A/n: the last chapter because I hate stories that drag on for longer than they should.

Chapter 2: Silent Knight

Alanna decided to go and get some fresh air; most of the knights knew she was just using it as an excuse so she could leave the party.

Without anyone noticing the 'silent knight' slipped outside and followed Alanna through the gardens.

Alanna walked through the palace gardens past the giant marble statue of Liam Ironarm and sat beside a fish-filled pool that glimmered in the moonlight when she noticed for the first time the figure in the darkness, the figure stepped in to the moonlight and Alanna unconsciously loosened her sword, as the figure stepped towards the light Alanna realized that it was the Tusaine knight that Gary had dubbed 'the silent knight' he had a sword but presently it wasn't drawn he knelt in the wet grass beside Alanna and said, "I want to thank you for teaching my father a lesson, ever since you defeated him he's been-" suddenly the knight jumped to his feet withdrawing his sword at the same time and slashed Alanna's tunic in the same move cutting her deeply Alanna let out a cry of pain and withdraw her sword and quickly rose to her feet.

Alanna unleashed a rapid chopping attack forcing him back away, Alanna cried for help,

"I'm sorry lady knight but no one's going to help you my cousin in conveniently distracting your friends." The knight's words were both mocking and taunting at the same time.

Alanna yelped as she over-stretched herself to avoid a slash aimed at her heart, further injuring her chest, the 'silent knight' laughed and lazily passed his sword from his left hand to his right hand and vice versa taunting her.

George started running from the castle walls to the palace gardens as soon as he heard Alanna's plea for help, running down the steps he pause when he saw from a distance Alanna duelling another person from all appearances a knight who just laughed at something George hadn't seen, continuing running down endless steps, George started jumping the steps when he heard someone scream.

Alanna hated being defenceless and right now she was in a position that could be called just that: she was on the ground with her opponents blade resting at her throat, "Now who's the best now?" 'The silent knight' asked, panting heavily despite being well over sixty Alanna still knew how to fight a duel.

George arrived just in time to see Alanna thrust her sword into the silent knight's body and his response of slicing he throat, the silent knight fell onto his knees then face first into the grass now sticky with blood, Alanna already on her knees collapsed backwards the last thing she saw was George killing himself to be with her using the silent knight's sword, his face as he feel forward onto his wife's chest and thought: the place I'm going I will no longer suffer at the hands of painful memories.

The next morning when Gary went to see were Alanna was and he checked the gardens as Alanna once mentioned that it was a place were few memories haunted her as he walked toward the center were a giant statue of Liam Ironarm stands he saw servant crowding around something, pushing between one of the servants he saw Alanna with her throat cut, chest shredded on her stomach lie the face of George Alanna's blood on his face he had a sword in his heart and across from the married couple was the person responsible for the carnage and Gareth the younger immediately recognized the man it was 'the silent knight' who had been watching Alanna, he had a deep cut in his chest going diagonally across from his heart to his ribs. Seeing Alanna sword on the ground he realized that it was truly Alanna's final duel.

Alanna and George were buried the following week a small memorial was built in the palace gardens to commemorate 'Sir' Alanna the Lioness, the first Lady knight in over a hundred years and her husband the spymaster of Tortall her husband.

Their children who laid flowers on it visited the site every possible week; they also visited their parent's grave, vowing that they and their heroic deeds would never be forgotten.

A/n: Just so you know the knight was Dain's son (The Tusaine knight from 'In the hand of the goddess')