NOTE: Hey guys, thanx all for reading and I'm sorry it took so long. Since April I have actually written other things, just not anything in the Tamora Pierce verse actually in the Harry Potter world. I'm incredibly proud of them so if you're interested I would love you if you reviewed them as well! Anyway my responses to reviews: Kylena: Thanks for the encouragement sorry it took so long! Muslima: Thanks again. I think I've gotten it the best it's gonna be. When I actually write the chapters they are all properly indented and everything, but then when I convert it to the web all heck breaks loose! Thanks for being so loyal btw. Kalih: Thanks for reviewing ( Your review sounded good to me 2! Singing_diva1: Well here it is sorry it took quite a long while! Csporty: Thanks, but I'm really trying to get my stories to look nice. It's been a battle believe me, my stories are always spaced out nicely until they hit the web, I have no idea how it happens! And about the spelling and grammar issues I've had problems with them forever and I know they exist but I always miss them even when I re-read my stories over and over wish I really do. Foodiholic: Hmm.should I let Barret get away with it? Hmmm. te he .thanks for the encouragement by the way! Okay!!! Now that that's done here is the next chapter! Okay just another thing before you start, the beginning is really boring. it's all just info on George's early life so bear with me! Thanx.

George took a huge breath with his wife's eyes upon him. He promised himself years ago the secret would never be revealed to his wife. And after many years it was about to finally come out in the open.
"Me mother was a priestess of the Goddess," George began knowing the worst was yet to come, "When one of her fellow priestesses managed to lock her room with her key inside, they called a locksmith, his name was Barret Cooper. And he flirted constantly with all of the priestesses. At first me mother didn't trust him, but the locksmith's charm won her over. They fell in love. She was forced to leave the priesthood when they found out of her affair. But she didn't care, as long as she was with the locksmith nothin' could go wrong."
Alanna's stomach bunched up as her husband continued through the tears that were beginning to fall down his face. She made no effort to wipe them away. She knew that they were his solace.
"Everything was as it should been for a few years or so. Though Barret's business was getting worse and worse, the couple was ultimately happy in their poverty. Mayhap everything would have stayed as such.if.Eleni hadn't lost her pregnancy charm one night.." At this time Alanna reached out for her husband's hand and took it into her own. George hung his head in shame not daring to look her in the eye.
"When she told the locksmith she was pregnant he was furious. They had agreed to never have children, but now they had no choice. Barret blamed his wife on "ruining" his life; he was quite aware with another mouth to feed.his business would never survive the winter. The locksmith ran out in the pouring rain one night to a pub known as the Dancing Dove. The locksmith had never had a drink in his life until then. After that night he was never seen without one. While the child grew in Eleni, Barret's obsession with drink grew even faster. But also he was beginnin' to learn of the underground life in Corus. The lives of thieves and prostitutes. His son was just two months old when the man joined the Rouge and became a thief.and he was the best. All of them knew it as they watched him pickpockets and break open doors with simple tools. One person even thought he was touched by the Crooked God." George stopped and dared to look into his wife's eyes. They were nothing but compassionate, but they also held a great amount of understanding.
"Go on love." She encouraged him, holding his hand tighter. He smiled weakly and went on.
"That one was Scholar. The drunk with a warm heart. He noticed the locksmith and immediately took him under his wing. Trying to teach him understanding toward the vagabonds of Tortall. He taught him all he knew and praised him as a good man, although he drank more than all thought humanly possible. Scholar believed he was a good man. Then he meet Barret's family for dinner. His beliefs were ravaged. Barret yelled at his wife to hold her tongue while guests that were loyal sat among them. Bruises quite visible on the young woman's skin. Though this had not been the worst for Scholar. He had seen many battered and under appreciated wives. What frightened him was the treatment he gave his son.or more so the lack of. He wasn't allowed to sit at the table with his father. The child was forced to sit in the corner like a dog. He would be given no plate and no food. Just mayhap a bone left over from the animal he slaughtered days ago. And when the locksmith saw his wife pass some real food to her son, he blew. The man grabbed his wife and slit her arm with his dinner knife. Promising that if she dared to defy him again he would plunge the knife into her flesh. Scholar was amazed by the cruelty that was in his pupil, and felt horrible for his son. The next day the locksmith challenged the current Rouge. With Scholar's steps and advances.the locksmith quickly became the Rouge. And the people were at his feet praisin' his name. But soon the Barret's ego began to grow and his harshness wasn't only on his family. Now it was on his people as well. When a thief disobeyed his laws.he would slaughter them in the middle of the Dove. He would even kill a man who spoke against him or who slept with his current prostitute." Alanna noticed George's hands were shaking in her own. She stroked them ignoring the lump in her throat.
"So one day Scholar decided that he needed to undo the horrible things he had done, and get the locksmith out of power. But he had to save the Rouge's family first. The look in Eleni's eye's had haunted Scholar for years and he could no longer manage it. He rushed to Eleni's as the locksmith was creatin' another blood bath. That night both Eleni and her son moved in with Scholar, they were finally protected from Barret. But one night he noticed somethin' about the boy. He was everythin' his father was.but he was kind towards his mother and playmates, which he naturally led. Scholar decided to train him to dethrone his father and lead the Court away from the dark and into the light."
