Disclaimer: I think I forgot this last time. Please forgive me I'm leaning. I just thought you
should know that sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug `-` read, review,
and don't sue :-/

A/N: to my reviewers I Love you so much you make me want to go on
Keita: yes you already read this sorry Im just re-posting it. but keep reading because where the
other left off if you have any Ideas fo it PLEASE! tell me
Shadow Spirit: You're right especially about Eleni (she's just emotional...i guess)
Chopstix: why? I like George. Alanna would never like life as queen.

CHAPTER THREE
The Fight
There was a subtle knock on Alanna's bed chamber door. "Yeah?" She called.
"Are you decent?" Questioned George.
"No!"
"Good," George opened the door and walked in.
Alanna scowled at him. "What if I wasn't kidding?"
"All the better." He replied.
"Pervert!" Alanna replied.
"I try. I jus' came to see if ye're all right."
"Yes, I'm fine I just need rest," Alanna replied. "Im almost done with the wedding plans, and we
have to leave for Pirate's Swoop in a week. I just need a nap."
"Ok. Ok. I'll leave ye be. Sleep sweet," he kissed her on the forehead and left quietly.
***
"What were you doing?" George turned around to face the voice.
"Oh Jon. I was jus' tuckin' me lioness into bed."
"First of all, she's not your lioness! She's my champion! Tortall's champion. You didn't touch her while
you were in there did you? Because if you did I'll have to..." George cut him off. Jon's eyes were blazing. What
was the kings problem?
"No. I didn't touch her, and even if I did what does that matter? What's your problem? Are ye jealous
or somethin'?" George was confused.
"Well, I'm going in there to talk to my champion, if you don't mind?" George put his hands up to stop
Jon from entering Alanna's chamber.
"She's asleep, Jon." Suddenly George realizes that Jon is drunk.
"Jon, let's talk somewhere else, please. So we don' wake the lass."
"She's NOT a lass! She's a WOMAN!" Jon yelled. "In case you didn't notice!" He added cruelly.
Slowly George led Jon to his bed chamber where the conversation continued.
"Jon..." George began.
"You know what? I was her first. Very first." Jon becomes hostile. "Doethn't that boser you evehn
a liddle? Doethn't it!" Jon demanded slurring his words.
"No."
"It shood."
"Why?"
"I love 'er ya know"
"I know ye two are very close."
"No! I really love 'er!"
"Ye're drunk, Jon."
"So I kan sthill thinks straight!" Jon exclaimed.
"Even if ye can' talk straight." Jon mumbled
"Wha'?"
"Nothin'. Jon. Ye know ye and Alanna as a couple would never work. Ye're ego's too big."
George chuckled and Jon swung. CRASH! Jon's fist made contact with George's eye. Then with his
stomach. It took all of George's will power and then some to restrain from striking the king.
George grabbed Jon's wrists and restrained him as best he could. Which was hard because Jon began kicking.
"I love 'er an' she loves me! I was 'er firs'! 'Er firs'! Ya hear me?"
"Oh so you think that makes you KING?" Abruptly they both stopped. Within minutes the king of
Tortall and the ex-king of the rogue were rolling on the floor in uncontrollable laughter.
"I...I...am....I am.......k..k.....king!" Jon gasped. "And no. That doesn't make me king. I am
so sorry. I did–no make that do–love her but as a friend, a sister, a family member." Jon continued. "You're
so right! It would have never worked between the free spirted Lioness and myself. And besides, I have Thayet,"
He smiled. "I love her. She's great...so sweet...and loving..and gentle...and understanding..." Jon smiled.
"Ye're Majesty. Pardon. But ye're babblin', come I'll help ye to yer room.
"Thanks Jon."
"George."
"What?"
"I'm George. Ye're Jon."
"That's what I said, silly. Geez. You're a pal. I love you too ya know." George was a little worried
about that last statement. George got Jon safely to his room. Then he chuckled to himself. *Well that's two
people I've put to bed tonight. I wonder who's next? And who's to put me to bed, huh?*
***
The next morning Alanna fussed over George's eye which had swollen and turned a nice shade of purple.
"What happened?" Alanna questioned her fiancee.
"I fell down," George laughed. Thinking that Alanna would find his excuse funny considering that she
herself had used the same one many times when she was disguised as a boy during her knight training. He
looked at her with his one good eye. She was not smiling that much was obvious.
"What?" George asked.
"That's not funny!" What happened?" She pressed. She used her gift to take the swelling and any
pain out of the eye.
"It's not important," he replied kissing her lightly.
"How can you not tell me? How can we marry if you can't tell me simple things like this?" The
Lioness demanded.
"All righ' I'll tell ye but don' get upset. It was Jon."
"Jon?"
"Yes. He was drunk las' nigh' and he was ranting and raving. He jus' got a little worked up that's all.
But it's nothin'. I'm fine really."
"You're sure? You're okay? You don't want me to go beat him up do you?" Alanna smiled. "Do you?"
"No Sweetness don' do that," he told her. "I'll be as good as new as soon as the wedding comes I promise."
***
"I just don't know, Myles," Eleni confessed.
"Know what?" Myles of Olua asked his wife.
"If Alanna is right for my George."
"Eleni they're both responsible adults. What do you mean 'if Alanna is right for my George'? What if
George is not right for my Alanna?"
"Myles! Anyway," she said disregarding his last statement. "I know they're both responsible but George
needs someone to love him, stay with him, take care of him, an I'm not sure Alanna can do that."
"They're in love! Just like us," Myles hated to fight. "We were married sooner then they. They have known
each other for years."
"Yes. But for three of those years, she deceived my boy! He thought she was a lad! How could he forgive
her? And the things George has told me...Alanna is so loose!" Eleni cried.
"LOOSE!" Myles roared. "She is NOT! She's my daughter you know!"
"Adoptive daughter," Eleni replied hotly.
"SO! I love her and treat her as my own blood! How can you say such things about her? She is not loose!
And if she was how would you know about it?"
"She is! George told me! How many lovers has she had?"
"Two!" Yelled Myles "Jonathan and George! Both of whom she love very much!"
"Wrong! Three–that I and George know of there were probably more! A lot more!"
"Three? Who?" Myles stammered.
"Did you forget Liam Ironarm the Shang Dragon?! Did she love him to?"
"Yes," Myles said softly.
"Well! She must have a BIG heart!"
"She does!"
"Uh huh. Sure."
"Well at least Ironarm wasn't a low down, good for nothing THIEF!"
"Well I never!"
"And how many lovers has George had?"
"I don't know."
"Exactly! I'll bet he doesn't even know how many!"
"But he's a man It's different."
"Why?"
"Because it is! And she knows she can trust him. He wont leave her or cheat on her. He loves her although
I don't know why."
"Oh like I believe that!"
"It's true! How's George to know she will stay with him? Huh? She roams so much, is always gone, she wild,
UNCONTROLLABLE! How's George to know?"
"'How's George to know' what?" Alanna heard the two arguing and came to see what the problem was.
She only heard the last little bit.
Myles and Eleni looked at her startled. Eleni stormed out with a disgusted look on her face. Alanna was
puzzled. "'How's George to know' what?" Alanna repeted. "And what's wrong with Eleni?"
"Nothing," Myles said,
"Oh I can tell she seem so happy to see me! Tell me!" Alanna stomped her foot. "Tell me!" She scowled.
"Eleni thinks you'll leave George or you wont be faithful to him," Myles muttered sadly.
"I would NEVER do that!" Alanna yelled. "I love George! I love him so much it hurts when he's away. He
what I think of when I hear the word 'love'! So you and Eleni were arguing about me?" That made Alanna feel bad.
"Yes! She was damn nasty about it too!"
"Nasty?"
"Yes!"
"What did she say to upset you so?"
"She–she–well Alanna–she said–that you were–that you were–I know it's not true–but– she–she said–
that–that you were loose!" He spat the words out as if they stung.
"What made her say that?" Alanna didn't seem very concerned.
"She started to name all you lovers and..."
"LOVERS?! ALL?! There were three!"
"I know," Myles said trying to comfort her.
"I have to go find George before his mother does and poisons our love," Alanna hugged her father
and left.
***
Alanna checked George's room, her own room, the main hall, Jon's rooms, the kitchen, the stable,
the library, the training yards, the healers, even the Dancing Dove. *Where was he?* She was getting
worried. *Where else could he be?* She decided to ask around. Alanna asked Jon, Thayet, Buri, Myles,
Stefan, at the stables, Gary, the younger, Sir Gareth, the older, Raoul, –she even got brave enough to
ask Eleni. None of them knew where he was. Alanna was scared something was wrong; she could feel it in
the pit of her stomach. Alanna was walking back to her rooms with her eyes downcast. She noticed that there
was a rust colored trail leading around the corner; intrigued she quickened her pace and fallowed. Alanna stopped
the trail lead right to George's bedchambers. *Oh no!* She yelped and ran down the rest of the hall flinging the door
wide open. George was slumped over in a chair passed out probably–from the looks of it–because of pain. Alanna
gaged. *Oh this is horrible!* Tears streamed down her face without her knowing. She rushed over to the chair.

