A/N: hello again, this chapter is slightly different as it doesn't have much fluff in it! I know it's outrageous! But I thought I should give the fluff a rest for just one chapter. Thank you for all my reviews, I now have over 70! You people are amazing! If you have yet to review, don't be shy, I'm not scary! I am not revealing the pairings this time either! You have to wait and see although you may be relieved to know that I have now decided! And now I present to you chapter nine:

Enjoy: love AlannaWanabe

Today was the day. The day when a girl would best a fully grown male using swords. Alanna was sure of it, well almost sure. The sick feeling was probably just because she didn't eat a lot at dinner. At breakfast Alanna ate little; she didn't want to lose because she had too heavy a stomach to wield the sword. As she walked towards the courts every muscle in her body screamed for her to turn tail and run. Alanna knew that that was not an option. She had to do this, had to prove them wrong, she could fight, she would fight and she had to win.

Alanna was not surprised to see a crowd gathered around the court. The conservatives had thought carefully about who to place against Alanna. They knew she had had some training since her duel with Gareth the Younger so they couldn't afford to be careless. In the end they had decided on a tall muscular man, exactly the opposite of Alanna, hoping that brawn would triumph over skill and tactics. One person who Alanna was surprised to see was Jonathon, they hadn't spoken for three days; both as stubborn as each other and both equally convinced that the other had engaged in a relationship with another person. Both were wrong. During the days Alanna had spent time with Thom practising her swordsmanship or when Thom was called away riding Brego into the city. The evenings she spent with George, playing cards or discussing the attack regarding Jonathon. The more time she spent with George the more she found herself trusting him, telling him things she had told no-one else.

Thom helped kit her up in preparation for the duel. Jonathon came and stood next to Thom, looking every where but at Alanna. If Alanna hadn't been so angry with him she would have laughed. Suddenly Thom dashed off into the distance. Jon and Alanna were left with only each other, they both looked up at the same time; Alanna glared and Jon looked away. Thankfully they were quickly saved by the contest judge announcing that they were going to start.

"Alanna, don't get yourself hurt." Stammered Jon,

"I didn't know you cared," was the sarcastic reply, Alanna turned to walk away, but Jon grabbed her arm and pulled her back to him.

"You know how much I care Alanna." Alanna looked up into Jon's eyes and for the first time saw the immense power behind his words. Alanna mumbled something incoherent and walked towards the courts. At every step her legs felt more like lead.

Alanna cursed as the mans sword went through her padding, drawing blood from her chest. Another slip like that and she would be in serious trouble. The conservatives were all smiling at each other, nodding arrogantly. Alanna focused her attention back on the man facing her. He thought that he had won; he grew more confident with every move. Alanna set her mouth and attacked. She allowed her mind to sit back while her body carried her through all the endless routines she had forced herself to practise.

From the side Jon saw Alanna leave an opening and stood helpless as the sword pierced through her flesh. The grim determination that now showed on her face sent a shiver down his spine. He wouldn't like to have Alanna duelling him wearing that expression. The man challenging her did not look too concerned; he was more bothered about hurling insults at her. As Jonathon watched Alanna he thought about the night that she had cried on his shoulder; it was almost impossible to believe that the girl in front of him was that same one. A sense of contentment rose inside him, it was the same feeling he had whenever he saw Alanna; at first it had frightened and confused him, but now he almost welcomed it. The last few days had been hard for him, not being able to talk, practise or even just sit with her. He had to escort Thayet every where pretending like he was having the time of his life, while his mother and father sat there concocting wedding plans in their heads. Thayet was beautiful and she did make him laugh, but Alanna was the one he wanted. Jon returned his attention back to the match before him just in time to see it end. Alanna drew her sword up high and swooped gracefully down, sweat gleaming on her face. Sword met neck and the man was driven to his knees.

'Yield!' Alanna ordered. The man yielded and walked away without so much as a hand shake.

To Alanna's amazement she heard a great round of applause go up as the man walked away. She looked around and saw her brother and Jonathon standing in the corner cheering loudly. Thom came rushing over,

'I thought he had you back then, it didn't half scare me!' gushed Thom, removing Alanna's outer garments.

'So did I' muttered Alanna, before falling to the floor in a dead faint.

A/N: wow two A/N's in one chapter you lucky people! just to say i am aware that this is not my best chapter, things have been quite umm.. stressful to say the least at the moment so i may not update for a while, no i dont mean months, more like two weeks, but please still review. also i need opinions on what should happen next, all ideas welcome

love you all

AlannaWanabe