I always wondered how Jon and Alanna managed to get back into Persopolis after the Black City without Alanna getting discovered – considering the only thing she is wearing is Jon's tunic and her belt, and they are coming back in daylight… so this is my attempt at explaining it.

Alanna opened her eyes in the early dawn light, looking up to see the sky tinged with orange and pink. Rolling over, she discovered in horror that she had snuggled up against the Prince overnight. She sat up and shuffled away quickly to lean against the palm tree above them – she couldn't have Jon waking up and getting the wrong idea. She glanced down to her folded hands on her stomach – and noticed her breasts.

"Gods, no!" She cursed and leapt to her feet, beginning to pace. "This can't be happening to me."

"Alan-" began Jon, causing her to whirl around. He suddenly noticed the shape of her body under his tunic and flushed. "Alanna-"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, I was just – "

"What's wrong?"

Alanna flushed. "Nothing. Go back to sleep."

Jon stretched and stood up. "I'm awake now. Besides, we need to start heading back."

"Now?"

"I thought it's best for us to get an early start."

"But we can't – I…" Alanna fell silent.

Jon studied her face carefully. "Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

Alanna turned bright red and looked at the ground before speaking in a voice barely audible. "I've nothing to bind my breasts with."

Jon's face turned red to match Alanna's. "Oh…well, maybe no-one will notice."

"Of course they will," she snapped. She put her hands on her hips, embarrassment forgotten. "And then I'm left to explain how 'Alan' managed to go to the Black City and grow a pair of breasts!"

Jon's face lit up. "That's it! We can say the Ysandir did it!"

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Do you honestly think that anyone would be thick enough to believe that?"

"Gary would."

"Even if they did all believe that, which they won't, they'll all be wanting to see them!"

"Would that be so bad?"

Alanna glared daggers at him. "I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer."

Jon fell silent as Alanna resumed her pacing.

After what felt like an eternity, Jon ventured "We could try using my shirt."

Alanna paused to think. "It wouldn't work too well. Besides, they're going to ask where your shirt went."

"We'll tell them it met the same fate as the rest of your clothes…which is what? We can't say that the Ysandir vanished them for fun."

Alanna bit her lip. "I suppose we could say that they caught on fire from one of the spells."

"Then we can say that the same happened to my shirt."

"It'll be bulky and lumpy though. Besides, you're the Crown Prince. I should be going completely bare just so that you can be fully clothed."

"That's one of the silliest things I've ever heard." He furrowed his brow in thought. "What about the saddlecloths?"

"And have it look like I ate the Black City?"

"I suppose they are rather bulky… our belts would work though, wouldn't they?"

Alanna looked thoughtful. "I suppose they're worth a try, at least."

Jon removed his belt, tossing his scabbard onto the sand, and tucking his belt-purse into his pocket before laying his belt out flat on the sand. Alanna placed her belt into the hand he had outstretched, and he laid it next to his, with the buckle facing the other way.

"You'll need to fasten the buckles at the sides, so that your arms can hide them." He grinned at her. "Besides, that's where the tunic is the most baggy." Next, he drew his sword and slashed several leaves off the palm tree above them. He carefully wound the long leaves tightly around the two belts, binding them together, and softening the leather edges.

"I think this should hold it." He flushed. "Um…can you manage by yourself?"

Alanna crossed her arms. "Of course."

"I'll wait behind the tree then."

"Turn your back and keep a look out. And don't you dare watch me." She watched him carefully to make sure he was behind the tree before stripping the tunic off and picking up the belts.

Ten minutes later, the air was filled with curses.

"Is it not working?" asked Jonathan tentatively.

"I can't get it tight enough to do up without the leaves coming undone."

"I could help you –"

"Don't you dare move so much as an inch from behind that tree," she warned.

"I'm not going to – yet. Now listen to me. First, pick up my tunic and wrap it around your waist."

Alanna did as he said, tucking the edges in firmly to make sure it was secure. "Done."

He took his shirt off, holding it out behind him. "Take this now, I'm looking the other way."

Alanna turned and saw the shirt. "You better be looking the other way," she told him before walking over and taking it.

"I told you I was," he said in mock hurt. "What kind of a man do you think I am? Now, hold the belts in place over your chest, and hold the shirt on top to cover yourself. And turn your back."

Alanna obeyed, taking a deep breath to fight away her embarrassment before speaking. "I'm ready."

