Disclaimer: I own nothing it all belongs to Tamora Pierce

Understanding

Keladry of Mindelan entered the practice yard glaive in hand, but much to her surprise she saw that for once she was not the only person in the yard for a dawn workout. Two people dueled each other. One was short, with fiery hair and the other was tall with black, except that gray touched the sides.

Kel watched intently, it took Alanna minuted before her opponent was unarmed and held at sword point. Then the two started laughing, Kel noticed that the man was not just any one man but King Jonathon, ruler of Tortall with his queen. Kel noticed that he seemed younger more carefree and instantly she felt herself warming to him. At the thought of that she went back through the stories Raoul had told her about them as pages. Suddenly Kel could see it.

Soon they caught sight of her, slipping the cool, yamani mask over her face she bowed to each of the precisely. King Jonathon nodded his head then turned to go. Kel stared after him, still lost in thought. Alanna walked up, "Hm, he thought he might get a better shot at me in the morning, but well he was wrong," she smiled. But looking at Kel her face turned into concern, "Kel, are you ok?"

Kel snapped out of her trance, "What? Oh, yes I'm fine, Lioness,".

"Keladry, if you wish me to call you Protector then go on calling me that name. But just so you know, I do prefer Alanna. What were you thinking about?"

Kel looked at Alanna, Kings' Champion, The Lioness, and the first lady knight, "I was just thinking about Raoul's stories about when you were pages,"

Alanna smiled, "It doesn't fell that long ago..."

Soon they started talking about life as pages, squires and now lady knights, though Alanna had more to share on that topic. At this point Alanna was polishing her shield, and Kel looked at the rearing, gold cat, the symbol that showed strength and fear to those on her bad side. She compared it to the Owl on Kel's own double-bordered shield. Thinking about her own shield, she had to ask, "Alanna, why haven't you claimed a shield with a distaff?"

Alanna smiled, "Kel, there is much you have yet to realize. Do you know why some say you are the first lady knight?" seeing Kel head shake 'no' she continued, "It's because you were the first female knight to be knighted, a lady knight. I was knighted as Sir Alan of Trebond," she broke off and touched the gleaming shield with a glowing hand. The paint shifted from the rearing cat to a black tower on a red feild (ITHOTG pg235).

Kel looked at it, "Is it Trebond?"

Alanna nodded, "yes it is, my brother presented it to me in front of the court, but showed me this when we were alone. So you see Kel, I was knighted as Alan, and so I carry Alan's shield. Plus, then I always have something to remember my home by."

Kel looked at the Lioness and wondered what else her famed violet eyes help. What other secrets and mysteries had this woman seen?

In a single moment Alanna's eyes sharpened, "You better not tell anyone this. It would be very unfortunate if my fellow Knights thought me sappy. Worse of all if Raoul, Gary, or Jon found out. Goddess Bless, Lady Knight".

Alanna walked away leaving Kel to think, Kel replayed the whole conversation in her head, and thinking back to Alanna's parting words Kel laughed. Neal was with her at dinner when once again Kel, let out a little laugh when she saw Raoul and Alanna arguing. Alanna must of heard her and gave her wink.

"What is this all about?" Neal asked, Kel shook her head. After all there were things only a Lady Knight could understand.

This is my first story and I would like to know your thoughts, and please if you find grammatical errors, PLEASE tell me.

Hentychick