A/N: All characters belong to Tamora Peirce. This story takes place right after the lioness quartet.

Chapter 2-Midwinter

"Thayet, anymore hugs and I'll faint and I have never fainted. I have only been unconscious in a fight. That will show how weak we women are." Thayet laughed as they made their way back to their rooms.

Alanna had forgotten to tell Myles and Eleni about her. The next day, she and Thayet road to the house that Alanna had stayed in, after her return to Corus in May. They got to the door and knocked. A servant recognized them and let them into the house. Alanna entered the familiar house with ease. They walked to Myles study where the servant knocked on the door.

"Sir, there are some guests here that want to see you. I know you'll like to see them." The servant said. Myles always had a good relationship with his servants.

"I'll be there in a minu…" Alanna had pushed the door open and was now standing in the doorway. Myles had turned to tell the servant to go away when he saw Alanna.

"My dear, when did you get back?" He asked.

"Yesterday. I was very busy so I only found time right now to come and see you. I have something to say. It is very important. Is Mistress Cooper here? It would be easier to tell you both at the same time."

"She is just with a patient. She should be done soon." Just then Eleni walked into the room wiping her hands on her apron.

"That baby was so hard to deliver. 12 hours in labour is hard on the body." She noticed Alanna looking at her. "Of course you should know Lady Alanna. Welcome home child." She gave her a hug. Alanna hugged her back while rolling her eyes.

"Eleni, Alanna has something to tell us." He saw Thayet standing in the doorway. "Your Majesty, please sit down."

"Thank you Myles but you do not have to call me that. I'm not the queen yet nor am I a princess anymore. Even if I was friends don't have to call me anything but Thayet."

"Fine, Thayet will you please take a seat?" He asked Thayet who gladly took it.

"Alanna the news please." Eleni pleaded.

"Oh, right. Eleni, George is getting married next summer." She said bluntly.

"That is wonderful for him. Why though would he tell you before he told me and who is he marrying?"

"To answer the second I must answer the first question." Alanna looked at Thayet for some support. Alanna hated confronting people even with good news to tell. "He told me before you because he needed my permission to get married." Alanna was having fun making Eleni guess the news. She was mad that she had not guessed it sooner.

"Why does he need your permission to get married?" Eleni was clueless. She was also getting mad which was different for her. She was mad at her son. He should have told her about his marriage not sent a friend.

"Well he can't force me to marry him without my permission, so he did have to ask me." A smile crossed her foster father's face.

"I new my son would end up with someone respectable like you." Eleni said. They talked for a long while until the sun started to set.

"We have to go Alanna. You are very weary and we have to be at dinner soon. Jon's been eating just with his friends and me alone because of the famine. The Balls will only be held on the most important times like a celebration or a holiday."

"Yes Thayet we should leave." She hugged Myles and Eleni good bye and the two women road back to the palace for dinner.

Alanna woke up the next morning feeling very happy. She changed into a pair of tan breeches and a white shirt. She did her hair, in a braid with the piece of leather. She left the room. She decided to practice some of her fighting arts.

At the practice courts lots of young and middle aged nights were already practicing at this early hour. Many wanted a turn duelling with the lioness. She was famous and she was a girl so they wanted to test her. For the next few weeks Alanna had a duel with almost every night in the palace. Alanna won almost every duel she participated in.

She would only duel for half of the day however, because she spent the rest of the day doing work. Since she was the King's Champion she did not have boarder patrol or regular duties. She got to help Jon and Gary with their mission to find all of the people who may oppose Jon's rule.

Alanna found this work very fun. She learned a lot about the kingdom and she learnt more about her role. Her role was a very important one. She had to travel a lot which was great because she loved travelling. She got to duel a lot because she only worked half of the day. She new that being the champion during Jon's time as king would be different from when Gareth the elder was champion because many people did not like the different approach the king was taking to run the country.

The only thing that Alanna did not like which was a part of her job is that when Jon and Thayet went on their honeymoon travelling the kingdom having fun as a married couple for a month she would have to be the regent.

She would not do much more work than before because Gary would take up Jon's duties she just had the role of attending everything the king would like meetings, balls and more. She hated doing those things. Otherwise she loved her new role.

Midwinter was about to start. Alanna did not realize that 3 weeks had already passed. All of her friends saw that as the weeks p-assed however she got happier and they new why. George was one day closer to coming to the palace to be with his betrothed.

It was the day finally for George to come to the palace and Alanna started her day the same way. She put on a pair of tan breeches and a purple shirt today. Her long hair was put in a braid with the piece of leather in it. She had gotten another piece of spiky leather because her hair was a little longer than before.

She decided that growing her hair out would not be a bad choice because she new that most of the heavy fighting would not happen and her hair was not a problem yet, she had to pin her hair down to her shirt before she could fight anyone now because they would yell at her and say that her hair was in the way.

Alanna went to the practice courts and got out an arrow and a bow. She wanted to practice her archery even though she'd never use it. As she pulled the bow up by her ear someone said, "Keep your elbow up. It'll go farther." Alanna let the bow go randomly because what had been said startled her. She hit the target anyways.

"Buri, when did you get back?" Alanna said dropping the bow and hugging another one of her friends.

"An hour ago. I have had nothing but news told to me. I feel like I can never leave for a few weeks to help out." Buri said.

"And this is coming from the women who would not let Thayet out of her sight for the first few weeks we were here." Alanna said.

