Alanna: The First Adventure
"Ah. 'Free time.' I've heard about that. Don't fool yourself, Fire-Top. What with the extra hours of lessons for punishments, and the work you get everyday, free time is an illusion. It's what you get when you die and the gods reward you for a life working from dawn until midnight. We all face up to it sooner or later--- the only real free time you get here is what my honored sire chooses to give you, when he thinks you've earned it."---Gary
Instead he thought of Thom's performance in archery- --it was enough to make a soldier cry.---Coram thinking.
"I don't care if the two of ye want t' be dancing bears!"---Coram
"I buy---and I sell."---George
"I almost had to fight Gary for you. He said it wasn't fair, me getting the best because I'm the prince."---Jonathan
*****
He knelt beside her. "I thought you were calling me Jon. Alanna, you're crying."
"It's been such an awful day," she sobbed. Hesistantly the young man put his arms around her and drew her against him. "And now you're being so kind." She wept in his shirt.
"Not kind," he told her. "Grateful. Admiring. You're getting my shirt wet."---Jonathan and Alanna
*******
"Gods, that's why you never went swimming! All the times you saw us naked---me naked!"---Jonathan
"I could learn to hate that bell" Alanna muttered.
"You know" he murmured , "I'd almost rather face old Ylon again than Lord Martin in a temper."
"I'll blame it all on you," she replied sleepily. "See if I don't". ~Alanna and Jon
"Hello. You must be Alan of Trebond. You're very hardy to have made it this far the first day. Has anyone said what we try to learn here?"
"The only thing I know is that I jump when I'm told and I have no free time."---Myles and Alanna, sent in by Chachachica
In the Hand of the Goddess
"Perhaps my sword will pierce it, then?"--- Jonathan
"Perhaps your mother betrayed your father with a warthog."--- Alanna
"I guessed and then I saw how you walked and I was sure."---Jonathan
"We belong to each other. Is that silliness. Surely you've realized all along that this had to happen."-- Jonathan
"I'm scared, too. At least we can be scared together."--- Jonathan
She (Alanna) wanted Jonathan's love. To be honest, she had wanted that love for a long time.
"You're in love with Jon, aren't you? And me a blind fool not to have seen it before." ----George
"I love you, Alanna. Ignore it if you want, but I do love you."---Jonathan
"I love you, Jonathan."----Alanna
"I know. I just wanted to be sure you knew it, too." --Jonathan
"You just don't want Gary to see me bare."
"You're right, I don't! Do you? Do you?"
"You're very jealous for someone who isn't serious about me."
"I am serious, in my way."---Alanna and Jonathan
"I've already found her, and you know it well" ~George
Healing is all very well, but not if you kill yourself in the process. And do you enjoy snuggling up to Jonathan like a lovesick girl?
"Now, you listen to me, you prissy animal--" she began. ~Alanna and Faithful
If you're going to fall in love with the Prince, don't show it, the cat advised. Unless you want the whole camp talking about you both.
"I'm not fa--" Alanna stopped, aware that Jonathan was listening intently, one of his arms still around her waist.
"Are you two talking?" he wanted to know.
"Ask Faithful," Alanna said tersely. "I just answer his questions." ~Alanna, Jon and Faithful
"You know, that cat's more intelligent than most people."
Faithful yawned. Of course I am. ~Jon and Faithful
Alanna squeezed his hand. "Thank you for taking care of me, Jon."
He reached over to brush a strand of hair away from her face. Suddenly he was very close. Alanna discovered she was afraid to breath. Carefully, almost timdly, Jonathan kissed her mouth.
Someone's coming, Faithful remarked. ~Alanna, Jon and Faithful
George raised his eyebrows. "Do I believe my ears? Alanna the Heartless talkin' for love instead of against it?"
"Don't tease , George. He's my brother. I love him."
"He knows that," George said, hugging her around the shoulders. "And I know I for one envy him. Now, eat up. We've a long ride home." ~Alanna and George
"Don't die on me," she whispered when the clock struck midnight and he still had not moved. "It's only a little shoulder wound. Goddess, George--don't die on me."
His eyes flickered open and he smiled. "I didn't think you cared," he whispered. "And why insult me? I won't die for a wee nick like this; I've had worse in my day."
Alanna wiped her wet cheeks. "Of course I care, you unprincipled pickpocket!" she whispered. "Of course I care." ~Alanna and George
"Oh, I can't wait to see their faces!" ~Gary
Gary smoothed his new mustache. "You're never too young for girls. Come on. I'll introduce you to the newest arrival. She just came yesterday, and Mithros!" He whistled his approval. ~Gary
"Stupid." Alanna told him quietly, her voice shaking with fury. "That was very stupid. And you're lucky I"m a better 'knight' than you are, or you'd be dead." She turned contemptuously and walked back to her friends, letting Jon brace her as Duke Gareth bound up her wound.
You are taking a risk, the cat said as Alanna searched her trunk for the new lock-picks George had given her. If he catches you, you wil be very dead.
"Then he musn't catch me. Agreed?" Alanna shoved the leather envelope holding the picks into her tunic. "Come on. You stand guard."
Faithful trotted along as she took the back halls that led to Roger's rooms. There must be insanity in my family, too. ~Alanna and Faithful
"I'm sorry," she whispered, fighting back tears. "I know you love him: but I couldn't let it go on. He was killing your mother."
