A/N: Thank you so much for all who reviewed! Sorry for the delay, I was busy this weekend. I had half of this chapter done and had to write the second half. So, the second bit might be a bit sketchy. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Again, none of it's mine.

Chapter Two: Reunions

As she entered the palace stable yards, Aly could sense people staring at her. She lowered head modestly, to put on the act of being shy. Really, she didn't want anyone to recognize her, not yet. It wouldn't do to have someone running off to find her mother or father. A courteous looking young holster came up to her and politely asked if he could stable her horse. Aly gave him a small smile and a coin for his service.

As the boy led the horse off, Aly looked around. The sloping green lawns were as well kept as ever and from what she could glimpse of the gardens, they were too. Out of the corner of her eye, Aly saw movement. There were little flashes of color that indicated that these young boys would be pages and perhaps squires. They seemed to be heading toward the practice courts. Curious, Aly followed them.

As she neared the courts, she could see two knights fencing. Surely this was common? Why would they rush to see this match? Aly pushed her way through the throng of people to get a better look. Upon closer examination, she saw one of the fencers was a short redhead and the other large and burly. Not mother! She can't still be fencing!? Aly thought in surprise. Sure enough, it was her mother, Alanna the Lioness of Pirate's Swoop and Olau. Apparently age hadn't caught up with her yet, for in a swift movement Alanna easily disarmed her opponent.

"Gary," she panted, "You're getting old." They both chuckled and the large man clapped her softly on the back.

"Or maybe I haven't beaten you in ages," Aly's foster-uncle replied, returning the grin.

"Maybe you haven't beaten me at all," the Lady Knight retorted. Gary just grinned and shrugged. He didn't disagree. She had always been better than him.

"Will anyone else challenge the Lioness?" Gareth of Naxen called, searching the crowd. His eyes moved over the people, looking for a potential challenger until they came to a rest on Aly. She grinned wolfishly as they widened in shock.

"Aly?" he whispered.

Alanna seemed to be the only one who had heard. She moved around Gary's large body, her eyes searching the crowd frantically. Aly stepped forward, past the onlookers and into the ring.

"I'm not one for fencing and would be hardly a match for her," she told her uncle, responding to his earlier question but her eyes were on her mother, who was still staring at Aly, clearly stunned. "Fortunately for me, my interests were never in that area."

It took a minute for Gary to get over his shock before he smiled kindly and gently pushed Alanna over. She didn't need his help as she was already going. As she crossed the several feet to her daughter, she smiled and Aly could have sworn the infamous Lady Knight's eyes were wet. If they were, she hid it when she embraced her long absent daughter. Aly returned the hug and held her mother tightly, finally realizing how much she missed the fiery tempered woman.

When they had finally broke their hold on one another, Alanna stood back and held Aly's shoulders. The knight looked her up and down, scrutinizing every inch of the young woman who was taller than her.

At last she said, "You look well."

Considering that this was the first thing her mother had said to her in ten years, Aly laughed. Gary, who had also heard Alanna, joined in with his foster-niece. Alanna put her hands on her hips, looking strict.

"Are you mocking me?" the Lioness asked sternly with a hit on a smile playing on her lips.

"With your skill as a swordswoman?" Aly replied, still laughing. "No mother. Never."

The majority of the crowd was looking on with interest. They had never seen the Lioness act like this before. Noticing that they weren't exactly getting any privacy, Gary interrupted the exchange.

"Perhaps we should go somewhere less open," he suggested quietly, gesturing at the crowd. Alanna, who seemed to have forgotten where they were looked up, startled.

"Oh, I suppose you're right," she murmured. Aly nodded her agreement and they slowly headed out of the ring.

"Sorry everyone," Gary boomed as he covered the women's retreat. "Looks like you'll have to wait for another time." There groans and protests among the gathering. Some people still wanted to challenge her and others wanted to see a good fight. More yet wanted to know what was going on between their Champion and this strange new woman. Gary just gave them all a smile and moved to follow his friend and her daughter.