"Speaking of the queen to be, not that I like it," she said that under her breath. "Thayet wants to talk with you. Something is very important to her. I said I was going to see you so she said to tell you to stop going about the routine you established since you came here and spend the day with her. You don't do that anymore apparently. She's your only girl friend besides me and I think you should spend more time with her."

"I'll go see her after I finish practicing."

"She said that if you did not go and spend the day with her that she would turn her request into a command."

"Fine, I'm going." Alanna put the bow and arrows away and followed Buri to Thayet's room. Buri left after Alanna went into the room.

"You never have anytime to be a girl "Alan"." Thayet said.

"Where did you here that name?" Alanna asked very mad.

"It does not matter. All that does matter is that today you have no obligations to do anything else accept pamper yourself like other court ladies would do. Tomorrow is midwinter and Myles and Eleni's wedding. We're going to do our hair and we will try on everything in your wardrobe to see what would be best for tonight."

"What's tonight?" Alanna asked not really interested. She hated balls and everyone new that. She hated them more even now because she sis not know what to wear.

"You truly don't remember?" She asked.

"No. Midwinter is tomorrow and I don't remember anything planned for tonight." Alanna had never forgotten most things.

Thayet was mad that she had forgotten what was happening tonight. Alanna and Thayet spent the day trying on dresses and just talking and being together. Alanna did not know that being a girl was so much fun. She had an amazing day. She had not felt like this for a long time. She was very glad and she told Thayet so.

Afterwards they went to Alanna's chambers. Alanna took a bath and washed her hair. Afterwards Thayet dried Alanna's hair. They put her hair in a bun despite Alanna's protests. Alanna had never worn it like this before. She then put on a rose colored dress, which was much more simple than Thayet's was. Thayet was wearing a gold dress with pearls sown into the hem.

"I don't know how you got me into this. I know tonight we are just eating you, me and the boys but I don't feel right."

"I told the boys that I was going to fix you up. I told them to be prepared to see you in a fancy dress and I don't want them to miss out. You know Jon said that he did not like having the balls all the time."

"So why do I have to have this little dinner tonight? They'll see me at midwinter and I hate my hair like this. I'm cutting it after my wedding."

"Once we come back there are not going to be balls every night. Tonight is just the first night. Enjoy it. And someone special will be joining us. The 6 of us will be having dinner and I don't want you spoiling it. Also stop obsessing about your hair. It is nice long."

"Fine," Alanna finally had to give in. They walked down the long way to the hall where the royal family would eat meals. Alanna was so glad that the dress was long so she could wear her boots that were comfortable. They had to walk trough the hallway that housed the younger nights and no one recognized Alanna. They thought some new lady had come to court.

They entered the hall. The table was set for 6 people. They boys were seated. Jon was at one of the head seats. The other would be for Thayet. Raoul and Gary were on one side and the other would be for Alanna and the mystery guest. Jon got up and went to give Thayet a kiss on her cheek. He pulled out a chair for Thayet and she sat down.

"Thayet I did not know that you would be bringing another woman to dinner." Jon said. "We don't have room at the table." He whispered that to her.

"Jonathon of Conte if you do not want me here I will leave." Alanna said crossing her arms and scowling at him.

"Alanna?" Gary asked.

"Who else would it be?"

"Wow, she's actually a women." Raoul said and laughed.

"I'm sorry I'm late. I just got into my room when I was told to come here." A man walked in from the other door.

When Alanna recognized the man she ran into his arms and kissed him passionately. "Oh, George!" She kissed him again. "I did not know you were going to be coming so soon."

"Lass, when we parted 3 weeks ago I said I'd be commin'. I also can't miss me ma's weddin' can I?"

"Are you two done yet?" Gary asked.

"Gary, they have not seen each other in 3 weeks. They are aloud to be exited." Thayet said. "Haven't you ever been in love?"

"I would never say that to you. You don't mind because you're getting married." Gary said. Alanna took a seat next to Thayet and George sat next to Alanna.

The meal was great. There was a soup course and a salad course. During the main course there was a lot of interesting talk. Once the night was over George and Alanna left to go talk. Everyone new they had a lot to catch up on.

"Lass you always impress me. I like the boots the best." George said.

"Thayet had me all day trying on dresses and doing my hair. She made me buy 4 dresses for midwinter. I only have 3 of the grey outfit. They are all different colours. Thayet wants me to wear more dresses."

"She can't force you to be what your not lass. You were born to be a night not a lady. Don't change on me Alanna." He kissed her. They walked down to Alanna's room.

"This is my room." Alanna said.

"Mine too." George said.

"What?" Alanna asked.

"You did not think that I would not want to be with me lioness while I'm here did ya?"

"Just come in then." She saw that his bags were scattered all over the room. "I have to get out of this dress. I hate wearing them but Thayet won't let me not wear them." She walked into the closet and changed into a long shirt and loin cloth. When she came out of the closet George was wearing only a shirt and a loin cloth.

"You still have too much clothing on lass." George said and gathered her into a hug. He kissed her and laid her down on the bed. He kissed her and removed her shirt and loin cloth. She removed his. He kissed her passionately...

Well I hope you liked this chapter so please review (write anything but please only constructive stuff. No hurtful stuff). I am doing my best to get everything out on time. I hope to have some new chapters out soon.

Thank You,

TwilightPrincess2008