This is my first story, please be gentle and review!
-MK-
Disclaimer- I don't own any of Tamora Pierce's characters or rights! If I did I would be buying a private island in the Carribean with my salary!
represent either change in time/place/character
It was a misty night, and Alanna was tired from a long ride. She reflected on what she had seen in the last year.
After defeating Roger, she immediately talked to the closest people around her and decided to leave until the rumors died down. Jon had ridden with her until they met the Bazhir. (WWHRLAM takes place), however he was called back when his mother took ill. Alanna was not able to return with him, so their relationship was left open.
Since then, she had searched for and found adventure. She trained with the Shang, even traveled as far as the Yamani Islands. She sent letters home and eventually got a contract of some sort that announced that Sir Myles was adopting her as his daughter. She sent them back signed. Last autumn, she had been told to come back to Corus; she would be put on probation to see if she was worthy of knighthood, now that the gossip had died down. She reluctantly agreed, knowing that she had already gained her knighthood, but she still set one her journey back to Corus. On the way she met with the Bazhir and learned techniques from everywhere she went. (A/N- I know that part was crap! That was the recap, so you know what's happening. I might make it into a prologue later.)
It had been more than 2 years since Alanna had been in Corus. She had matured in those years, gotten some of the restlessness out of her system. She grew her hair until it touched the small of her back and learned about meditation and controlling her emotions.
Much good that's done you. The voice chimed at the back of her head, and she gave her cat a glare.
"Don't you start now!" She replied.
Well we're here, what…no welcome party. Oh that's right, someone was too afraid to announce her return.
"Shut it, before I turn you into boots," she glared at her cat.
The cat rolled its eyes, but kept quiet.
The courtyard was filled with luggage, some of it hers.
"Who goes there?" boomed a familiar voice.
"Just a simple soldier!" She replied.
"Show yourself!" The voice boomed again.
She sighed a hopped off Moonlight, and after a protest or two she took Faithful out of his pocket and let him arrange herself on her shoulders.
"I am Alanna of Trebond, also known as the Lioness and …"
"Alan…na!" came the voice, and barreling through the fog came a few familiar figures. Raoul immediately engulfed her, followed by a tentative hug by Gary and some others.
"I do believe you've grown taller Raoul, Gary you've probable gotten smarter…and who are these handsome people that I don't recognize?" She smiled at Douglass and Geoffrey.
"I'd hardly call them handsome…" Sighed Gary, "It's good to see you again!"
"Finally, we were beginning to think you would never come back!" Raoul lectured.
"His Royal pain in the Highness, had been moping around ever since he came back." Gary added.
"Is that the new nickname?" Alanna lifted a single copper eyebrow.
"Mithros no, at least not to his face!" Douglass joked.
"Look at you, I think you've grown, and your hair….!" Raoul looked shocked.
"Give her a couple of months and she'll be gossiping and batting her eyelashes!"
"No! What do you fellows think I am, a girl?" She looked at each of them, challenging them to respond.
"Well, men shall we take our dearest Alanna and our Lioness to her quarters?"
"Since when do I have quarters!"
"Since the King and Queen decided that you were fit to live in court." Gary cleanly ended the conversation.
"Geoff and Doug'll get your bags, you should come with us…" Raoul beckoned her forward.
See that wasn't so bad… Faithful taunted her
I have a feeling the worst is yet to come. Alanna knew of something….or rather someone who had yet to know of her arrival.
The oak door to her room was solid enough, but what was inside astonished her. Purple and gold filled her sight. Crushed velvet lined the blankets and silk pillows lay at the head of her bed. The Walls were painted lilac, to match the lilac drapes that framed the large windows. A large armoire and a floor length mirror filled the right corner of her room.
"This is lavish for a simple knight." She said in awe.
"A Lady Knight gets the best of treatment!"
"Why?"
"Well, the queen wants you on her good side." Gary said tentatively.
"Why…?"
