The Choice's Choice

By: SilverStarsGoldenMoon

Dis: I don't own the characters of Trickster's Choice they belong to Tamora Pierce. I suggest that you read Trickster's Choice first so you won't be too lost.

Chapter 2

That morning Aly woke up earlier then usual after getting a letter from home from Kyprioth. It had been a short one showing her father's trip back to Tortall where it then ended. Aly woke up wondering what he would tell her mother and what she would do. She sighed knowing it would be no use to worry over it. She went and set out Dove's and Sarai's clothes before going to put on her goat herding gear. She went down to the kitchen to fetch her breakfast and lunch. She also picked up the serum for Visda and Ekit before leaving the castle. She took the serum to them first before getting the goats. She knew that their mother would be wake by now doing things around the house that needed done since her husband and oldest son had died in Bronau's attack. After her delivery she rounded up her goats and headed out of the gates. She looked over to Nawat's bench and found it empty. She shrugged and continued one her way ignoring the tiny twinge of sadness in her heart. She made her way to the rock where she sat down and ate her breakfast. Aly was finishing off the last piece of cheese when she heard foot steps behind her. She knew it wasn't Junai who had been relived for the winter she jumped up and unsheathed one of her many hidden knives. Only to sheath it back when she saw it was Nawat. Usually she couldn't hear him until he made his self know.

"What are you doing up this early?" she asked. Nawat did a wing shrug.

"It is a habit I can't break even though I'm not a crow anymore," he told her as he sat down next to her.

"But won't you become a crow again?" she asked. He shook his head.

"I like being a human plus I'm waiting for something," he told her.

"Like what," she asked. He got a sad look in his eyes.

"For something I will probably never have," he said quietly.

"Why do you say that?" she asked.

"Because I've tried and haven't gotten very far," he told her.

Aly dawned on what the conversation was about. It was about her being his mate. Aly sighed. There was an attraction between them one more then physical. Aly could relate to him better then she could ever relate to the boys at court. Those who hadn't been afraid of Alanna's wrath or George's quick knife work. She had complained on never meeting anyone interesting men other then her uncles or the men of her foster family. She did like Nawat very much even though until then she would never have admitted it. She knew it was going to be a long winter and from what Kyprioth had told her a very exiting spring. She would need a companion to stick with her though both and if they live through it the road home and during her new profession she would have when she returned. She just needed him to teach him what would be expected if he decided to court her now and when they returned to Tortall. She cleared her throat sorting out her words and thoughts.

"Nawat thing are different when concerning humans when they are ready to court," she started. Nawat looked at her confused. "Ok for example before two people could become mates they would want to get used to the other. Learn about their past. What they plan on doing for the future. Most don't just become mates unless they are betrothed," she said looking at him to see if he understood.

"What is betrothed and are you betrothed?' he asked. Aly shook her head.

"Betrothed is when you are promised to be someone's mate with little or no say so in the matter and no my parents thought it would be best to let me find someone I love," she said.

"So before I can make you my mate I must court you," he sorted. Aly nodded he was learning faster then she thought. "Well what must I do to court you Aly?" he asked. Aly thought about it.

"Well here I am just a servant who must serve Dove and Sarai but at if we were at my home you would bring me flowers, and take me on walks, and sometimes give me things not that I'm saying you have too," she said. Nawat looked serious and nodded.

"What about kissing?" he asked getting out of the habit of calling it mate feeding. Aly smiled.

"Well usually kissing comes later when the two people have been courting for a long time and are sure the other wants to, but for us I guess it is ok," she told him blushing.

"So we are courting now Aly?" he asked as he began to preen her.

"I think that would be nice," she said. Nawat nodded in agreement. Then Aly began to tell him about her family and of her home and what she would do when they got back if he decided to go with her. He told her about the crows and what it was like to be them. She was very fascinated on the legends of the crow god and goddess and the beginning of the raka. He wanted to know about all the stories of the warriors and people she had met. He was very interested in Daine when he leaned her adoptive aunt could speak, heal, and turn into animals.

As the months went on Aly and Nawat became closer. Visda and Ekit got better and took back over the herd but Aly and Nawat still went out some days when the ladies were in the stillroom or in the practice courts. He began bringing her rare winter flowers and he made things from wood that she could use. He made a comb whose tips were metal pieces of stormwing feather he hadn't used. He told her how she could use it as a weapon if she was in trouble in the spring. They lived the winter happy and warm in each other's embrace. Dove, Sarai, and Winnamine only used Aly for her main duties and little else unless it was something they felt she and Nawat could do together like sending messages to Pohon and Inti. They wanted the couple to be together when they could. Everyone was a little warmer during the winter watching the young couple. Soon the snow began to thaw and everyone knew spring was on the way. Those who knew about the Trickster's greatest plan began to prepare for what would happen that spring. Aly and Nawat were sitting in the almost empty kitchen during an early spring rain storm.

"Spring is near," Nawat commented popping a dried cherry his mouth, Aly had worked on getting him used to human food as well during the winter. Aly nodded and smiled up at him.

"The winter was bearable with you I wasn't very homesick at all," she said. Nawat kissed her nose.

"My flock will return when the snows are melted they will have information for us and I can tell them of my learning to court," he bragged popping another cherry into his mouth. Aly elbowed him slightly. He smiled down at her. "I will be happy to return with you when this is all over Aly. I will ask your family for your hand and we will marry and all will be perfect," he told her. Aly nodded.

"I'll have found the perfect husband to help me in our network of spies and you would have found yourself a mate to raise young chicks with," she said. "I love you Nawat and I pray that we will live through this," she told him.

"And I love you and I know with our friends and allies we will help the Trickster in succeeding in his greatest trick ever and live happily," he told her. Aly reached up and pulled his head to hers in a heart-shattering kiss.

"Kyprioth better with that or leave us alone," she said when it ended. The air around them filled with Kyprioth's rich marry chuckle. I have the up most faith in you Alianne of Pirate's Swoop and Nawat Crow, the up most faith. Rang his voice in their heads. Nawat smiled and kissed Aly again. This was going to be an interesting spring.

Thanks for reading my fic. I hope I didn't disappoint you to much. I didn't want to go into deep detail without knowing almost anything about T.Q. I didn't want to confuse anyone. Anyways thank for reading and look out for The Trickster's Queen coming out I think in September. Maybe after I read that one I'll make another fic.