Ok, it's about time for a disclaimer - DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Tamora Pierce characters, but I do own Lady Daniella and Lady Jacqueline, and Sir Logan and Turtle Lake and Dove's Peak. PLUS I also own the story, so don't steal it!

~ Chapter Eleven ~ Plans

**Very late into the night, after that ball has ended.

Alanna smiled at Sir Logan. "Thanks for a brilliant night," she said. "I've had such a great time, it's been really good."

Logan smiled. "You're welcome," he said. "It was a pleasure. You're really kind Alanna, and sweet too. I'll be staying in Corus for a week or so, may I come and see you?"

Alanna nodded enthusiastically. "Of course you can," she said. "It's been so much fun having you around."

Logan smiled at her. "Well, goodnight, Alanna. Goddess watch over you in your sleep."

Alanna smiled. "'Night, Logan."

Logan bent down and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you some time soon, Alanna."

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Lady Delia of Eldorne, dressed in a lustrous navy-blue dress with white lace trim, paced the neat, timber floor. She fanned herself with an authentic sky blue and navy fan from the Yamani Isles.

"It's so dratted hot in here!" she cried. She scowled at no one in particular. She couldn't wait until Jon returned, when she would win him over. As soon as he saw that Alanna had a new man, he would easily forget her and move on. Delia smiled evilly. She thought of the most brilliant plans!

Absolutely nothing could go wrong! Everything was perfect. Roger was with Jon, Lianne trusted Delia, and Alanna was easily falling for Logan, who was returning Alanna's feelings.

Delia smiled. Soon she would become Queen of Tortall, married to Prince Jonathan of Conte. It was like taking candy from a baby! Gracefully Delia sat on her divan, thinking of all the things she would do when she became Queen.

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*A few days later

"Lady Alanna!"

Alanna turned, evenly balanced, in the middle of the deserted hall. "Yes?" she asked, before seeing who was calling her name. Then she smiled; it was Logan.

"Logan!" she cried, smiling. "It's so good to see you!"

"You too!" he told her. "I'm sorry I haven't been to see you sooner, but some of my relatives came to visit. I was quite tied up for the past few days."

Alanna smiled. She had begun to wonder if Logan was purposely avoiding her. "Oh, that's fine," she told him. "I've been quite busy myself the past couple of days."

That was a lie. Alanna had been moping, feeling lost and lonely, writing letters to Jon and envying Daniella and Darian.

Logan smiled a most charming smile. "Well, we can see each other now! I've managed to get my relatives to take a carriage tour of Corus."

"Carriage tour?" asked Alanna, frowning. "What are those?"

"Well, they're relatively new. Two horses pull a nicely dressed up cart around the City whilst a tour guide tells everyone in the cart what is what and why."

Alanna laughed. "Sounds like fun," she giggled, thinking about it.

Logan smiled. "How about a walk?" he asked, offering his arm.

"Certainly," Alanna smiled, taking the offered arm.

"Where should we go?" asked Logan.

"I don't know," she replied. "The Gardens are nice - and you haven't seen them yet, either."

Logan smiled. "The Gardens it is," he announced.

Alanna smiled up at him. Then she looked ahead and saw Daniella and Darian walking together. "Daniella!" she called, running up to them.

"Alanna!" Daniella beamed. "How are you? And Sir Logan! How nice to see you again."

"We were just about to go for a walk in the Gardens," Alanna said. "Would you like to come with us?"

Daniella looked at Darian, who nodded. "Of course," he said.

So Logan, Darian, Alanna and Daniella all went for a walk in the Gardens. While the men walked ahead, chatting, Daniella nudged Alanna in the stomach with a sly grin on her face.

"Soooooo..." she said. "What were you and Logan really doing in that deserted hallway?"

Alanna gave her a disgusted look. "Daniella! Nothing! Honestly, he'd just come to say 'hello' to me and I suggested we walked in the Gardens."

Daniella nodded doubtfully. "Oh I'm sure," she told Alanna.

Alanna rolled her eyes. "Goddess, Daniella," she muttered. Daniella just giggled, and the girls walked faster to catch up with Logan and Darian.

They discovered the men were in deep conversation about archery. Alanna and Daniella joined in their conversation gladly.

"I'm best with long-bow," Daniella said. "But I can also shoot a cross- bow."

"A cross-bow?" asked Darian. "Wow, that's impressive for -"

Alanna gave him a sharp look. Darian instantly gulped at Alanna's relentless glare, and changed what he was going to say.

"For - for such a frail-looking creature as you," he finished, cuddling Daniella.

Alanna grinned at Daniella, who lightly kicked her on the ankles. Alanna jumped back, and into Logan's grip.

Daniella laughed. "Oh, you two look so cute!" she exclaimed.

Alanna blushed, and even Darian smiled. "Hey, they do! See how Alanna just fits in neatly into Logan's arms."

Alanna's blush deepened. She drew away from Logan, reddening. "Don't be silly," she muttered half-heartedly. "That's ridiculous." More loudly, she added; "We only met the other night!"

Logan smiled. "Yes, Lady Daniella, Sir Darian - La- Alanna, is perfectly right. We did only meet a few nights ago."

Alanna smiled at him. "And I'm glad we did," she said softly, so no one heard but him.

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Days went by, and Logan and Alanna's relationship progressed positively. They spent more and more time together, and Alanna soon seemed to forget (to all appearances) that her and Jon had ever possessed a beautifully blooming relationship.

"This is excellent, Lady Delia," Queen Lianne said to the striking brunette in front of her. "I am completely satisfied. When you convinced that Sir Logan to escort Lady Alanna, hoping they would strike something up, your theory was exact. I must commend you, Lady Delia."

