Keeping Enemies Closer.

Chapter 1: Eavesdropping

As the second bell past dinner chimed, Alanna relaxed. It was the first night of the Midwinter Festival, and she had been serving at Their Majesties' Party. She handed her platter of sweetmeats to the servers and made her escape.

Walking back to her room, she looked up at the full moon and had an idea. The party was a busy one, and surely no one would notice if Squire Alan did not attend, but instead another court girl appeared. Upon reaching her rooms, she opened the case she kept magically locked at the foot of her bed and drew out the new dress she had bought with Mistress Cooper the previous week. The tight bodice and deep neckline made the pale blue dress more revealing than one she would normally have worn, but a spirit of adventure had overcome her. She dressed, applied her face-paint and combed her wig, pinning it up in the style she had noticed some of the court ladies wearing. She laughed as she thought about how much attention she was now paying to the latest styles, but didn't let the though press on her mind as she put on her winter boots. Throwing a cloak over her shoulders, she checked the corridor was clear and walked out, with every intention of attending the party. When she reached the rose garden, however, her confidence failed her. The moon was casting a bright light over the gardens and she sat down to rest at a bench, contemplating whether to remain there for the duration of the evening, or ignore her fears and attend the party.

Alanna couldn't see the smile spreading over Jonathan of Conté's face, as he watched her enter the Rose Garden. The Crown Prince had been Alanna's knight master for over three years, and her lover since she had turned 17 during the previous summer. Jon was standing outside on the terrace, after stepping out for a little air – and a break from the court ladies – and now he watched Alanna as she sat on the bench. He would have known her anywhere, since she sat with slightly less poise than the prim court girls, but he loved her because she had so much more personality than any well brought up young lady. He walked up behind her, and paused for a moment.

"Is it not a little cold for a Lady to be sitting out here alone?" he remarked.

Alanna felt someone walk up to stand behind her, and somehow she knew it was Jonathan before he even spoke. She smiled and replied, jokingly, "My Lord Prince if you believe it to be cold for a lady then why you have ventured outside?"

Jon laughed and moved around to sit next to Alanna, picking up her hand and kissing each finger delicately. "Gary, Raoul and I were wondering where you were, we were about to send out a search party. Douglass and Sacherell have been in attendance for over an hour, and Squire Alan is also supposed to at the festivities tonight"

"I'm sure you can make excuses for me" Alanna replied sharply, slightly annoyed at the emphasis he was putting on her title. She didn't want to be Jon's friend tonight. She wanted to be his lover. All of a sudden desire overcame her, and she kissed him. But then the rational part of her brain kicked in. "You need to return to the party or Gary and Raoul will not be the only people looking for you".

Jon let his eyes communicate his thoughts for him as he silently pleaded with her, and he swiftly returned her kiss. "You have royal obligations, Your Highness", she reminded him.

Jon knew his obligations; they were all that was preventing him from leading her to his room right at that moment. He sighed. "Will you be still be here later, when I will no longer be missed?"

"Yes" she affirmed. She knew him well enough by now, and trusted that he would return to be with her later.

"Good. And I can tell Gary and Raoul that the beautiful woman sitting in the Rose Garden is in fact Squire Alan…?" Alanna lightly punched Jon, and laughed. They were both feeling mischievous that night, whether due to the moonlight, or the wine they had both drank at dinner. But one swift kiss, one lingering look, and the words "I'll be thinking of you, Alanna" were all they shared before Jon returned to the party.

Neither Jon nor Alanna had noticed another gentleman who entered the Rose Garden not long after Jon had sat beside Alanna. If they had noticed, they would probably have been more careful over their choice, for even though our smiling gentleman was barely within earshot, he was skilled at the art of eavesdropping, and had heard every word. He began to contemplate what he could do with this new information. Squire Alan is a girl – Alanna. Prince Jon and Squire Alan…Alanna…are lovers. Perhaps there are ways I can use him…her…to bring down the Prince. What does he…she…want? He would have to get used to thinking of her as a girl. How can I use this information? Ah, blackmail, of course. If I told her I would keep her secret, at least whilst she did my bidding. Would she betray her Prince and her Lover in order to get her Knighthood? He was willing to bet that she would, so he walked over and sat down on the bench, next to Alanna.

"Squire Alan, I do believe you are really Alanna of Trebond."

Alanna was startled to hear words, her inattention to the world at that moment meant she did not know someone was sitting next to her. She stammered, "I believe you are mistaken, Sir", and then she looked at the person sitting next to her. The look on Duke Roger of Conté's face was unmistakable. He knew.

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Disclaimer: Tamora Pierce owns it all.

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