"I'm not telling," he said. "Ask Jon if you really want to know, though I doubt he'll tell you."
"Tell him what?" Raoul came up behind the two of them, and Alan jumped at the sound of his voice.
"Gary wants to know who Jon's newest lady is," he said dryly. "Since he has abandoned the lovely Lady Delia." He then proceeded to imitate Gary at his worst. "She of the lovely emerald eyes, the radiant hair, the perfect figure, the bosom exposed by her dresses-" Gary hit Alan, cutting him off. Alan hit back. Things would have proceeded into a playful fight, had Jon not returned from his dance with the blond.
"Cannot have my two best knights brawling like drunkards," he said easily, as he put a hand on Alan's arm to keep him from landing a hit on Gary's stomach.
"Jon, it was fun," Alan protested, eyes sparkling mischievously.
"He insulted Delia," Gary said. The other three laughed.
"She hardly needs my help," Alan muttered. That set the other two off again. Raoul was the first to stop laughing.
"Gary for once is not blinded by his love for Delia's bos- sorry beauty," he said. "Jon really is over her. So who's the newest lady Jon?"
"No one," Jon said easily.
Raoul laughed. "You couldn't have given over Delia for no one," he objected. "Tell us."
"Like I told Gary," Alan said. "You wouldn't believe him if he told you."
"Oh so he knows?" Raoul said. "I'm hurt, Jon." His tone was light, though, and his eyes teasing.
"He's my squire," Jonathan protested.
"I'd know," was Alan's only response. "Those walls are rather thin." Raoul and Gary grinned. Jon flushed slightly.
"Not my fault," he replied.
"Of course not," his squire said, laughing. "Just that, well, Delia's rather- vocal, if you know what I mean." Even Gary couldn't hold laughter back at the look on Jon's face. It was mix between embarrassment, laughter and a riot of other equally amusing emotions. "And you're not exactly silent either." That did it. Raoul had tears streaming from his eyes, and Gary had to grab Alan's shoulder for support as he laughed, causing the squire to stagger slightly. "Go lean on Raoul, Gary," he said. "I can't support you."
"So little respect you show for your overlord, squire," Jon said.
"Like you could ever enforce discipline with me," Alan retorted. "I could chase you all over the practice courts." His eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Just you wait," Jon said, drawing himself up with mock dignity (what real dignity he had was reduced to shreds by his squire). "One day I'll be king-"
"And I'll still be chasing you all over the practice courts," Alan finished. "Until you get to lazy and scared to even try."
"He's got you there," Raoul said, laughter beginning to come under control. "And we all know he could."
"Speaking of practice courts," Alan said after Jon couldn't summon a retort. "I need to be on one early tomorrow. I'm for bed." He waved, and walked out of the room. Gary and Raoul looked at Jon.
"Talk," they demanded. "Who is it?"
"I'll force it out of Alan later," Raoul threatened. Jon laughed.
"He's less likely to tell you than I am," he said. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I need to join my squire tomorrow on the practice courts." He followed his squire out. Gary shook his head.
Jon caught up with his squire just inside his room. "No respect?" Alanna teased. "I should say not."
"Vocal?" Jon asked, shutting the door behind him. "I'd think you would know better." He pulled his squire to him suddenly, and kissed her thoroughly.
"Good to know Raoul thinks I'm not no one," she said, laughing when he pulled away. "Someone appreciates me. Although I did get tired of being compared to Delia."
"There's no comparison," Jon said, kissing her again. A grin spread across his face. "You're much quieter." Alanna resorted to a juvenile tactic and stuck her tongue out at him.
"So long as you don't try to enforce discipline."
Queen's Own: Sorry about the length of time it took this chapter to come out. School, you know? Finals are drawing perilously near- my science teacher just told us to start studying!- and I'm moving soon. I'll update as soon as I can, I promise. Reviews are great motivators!