A/n: Ok, I guess the last chapter warrants a slight explanation. The way it works is this: Generally, people do make choices, and they are independent, but the choices they make are already fated, predestined, know. That doesn't mean the choices are less independent, just that it is the only possible choice that can be made, given the situation and the personality and all the tiny details. Every decision, you see, is made for a reason, and any random events are sorted out by factoring fate. So these splits of the world are extremely rare, and are centred on special people-people like Alanna. Now, if you didn't understand a word of that, ignore it. And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Lord Thom of Trebond strolled arrogantly down the corridor, three fat volumes held in the crook of one arm. His mind was immersed in the intricacies of his latest experiment, leaving his feet to navigate the empty hallway on their own. He was so deaf and blind to the world that he gasped in a most undignified fashion when he walked straight into the figure approaching from the opposite direction.

Apoplectic with unjust rage, he started haranguing the figure in a low hiss, cursing with all his might. Dropping to the floor, he gathered up the scatted books-only to be knocked over by the mysterious stranger-who looked, much to his surprise, exactly like him.

"THOM!"

Thom blinked several times, attempting to get to grips with this out-of-the- blue change of events. Finally, he managed to emit a single, delighted word.

"Aly?!"

His sister hugged him tightly, nearly crying with happiness. "I haven't seen you for years! I missed you so much! Why didn't you write?"

Suddenly going stiff, as if remembering where he was, Thom disentangled himself from his hysterical sister's arms. "I never had time. What are you doing here?"

Alanna, likewise, went stiff. Her eyes narrowing, reverting to the anger she had felt on hearing the news for the first time, she hissed, "Engaged."

Thom, far from uttering a cry of dismay, merely raised an eyebrow. "About time. Who to?"

Alanna flinched, as though she had been hit. Shrinking back, she murmured quietly, softly, her voice hoarse with barely-restrained sobs of joy fast turning to anger, she replied: "Is that all you have to say, Thom? Just... Acceptance? Mithros knows I expected it from the girls at the convent, but you... You know I can't just marry like that, Thom. Or maybe you don't. I don't think I know you so well anymore." Turning, she fled as fast as her feet would carry her towards the always-deserted library, trying not to let her brother see her tears.

Behind one of the closed doors that lined the corridor, Gary bit his lip. "Damn." He muttered, in an almost rueful tone. "I'd better go after her. D'you think we should have warned her?"

Jon shook his head. "She wouldn't have listened, or she wouldn't have grasped it. Mithros, though..." He stopped, searching for words. Raoul chipped in in a dry voice, "We knew Thom was bad, but to his own twin sister?" Gary nodded, his face full of pain at Alanna's grief. "He never even iwrote? /i" Jon gave Gary a push. "What are you waiting for? Get out there and go after her!"

A/n: Now, if I don't get at least one attack about making Thom an utter bastard, I will know for sure that nobody is reading this story. Look, that's how I felt he would be... And that's how he needs to be, to play his part in the Big Main Plot! Which hasn't even begun yet! Exciting, huh? Warning: Next chapter May Contain very slight Fluff.