A/N: This author's note is going to be painfully long because it's "illegal" to post an author's note as a separate chapter, so bear with me. I can't believe I'm doing this. I've put Crimson Rain on hold to write a new fic. I couldn't help it. The idea popped into my mind and it won't leave me alone. I would like to dedicate this fic to Tailyn, who opened my eyes to the wonder of Lianne fics. She wrote Smaller Stars, and it's amazing. Everyone should go read it. Immediately. Alright, now I embark to explain to you all the unexplainable (not really) things that my fic will entail and be based upon.

Title - Rose of Conte

Rating - PG-13 for language, violence, and sexual undertones

Time of Story - 463 H.E. or the 24th year of the reign of good 'ole King Jon

Ages - As all of you know, Tammy has left us in the dark as to the exact ages/birthdays for most of the Conte children. Therefore, to suit my own purposes, I have construed (hopefully as accurately as possible) my own thoughts about this. I've also included ages/birthdays for other canon characters that will be mentioned/are making an appearance in this story. These are the results:

Roald b. 440 - 23 years old and married to Shinko

Kalasin b. 441 - 22 years old and married to Kaddar

Liam b. 445 - 18 years old and a Knight of the Realm

Lianne b. 446 - 17 years old

Jason b. 448 - 15 years old and a Squire to Sir Seaver of Esmond

Keladry b. 442 - 21 years old, the Lady Knight

Nealan b. 437 - 26 years old (sheesh he's old)

Thom b. 443 - 20 years old and graduated from the University

Alianne and Alan b. 445 - 18 years old

Faleron b. 441 - 22 years old and a Knight of the Realm

Summary - Lianne's life is great as the youngest princess of Tortall, but one day, a certain question forces her to think about her life and the direction she wants to go in. She leaves home to get away for awhile and think, but Daddy won't let her out of his sight. One day she receives a mysterious prophecy which will decide her future, and she must go help someone just like her to overcome problems which Lianne has never had to endure. Armed with only her incomplete university training and her brain, she must save the fate of a kingdom that is sacred to the Great Mother Goddess. Will she live to see the end of the conflict? And if she does, will her heart finally know the right path to choose?

Disclaimer - TP owns everything but the plot, which I'm proud (or am I?) to say is mine. The basis for Alan's personality is due to Tailyn's glorious characterization of him. If you notice any resemblance between the two, it's because I couldn't bear to part with him. So thank you, Tailyn, for inspiring the glorious resurrection of Alan.

Anything else you would like to know about the story? Feel free to ask.

I'm in need of a beta-er. I don't have the best grammar as it were, and I don't wish to offend anyone with the atrocity of misplaced commas and such, so if you'd like to help me (and are patient), then please email me at or IM me at I would love you forever.

A few other things I'd like to discuss: this is beginning about 8 months after the end of TC. In the story, Gareth the Elder is still alive. (Can anyone confirm that for me?) The only TP book I have at my new house is TC, and I couldn't remember if he ever died or not. I don't think he did, but I just thought I'd make sure I was being accurate in assuming. Also, I never really thought that Lianne would spend her entire childhood/teenage years being idle, so she has inherited a pretty powerful Gift (thanks to Daddy), and she's been studying at the University. The thought hit me though: where IS the University exactly? Do we know for sure? We DO know it's in Corus (I think. Actually now that I mention it I get the feeling it's in the City of the Gods), but is it on the Palace grounds? I don't remember ever being told. (Once again, lack of books doesn't help me in this department). For my purposes, I've made it adjacent to the Palace. Ok, now that you know all that, let the story begin!

Chapter One: A Masquerade and a Proposal

May 25, 463 H.E.

Corus, Tortall

Princess Lianne stifled a yawn as the sound of bells made her sit up in bed. She had no idea what time it was, but it didn't matter. Today was her first day of complete freedom, and she could sleep until dinner if she really wanted to. She wouldn't of course, but it was the thought that counted. She smiled brightly, and commenced humming to herself as she haphazardly donned a pair of breeches and a light overshirt, ready to go ride her bay mare, Stormy. After running a brush through her dark Conte curls, and attempting to harness them with a horsetail, she glanced in the mirror. Her sapphire blue eyes that she inherited from her father looked back at her in glee. She loved the end of May.

Today was the beginning of her Summer Break from the University. Her last exam had been the day before, and she was fairly sure that she had gotten close to top marks. In September, she would start her final year, and when she graduated the following May, she would be a full-fledged mage, although she would never come close to the ability of her Uncle Numair. Lianne liked having something that was all her own, since her brothers and sisters all had their own paths: Roald to become King, Kally as Empress of Carthak, Liam and Jasson as a Knight and a Squire, respectively.

As she strolled down the Palace halls, making her way towards the kitchen to grab some breakfast, she smiled and said hello to everyone she passed, hoping to spread the joy that the beginning of summer had brought her. When she reached her first destination, she grabbed an apple and some cheese, ducking the playful swat that the head cook aimed in her direction, and proceeded along to the stables. She hoped she could find someone to ride with her. As she walked, she glanced up at the sky, noting that it was about 10th bell, and chided herself for oversleeping quite so much. She was used to waking up at 8th bell on non-University days. The chances that any of her friends would be milling around the stables were slim.

