Disclaimer: I do not own the characters nor the 'what would happen if Alanna hadn't become a knight?' challenge. I do however own the rest of the story and a few characters we'll see later on.

The sun filtered through the forest canopy sending rainbows of color to dapple the road on which tow lonely riders made their way. Biting her lip, Alanna tried to hide her face underneath the overly large cloak. It was a nervous habit she had and at this moment she felt very nervous. She knew that Corum—who rode beside her –was going to want to stop for lunch, and in that moment would see that he was escorting the wrong child to Corus. As if fate decided to play a cruel trick on her, no sooner had Alanna thought the words that Corum suggested that they stop and eat something. Having no choice but to obey Alanna led her pony to the spot that Corum indicated and slid off. Muttering something about setting up she made to open the pack for food when Coram interrupted. "Hold on a minute," he said, and upon removing her hood, "You're not Thom."

"No" Alanna replied slowly, "I'm better than him. At least at knightly things."

Coram's eyebrows went down in a fierce scowl. "That you may be but that don't mean I'm going to disobey orders."

"Orders that don't make any sense!" Alanna cried angrily, "Thom wants to be a great sorcerer and can you imagine me as a lady?!"

"No," admitted Coram," But orders is orders." Thinking quickly Alanna pleaded and begged even told him about her plan to disguise herself as a boy. Finally as a last resort she threatened to make him see things that weren't there- just as she had done to the cook. Yet Coram remained immovable and after making sure that Alanna wouldn't be able to try and make a run for it he marched her back towards where Maude and Thom had stopped for lunch.

As both parties had far to go, the switch was quick. But Alanna, who had previously been nervously exited, was now as sulky as Thom.

After riding for a time Maude suggested that they stop for a true lunch as neither one had been able to eat previously. Alanna showed her agreement through a nod, as her stomach had been growling its displeasure at being empty for quite some time now, but the whole while she spoke not a word, determined to let Maude see what she thought of being made into a lady. The silence stretched until they reached the City for the Gods, at which point Alanna gasped. The temples of the gods were decorated lavishly with precious stones and gold leaf. Riding through the city Alanna saw Mithrian priests and thought of how it should have been Thom riding in instead of her. But as Alanna and Maude came closer to their destination Alanna was shaken from her thoughts by the sight of the Convent before her. Instead of being foreboding the castle seemed welcoming.

Delicate ivy make its path up the parapet walls and up towards the towers that Alanna had been told would serve as the dormitory for the girls who were in residence. Even though it seemed silly Alanna nonetheless checked for iron bars on the windows, and to her immense relief could find none. Although a castle the Convent had never been built with the intention of being used as a fort so there was no portcullis and the entrance itself did not lead into a great hall or even a hallway for other rooms but instead into a large sitting area with doors all around the walls which served as passage ways into the rest of the building. The young page who had been given the job of escorting her to the First Daughter led Alanna through a plain red door. Looking around her Alanna nearly tripped on the woven rug at her feet. Almost at once the hunt depicted on the rug seemed to come to life, with the fox running through the thick woods while the hunters rode after it. Dragging her eyes up from the rug Alanna saw that tall bookshelves lined the walls and each one of them was overflowing with ancient tomes. So entranced in studying the room Alanna nearly missed the woman clad in white priestess robes. Clearing her throat to get her new charges attention the First Daughter had a hard time stifling her chuckle. If she had not been told that this was the daughter of the Lord of Trebond she would have laid down money that the child before her was a street urchin.

Smiling welcomingly the First Daughter greeted Alanna, "Welcome. I hope the journey was comfortable." Her face as red as her hair Alanna shook her head. Looking down at her notes the First Daughter continued, "Well, Alanna of Trebond you are here to learn the skills it requires to be a lady of the realm. Here you will learn dancing, needlework, etiquette, writing, the healing arts, as well as other skills. When you have been taught all you will need to know you will go to Corus for your formal presentation. At that point, if you are not yet engaged, your main task will be to secure a good marriage; a task we hope will be eased with what you learn here," pausing to take a breath the First Daughter surveyed her student. Alanna's head had not lifted once even as Maude left.

The First Daughter released an inaudible sigh. It was clear that the child had no interest in anything with the Convent and although she sympathized there really was nothing to be done about that. So, instead, the First Daughter squared her shoulders and told Alanna all she would need to know about her stay at the Convent. Alanna finally lifted her eyes to that of the First Daughter but she said not a word and no smile graced her features.