Disclaimer: This just wastes space, so from now on if you want to see a disclaimer, go to chapter 1. I can't be bothered repeating it every single chapter!!!!

A/N: Rightio. I don't got much to say. So on with the story...

Oh yeah, review! Tell me, tell me, A/G, A/J or A/? ok? Good, you get it, now review (please). I like reviews.

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Half an hour she'd been waiting. She started hopping up and down impatiently, and chewing at her fingernails. George Cooper was so unreliable! Wait till she got her hands on him...

Suddenly she heard something rustle in the bushes behind her. Quick as a flash, she drew out her dagger from a hidden strap around her ankle, and spun around to see who had snuck up on her.

Nothing. Slightly confused, Alanna searched through all the bushes and trees around her. Nothing, yet Alanna swore she had heard something.

"Hello lass, sorry I'm late," exclaimed George, walking up the hill towards her. "Sorry!?" yelled Alanna, forgetting the mysterious sound, "I've been waiting under this blasted tree for ages!," she said, punching him hard in the gut.

"Oi, no need for that! I just had some trouble on the way," he said, "Now if you want this letter lass, you'd better start being nice," he teased. "Oh give me that!" she said, snatching the letter out of hand. She wasn't in the mood for his games'. Greedily, she ripped open the envelope and started reading,

Sister dearest,

I trust that priestess Malena received my letter, in which case I'll be seeing you at the palace soon enough. Thanks again for the two new sorcery books, they came in very handy.

How are you? Gotten into any more strife since your last letter? How is your training going? Don't expect me to duel you when you visit, I'd like to keep my head high while I still can!

I'm running out of room now. Talk to you soon,

With love, Thom

His note was very short, but he knew she'd be at the palace soon, so she forgave him for that. As for the two books she gave him, she was hardly pleased that Thom hadn't sent her any books in return. Thom and Alanna traded books with each other every so often. Alanna now had a large collection of books on weapons and the fighting arts, whilst Thom had many books on sorcery. She was always worried about Thom's obsession with magic though, he easily got carried away with his gift...

As for Alanna, she hardly ever used her gift. She only ever used it to heal herself when she was injured during training. Although she never did fulfil her dreams of becoming a knight and going off on adventures, she still trained. George had given her a brand new sword (which he didn't steal) for her 12th birthday and she trained with him whenever he was in town. She read as many books as she could get her hands on, and practised every morning in her own room. Thom had taught her how to conjure up an illusion of a knight, and over the years her illusions had become so advanced that she could now make them move swiftly, and handle a sword well. They tested her agility, and her abilities with a sword, yet whenever her sword so much as touched her illusion, it would vanish away. This wasn't quite the same as training with a real knight, but it satisfied Alanna (for the time being).

"Well lass," continued George, after he realised Alanna had finished reading the note, "I'd best be off now. Got some business to attend to while I'm here. I'll see you in Corus in a week or two..." he said, getting ready to turn back down the hill.

"Wait, George, don't you have time for a quick duel? I didn't bring my breeches and sword down here for nothing!" she complained, quickly shoving her letter up the sleeve of her dress and following George down the hill. "Sorry Alanna. I'm late as it is. Anyway, you'll have plenty of full-grown knights to challenge up at the palace. You won't want to be fighting me. Now run along, you don't want to miss your ride to the palace," grinned George evilly.

The carriage! She'd forgotten all about it! If she didn't get back to the convent in less than an hour, they would leave for the palace without her. Panicking, she waved goodbye to George, hitched up her skirts and scampered away, as fast as she possibly could.

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Hastily, Alanna rushed around her room, packing everything away into her bags. Unfortunately her books, sword, breeches and shirts, took up a lot more room. When she was finally done packing, she lugged her bags down the corridors, out the door and just reached the carriage in time. The first three girls had already left.

"There you are Alanna," exclaimed Lydia, running over to help Alanna with her bags, "How much did you pack?". Alanna grinned, if only the priestesses knew what she had hidden away in her bags.

After their bags were strapped to the carriage, the four remaining girls hopped in and took one last look at the convent. Goodbye convent, thought Alanna, with a huge grin on her face. She was finally leaving.

"I'll miss the convent," said Ebony sadly, as the convent disappeared over the hills. "Just think though Ebony, tomorrow we'll be living in the palace," said Delia excitedly.

"Ooh, what's that!" squealed Delia suddenly, "What?" squirmed Ebony. "Someone's following us!" said Delia.

Alanna looked back behind them and saw out of the corner of her eye a dark shadow vanish behind a tree. This time she knew something was following her. Not wanting to start a panic though, she said calmly, "it's probably just a bird or a fox".

"How much do you know Alanna? Why are you even here? You don't deserve to come to the palace with us!" yelled Delia, instantly forgetting the stalker. "Why couldn't you have gone in the other carriage?" complained Ebony.

She wished she had. Now that Lydia had falling asleep, it only left her with Delia and Ebony to talk to. Not that she wanted to talk to them. Alanna was the complete opposite of Ebony and Delia. Although she hated to admit it, Delia and Ebony were extremely beautiful. Both had stunning emerald green eyes and were pale in complexion. Delia's hair was a chestnut brown and was rather long, whilst Ebony had chocolate brown hair that just fell over her shoulders. Alanna's looks were nothing spectacular. Her startling red hair and bright amethyst eyes looked queer, and she was rather short and lanky. Ebony and Delia also adored the convent. They made friends easily and were the top of all their classes.

"Which dress do you think I should wear to the ball, Ebony? I was thinking of wearing that dark green velvet dress with the gold trimmings. It really brings out the colour in my eyes," said Delia to Ebony, totally ignoring Alanna, "Ooh yes, that will look stunning, and I'll do you hair. Perhaps I could braid some gold thread through it. Can you do my hair and make-up? I was thinking of putting beads in my hair..." squealed Ebony with anticipation.

Alanna was completely bored by now. She yawned and rested her head on Lydia's, falling asleep almost instantly.

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"Oh my gosh, we're here! Delia, we're here! Oh it's sooo beautiful," exclaimed Ebony, waking Lydia and Alanna.

She wasn't wrong though. Alanna could do nothing but gawk as they travelled through the front gates. The palace was huge! She'd never seen anything so grand. It was so large that Alanna swore it was big enough to house every noble and commoner in Tortall!

As they travelled through the grounds, they saw ladies strolling through the beautiful gardens, pages practising their archery skills and to Alanna's delight, knights duelling in the practise rings.

Unable to contain her excitement, Alanna started hopping up and down in glee. When they finally pulled up in front of the enormous front doors, Alanna was the first out.

"Lydia, do you believe this? We're here!" said Alanna joyfully, hugging her friend. "Come on, let's go find our rooms," she said, following after the servants carrying their bags.

Many corridors and twisted staircases later, they found themselves in the Ladies' wings. As it happened, Lydia and Alanna had rooms right next to each other, at the opposite end from Delia and Ebony.

Thrilled with the room arrangements, Alanna went inside her quarters to see her new home'. Finally she thought, some peace and quiet! She was about to collapse on the bed, but was surprised to find that someone else had gotten there first....

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hehe... I know what you're thinking – Thom! But alas, you're wrong!

Anyway, pretty pointless chapter. Next chapter I'll introduce all the knights and Thom though, even have the ball.

Also, if you have any ideas for storylines you might like me to include, email me or just review.

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