Thanks to all my reviewers! I'm sorry that it took me so long to update. It was because I had to write this fight and I really didn't want to. I'm not good at writing such things, you know.

fey: George and Jonathan are big, aren't they? I decided to make Myles find her because Alanna had to get Lightning….

Bambolieblue: I wanted it to be unexpected and I also wanted it to be different because I don't think Alanna would ever end up as a lady, no matter if she goes to the convent or not…. And I saw that almost all 'Alanna-goes-to-the-convent' stories are mostly the same, so I wanted to do something new. I like writing stories no one has ever written. My next ff will be about Thayet, her thoughts between the time when she came to Tortall until she married Jon. A bit sad, but interesting, I think.

Chapter 7: The meeting in the desert

Alanna rode on her new horse through the Great South Desert. She looked around and wondered why she was there? Why should she go to the desert? And why should she go alone?

Then she looked forward and saw a huge black city. Its dark walls glowed in the sun and it made Alanna shiver. Somehow she knew that something evil was in that city. Alanna stopped her horse but the city seemed to come closer and closer. Sweat rolled down Alanna's cheeks.

The city was now so close that Alanna could have touched the gate if she had reached for it with her hand. The gate opened but no one was seen who could have opened it. Alanna was scared and she wanted to scream but she couldn't. Something inside the big towers of the city seemed to call her. As if she was in a trance Alanna dismounted and walked in the city. Then she heard a sound behind her. She looked around and saw how the gate closed. Boom!

Alanna sat up in her bed. Again one of those strange dreams, Alanna thought, They always seem so real. And that city...I know it... Yes, of course, it war that city I saw the fire four years ago. What does that mean? Maybe the gods want me to go there...

Alanna stood up and opened her window to let a moderate breeze in. Her face was wet of sweat so she splashed cold water in her face. Why should I do what the gods want me to do? What have they done for me? They didn't let me be a knight...

Then she fought that over. Actually, it had been her father who had stopped her from becoming a page in the palace. Had the gods really got something to do with it? Then she remembered what Myles had said. 'I was compelled. For seven days I had the same dream' and 'That's no coincidence. The sword is meant to be yours'

If Myles is right and the gods want me to have that sword, then maybe they do want me to be a warrior, Alanna thought, Perhaps it isn't such a bad idea to do what they want…maybe I should go to that black city. Maybe…

"Alanna, the king has sent for me. I have to go back to court. I've been away the whole summer and now I have to continue with teaching the pages and squires. You could come with me.", Myles informed her as they were eating their breakfast.

"Myles, what should I do at the palace? They won't let me train as a page and you know I don't want to come to court as a 'lady'.", Alanna said, hoping she wouldn't have to go with him. She wasn't sure if she could stand the gazes they would give her if she came to the palace in breeches and tunic. She was tired of hearing someone talk about her behind her back.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to. I just wonder what you do here alone. Don't you think it'll get boring? And I could use help with some scrolls, which the king gave me to decode."

"I'm not that clever, Myles. I think you overrate myself. Anyway, I don't think it'll get boring because I won't stay here. I would like to ride to the Great Southern Desert.", Alanna said.

"Why do you want to go in the desert?", Myles inquired, a confused look on his face.

"Do you know a city which is completely made of black stone?", Alanna wanted to know.

"That's the black city. But Alanna…. you don't plan to go there, do you?"

"I do plan to go there. Is there something wrong with that?", Alanna wondered. Myles seems to be scared, Alanna thought, Maybe this city is more dangerous than I've thought.

"Don't you know who lives in this city?"

"No, actually I don't"

Myles sighed and put his prongs away. "Now Alanna, listen to me." He cleared his throat and continued, "The old legends of the Bazhir- that's the name of the people who live in the desert- say that the Black City is cursed. They say ancient demons live in the city, the Ysandir. Sometimes a boy or a girl tries to run to the city and no one can stop them. They're as if they were in a trance. They say it's the Ysandir who call them. None of those kids who went to city has ever come back. They're people like Duke Roger who say that are just stories the Bazhir tell their sons and daughters to frighten them but every one – also the Duke – knows that there is something evil in this city. I can't tell which of these things are true and which are not, but this city is dangerous, that's for sure. You can't go there, Alanna, you'd never come back"

Alanna swallowed. She had thought that this city was dangerous but she didn't think it was that horrible. But she was still sure. She had to go there. And even if it was just to prove that women aren't easy to frighten.

"Myles, you don't understand. It's not my idea to go there. I was compelled like you were. I had those dreams. I don't like it when the gods barge in my life either, but still I can't refuse their plea. Why do you think they gave me that magic sword? To look at it?"

Myles stared at her. Why would the gods sent a little girl to certain death? They couldn't be so cruel, could they? Then he remembered the words of the goddess, 'When her time comes the girl with the purple eyes has to save the kingdom and the crown prince'. Could it come true? If that was her destiny then it wouldn't be a good idea to stop her.

"I don't think that's a good idea but if the gods want you to go, they'll find a way to make you go, anyway. I wish you wouldn't try something like this, but still I wish you luck." He stood up and walked over to her. Alanna hugged him quickly and thanked him.

"Be careful, Alanna."

Three days later Alanna wondered how close to reality her dream had been. As she was riding through the desert now everything looked and felt almost exactly the same. But somehow that scared her. As clear as she remembered the view of the desert in her dream as clear she remembered the fear she had felt when the door had closed behind her. What if that door would never open again? , she wondered. What if I never get out of that city again?

