Honorable reviewer mentions: Danielle of Ebony Creek, Aria657, x-LinaNumairsri-x. Sorry if this took to long to update. I went through a terrible break-up and had no heart to write. Enjoy it though. I still believe it is good ^^

The pealing of bells awoke Selene. She stirred groggily from under her covers and was a bit confused at first as to where she was. Then realization came over her and she shoved her head under her pillow. The night had been long as she had been too nervous to sleep. She knew today a lot of the boys would be nasty and vile to her. Most likely they would shout out insults, push her around and during training: who knows what they would do?

Still, laying in bed and whining about it wouldn't help her reputation. She flung the covers off and swung her feet over the edge of the bed to rest on the threadbare carpet. Just one week ago she had woken up to the voices of the matrons in charge of the dorms in the convent. Selene couldn't stop the rush of memories that came to her again.

She stood in the middle of the dormitory as smoke and flames engulfed everything around her. Overhead, the fire was slowing eating away at the support beams for the roof. Why couldn't she stop the fire? Why did she still hear screams when there was no one besides her? Wait, there was someone behind her…

Shuddering violently. Selene jumped up and ran to the washbasin. She looked in mirror. Her looks hadn't changed over night. Nor had they changed in the past week. She had to admit, she looked nothing like a future knight, not even a simple page. Do I really belong here? Of course, she thought. This is where I belong.

Selene pulled on her scarlet and gold tunic along with comfortable leather shoes. Once again she looked in the mirror. Seeing herself in the fine clothes with the royal colors filled her with a sense of pride. Yes, she was confident this was her place.

Outside in the hallway, Selene joined up with Leo and Robyn, the latter looking as if he had been hit by a charging horse. Leo, on the other hand, was disgustingly happy, Selene thought. Much too happy for the morning. Leo grinned and waved at Selene as he spotted her.

"Selene over here! Come on, we're waiting for you! I can show you the way to the dining hall! And then - Ow!" Leo was cut off by a sharp rap to the head by a school-book-wielding Robyn.

"Please, please, Leo, no racket this morning. Let's just get through this day with a minimal amount of your usual stupid antics."

"What antics?" Leo cried. "I don't hit people with - OW!" Another sharp rap from Robyn's schoolbook silenced Leo. With puppy dog eyes he shuffled over to Selene and hugged her arm.

"Come on Selene we don't need to keep the prince of Tortall company if he insists on abusing us."

Selene tugged her arm back rather hurriedly and gave Leo a dark glare. Leo was unaccustomed to this sort of behavior.

"Is something wrong Selene? I'm so sorry if I did anything inappropriate." his pleading tone and full-blown honesty made it hard for her not to accept his apology.

"Its fine, Leo" she sighed. She wasn't at all good at reassuring people. "Just don't try any of that on me again." Her stomach growled and twisted with hunger. Selene realized she had barely eaten anything at all last night.

"Come on, are we going to stand here all day or what? I could eat a horse." Selene turned to leave, paused, then turned to Robyn. "Wait, where is the dining hall?"

Robyn grumbled something that sounded like "Follow me," although she couldn't be sure. As they made their way down the hallway, they passed another group of boys going to breakfast. When she came closer they spotted her and stopped short.

"Whoa, who is this small little girl, surely…." the speaker was another page, obviously in his last year as one, judging from his age. He had golden-brown hair, a very beautiful vibrant shade and he had a good looking, tanned face with clean cut features and the beginning of wisdom hair on his chin. He fell silent as he noticed Robyn and bowed low.

"Your Highness," the rest of the group followed suit.

"Oh finally someone recognizes me," Robyn muttered. Without another word, he pulled Selene and Leo down the hallway leaving behind the puzzled group of boys. Selene was a bit confused. Why did that boy recognize Robyn and Alden hadn't? Surely if you were going to pick on someone you should know your victim. Selene debated whether or not to ask Robyn, who , by the looks of it, was still trying to wake up.

Whatever, she thought. Maybe this will get his head going.

"Hey Robyn," Robyn grunted a little. Selene scowled. She did not like to be brushed off like that, by prince, blacksmith or pig she was not to be ignored. She grabbed his textbook and rapped him on his head. Robyn yelped, as Leo tried to suppress a grin..

"If you think you can just answer me like that then your sadly mistaken, your Highness," she said the honorific in a mocking tone. "At least have the common decency to acknowledge your friends!"

This woke Robyn up. Usually people were not so blunt with him, nor so harsh. I think I'm really starting to like this girl, Robyn thought. This could be a very good friendship…. Another hit from Selene broke him from his daze.

