Disclaimer: Only the plot is mine. The rest belongs to Tamora Pierce.

Hey! Here's chapter 2 just like I promised.

It had been three weeks since Alanna's dream and every night, she would stay awake thinking silently, a look of absence in her eyes. Faithful was aware of everything but wisely kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to be thrown from the tent again. If the Bahzir noticed that her attention was focused less on her shaman duties and more on something else, they chose not to say anything.

Alanna was never present at the tribe meetings with the Voice. She didn't want to face Jonathan. Instead, at these times, she would dwell on the letters sent to her from her friends. Raoul and Gary wrote every few weeks to ask when she would return to Tortall. She missed her friends but knew that she couldn't go back to the kingdom, not now anyway.

Every time she received a letter from George, her heart would flutter. His messages were loving and sweet and made her blush. She never wrote back, thinking that if she ignored them, she wouldn't have to feel this way.

**

The King of Thieves walked out through the courtyard and toward the porter's door which lay between House Azik and the rest of Port Caynn.

"Marek," He barked, "Has-"

"No Majesty." Marek replied without needing his master to finish his question, "There hasn't been any letters from Lady Alanna today." George sighed and turned back. Why hadn't Alanna been answering his letters?

"Rispah!" He shouted upon entering the large house. His fiery haired cousin looked down from the landing.

"What now cousin?" She asked impatiently.

"Get my horse saddled." He said, "I'm ridin' south tonight." Rispah shook her head.

"Worryin' over Lady Alanna again? I thought she was visitin' the Bahzir."

"She hasn't been answerin' my letters. Somethin' might be wrong. I'm goin' t'see what it is." He sheathed his sword and slipped his daggers into his sleeves and boots. It never hurt to be prepared. "Tell mother I won't be long." Rispah nodded.

"Be careful out there cousin, and give Lady Alanna my regards."

**

Alanna grabbed her combs and began to vigorously groom her mare Moonlight. Patting his nose, she gently brushed his back.

"I don't know what to think anymore." She whispered to the darkness. Moonlight snorted affectionately. Alanna looked around, the night was still and clear. Creeping back to the village, she slipped under the flap of her tent and emerged in her riding boots and breeches, her saddlebags over her shoulder.

Where are you going? Faithful trotted up beside her, blinking his eyes curiously.

"Out. I need to clear my mind." She answered.

Don't you know it's dangerous to ride the deserts alone, especially at night? He had followed her to the stable and watched as she saddled her horse.

"Well I won't be alone now that you've decided to come along will I?" She swung her leg over the mare's back and looked expectantly at her cat. He sighed.

Well I suppose so. He murmured, jumping up into the little cup fixed onto Moonlight's saddle.

Alanna took off at a fierce gallop, loving the way the night air slapped her face and whooshed through her hair. When she was far enough away from the tribe, she slowed down to a trot.

"I miss George." She finally said, "I know I should have responded to his many letters, especially when they started demanding if I was safe." Faithful looked at her.

You've fallen in love with him. He remarked. Alanna shook her head.

"No. I just care about him."

As he cares about you. Alanna blushed.

"He just worries." She stopped speaking when she saw her cat's ears perk up and his fur stand on end. "Faithful?" The little animal began hissing and spitting, his teeth barred. Swinging around, she saw a group of hillmen riding towards her. "Shit!"

She drew her sword, swinging it in front of her and charging at the intruders. Bringing the blade up she blocked the dagger of the man who attempted to stab her. Pulling back, she looked deep within herself, awakening the fire that burned low inside. Concentrating hard, she built a wall of violet flame around herself and Moonlight. The startled men called forth their shamans. Alanna was unprepared for the streak of green light that shattered her protecting orb. Sweat formed on her brow.

She made to pull a strand of thread from her saddlebag when the hillmen charged. Her concentration was broken and she barely had time to life her sword to block the many barbarians. Moving quickly, she looked for an opening, faking left and diving right. The men were good but not a knight of the King.

An axe smashed into her shield as she lifted it to stop the blow to her head. It clashed sharply and numbed her left hand. She watched, terrified, as they circled around her, closing her in. It was impossible to see them all at once.

Finally spotting a break in the circle, Alanna thrusted forward trying to force herself free. Two burly men grabbed her arms and threw her from her horse, laughing madly. Looking up from the ground Alanna closed her eyes and swallowed hard, waiting to feel cold metal against her throat. The feeling never came.

Hooves pounded in the distance distracting the hillmen from killing their prey. Alanna's eyes snapped open in time to see a rider dressed in a black cloak, hood pulled up, charge at her attackers. She jumped up from the ground, throwing herself on Moonlight's back to help the stranger who was now holding the men off.

"Ride!" He shouted to her, "Get away while ye still can!"

