Disclaimer;  don't own anything but plot, Tammy is the genius that created this world, no matter how much I want it, she will continue to own this world, cuz even if I wanted to buy it I wouldn't have enough money for it, T_T!  k…that was weird……

A/N:  sorry ppl for not updating, I have been really busy lately…..very very sorry *hides behind huge shield, but still gets hit by rotten fruit*, seriously, that is not just an excuse!  Honest!  I have this language course and I have sooo much hwk!  If I take too much time off studying then I will defiantly fail….like I only got an 86% for my test, grr, I was reading fanfic at that time!  If you want me to update more than…well…I can't tell you to yell at my teacher, I doubt half of you can speak Chinese and her English is not that great….and my mom couldn't care less….um…just don't yell at me!  I am risking failing for this!  well, not, today I got very little hwk, but I really need to catch up!  Big time.  And besides, I it's really annoying to type in front of the computer, my house is an icicle.  K, I guess you want me to get on with the story and stop with the excuses.  I am on the right computer today so I can thank my reviewers, but I would like to give a special thanx to Narao and KetchupFiend for extra long reviews, they made me feel really guilty that I hadn't updated recently and *blushes* I decided to update.  Thanks for the reviews!  They helped a lot!

Alanna sat straight up in bed, having just had a dream, or, more accurately, a nightmare, in which Duke Roger played a rather large role.  In that dream (nightmare) Duke Roger had just gotten someone, she wasn't sure who, but she knew that she knew that person, to put salt on a lake and she, against her better judgment, had taken a bet to circle the pond.  The ice broke and she had nearly drowned. 

Alanna frowned as she found her covers laying on the floor, realizing that that was the reason that she dreamed she was drowning in freezing cold water was due to her missing blankets.  Sighing she fingered her neck, and her fingers bumped into a stone tied around her neck. 

"oh yes," she thought wryly, "that 'gift' form the Goddess.  Some gift being a chosen of the gods."

Muttering curses to herself she opened her curtains and looked out the window and started swearing with more vigor and feeling when she saw that it was noon, she had overslept. 

She muttered angrily to herself, "well, anyone could have overslept after what happened yesterday night."

Alanna sighed as she remembered a tibit conversation that she had had with the Goddess. 

"It is rather surprising that Alex is your knight master, you two aren't-"

"What do you mean surprising?  I think that it is perfectly fine, normal, acceptable, etc.  I know that you know Jon, that prig, would never accept me for a squire.  I don't WANT to be his squire.  Who could?  He is a nuisance and a fool.  If you really want to know, I think the cat can tell you that too, whatever *gets scratched by Faithful, or, as she calls him, 'the cat'* hey, stupid cat!  Fine, fine, fine, WHOEVER it *scratched again*, I mean HE is!"

the Goddess just chuckled, "you mistake my meaning, Alanna.  I mean that if Duke Roger hadn't made the wrong turn during that foggy evening then Alex would work for him, and Roger wouldn't have given up on the idea of Alex helping him and wouldn't have turned the prince into a, what did you call him?  ah, yes, a prig, because he would have no need to."

Alanna's thoughts were cut off by a nock on the door.

"Alan, it's your knight master, are you decent?"

Alanna blushed.  That was what she had forgotten to do.  Dress.  Bright red, and knowing that Alex had used those exact words to tell her that he had company, she called somewhat sheepishly, "no, I overslept, um….you-you…erm….wait a tad?"

She heard laughter and Jon mutter to Gary, "overly decent.  *snort*, I wonder what she will do for her ritual bathing!"

Then she heard Alex's voice, to her relief, cut in and say in a smooth tone, "take your time Alan.  And ignore these big babies here.  They just want you to become a pervert like they are."

At Alex's comment there were some rude words said and a mini argument occurred, but, thanks to Alex's quick thinking, the knights didn't barge into the room and she was able to dress before they realized that there was something odd about how long it took her to dress.

When she was finished dressing she opened the door, her black, purple eyed cat twining around her legs…..

"hello Alex, Roaul, Gary *pause*, Jon, come in."

they entered the room and

(A/N:  okay, you know this, the naming of the cat…do I really need to say?  Fine, don't read until you see three ***'s okay?  Unless you wanna be bored/see some mean thing about Jon, the prig!)

