Nobles of the court.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except the plot all names and characters belong to the wonderful Tamora Pierce. Sir Rolff belongs to me.

n/a this is my firts story so do try to be nice.

Chapter 1: surprising reunions

Alanna of Trebond looked up at the palace through the tiny window of the carriage. It was even more beautiful then the pictures that she had looked at, or paragraphs she had read in books. I guess this is my new home. She thought to herself. Well until I find a husband that is. And I don't plan to find one any time soon! She looked over at her friend Cythera of Elden and sighed. If only her plan had worked. She would have been a squire by now. Nevertheless, her father had put a stop to that when he found out about her and Thom's plans to switch places. She had been force to go the convent. However, she hadn't gone quietly. She had literary been dragged there kicking and screaming the whole way.

Inside Thom of Trebond waited anxiously on his room. His sister was arriving at the court today and he would see her at the ball later that night. He hadn't seen his sister in six very long years. What if she's changed? He thought and immediately dismissed the idea. Alanna? change? She wouldn't change. She would always be the energetic, fiery girl he left behind when he when to the palace to become a knight and she to the convent to become a lady. He snickered at the thought of Alanna sitting around gossiping and sewing things. He knew she hated doing those things as much as he had hated the fighting arts, but as time when on Thom had realised that the flighting arts wasn't as bad as it had originally seemed. He had even turned out to be one of the better fencers. Sure, he wasn't the best, but he wasn't the worst either.

Alanna and Cythera of Elden walked along one of the many corridors in the palace trying to remember where their rooms where. A serving man had showed them the way when they had arrived, but both the girls had wanted to explore. Now they were lost. Alanna who was too busy trying to figure out where they were did not see the blonde headed man coming towards her until it was too late. She ran into him.

"Sorry." She said.

"its okay." The man muttered as he walked away.

"Oooh, who was that?" Cythera asked.

"How would I know?" Alanna replied.

"Well who ever he was he was cute! You know we probably could have asked for directions," Cythera said. Alanna shook her head. Cythera thought that all men were cute and never seriously liked them.

"Oh well too late now he's gone." Alanna told her.

Alanna soon found her rooms again and had just finished unpacking when there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she asked

"Cythera." Came the reply.

"Come in." she called from the bathroom. Cythera opened the door with great difficulty as she was carrying her dress for tonight's ball over one arm and carrying her makeup box in her hands.

"I thought that maybe we could get ready together." She told Alanna. Alanna nodded.

"Sure." Cythera walked over to Alanna's bed were her dress was laid out.

"Wow! Are you really going to wear this?" she asked Alanna. Alanna nodded. "Well then you're going to be the most beautiful lady there tonight." Alanna snorted. She didn't think herself to be beautiful. She crossed the room to her bed, picked up her dress and turned around to look at Cythera.

"We better get ready now." She told Cythera. "The ball will start soon."

Once they were ready Alanna, Cythera and the other noble girls that were to be presented to the court, waited in a small chamber. They all gave the herald their names and lined up in order. Alanna was at the back, as she had no escort with her, which suited her just fine, as she didn't want or need an escort. Slowly one at a time, all the girls descended down the grand staircase, curtsied to their majesties and become a member of the court. Finally, Alanna hear the herald say:

"Presenting Alanna of Trebond"

well was is good, bad please review!