Ch 1: so who is she?

"So who is she?"
Thom looked up from his maths work and asked vacantly "who?"
"The new lady who is coming to be introduced to court"
"What makes you think I'd know her?" Asked Thom mildly turning back to the problem he was working on
"Because" said Gary patiently "you heard it from the servants and grinned"
"So…?" asked Thom I grin all the time
"You know her," stated Raoul with finality, its obvious, "so who is she?"
"I still think you are all mad" said tom of handily "but I will humour you and give you a whole ten seconds to let me be so I can finish this be-dammed problem be for I seal your mouths shut"
"She's the one you have been writing to since you got here isn't she?" persisted Jon
"They were letters to family Jon" but Jon wasn't to be put of
"As your knight master and prince I demand you tell me all you know" Tom wasn't perturbed by this and simply said
"You're running out of time. Fast! All of you"
"Fine we'll leave it said Raoul but I still know you know something." Thom shrugged.
The next evening in the mess hall just as the squires and pages were sitting down to eat, there was a hubbub by the door and every one looked around sure enough there stood a maid who said timidly not liking being under all those eyes
"A lady here to eat with his majesty" king Rould nodded and the maid stepped back so as to allow another figure through the door guessing this must be the new lady at court all the boys turned to look and in sashayed a graceful petit red headed figure with beautiful copper waves of hair cascading down her back and draping over her petit shoulders, and past her slim waist to hand neatly just above her knees the woman walked forward with elegance and grace all eyes were on her and she knew it keeping her head respectfully bowed the lady curtsied deeply to the king and other lords at the high table in a whisper of silks a few stray locks of silky hair slipped down as she did so obscuring her small pail face as she stood again a maid ushered her to an empty place at the kings table but she stopped clasping her extremely pail hands as ivory white as the rest of her before her respectfully she said in a musical almost lilting voice
"Your majesty might I sit with the squires?" she gave no reason for this request but the king seemed to understand and smiled knowingly then inclined his head in the affirmative curtsying again the red head turned and headed down the centre isle of the tables her skirts veil and train billowed behind her as she moved and the delicate muslin and silk gown sewn in violate and white clung in all the right places and accented her lithe almost perfect figure her uniquely tiny feet made the only sound as each squire prayed that she would choose to sit by him, and with good reason for she was indeed a site to behold
"As beautiful as the Goddess her herself" stated many whisperers, but not only that there was something about this girl something that set her apart from the rest, she was unique in a way none of them could quite name under the gaze of the entire room she slipped into a conveniently empty seat beside Raoul and opposite Thom with Jon on her other side and Gary across from him she kept her head bowed still conscious of being under every ones eye and concentrated on her food finally the days activities caught up to the rest of the boys and they to tucked in heartily to their dinners realising this Alanna (as it was obviously her) looked up
"Well you have patience I grant you that much knight training has that at least to say for, it I thought they'd never look away." Thom grinned at her though the rest were still some what star struck by her
"Well you made an entrance he said and broke a few hearts while you're at it I'd say" here tom stopped to glance around the room but Alanna brushed the comment of with a shrug
"So how's convent life" Thom continued genially "have they turned you into the maiden to fit your appearance yet?" Alanna looked murderous and was about to voice her opinions on both the convent and the proper ladies they trained there when she remembered her surroundings and covered her mouth with her handkerchief to hide her thankfully silent curses "no I guess I couldn't expect miracles but you've improved a little I trust" Alanna simply scowled then said in a threatening tone
"Not a bit so watch your self Thomas (Thom winced as she used his full name) and I suggest you check your bed before you get into it tonight"
"Lanny darling" drawled Thom using his baby name for her in a sugary voice which would make any other maidens hart do flip-flops "you wouldn't! You know how I feel about frogs" and continued in a more normal tone "and besides u don't know where my room is"
"Thommy" said Alanna in an equally sugary tone "firstly honey, sweet talking me will get you no where" and then she to reverted to her usual melodic voice saying "and secondly your right I don't know where your room is and who said it would be a frog" Thom raised a single coppery eyebrow she'd agreed to blithely she was up to something and he knew it but before he had time to question her further Gary having shaken himself more awake asked
"Lady did u not bring an escort from the Temple Of The Goddess? Pardon me saying so but you seem awfully young to be riding to chorus alone" Alanna answered without turning her face to him indeed she had not shown her face all the time she'd been there but kept it down turned over her plate
"And Gareth?" she asked then noted his surprise and said "it could only be you Thom's letters are very descriptive you know" then continued with her question "how do you know I haven't brought an escort with me?