"new pet Alan?"-roaul

"yeah."-alanna

"what's his name?"-gary

"I dunno…."-alanna

"how about roaul"-gary

"nah, blacky is better."-roaul, blushing hard

"I think that purple-eyed Prince Jonathan of Conte, knight and heir to the throne of tortall suits him FAR better than any of those names"-  arrogant sneer plastered on face, "and I know that Alan will take MY advice over you low life scum."

*everyone rolls their eyes*

"I rather like faithful"-alanna smiled

*jon sputters wordlessly with anger, turning a shade of purple similar to the color of Alanna's eyes*

*before Jon can stop him alex walks up to faithful (A/N:  oh, yeah, if jon wasn't speechless he would have forced the horrible name that he thought of on faithful with an order*

"I dub you Faithful, live up to your name."- alex, touching faithfuls two shoulders than head.

***

(A/N:  goddie, done with that bother, although I kinda like the Prince Jonathan of Conte, knight and heir to the throne of tortall name, *cackles*)

…..awhile later……I mean a LONG while later….

Dain sneers at the king and queen of Tortall, "I've seen what you call fencing, back where I come from we call it kneading bread."

Alanna who, along with all the other squires, was serving at that time, happened to be near Alex.  She saw his jaw clench ever so slightly, but other than that, she saw no emotion apart from amusement and polite inquiry. 

"Is that so Dain?"  Alex asked, still keeping his amused/curious look on his face.  "Well, considering my having defeated you earlier today in the practice courts…."

Alex got no further before her was interrupted, "Bah, A lucky chance, my squire could beat you, I could beat your champion-"

Many Tortall nobles were reaching for their swords, squires restraining knights from attacking Dain while glaring at him, and angry murmurs, in fact, Alex was the only calm one in the room. 

Alex only smiled condensing at Dain, "really, *lip curls with disgust*, are you sure about that?  Well, I'll take you up on your challenge-"

"pah, you have no honor, fighting a squire, Alex, I thought better of you.  Because you are such a terrible fighter I think that I will fight Dain.  I, who has gotten many more woman (Alanna snorted and whispered to Alex, making him fight to keep his face straight, "yeah, and that makes you out of shape, too busy riding chairs to ride a horse, aren't you his royal snootiness of Conte, knight and heir to the throne of Tortall")"  Jon roared.

Alex cut into his boastful tirade, "be as that may be, you snot-highness *quite a few people started snickering*, I have a better idea."

Before Jon could start yelling about how it is impossible to have better ideas than himself, Dain cut in, "please, SIR Tirragen, tell us your BRILLIANT idea."

Alex smiled sarcastically, "You mentioned something about your squire being able to beat me after I mentioned being able to beat you.  I assume that it means that your squire can beat you."  Alex ignored the sputtering of the Knight and continued, "of course, that probably was not your meaning of that statement.  Well I would like to turn the challenge back on you.  I have faith in my personal squire, maybe you would like to give h-him a try."

Alanna blushed at the praise, but still felt nervous.  Even though Alex thought she was good, and even though she had been trained by one of the best fencers in court, she didn't know if she could win…..still…..she had faith in Alex's judgment, and she wanted to see the look in Jon's face, after all, HE had LOST to Dain.

Dain just stood there sputtering, "it would not be honorable for me to fight a squire.  That was said without even mentioning that this certain squire is feminine, tiny, and without any noticeable muscle, I would kill him by accidentally stepping on him!"

"I wouldn't be so certain about THAT."  Alanna mumbled to herself as she walked towards Alex when he gestured for her to come near, fighting to make use of his lessons on blank faces and not betray her annoyance.

"Sir?"

Alex gave her a slight smile, but knowing him well she knew that he was extremely amused, "I am sorry for bothering you, Alan, I was going to ask you if you wished to fight Dain…..only, he is too afraid of your skill."

That galvanized Dain.

"if you think that I am afraid of that-" (A/N:  he swears, okay, not going to get into it) "-Goddess help him, he has no chance."

Alanna laughed at that statement, but quietly, and she thought, "she does favor me."

"so you accept?" Alex inquired coolly, raising an eyebrow, making Dain sputter furiously, forcing him to accept.

(A/N:  do I cut off here…..nah….I think I am going to do a cliffie….muwahahahaha  evil laugh)

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

"do you think that squire Alan has a chance Jon?"

"yeah, Roger, he is almost as good as I am, and if he has more time, he may someday be better than Alex."