As soon as they were out of view and in a more secluded section of the practice courts, the large man crushed Aly with a hug of his own.

"Mithros!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" He voiced the question that had been on both his and Alanna's mind.

"Well apparently I need a break," Aly said dryly. "Dove and Nawat wouldn't take no for an answer."

"Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here," Alanna said, gripping Aly's arm.

"Yes, me too," Gary added throwing an arm around her shoulder. "It's been a bit dull since you've been gone."

"Uncle Gary, it's been ten years. I hardly doubt that nothing exciting has happened since I left," Aly retorted.

Alanna grinned at her friend, "She's got you there."

Gary chuckled, good natured as ever, "You've got a point. Still..."

The three of them had strolled along, coming out toward the grounds. There in the shadows, something moved. Aly stiffened, using her Sight to see who it was. Alanna, who already knew, smiled.

"I imagine there's a certain someone who wants to see you," she told her daughter softly, releasing her grip. The man stepped out of the shadows, revealing his brown hair and hazel eyes. For a moment all Aly could do was stand and stare. Gary removed his arm and put it on her shoulder, giving her a small push. She let out a yelp and ran toward him.

"You all act like you haven't seen each other in a decade," Gary murmured ruefully, a large grin on his face. Alanna glared at him as they stood back to watch the exchange. The Baron of Pirate's Swoop scooped his child and spun her around like he had when he had found her with the Balitangs on Lombyn so many years ago.

"Da," Aly whispered into his shoulder, "I've missed you."

In response, George held her tighter. Alanna clutched her ember stone, the gift from the Goddess, that she often used to comfort herself. She was still having a hard time getting her head around the fact that her daughter was home. After a time, George set her down and looked her over. The big smile on his face only conveyed a small portion of how he felt. He could hardly believe that it was her standing here in front of him after so long.

"My darlin' girl has grown up," he assessed, still smiling. It seemed to Aly that the smile might never come off. It looked like a permanent fixture, but not the fake ones that were so common on courtiers. No, this one was pure and genuine. Aly beamed back, just glad to see him.

"I grew up a long time ago," she informed him.

"Well, I'm seeing it now," George told her before she was squashed by another hug.

During the exchange, Gary had slipped out, mumbling something about telling the others. Alanna wasn't completely sure who 'the others' were, but she had a very good idea. The Prime Minister would be off to find all of their friends and family. She hoped he would remember to fetch Aly's brothers. Thom and Alan would be happy to see their sister. Just in time too, for Alan had just returned to Corus with his wife, Daniella of Meron. The young woman was the daughter of Alanna's old friend, Geoffrey of Meron. She really was quite sweet and matched Alan perfectly. Daniella was expecting her third child in a few weeks and Alanna hoped Aly would be there for the birth.

A moment later, George and Aly walked back to Alanna. Aly smiled softly as George gave his wife a tender kiss. For a moment it made her think of Nawat. She missed her crow-man already.

"I imagine we ought t'be telling everyone you're here," Aly's da said thoughtfully.

Alanna laughed. "I think Gary's already doing that. There's no harm in joining him though."

"Let's go then."Aly flashed her parents a smile and led them in the search.

The monarchs of Tortall were sitting in the Throne Room, receiving visitors when their Prime Minister flew in. He barely remembered to use his manners before giving his message. Before he had even straightened from his bow, Gary spoke.

"She's back!" he exclaimed breathlessly, "Aly's back!" The sovereigns didn't even have a chance to say anything because Gary had already left. They could hear him running down the halls yelling of Aly's return. Jon and Thayet exchanged a look, clearly puzzled. They excused themselves and went to investigate.

The aging Sir Myles of Olau was in the middle of teaching his class when a husky man burst through the door, shocking everyone. Myles fought a smile when he saw his students staring at the older man with wide eyes. He raised an eyebrow at the knight.

"Can we be of service, your grace?" he asked quietly. Gary rushed over to Myles and whispered in his ear. The man straightened, taken aback. "Are you sure?"

