Rite i got nothin much 2 say now said it all in first chappie just read it! oh and please enjoy!

Chapter 2 - A Palace and a Warrior

The view from the carriage window would have been interesting, had Alanna been in any mood to appreciate it. As it was, she stared out into the surrounding forests with only thoughts of forsaken freedom instead of admiring their winter beauty. Her features were perfectly composed into the usual distant, slightly haughty look that made people leave her alone. Well the intelligent ones anyway.

At least she would see her brother again she supposed. It was hard to think of good things about the trip. She wondered if he had also become cold as she had. His letters hinted at it, and she knew he had little friends. She refused to ponder on whether there was an ice at the core. Or even if there was ice at her own core. It was something not worth worrying about. Despite the fact that most others thought completely differently.

Cythera and Lin had been chosen to accompany her, mainly in the hope that the younger girls could keep Alanna in line. Or at least closer to it. At this moment they were asleep, tired out by the journey. It was two days ride to Corus (Alanna should know, she'd ridden there herself once and tried on numerous other occasions) but with the carriage it took almost three. They had stopped at Trebond to spend one night but Alanna had kept well out of the way of her father and he hadn't come to find her. She was glad of that.

Finally, Corus came into the view as the two other residents of the carriage began to wake. "Where are we Alanna?" Lin mumbled, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She gestured out of the window. "Corus." Neither girl questioned her knowledge. Alanna had gone missing so many times you never knew exactly where she had been. They simply watched from the window with awe, before tidying themselves up, to get rid of any remnants of sleep.

Alanna had no need to tidy herself up; she had been sitting stiff and straight-backed the whole journey and hated face-paints. She instead watched the palace coming closer with a sense of dread and perhaps, though she would never admit it, a bit of excitement. After all, it was the place she had always wanted to go to. But not like this. Going as a lady was bad enough but to be betrothed! The last remnants of her freedom had seemingly been stripped away. She hated life. Unknown to her, a Knight was also thinking along the same lines.

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Jon rolled his eyes at his cousin. "Will you stop pacing already? There's nothing you can do about it." Gareth the Younger turned to glare at him. "That's just the problem. And honestly, Trebond's sister! I don't know what father was thinking of. He dislikes the boy – and the family – as much as we do."

"I think it had something to do with Trebond saving Jon in the sweating sickness." Raoul ventured. "After all, the kingdom does owe the family something." Gary groaned in dejection. "I thought we could have nothing more to do with them! Mithros knows Trebond avoids us enough." He sank down into a chair with a sigh. "Which Trebond," Jon asked with an evil grin. "There are two of them now, remember?" Gary glared at his cousin, faking a move to strangle him. A servant arrived with the news of the Ladies' arrival and he raised his eyebrows at his friend.

"You're saved. For now." He turned to look down at the driveway at the approaching carriage concealing his fire-headed doom. "I'm not though."

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Alanna smoothed her features further and checked all weapons were hidden before following the other two ladies out of the carriage. It wasn't as if she had many. Only a few daggers that were barely noticeable. Landing gracefully, she flipped the driver a few coins and turned to check where her horse was going. Moonlight snickered at her in annoyance as if to say 'you lead me behind a carriage for 3 days and then don't stable me yourself. Hmph'. Alanna sent her a quick look of apology before a mistress who had accompanied the previous set of girls to court grabbed her arm.

"No funny business understand? Your betrothed is escorting you to his father and I expect respect." This particular Lady had been on the receiving end of some of Alanna's pranks. Instead of the curtsy expected Alanna stared at her with a perfected look of wide-eyed innocence. "Why, do you suspect me of trying something else? I assure you I have nothing in mind." Except perhaps from running as fast as possible away from here, she added silently, surveying the approaching duo.

She assumed one was the Prince. After all, the two were cousins and the coal black hair and blue trim on his clothing gave it away rather easily. So the other must be Sir Gareth the younger. Her first impressions weren't very favourable. But then, with Alanna, they hardly ever were.

He had chestnut brown hair and perhaps the same colour eyes though she couldn't be sure. It seemed he was still fighting or training – he was very muscled and looked fit even after being released from Squiredom with his shield. She supposed that was to be expected. She couldn't judge character yet and, having decided not to like him as she always did before meeting people, that was hardly important.

The real problem was that he was tall. Very tall. At least from the point of view of Alanna's only-just-five feet. She hated tall people. They always looked down on you. Not that she wasn't used to it by now, but still, it made things harder in a fight and respect was harder to come by. She looked up at him, back ram-rod straight, features distant and haughty. He could form any impression of her he liked. It was unlikely he would ever really see her as she was.

