A/N: Yay! A longer chapter! I tried to make it longer so don't hate me if it's not long enough. Took me forever to write it up!

A question: Would you rather have long chapters that might take longer to update or shorter chapters that take shorter time to update? I try to update as soon as I could anyway, but the length effects it.


Chapter 3

Aly sat there thinking.

That was my mother! And my Uncle Thom? Judging by their appearance I know I have traveled back in time. But how? It must be the gods. They must have something to do with this.

What is the most important in my problem at hand though? I'll have to think about why I'm here later. What should I do when my mother and my uncle come back? Should I get out of here before they come back or try to talk to them and expose myself? Well, maybe just not give my real identity away.

She got up and started pacing the room, but then gave up and sat down again.

She was still thinking when the door opened. The twins were so deep in discussion that they did not notice Aly until Alanna almost tripped over her.

"Thom, I really did- Ahhh!" Thom thrust his hand out and caught Alanna just in time before she fell on her face.

Alanna's excited look while coming in was replaced with surprise when she noticed Aly sitting on the ground in front of her. She furrowed her brows.

"Who are you? And what are you doing in my room?" She demanded.

Aly knew that there was no point right now to pretend to be someone else with them. Besides, she's always acted more or less like herself around her mother. Well, in a way. How would it change in this case?

Aly stared at the twins a moment before replying. She still wasn't used to seeing her mother so young. Actually, she hadn't seen her mother at her age. It's a bit unsettling at first.

"I'm Aly and well, I'm actually not really sure why I'm here." She replied truthfully. She was careful not to give too much away about herself.

Thom and Alanna looked very puzzled.

"You have absolutely no idea why you're here?" Alanna said slowly. "So what did you do? Pop right out of the thin air?"

Aly shook her head.

"I'm not sure. I just walked through a doorway at home and I ended up here."

"Well, Aly who came out of nowhere, you happen to be in my room and I'd like to have a private conversation with my brother and if you would please leave-?"

But Aly quickly cut in, "But I think I'm supposed to help you."

"Help us? Why would we need help?" Thom asked. He sat down on Alanna's bed. Alanna after staring at Aly for a while did likewise.

"I'm not sure, but since I was sent here, at least I think I was, then there must be a reason why I'm here. Look, you are the only people that could help me right now. Can't you at least take me with you or something until we figure it out?"

Thom and Alanna exchanged looks.

"How do you know we're going anywhere" Alanna asked.

"Well, I think I have an idea where I am. You're Alanna," she pointed to Alanna. "And you're Thom of Trebond," she pointed to Thom." And I'm at Trebond right now. Is that right?"

"N-"

"Yes!" Thom cut in. He glared at his sister. She glared back, but then she grinned mischievously.

"Yes, you are right, but how do you know all this?"

"The servants." Aly replied shrugging her shoulders. "So, can you take me with you?"

Then, there was a knock on the door. Aly froze.

"My lord and my lady?" It was a servant. "Dinner's ready."

When the servant didn't come in, she relaxed.

"Please tell our father that we are sorry to regret that we will not be dining with him today and please tell the cook to send the food here." Thom called back.

"As you wish my lord." Foot steps were heard walking away from the door.

Thom turned to Aly.

"Father never eats with us." He explained. "He's always too busy with his nose in his books to spend even a little time with us. At least now we can have a longer time to talk while we eat. The servants always bring too much food for us anyway so you can eat with us."

Aly nodded.

"You haven't answered my question though." She persisted.

"According to the circumstances right now, it's hard to take you with us. I mean, we're not even going to the same place. I'm supposed to go to the palace to become a knight tomorrow while Alanna is supposed to go to the convent to become a lady." Thom and Alanna looked grimly at each other.

Aly's eyes widened in shock. So this is when she ended up in.

"But that's not going to happen." She murmured softly.

"What did you say?" This time it was Alanna whose eyes widened in shock.

Aly winced. They weren't supposed to hear her.

"Um, I assumed that you don't want to be a lady and Thom doesn't want to be a knight."

They looked surprised at her. They'd assumed that they'd kept their feelings about this situation very well hidden. Only Maude, their village healer, knew about what they were planning to do.

Seeing their faces, Aly quickly added, "No one else knows or will even assume that."

They sighed in relief.

"Like I said before, I want to help you. You may not have known me long, but you can trust me." Aly tried to look as innocent as possible to erase any doubt the twins might have of her.

"Okay." Alanna said reluctantly. She wasn't too keen on too many people knowing about their plan. The less people, the better.

Thom nodded.

Knowing very well what they were planning, Aly asked anyway.

"So, what are you planning to do about it?"

Thom and Alanna explained that they were going to switch places. Thom was going to the convent to be a sorcerer and Alanna was going to the palace dressed as a boy to become a knight. Thom was going to forge the letters from their father so no one will suspect anything.

Aly nodded at all this. She remembered the story that her father had told her about her mother. Her mother was usually always away fighting for the kingdom. That was the duty of the Kings Champion.

Now, they have to think of a way so that Aly could come along without arousing suspicion.

While Thom and Alanna were explaining, some servants came in and brought their dinner. Aly hid under the bed until the servants were gone and then hungrily ate with the twins.

Thom and Aly were talking over an ideaof Thom'swhen Alanna suddenly said, "No, I have a better idea!"

Turning to Aly, Alanna smiled. "You will go to the convent in my place."

Aly stared at her in horror. She did not want to go the convent! Having lady lessons every single day would be horrible! Sure she would flirt with guys but to have lady lessons! She shuddered at the torture. I was born to be a spy and that's what I'm going to be. But pretending to be a lady every single day…no way!

But wait a minute…

And here she smiled.


Yay! CLIFFIE! Grin Don't y'all love cliffies?

You'll find out what she's grinning about in the next chapter, that is, when I update again...hmmm...

NOW REVIEW!

...replies ...

maliaphire-Thanks! I changed it.

To all reviewers-Thanks for reviewing! Oh, and suggestions are welcome! It's just not garintied that I will use them. I might though.

Time to start the next chapter...

Hey Judith, or do I have to call you Lady Knight Rose? You think this is long? I don't know...I mean would you consider this long? Have a great weekend!