Alanna FanFic

An hour later, Francis found herself near the edge of camp. She watched Falc (the man who had brought her) leave. Mustering up her courage, she made her way silently to Adric's tent, and pulled back the tent flap.
Adric was pacing the floor. Francis let out a sigh of relief. Adric's eyes flicked to the door, and before Francis knew what was happening, he was holding her tightly in his arms, and kissing her tenderly. "Francis," he whispered. "I was afraid you wouldn't come back." She grinned. "I couldn't stay away for to long," she admitted. He kissed her again. When he stopped, she stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. "Adric," she breathed, "The Rogue are here to defend Tortall. And they need our help."
Astrid Lance

Adric nodded, "What do they need our help with? And in the Gods name, why?"
Francis sighed, "They need our help to convince your father that they can help. The why is because Keane destroyed the honor the Rogue had.
They want to salvage that honor. In some way, I guess you can say they're nobles who like to stay on the bad side of the law."
"Very perceptive of you. The problem I guess right now is Papa. He won't help willingly. At least I don't think," Adric said.
Francis thought for a moment. Then a wild idea hit her, "We could tell Ma, she could get your father to agree." Francis grinned, "I also bet she would like to make him do something that she wanted him to do, instead of the other way around. Ma hates how he orders her around, she would welcome the chance to turn the tables."
"Your right, she might. Then let's try it, what's there to lose?" "Tortall," Francis said quietly. Adric nodded and they left the tent.

Alanna looked from Adric to Francis and back again, "The rogues…what? I don't understand. They want to help us? Why in the Mother's name should they want to help us?"
"To regain honor, at least that's what they told me," Francis said.
"What do you mean?" Alanna asked sharply. "Told you? Who and where?"
"Um, here and the Queen of the Rogue," Francis said quietly
"This is insane. I'm losing my mind," Alanna muttered. "Bring the Queen here. I'll see what sort of plan I can work out."
Francis nodded, and left the tent with Adric in tow. They went to the edge of the camp where Falcon was waiting.
"Ma says that she'll help. The problem is the king. She says that maybe if she and Queen Emily put their thoughts together, they could come up with a plan," Francis said.
" 'ait 'er," Falcon said, and left. A few minutes he returned with a bewildered Queen.
"What's this?" Queen Emily asked.
"Lady Alanna said she'd help you in trying to convince Father. I wish you good luck, Father is in one of his moods," Adric said.
"Well, then. Let's be off," Emily said. Francis nodded, and lead the way back to camp. But when they got there, the camp was deserted. No one was there...
~*~*~*~* DestinyC18 & Club

