A/N Two new chapters in the same week! And now I will probably disappear again for a while.

This one takes place immediately after the final battle in Lioness Rampant.

George half-supported half-carried Alanna as they made their way up to the infirmary to check on Myles and Raoul. Before she could protest that she was not there as a patient, one of Duke Baird's assistants escorted her to a cot and bandaged her wounds.

"Rest," George urged her when she would have gotten up. "The danger is passed, thanks to you. There's no need for you to keep stumblin' around half-dead. Sleep, and I'll be here when you wake."

Alanna found that she was too tired to argue.

"Alright. I'll rest, but you should go and get the others home safely. I'll be fine."

"As my hero commands," George replied with a wink and bow and left her to her nap.

She woke several hours later and saw that there were still men waiting to be treated, and the palace healers looked exhausted. She prodded at her power reserves and, deciding she had enough for light work, joined the effort.

That's how Jonathan found her an hour later. He gave her a tired smile before making the rounds of the room, thanking everyone in turn for their bravery in the fight or their service to the wounded. Finally, he made his way back to her. "This feels familiar," he observed, "finding you healing when you should be resting."

"I had a rest, but they needed more healers...and it helps to stay busy."

Jonathan nodded. "I hate to ask you this, but I have another task for you. Will you stay to help ensure my security tonight...in case someone tries to finish what they started?"

Alanna bought herself a moment to think by wiping her hands on a towel before finally responding in a hushed tone, "Jon- it's not in me to refuse you, but I'm exhausted. I don't even have a sword, and I've just used up the last reserves of my gift. I'm not sure I could protect you from a determined three-year-old much less an assassin."

He responded just as quietly, "I know, but I-"

He faltered, and she saw the real pleading in his eyes.

"Of course, Sire. I serve at your pleasure," she agreed back at a normal volume.

He smiled gratefully. "Help yourself to whatever you want from the armory. Meet me at my chambers at sundown."

She bowed and left in search of a quick meal. Afterward, she surveyed the armory and noticed a blade she had often practiced with as a squire when she wasn't using Lightning. It wasn't a knight's blade, but it was sharp enough and comfortable in her hand. She also pulled a bedroll from a nearby supply room - she would serve Jonathan honorably, but another all-nighter was not within her current ability.

She then headed towards her old room connected to Jonathan's before realizing he wouldn't be there. He would have taken over his father's quarters by now. She changed direction with a tug of nostalgia that she quickly buried - feeling anything too deeply now would open the flood gates, and she wasn't ready for that.

Jonathan was already in his nightclothes when she arrived. He ushered her into his chambers and closed the door. She set down the bedroll and started working on the ties as she asked, "Are you still expecting trouble? I thought with Roger gone-"

"I'm not expecting trouble," he interrupted, coming over to stay her hands on the ties. "That was just an excuse for eavesdroppers. Forgive me. I know you've experienced so much loss today, and I'm selfish to keep you, but the thought of being alone tonight was unbearable, and I didn't know who else to ask."

The facade of strength and control that he had been holding to all day faded, and Alanna couldn't keep from examining the white hairs that had been deep brown only that morning.

"I'd be hurt if you asked anyone else."

He gestured haltingly toward the bed. "Would you come to bed with me? Not like that, but just, to sleep?"

Alanna nodded, realizing she wanted his comforting presence just as much as he seemed to want hers.

She traded the ceremonial finery she had still been wearing for one of his nightshirts, and they climbed into bed.

They lay together silently for a moment before Jonathan said quietly, "Tell me about the Dragon."

"Liam was so strong and so fast. I never stopped being in awe of his abilities, even just watching him train. Buri actually had a crossbow aimed at him when we first encountered them, and he disarmed her as if it was nothing. He was a great teacher too. I know I wouldn't have defeated Alex without what he taught me."

"How did you come to be with him?"

"We were at the same inn, and he, um, flirted with me. He bought me a drink and gave me a pet name as if I was just some pretty girl who caught his fancy. It was so normal and yet so foreign to me. I was more flattered by the attention than I care to admit.

"What was the pet name?"

"Kitten," Alanna said sheepishly.

Jonathan laughed. "I'm sure the Shang Dragon is the only one in the world who could get away with calling you that."

"Indeed. He got me out of a couple of scrapes and won Coram's grudging respect, which is no small feat. Then he offered to join us on our quest, and he kept up the flirting. I didn't refuse him on either count.

"And then what happened?"

"We enjoyed each other's company for a while until he broke it off. He was never quite comfortable with my gift, and when I used a bit of it to stop him from coming after me when I went for the Jewel, he no longer desired me in that way."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. It was never serious." Alanna snorted a laugh. "He told me I would thank him when I was queen."

"Are you sure you don't want it?" Jonathan asked softly.

"Jon, don't-"

"I know. I know. I've just missed this. Missed you."

"I've missed you too," she said quietly.