She was greeted by the hostlers as she entered, who inquired of her exam week, and if there had been any recent news from her sister, Kally. She laughed and answered all of their questions while grooming Stormy and putting her tack on.

Lianne made friends easily. She was funny, sweet, smart, and didn't care what your rank was as long you could make her laugh. Everyone at the Palace loved her. Well, almost everyone. Most of the girls from the convent didn't really like her that much. It was unheard of that a Princess would be a University student, but she didn't care. It was very unlikely that she would inherit, so she didn't need to worry about all of the court intrigue.

As she rode away from the Palace grounds, she was thinking about all the things she wanted to do over her break; the first thing on her list being to put all her books in the closet and forget they were there. She also wanted to work on her archery, and see if Liam would finally consent to teaching her some hand-to-hand combat.

As she lost herself in thought, she didn't see the two men riding in front of her, and almost trampled them before she noticed who they were. It was her older brother, Liam, and Alan of Trebond.

"Hello darling sister, we figured you'd be joining us later rather than sooner," he joked, and reached over to tug on her earlobe.

"There's nothing wrong with sleeping in," she retorted and stuck out her tongue. "How are you, Alan?" she glanced at her brother's closest friend, and the Lioness' youngest son.

"I'm as glorious as a sunflower on midsummer's day, milday," he replied, smiling at her. "Have you talked to Fal recently?" He was referring to Faleron of King's Reach, Lianne's current love interest.

She blushed and shook her head. "Not since the Saturday before my exams. Today's the first day I've had to rest, and not been cramming facts and spells into my head."

"It's beyond me, how one with so small of a head can fit so much into it," he joked. She rolled her eyes and punched him lightly in the arm.

"Your jokes are so lame, Alan," she said in all seriousness.

"You think my serious conversation is inadequate? Alas, I can not go on. Liam, you had better come to my funeral," he said while he proceeded to slump over onto his dappled gelding, who snorted at the weight shift.

Liam shook his head and glanced back at Lianne. "What are you going to the masquerade tonight as?" he asked. Lianne grimaced. She had totally forgotten that there was going to be a ball tonight, in honor of the new batch of never-ending convent girls. Since this was the biggest group they would receive all year, her mother, Thayet, decided that it would be fun to have a masquerade instead of a regular ball. Noting the look on her face, he added, "I can't believe you forgot. You love this type of thing."

"I know," she drawled. "I've just been so busy what with studying and everything. But don't give me that look. I knew I'd be busy, so I had my dress ordered 3 weeks ago. All I have to do is go pick it up." She smiled triumphantly. For once, she had thought ahead. "I didn't really want to go all out for this, so the dress is just a normal one. I'll be wearing a cat mask though, in case you can't recognize me."

Alan shot up in his saddle, where he had still been slouched over, and declared, "If you are going as a cat, fair lady, then I will go as a strong lion, to be your protector, ever at your side."

She stifled a laugh, and replied, "Alan, do you know how silly you would look with a mane?"

He blanched at the thought of it and said, "Alright, you win. I think I'm going to go as a stallion. Oh wait, they have manes too." He thought for a minute. "I've got it. I shall be a toad, a very valiant toad. They're noble creatures you know, toads. And," he leaned over to Liam. "The ladies will all want to kiss me to see if I turn into a handsome prince like you," he added, referring to an old children's tale. "But, you know, with the handsome part." Liam smacked him upside the head.

By the time their conversation had died down, they'd already arrived back at the stables. Lianne handed Stormy's reigns over to Darin, her favorite hostler, and proceeded to go back to the palace. She needed to find Laurel and go down to the city to get her dress.

When she reached the section of the palace that housed the University students, she shook her head at the décor. The students, mostly aspiring mages, had magicked the walls into a brilliant blue shade, the color of most of their hair. She found the right door and knocked repeatedly. A sleepy looking blonde answered, and seeing Lianne, immediately opened the door wider to admit her friend. "I can not believe you were still asleep Laur, it's near noon now."

The tall blonde was slipping into her own pair of breeches and made a face at Lianne. "Sorry, your highness, but unlike you I don't wake up at the crack of dawn to go gallivant with the ponies."

Lianne laughed. She loved her friend Laurel's sarcasm and cynicism. They were so unlike each other, yet they surprisingly had been best friends since their first year at the University, sharing almost every class together.

"So what's the agenda for today? Buttercup picking, rainbow sliding, and animal hugging?" Laurel asked as she threw her long locks into a messy updo.

"Actually, no. That's for tomorrow," Lianne replied in perfect seriousness. "Today we have to pick up our dresses."

Laurel groaned. "Why me? I don't even want to go to this stupid thing. I despise all court functions. Besides, what if I'm forced to see my brother?" she shuddered. She was referring to Nealan of Queenscove, her older brother, who she outwardly hated, secretly loved.

"I think you'll live if you do," Lianne replied as the girls headed out of the palace, and down into the city on foot.