"George....George Sweetie...." She shook him gently. "George wake-up!" She looked him over
with her eyes and with her gift. *What had happened?* She reached inside of him with her violet gift. *Oh George!*
Besides the black eyes, bruises, bloody nose, lip, eyebrow, a slashed arm, thigh, and torso; there were broken bones
as well. His right leg was broken twice in important places, his foot was shattered, his left leg was broken and the
ankle sprained. Quickly she went to fixing the broken legs, and broken right arm. Then she concentrated on the deep
gash in his abdomen. Sweat rolled down her face; she brushed wet hair out of her face as she healed. Slowly blood, sinews,
veins, and skin joined, once again, as one. While healing the cut she also noticed four broken ribs. Then she used what little
of her magic and strength she had left to revive her love. Slowly George's swollen, black eyes opened; you could read the
pain in his face. He smiled his lips cracked and bled more.
"Love ye," he gasped and passed out again. Alanna sobbed into his blood stained shirt. Soon she regained her
senses. She gathered George in her arms–grateful for the arm exercises she had done during her knight training–and
carried her limp lover to the healers chambers. She left him there and ran to find Myles and Eleni. The Lioness slowed;
her vision blurred and gat darker. Suddenly the floor rushed up to meet her. The last thought she had was: *How could
I have lasted so long with my gift completely drained? Then she knew it was the gift of love that had kept her moving.