"On the boy's eighteenth birthday he challenged his father. At first the locksmith laughed barley recognizin' his own son through the numerous drinks. He laughed long."An eighteen year old boy beat the greatest Rouge who ever lived?" he asked. He expected the men around him to join in his merriment, but they were as serious as stone. They were sick of the meaningless slaughter. They all wanted the boy to kill Barret and kill him slowly for all to watch. So Barret and his son fought. The locksmith was fast but the boy was just as.if not more. In the end Barret was on the floor looking up at his son waiting for the end. But his son pitied him and told him to leave Corus and never to return. The locksmith slithered away, while the Court rejoiced. They chanted on into the wee hours of the morning, 'Bloody Barret is gone and George is good son is here.to save us all.' " A small smile was evident on George's face.
"Oh George.I'm sorry." Alanna embraced her husband refusing to let him go.
"I've always strived to be what he's not. But what if I become like him? What if I hurt my children-" Alanna placed her fingertips onto his mouth.
"You'll be fine.we all will. You are the strongest man I know. I've always known that but now you've reaffirmed it." Finally she wiped away his tears and held him close as he continued to sob.
"I love ya lass." Was all he could manage to say. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thayet was shaken. Thoughts were spinning around her head as she finally returned to the party that was still in full swing. She gazed though the crowds trying to find her husband; she needed to tell him about George. She spotted Gareth who was positively drunk discussing something intensely with a servant, yet her husband was no were in sight. Worry began to set in as the Queen made her way towards one of George's Men.
"Excuse me." She tapped the man on the shoulder. He was a largely built man with sandy blonde hair and deep blue eyes. When he came up from a bow a smile erupted across his face, which all the ladies considered contagious and heart melting.
"Yes milady? May I just say congratulations on the news? I myself have a son. What a rascal he is.says he wants to be in your Riders-"
"I'm very sorry," Thayet cut him off just a bit frustrated, "I would love to hear all about your son if you could help me find my husband. I can't seem to find him and I have something of importance to tell him."
"You mean the King?"
"Yes." Thayet was trying to be patient.
"Awww yes. Well I haven't seen him in a bit miss. But I'll go look for him in the Swoop if you like and spread the word."
"Yes please. Tell them I need to speak with him."
"Aye your highness. I'm right on it!" The Queen sighed with relief as she made her way towards the head table again. Telling herself that Jonathan would be by her side in no time. She was about to sit down when she felt a knife poke her belly.
"Move your majesty or you'll be needing to adopt." Said a voice into her ear. The captor pushed her out into the courtyard away from the party. Another figure was waiting for them with a club to knock the Queen unconscious.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Both the poor and rich were rejoicing unaware of the drama unfolding on the other end of the Swoop. Gareth the Younger was drunk. More than he had been in years. He was at the moment talking to a servant who strongly resembled Coram, Alanna's old protector. Well at least he did while Gary was intoxicated.
"I can't believe it, Coram! Finally Jon and Thayet are going to have a child." He managed throwing his goblet to and fro. The poor servant, who was desperate to keep his job, played along.
"That's wonderful sir."
"And you know what Coram.I've been thinking.and I realized that I'm the only one left not married..well except Raoul but anyway.I've been so busy with papers and such that I haven't fallen in love.depressing huh? Have you ever been married, Coram?"
"Uh yes sir I'm married with two children."
"How does that feel?"
"Good I suppose, sir."
"Good.I long to feel good.I mean I feel fine and all just not," Gary waved his hands in the air looking for the word.
"Good, sir."
"Yes, Coram. No wonder Alanna had you around for all those years. you are quite helpful." Gary said as he gulped down more wine.
"I try, sir." Gary laughed and slapped the man on his back. Causing him to fall onto his face. Still after so many years Gary had no clue how strong he truly was.
"Mithros! Coram what are you doing on the floor?" Gary questioned as the man who talked to Thayet earlier saluted the drunk knight.
"Sir Gareth, I have well a problem."
"What Larse? Can't you see I'm talking to Coram.wait where'd he go?"
"Sir we've searched the Swoop we can't find the King."
"What!" Gary stood up from his chair suddenly sober. Larse winced afraid to continue.
"There's one other thing sir.we went to go tell the Queen of her husband's disappearance but she has vanished as well." Gary's face turned whiter than snow. It seemed as if his life was flashing before him.
"Get George and Alanna. Whatever this is, Larse.it could mean war."

Well there it is I realized something while writing this chapter I love writing about drunks! Te he and I also realized I made Gary sound a bit like Jack Sparrow ( Okay anyway! Please review and I will love you forever! And tell me if a section needs revision or something I'm not completely happy with this chapter so I'll be fixing it! Thanx again! Oh and let me know how you survived the first paragraph!