She lay silent for a while, listening to the sounds in the night. At last she gathered her courage. "What're you going to do about me?"

His voice was strained, "I have to tell my parents and Uncle. I'm honor bound to."

She nodded but didn't say anything. He rolled over to look at her, "Are you going to run off in the middle of the nigh?"

She shook her head, "I'm not leaving, I'll face the consequences of my actions."

"They might banish you."

Alanna smiled, humorlessly, "Jon, they will most certainly banish me, it is possible they will even kill me."

Jon lurched up, "No! Why would they?"

Again Alanna smiled, "I committed treason."

Jon shook his head, "I won't let them kill you."
For the last time that night Alanna smiled, "Of course, Jon." If they wanted to kill her, not even Crown Prince Jonathan could stop them, "Can we get some sleep?"

He nodded. A few minutes later they were both asleep. The two woke up in the light of dawn. Silently they got onto their horses and rode back to Persopolis. The guards stared as the two rode in. Alanna, remembering she only wore a tunic, blushed. The two gave their horses to the stable hands and walked into the castle. They went down back corridors that had little light hoping to avoid people. But, as luck would have it, the first people saw were Gary and Raoul. "Jon, Alan we've been looking for you two!"

Gary frowned, "Alan, why aren't you wearing breaches and why have you got um…breasts?"

Alanna hung her head, "I'm not Alan. Well I am, but Alan isn't real. My name is Alanna, I wanted to be a knight and my brother wanted to be a sorcerer so we switched. He forged papers saying we were twin boys and he went to the convent, then the cloisters, and I came here. I never wanted to lie! But I wanted my shield and I don't really regret what I did. Oh, and it was all my idea."

Raoul's mouth dropped and Gary spluttered, "But...who knew?"

Alanna looked up, "Coram, I told him I would use magic against him if he didn't agree, George knew, I needed his help once, and I think Myles might have guessed. And now you three."

Raoul had finally closed his mouth he opened it again, but to speak this time, "So, what now?"

Alanna looked at Jon; after all, she had been following him. Jon glanced at Alanna, "Now, we're going to stop by Alan-na's room so she can get dressed then we have to see Uncle Gareth."

Alanna nodded when all three boys looked at her. They spent a few more seconds in silence before Gary nodded, "Well, I assume we're all coming with you, yes?" at once Raoul and Jon nodded. Gary continued, "Well then let's go."

Alanna smiled sadly and they all set out. A few minutes later the four of them were waiting outside Duke Gareth's chambers. Alanna took a deep breath and knocked on the door. "It's open."

The four walked in and Duke Gareth didn't look up, "What is it boys?"

Alanna took a deep breath and started her speech, "My name is Alanna, you know me as Alan, I wanted to be a knight and my brother, Thom, wanted to be a sorcerer so we switched. He forged papers saying we were twin boys and he went to the convent and I came here. I never wanted to lie. But I wanted my shield and I don't really regret what I did. It was all my idea."