If She Had Been Quicker-chapter 9



A/N I am posting another chapter later today for my reviewers becuz I appreciate them so much! And another thank you to Shelly for being my beta reader. Also. this is a bit OOC but not very.



Disclaimer: I own nothing. Just the plot. So don't take it. And don't sue me either. I take kickboxing lessons! * runs around kicking random things *





* only when they got on the dance floor did she recognize the man. It was Gary *



Alanna was starting to feel very uncomfortable. Gary kept smiling at her and staring at her strangely. Finally, Gary spoke to her. " You look very beautiful tonight." He stated. Alanna raised her right eyebrow. " As opposed to when?" she replied. Gary blushed. "W-well, you look beautiful all the time im sure, but you look especially so t-tonight." He stammered. He hadn't expected Alanna to retort like that. Alanna smiled contentedly at the fact that she had made Gary nervous.

When the dance was over Alanna decided to leave. She walked around the palace and out into the gardens. She sat on the same bench she had been sitting on the night she ran into Gary. Alanna sat on the bench, reflecting her life at the palace and thinking about Jon, George and Gary. She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, grabbed it, and flipped its owner over. She stared at the mysterious person and realized it was Gary. " Oh, im so sorry! I didn't know it was you." She said.

Gary stared at her in awe. " Where did you learn to do that?? The last time I checked, the priestesses at the convent were NOT teaching hand to hand combat." He said bluntly. " My brother Alan tought me some hand to hand combat so that I could defend myself, and when we were little Coram tought me to hunt, ride, and a bit of fighting as well." She said. Gary nodded, but was still suspicious. There was something strange about her. She was different from all the other ladies, and she acted so much like Alan!

" You act so much like Alan that its almost unbelievable. The quick temper, the strength. The shortness as well." He said. Alanna looked nervous. " Um, I can assure you that I am NOT Alan." She said. Gary still looked a little bit suspicious. Alanna glared at him and left. She stalked over to the practice courts hoping to release some of her tension. She looked around, chose a bow, and strung it. She grabbed an arrow and loosed her bow. She smiled as the arrow hit the target dead center.



Alanna looked around to make sure no one was watching, and pulled Lightning out from under her skirts. She released her stress and tension into her excersizes, not even noticing that she was being watched. She finished the last drill, and put her sword away. As she was leaving the practice courts, she heard a voice speak. " Its over Alan. I know that no lady could ever wield a sword. Even if she was Alan's supposed twin sister, she couldn't be half as fast as him." Said the voice bitterly. Alanna whirled around. It was Gary. She sighed, for now she would have to tell him her secret.



" Gary- its not what it seems." She started. " You see, there never was an Alan. It was always just me. Just Alanna. When I was little, I wanted to be a knight, but I knew it could never work out because my father was sending me to the convent. At the last moment, my real brother Thom and I switched places. He rode to the convent to study with the Mithrans. He wanted to be a sorcerer. I rode to the palace, and changed my name to Alan. I hated lying to everyone I knew. I would have told everyone on my eighteenth birthday after I had my shield. You probably hate me now don't you?" she said sadly.

Much to her surprise, Gary burst out laughing. Alanna glared daggers at him. " Its not funny you cow!" she said. Gary stopped laughing after a few minutes. " Who else knows?" he asked. " Hmm.. George, Jonathon, George's mother, Coram and you. I think Myles is suspicious." Alanna felt a slight breeze behind her and a new voice spoke. " You are not the only people who know anymore." The voice said, and after it spoke, Alanna saw a shadowy figure running towards the palace.





Hey hey hey! Another chapter written! School is starting soon, so now im trying to post a chapter every other day. Hope you liked it and thank you for your suggestions! Peace, love, and Goddess Bless!!



~~Lady Kel of Queenscove