Delia curtsied deeply. "Thankyou, You Majesty. If I have learnt something about Lady Alanna, it is that she is fickle. Exceptionally fickle. She falls in and out of love with the blink of an eye. I just wanted to save your poor son some heartache."

Queen Lianne nodded. "Thankyou, Lady Delia. You are a wonderful Lady, and I am proud to say I know you and we are friends. When my son returns, in a few days' time, I will have the suggestion given about a marriage with you."

Delia stepped back, giving her best impression of being stunned. "Oh, Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such a fate."

"Nonsense. You have saved my son from heartache, and that is worth everything to me, Lady Delia."

It was a dismissal, and Delia knew it. Sinking slowly, she nodded. "As you wish, Your Majesty." Rising again, she added, "And - thankyou, Your Majesty."

Lianne nodded, and Delia left. Outside the Queen's Chamber, Delia smiled triumphantly. She was so close to achieving all she had ever dreamed about! Marrying the gorgeous Prince Jonathan, and in the same swoop doing exactly to Alanna what she did to Delia! Stealing her man!

A frown crossed Delia's delicate face. She squashed all the memories that had just flooded back into her mind, and took a deep breath. She forgot all that she had remembered of everything she had tried for so long to block out. (A/N - does that make ANY sense?!)

Delia suddenly released her crumpled brows and straightened her face, regaining her coolness. Delia moved on through the halls, as graceful as a swan.

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"So, my dear cousin. Home is now only a few days off."

"I know, Roger. I can't believe this whole thing is nearly over! I'll soon see everyone again!"

Duke Roger and Prince Jonathan were both out riding by themselves. The rest of their company were about twenty minutes away, setting up a campsite. Jonathan, sick of being fussed over at hotels and inns, had chosen to camp instead of staying at an inn.

Jonathan suddenly stopped riding and dismounted from his horse. "I'm homesick, Roger," he admitted. "I want to see my mother and father, and all my friends, and my dearest Alanna..."

"You like that girl, don't you?" asked Roger, with a sly grin on his face (he knew that his Aunt highly disapproved of their relationship).

"Yes," he confessed. "I - don't tell her, or anyone, Roger, but I plan to propose to her when we return."

Roger's grin changed to a scoff. "Propose? Have you thought of what your mother would think of this?"

Jonathan looked at him, brows crossed. "I don't care what my mother thinks, Roger. I love her, and she loves me. That is the most important thing in the world."

Roger moved over to Jonathan. "I believe you, cousin." Standing behind Jonathan, Roger moved a menacing hand over Jon's head. The Prince whirled, and his eyes widened. Orange magic filled his vision, and then everything turned black.

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Back at Tortall, things were happening in Alanna's chambers.

"Alanna, I'm going for a picnic with Sir Darian," Daniella called from her doorway. "Have a good time," Alanna replied, stretching on her bed.

A moment later, Alanna rose from her drifty sleep to answer a knock on the door. She opened the door only an inch, as she was dressed in her nightclothes, and then smiled. It was Logan.

"Come in she said, opening the door further. "But be warned - I'm only in my nightclothes! So let me get changed!"

Logan chuckled. "That I will, Lady Alanna." He stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He just glanced Alanna wearing her sleek black nightie before she disappeared behind her dressing screen.

A small, sly smile appeared on Logan's face, but it disappeared quickly. He was a gentleman! Such thoughts shouldn't enter a gentleman's mind! But somehow he couldn't help it.

Logan moved behind the screen. Alanna whirled, and Logan caught her in an entrancing grip. Alanna went a deep, deep red. "Logan," she whispered. Then her temper got the better of her.

"What are you doing? I'm getting dressed! I'm half Undressed!! Logan, honest-" Logan silenced her with a passionate kiss.

When their lips broke apart, Alanna couldn't speak. She flushed red. "What - what are you doing?" she asked quietly.

"Kissing the woman I love," he replied softly, staring into her violet eyes. Alanna stared back into his chocolate ones, and then suddenly looked down, redder than before.

"What's the matter?" Logan asked, concern in his voice.

Alanna moved away, out of Logan's grip. "Logan - I - I... her voice trailed off.

Logan put his hand on his chin and pushed her face up. "It's Prince Jonathan, isn't it?" he asked. "You still love him."

Alanna just stood there. Then she drew in a long, quivery breath. How could she hurt Logan? The expression he wore at the moment was harsher than any words.

Alanna forced a smile. "I - Logan, you know, I honestly don't know. I love you Logan, but - I'm not sure all my feeling for Jon are gone."

She looked up at Logan, with slight guilt in her eyes. But Logan's face was filled with understanding. "Don't worry, Alanna," he said. He gripped her shoulders. "I sort - of ... well, I kind of felt that your heart wasn't in this. I tried to ignore it, because you're so fantastic, but..."

Alanna smiled and shook her head. "I never thought anyone would understand me," she told him. "But I guess it was inevitable. Still, no one is as complicated as I am."

Logan chuckled. "You've got that right." He looked at her black nightie, which was half-on, half-off. "And... get dressed."

He tweaked her nose, and left Alanna's room, leaving Alanna feeling very sheepish.

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Ok, ok, bad ending, but I couldn't think of a better one. And plus, don't complain, it's a long chapter! *Phew* the chapter's finally over! Most of my hols I was on a block, so most of this chappy was done today!! Lolz, I'm off my hols, so I will reply to emails now!! (Heaps in my inbow :( *sweatdrops*)

~*~kaz~*~