Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tamora Pierce. I do not own the lyrics.
Set during Lioness Rampant.
You held your head like a hero
On a history book page
It was the end of a decade
But the start of an age
-by Taylor Swift
Raoul watched his small friend from across the deck. He felt a twinge of sympathy for her as she leaned her entire body against the ship's railing, pale as a ghost. He once again thanked the gods that he was not prone to sea sickness.
He knew that their small crew of reckless friends had grown up and changed. Jonathan was on the cusp of kinghood and Gary was practically the acting prime minister. However, it was the short, stocky adventurer currently heaving with a vengeance that had taken the world by storm. At the moment, her sorry state did a poor job of representing exactly what she had become.
The large knight wasn't quite sure what he had expected to find if and when he found his friend. Surely he hadn't believed that he would stumble across Alan, the prince's bold and fiery squire, but he hadn't quite anticipated this.
This was not Alan. Alan had come to the palace disguised as a boy, with the sole intention of winning her shield. Yes, Alan had won the unwavering loyalty of the Crown Prince and the King of Thieves. Alan had fought demons and bested a full grown knight as a mere squire. However, this was someone completely different. This was the Lioness.
For only she would return from a year of adventuring an adopted member of the Bazhir, complete with a name of Woman Who Rides Like A Man. Only she would keep the casual company of the Shang Dragon, a Kmiri tribeswoman, and a beautiful princess. Only she would return bearing the fruit of fables, the Dominion Jewel, for the glory of Tortall.
The greatest thing about it all was that she didn't even know it. Alanna didn't know that she was the type of person who could inspire such respect and loyalty in such magnificent people. Sometimes Raoul would search restlessly for a sign of the young page who stood face to face with Ralon of Malven in clothes far too large and spoke fighting words far too bold. Most days he couldn't even catch a glimpse.
He shook himself from his thoughts as the Lioness herself came staggering over to him, looking for all the world like a forlorn human being after a rough night of drinking. She braced herself against the railing of the ship next to him and rasped out a greeting.
"Mithros, I know this is urgent, but next time I'll swim."
Raoul smiled at the irony of little Page Alan talking about swimming voluntarily. Alanna sank to the deck and sat with her legs splayed out in front of her. He looked down at her, more down than normal, and laughed.
"You almost bit my head off once for trying to get you to swim with us."
She gave him her classic full-fledged smile, despite the fact that she must've been feeling awful.
"I used to just put something slimy in your bed to get back at you. Maybe I should get that out of my system before I get back to Tortall. Watch where you sleep, Goldenlake."
There was fire-top he knew. Maybe today wasn't most days.