"Indeed you may have lady," said Gareth politely but most maids eat sleep and live by their lady's sides while they are at court
"Very observant" was the reply "well as it happens your observations are correct I haven't brought a maid with me from the Temple she was um…"here she paused and looked angelically innocent "…she was delayed and I must wait two days before a chaperone arrives to serve me here." Thom wasn't fooled by his twins' expression
"How was she detained exactly Alanna?" He asked sternly
"She was unable to accompany me Thom" Alanna replied still with a look of contrived innocence though it was clear she was fighting laughter
"Elaborate" ordered Thom ignoring the shocked looks he was getting for talking to this lady in that manor
"Well" Alanna said "she um fell from her pony only two rods away from the Temple so she didn't have far to go back" the statement was finished with bright cheeriness of some one who always looked on the bright side of an accident
"She just fell?" Demanded tom "all by her self"
"No silly" Alanna laughed "her pony helped!" There was stifled laughter from the rest around the table Thom smiled and said
"Just like I always 'just fell' from chubby when we rode together?" (He named the pony he had ridden to the castle)
"Exactly like" the lady agreed solemnly all the others within ear shot were covering their grins by now so Thom continued
"And you were left mercifully chaperone-less for two whole days till someone could be sent from the temple as a replacement?" Alanna nodded "convenient that" finished Thom dryly and Alanna became suddenly very interested in her food
"Well" she said brightly a moment later "it seems its time I left, where is the nearest indoor practise court tom?" She asked sweetly
"Oh no!" said tom flatly "you may be chaperone less but don't count on me for aiding and abetting Coram would have my head!"
"True true" mused the other "I'll just have to find out for my self, you see," she turned big honest eyes on Thom and said "As you know as a knight you cannot refuse aid to anyone be they rich or poor old or young and this applies to pages and squires as they are required to live up to the code of chivalry and do honner to the name of their monarchs and land" seeing the surprised faces around her she said calmly to no one in particular "the thing is they give you so much free time at the convent" then turned her direct purple gaze back on Thom "I am asking for aid in finding the practice courts Thom" she said coolly "and you cannot refuse me this information under the rules of the code of chivalry"
"She's got you their someone said" neither noticed who their eyes were as locked as their minds were in a furias battle of wills Thom looked away first and noticing his sisters triumphant and expectant look he said simply
"No!"
"Fine" she stated with the melodramatic air of a martyr having been grievously wronged but soldering on and knowing her cors was right "I" here her tone grew exaggeratedly petulant and drew grins from all around her audience "I will find it my self just to spite you" she sulked
"And she will too" Thom realised ruefully everyone who herd this exchange suddenly found in them selves a burning desire to practise their weapons that night. Standing Alanna returned her tray to the servers and left leaving a crowd of bemused love struck boys in her wake.
Checking the practice courts on their way back to their rooms Thom and the others indeed found Alanna standing patently in the centre of an empty one she smiled when she saw them and beckoned them in then as the door closed behind the last one in, purple gift flew at it and sealed it shut in answer to their questioning glances she said
"You wouldn't believe the stream of visitors I've had this way is easier. You took your sweet time by the way Thom," she stated
"My apologies I didn't know we were expected" Thom quipped in return with a sardonic bow "and you shouldn't be here any way people need this place to actually practice" in a dangerous ominously sweet voice his sister replied I may need to practice too"
"What? Dancing laughed Thom don't think that justifies monopolising this whole room" violate eyes flashing, though they were seen only by tom, the petit figure stepped forward
"Draw your sword and say that again," she challenged
"Alanna member I have had five years training to be a knight I am a squire now be sensible"
"Draw" was the firm reply
"Even if I did Thom said hand on sword hilt I couldn't fight you without you having a sword of your own" he said reasonably
"Let me worry about my affairs Thom of Trebond and you worry about your own" she bit out, her fiery temper was provoked and Thom new it "last chance" the snapped "draw" deciding to humour her Thom unsheathed his blade and was astonished to see his sister smoothly unsheathe a hidden double edged jewel encrusted sword (lightning) from somewhere about her person as Thom and the others gaped Alanna bowed and automatically Thom returned the courtesy then she was on him blade flashing like a silver whip tom parried fast but he was of balance she had the advantage the sword flew in her hands so fast its tracks could barely be traced it was a blur, nothing more, and no movements in her well held torso dictated her next move it was almost faultless helplessly Thom tried to stem his sisters approach but in a glitter of gems and a swish of a slender wrist his sword had been hooked from his grasp and hers lay at the base of his throat signifying a 'kill' Alanna seemed quite unruffled rather as though she had been for a brisk walk and fought a duel with a squire but tom was gasping for air and sweating sheathing her sawed again it disappeared from view in the folds of her gown she said to no one in particular "like I said I do have rather a lot of free time at the convent" and then with a disparaging look at Thom she said "I apologise maybe you are right you do need the practise more than I do" then unlocking the door as she spoke Alanna stalked out of the court and out of site
"Wow" said Raoul eventually "has she always been able to do that?"
