This is Alan, Alanna's father I'm talking about in this story. If you ever wondered about the things Gary's dad had against Alan, or why Alan always stayed to books; even about his wife, then read this. This is going to be page, squire, knight, and beyond of Alan's life. I don't own any of this. These are all Tamora Pierce's characters and plot (the page stuff). The characters you've never seen or heard of are mine. This is a fan-fic, and I am not trying to steal TP books! =P So, enjoy!
When you least expect it, something happens that can affect you in eternity. And if you make a bad choice while in the sudden chaos, it'll affect you in life.
"Good Morning, Lord Alan." Said Kristen, the young maid of the Tortall fortress as she opened the blinds on Lord Alan of Trebond's bedroom. "Time to get up. Today's the big day for you!"
Alan of Trebond got up out of bed groggily as he wiped the sleep out of his dark blue eyes.
"Kristen, will you watch all of my stories while I'm gone? I don't want to get teased if I bring them!" Alan pleaded her, his eyes shining with sadness.
"Of course Master Alan..or should I say Page Alan now?"
"Al! Boy, get your arse over here boy!" Said Alan's much older half-brother, Lord Thomas. "You don't want to be late! It's good to make a good impression on the first day, you little worm!"
"Gods..." Alan groaned.
Why did Thommy have to take him to Chorus? He hated Thommy, with his whole heart and soul. He never knew why, he just got "feelings" about people. He didn't question this feeling. He hated Lord Thomas of Trebond.
After all the supplies were loaded onto the pack horse, and Alan mounted Chester, his stormy gray steed, and Thomas mounted his, they went to the meeting between The Great Road and Trebond way.
Alan had lived with his half-brother of 30 or so for as long as he could remember. His parents died from an outbreak of a terrible fever not yet named when he was 6 months old. He had had to live with his brother to this very day.
~
Alan looked around, his eyes taking in all the trees, rocks, and Northern flowers he would most likely not see for another 7 years.
Alan was 11, with his mid-night blue eyes and chestnut brown hair what today we'd call "adorable." Alan was rather thin and short for his age, but his brother and father had been tall and strong. Alan hoped he would be like his father when he grew up. Alan had always enjoyed reading and writing. He had always wanted to be a famous author, or scholar;he had heard his father was a genius. But because of this, many of the Trebond residents had made fun of him because of his dis-like for work. It wasn't that he was lazy, he just preferred mind over matter. He sighed to himself. It was going to be just jolly at the castle.
Soon sunset came, but they didn't stop. Lord Thomas was going to go all the way to Corus with very few stops. When Alan commented on this, his older retired knight brother replied, "It'll toughen' ye up, Al!"
Alan cringed at his coarse rogue speech, and cringed at the fact of riding for 3 days straight at such a trying pace.
~
Alan's dark eyes shined in delight as he took in all the sights and sounds of Tortall's capital city, Corus. There were so many colors! And it was so warm! Trebond wasn't exactly the "trading capital" of the world. If anything was traded, it was fur, and bear and wolf fur isn't the most colorful thing to see. All the excitement was quite new to him. Thomas, though, was quite at home. He smiled and waved to anyone who recognized him. Alan envied his popularity. Even at home in Trebond, he wasn't very liked. The Trebond people thought he was a "bloody snob" for never seeing them. He couldn't help that! He was only 10, and he was learning his studies from Kristen back then. He never had time! Maybe life at the palace would be different..
His thoughts were interrupted by a girl a few years younger them him attempting to grab his saddle purse. Alan turned and smiled at the little red-head, and gave her some coins. She smiled and ran off to a few older boys.
"You were supposed to STEAL the money, Rispah! Oh well, hurry, he's a noble!" Said a tall, shaggy haired boy.
He sighed. Even thieves didn't like him! Wait..that was a good thing, wasn't it? He'd have to ponder that...
"Al! Stop day-dreaming like some silly young lass! We're at the beginning of the Temple District." Lord Thomas said gruffly. Alan hadn't even noticed how far they'd gotten. They'd crossed Harmony and Market Way! Alan sighed, realizing just how much freedom time he had left...Had he ever been really free?
Thomas smiled to passing soldiers as they walked through the huge district. They waved in recognition.
"Mister Popular.." Alan grumbled under his breath.
Awhile later they came upon Palace Way, the end of the Temple District of Corus. Alan gulped as he saw the enormous palace gate in front of him.
They both trotted their horses through the gloriously gold city gate. Soldiers dressed in the traditional Tortallan colors lined the top of the great gate. Alan's eyes grew wider as he saw what was all on the palace grounds. So much! It was like another city!
Thomas nodded to Alan. "Follow me, and don't gawk, Al!"
