the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

*The early morning light makes its way into the stables slowly. Alanna stands, one arm thrown carelessly over Mithros' back, a brush in her other hand and her cheek pressed to his warm side. She might be asleep, but Mithros is too intent on the contents of his feed bucket to really care. Judging by the blankets in the corner of his stall, she spent the night there.*

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Gazing down at her - George thinks that she looks like she's spent as sleepless a night as he has. He rubs his eyes tiredly, knowing without needing a mirror that there are dark circles under his eyes and that he badly needs a shave. He wishes he could walk away now, simply pretend he wasn't able to find her - walk away and just let her sleep.

But he knows he can't do that.

He puts off the inevitable, by reaching into his pocket and pulling out an apple, which he offers to the horse. The apple drags the horse's attention away from the feed bucket, and he takes a moment to stroke along the nose. "Aren't you a lovely thing." he tells the horse, admiringly. "If I'd Stefan's ability to speak with horses, I'd ask you how you happened to get here. Unfortunately, now isn't the time to berate our sleeping beauty", he looks at the sleeping Alanna, then back to the horse, ".. as to where she acquired you - or how in the Gods' names she managed to get you in here - through the Dove, with not even one of my folk telling me.." He smiles as the horse whickers at him.

He watches as the horse returns to the feed bucket, then with a sigh - does what he came to do. He crouches down in front of Alanna.

"Alanna." he calls softly.

Hmmmm? *Alanna opens her eyes slowly, the brush falling from her hand. She smiles warmly upon seeing George, but the smile soon fades as she remembers the trial. Hands shaking, she picks up the brush and begins collecting her things.*

Goddess... I'm late, aren't I? I should go. There's much to do and Jon will be expecting me. *She pauses, staring at the ground.* I've made a bloody mess of things, George.

"You're not late yet. We've time still..." he tells her. "It's just past dawn."

He offers her a hand, to help her stand. "How have you made a mess of things?"

Yes, but I promised to find a way...

*Suddenly, she drops everything and whirls around, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. She rubs her damp cheek against his shoulder and tries to stop shaking.*

It's all my damn fault. If I hadn't been upfront with her about her family, she wouldn't have left. I was so worried about Svava, I didn't even find out until Monday. I promised Jon I would respect his decision and stand beside him, but it's eating me up inside that she's probably going to die, and there should be a way to stop it. And Indy! The look in his eye as he sat there and said things like "extended and especially cruel death" -that one really stuck with me- and "track record since the crime is of no matter." He doesn't think much of our laws, and I don't think he understands how torn I am about this, and he's angry that I didn't tell him Delia was upset over her family...

*Alanna takes a shuddering breath and tries to calm down.* He's right to blame me. George... he wants to see her. I just can't think of a way to get him down there without calling attention to that fact and making things even worse for her. Now it might even be too bloody late.

He wraps his arms around her tightly - so her head is tucked neatly under his chin - and holds her as she cries.

"Alanna - sweet - listen to me. If it's because you were upfront with her about her family.. then I'm as much to blame as you are, perhaps even more. I told her the truth about what going on back at court. I'd never in a million years have considered the possibility that Delia would choose to willingly go back to court, and demand trial." Guilt colours his voice, as he strokes her hair. He shakes his head, remembering. "I was speechless when I arrived back at court from the coast, to hear from my Lord Provost that Delia was in Crown custody.."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be here with you.." he whispers into her hair.

Yes, but I'm sure you employed a great deal more tact. You know me. I'm too frank for my own good sometimes. It's just... exactly. Delia is too in love with her neck to risk it, or so I thought.

*She sighs, lifting her head to look at him. After a moment of hesitation, she kisses his cheek and takes a step back, staring over the stall door.*

George, you're here now. That's all that matters. *She pauses.* He's adamant on at least going to the trial.

George thinks over what she just said, already hypothesizing several different ways of getting Indy into the trial.

"You know, that I might be able to arrange. I can't promise anything though, until I speak with my Lord Provost.." he's quick to clarify, for the last thing he wants to do right now is give her false hope. "I understands that Indy would want to be there.." he stares off into the distance for a moment, lost in his own thoughts, "I know I'd want to be there, if it were you..."

*Her eye twitches, and she moves in for another hug.*

As I would want to be there for you. Any of us, really. I hated having to leave you and Jon that day... *She swallows.* That's different, I suppose.

Do you really think we could figure something out? I thought about all those times you snuck in disguised as a Bazhir... there has to be a way. My one concern is controlling him. Making sure he doesn't cry out or anything.

*She smiles, a hopeful look in her eye.* On a random note, Gary found the bar last night. He was most perturbed that we did not tell him about it. I reminded him that he was the first to find the Dove with me, so it was his turn to wait.

"If there's one thing I'm good at, it's disguises.." he points out. "Leave that part of things to me. I'll see what arrangements I can make, as soon as we're back at Court. Getting him in will be the easiest part. Keeping Indy quiet, could be a problem." George agrees, "..especially when Delia is sentenced. And there's no foreseeable way to avoid it, since we already know what the verdict is going to be.." he sighs. "Give me time, I'll think of something."

He half-smiles. At last, some good news.

"So our dear, Gareth - the younger - found his way into Milliways?? I'm glad to hear it, I could use another friendly face here..."

*Alanna feels some of the tension drain away and smiles.*

It's not so hard to envision Indy as a Bazhir. You'll make it work. I have faith in you. *She bites her lip.* It might not be death. Jon doesn't want her to die.

*Her protests sound weak even to her own ears.*

There are plenty of friendly faces here. Just not many from Tortall.

He sighs and shakes his head to clear it. The lack of sleep is starting to catch up with him.

"It's at times such as these, I wish I drank coffee." he says, with a wan-smile.

"We'd best go find Indy..."

You should try it. It's a miraculous beverage. *She nods, mentally preparing herself for the day ahead.* Very well. We had best be on our way.

Thank you, George.

*Biting her lip, she leads the way out of the stall and back to the bar.*

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