Jonathan held her close. "I love you more." His voice was breaking. "Don't let him kill you."
Alanna shook her head. "I don't plan to. Believe me, I don't." ~Alanna and Jon
"Take care of her, Coram Smythesson!"
"And here I thought the best part of ridin' with a knight was that she would be lookin' after me." ~Jon and Coram
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
"It's not polite to eavesdrop," she snapped.
"I don't doubt that," he agreed, his voice soft. "On the other hand, if you'd yelled a wee bit louder, perhaps Jonathan himself could've heard he had two unexpected allies here in Port Caynn." ~Alanna and George
Lioness Rampant
Coram sank his face into his hands. "Life used to be simple," he told his palms.
Faithful jumped up to sniff Liam's plate. Probably more boring, too. ~Coram and Faithful
"Beauty is pain."
"Is that suppoesed to be consolation?"~Thayet and Alanna
"Your artwork's improved. The one you did of Delia made her look like a cow. Though now that I think of it, maybe that was your subject matter--" ~Alanna
"Do you always think like this?" she wanted to know. "Or do you rest sometimes and think about ordinary things with the rest of us?" ~Alanna
Wild Magic
"This is a fine welcome you've given me, laddy- buck," Alanna said, trying to imitate her husband's speech as she approached. "Here I am, home from the wars, and you let me be swarmed over by barbarians whilst you flirt with my friends."
"Excuse me," George said gravely to the adults, and to the children he plucked from his wife's hold. Gripping the Lioness firmly, he bent her back in a prolonged kiss that looked like a romantic scene in a play. Everyone , even the men-at-arms posted along the walls, clapped, whistled, and cheered. (WM/N I can't believe that this quote is on my site!!! I hate A/G!)
Emperor Mage
"Are you aware that the entire west wing and Astronomer's Tower are burning?"
She scuffed a foot on the ground. "I thought they'd killed you. I lost my temper."
Numair's eyes danced. "Magelet, that is the greatest understatement I have heard in my life." ~Daine and Numair
The Realms of the Gods
"What has that got to do with the price of peas in Persopolis?"--Daine
He turned. "You--you're alive. I thought..."
She staggered over to him. "I hurt too much to be dead." ~Daine and Numair
"Don't you ever--ever--frighten me that way again!" He shook her for punctuation, then wrapped his arms around her so tightly that she thought she might just pop. "Ever," he added, and kissed her thoroughly before releasing her.
"I don't know," she said impishly, smiling up at him. "I like this particular kind of tantrum." ~Daine and Numair
"Got a bit of sand in you crop?" she demanded irritably. "A swallow or two of oil should wash it right out the end that does your thinking for you." ~Daine
"I love you," he whispered. "If you get yourself killed, I will never forgive you." ~Numair
"Whoever you are, if you're here to kill me, you'll need to do it while I remain prone," a familiar voice said nearby. "Have the decency to be quick about it, so I can get back to my rest."
Daine tumbled off Cloud's back, trying to see where he was. "What I've got in mind isn't near so quick as killing!"
There was a long silence; her heart twisted within her chest. Then she heard a cracked whisper: "Daine?" Under the long, drooping branches of a nearby willow, a dark figure lurched to its feet.
She ran to Numair, slamming into him with enough force to drive him back against the willow's trunk. "That hurt," he gasped. Before she could apologize, he was kissing her nose, her cheeks, her forehead, her lips. She kissed him back. They came up for air, then kissed again, their hands checking each other's bodies, for serious injury as well as simply for the joy of touch.
They came up for air several more times before they had calmed down enough to let each other go--although Numair kept his grip on Daine's hands. "Will you marry me?"
She grinned up at him. "Maybe someday," she replied, eyes dancing. "But ony if you're very, very good."
"What if I'm very, very bad?" he whispered, the heat in his voice making her shiver agreeably. He gathered her into his arms and eased his mouth over hers, caressing her lips with his, teasing, until all she could do was hang in his grip.
"Still maybe someday," she replied finally, when she could do more than simply gasp. "But you're welcome to try and convince me to make it sooner."
This is as lovely as colts friskking in the sun, Cloud remarked from outside the screen of willow branches, but you're going to have company. Kitten is bringing Tkaa and Onua here.
Daine giggled and told Numair what the pony had said.
"Then by all means, let us totter down to meet them," said the man with a sigh. "I will resume persuading you in regard to matrimony at another time, when we've rested, and eaten, and had baths." ~Daine, Numair and Cloud
First Test
"How can I be silent and still apologize?"---Neal
Page
"You do look a bit yellow around the edges. I hadn't wanted to bring it up."
"We daffodils like to have things brought up. It
reminds us of spring."
"Does dung remind you of spring too, Princess Flower?"---Neal, Kel, & Cleon
"You are an education, Keladry of Mindelan."
" I'm not sure if that was a compliment."
"Neither am I."
"You will pay for that one the practice courts."
"It was nice knowing you."---Neal, Kel, & Owen
Squire
"So, Neal, do you feel educated?"
"Incredibly.Why words just fail me about how educated I am getting."--Alanna & Neal
"Now if you will excuse me, I need to shave."
"But you don't need to."
"I live in hope as the priest said to the princess..."--Neal & Kel