Post by Rosie on Jun 14, 2017 23:33:28 GMT 10
Title: On a Knife's Edge
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,067
Card: Winter
Bingo: Affection + unexpected gift + reflection + fireplace + decoration
Summary: Part of the topsy-turvy AU I started in Rogue Week - Alanna continues her balancing act
--
"You can't keep this up forever."
"I don't intend to keep this up forever," Alanna hissed back.
Her twin stared at her in silent judgement, and she was grateful for the reprieve as she fussed with her hair. Even with her limited time at court, she knew that it wasn't the rage to walk around looking like one had been dragged through a hedge backwards. It hadn't been a hedge, anyway. She touched her split lip, summoning a little magic to heal it over.
"You can tell me I don't know what I'm talking about all you want, but you can't keep calling it a coincidence when you've been attacked five times in the last month," Thom burst out.
Alanna set the mirror down, figuring things were as good as they were going to get. "Sweet Goddess, Thom, it's probably just some upstart rogue with his eye on the throne. I'll survive it; it was mostly too icy to fight back properly."
Thom resumed his pacing, though the room was so small that he only managed four steps before turning back. "I don't like it, Alanna. Everything's too finely balanced. If the King finds out you're with the Rogue, you're done, if the Rogue finds out you're with the King, you're done, if a new Rogue takes over, you're done. If the Rogue finds out you're noble, you're done - and here you are, walking around with my face."
A tight, constricting feeling wrapped itself around Alanna's chest. She took deep, steadying breaths. Thom was no good in a crisis, that was all. "Look, it's only his mother. You just need to keep your head down, Thom. We'll be fine - you'll see. One more year of training, and then you can throw yourself at your books and never look outdoors again."
She expected Thom to smile at that, but he continued to look grim. "I think Myles wants to keep me at the palace. Research, or something. I'm trying to encourage him. I'd feel better if I could keep an eye on you."
"So you expect me to survive the year." Alanna gave him a wide smile. "That's good to know."
He closed his hands over hers, eyes intense. "Alanna, if you don't survive the year, I swear, I will bring you back just so I can kill you again."
--
It was hard to shake off the gravity of her brother's expression, but Alanna did her best. She favoured breeches as a rule in the Lower City, but her noble persona required skirts. Unfortunately, it made sneaking around a great deal more difficult, though she found slipping through servants' entrances served her well.
"One of these days, you will have to tell me why you are so hard to track down."
Alanna fought to keep her face from erupting into a smile. "Perhaps first you could tell me why you have ambushed me? I thought I was meeting your mother - and these are her rooms, if I'm not mistaken?"
"You have caught me." King George hung his head in mock-shame. "All I ask is a kiss from my lady before I am sentenced."
She placed her hands on her hips, surveying him. It looked as though he was not long off the practise courts, and the ease with which he held himself was as appealing as ever. "Your sentence is that there will be no kissing, your Majesty. After all, I would not have kissed your mother when returning her supplies, and therefore I see no reason to kiss her proxy."
"Your reasoning is sound," George said mournfully. "Come, sit by the fire and let me warm that cold heart of yours."
"Yes, I likely would have sat a while with your mother," Alanna said thoughtfully, spreading her skirts to seat herself comfortably. "We would have talked of healing, mostly. I saw a young lass just last week - her leg had a gash this far apart."
He caught at her fingers as they demonstrated the width of the wound. "Anna. I have a delegation visiting from Galla. As inclined as I am to while away my hours with you, my court simply will not have it, and I suspect Prime Minister Malek will track me down even to my mother's rooms."
Disappointment flooded through her - ridiculous, when she hadn't even expected to see him that day. Ridiculous when even being in the palace put her in danger, let alone in fancy clothes, let alone with the king.
"You look like I told you I cancelled Midwinter. My point was that, well, I need to get to the point. I got you a present, and since I wasn't sure when you might show your face again, I thought I may as well give it to you now."
Alanna's hands trembled a little as he gave it to her. The dowager queen had been the only person for years who'd given her something that hadn't been stolen, but this didn't look much like healing supplies. It was a brooch, amethysts twinkling round the edges. "I - I wasn't expecting-"
"Of course not. Now, let us part ways as friends, because that is how you would have parted with my mother, but I would not be so churlish as to refuse a way of contacting you, should something come to mind."
It was risky. If she got too regular about her habits, Johnny would notice. Besides that, she loved Johnny. She was almost herself with Johnny.
She steeled herself. "How could I say no, when you ask so nicely?"
"I would rather hear 'no' from you than think I'd won a yes with all my ornaments," George said, hazel eyes troubled. "Anna, I don't mean to pressure you. Just - take the gift, and we'll go on as we have."
--
Dismissive words aside, Alanna couldn't help thinking on George's comments as she walked home, the brooch pinned under her shirt. It was easy to slip out of the palace, after a detour via Thom's room to change back into her usual clothes. She should really have left the brooch with Thom, but an impulse made her keep it on her person. Johnny would likely assume she'd stolen it, anyway.