She heard soft footfalls on the sand behind her, before his hands took one of the belts and, looping it behind her back, began to fasten it under her arm.

"This is so humiliating," she complained.

"It needs to be done," he told her. "It's not like I'm taking advantage of you or anything."

She snorted. "I should think not."

"Besides, I've already seen you naked anyway."

Her blush reached the back of her neck. "Don't you ever, ever refer to that again."

"But when you become a famous warrior maiden, everyone's going to ask how I found out."

Alanna groaned. "Let's just focus on me not getting discovered now."

"Is it tight enough?"

"No. It needs to be lots tighter."

"Now?"

"Tighter…there."

Jon fastened it, and pulled the other one tight, causing Alanna to gasp.

"I'm hurting you."

"No…it always hurts." She took a quick peek under the shirt. "That's it."

Jon gently fastened the buckle, and spun her around to face him. "It always hurts?"

"Well, yes…they're not meant to be bound flat, you know."

"I know…" The look on his face was one of admiration. "I just never thought about how much you went through to do all of this."

Alanna shook her head at such obvious silliness. "Get back behind the tree, I need to put the tunic on properly."

When she was done she walked around the tree again and held the shirt out to Jon. "Um…thanks," she managed awkwardly, suddenly shy as she noticed Jon's stare. "What?"

"You look just like Alan again."

"Don't be daft – I'm still Alan…it's just that now you know something more about Alan. It's really just like finding out my favourite colour or something."

Jon laughed. "If you say so. Looks like it's time to face the wrath of Lord Martin." He strode to his horse and mounted up.

"You go ahead," Alanna told him. "I'd rather be alone if I'm mounting up only wearing this."

Galloping hoofbeats announced Alanna as she caught up. "You keep at least half a length in front, and don't turn around," she called. "And we're going to have to dismount before we enter the gates."

"Is there something else wrong now?"

"Let's just say that this tunic isn't quite so modest when I'm seated on a horse."

"Oh."

The rest of the journey passed in silence, until they reached the gates. There they found a group of ten guards that had been assigned to watch for their return. Groups of guards were posted on every entrance to the city that they could see.

"I guess they noticed we were gone then," whispered Jonathan as they were escorted to Lord Martin's study.

Alanna snorted. "Now there's an intelligent observation."

Jon drew himself up before they entered the room, suddenly gathering the same authoritative air that he had possessed on Alanna's first day in the palace. "Lord Martin, Sir Myles, Uncle," he began upon entering, before they could get a word in. "I am most terribly sorry for any worry that I may have caused you. He launched into the tale of what had happened, leaving out, of course, the discovery of Alanna's true sex.

Alanna stood silently behind the prince, hands folded behind her back, and studied the three adults carefully. Lord Martin looked annoyed, although she wasn't sure if that was any different to usual. The Duke looked exhausted. Alanna suspected that he hadn't slept at all the previous night, and felt a twinge of guilt – after all, the duke was in charge of protecting the heir to the throne, who had disappeared without warning in the middle of the night. Myles, she noted with interest, was merely showing avid interest in Jon's story.

"It was all my idea, Uncle. I would have gone whether or not Alan had accompanied me, and I was lucky that he did. I owe my life to him."

Duke Gareth sighed and rubbed his temples. "Boys…"

"Gareth." Myles leaned over to the Duke. "I can see that you're tired. Perhaps it would be easier if I lectured the boys in the rules and the Code that they have broken."

The Duke looked surprised. "Thank you, Myles. If you are sure you do not mind, we will take our leave." The two men began to exit the room as Myles began his lecture.

"Prince Jonathan, Alan, I am sure you are both aware that you have broken many rules of our Code of Chivalry, and the punishments that come as a consequence to these actions…" he trailed off once he was sure that the Duke was out of hearing, and poured himself a brandy. "So what did these Ysandir look like?"

Jon laughed while Alanna tried and failed to cover up her yawn. Myles noticed and grinned. "Another time then. Off to bed with you both." He drew back one of the wall hangings to reveal a secret passageway, and passed them each a candle. He picked up his glass of brandy and grinned. "And you've both got punishment duty with me for one bell every night for the next week."

"But sir." Alanna yawned again. "It'll take longer than that to discuss the Ysandir, and their history, and the spells they used and their relationship to the Old Ones, and the myths about the Black City and the history of Persopolis and-"

"A fortnight then," chuckled Myles. "I'm glad we've reached an understanding. Now go."