the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

*Every now and then, Alanna finds she truly appreciates being King's Champion. Most of the time, she barely thinks about it; the title is far more symbolic than functional. However, on days like today, it comes in handy. Smiling, she stops to talk to members of the King's Own as she nears Jonathan's chambers. They smile in return and wave her on. Without too much trouble, she situates herself in the more cozy of Jon's sitting rooms, sipping fruit juice as she watches the fire.

If he's not awake in fifteen minutes, she'll go jump on his bed and hope Thayet's not in it.*

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Jon slowly walks in to the sitting room, not quite fully awake, his eyes bleary as he moves towards the fire. That would explain his yelp when he finally notices Alanna sitting there, not 2 feet away from him.

"Mithros, Alanna! Don't you think it's a bit early?"

Yes, even kings can be whiny.

*Amused, she nods.*

Of course I do. I haven't taken complete leave of my senses. I was going to let you sleep a few more minutes. *She gestures vaguely toward his head.* Your hair is rather wonky.

"Hmm. And how many would that be, exactly? Five, ten?" Jon raises his hand to his head before he can catch himself. He catches the look on her face and sighs, then slumps into the chair next to hers.

Giving her a mock glare through his reddened eyes, "And what occasions this particular visit?"

Cheerfully torturing you is not reason enough? *Gaze apologetic, she pours him a glass of juice and passes it over.* I don't know. I missed you, and you're so often caught up in meetings when I come. Perhaps I was bargaining on this being the one time of day we could speak uninterrupted.

*She slowly turns and looks toward his bedroom.*

Assuming we are alone?

He accepts the juice, flushing slightly at her look. "I've missed you too. And we, uh, we are alone. Thayet is...traditional about these things."

Good. I'm feeling selfish of my time with you. *Reddening a bit, she nods.* We should probably start talking about your wedding, Jon. Last I spoke with Thayet, she said sooner rather than later would be preferable. It would help settle the rumors, after all. They still exist, and likely always will, but we can persevere.

He nods. "I know. And it's not that I don't want to get married..." He stops, then grins. "I do love Thayet and yes, soon would be good. I've just accepted that people will always be discussing me in some form or fashion."

Indeed, that is the case. Nobles love nothing more than to gossip about their King while living well and idly in his Court.

*Alanna makes a face.*

But it's the people I worry about, and the rumors that your reign is cursed. Such rumors settled down some after your coronation, but I fear they are on the brink of resurfacing.

The crops, Jon.

His lips tighten. "I know. I've been wanting to talk to you about this." The lines around his mouth and the circles under his eyes show that this has indeed been on his mind.

"The reports are worse than you've heard. We've had to tap into food stores throughout the country. They'll be empty within a month and the forecasts are even worse for next season."

*The glass nearly tumbles from her suddenly loose grasp. Sucking in a breath, Alanna looks at him with troubled, almost haunted eyes.*

Why?

*Depositing the glass on a table, she moves closer.*

Goddess, Jon. A month? Gary said he was shuffling things around, but I didn't know it was such a problem.

He nods grimly. "We can possibly make them last a bit longer, but not much more. We're trying to keep it quiet so people don't panic." He rubs his eyes, then looks up at her bleakly.

"I've been debating the causes with everyone who might have a guess, and there's one thing that keeps coming up." He meets her eyes. "The Dominion Jewel."

*Alanna swallows hard.*

(They didn't even know how to use it, but it seems the Jewel used them.)

All the old stories flood her thoughts.*

The Jewel? But why?

He grimaces. "I have a theory. The Jewel, while a very powerful magical object, does not have power sources of its own - it's too small for that. I think it acts as a conduit, focusing power in a specific way for the user. And that power has to come from somewhere." He gestures expansively. "I think that power may have come from the earth itself, since that was what I was attempting to hold together when I used the Jewel."

Jendrai said-

He said that in the hands of the un-Gifted, it knit its power with the land itself. In the hands of a Gifted ruler, it could be used more directly. *She tilts her head back, trying to remember the exact words.*

In healing and war, for fertility or death. A knowledgeable ruler may create new land from ocean deeps, or return the breath of a dead child.

The Jewel maketh all things possible.

Possible, but there must be balance, always.

You're Gifted, and your first use of the Jewel was to stay the earthquakes and knit the land back together...

*She slumps, shakily reaching for the ember-stone.*

Aye. But it's likely more than that.

He nods. "I hate that this has happened, but even if I knew that this would be the result, I still would have used the Jewel. I had no choice." His mouth tightens.

I know.

*It doesn't lessen the guilt, however. After all, the Jewel was only in Tortall because she'd gone after it with her pride and desire to prove to everyone that she'd won her shield fair and square.

Pale, she jerks her head up when a log shifts on the fire.*

I suggest you speak with the Mithran priests on the matter. I'll make time this week to visit the Mother's temple. There has to be something we can do. Some gesture. Goddess, Thom might even have some advice.

He nods. "That is an excellent idea. I'll go over there this afternoon. And I believe I'll need to send some diplomatic envoys to the Copper Isles and Yaman." He smiles humorlessly. "We'll be needing them before long."

*Taking a deep breath, she nods.*

So it would seem. I'll be here more, Jonathan. I swear. I've hired more people, so my time won't be so sparse. Adam will want to help too, I'm sure of it. He'd-

*She pauses, the beginning of an idea taking root.*

Yes, he'd want to help. You know, it's not inconceivable that I could bring food through from the bar. Rations of some sort. And if we could get the nobles off their bloody asses and willing to spread their wealth...

We'll come through this.

The relief in his eyes is unmistakeable as he reaches over and clasps her hands in his.

"Thank you, Alanna. That would be wonderful. We will pay, of course, and if you need me to meet with the Head Barman about it..." He pauses for a moment, then smiles ruefully. "Though I'm not sure how he'll react to me. The only communication I've had with him is that one note I left him, in all my imperiousness."

He pauses again, then squeezes her hands, speaking softly. "I'm so glad you will be here. You've given me more hope than I dared to feel."

Talking with Bernard might not be a bad idea. *She sighs and squeezes his hands.* You might find aid in unexpected places if you visit the bar again. Besides, I think you and Liam should talk.

*Shifting her weight, Alanna hugs him.*

That's what I'm here for, Jon. Now go fix your hair and let's get to work.

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