Gary nodded. "I've seen her myself." After a minute of staring in shock, the older man finally moved.

"Class, you're dismissed early. Tyron, please come with me," he addressed one of his students. The boy looked at his classmates in confusion. What had he done now?

Myles seemed to read his thoughts, "No, you're not in trouble. Come now, please." The sandy haired page followed his great-grandfather and the Prime Minister out of the room.

Gary excused himself from the company of Myles and Tyron by saying that he must find Alan and Thom.

"You wouldn't happen to know where your father is, Tryon?" the burly man asked before leaving.

Tyron shrugged. "He's probably in the library, your grace." Gary nodded his thanks and headed off in that direction.

Myles ushered Tyron off in the opposite direction to find his granddaughter. As they were walking, the two were joined by the king and queen.

"Do you know what this is about?" King Jonathan of Conté asked his spymaster.

Myles shook his head. "All Gary told me was that Aly was here." Jon nodded in agreement. Tyron, who still didn't quite know what was going on perked up at this. He was pondering on whom this Aly person could be when he turned the corner and ran right into his grandmother.

"Hello Tyron," she smiled. At the sound of her voice, the party all stopped. They looked in that direction to see the Lioness, her husband, and their daughter standing there. Aly moved her gaze from Tyron to the rest of her family.

"So it is true," Myles whispered.

"Of course it is," Aly returned, stepping closer. "Did you not believe Uncle Gary?" Myles didn't even have a chance to say anything before Aly hugged him tightly.

"It's been far to long," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"Yes," he agreed, "It has."

It seemed as if that broke the awkwardness. Her foster family crowded around, eager to welcome her back. Greetings were being exchanged happily, they all had something to say to Aly. She noticed that some were more reserved, like they had something else on their minds. They were all obviously glad to see her, but worried about something else at the same time. She grinned as more people joined them, hearing from Gary she had arrived. Aly was happy, glad that Nawat and Dove had made her take this trip. It was something she needed.

She hardly managed to give Jon and Thayet a small curtsey before being swept up in a hug by the king. Aly laughed into his shoulder, remembering that neither of the monarchs were in the delegation that came to the Copper Isles when Dove was queened. When she was set down, Thayet immediately embraced her.

"It's good to see you back among us," the queen said with a small smile on her face.

Finally, the two people she was most anxious to see arrived. Thom came to her first, clapping her on the shoulder before giving her a hug.

"Well met, Aly. It's good to see you," he told her. She smiled at him.

"Is he yours?" she asked, gesturing toward Tyron. "He doesn't really look like Alan. He's much better looking."

Thom nodded with a large grin on his face, looking toward his blushing son. "He sure is." He lowered his voice before speaking again. "Yes, you're right. Alan isn't half as good looking."

Behind Thom, Aly could hear a muffled protest. The siblings grinned, knowing Alan's voice anywhere.

"I better let him greet his better half," Thom said loud enough for both Aly and Alan to hear. Aly bit back a smile as her twin, Sir Alan of Pirate's Swoop, stepped forward. He took her in his arms and gave her a hard hug.

"I am so glad to see you. You have no idea," he whispered. There was relief in his voice.

Aly stepped back, her gaze questioning. She knew something was up. Alan sounded strange, just like the rest of her family. "Alan, what's wrong?" she asked firmly, her voice quiet so that only her twin would be able to hear.

"They haven't told you?" he asked, his voice matching hers.

"Told me what?" Aly was staring at her twin, worried.

"I don't really think it's my place to say," he whispered.

"Not your place?" Aly asked, her tone angry. "Since when? You are my twin."

Alan looked embarrassed. "I know. It'll really be much better if you let mother and father or the king and queen tell you." Aly shook her head, determined to find out what all the secrecy was about and what could possibly be so bad that her own twin wouldn't tell her the problem.


What do you think? Please review! Just so this is clear, I did not make a mistake when Myles and Tyron called Gary "your grace". It will come up in a later chapter.