Thomas and Alan came into a large courtyard near the stables, where hostlers took care to any palace resident's charge. A tall, gangly hostler came over. He was a very odd creature, to be sure. He looked about 15, and had blond, blond hair; with black, black eyes. A rather odd combination, but Alan liked him when he saw him.
"The name's Derek, Sirs. May I inquire your royal business?"
"Aye! Hullo Derek!" Thomas smiled brightly at the boy. "Lord Thomas of Trebond bringing Alan of Trebond for his service at court."
Derek bowed to both of them, and 2 servants came to get their bags.
"Master Alan, please report to the page's wing where you should get the page's clothes and a washing so you'll be presentable to the training master."
"Aye then, Derek!" Lord Thomas replied cheerfully, as he and his brother trotted off.
"Um..Thom? Why were you so friendly to that servant? You're normally kind of..rude to them." Alan inquired.
"Ah, that ain't true, Ally! I be nice to all peasants!"
"Right..." Alan mumbled. Why did that hostler talk like nobility though? He talked better then his brother! Maybe he'd been around the palace so long he picked up their speech..
~
Alan arrived in the page's wing around noon. He bid farewell to Thomas as a servant came to pick him up.
A middle-aged man came and escorted him to his rooms. Alan examined the man. He was short and stout, with a slight beard on his square chin. His eyes were an amber brown, and his hair was coal black, gray-streaked with age. He seemed nice enough.
"I am Owen, Master Alan, and I will be watching over you till your squire years." Said Owen huskily.
Alan went and got fit by the tailors. Then he was led back to his rooms for a washing as he carried his gold and red attire. Alan quickly scanned the room and jumped into the washing tub as Owen waited outside. Then he dried and changed into his uniform. He ran out to see Owen.
"Gods! Are you done already, Master Alan?" He said surprised.
"I want to get this over with." Alan calmly replied.
Owen sighed, "Right this way, Master Alan."
~
Owen waited outside the door of the Training Master's office. Alan stepped in and bowed before he got a look at the master.
"Look up, boy. I'm not THAT ugly." A clearly amused voice said.
Alan looked up into the face of a man who clearly knew humor. His dancing green eyes shone with humor, as his slightly crooked nose topped the smiling mouth. He had auburn hair, trimmed short above the ears, in the style of knights.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"No need to. I am Lord Frederick of Olau, the training master for pages here. And you, I presume, are Alan of Trebond?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I've received your papers from your brother. You start your duties the day after tomorrow. Your sponsor will meet you at dinner tonight. Owen will show you the way. Any questions?"
"No, sir."
"Very well, then. Welcome to the palace, Page Alan."
When you least expect it, something happens that can affect you in eternity. And if you make a bad choice while in the sudden chaos, it'll affect you in life.
"Good Morning, Lord Alan." Said Kristen, the young maid of the Tortall fortress as she opened the blinds on Lord Alan of Trebond's bedroom. "Time to get up. Today's the big day for you!"
Alan of Trebond got up out of bed groggily as he wiped the sleep out of his dark blue eyes.
"Kristen, will you watch all of my stories while I'm gone? I don't want to get teased if I bring them!" Alan pleaded her, his eyes shining with sadness.
"Of course Master Alan..or should I say Page Alan now?"
"Al! Boy, get your arse over here boy!" Said Alan's much older half-brother, Lord Thomas. "You don't want to be late! It's good to make a good impression on the first day, you little worm!"
"Gods..." Alan groaned.
Why did Thommy have to take him to Chorus? He hated Thommy, with his whole heart and soul. He never knew why, he just got "feelings" about people. He didn't question this feeling. He hated Lord Thomas of Trebond.
After all the supplies were loaded onto the pack horse, and Alan mounted Chester, his stormy gray steed, and Thomas mounted his, they went to the meeting between The Great Road and Trebond way.
Alan had lived with his half-brother of 30 or so for as long as he could remember. His parents died from an outbreak of a terrible fever not yet named when he was 6 months old. He had had to live with his brother to this very day.
~
Alan looked around, his eyes taking in all the trees, rocks, and Northern flowers he would most likely not see for another 7 years.
Alan was 11, with his mid-night blue eyes and chestnut brown hair what today we'd call "adorable." Alan was rather thin and short for his age, but his brother and father had been tall and strong. Alan hoped he would be like his father when he grew up. Alan had always enjoyed reading and writing. He had always wanted to be a famous author, or scholar;he had heard his father was a genius. But because of this, many of the Trebond residents had made fun of him because of his dis-like for work. It wasn't that he was lazy, he just preferred mind over matter. He sighed to himself. It was going to be just jolly at the castle.
Soon sunset came, but they didn't stop. Lord Thomas was going to go all the way to Corus with very few stops. When Alan commented on this, his older retired knight brother replied, "It'll toughen' ye up, Al!"