Gary stared down at the Lady of Trebond. She was shorter even than Thom which was saying something. He offered her the usual greetings and kissed her hand mechanically, all the while politely surveying her. She was stiff, expression distant and haughty. Worse than Thom? he wondered silently. At least he's cold and nasty outright. The politeness gets to me.

What really made him look twice were the contrast between her hand and her eyes. The hand was warm and slightly calloused, the purple eyes empty and yet at the same time piercing. He wondered which she was. Warm gentle lady or cold perceptive fiend. Had Alanna heard his thoughts she would have informed him that it was the latter.

At this moment she was walking stiffly yet gracefully up the steps, hand resting so lightly on his arm it almost wasn't there. She wished it wasn't. After the quick exchange of names and titles he had asked her to call him Gary. Apparently, Gareth was his father. She supposed she wouldn't wish to be associated with her father like that. Although this Gary had a good relationship with his parents she had heard once. At any rate, she had informed him that Lady Alanna would do fine. She wasn't about to become on first name terms so soon after meeting him – though the title Lady irked her to no end.

Duke Gareth the elder was and imposing man and also tall. He smiled kindly at Alanna and his son and introduced himself and his wife. Alanna dropped the usual curtsey and stood stiffly once again. The Duke studied her. He had been against the marriage really and didn't like her father or brother. But they owed the family. He wouldn't make judgements early, preferring to watch for a time but her resemblance to her brother unnerved him slightly. He cleared his throat.

"I trust your journey was comfortable?"

"It was as expected thank-you." Her voice was cold and flat, words meaningless. He almost shivered, and picked a ring of the desk to give to her.

"We would, of course, like to welcome you into our family and ensure that your time among us is comfortable and happy. Your chambers are among our suites and my son will introduce you to the palace and its people. I trust you already know some ladies from your time at the convent?"

"We have met yes. You needn't worry about my welfare. I'm sure I will be perfectly fine." She was still looking up at him and wished he would sit down. Her soon-to-be-father-in-law. Anything with the word father in it sounded bad to her. She turned the ring he had given her over in her hand ignoring the ritual words he said. It was silver with a crystal gem. Upon slipping it on her finger, the gem flickered purple. She frowned, about to probe it with her magic, when Gary's arm nudged her.

"Sorry- uh, I accept the betrothal." Luckily it was what she was meant to say. "This ring has magic in it? I can't quite work out what." Gary could have groaned. She was some kind of sorceress. Like Thom, fascinated by the gift. Great.

His father nodded. "Yes it adjusts itself to the wearer. I felt it unnecessary, but your brother insisted." She raised her eyebrows. "He did, did he? Hmm." Trust Thom. She glanced down at it. It had flattened itself, the gem the same height as the rest and, glowing slightly purple, turned a bronze colour, entwined with a black design. The gem still shone purple. She had to force herself not to roll her eyes. It was exactly the ring she would prefer to wear. Had he designed it or did it really fit itself to the wearer? The latter was perhaps more probable considering its maker.

"May I see?" Duke Gareth's wife Lisa asked almost timidly. "I find magical things of that sort fascinating." Gary thought he saw the red-head hesitate, before lifting her hand. It was strange. For a moment she had looked almost human when watching it although only her eyes had shown it. The rest of her face remained distant and emotionless.

Lisa smiled upon seeing it. "A mark of a warrior," she said quietly. Had Alanna not been in such control over herself she would have jumped. As it was she arched one eyebrow without much emotion, though her heart beat quickly. One ring and its reaction could be the end of her protective masquerade. "I hardly see how I could be a warrior, being a Lady and female." To her credit, she kept all bitterness out of her voice.

Lisa just smiled slightly knowingly. "I have the sight child. It tells me things. You are gifted so I See very little. But you are a warrior at heart. Nothing can change that."

Alanna's barriers strengthened themselves lashed out defensively. "I am no warrior, Lady, and I dislike people meddling in my affairs, especially Mages." she snapped.

"Yet you are a Mage are you not? Your brother is? It does seem a strange thing to say." The woman leant down a little to focus friendly grey eyes on her face. "What are you so afraid of Alanna?"

Alanna's reign on her temper snapped. Her purple eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not afraid. I am healer not a sorceress. I don't pry into peoples lives. And my brother doesn't meddle. He leaves well enough alone. As should you!" She glared at them, a look that could set ice alight. "If you will excuse me, I am going to visit my horse." She swept out, shaking with anger and something else.

As she walked quickly towards the stables she refused to admit that it might be fear. She had worked hard to keep her secrets hidden and her nature as a warrior. Alanna didn't stop to wonder just why she didn't want people to know. For sure they might think her unmaidenly or vulgar, but since when had she cared? However, she had lived too long with high walls around herself and didn't question her close guarding of secrets. And besides, she hated Mages meddling.

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