Disclaimer: I do not own Tortall, or any of the Tamora Pierce characters- obviously. Only characters a hard core fan doesn't recognize are mine- IE Aaurie, Branic and Illean.

"You're lucky the king is still letting us go tonight," Aaurie said as she pulled her dress on. Thom was sitting on her bed, dressed in black breeches and a dark green tunic with silver trim. He had combed back his dark red locks and looked rather dashing.

"I suppose so yeah," he laughed as Aaurie changed behind a screen. Aaurie walked out, the dress pulled over her chest, baring her shoulders and back. "Uh," Thom stuttered unsure what she was doing.

"Can you tie it for me? In the back?" She asked, turning for him. When he didn't take the strings she turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry, do you mind? Does it bother you, the whole skin thing? I assumed it would be the same as seeing another bloke- since, well, you don't fancy girls and all." Aaurie stammered. Thom starred at her for a moment.

"Yeah, no, it's fine, sorry. Turn back around," Thom said, trying not to sound as flustered as he was. He quickly laced up the back of her gown, helping her adjust the neckline.

Thom smiled as she turned around. Aaurie stepped back and pulled the ribbon out of her hair, raking her fingers through to shake it out. Thom watched in awe as soft red curls fell down her shoulders and back. He picked up on of the tendril and ran it through his fingers.

"I didn't know your hair was this long," he said quietly. Aaurie looked up at him and grinned.

"That's because I keep it up all the time don't I? Come on, we'll be late!"

Aaurie wasn't nervous until the moment that the doors opened and Thom led her into the room. The room was filled with dancing lords and ladies. Many of the other pages were talking along the wall with squires and knights, some dared to talk to the court ladies and looked pleased with themselves.

"Look, there's Lord Raoul- let's go over," before Aaurie could protest Thom was pulling her towards the towering knight.

Raoul looked up and smiled as his godson approached.

"Hello then Thom, good to see you still in one piece after last night," Raoul greeted. Aaurie flinched, remembering the embarrassment of the night before.

"Don't worry, people forget things rather quickly dear, most of the female warriors go through the line up of insults at some point," a short, tanned woman said from Raoul's side.

"This is Buri, my wife," Raoul introduced. Aaurie gave a polite nod of her head and smiled at the small woman whom she towered over.

"You look wonderful in that dress Aaurien; ever consider life at court instead? You could be a real court beauty," Buri said kindly. Aaurie laughed, shaking her head.

"Lord Wyldon and the lads tried teaching me all that dancing and what not- but they were horrible at it and so was I. I rather prefer trudging around with the lads," Aaurie explained. Buri smiled, liking the girl.

"Raoul!" Two tall, obviously related men made their way over, grinning.

"Domitian of Masbole and Nealan of Queenscove," Thom whispered in her ear. Aaurie nodded.

"Where have you been hiding then? Ah, hogging the beautiful young ladies then?" Dom grinned looking to Aaurie. He bowed to her, taking her hand and kissing it. Aaurie raised an eyebrow and let a small smile cross her lips.

"Milord Wyldon warned me about you Master Domitian. He said you were a notorious flirt, and would likely only stop when you finally realized you like Lady Keladry- like everyone else has." Dom smiled, his eyes searching. Realization struck him and he grinned wide.

"You're the little lass Wyldon's taken on then? When we were at the fort last week its all he and the men were talking about, I have never seen so many men clucking around like mother hens before," Dom laughed.

"Yes, well, it was my brothers' cheek they admired; it took them a while to figure out what to do with me. Most of them weren't used to little girls running around," Aaurie explained. Dom flashed her a dazzling smile. He could see why the men had been so enamored of her, she would have been a charming child and was even more charming a young woman.

"Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. Wyldon and the men send their regards. They asked me to relay to them how you looked in the dress they sent, and rest assured I will send back word that you looked simply beautiful," Dom grinned. Thom snorted at the older man's flirtations.

"They'd not believe you milord, I am not known for being taken with dresses." Dom opened his mouth to say something else but Raoul stopped him.

"Enough Dom, stop flirting with the poor girl. Neal, it's good to see you," Raoul said, turning to the darker hair young man. Neal smiled, his hair falling into his eyes haphazardly.

"Dom forced me to come," Neal explained. "How have you been Thom, heard about your tussle last night." Thom shrugged.

"I've been alright. ha Minch has been drilling us rather hard lately, getting us ready for the winter trip." Neal nodded, noting that Thom had intentionally left out mention of the fight the night before.

"How are you finding it here then? I'm told you were able to skip the first three years, because of your training with the Stu- Wyldon," Neal corrected himself. Aaurie nodded.

"I'm glad to be here. Thom certainly helps make it bearable, Scanrans aren't exactly welcome in most places in Tortal, I can't really leave the grounds. The training and the classes though are enjoyable," Aaurie said thoughtfully.

"Your common is almost perfect, did it take you long to learn?" Neal asked, noting the slight accent in her voice. Aaurie nodded.

"It took nearly a year- but I learned faster than my brothers, poor things. Milord forbid us from speaking Scanran until we had the accent right in common," Aaurie said a bit slower, this time speaking with no accent.

Music started playing and Thom grinned looking at Aaurie.

"Shall we go put on display our awful dancing?" He asked, offering his arm. Aaurie laughed, taking it and nodding to the group, allowing Thom to lead her out to the dance floor.