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

Alanna brought up her sword to meat another fierce attack, pushing Dain back again.  Dain was good but she was better.  The only problem was that Dain had cheated and tripped her. 

Oh, the tripping her part wouldn't have stopped her for long….but he not only tripped her, he attacked her WHILE she was down and now she couldn't get back up.  She snarled with fury as she blocked yet ANOTHER blow at her head.  Suddenly a burning pain struck her side as she found an opportunity and jumped up to her feet, and opportunity Dain was a fool to have given her. 

She felt her vision grow dim as she realized that Dain had cheated worse than tripping her, he had taken out a dagger, and, while she was distracted leaping up while, at the same time, blocking one of his blows, thrown it at her heart.  Only a deft twist of her body had saved her from death, but death was still close behind her. 

A rushing sound filled her ears as she brought up her sword for one last swing…….

And felt the ground rush up to meet her…..

(A/N:  yup, your favorite, cliffie…..lol, have fun *hides magical barrier, sticks out her tougue at ppl, and suddenly turns white when she sees a mage walk up to the barrier and blow it up….*)

A/N:  I spent over two hours writing this so if you don't appreciate it…..you are soo dead.  Jon lovers, sorry if you love Jon, but that is what he would be like if Roger influenced him……lol, don't kill me, review.  No flames….I am starving, it is dinnertime, and I STILL haven't finished this, okay?  If you flame you are SO dead….

Seriously, I CAN physically hurt you, that isn't hard, just need to find out where you live, muwahahahahahaha



Now, to thank my reviewers, I will probably do this once in a while but not every chapter….

Moonlightgodess-  you can stop twitching now, here is your next chapter, albeit a bad one, but next chapter none the less!  And what do you MEAN my "woeful tale" was overdone *bursts into tears*, I really need to know….otherwise I just might not update…..

Amanda-thanx, that means I did it right, he's supposed to be really cool and Jon the evil freak, *hugs herself*, I feel so appreciated!  Everyone loves to hear that their fanfic is loved…that is…..NORMAL ppl feel that way….

Leigh-like I told Amanda, it is really nice when ppl say nice things about your fic, glad to know you enjoyed, the more ppl who enjoy the less likely I quit the fic….

Narao-no, the review wasn't too long, it isn't possible to make a review too long….well, that is, it isn't possible to make a review that helps you and that is….what was that word I am looking for?  Oh well, really nice….my social studies teacher is gunna kill me for that….shez psycho about that kinda thing!  Your review was really helpful, my spelling is terrible….my memory….pretty good, don't ask me to memorize #'s or characters!  AHH!!!!  This is defiantly going to be an A/A fic, *whispers* just don't tell the non A/A lover plz!  I would tell you how he can be in league with roger, but that would ruin the surprise, let's just say Jon is power hungry and wants to be king asap….shoot, gave it away!

AB-scribere-me, funny?  Really?  Wow, I feel so happy now, maybe I'll go reward myself with sugar….hmm….chocolate covered marshmallow!  Mmmmm!  Sorry!  Didn't mean to be random!

The Lady of the Willows-I know what you mean, WHY AREN'T THERE MORE ALANNA + ALEX FICS OUT THERE?!  Thanx for the idea of making Jon the bad guy, I hadn't meant to, but now that you mention it….well, thanks, it's going to become part of the plot now!

BLB-*glows with pride and burns herself, ouch!*  original?  Really?  Cool!  So glad to hear that, it means that I don't hafta restrain from doing someone elses idea….but so far?  Are you saying that is going to get bad *eyes fill with tears….that she created by pinching herself*

KetchupFiend-another long review!!!  Yay!!!! I luv long reviews!!!!  Smiles happily.  Lol, sugar high?  Hitting imaginary ppl, lol, that sounds like fun!!!  U like alex this way?  Cool, that means I am doing my job really well, lol, happy now, someone wants to hit Jon….lol, fun fun!  Can I help?  I'll get a spiked club!

Anonymous-alex….hot….pauses and mutters something about ppl who fall in love with ppl who don't exist.  Then says, thanks for the review, glad to know u r willing to review to my not so great story!

Would right more ppl, but I can't, dinner, sorry if I didn't write much to you, but my mom is throwing a fit!

Wow, 2 ¾ hour spent on this, you had BETTER be thankful!