Summary: This is my interpretation of what happened in between Alanna: The First Adventure and In the Hands of the Goddess. If you remember correctly, in the beginning of In the Hands of the Goddess, we hear of Lord Alan's death, here is what I think happens when she receives the news, prepares to leave, attends the funeral, and everything in between.

Disclaimer: All characters and places belong to Tamora Pierce, I swear it; but the plot is mine, ALL MINE!

-mwahahahahahaha- Ummmmmm, Yeah, On to the story…


Chapter 1: Bad News Arrives
A young Alanna of Trebond sat in the middle of her favorite class, history and law with Sir Myles of Olau. As Alanna sat there, absorbing the words flowing from her mentor's mouth on the Code of Ten, the set of laws that form the basis of government for most of the Eastern Lands (not a particularly interesting subject, but Sir Myles could make a lecture on the life span of the slug entertaining). All of a sudden, a courier came in the class room and handed a sealed parchment to Sir Myles.

"Alan?"

"Yes, sir?" replied the curious squire.

"This is for you."

Alanna rose from her seat and walked as if her feet were weighed down by boulders to the front of the class, her heart pounding in her chest, wondering what this was about. Squires never received mail in class, it was always brought to their rooms, before the seventh bell, and only the kind of news that turned ones life upside down was brought during lessons. She took the parchment from Myles and looked at the seal; impressed into the wax was a tower, the Trebond coat of arms. She broke the seal, and read the document silently, hands shaking the paper.

Dear Lord Thomas of Trebond,

We regret to inform you that your father, Lord Alan of Trebond, was taken by the Black God to the Peaceful Realms on May 13, 433 H.E., the funeral services will be held on Monday, May 22, 433 H.E. at Fief Trebond. We will be expecting your arrival as soon as possible.

She stared at the letter, short, sweet, and to the point, as blunt with words a she has always been. She was never close with her father; he had barely ever acknowledged her or her brother's existence. He had always blamed them for her mother's death, so he had spent the rest of his life as a recluse, locked in his study bent over some ancient text or another, never taking the time to be with his children…

"Alan? Alan?" someone was shaking her out of her shock, it was Myles.

"Alan, what is it?"

"It's my father, he's…" she tried to bring herself to say to say the words, despite the fact that she never liked the man it was still hard to say, "He's dead." Muttered whispers amongst her year mates broke out, breaking the stony silence.

"Oh, Alan, I am so sorry," he wasn't really, he knew how Alan felt towards his father, he knew how much neglect Lord Alan had shown his children, the reasoning he assumed for the letter's being addressed to his brother Thom, who was in the City of the Gods training to be a sorcerer, the entire court thought that Lord Alan had always been a waste of skin and blood. Myles had enjoyed Alan's company over the last few years, they had played chess together, investigated ruins, Alan had helped him back to his room when he had been too drunk to see straight, let alone walk, and in return he had given Alan fatherly advice when he needed it. He supposed that he was the closest to a father Alan had ever gotten during his fifteen years of life. He grinned inwardly; he was rather proud of that fact, Alan would be a fine knight some day, and the two had become quite close. Alan was a son to him, the one he never had, and probably never would have, unless…

"When is the funeral?" inquired Myles, bringing himself out of his train of thought, he would continue on that idea another time.

"The twenty-second." murmured Alanna, still recovering from the shock.

"Will you need to leave class early? I can inform the rest of your instructors if you want me to."

Alanna crumbled the paper into a tight ball, "No sir, I'm fine, I would like to continue the rest of the day if that's alright." She threw the ball into the nearest waste basket and sat down at her desk.

Myles had expected this reaction. "If you insist, but you will have to see duke Gareth at the end of the day to inform him that you will be leaving for the funeral services."

"Yes, Sir Myles." was the whispered reply.


Author's Note: Hey everyone, I am going to ask you to just call me Bookworm. I hope you all enjoyed reading my first chapter, as much as I did writing it. Just to let you know, its not a one-shot and I have the next few cheaters locked and loaded. All reviews are encouraged, as well as constructive criticism. So, look at the little bluish colored button on the lower left hand corner of the page…See it? Good, now -brings out HypnoCoin 3000- you will now press the review button, when I snap my fingers, you will review, review, revieeeeeew. -snaps fingers-

I had to lighten the mood somehow. :)