"Is Thom courting her then? He seems rather enamored," Neal commented. He had know Thom for a while, having spent a lot of time at Pirate's Swoop as a squire to Alanna.

"I don't believe so, if the rumors that are circulating are true, Thom has decided he rather fancies men," Raoul said quietly, keeping it within their small group. Neal frowned.

"Oh."

Thom laughed, twirling Aaurie ridiculously. She laughed too, taking his hand and letting him lead her as they danced. Other couples were laughing and giggling as they stepped on each others feet or made ridiculous movements. The light hearted song ended and a more traditional, slow song was picked up by the players.

A tap on his shoulder made Thom look up. Owen of Jesslaw stood behind him.

"Mind if I borrow the lady for the next dance?" Owen asked politely. Thom looked to Aaurie who gave him a slight 'why not' look and nodded to Owen, stepping away.

"I'm Owen, of Jesslaw."

"Aaurien."

Owen gently took Aaurie's hand in his own, placing the other at her waist. Aaurie put her free hand on his shoulder, remembering the steps she had been taught by one of the men from the fort.

"I'm afraid I am really not that good at this," Aaurie laughed, making a misstep. Owen laughed.

"That's alright, I find it quite jolly fun anyway!" Aaurie smiled and laughed when he stepped on her foot. "Sorry, perhaps I am not so good at this either!"

"It could be worse I suppose," Aaurie smiled politely.

"Really, how do you suppose?" Owen questioned.

"Everyone could be watching us," Aaurie replied. Owen nodded.

"True."

"How is Wyldon? I served as his squire; I haven't had a chance to see him since I was knighted," Owen asked.

"He was well when I last saw him. He's been a bit more light hearted since he began teaching my brothers to work with the dogs- I think he rather missed you," Aaurie replied.

"He was a good knight master, I don't think I would have made it without him, probably would have gotten my head bashed in," Owen sighed.

"I quite often feel the same, I have no idea where I'd be were it not for him," Aaurie replied quietly. Owen looked down at her.

"Well aren't we a jolly pair! Being all mournful when we should be happily stepping on each other's feet!" Aaurie laughed.

"You are a very interesting person milord," Aaurie said as the song ended. Owen grinned at her.

"And is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"Good I think," Aaurie laughed. Owen nodded.

"Well, I shall let you get back to you beau," Owen said with a small frown that Aaurie didn't notice.

"Oh- he's not, I mean we're friends is all. I don't think he could see me that way," Aaurie said shaking her head. Owen smiled, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Well, then I suppose I shall see you around the palace," Owen gave her a final bow before making his way through the crowd to find Neal.

---

"She's fantastic Neal- I mean really. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. And smart and funny," Owen raved.

"She came with Thom though," Neal noted.

"Yes but they aren't a couple- just friends," Owen said absent mindedly.

"I don't think so- she might think so, but I am not sure Thom would agree." Owen looked up.

"What do you mean?" Owen asked, looking towards the dance floor where Thom and Aaurie were laughing together.

"The way he looks at her, she may not see it but he likes her," Neal explained, watching the pair. Owen frowned.

"I don't think so."

---

"May I dance with the lady?" Thom sighed, stepping aside again for another man to take a turn dancing with Aaurie. Garvey of Runnerspring placed both hands on Aaurie's waist, surprising her slightly.

Unsure, she placed her hands lightly on his shoulders, moving with him as he led the dance she didn't know. Aaurie swallowed, thinking he was standing a bit too close, but assumed he wasn't paying attention.

"So, you are Scanran then?" Garvey asked into her ear. Aaurie shifted slightly before nodding. "I haven't seen a Scanran with such a wonderfully enticing body in such a long while. I think no other Scanran whore is your equal. What say you come back to my rooms with me? I have a full purse to offer for your- exertions." Garvey grinned against her ear.

Aaurie pushed herself out of his arms, holding her dress away from her feet as she ran through the crowd.

"Aaurie! Wait, what's wrong," Thom called, catching up to her outside in the courtyard. Aaurie was panting slightly, her chest heavy, pressing her breasts again the hemline of her dress.

"It's as if that's all I am to any of them. I'm not a page, I'm some whore. Some Scanran whore." Aaurie said as tears fell down her face.

"What did he say to you? What did he do?" Thom asked, his voice rising with anger.

"Nothing, he just, he made a few lewd comments- asked me to come back to his rooms," Aaurie said quietly. Thom wrapped his arm around her, as she shivered in the cold autumn air.

"They are just afraid of female knights. People want to believe that my mum and Keladry were flukes. It doesn't help that you are beautiful- it makes it easier for them to say you aren't fit to be a knight," Thom offered. Aaurie snorted.

"Why do people keep saying that? I'm not." Thom looked at her confused.

"Not what?" He asked.

"Beautiful. I'm too tall, too pale- I've freckles. My, my chest is all off from the rest of me, and my hair- well its not exactly Thayet's ebony mane is it?"

Thom laughed.

"Aaurie, Thayet is beautiful but she is not the only measure of beauty in Tortal. You'll find that many men would find you just as desirable, just as beautiful," Thom explained.

"I'm not sure that's better than just assuming I'm unattractive," Aaurie whispered.

"Probably not, but it's true." Aaurie sighed, putting her head on his shoulder.

"I just want to be a knight, Thom," Aaurie said quietly.

"Me too Aaurie."