A/N: I am incredibly sorry about how long this took. I had notes for this chapter (the one chapter I actually had planned from the start!) which I lost. I found them just before school started again. I've just gone into year 10 so I've had a load more homework, as well as some course work and I just haven't had time. Along with attending choir and having to go to after school ICT sessions. Again, I'm really sorry.

This is the last chapter of this fic (I'm very sad!) so I really hope you enjoy it. It's much longer than any of the other chapters (nearly three pages in word which is quite a lot for me!). I hope you like it and please leave a review.

Why can't you behave normally? – for everyone who has ever reviewed this fic.

"We're taking orders from a child?" asked a rather shocked Gary, "a child?"

"We are not taking orders from a child," replied Alanna, whose patience was beginning to wear rather thin. This was about the sixth time she'd had to explain it to him. She was actually beginning to think it was a bad idea telling him about the meeting. Well, actually no one had to told him, he'd just turned up. "We are taking suggestions Gary, no if you can't think of anything else to say please kindly shut up."

"On what basis has it been decided that we should follow these plans put together by a minor?" asked Gary, showing more intelligence than normal. Well, a great deal more intelligence than normal.

"Gary, shut up," snapped Thayet.

"So we're all set?" asked George quietly. It was the next day and they were having a last minute meeting. And to everyone's relief, Gary was not there – none of them could face explaining the plan to him again.

"Yes," replied Alanna, "I've got everything ready." A rather evil smile graced her face, one which you wouldn't expect to see on the face of Tortall's so called Champion.

"So, does everyone know what they're meant to be doing?" she asked, glancing around at the faces of the other members of the group. Both Thayet and Buri looked the picture of calm but Alanna knew that both of them wanted to do this as much as she did. Raoul looked quite eager, even though he only had a small part to play. Alanna reckoned he'd have a great time watching. And George, George had a rather unnerving glint in his eye. 'Well, what can you expect from the former King of Thieves?' she thought.

There were various nods of agreement and murmured yeses from the assembled group. Alanna grinned at them, excitement showing on her face and her eyes sparkling. "Lets go then!"

"Oh hello Alanna," said Jon as he entered his study. He hadn't expected to see her at all today; he'd thought she said she was going to be out riding all today. 'Ah well,' he thought, 'I wonder what she wants?'

Alanna rose from where she was sitting in front of Jon's desk, as did her companion. She curtsied deeply whilst the man with her bowed low. "Your Majesty," they both murmured.

"Your Majesty, this is my husband, Baron George of Pirate's Swoop. I do believe you have met before?" asked Alanna.

"An honour Your Majesty," George said to Jon, before turning to face Alanna and telling her "We have met before my Lady."

"Okay," muttered Jon to himself as he sat down behind his desk. He picked up some papers and scanned down them before looking back at Alanna and George. "Alanna, you are required to fight on the Scanran border as things are beginning to reach a head there."

"Fight Your Majesty!" exclaimed Alanna. "I am a lady, Your Majesty, my place is at home not on the battle field!" She paused then added humbly, "However if you wish me to fight I shall, Your Majesty knows best of course."

"Right," said Jon, unsettles by Alanna's sudden display of lack of nerve. "Now George, about your spies…" he began.

"Spies Your Majesty!" cried George before Jon could finish his sentence. "That is not how a war should be fought; war is for knights not spies. I am deeply insulted that you would suggest that I would be involved in such a scandal!"

"Maybe we should talk about this some other time," suggested Jon, a slightly unnerved look on his face. "On to the next matter then, there is a…" he began, before the second time in as many minutes he was cut off.

He heard a cry coming from the hall, and looked up sharply. Thayet burst into the room followed quickly by both Raoul and Buri.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" Thayet wailed loudly, hurting Jon's ear drums.

"My Queen," said a desperate Buri, "I do not think this is an appropriate way to be carrying yourself."

Thayet stoically ignored Buri, treating her as if she was nothing. "My Lord, please," she pleaded to Jon.

"What is it dear?" Jon asked, fairly concerned about his wife.

"Darling," she began, her voice several notes higher than normal. "The guard just told me I should change into shirt and breeches if I was planning on going out with the riders." She paused for a mere moment before carrying on with her tirade. "Please tell me I don't have to go dearest. I can't possibly wear breeches and shirt instead of a dress, it would be sinful. And horses are so dirty, so much mud! They also thought that I wouldn't ride side saddle, riding side saddle is the only way a lady can ride without being disgraced. The mere thought is preposterous!"

"Your Majesty," interrupted Raoul who looked incredibly sincere, "I do not think that you are conducting yourself in an appropriate manner."

"Please say I don't have to go Your Majesty!" begged Thayet, ignoring Raoul's comment.

Jon had had enough by this point. He snapped. "What has gotten into you lot today?" yelled Jon.

"I think it would be best if we left His Majesty," said Alanna, not answering his question.

"That maybe best Lady Alanna," replied a suddenly calm Thayet.

"I believe that would be best," agreed Alanna, as she rose and began to leave along with the others in the room.

"That was so much fun!" laughed Alanna as she strolled around the gardens with her fellow pranksters.

"I have to agree, that must have been one smart kid," said a grinning George.

"He was very upset about losing his teddy," replied Alanna softly. George laughed and squeezed her hand tight.

"Hello you lot," said Gary who had just come round a corner. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing Gary, nothing," replied Alanna, trying not to laugh.

"Did you prank Jon without me?" he demanded.

"No of course not," said Buri.

"You did didn't you? How could you? How could you?" Gary yelled.