the_lioness | (no subject)

Alanna.

Alanna, wake up.

*It's dark. The voice doesn't seem to be coming from anywhere in particular.*

*A loud groan comes from under the pile of blankets.* No. No practice today, Coram said.

*Alanna waves her hand in the air, obviously a clear message to leave her alone, and rolls over.*

Go away. S'not morning.

*There's a tug on the blankets. Almost as if someone is trying to pull them away.

How odd.*

Not that kind of practice.

*petulantly* NO! No practice. *mumbles* Sleep. Time for sleep.

*Sadly, the person attacking the blankets ignores the obvious warning. The blankets fight back. Hard. A low, threatening growl escapes just before the blankets rise off the bed and tackle the person tugging on them. Luckily, a sheepskin rug cushions their fall.*

*The blankets struggle.*

You call this sleep, Sister?

*Alanna makes a sound much like you would expect to hear from an enraged mountain lion. Fighting to free her head from the blankets, she addresses Thom in a blistering tone.*

It would be, brother, if you did not insist on interrupting it!

*Finally, a head of messy copper hair pokes out of the mass of blankets. Alanna is not amused. She glares daggers into violet eyes exactly like her own.*

Why are you here? Did you miss me?

*Thom grins and hugs her. With some blanket-related difficulty.* Always.

Oof! *Alanna, already precariously balanced on her knees, starts to fall backwards. She catches herself and returns Thom's hug, tickling his side.*

I don't believe that *yawns* for a second. Just yesterday you asked Maude if she knew a spell for banishing siblings. All because I dunked you in the fish pond. *shakes head* You're so touchy.

Seriously, brother. What do you want? *yawns*

*haughtily* They say turn about is fair play.

I want to go try the new spell in Father's study. He's sleeping. I checked.

So what do you need me for? *frowns* I can't even do the simplest spells. Maude thinks I'm hopeless and you do too. Don't you? Admit it.

If I thought you were hopeless, would I bring you? Be reasonable.

*grumbles* I'll be reasonable in the morning.

*She sticks her tongue out at Thom and just stares. With any luck, he'll get bored, concede the stare war and go away.*

But Father will be awake in the morning!

*Alanna's eyes light up with mischief. Anyone who knows the twins would recognize imminent disaster and hide anything breakable within a five mile radius.*

You have a point. I've been wanting to try that sword he has hanging above his mantle. *scoffs* He doesn't even use it! It just collects dust. Horrible waste of a decent blade. That's what Coram said. Horrible waste. *She nods.*

. . . yes, that too. I've had my eye on it. *Thom rolls his eyes.*

You can try it if we go now. No one will ever know.

*Alanna wastes no time jumping up and flinging blankets aside until she can grab Thom's arm.*

Let's go! *Beaming, she tugs on his arm.* Do you need to stop and get your book of spells?

*lagging slightly behind* No, I know it already.

*Alanna rolls her eyes.* Of course you do.

*They creep along the corridor above the main staircase. Alanna stops abruptly in front of a shield depicting the Trebond family crest. She pokes it a few times, discovering to her delight that it's not attached to the wall very securely.*

Thom! If I am going to wield father's sword, I should also have the family shield. Help me get this down!

*She pulls a chair over and climbs up, tugging the bottom of the shield with a look of total concentration.*

*Thom waves an arm and the shield comes suddenly loose in her hands.*

You're always doing things the hard way.

*Totally unprepared for this, Alanna squeaks at the sudden weight and drops the shield. She gives Thom a horrified look.*

*whispers* Was that loud? It was loud, wasn't it. How loud? Do you think it woke Father?

*She looks mournfully at the shield, but is far more concerned with the sword at this point. Quickly propping the shield against the chair, she grabs Thom's hand and starts walking as quietly as she can.*

C'mon, Thom. You're so slow sometimes. Hurry!

*hangs back, wide-eyed* You're just going to leave it there?

Put it back!

*hisses* No! We don't have time, Thom. What if one of the servants heard that? C'mon!

*She stops, folds her arms across her chest and taps her foot.* Do you want to try that spell of yours or not? We can get it on the way back. Promise.

*sighs* Fine. Fine, I'm coming.

*But he keeps glancing back as he runs with her down the hall.*

*They race down the stairs and across the hall. Alanna slides to a halt directly before the door to their Father's study. Something in the back of her head is telling her that this is a Very Bad Idea, but she's never been very good at listening to that particular something. She puts her hand on the large door handle.*

Ready?

Ready when you are. *puts his hand over hers* We don't have to count or anything, right? Just ... do it.