Francis gazed around the camp with utter disbelief and bafflement, feeling. A knot form in the pit of her stomach."What's going on?" "They've gone to war," Adric said slowly. She looked at him sharply when she heard the tone of his voice and saw that his face had gone white-lipped and drawn. Francis put a hand on his arm for comfort, feeling the stiffness of it, then said,"Are you going, too?"
"I have to," he answered in a strained voice." It's my duty as a Tortallan prince fo the realm."
"I have to," he answered in a strained voice." It's my duty as a Tortallan prince fo the realm."
The corner of Francis's lip tugged slightly,"Yeah, right here." She patted her breast pocket under the tunic.
Adric, you don't have to do this you know," the Lioness said gently." When I go out there I'll tell Jon that we thought you shouldn't go, or at least, I thought that you shouldn't go. That certainly would irk the life out of him," she added on a lighter note.
The prince sighed and looked Alanna in the eye."No, I have to do this. Francis, can you wait here for us until we get back? And I promise you we'll return when all of this is done. The people of the Rogue will take care of you, hopefully."
Francis wondered at him since he knew that she trusted the thieves and then noticed that he was eyeing a tall broad shouldered man with a very finely made face and body. She smiled at him lovingly, kissed him on the cheek and said,"Don't worry about me, I just wish that I could be out there with you."
"Trust me, you don't."
The others, who had been waiting patiently beside them during their intimate exchange, finally spoke.
"If we are done?" Alanna asked wickedly.
Francis looked at her mother reproachfully."Oh be quiet ma, you didn't have to wait for King Jon to come back from battle, not knowing may I add if he even was coming back."
Her mother glared with snapping violet eyes.
"You will never let me forget about that will you? But yes, I did have to wait for his father during battle, but that was when I came to the River Drell as a squire and him a knight. So watch your mouth young lady."
Francis had the decency to blush and look down mumbling an apology.
"Mm, we'll have a long talk about this all after the war but now, Adric, get your gear and we'll ride out immediately."
"Excuse me, Lioness. But a few of my court have offered to come with you. They may not be trained as a proper knight should be but,"there was a pause."Our ways are just as effective."
That was Queen Emily, her eyes had a somewhat impish quality to them as she gazed levely at the three Tortallans. Forgotten while they were all talking, the leader of the Rogues gestured for a band of men and women to come forward for inspection. Alanna looked each over carefully, seeing each one's potential in battle and automatically sorting out positions for them to assume on the field.
"Thank you Queen Emily, your help is greatly appreciated. Tell them that they are to all protect the blue and silver colors."
Tell them yourself, they're right there,"the other woman said frankly.
The lady knight seemed slightly shocked at her informality but smiled at the Queen with respect.
"Alright court of the Rogue, we are on the blue and silver side, keep your guard up to the front, back and sides of the group when we go and do not leave your post," Alanna bellowed to them.
Francis was not at all surprised at the commanding voice for she had heard it many times before when she wouldn't go to bed on the third order back at the 'Swoop. Her eyes suddenly watered when she thought of her home and family, and to her dismay, Adric noticed. He kissed her on the forehead and squeezed her around the shoulders saying," C'mon Francis, there's no need to cry. I'll be back. Here," he offered her his handkerchief and she obediently wiped her eyes with it then handed it back to him.
"No, you keep it,"he said, stroking hair back from her face.
The group went their own way and waited for the two knights to dress and prepare. On her way to her own tent, Alanna nudged them both and said,"You'd better get ready, Adric." The prince set his face to a grim resolute mask, nodded, then went to his tent to change.

Francis sat with Falcon, Queen Emily, and a few others who's names she picked up as Nephlin, Lierne, and Cairn, discussing how they could approach the King and tell him of their need to fight.
"But he won't like it that he's excepting help from thieves you know," Francis told the Queen."I've known him for my whole 17 years and I don't know if he would go for something like this."
The Queen looked at the young woman patiently then said,"I've studied him for most of my 28 years and I think that with the right persuasion, he would agree."
Not unused to these situations of a stalemate, Francis took a different approach to the conversation,"I thought women weren't supposed to reveal their real age," she muttered.
Emily's lip turned up slightly in a smile and shook a finger at Francis."You're a cheeky one girlie. Some day that tongue of yours is going to get you in trouble."
\Francis recalled the earlier years of life and remembered all of the times that she had talked back to people with cynical statements and got herself, and Adric sometimes, a few weeks of castle confinement."I'm afraid that it's too late for warnings," she murmured to herself but was heard by Falcon who chuckled.
When asked by the Queen what he found was so amusing, the man was forced to share the joke. Soon they were all laughing and with Francis scowling at them and their joviality, the group didn't hear her muted,"Curse Falcon's big ears," or the approaching thud of men's footfalls on the solid turf. There was a shout and then suddenly they seemed to be surrounded by armed albeit weary soldiers in blue and silver uniforms.
A soldier with a bruising jaw and one arm in a make-shift sling held out a sword level to the Queen's face and said,"State your name and your origin and if you are with or against Tortall."
Emily got up and held her head as high as any royalty of a real kingdom would.
"I am Queen of the court of the Rogue. As it is, I am of the origin of theives and we are all on the same side." The soldier was in pain with his arm held against his chest showing in the minute trembling of his sword arm and his irritable temperament.
"I don't want to play any of your mind games lady," he snapped." Why are you here?"
Emily gazed calmly at him with her cool grey eyes, always steady and unrevealing of emotion.
"I want to speak with the King," she saw him laugh shortly and added firmly,"and only the King."
"Look here missy, no one's supposed to be here right now and with you being on the camp grounds of an army in battle, we have the upper hand on you so I suggest that you leave now or we will practice the right of execution."
The man's face was now tight with anger, the bruise on his face had swollen and it was the strangest color of yellowy-purple. Emily saw his peeved state but kept going on wth her twisted answers, infuriating him even more when she commented on his rising jaw.
"Alright now that is enough!" Francis yelled at them both. "Sir, please, we need to speak to Jon right now. She means no harm to anyone except the Scanrans and even you must've seen the band of thieves come with my mother Lady Alanna and the prince to help, didn't you?"
He shifted uncomfortably, wincing at the effort. Some one from his group hissed at him angrily,"Mithros, Paners, you really know how to pick 'em!"
Obviously he wasn't aware that Francis was the famed knight's daughter but knew that if she found out, then a lowly captain would not be very much of a debate against a noble, a knight, or the King's Champion. "Beggin' your pardon miss but i didn't know it was you. Y'see, I'm a new captain here and I didn't recognize the Lady Alanna's daughter."
Lady Alanna's daughter, the Lioness's daughter, the Champion's daughter; when would people ever see her for herself? She shook her head at the man and said,"It's nothing, go back to your post or wherever it is you were suppossed to be," she fumbled, hating herself for not knowing the correct stations of a foot soldier. Then a thought crossed her mind,"Wait, sir? A favor of you?"
The man bowed to her, saying from the position," Call me Paners, and anything for my mistake."
Francis scowled at his formal apology; she hated court protocol very much and wished that it could be done away with."Never mind all that, and stand up, you'll hurt your arm even more." He stood straight with a suprised look on his face." Now, can you tell me where Prince Adric's group is? And what happened during the fight?"
The man---Paners---wouldn't meet her eyes and Francis felt the pit of her stomach fall away at that single moment."The prince," he paused and looked up gravely."I'm sorry, my lady but the prince and the Lioness have been captured."

