Hello again! huge apologies for being so slow and i hope u enjoy this chapter. I was updating my other story ( for those who read it - the nest chapter should be up soon) and got a bit of a block on this.

Anyway thanx to any reviewers and readers for reviewin and reading so far - enjoy this chapter.

Many Meetings

The houses Alanna walked swiftly past were beginning to darken as their residents blew out their lamps for the night. Clad in her dark breeches and cloak, Alanna moved like a shadow as she followed Amli's vague instructions. Finally she found herself outside a rowdy in called the Dancing Dove.

With a small smile she slipped inside resettling her knives cautiously. The crowded barroom was lit by candles on the walls and tables, throwing some parts of the room in deep shadow. She quickly made use of one such shadow, seating herself to survey the people in the room. It was quite like the City of the Gods really, she mused. Of course, the base of thieves in the City of the Gods didn't usually have the Rogue seated at the head of a table by the fire.

Alanna studied the brown haired thief, finding him very similar to when she had seen him four years ago during the sweating sickness. It had simply been luck that Alanna had been riding on her only successful trip to Corus when her brother contacted her. With her power to take the place of all the magic he had already used in healing they had brought the Prince back from death – but only after Alanna had called on the Goddess for aid. Thinking about this she grumbled silently. Being Chosen didn't seem to help anything – she had no guidance in what to do about anything. In fact, it had made no difference to her life, only prompting a visit after the saving of the Prince's life and subsequently this betrothal.

Someone appeared before her had Alanna cursed herself for not being more aware. "His Majesty would like to talk to you," the big man rumbled. Casting a quick glance at the fire she could she the King of Thieves watching her and she stood up casually to make her way to his 'throne'.

Standing before him she bowed a little before quirking one coppery eyebrow. He answered her unspoken question by gesturing to a chair beside him. "Sit. Would you like something to drink?" Without waiting for her answer he asked Solom, the serving man, to bring her a tankard of lemonade. Alanna sat and, against her will, felt herself relax. Something about the thief's presence radiated trust – she pinched herself to keep from succumbing to dopiness. He was the King of Thieves – she should be more wary not less so.

"So, what would a young lass like yourself in these reaches of Corus at this hour?" Hazel eyes bored into her own. She let on corner of her mouth lift.

"I should expect you may know more about that than I do – am I not right?" He nodded, his expression also bland.

"As King of the Rogue it is my business to know what goes on among my subjects and those around them. However, some are more evasive than others. It is possible things have escaped my notice."

"I find it hard to believe you know little of my business – and as to the other; it would be through no fault of mine your spies find me evasive." The thief laughed and Alanna sensed she had passed some kind of test. "Well said, lass, well said. You bring any news from the City of the Gods?"

Alanna shook her head. "Not really – things are just as usual. I wouldn't have thought you'd need to know from me anyway." George grinned. "Aye, but who can blame me from askin' other point of view?" She glared at him, catching the disguised comment on her nobility.

"Your subjects should be more careful – people will get suspicious if every time my purse is stolen it gets given back. Not very subtle." If he noticed the purposeful change of subject he gave no sign of it, instead steering conversation back to it.

"Now, I could hardly tell thieves not to steal from Lady Alanna of Trebond without revealing who you are, lass, could I? You weren't planning on telling your betrothed? He always seemed a bright lad to me." Alanna stiffened turning angry violet eyes on him but found herself less angry than she would have usually been. She frowned inwardly. She had met this man barely twice before and already he was making he act as she would around Amli of Ennim. Shaking herself she snapped,

"You should assume nothing, George Copper; what I tell anyone is no business of yours!" Instead of exploding back or backing down as people usually did in the face of Alanna's temper, the thief just smile, turning friendly hazel eyes on her. "Calm down, lass, I was only askin'. Didn't know it was such a touchy subject, especially from the girl who saved the Prince's life." Alanna felt herself slump a little.

"One, I only lent magic to Thom and two," she paused the next word sounding strange on her tongue; "well…I'm sorry. I keep city things separated from noble things. No point having them otherwise." It was the closest she had ever come to expressing her feelings to anyone for a long time. Feeling a bit thrown off track by her sudden change of character she struggled to return to her usual cold state.

George tactfully dropped the subject, choosing to leave his curiosity for another time. Alanna had changed from that exhausted girl who had arrived at the inn four years ago and worked huge magic in an upstairs room. His sight told him she was important and he had watched her, along with her brother. Both were very elusive, the sister more than the brother, and yet it seemed she barely realised it herself – or at least would admit to nothing.