A few months earlier when she had still been at the convent Alanna had thought she wouldn't mind if she died. But now she did mind. Because now she had something like a family, she had Sir Myles and she had also made a few friends among the servants and men-at-arms at Barony Olau, who had taught her many things about swordsplay. Now she had better chances for the future and she wouldn't have to become a lady.

Life was strange. As she had felt sad and depressed she couldn't help it and now that she felt a lot better, she was probably going to die. What was the use of all this? To make her life even more complicated?

The sound of hooves shook her out of her thoughts. She looked up and saw a stranger riding towards her. As he came closer Alanna's eyes widened. She knew that face. She knew those eyes and that hair. It was the boy of her dream three years ago. Alanna began to wonder again if the dream had only been a dream or if it had been something more. But what she didn't know was that the boy was wondering about exactly the same.

"Who are you?", he asked, "And why are you riding through the desert alone?"

Alanna tried to hold a smile back. She was wearing breeches, shirt and tunic so no one who might see her would wonder. And he really thought she was boy…

"I'm Alan of Trebond," she said quickly after a pause of thinking. "My concerns are none of your business"

The young man stared at her without saying a single word for a while. Suddenly he began to grin. What's so funny?, Alanna wondered. Somehow that grin of his made her angry. She wasn't there for his entertainment, particularly if she didn't know what exactly was so hilarious.

Then his grin turned into laughter and it annoyed Alanna even more. How dare this man laugh at her? And why, for Mithros' sake?

"Why are you laughing at me?", she asked angrily. But then – before he could answer – it dawned on her. Suddenly she remembered where she had seen his face before her dream. She had seen it on a portrait. When she had been nine years old, her father had taken Thom and her to the palace in Corus for a visit. He had showed them the Hall of Crowns and there it had been…the portrait of that boy. He…he was the crown prince.

Alanna sighed of annoyance. Now she understood why he was laughing even if it was arrogant. Surely no one had ever talked to him like she had. She could imagine how everybody at court treated him as if he was china. But still he had no right to laugh at her like he did.

"If you would excuse me, your highness, I would like to continue my journey.", she said artificially politely.

"So you do know who I am?", he asked and grinned again, revealing spotless white teeth.

"Did you doubt my knowledge, your highness?"

But he ignored her question. "Trebond…hmm…I didn't know Lord Alan of Trebond had a son who's name is Alan, too."

"Well,.." Alanna stuttered, "He doesn't talk much neither about me nor about my brother Thom." she sighed. "Your highness, I'm sorry, but I really have to continue my ride. I have important things to do."

"Sure, I understand. Actually, I'm in a hurry, too. Good-bye, young Trebond"

The prince moved his horse and rode towards a little black point in the distance. Alanna's eyes widened as she realized that he was riding towards the Black City. Why would he be so crazy?

Alanna pushed her horse into a trot and followed the prince quickly. When she had caught up with him, he looked at her oddly.

"Are you crazy?", she asked.

"Why? Because I'm riding to the Black City? Just look at you. You're following me. Doesn't that mean you're crazy too?", he retorted.

"I'm not following you, I have to go there. But you're the crown prince, you can't risk your life like that."

"I can't? Just look how I can!", he said and gallopped away, leaving a very confused Alanna behind him.

Alanna shook her head in disbelieve. She had never thought a prince could be so careless. After all, the whole kingdom will be under his control one day. From what she knew he was the only son of the king, so if he would die there would be a civil war. And the prince seemed to enjoy risking his life and the lives of many others, too. How stupid!

Then Alanna had an idea. What if she would save him? What if a girl would save the prince? She could prove to everyone that women can fight and that they're good enough to become warriors. Alanna began smile to herself. She kicked her horse into a galopp too and soon caught up with him again.

"You can't go there alone, you know. You could die and the country really doesn't need a dead prince. I'm coming with you.", she announced.

"You want to come with me? How old are you? Twelve? You wouldn't survive."

"We'll rather survive if we go together, wouldn't we?"

The prince dismounted and drew his sword. "Show me if you can fight, Alan of Trebond!"

Alanna dismounted to and prepared to fight. "You'll wonder!", she told him.

Then he attacked. He swung his blade around, meeting Alanna's with a ringing sound. He bore down, trying to force her sword to the floor. Alanna held, every single muscle in her arm aching. But she smiled as she saw the look on the prince's face. It was obvious that he hadn't expected her to be that strong. He broke away and circled her. Alanna blocked all his attacks, waiting for the movement of his torso that would give his next thrust away and silently trying to spot his weakness. After some time the prince got tired. Alanna watched him breathing heavily and attacked. Her blade met the prince's with a clash, Alanna instantly pulled away and then thrust in again. She looked for an opening until she finally found one. She brought her sword down, under and up, catching his hilt and yanking the sword from his hand. It went flying.

Alanna pressed Lightning's brightly gleaming point into the prince's throat. He looked at her half-fascinated, half-puzzled. Now it was Alanna's time to grin. "As you see, your highness, I'm not as weak as I'm looking. So what do you think? Am I worth accompanying you?", she asked, putting Lightning back in its sheath.

"I'd feel far safer if you went with me, young Trebond. Forgive me for underestimating you. You're really not to be sneezed at.", he replied, smiling, too.

How did you like it? Or did you hate it?