Perhaps it was this preoccupation that made her less cautious, or perhaps it would have happened either way - she was vaguely aware of a yell, and then everything went black.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,067
Card: Winter
Bingo: Affection + unexpected gift + reflection + fireplace + decoration
Summary: Part of the topsy-turvy AU I started in Rogue Week - Alanna continues her balancing act
--
"You can't keep this up forever."
"I don't intend to keep this up forever," Alanna hissed back.
Her twin stared at her in silent judgement, and she was grateful for the reprieve as she fussed with her hair. Even with her limited time at court, she knew that it wasn't the rage to walk around looking like one had been dragged through a hedge backwards. It hadn't been a hedge, anyway. She touched her split lip, summoning a little magic to heal it over.
"You can tell me I don't know what I'm talking about all you want, but you can't keep calling it a coincidence when you've been attacked five times in the last month," Thom burst out.
Alanna set the mirror down, figuring things were as good as they were going to get. "Sweet Goddess, Thom, it's probably just some upstart rogue with his eye on the throne. I'll survive it; it was mostly too icy to fight back properly."
Thom resumed his pacing, though the room was so small that he only managed four steps before turning back. "I don't like it, Alanna. Everything's too finely balanced. If the King finds out you're with the Rogue, you're done, if the Rogue finds out you're with the King, you're done, if a new Rogue takes over, you're done. If the Rogue finds out you're noble, you're done - and here you are, walking around with my face."
A tight, constricting feeling wrapped itself around Alanna's chest. She took deep, steadying breaths. Thom was no good in a crisis, that was all. "Look, it's only his mother. You just need to keep your head down, Thom. We'll be fine - you'll see. One more year of training, and then you can throw yourself at your books and never look outdoors again."
She expected Thom to smile at that, but he continued to look grim. "I think Myles wants to keep me at the palace. Research, or something. I'm trying to encourage him. I'd feel better if I could keep an eye on you."
"So you expect me to survive the year." Alanna gave him a wide smile. "That's good to know."
He closed his hands over hers, eyes intense. "Alanna, if you don't survive the year, I swear, I will bring you back just so I can kill you again."
--
It was hard to shake off the gravity of her brother's expression, but Alanna did her best. She favoured breeches as a rule in the Lower City, but her noble persona required skirts. Unfortunately, it made sneaking around a great deal more difficult, though she found slipping through servants' entrances served her well.
"One of these days, you will have to tell me why you are so hard to track down."
Alanna fought to keep her face from erupting into a smile. "Perhaps first you could tell me why you have ambushed me? I thought I was meeting your mother - and these are her rooms, if I'm not mistaken?"
"You have caught me." King George hung his head in mock-shame. "All I ask is a kiss from my lady before I am sentenced."
She placed her hands on her hips, surveying him. It looked as though he was not long off the practise courts, and the ease with which he held himself was as appealing as ever. "Your sentence is that there will be no kissing, your Majesty. After all, I would not have kissed your mother when returning her supplies, and therefore I see no reason to kiss her proxy."
"Your reasoning is sound," George said mournfully. "Come, sit by the fire and let me warm that cold heart of yours."
"Yes, I likely would have sat a while with your mother," Alanna said thoughtfully, spreading her skirts to seat herself comfortably. "We would have talked of healing, mostly. I saw a young lass just last week - her leg had a gash this far apart."
He caught at her fingers as they demonstrated the width of the wound. "Anna. I have a delegation visiting from Galla. As inclined as I am to while away my hours with you, my court simply will not have it, and I suspect Prime Minister Malek will track me down even to my mother's rooms."
Disappointment flooded through her - ridiculous, when she hadn't even expected to see him that day. Ridiculous when even being in the palace put her in danger, let alone in fancy clothes, let alone with the king.
"You look like I told you I cancelled Midwinter. My point was that, well, I need to get to the point. I got you a present, and since I wasn't sure when you might show your face again, I thought I may as well give it to you now."
Alanna's hands trembled a little as he gave it to her. The dowager queen had been the only person for years who'd given her something that hadn't been stolen, but this didn't look much like healing supplies. It was a brooch, amethysts twinkling round the edges. "I - I wasn't expecting-"
"Of course not. Now, let us part ways as friends, because that is how you would have parted with my mother, but I would not be so churlish as to refuse a way of contacting you, should something come to mind."
It was risky. If she got too regular about her habits, Johnny would notice. Besides that, she loved Johnny. She was almost herself with Johnny.
She steeled herself. "How could I say no, when you ask so nicely?"
"I would rather hear 'no' from you than think I'd won a yes with all my ornaments," George said, hazel eyes troubled. "Anna, I don't mean to pressure you. Just - take the gift, and we'll go on as we have."
--
Dismissive words aside, Alanna couldn't help thinking on George's comments as she walked home, the brooch pinned under her shirt. It was easy to slip out of the palace, after a detour via Thom's room to change back into her usual clothes. She should really have left the brooch with Thom, but an impulse made her keep it on her person. Johnny would likely assume she'd stolen it, anyway.
Perhaps it was this preoccupation that made her less cautious, or perhaps it would have happened either way - she was vaguely aware of a yell, and then everything went black.