A/N Thanks to my reviewers it is very much appreciated. Just to say that i am trying to create my own version of Alex, as i always thought his personnality could have gone either of two ways and for me this is the other side of Alex. So sorry if you like Alex the way he was in the book!! Keep reviewing

Chapter 3: complications

"She's wonderful Gary, sweet, funny, beautiful, intelligent I couldn't have asked for someone more wonderful." Gushed Jon the morning after the ball, "I was thinking that after breakfast I would go and ask her if she would like to come for a ride, I'll pack a picnic and...." Jon was cut short by Gary sighing loudly ,

"WHAT?" demanded Jon. Gary shifted awkwardly before replying

"I think there's something you should know, Lady Alanna well, well she's sort of betrothed" "bet..bethrothed, who to?" stammered Jon,

"Alex"

"ALEX OF TIRRAGEN!! Lady Alanna is marrying that foul-mouthed ignorant piece of scum. Does she love him?"

"no, father said that they only met last night, and they didn't even dance. Jon he just wants a trophy"

"Mithros Gary, what am I going to do?"

At Dawn Alanna went down to the practise courts and began her daily routine. She was dressed in white cotton breeches and a loose white shirt. Alanna had decided the night before that as she was forced to marry a man she didn't like, she wasn't going to hide her fighting ability. She had been taught by three shang warriors over the last five years as well as some guards and she was very handy when it came to street fighting. She wasn't going to hide that from anyone. As she worked through her routine her mind kept drifting back to Prince Jonathon. Alanna had surprised herself last night, she had never thought herself able to go silly over a good looking boy, but then again Jon was more than just good looking, he was also sweet and kind and Alanna had felt able to talk to him.

"lady Alanna, when you are finished would you join me for a ride I don't believe you have seen Corus before" Alanna stood in horror at Alex before graciously accepting.

"Oh splendid, run along and ask Stefan to pick you a horse"

'run along' muttered Alanna to herself 'what's he think I am his child? I can pick my own horse thanks very much.' Fifteen minutes later Alanna rode out of the palace on a beautiful chestnut gelding named Brego. To Alex's disgust Alanna was not riding sidesaddle. When he expressed such opinions to Alanna she snorted and very politely asked, if he liked sidesaddles so much why wasn't he riding one? Alex pulled a face and urged his stallion on.

To Alex's great surprise he actually felt himself warming towards Alanna throughout the day. He found her frank nature and sarcastic sense of humour strangely charming. Alanna on the other hand was doing everything in her power to make this man hate her. Everything he said disgusted her and his glance made her stomach swirl.

When they stopped for lunch Alanna suddenly screamed loudly. Alex came rushing over sword drawn and grinned when he saw what had happened. There on top of Alanna's bag was a spider. Alex, laughing, bent down, picked up the spider and placed it on a nearby tree. Alanna blushing said

"Thank you Sir knight" and lowered her eyes in a sarcastic rendition of a typical noble lady.

"Its my duty to protect fair damsels, such as yourself, from great perils." Replied Alex grinning.

For the first time since she had arrived in Corus, Alanna laughed.

By the time they returned to the castle it was well past dusk and both had decided that their marriage was not going to be so bad after all. Jon watched the fiancés separate to get changed for dinner. Alex kissed Alanna's hand as she grinned down at him, before he strolled off down the corridor. Alanna watching him go. Jon's stomach gave an unpleasant lurch as he walked off to get dressed.