"When we were children she always beat me she was always the better physically hunting riding running fighting you name it" there was no resentment in his voice just a mild ore struck tone "I guess she really hasn't changed" he murmured. Retreating his blade and sheathing it Thom made for the door
"You said you didn't write to her accused Gary"
"You said you didn't know her" chipped in Raoul
"I told no lies" said Thom firmly "you assumed my phrases implied more than they did is all" groaning the others followed him to Alanna's rooms
"Mind you I don't blame you for wanting to keep her for your self" Raoul said whistling appreciatively Thom let out a start of laughter
"She was never mine in the first place, not in the sense u mean any way"
"You mean…." asked Gary leaving the question open
"Yes she's free said Thom and you are welcome to court her if you want I wish you luck with it in fact" he winked then added "you'll need it!"
On reaching the required chambers they found a small boy who looked no more than eleven or twelve just exiting them he, had cropped copper hair and wore old breeches and a shirt Thom staked up to him to enquire as to his presence in his sisters rooms he had just drawn level with the stranger his friends a raid at his back when a voice sounded further back down the corridor
"Thom?" It called
"Yes Coram?" asked both figures standing side by side with their back to the speaker they spoke at the same time with an identical voice. Thinking his old ears were fooling him he nodded Prince and Thoms other friends then continued
"Alanna arrived today have you seen her yet?" both figures turned at the same time "yes but she's not in her room they both said" the group gaped it was literally two Thoms they both had the same copper hair, and the same wide violate eyes, the same stocky but petit build Coram recovered first stepping towards the new comer he seized Alanna by the arm
"I thought you pair'd tire of this by now lady Alanna this is hardly proper where did you get those cloths your trunk isn't even here yet?"
"Its ok Coram" Alanna said cheerfully still in a perfect imitation of her twin "Thom lent them to me" she grinned and winked at Thom who started up and made a leap for her dancing easily away from his approach she grinned and said "he's really very generous that way" Thom joined in the laughter of the rest good humouredly but added ferverently
"I think I will check my bed tonight after all" this initiated anther round of laughs. Grumbling Coram left them seeing he was fighting a loosing battle and that the convent had done nothing to subdue Alanna's fiery temper, iron will or flare for practical joking.
This left the two twins standing side by side except for the clothes (Thom wore the uniform of the palace squires) they could have been one in the same person both stood, identical violate eyes looking at the rest of the gathering around them
"You…. how could…. her hair…. it cant…who are…. twins! Spluttered Gary incoherently Alanna quipped in her own voice
"For some one as eloquent as you Gareth the younger of Naxen that comment appeared rather garbled would you like to try again?" her face matched her tone teasing and jokingly condescending Gary grinned and shut up
"So you are toms twin" Jon stated belatedly, it wasn't really a question but the pair nodded their mutual assent "so if you don't think it rude my asking" Jon continued doggedly fascinated "why are you dressed like that? And what happened to your hair? And…."here Jon paused and Raoul finished lamely
"And the rest of you" Alanna smiled knowing full well what they alluded to she decided to deal with the hair question first
"I have done it since I was small" she said touching her now boyish cut then she turned lifting up the remaining hair and exhibiting a tight but containing the rest of her hair secured with a single silver hair pin and completely covered by the hair left hanging down to frame her face. "As for the rest of me, under all my cloths I wear an extra corset which when pulled in can flatten my chest like a boys though I admit it makes me light headed as it is very tight and it makes it hard to breath"
"Ok" said Raoul "that deals with the how but…why?"
"I got sick of being stared at and molly coddled" Alanna replied frankly "I wanted to explore no holds bared so like this I would either be squire Thom" hear she stopped and winked at her identical twin "or a palace hand of unknown origin either way I am pretty much free to roam"
"Roam where?" asked Thom ever suspicious (and with good reason to be)
"All over" Alanna said lightly and with that she raced down a corridor to their left then took the second door to the right out of site looking for all the world as thou she'd been born and lived all her life in the royal palace leaving a bemused crowd behind her rapidly retreating form. The next few days were going to be interesting very interesting Thom decided.


ok quick disclamer i own nothing it is all Tamora Piercess who incidentaly is GOD and that about covers it i think

A/N u see that box that sais 'review' USE IT! please even if u tell me it was terible and never right again just say SOMTHING so i know you read t PLEASE!!!