"I think his Highness needs to be dunked in some cold water on this fine morning, wouldn't you agree Leo?" Leo bobbed his head excitedly, wearing a huge smile on his sweet face. Selene scowled again.

"You remind me of a puppy dog," Leo pouted and started to say something while Selene turned to Robyn. "So why didn't Alden recognize you last night? Surely if he was going to start something he wouldn't have done it if the prince was there."

"Well I was mostly raised outside the capital," Robyn began. He motioned for the other two to follow him to the dining hall.

"What like a hut in the forest?" Selene couldn't resist teasing him a little.

"Very funny, but no. When I was little I was very ill most of the time and for the first three years I was mostly kept in the royal apartments. Rumors had floated around in court that I was dead or that I was deformed. The healers here suggested I be brought to cleaner, fresher air and to an area where it wasn't so crowded. My parents had tried every other option to improve my health but nothing worked." Here, the trio descended the staircase onto the main level and proceeded down the hall toward the large double doors of the dining hall. Laughter and conversation floated out towards them.

All male voices, Selene noticed. This was going to be interesting. They entered the hall and a few eyes caught the first year pages attempting to move towards the food without drawing any attention. A girl page, however, did not normally escape notice in a male dominated society. A hush fell over the hall as more and more pages and squires noticed her. Then came the whisperings.

Selene walked indifferently over to the buffet and slammed down a plate and cutlery onto her tray. Let them stare, she thought. Let them see the face of the new lady knight. Leo and Robyn too, attracted attention.

Robyn was the son of the king, so obviously most would be interested in that as its not everyday a prince of the realm tries for his shield. Leo, as sweet and innocent as he appeared, also attracted attention, as he was the son of the famed Alanna the Lioness, first lady knight in a hundred years.

Selene grinned with a small satisfaction, knowing together, they made up an unlikely mixed group, but they were sure to kick some ass if someone messed with them.

They made their way over to a table and sat down. Selene noticed no one else was eating and the staring was really starting to tick her off. Hadn't they ever seen a girl before? Suddenly, all the boys stood up bowed low. Selene quickly followed suit, just to see the king and the training master enter the dining hall and sit at the raised dais on the other end. King Jonathan smiled, small crinkles appearing at the corners of his laughing blue eyes, and motioned for the pages and squires to sit.

At once, everyone started to eat and the buzz of conversation returned, with many stares and pointing fingers aimed at the trio, but especially Selene. She wondered which of those assholes was going to be the next to try and run her out. She turned to Robyn and asked him to finish his explanation.

"Oh yeah," he said as he wiped porridge from his mouth. Leo was chugging down a glass of orange juice but was looking at Robyn to finish as well. "So the healers suggested I go live in the Coastal Hills, on a small royal estate. There I remained, sick but slowly regaining my health. Often I'd get worse but since I was eight I got better to ride and train. Sadly I stayed there for two more years, for fear of me getting worse." He sighed. "But here I am healthy as a horse."

Selene was very tempted to kick him and see if he was as healthy as he claimed, but knew it would do no good to hurt her new friend and prince.

"Hey Selene," Leo caught her attention. "You're twelve right?" Selene nodded. "So why didn't you come to the palace last year? Most pages start at age elevn."

"I didn't have a say as to where I would go," Selene started. This was going to be hard to explain." My mother sent me to the convent to become a lady but I hated every moment of it. Then….an accident happened and they wouldn't keep me there." Selene had faltered for a bit. No, she couldn't' explain all the way. "I was glad though, to come here. No more lady crap anymore."

Any further questions Leo and Robyn had were cut off by a bell signaling the beginning of morning lessons, and they sure had a lot for her. All three grabbed their book satchels and hurried out the door before one squire decided to make one of them run errands.

"Come on Selene, we have Writing and Reading first!" Leo exclaimed. He skipped through a patch of sunlight and the light fell on his vibrant red hair, making it look as if his head was on fire. Selene liked it though. She liked it very much. She couldn't wait to start her lessons, no matter how boring they were.

And now a quick message from our beloved characters:

Leo: Hi everyone! I'm Leo! We're so glad you're reading this story and we really hope you enjoy it! By now you know I'm Alanna's son but I'm the complete opposite of her.

Robyn: Yeah, she's not as much as a pest as you are.

Leo: Wahh, Selene, Robyn is being mean.

Selene: GET OFF OF ME!

Leo: Ahh! Does no one like me?

-Silence-

Leo: -cry-

Selene: Thanks a lot Leo we ran out of time! Ok, yea yea we're going to kick but in the next chapter as we head out onto the training courts - Wait. Why am I telling you this! You should read it yourself! I'm out of here