"Captured…What do you mean captured?" Francis stammered. "They can't be...he said...I never told him...I..."
Her voice trailed off, as she saw the looks on their faces.
In a husky voice she questioned, "Is there any hope? Would they reveal their status's?"
Paners stood silent, uncertain of what to say to her, but Emily turned to face Francis. "Of course they'll be all right Francis." She answered calmly. "Now starts the nasty noble games, of ransoms, and forced promises. The King won't be pleased."
"Pleased? Pleased? How can you put it so harshly? You're talking about my Mother, and my…my…love" Francis cried, forgetting she was talking to the Queen of the Rogues.
Emily's face softened as she looked at down at Francis' tear filled eyes. "You have to be strong Francis, it's the only way to survive these things- I know." She replied.
Francis wiped away the tears, and realised that she was using Adric's handkerchief. Scrunching it into a ball in her hand, she stopped herself crying, and looked at Emily steadily.
"Will you help me? I will rescue them, you know. It would just be far easier with your help." She said softly.
My Lady." Paners broke in, "I will gladly send a group of men with you, as soon as we have consulted with th-"
Francis shook her head coldly. "Thank you Paners, but no. I know that the people of the Rogue will serve me well." Francis glared at him, registering the Rogue's who had drawn upright with their hands to their daggers. "You forget yourself soldier. Or would you insult my father?"
Paners hastily back away, mumbling excuses of going back to camp. Francis added aside to Emily, "I would be grateful for your assistance in this matter." The footsoldiers moved off towards the camp, a few murmuring condolences. Francis fought back the tears, She didn't need condolences, she was determined to find her Mother…and Adric too. The regret she felt about the times she'd argued with the lioness was too awful to think of, so she set her mind to the daunting task ahead of her. "I guess we should just continue the way we saw Adric and Ma- the Lioness go." She said to Emily.
"We must be careful." A red haired woman said. "We haven't any idea of where they captured the group."
"I agree Narcissa." Emily replied. "We'll have to scry the place first."
Narcissa nodded and linked hands with Emily. A moment later they broke the join, gasping with shock. "What is it?" one of the other thieves cried.
Narcissa shook her head looking horrified. "Now we know how they captured the Lioness, and Adric and the others. They have one of the most evil mages in the known lands there- Verlaine of the Copper Isles." Francis saw the horror in the other's faces and reached out with her Gift to see what Emily and Narcissa had viewed.
With shock and disgust she felt such a sense of evil that she went cold all over. It was as if slimy tentacles had wrapped around her. At the heart of it she could see the figure of a man. He was tall with black hair tied in a horsetail to his shoulders. As she tried to remove herself he turned to face her and she heard his voice.
"What's this? Another brat? Ah, you'd be one of Alanna's." he murmured, and reached out to her.
A moment later, with a distinct crash Emily and Narcissa brought her back to herself.
"What do you think you were doing?" Narcissa stormed at her.
But Francis was too worried over something else to listen. She explored her mind and found it was true. Her entire Gift had disappeared.
Natarene/timorene