Both twins hid behind the same mask of cold and unpleasantness, snapping at anyone who came near. Alanna was interesting, he had found. Two months among the Bazhir in which she had rid the Black city of the Ysandir with the help of her brother and the Prince, she had spent almost nine months travelling to and from Sarain where she had met the Shang Dragon and Sarain's Princess. And yet no-one seemed to know her. She kept herself to herself, pushing away anyone who came to close. Her treatment of the horse she had bought off him, of servants and of those unable to defend themselves contradicted all images she projected of herself.

Well now he had the chance, he'd be damned if he didn't eventually crack that shell of hers. Actions spoke louder than words and coupling his curiosity with his sight; well, the girl would open up at some point and when the time came he'd be there. The red-head couldn't exist forever without friends.

Xxx

However, a few days later Alanna met someone she was certain would never be her friend. Walking down the hall alongside Gary and his friends she was so wrapped up in plans for another night-time excursion that she walked right into someone. Immediately afterwards she wondered exactly how he was possible to miss.

If not his height or handsome features – both of which were impressive in themselves – it was his aura, the air of command that hung on him like a cloak. He smiled charmingly down at her, sapphire eyes sparkling. To Alanna they seemed artificially lit.

"Who might this lovely lady out walking with my cousin be?" His voice was deep, tone mellow. Jon answered for her; "Lady Alanna, may I introduce you to Duke Roger of Conté – Roger, this is Lady Alanna of Trebond."

Expecting the usual polite but sharp answer and the additional demand that they left out her titles the group of boys were surprised by Alanna's stiff curtsey and stony silence. Duke Roger was not thrown by this it seemed and merely replied with interest;

"Thom of Trebond's sister? I teach him the gift – a very promising student. I suppose you also have skill in that area?" Blue eyes bore into hers and she glared back, mentally strengthening her icy walls. "I am simply a healer and have few of my brother's skills." Almost wincing at the defensiveness in her tone, Alanna continued more in the softer tone expected of a helpless lady, "However it honours me that you might think that, your Grace."

"Please, call me Lord Roger. Your Grace makes me feel old." Alanna raised her eyebrows, unable to hold back a sarcastic remark. "Perhaps age comes with birth and you shouldn't avoid it. Seems to me, if you're a royal Duke you're likely to get killed in some treachery; so emphasis on age would remind people of how likely it is for you to die." She smiled coldly, unsure of why she was saying this. "Perhaps in that case titles should be done away with altogether. Might prevent assassinations."

They were staring openly at her in shock at her audacity. More surprising was the way it cracked the Dukes good humour. His voice was cold as he replied; "Perhaps titles are there to remind people of our superiority and that it is in their interests to respect us." Turning to Jon, Gary, Raoul and Alex he said in a more pleasant voice, "Alex I need your help with some documentation if you wouldn't mind too much? I expect we shall see each other again soon boys, enjoy your walk. With that he walked off, Alex following.

"I wouldn't have thought you would dislike Roger," Jon said carefully hiding the note of incredulity in his voice. Alanna stared stonily back at him. "I don't know what you're talking about. What reason do I have to dislike him?" She turned and kept walking the way they had been going, hearing the Knights hurry to catch up with her.

No reason, of course. No reason at all. Somehow, her inner persuasions didn't work very well.

Xxx

Arriving at the stable yard, still puzzling over her strange reaction to the Duke, Gary was surprised to see a slender, copper-haired man leading his horse towards the stables. Even more surprising was the abrupt change in his betrothed.

Alanna felt the beginnings of a huge smile break out on her face as she gave a yell of "Thom!" and picked up her skirts, running across the mud towards the young man. He dropped the reins of his horse, turning quickly, and Alanna found herself enveloped in a bone-crushing hug that lifted her off the ground. Laughing quietly she wrapped her arms around him tightly.

All onlookers stared in shock. No-one had ever seen Thom of Trebond smile without a hint of cynicism. Gary and Raoul shared a glance. Perhaps there really was some hint of warmth in the Trebond twins; a warmth kept only for each other. Or perhaps everyone had misjudged.

Still smiling, Thom handed the reins of his horse to Stefan and followed Alanna back towards the other three. "You grew a beard," Alanna commented. Thom smiled at her – smiled down at her. "Is that the only difference" he teased, surprising the Knights with the playfulness – albeit slight hint of sarcasm – in his voice. Alanna glared.

As they accompanied Thom to his room the mood was strangely restrained and quiet, until Alanna finally burst out, "Stop being so smug!" Her brother smirked infuriatingly. "Why? What on earth are you talking about?" She glared again, waving her arms expressively;

"It's not fair! Even my own twin brother is taller than me!" They paid her indignant protests no heed erupting, instead, into laughter.

xxx

Should be some more plots in the next chapter... and it should be up some time in the future...soon-ish

Also, dont worry, Alanna hasnt lost the icyness yet it was just the thing of meeting blah blah...

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Thank-you!