Not sure what you'll think of this chapter, I'm not sure what I think of it myself. I'll put the ball in the next chapter, and I'll make it.... Interesting! Thanx to everyone who reviewed, much appreciated!

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Chapter 3:A Friend, A Surprise, and Plenty of Sleep

"Alanna wake up, I need to talk to you, Alanna," his voice was rough as he shook his sister awake.

Alanna opened her eyes to discover purple ones staring back at her. She was tired, what with arriving at the palace, fighting with Thom, then meeting George. I might as well get this over with now, so I can get back to sleep.

"Alanna I'm sorry. We both lost our tempers and took it too far. I shouldn't have said those things about you, but I truly have feelings for Delia, and the sooner you accept that the happier we'll both be, I'm not a little boy anymore, I can take care of myself, and make my own decisions," Thom's voice held passion, so Alanna didn't yell at him or even talk back. She knew that one day he'd come to her rooms and tell her Delia had broken his heart, but she couldn't tell him that now.

"So too make it up to you, I asked the prince to escort you to the ball tomorrow night. Isn't that wonderful? He accepted, he didn't even argue like he usually does," Thom's grin was wiped from his face when he saw Alanna's own shocked one.

"Thom! How could you? I'm not ready for this, I don't even like the prince, he conceited!" She cried out, exasperation clouding her thoughts.

"Come now Alanna, better you get used to him now, and don't give me that look like you don't know what I'm talking about, you've heard just as much as me. It's to be announced in three weeks time, the deal has been made," Thom gave his sympathy out to his sister, but maybe it was for the best. Jon would treat her good, he knew that, and it was about time Alanna stopped playing her little game of warrior woman. She was a princess after all and her country came first. Marriage would be good for both of them, not only Alanna but for Jon, he spent too much time with the noble women.

Half an hour later, Alanna found herself pouring over a book that had the mapping of the palace. She couldn't sleep and naturally she'd been looking for something to do, and bumped right into the library.

The palace was much smaller than the one she lived in, but maybe it was better this way, it'd be easier to find her way around. She'd managed to find two indoor practice courts that were set in a corner of the palace that probably weren't used much since there were many newer ones built since then.

Gathering the book in her arms, she was about to leave when a man stopped her. Great, another noble!

He bowed low, the way you were taught to when in front of royalty, and introduced himself as Sir Gareth the Younger. He had chestnut brown hair, that fell into his brown eyes, and she resisted the urge to push it back.

She curtsied, which was not easy with the book in her arms, and said, "A pleasure to meet you Sir Gareth, but please call me Alanna, I hate all the formality," like George, she found she like this man, he looked pleasant enough.

"Then you must call me Gary. It's surprising not to find you half monster half goddess like my cousin described you," he grinned, she was easily the most beautiful girl at court, and she seemed to actually think for herself, not like some of the other mindless girls!

She feigned horror. "A monster! Well really, isn't that just like man! I am just an innocent woman at court, looking to catch myself a husband, and it just so happens I am a princess. Didn't you boys learn any manners here, you never, ever, call a woman a monster!" She joined in with Gary's laughter, and found it easy to laugh at some of the ladies with him.

They continued to talk, and she found herself liking this man more and more. He listened to her, really listened, and asked her opinion. How could someone like him be related to the prince!?

She looked at him and asked the question that had been on her mind all day. "Who is this Delia that's been with my brother?"

"Delia," he groaned. "She's had her time flirting with every eligible man at court, including Jon. She plays her little games with you, one day you're hers, the next you're not. She's a slut, but I don't think your brother has realized it yet. She's around him most day and night, some say she'll be the next queen of Tusaine," he raised her eyebrows at her, and saw both shock and horror on the girl's beautiful face.

She talked to him for another minutes before he announced that he had an errand to run, that he should get it done before it got dark out, and all the way to the stables he couldn't help but think of Alanna. He knew he shouldn't, his cousins would soon be betrothed to her, but he couldn't help but think of her smile . . .

Alanna went back to her room thinking of Gary. He was handsome and smart, but he also had a sense of humor that you didn't find in most knights.

Opening her door yet again, she threw herself onto the bed, not bothering to change. She would need her sleep for tomorrow's ball, she was sure that being with Jon was going to be horrible, thinking of no one but himself.

Hope u enjoyed!