"Well, after you left, the queen had some realizations. After…you know..."
"Roger?"
"Well yes, she decided that she must be able to defend herself from anything."
"So, what does that have to do with me?"
"That's a rather private issue between you and the queen." Gary abruptly ended the conversation.
"Alanna, Gary and I have some things to attend to. We'll se you at dinner."
"Sure…"
"Oh, and you should stop by and visit the royals, you know where they are!"
With that they left, leaving Alanna to straighten her quarters.
"Well, with that taken care of, what should I wear?"
You complain about being called a girl and yet you act like this, her cat looked at her with violet eyes.
"Well, I don't know if I should wear a dress, or breeches. I mean, I am a woman now."
Do you want to flaunt that fact to your friends, potential suitors…or the crown prince?
"I don't really know." She sighed, pulling a bag onto her bed, "but I might as well try."
With that she pulled an outfit out of her case and started to freshen herself up.
"Jonathan!" Gary called after him.
"Yes?" Jon looked up from his book.
Jon lounged on a bench in his mother's private gardens.
"Jon…there's…umm…"
"Gary, spit it out."
"Well, there's a guest that's come in."
Jon raised his eyebrows, "I know that."
"Really…I mean, come with me."
Jon sighed and got up from the bench tucking his book underneath his arm.
"Anything is better than reading the scintillating information of Tortall's economy."
"Depends on who you ask." Gary smiled, before talking (in detail) about the rise and fall of the economy over the last several years.
Alanna threw several outfits onto her bed. She debated whether or not to wear a dress several times. Then she wondered about the face paints. She still had some from her lesson a long time ago. Even if she did wear breeches, she could wear light makeup? Feeling unsure, Alanna continued the self debate as a knock rang on the door.
"Come in," She called. She was not ready for who opened the door.
"Lady Alanna!" The queen curtsied, and a bow was returned to her.
"Your highness, may I help you?"
"I heard that you had returned, and had decided to see if the rumors were true."
Alanna and Lianne had never been close, but at the moment, she felt a connection with the queen that she hadn't recognized before.
"May I sit?" Lianne asked, the beacon of manners.
"Of course!" Lianne sat on the bedspread, avoiding stray pieces of clothes.
"You might have heard some of the latest rumors. About me wanting…"
"Aid…?"
"Aid…yes. If I may be frank…Lady Knight I would like to learn some of your…"
"Fighting Techniques?"
"Exactly, I am skilled in the way of court, but not the way of courtyard fighting."
"Your majesty, I would be honored to teach you what I know…but are you not afraid of the conservatives thinking this improper."
Lianne waved her hand, "Let them be, if you wish, this will be our little secret. I also know of something I can repay you with.
Alanna shook her head, "I could take no payment for this."
Lianne laughed, "I am not speaking of gold Lioness, something else that you obviously want…" She gestured to the paints and dresses strewn across the room.
Alanna furrowed her brows, "I'm sorry?"
"You will teach me what you know of men, and I will teach you what I know."
Alanna resisted the urge to drop her mouth, "That is very kind of you…"
"Don't argue dear, come to rooms tomorrow and we will begin our lessons. Oh, and bring a dress! Oh, and I'd choose the purple silk dress. Don't go in breeches, it is your return. You want everyone to have their eyes on you. Especially potential suitors…" Lianne nudged her slightly and then slowly rose and left.
Alanna stood there in shock.
You were just pulled back into the lessons that you detested so much.
"I did not detest them. Besides, I can stay here for now and it wouldn't kill me to learn about the way of women."
Who are you and what did you to the free sprited Alanna I know? With that her cat hopped off the bed and into the hallway.
"Well, now that's that isn't it?" She realized that she was talking to herself. I might as well get dressed for dinner. She decided to wear the purple silk dress anyway, as a measure of good faith. To show her friends she was still the same person, she fastened her weapons to her waist and sighed.
"Now what am I going to do with my hair…"
Review!
-MK