SQUIRES.

Alanna the Lioness of Tortall glared at her King as he offered her
fruit. "You realise that I still hate you, you know."
"Of course my dear, now smile." Alanna grinned and accepted a few grapes. Jonathan frowned; it wasn't like Alanna to eat much during normal meals let alone in between. "I know, it's just that recently I have been hungry all the time, I don't know why…" Jon nodded and knew better than to air his suspicions. If Alanna wished not to mention what kind of disease she could have that was fine with him. He stood up and commanded silence, it was time for the "small gathering" to start. Beside him Alanna accepted some more food.

Kel turned to the King as he began to make his opening speech. "That will be the worst part of being King." Roald murmured in her ear. She had to agree. Even the knight on the King's right looked bored out of his wits. "And now we will have the official choosing of squires. As I say a knight's name, please stand up and claim who you wish to be your squire. Any objections please say so. My Lord may you please read out the names." King Jonathan finished and sat down.
Kel's heart fluttered, knights concerning the service of them had approached some squires, Keladry hadn't had anyone approach her. A wind blew through the hall and Kel was more than shocked to see that, on the King's right side the knight-who-was-more-than-bored's shirt had blown into his chest and revealed that he was a she! The lady knight turned to glare at the King who had murmured something in her ear. He grinned and then she. They're friends Kel realised and ignored the funny feeling that she had seen the woman before. How could she have seen her if the Lioness hadn't been at court for four years? Kel then turned her attention back to Lord Wyldon.
"Sir Lady Alanna of Pirates' Swoop and Olau." The woman who Kel had been staring at rouse and cleared her throat. "I would like the service of either of two squires: Keladry of Mindelan or Nealan of Queenscove." She glared at the King, as if daring him to intervene. "I have an objection." Lord Wyldon announced. "It is wrong for the Lady Knight to take the Lady Squire in her service. I think you'll find that many nobles will agree with me. Rumours will claim that Lady Alanna would help Keladry using magic, or by unnatural means." Both Alanna and Raoul put their hands to their sword-hilts. After a meaningful glare from Jonathan they stopped and Raoul announced, "Fine then. I'll take Keladry and Alanna can take Neal. The King stood and declared, "That's fine. Queenscove, go to Lady Alanna, Mindelan, Sir Raoul. Neal instantly started to pray. "What is it Neal?" Kel murmured. "I am at the mercy of the Lioness. She's gonna beat me smart." Neal went to the Lioness. Kel walked in the direction of Lord Raoul. After a brief conversation she began to get very bored. "I hate all this formal things, unless you have an objection I would appreciate it if we could leave." Kel nodded, surprised at this and then she caught Raoul's eye and realised he planned to have fun and get into mischief. She followed him out of the room. To Kel's surprise King Jonathan and Neal's knight-master went with them.

Neal watched Kel. She seemed to not be too angry with him for having her hero as a knight-master and Neal was silently dreading the long months he would spend with the grumpiest person he had ever met at his side. The Scanrans were attacking in the north and of course the Lioness had to be there, therefore him. She was discussing the selections and recent homework to the pages. He had to interrupt "Uh, Kel? I don't want to be rude or anything but these moments may be the last of my sane life and I wish to use them." Kel got the hint and hushed her voice as Neal read. He sighed, Alanna was one of the best knights and that meant that she trained more than everyone else, and probably expected him to do the same. Ah, if only a nice book-knight had chosen him! Alanna also wanted to visit her daughter Sophia and her old friend, Coram. He'd probably have to be nice to them. Dam all things Lioness!

The next day Neal woke up earlier than usual to find the lady knight going through drills in both sword and Shang. Neal was filled with dread, she would probably expect him to do the same! Alanna's well-trained ears picked up Neal's groan and she spun, sword unsheathed. Upon seeing him the delicately shaped mouth formed a smile and the Lioness put down her sword. "Nice reflexes" Neal muttered as Alanna laughed. She had a full throaty laugh and he realised that it was because of her many years spent acting as a boy that Alanna's voice had slightly masculine tones to it. "I didn't know you trained before dawn." Neal stated. (Please don't make me do it!) he silently prayed. The lioness' grin was catching, "I had to, to be able to keep up with the boys. Did I wake you?"
"Oh, no my lady. I just wake up before that crack of dawn for fun these days!" Neal said sarcastically.
She grinned. "You don't have to joke with me Neal. I'm going to make a proper knight out of you yet!"
"My worst nightmare has finally come. Oh well, better now than later."
Alanna laughed. "Remember Neal, no getting on my nerves in the mornings. Or I might get the urge to make you drill in one move for the next few hours." Neal immediately shut up. "I have to go speak with someone now. Get yourself ready and put my bags on the pack horse." She gestured to a few saddlebags on the floor. "Of course Lioness." Alanna turned to leave and Neal began thinking wether he could fit a book in his bags when she turned around and added, "remember Neal, no books, we're going to fight, not teach the Scanrans philosophy." Cursing his knight-master Neal scrapped that thought.

Alanna grinned at the sapphire blue eyes, which were radiating "See, you could trust me" vibes. She laughed and stated: "Thank you for not preventing my taking Keladry, Jonathan. But no thank-yous for not preventing Lord Wyldon!" Jon started and Alanna continued, "I know, you tried. Oh well, at least I'll see her in the north. I guess I owe you one for battling my Lord Wyldon for my being able to contact Ali."
"No, my Alanna, you don't. Think of it as a pay back that I have inflicted upon myself for putting Keladry on probation and banning you."
"I will think of it so. And…Jon?"
"Yes my dear, what is it?"

Jonathan had immediately recognised the pleading in his champion's voice and new she had something important to say, " Yes my dear, what is it?" Alanna was looking down and he gently cupped her face with his hand in the pre-dawn light and lifted her head to make her face him. "I…um. I just want to say that I'll miss you and when I get back we've got to try and catch up on the four years that have been taken away."
"Of course we will, my Lioness. And rest assured that I will miss you from the bottom of my heart. Now, I expect that your squire is waiting for you."
A/N: Ok, people, please review this or I won't put any more chapters up! Yes, that is a threat, I need to know what U guys think! Why is Alanna acting strange? What weird stuff will happen to poor Neal? Someone asked if it will b an Alanna and Jon fic. Not sure. In my plan it is but that is in a long time coming and I might change it. what do ya think?
neway, please enjoy and review,
Niki.