They ate lunch at a small tavern, and made their way to Lalasa's dress shop. "I don't even think my dress will fit me anymore," Laurel declared when they entered the busy shop. "I think I've lost 10 pounds just from stressing over exams."

Lianne sighed. "I would tell you that you're being melodramatic…again, but it's probably true."

Lianne blanched when a young girl brought out what was supposed to be a sand-colored dress. It was white. Pure white. Not the kind of white where it borders on ivory, or the kind of white that can be passed off as cream, but snow-white. "This isn't my dress," she said. Laurel was beside herself, and finally burst out in laughter.

"I couldn't help it, Lee. The thought of you going as a cat just wouldn't sit right with me. So I came back down and told Lalasa that you wanted to be a swan instead." She continued laughing, while Lianne's cheeks grew hot.

"I will kill you Laur. This looks like a wedding dress, not a ball gown. That was your intention wasn't it?"

Laurel shook her head through tears of mirth. "No, why would I want that?" she inquired, but the look in her eye spoke differently.

"Fine, I will take this dress, and I will wear it. But you just wait until the next ball. I'm sure everyone would love to see a noblewoman dressed up as a hyena," she added with a smug look on her face.

Laurel stopped laughing immediately. "You wouldn't dare," she said, pointing a finger at her.

"You'd be surprised," she replied.

The girls paid for their dresses and argued all the way back to the palace on what the worst masquerade costume would be. Laurel's parting words to Lianne were, "I still say an elephant is worse than a crocodile."

Lianne headed toward the library after dropping her dress off at her room. She must have been more exhausted than she thought, though, because she fell asleep reading in her chair.

She woke up to the sound of bells for the second time that day. Groggily, she moved the book that was lying on her lap onto the table next to her and glanced outside. She groaned. It had to be 6th bell. I don't want to go get dressed. I just want to go back to sleep. She seriously contemplated doing just that, but got up and headed back to her rooms.

Alan, true to his word, had shown up to the masquerade in head to toe green velvet, wearing a very toad-looking mask, complete with warts. He hurried over to Lianne as soon as she appeared in the ballroom. "My lady, you look as if you've been kissed by an angel. Wear are your wings? One so beautiful as yourself should be able to fly to the heavens as she pleases." She rolled her eyes.

"Shut up or I'll hit you," she replied.

He grinned and asked her to dance; she accepted. They danced to a slow minuet, discussing theories on where Sir Padraig would drag the pages off to this year, now that the Scanran War was over. After the dance ended, Faleron came over and swept her back to the dance floor.

Faleron was very handsome. He was tall, about 6'3", and muscular. His light brown hair fell into his green eyes, and his smile would make any girl melt, including Lianne. I'm so lucky, she thought, and put her head on his shoulder to savor their closeness.

Meanwhile, Nealan of Queenscove and his sister, Laurel of Queenscove interrupted their discussion on the philosophy behind their favorite book to glance at the couple.

"Tonight's the night," he told her.

"Well it sure took him long enough," she said. "The boy is head over heels for her; I didn't think it would take him this long."

"He wanted to be sure that she felt the same about him," he retorted, angry. "Unrequited love is very painful."

She snorted. "Well, I guess you would know. You're the expert on that one. Let me see, "Daine, Uline, Kel-" she was cut off by his angry reply.

"You know nothing of me. Besides, now I have Yuki, and it was worth the rejection of everyone else to have her," he smiled smugly.

"You know, Meathead," she began, using the family nickname for him, "Sometimes I think the only reason you're with her is because she was the only girl that ever loved you back."

Neal looked extremely indignant and shot back, "You know nothing of love. How many suitors do you have, Laurel? I can count them on one hand. Oh wait, no I can't because there isn't a ZERO finger."

She turned beet red, despite the complete stupidity of the statement, and chose not to reply.

"Anyway," Neal continued, changing the subject. "He had to ask for Jon and Thayet's permission. They weren't very excited about losing their youngest daughter, but they know that he's a good man, and will be a good husband for Lianne."

"It's true," Laurel said, regaining her dignity. "Look at how he treats her as if she's a fragile doll, but at the same time knows what she's capable of and respects her for it. He hasn't noticed that there are any other girls in this room tonight, I can bet you that."

Meanwhile, across the ballroom, the dance had just ended and Faleron was leading Lianne out onto the deserted balcony to get some air. Neither of them saw the shadow which lurked behind a pillar, listening to their conversation.

"It's a beautiful night," he started off, uncertainty in his voice.

She nodded. "It really is. Summer's my favorite season you know."

"I know, and I really want to spend it with you."

"Well, it looks you'll get to," she smiled cheerfully.

"No, Lianne. You don't understand." He got down on one knee. "I don't want to spend this summer with you." A confused look came to her face.

"But you just said -"

"Listen, Lee. I don't want to spend this summer with you. I want to spend every summer for the rest of my life with you. You are so amazing, and every time I think about you I realize just how lucky I am that you've chosen me. I don't ever want to leave you. Lianne of Conte, will you marry me?"

Somewhere in the darkness, someone groaned softly.

A/N: Cliffy Cliffy Cliffy. Don't hate me. I'll update soon, I promise. : D