A/n: please refer to previous chapters about ownership thing. To all the lovely people who read my work I'd like to proudly say that in this chapter a certain person finds out about "Alanna's Forbidden Secret" as you can probly guess by the chapter tittle 'Eavesdropping and Choices'. I really hope you like it and once again I'm sorry I don't exactly update timely enough as I said I'm busy fixing up little bits and pieces wrong with my A.F.S story...among other things (the very possible sequel this depends on if people like the ending, no I can't tell you what it is .)

Chapter 5: Eavesdropping and Choices.

Tia was on her way back to her room after kissing Thom, when a servant who had clearly been looking for her told Tia that she was requested in the war chamber.

Tia agreed and before she could ask the servant why he ran off.

Tia sighed as she walked in the general direction of the war chamber hopefully it would be just a drill not the real thing.

Lost in thought Tia was disrupted when she heard her name, turning to see whom it was Tia found no one. Again she heard her name this time Tia stood still trying to locate the source for her name and to her surprise it came from King Jonathan's office.

Tia heard a mixture of voices only two of the three voices Tia recognized Alanna's and the king's; the third voice was vaguely familiar.

Walking towards the heavy oak door Tia pressed her ear against it so she could what was said, Tia knew what she was doing wasn't right but her name was mentioned making the situation O.K.

"-Why am I explaining what is already known?" Alanna's voice said.

"Because she's your child and your expected to at least keep them separated." The unknown voice said.

"It's not my fault that Tia fell in love with her half-brother!" Alanna nearly shouted.

Tia jumped back reflexively, shocked.

"It is your fault, you were suppose to tell her ages ago." Jonathan's voice said there was a sound like the shifting of chairs before the next voice spoke.

"Do you know how hard it is to tell your own daughter who doesn't know that she's your daughter that your mother and she's bedded her own half-brother!" Alanna yelled at Jonathan and George letting her anger get the best of her.

Tia was shocked, stunned and didn't know what to do, so she leant against the door once more thinking about all the things that puzzled her over the last few months she'd been at the palace: Alanna's weird behavior and the look of bliss when she saw her in the waiting room.

"Calm down Alanna just because you've made a few mistake doesn't mean it will have a negative effect." Jonathan's voice said.

"Yes it will!" Alanna said the words slipping out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Tia wasn't really paying attention to what her now know mother was saying, she was thinking about all the things she did with Thom that she enjoyed...and regretted them; things that brother and sister should never do because it was classed as incest for a very good reason.

Tia now realized that she was now one of those people, the people whose children were born with birth defects of the worst sort, she suddenly felt unclean right now to her very should and felt a very strong surge to scrub herself until her skin bled and her hair fell out.

Due to the fact that Tia wasn't paying attention to what her mother was saying, Tia didn't hear her mother say:

"-That does it I'm sick of everything being my fault! Now I don't care if you don't excuse me I'm going!" Alanna practically screamed and she opened the heavy oak door before George or Jon could say anything only to see her daughter Tia standing on the other side looking pale and sick, Alanna knew why.

Tia was brought back to earth when she heard the door open and looked straight into the Amethyst eyes of her now known mother.

"Tia I can-"Alanna's words were cut short as Tia's vacant purple eyes harden and shot a glare at Alanna before Tia turned and ran off down the hall.

Alanna watched as her daughter's back slowly disappeared from sight, she slid down the oak door before shortly bursting into tears: this wasn't how she wanted her daughter Tia to find out.

Tia didn't know where to go, she couldn't go to Thom after she knew why Alanna had been so persistent to break up their early efforts to kiss, she couldn't go to her noble friends after the squires and the pages saw Thom and herself together in bed.

She couldn't go any where... she had no one there was only one thing to do: go to the war chamber and try and live her life with everyone whispering about her.

Tia took the long way around King Jonathan's office for obvious reasons when she got there she was slightly surprised: all the nobles with previous war experience were all gathered inside, a servant saw her, asked Tia's name and directed her to her seat.

Once she was seated Tia took a look around and saw a large table with what appeared to be an enlarged version of a country or area, Tia couldn't be sure because it was covered with a white cloth, continuing her look around the war chamber Tia notices many nobles were adverting their gaze when they saw who was looking at them, some whispered this made Tia frown, still continuing looking around she spotted someone who made her insides melt: Thom all though she knew this was wrong Tia smiled back at Thom and regretted her own existence.

Suddenly all talk in the room died down as the King of Tortall entered the room, he cleared his throat and began his speech. "You all may be wondering why I called you all here today and as much as I hate to admit it we, Tortallans are now at war with one of our greatest allies: Tyra." at Jonathan's words talking erupted from the room and cries of "Outrageous" and "How can this be?" came from all corners of the room.

Tia's heart sank she was now in a tricky position she had to chose between the country of her birth and the country she swore loyalty to weeks before, she couldn't really decide if she chose Tortall she would have to fight the people of her birth country, if she chose Tyra she would eventually fight people she knew,

Tia had a horrible vision of riding a horse axe in hand charging at the 'enemy' and seeing Thom charging at her sword in hand and seeing his blood splatter against her chain mail, she shook her head to clear it.

Jonathan endured a few minutes of this before loudly clearing his throat making the room silent once more and continued. "The big question is how did this happen? And I'll tell you: a spy was recently discovered deep in the Tyran court this spy was questioned then beheaded-" cries of outrage echoed throughout the war chamber this time King Jonathan just cleared his throat and said without waiting for the room to be completely silent "- this spy was found to be of Tortallan origins, I shall say now that the spy wasn't spying for Tortall but Scanra the Tyrans just assumed the spy was ours and did no further questioning. ´ Lowering his voice Jonathan continued, "News just came this morning war was officially declared with the beheading of Tortallan ambassadors and threats." Jonathan stopped to look around and stared into certain noble's eyes, when he saw Tia he gave her a brief sympathy look but Tia didn't buy it and continued his speech. "I want to know right now if you are all with me on this are you?" Jonathan's brilliant sapphire eyes rested on Tia.

A general murmur of approval ran through the room, Tia found her throat was dry and she couldn't meet the eyes of Tortall's King, many of the nobles noticed Jonathan was staring at just one person and looked to see who it was many of them knew were she came from as they were at her Pledging of Loyalty ceremony and all of them had heard the rumours about Thom and herself.

A/n: I'll like the ending you just don't know what going to happen do you? Well I know! He hee.... next chapter will be put up soon just to keep you people on edge. Oh and I nearly forgot...anything that's plausible to change just tell me O.K? And this time I'm not going to update until I have reviews...just so I know how many people read my work and to be annoying...I'll most likely just put it up anyway sigh.