After a long moment, Jonathan groaned abruptly. "I just realized that two of my former lovers were trying to kill us while two of your former lovers were fighting to protect us. Present company excepted, you clearly have the better taste in romantic partners."

"It's true," Alanna agreed. "That's why I took it upon myself to deliver you a beautiful princess who would make an excellent queen and who I'm relatively certain will never try to kill us. Try not to mess things up with her?"

Jonathan laughed. "Trust me, I will do everything in my power not to. And I was starting to root for you to be with George, but perhaps instead I should commission you to flirt me up a few more defenders."

Alanna hit him with her pillow.

After a brief playful tussle with the bedding, they both grew silent.

"Alanna, I am truly sorry about Liam, and Thom, and Faithful. If there's anything I can do, you know you have only to name it."

Alanna nodded as her eyes filled, but she managed to push the tears back before they fell.

"What about you? You were betrayed by the people you should have been able to depend on, and you dealt with forces I can't begin to understand. Do you want to talk about it?"

He thought for a long moment before answering her. "The whole time it was happening, a part of me kept hoping that I was back in the chamber of the ordeal, because how could reality be so much worse than the ordeal I had left only that morning?"

"I was arguing with the land and commanding it to obey me, and I had to believe that the land itself would follow my orders, despite the absurdity. Meanwhile, men were dying to defend me, and I had to ignore them. I could see you, somehow, but I couldn't do anything to help you either as you fought your way to Roger."

"I hated running away from you, Jon. I didn't have a choice, but a part of me felt like I was deserting my place at your side."

"You were with me, or at least your gift was. I know that was Si-Cham's doing, but your power brought something of you with it, and it made me feel like I wasn't alone in what was otherwise the most desperately lonely moment of my life. I wouldn't have been able to hold the land for so long without it."

"The betrayal...stings," he continued. "But I've known Roger for who he truly is ever since you exposed him two years ago, and Alex and I haven't been close for a long time. Honestly, I'm more gratified by the number of people who stayed to defend me than I am hurt by the betrayals."

She squeezed his hand. "It's all horrible. But we did it. We saved Tortall, and now no one can question your fitness to rule."

"Or yours to hold a knight's shield and be my champion."

He looked into her eyes, "Will you allow me just one moment of indulgence?"

He leaned in slowly and pressed his lips to hers. They both savored the kiss, knowing it would be their last.

"Goodnight, Alanna," he said as he pulled away. "Thank you for being here with me."

With that, he blew out the candles and pulled the covers up over them.

Several hours later, Alanna woke in the dark room. Her muscles ached with the previous day's overexertion. She started to reach a hand out to feel for Faithful. Petting the cat was usually a source of comfort, but then she remembered that her familiar was gone. Memories began crashing into her all at once. Thom's dying words, Liam's lifeless form on the altar, the crunch of Alex's nose as she dealt him the death blow, and so many dead and wounded.

This time, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Soon her weeping turned into wracking, full-body sobs. As she surrendered to the grief, she felt strong arms wrap around her. Soon the sound of Jonathan's sobbing joined her own. She turned to face him and they held each other and cried until they had no tears left and sleep overtook them once again.

The next morning Alanna woke to see Jonathan already up and dressing. "Doesn't saving the kingdom on the day of your coronation buy you at least one morning to sleep in?" Alanna asked groggily.

"I wish, but I can't waste any time in getting ahead of the gossip and quelling people's fears. My subjects need to see me strong and in command, or they'll invent reasons to question my rule again."

"Oh. Can I help?" Alanna offered grudgingly.

"No, at least you can get the rest you've earned. But we are going to make great proclamations of your heroics. Tales about the king's loyal champion traveling to the Roof of the World to acquire the Dominion Jewel in the nick of time and then vanquishing the evil sorcerer can only be good for us."

"Will these tales include the words 'awesome artifact?'"

Jonathan grinned wickedly. "For a certainty."

Alanna just shook her head.

"Thank you again, Alanna, for everything." He said as he put on his boots.

"Of course, my prin- wait, that was your coronation. You're not 'my prince' anymore."

She got out of the bed and knelt before him. She bowed her head deferentially, then looked up and met his eyes. "It is an honor to serve you, my king, till death and after."

Her look of solemn dignity turned to one of confusion as Jonathan appeared to be fighting back laughter.

"Forgive me," he said as he raised her to her feet. "It's just so incongruous to hear you make such a formal declaration while you're wearing my too-large nightshirt and your hair is mussed from sleep."

Alanna looked over at herself in a nearby mirror and joined in his mirth. Indeed, her hair was sticking out every which way and the shirt hung lopsided on her small frame. "That's how you know it's authentic."

Still smiling warmly, Jonathan took a knee and pressed both of her hands to his mouth. "Til death and beyond it, my champion," he pledged.

With that, he stood, donned his cloak, and left the room.