A/N Thank you so much for the awesome reviews guys! I was expecting maybe one that said 'uh huh, maybe you should continue, I don't know.' I was completely overwhelmed with the response. You inspired me to write the next chapter and get it up quickly!
Disclaimer: As before, I own nothing you recognize, which is probably a lot.
Alanna was sweating by the time they reached Duke Gareth's office. She did her best not to show it but she knew Jonathon could tell she was scared. Jonathon went to knock on the door and then turned to her.
"I'll tell him," he said. "My uncle will be less likely to get angry if I do the talking." Alanna nodded.
"Jonathon," she said. "Say – say goodbye to everyone for me." He nodded, and then knocked on his uncle's door.
"Come in," called the voice inside. Alanna clenched her fists. This was it. She took a deep breath and followed her prince into the room.
Duke Gareth looked up, looking surprised. He stood and bowed to his nephew and then asked them to take a seat. Alana remained standing and when Jonathon saw this he did the same.
"Uncle," he began. "We have come to tell you something." The Duke nodded and Jon continued. "When Alan and I went to the Black City…"
Alanna felt suddenly impatient. Jonathon was being diplomatic, which meant that he would talk for a while before actually telling the Duke. Alanna felt now that she would rather have it over with.
"Highness," she interrupted. "If you don't mind, I think I would rather tell His Grace myself." Jonathon, looking surprised, nodded. "Your Grace," Alanna began. "I have lied to you." When Alanna saw the Duke eyebrows knit together she became still more nervous, but she pressed on. "In fact, I have lied to not only once, but many times. I feel awful about this but I had to. You see, Your Grace, I'm a girl."
Duke Gareth jumped to his feet. "What was that, Page Alan?" he thundered. Alanna looked at the floor beneath her feet.
"Your Grace, my name is Alanna and I come from Trebond. My twin brother and I switched places, so that he could go to the convent to learn to be a sorcerer and I could come to the palace to learn to be a knight. I can't say that I regret what I did, because becoming a knight has always been my dream, but I wish I hadn't had to lie to you." Alanna glanced up; the Duke was staring at her, his face pink with rage.
"Who knows about this?" he roared. Alanna ducked her head again.
"Coram," she answered. "But don't blame him; I made him keep me a secret. And – and,"
"And I knew," Jonathon said, speaking for the first time since Alanna had picked up the tale. "I found out at the Black City."
Duke Gareth collapsed into his chair. When he spoke his tone was icy.
"Alan – Alanna, you will leave court with your manservant. If you ever come back it will be as a lady, looking for a husband. If that happens, do not expect a warm welcome." Alanna could only nod. "Go," the Duke ordered. "I expect you gone by sundown tomorrow."
"Thank you, Your Grace," Alanna whispered before she slipped out of the door. Jonathon did not follow; perhaps he had stayed behind to calm his uncle.
Alanna made her way back to her room alone. She met no one on the way, for which she counted herself fortunate. She could not deal with people just then.
"Well lass?" Coram asked as she entered her room.
"We're leaving," Alanna answered quietly. "Now."
"Now?" Alanna's burly friend was plainly surprised. "He ordered you to leave right this minute?" Alanna shook her head, feeling tears stirring in her eyes as she did so.
"He gave us until sundown tomorrow, but I can't face them, Coram. We have to go."
"Very well." With a groan Coram picked up their belongings and opened the door for his mistress. "T' the stables?"
"Yes. And Coram? If we meet anyone on the way, say that we're having a cleanout alright?' Coram nodded.
"Aye lass. I'll see that no one finds out from us."
A quick word to Stefan had Moonlight saddled and a guard lured away from a gate to let Alanna through unnoticed. Alanna took a last look back at the palace as they rode away. She knew she would never see it again.
"Well lass, back to Trebond?" Coram asked kindly as they rode towards the city. Alanna pulled her horse up short.
"Not me. You are."
"Mistress?" With a sigh Alanna explained herself.
"You're going back to Trebond. I don't know where I'm going; I'll find somewhere to stay and then I'll travel."
"But lass, ye can't stay by yerself. I'll accompany ye through the city and then we'll go home."
"No," Alanna said firmly. "Go home, Coram." The burly man didn't move.
"Lass -,"
"I gave you an order Coram," Alanna shouted. Now go!" Coram looked at her for a minute and then clucked to his horse, trotting towards the edge of the city. He looked back on once to see Alanna staring after him, tears dripping down her face.
Alanna watched him go. Now that Coram was out of sight she half wished she hadn't sent him away. Life would be very lonely without him. Making a decision, Alanna turned east, towards the Dancing Dove. She needed to see a friendly face. George knew her secret and didn't hate her. That was all Alanna needed. Also, George didn't yet know what had happened. Alanna needed to spend time with her friend without worrying about what had happened.
Entering the Dancing Dove Alanna found Marek.
"To Page Alan," he toasted her, in slurred speech. Alanna gave him a forced grin; she was in no mood to joke tonight.
"Where's George," Alanna asked him. "Is he here?" The thief nodded and pointed a long finger above the roof. Alanna thanked the man and hurried from the room.
Alanna found her friend in his bedroom upstairs.
"I've been waitin' for you," he said, the minute she entered. When Alanna looked at his face her heart sank.
"You know what happened," she whispered. George nodded.
"Aye. Word travels fast around here." Seeing the look on her face he continued, "There now lass. Don't blame yourself for what couldn't have been prevented."
Alanna looked at the floor. "It's all come to nothing," she said softly. Raising miserable eyes to her friends she wailed, "George, what am I going to do?"
If George thought a helpless wail was strange coming from Alanna he knew better than to say so. Instead he sat her down.
"I don't know," he said honestly. "But I do know that you're welcome to make your home here with me for as long as you want, Alanna the Royal Page."
It was a favourite nickname of his but now Alanna felt as though it was mocking her. She stood up.
"I need no one to make a home with, George Cooper," she snapped.
"Indeed?" George's eyes were thoughtful. "What are you plannin' on doin' then?"
"I'll ride," Alanna snapped, not caring how weak her sentence sounded. I'll – I'll travel until I find people who don't care that I'm a girl! I'll…"
"Easy lass," George said, guiding her back into her chair. "I didn't mean to tease." Alanna sat back down resentfully. "But I mean what I said. You're welcome here anytime. All you have to do is ask."
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Alanna lay wide awake, her eyes staring into the darkness. She had decided to stay with George for the night; not having anywhere else to go.
The room George had given her was comfortable, but Alanna couldn't sleep. She was wondering what she was going to do next. She couldn't spend all her life living on the hospitality of George, but no one else would take the disgraced page who had turned out to be a lying girl.
With a sigh, Alanna dressed and saddled Moonlight. She rode silently, without looking where she was going. She knew Moonlight would look after her. At last she stopped, coming to a dark forest of which Alanna knew nothing about. Realizing she must be hours away from Corus, Alanna grew a little worried. She didn't know the way home and the forest could be pretty lonesome if someone attacked her.
Alanna scratched her nose and looked around suspiciously. Daybreak was beginning to dawn – surely she hadn't been gone that long? – And she could make out Corus, a blur in the distance. Alanna sneezed and looked back at the forest. She gasped in shock. A hooded person was coming out of the forest towards her.
A/N 3 guesses who it is! You can probably figure it out. Anyway, hope you liked the second chapter and thanks for reading!