Francis looked around curiously. What just happened? Do I have the Gift? But, I have never shown any signs before. What happened to me…?
She didn't think the confusion filled her eyes. Emily looked curiously at her. "Are you alright, youngin'? You had quite a shock, there. That mage was…" Em's voice trailed off.
Narssica peered at Francis. Her eyes were blazing with anger, and it looked as if she was trying her hardest to not burst out yelling at the girl. Only a blind person would not be able to see Falc's white knuckles on Narssica's shoulder, and a warning glance from yet another stranger next to Narssica. She took each warning, but with difficulty. "Francis, what in the name of the Great Goddess do you think you were doing? That mage is evil, through and through. Worst of all, she was about to take you, and not your gift." Narssica gritted her teeth and glanced at Falcon and the unknown shadow.
Francis tried to get her nerve up to face the red head. She shoved all thoughts of Adric and her Ma to one side, and took in a deep breath. "I'm sor-"
She didn't get a chance to finish before her shadow stepped up and interrupted her. "Nar, the child looks as if she wasn't sure what she did. Let's put our heads together and try to find the prince and the Lionness. Then maybe you may explain the dangers of what she did."
Narssica looked as if she was going to refuse and make trouble, but the girl backed off. "Yes, I suppose your right. I'm sorry, Francis. But you gave me, well, us really, quiet a fright. Just make sure you know what you're doing before you go off looking for evil mages." Narssica finished and the girl that stood up for Francis drew her to the back of the group. There, they exchanged some conversation. Francis knew right away that she liked this shadow, and was worth trusting.
Francis, after not having anything else to think about, felt the tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to force them back, and state clearly, "We must think of a plan and get my love and mother back."
There were nods and muttered agreements, and everybody bent their head over a map to decided how to do this.
~Mel/Cougar

While the Rogue looked at the map and tried to find a way to get the Lioness and Prince Adric back, Francis drifted to and from here thoughts. I don't have the Gift, Francis thought stubbornly. I've been tested for it, and never showed signs! How could it possibly show up at a time like this?! Francis let worry settle over and soon regreated that she had let it win over. For, soon, images of the fate that probably lay ahead for her mother and Adric clouded her mind. Soon tears were working their way own her face in a silent, but fast, stream. "What's the matter youngin'?" Narcissa asked, looking Francis ver with a worried, but rough, expression.
Francis looked at the redheaded woman through blurred eyes. "I just can't seem to understand how I got the Gift," she fibbed.
"What?" Queen Emily asked, hearing this. "You never had the Gift before?" The rest of the Rogue looked equally surprised.
Francis nodded. "I don't even know what I was doing! I was tested, same with everyone else in my family, when I was young. I don't know how this is possible," she cried.
ar nodded sympathetically. "What else is botherin' you?" Francis ducked her head. She should know that the Rogue was trained to read people's faces.
"I'm worried about Ma and Adric," Francis confessed. "I keep thinking about what that mage'll fo to them if we don't get them out of there." The Rogue exchanged glances. They all knew what would happen, and it wasn't like the mage was going to wip out tea and throw a party. HE would drain their magic till they had nothing left. He would leave them magicless...and dead...
Francis spoke what they were thinking. "He'd drain them till they had no magic. That's what the Duke of Conte did to Uncle Thom. And Uncle Thom is dead because of him."
Nar patted Francis' shoulder. "Hold in there Francis. We'll get them back, you know it."
"I know it's wishful thinking. You said as much yourself! That mage is powerful," Francis said as a fresh stream of hot, slaty tears ran down her face.
"But your mother could beat him, you know that," Emily said, voice clear of any emotion.
"She could, but not by herself. She needs King Jonathan and Master Numair's help," Francis said, voice cracking.
Emily stood up. "Then that's what we need to do. Find King Jonathan and Master Numair, warn them of what is afoot, and go with them to save your maother and Prince Adric."
Francis looked at her. "One problem."
"What's that?" Emily asked looking at Francis.
"You think that they'll let us see him? King Jonathan is *very* hard to see," Francis said, standing up.
A slow grin spread over Emily's face. "Ah, but you forget. We have the Champion's daugther...YOU. If we say that we're holding you ransome, and only want to see King Jonathan and Master Numair, they'll let us."
"It might work..." Francis said. "Except, Da will be there..."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow at Queen Emily. "Help?" he asked. "What makes you think we need help?"
"Bite me..." Francis muttered. No one seemed to hear.
"I just thought you would need help because your Champion is in the hands of an evil mage who would probably kill her, your son is also in the hands of the same mage, and you're short on armies," Queen Emily said. Her eyes were cold, but her voice and tone were full of mock. George grinned and bit his tongue. Numair grinned.
Jonathan looked at Emily. "How did you know about the shortage?"
"Take a look around," Nar muttered. "Guards are scarse, and most of the tents look deserted."
George grinned. "True. As soon as they heard about the mage, Verlaine, they turned tail and ran."
"George," Jon said tiredly. Francis had had enought with the polite noble chit chat.
"Alright!" she half screamed, half yelled. "Are we just gonna sit here, or are we going to try and get them back?" George hid a smile while Jon glared at her.
"Now, listen here. I've had enough of you, missy," Jon began, till George and Numair's laughs interupted him.
"Face it Jon!" Numair said, gasping for air. "She's like Alanna!"
"Too much alike," Jon said.
"Look, the girl's right!" someone from the back of the thieves barked. They parted as a raven haired thief of about seventeen years walked foward. "We are wasting time! Verlaine could have already killed them, and we're standing here arguing why you won't accept our help!"
"And who are you?" Jon asked, blue eyes slanted and fixed on the raven haired girl.
"I'm Raven," the girl said. "And it's about time you took your royal head out of the clouds and see what sort of danger your son and Champion are in!"
Emily grinned. "That's enough Raven. I think he understands it now." The girl Raven fixed her bright emerald eyes on King Jonathan, grumbled, and bowed to Queen Emily.
"As you say, Majesty," Raven muttered.
"Fine," Jon said. "What's the plan?"