"No!" Alanna shrieked, she had to help him or he would die on the end of the barbarians' swords. She steered her horse towards the fight and rode straight for them all, holding her shield up. She unsheathed her sword, fighting to keep control on the evil humming. She could feel the power snaking up her arm from the hilt of the quivering weapon. Suddenly, she felt it go white hot and dropped it. Staring at her hand, she pushed the evil magic from her body with her own purple flame, not noticing the hillman behind her drawing up his sword.

"Alanna! Look out!" The hooded stranger called to her, she looked up startled and wheeled around as the offender brought down his weapon. She yelped in pain as the blade drew a long gash from her shoulder to her elbow, deepening as it went. Blood soaked the shreds of her shirt as she fell from her horse. Everything went black.

What felt like hours later, Alanna opened her eyes, feeling cold water on her face. The black cloaked rider was kneeling over her. She tried to sit up. He put an arm on her waist.

"Lay down." He instructed, "Ye haven't the strength to sit."

"Who are you?" She demanded. George Cooper pulled back his hood looking down at the young knight, concern in his brown eyes. Her eyes widened. "George? What are you doing here?"

"Never ye mind, we're goin' t'see my mother."

"But, Mistress Cooper's all the way back in Corus."

"Nay lass, she's staying with me in Port Caynn." He tried to help her stand but everything blacked out again. Sighing, he slid her limp body onto his horse Beauty, grabbing Moonlight's reins. He watched the blood in her arm begin to clot as it poured from her wound soaking the bandage. He gulped. She couldn't lose this much blood! He broke into a gallop, House Azik was a day's ride from here.

**

Blinking slightly, Alanna opened her eyes wondering what has woken her. Faithful sat by her cheek, his cold nose prodding her ear.

About time you woke up. He said to her, George barely leaves your side, he's worried sick you know. Alanna swatted at her cat.

"Where am I?"

Dog Lane. Said the cat simply.

"George's house?"

Mmhmm. Footsteps pounded up the stairs and down the hall.

"Alanna, ye're awake." He smiled. "How's your arm?" She tried to lift it.

"It still hurts."

"Mistress Cooper has some tea waitin'. Ye haven't eaten in days."

"Have I been asleep that long?" She was astonished. "Days?" George nodded.

"The hillman's blade was a nasty piece of work, hooked into the skin an' everythin'." He looked at Faithful.

I can take a hint. Jumping up he walked out of the room, leaving the two alone. George's face turned serious.

"I've been worried sick lass, what were ye doin' ridin' at night alone?"

"I wasn't alone, I had Faithful."

"Wonderful fighter Faithful is hmm?"

"George, I just needed to get away from... things. What were you doing in the Bahzir desert anyway?"

"Alanna, ye weren't answerin' my letters, how was I t'know that ye weren't dead? I finally decided t'come an' see if ye were alright."

"I'm sorry." She looked away from him. He moved closer, inhaling her scent, placing his hands on either side of her body.

"George!" Mistress Cooper stood in the doorway holding a tray of tea and cakes, "Let Lady Alanna have her sleep." She scolded, "She hasn't been awake five minutes and you're up here making noise." George blushed.

"Yes mother." He took one last look at Alanna and walked out.

"How're you feeling?" Mistress Cooper asked Alanna once they were alone.

"Confused." The older woman eyed her for a moment.

"Confused? I meant your arm." Alanna blushed.

"Oh, right, it's still sore."

"Yes, I think you'll be due for a re-bandaging soon but with that Gift of yours it'll be healed in no time." Alanna nodded absently. "Dear, is there something you want to talk about?"

"Hm? Oh, er, no."

"Are you sure?"

"Ye-no." She looked up into Mistress Cooper's smiling face. "It's - it's about George."

"I thought as much." The woman nodded, "Continue."

"Well, I suppose you know that he- that he-"

"Yes, I have noticed that George cares about you."

"Well..." Her face reddened, "Jonathan and I had a fight."

"Really?" She obviously knew the story.

"Well, you know the rest."

"Do I?" Her eyes danced. Alanna sighed.

"He asked me to marry him this summer."

"And you said no?"

"No... not at first anyway. He took my acceptance for granted, assuming that I would marry him. But marrying a prince is, well, a big responsibility."

"Of course."

"And so I told him I refused to marry him and he... told me I was... unfeminine." Alanna's face darkened.

"Indeed? And so what does this have to do about my George?" Alanna had hoped she'd forgotten.

"I think I... well, that is to say, I might-" A voice yelled up from downstairs causing the two women to jump.

"Mother! There's another sick lad here to see ye!" Mistress Cooper stood up and nodded to Alanna before scurrying from the room.

A/N: Chapter 3 coming soon. If you have any ideas of what should come next, let me know.

-Nicole