Alan cringed at his coarse rogue speech, and cringed at the fact of riding for 3 days straight at such a trying pace.
~
Alan's dark eyes shined in delight as he took in all the sights and sounds of Tortall's capital city, Corus. There were so many colors! And it was so warm! Trebond wasn't exactly the "trading capital" of the world. If anything was traded, it was fur, and bear and wolf fur isn't the most colorful thing to see. All the excitement was quite new to him. Thomas, though, was quite at home. He smiled and waved to anyone who recognized him. Alan envied his popularity. Even at home in Trebond, he wasn't very liked. The Trebond people thought he was a "bloody snob" for never seeing them. He couldn't help that! He was only 10, and he was learning his studies from Kristen back then. He never had time! Maybe life at the palace would be different..
His thoughts were interrupted by a girl a few years younger them him attempting to grab his saddle purse. Alan turned and smiled at the little red-head, and gave her some coins. She smiled and ran off to a few older boys.
"You were supposed to STEAL the money, Rispah! Oh well, hurry, he's a noble!" Said a tall, shaggy haired boy.
He sighed. Even thieves didn't like him! Wait..that was a good thing, wasn't it? He'd have to ponder that...
"Al! Stop day-dreaming like some silly young lass! We're at the beginning of the Temple District." Lord Thomas said gruffly. Alan hadn't even noticed how far they'd gotten. They'd crossed Harmony and Market Way! Alan sighed, realizing just how much freedom time he had left...Had he ever been really free?
Thomas smiled to passing soldiers as they walked through the huge district. They waved in recognition.
"Mister Popular.." Alan grumbled under his breath.
Awhile later they came upon Palace Way, the end of the Temple District of Corus. Alan gulped as he saw the enormous palace gate in front of him.
They both trotted their horses through the gloriously gold city gate. Soldiers dressed in the traditional Tortallan colors lined the top of the great gate. Alan's eyes grew wider as he saw what was all on the palace grounds. So much! It was like another city!
Thomas nodded to Alan. "Follow me, and don't gawk, Al!"
Thomas and Alan came into a large courtyard near the stables, where hostlers took care to any palace resident's charge. A tall, gangly hostler came over. He was a very odd creature, to be sure. He looked about 15, and had blond, blond hair; with black, black eyes. A rather odd combination, but Alan liked him when he saw him.
"The name's Derek, Sirs. May I inquire your royal business?"
"Aye! Hullo Derek!" Thomas smiled brightly at the boy. "Lord Thomas of Trebond bringing Alan of Trebond for his service at court."
Derek bowed to both of them, and 2 servants came to get their bags.
"Master Alan, please report to the page's wing where you should get the page's clothes and a washing so you'll be presentable to the training master."
"Aye then, Derek!" Lord Thomas replied cheerfully, as he and his brother trotted off.
"Um..Thom? Why were you so friendly to that servant? You're normally kind of..rude to them." Alan inquired.
"Ah, that ain't true, Ally! I be nice to all peasants!"
"Right..." Alan mumbled. Why did that hostler talk like nobility though? He talked better then his brother! Maybe he'd been around the palace so long he picked up their speech..
~
Alan arrived in the page's wing around noon. He bid farewell to Thomas as a servant came to pick him up.
A middle-aged man came and escorted him to his rooms. Alan examined the man. He was short and stout, with a slight beard on his square chin. His eyes were an amber brown, and his hair was coal black, gray-streaked with age. He seemed nice enough.
"I am Owen, Master Alan, and I will be watching over you till your squire years." Said Owen huskily.
Alan went and got fit by the tailors. Then he was led back to his rooms for a washing as he carried his gold and red attire. Alan quickly scanned the room and jumped into the washing tub as Owen waited outside. Then he dried and changed into his uniform. He ran out to see Owen.
"Gods! Are you done already, Master Alan?" He said surprised.
"I want to get this over with." Alan calmly replied.
Owen sighed, "Right this way, Master Alan."
~
Owen waited outside the door of the Training Master's office. Alan stepped in and bowed before he got a look at the master.
"Look up, boy. I'm not THAT ugly." A clearly amused voice said.
Alan looked up into the face of a man who clearly knew humor. His dancing green eyes shone with humor, as his slightly crooked nose topped the smiling mouth. He had auburn hair, trimmed short above the ears, in the style of knights.
"I'm sorry, sir."
"No need to. I am Lord Frederick of Olau, the training master for pages here. And you, I presume, are Alan of Trebond?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. I've received your papers from your brother. You start your duties the day after tomorrow. Your sponsor will meet you at dinner tonight. Owen will show you the way. Any questions?"
"No, sir."
"Very well, then. Welcome to the palace, Page Alan."