CHAPTER ONE

Disclaimer: I own no characters, places, objects, or anything.

Alanna Goes to the Convent, But Doesn't Fall for Jon

Alanna sighed bored out of her mind. She was in a stuffy carriage on her way to court to get a husband. Husband. She hated the word. She could do just fine without one and didn't plan on falling in love. She had tried to get the mothers at the convent to let her ride her horse Moonlight, but they had insisted it was unladylike and refused her, so Moonlight walked behind the carriage. Of course Alanna herself was unladylike so she didn't see why they cared. She didn't know, but the ladies at the convent thought that she could get a husband simply with her looks so they didn't want her to spoil it with her actions. In other words Alanna was beautiful. She had fiery red hair that fell right below her shoulders and bright purple eyes. Unfortunately her fiery hair matched her fiery temper, that lashed out quite often. She had a slim, tan body that contrasted with most ladies milky skin. She was also very well muscled, though many failed to notice it. This was because thieves that she had met in the City of Gods had taught her how to fight with and without weapons. Bow, long or cross, dagger, bare hands, she was deadly with them all, but deadliest with her sword Lightning. Lightning was a sword that her brother had sent to her secretly through George. The Rogue himself. Thom had befriended the rogue and had asked him to send the sword. George had also found Alanna's mare and taught her to fight. He had brought her to Alanna on one of his many visits to the City of Gods.

The carriage bumped to a halt, shaking Alanna away from her thoughts. She was the last to get out of the carriage and was met by Delia's sneering face. They hated each other and Alanna had no friends at the convent so Delia had first thought her to be easy prey. Of course, Alanna could fight and Delia could not, so she normally left her alone Suddenly Alanna spotted Thom.

"Thom!" Alanna screamed and ran to hug her brother.

"Alanna?" he asked shocked, returning her hug, "you look like a, a, a, Girl." Alanna slapped his head.

" That's cause I am one whether I like it or not," she snapped. He glared at her. "Well these are my friends, Gareth of Naxen, or Gary, Raoul of Goldenlake, Alex of Tirragen, and Prince Jonathan of ContÈ."

"Nice to meet you," she said politely. Thom nudged her and whispered , "Aren't you supposed to curtsy or something?"

"Well," she said, "curtsying does become quite tiering and I simply do not feel like performing one right now." His friends stared. "What?" she snapped. Finally, Jon spoke up, "well it's just that me being the prince and you being a noble lady you are supposed to curtsy when you meet me."

" First of all," she said, "I may appear to be a noble lady, but that doesn't mean I have to act like all the other buffle brained ladies here to 'snag' buffle brained husbands. Secondly, curtsying is pretty much pointless and a bit tiering if you have to bob up and down all day. Thirdly, I could truly care less if you are prince or a thief, but I would prefer a thief to you. Fourthly, if you want me to curtsy when I see you when I see you, perhaps you should try curtsying whenever I see you and then you can get into the joy of being a lady." At this point Thom covered her mouth, stopping her from listing all the things wrong with Jon's little statement. Jon gasped indignantly, but before he could say anything Alanna pushed away Thom's hand and stomped off to fin her room.

There was a knock on Alanna's door. "Come in it's open," she yelled. Delia entered much to Alanna's disgust. "What do you want," Alanna asked.

"Just to let you know that there is a ball to present us tomorrow night and you have to go get dress fittings now." Delia sneered.

"Fine," Alanna snapped, "you can leave now." Delia sniffed and walked out with her nose in the air. I hate her, thought Alanna. Today is not my day between that snobby prince, snobby Delia, and now stupid dress fittings for that stupid ball. She sighed and went to get fitted.

To Thom And Friends

"What is wrong with your sister Thom?" asked Jon, "I mean no one has ever spoken to me like that before."

"Hey there is nothing wrong with Alanna, that's just how she's always been, I for one am happy that the convent couldn't change her," Thom answered

"Besides Jon, weren't you just yesterday complaining about all the silly court ladies flocking you? I mean Alanna is obviously different from them," said Raoul, impressed with Alanna's forwardness.

"Yes, but...," Jon tried to say before...

"And she is beautiful," said Gary, and Jon had to agree with that.

"Hey!" Thom shouted, "that's my sister and trust me you'll be much safer if you don't try to romance her."

"Can she fight?" asked Alex, whom had been forgotten until then.

"Don't be ridiculous," Jon laughed, "girls can't fight."

"And you wonder why she doesn't like you" wondered Thom out loud, "by the way she can fight and a whole lot better than most of the people I know."

"You're kidding,"gasped Gary.

"I believe you,"Raoul said, "I mean did you see how muscular she was?"

"I think you imagined it,"said Jon, "she didn't look muscular to me."

"Oh get off it Jon, just because she spoke back to you doesn't mean you have to hate her, she was probably just cranky from the ride here, right Thom?"

"Well, probably not, she just hates guys who think girls are only for marrying and looking at," Thom answered.

"She does kind of have a point, I mean some women could be more intelligent than you two think," Raoul said to Jon and Gary. Alex nodded in agreement.

"Let's go for a ride," Jon said grumpily because his friends were taking her side.

WELL THAT'S ALL FOR NOW! TELL ME WHAT YA THINK:)