Because some people requested no author's notes during the story, I thought I would use *s to indicate where they are and if you want to read them go ahead and if you don't, don't. If that bothers anyone, please tell me and I'll figure out something else.

The next day Jon rose early, to meet Gary and Raoul. As a squire, Thom could not go. "Where do we meet the ladies, boys?" he asked.

"The gardens, Jon. You should have remembered!"

The two men went into the gardens to find all the women dressed in snug firs, and had managed corsets as well. They each held a pair of skates. Gary took Cytherra, Raoul had a young Bazhir lady, and Jon took Alanna. She was wearing a deerskin coat and muff, and she seemed to have managed not to wear hoops underneath her sapphire skirt*. Jon was not surprised.

They hiked a short ways to a tiny lake hidden in the woods next to the palace*. The ice had completely frozen over the lake, and icicles hung from the surrounding pines. Gary tricked Cytherra to going under a branch and then shook it so that it rained snow and ice. She screamed and covered her head. Alanna wondered whether that was Lady-like, and sorely missed Thom, the only person she could ask. She sat on a fallen log and began to lace up her skates.

"Do you need help?" Jon asked.

"What do you think?" Alanna retorted. "Do I look like an idiot who can't tie her own shoes?"

"Oh," said Jon, slightly taken aback. "Sorry."

Alanna was the first to get on the lake. She loved to skate. It was probably the useful thing she picked up at the convent, after she had conquered her fear of being on ice. She wasn't perfect at spins and twirls, but she was fairly good at jumps and a master of speed. She skated her fastest in a circle around the lake, then went over to help Aleen, Raoul's partner, onto the ice. Soon the lake was full with the six of them moving around. Cytherra, the only lady who was equal to Alanna in skating, was playing stupid so that she could hang onto Gary's arm as he guided her around the lake. Jon had given up on Alanna (much to her relief), and was talking to Raoul. Aleen was at a corner practicing a particularly complicated spin. And Alanna was all alone - again. Well, it's not as if I'm no to blame Alanna thought. Jon would be perfectly happy to be with me, to have another mouth to kiss...and more...

Feeling friendless she went over to one side of the lake and practiced a jump. It felt wonderful, moving through the air for a few moments...but where was the solid ice...? Suddenly, Alanna was engulfed in cold water...she was drowning! She pushed up again, only to have her head connect with solid ice...so this is what it's like to die...she thought.

Meanwhile everyone was in shock. Cytherra screamed and fainted on Gary, who placed her gently on the ice and went to help Jon, Raoul, and Aleen. Jon used his gift to get rid of the ice above Alanna so that she could swim up to the surface. He waited 10 seconds - when nothing happened he grimly stripped off his jacket and shirt. "I'm going in," he told everyone and before they could stop him he had dived into the ice cold water after Alanna. Using his gift he lit the water so he could see. Finally he saw a flash of scarlet - her hair. He lifted her unconscious body up onto the ice, where the rest of them - including Cytherra, who had joined them in hopes of getting Gary's attention from being helpful - stood waiting. Then he climbed out himself.

"Well," he told them, "I believe that is the end of this ice-skating trip."

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Alanna opened an eye. This wasn't the ceiling of her room at Trebond...it wasn't the stone ceiling of the convent...It wasn't her room in the palace...where was she? Suddenly a red handkerchief loomed into view...now what was a nose doing on it...? Or two concerned eyes? She grinned feebly, recognizing the face and hair of her brother.

"You're awake. Good."

"Where are we?" she croaked.

Thom handed her a glass of water and said, "Right now you're in the care of Duke Baird. You gave us quite a scare, 'Lanna. It's a good thing Jon was there, or you might have drowned."

"What did Jon do?" Alanna asked.

"He picked you up and brought you back out of the lake," her brother informed her. "Quite romantic, actually," he added, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

Alanna tried to look calm, but she did NOT like having someone besides herself savingher life. It made her feel like a court lady. Which made her think about how she was one. So, Jon had rescued her, saved her life. Now I owe him, Alanna thought. Now I have to flirt with him, pretend I'm in love, and do whatever he wants. This is practically like I belong to him. But I don't want to! He's stuck on himself and used to having whichever lady he wants, without even trying. But he is Thom's friend...that doesn't mean he's mine. What can I do? I need to get away from here...so why don't I?! Didn't George say he would let me into the rouge if ever I wanted to? What about Thom...I suppose I could write him. Sad, growing up having but 2 friends in the world. Better than none, I suppose. Yes, definatly better than none.

Her mind made up, Alanna closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

*1 Did anyone wear hoops ice-skating back then?

*2 am I right that there is a forest anywhere near Corus? It didn't say on the map and I haven't read the books all summer (I save them for winter when I'm out of good reads).