As the rogues and nobles drew close to the Scanran camp, the saw the missing camp of soldiers. Lady Alanna and Prince Adric in the front. Verlaine was mocking them. Alanna's face was grim, and full of surpressed anger; Adric's was filled with worry, and even more anger than Alanna's. Francis' heart went out at the site of Alanna and Adric arguing with Verlaine. She just hoped her mother wouldn't lose her temper. They drew closer, and just when they thought that they could get a bit closer, a voice said, "Drop your weapons, stand up, and don't try any magic. Elsewise, you'll be dead in four minutes..."
~*~*~*~* Astrid Archer/Raven

Francis dropped the knife she was holding, glancing to her sides she found that the others had done the same. A tall figure stepped up to them, spreading his palms out he let loose his own deep green gift. Francis felt a strange tingle and wondered what in the gods names was he doing.
"You. You. You and you." The man pointed. "These have magic. The rest don’t" Francis’s mind was whirling, she did have magic. Why didn’t he point to her? Wait a second, if he couldn’t sense it… than maybe she could do something. Bringing her hands behind her back Francis concentrated on making a sword of magic. Her head swam with the effort and then calm she had more strength now. Quickly she glanced around Adric was grinning at her as if he had known all along. He was sending his magic to her! Not much time they would realize something soon.
Gripping the hilt in both hands Francis swung the sword in a wide arc, sending it crashing down on Verlaine. The evil mage shirked with pain and shrank to the ground in a hissing steaming mist. No time to feel sorry, Francis swung again and took out the tall man, he to fell to the ground in that cold mist.
"Francis!" a voice shouted. Francis spun round and saw Adric struggling with the magical bonds at his feet. She ran to the spot where her mother and Adric were bound. She brought the sword up and slashed through the magical ropes with ease.
Adric stood and grabbed Francis by the shoulders, "Don’t ever risk yourself again!" He said his voice coming out much less harsh than it was supposed to. Next thing she knew Adric had Francis wrapped in a passionate kiss. She looked at hi there noses still touching, "and if I hadn’t come?" she asked. "I’m not sure. And I don’t know if I should scream at you or thank you for my life."
"I’ll do both." Said a harsh but laughing voice. Francis looked at her mother. Then breaking from Adric she ran and hugged her mother.
The small party made their way back to the Tortallian camp. Alanna grabbed both Francis and Adric and dragged them to King Jon’s tent.
"Sire?" she called "I bring your son."
"Adric?" Jon called and raced towards his son to give him a hearty hug. "I fear the worst," the king began
~*~* By Elferman