Hey! So yeah schools about to start ugh! so soon! neways with sats & college applications i dnt no how long it will take for me to update, but i will try to do it as often as i can. so neways now u guys have more than 'fluff' lol to think on. yes... there is a plot &there is still 1 more character that i haven't introduced, so there is still a lot more coming! oh & PLZ R&R so that i no wat u guys think of the story & Thanks soo much to everyone who has! like i said, its sad, but it means alot to me...

And I want to go on w/ this story, but if i dnt get a lot of reviews in the meantime, i prob won't finish it which is sad, b/c i think it has potential! lol, & no im not bigheaded!

... i hope u enjoy! ...

(oh, & by the way, i do know how the story is going to end- i mean ag or aj- but i still want 2 c wat u guys think!)

Lot's Of Friends & Old Acquaintances…

The door of the library swung open to emit a very happy looking Jon. For once as of late, he had not only dressed well, but was also holding himself in a manner that could command anyone's presence. There has never been a more fitting King, Raoul thought to himself.

Turning to look at Gareth the younger, Raoul said, "She's here," guessing Gary's thoughts.

Jon hearing them steered his way over to where the two of them were sitting, and whispered "I can't leave you two alone for five minutes, can I?" And with that he got up to welcome Sir Myles of Olau. Hugging the man, he added, "Your daughter is here."

"Really," Sir Myles said in an eager voice, "I've been dying to speak with her! I am upset that I don't see her much anymore since she is with George." Sensing the tension mounting in Jonathan, he added "Especially since I live with George's own mother."

Jonathan forced a smile, and toasted Sir Myles, just as Raoul had refilled Myles drink, and handed Jon one, when Jon demanded "I need one."

Glasses raised in the air, the door opened once again, only this time to emit Princess Thayet. Thayet was looking exceptionally well in her emerald green dress- bringing out the color in her eyes- followed by her short yet, stubborn friend Buri. Thayet's beauty lit up the room when she smiled and sat down in one of the many big navy blue velvet covered chairs, next to the one that Jon would be sitting in.

Jon was amazed at how Thayet still baffled the entire court with her presence, even after residing at the Palace for almost a year. He had to admit that she was beautiful and that every guy still envied him for getting to be with her, not to mention that she was very polite, friendly, and intelligent, which would make her a great queen one day. On the other hand Jon wondered if he truly loved her, after all she didn't make him laugh like Alanna did. Jon wanted someone he could go adventuring with- someone he had grown up with...

Jon also knew how much Alanna hated royal affairs, but he still had to confess that Alanna was good at debating and would stand up for what she believed in. After all, he had witnessed a debate in Sir Myles history class one day when she was his squire, arguing for the Code of Chivalry. I still feel bad for the poor lad even as I think about the debate now. Jon thought. She killed him. I just remember him saying that the code was old and outdated, and then she went off on him. Laughing to himself, he remembered how Sir Myles had to jump in constantly to separate the two. The whole time he could tell that Alanna was just waiting for the other squire to say something wrong so that she could draw her sword and attack.Alanna…

"Jon..." Raoul spoke more forcefully "Jon!"

"…yeah?" Jon answered after a moment.

"Who?" Asked Raoul. Seeing the puzzled look on Jon's face, he repeated the question. "Who else is coming to the meeting?"

"Oh…sorry," Jon said, not sorry at all. "I believe we only have to wait for the Provost, Garrett, and…" trying not to say too anxious "Alanna."

Just as Raoul and Gary turned towards each other and smiled there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Jon called out.

And with that Alanna entered the room dressed in a red tunic with kaki breeches, with short cropped red-hair that flipped out in back. To everyone's surprise she had gold eye shadow spread lightly across her eyes, something she had apparently accustomed herself to during her absence. As she came in, all of her friends stood up except for Gary and Raoul, who came rushing at her each giving her big hugs. She then hugged her father and lightly embraced Thayet, who overall looked happy to see her, and shook hands with Buri.

Turning to Jonathan, the two of them stared at each other for a brief moment, and then Alanna gave Jon a proper hug like she gave to her friends.

Looking at Alanna, Jon was captivated. He had never seen her wear the color red before, and now that she did he just couldn't keep his eyes off her. Her red hair and red tunic perfectly fit everything about her, and with the gold eye shadow she was finally- the lioness.

"Jonathan," Alanna said politely in front of Thayet, "I talked to George, and he will be here in a couple of days. He said that he was going to 'go see what he can find out.' "And by this Alanna knew Jon would know she was talking about the Dancing Dove, a place her and her friends had never shown Thayet, Buri, or Sir Myles. Although Sir Myles would probably love Scholar she thought to herself, holding back a laugh.

"Thanks Alanna. I hope to see George soon." And now the worst part that was protocol- "So everything between you two is going well I hope?" Jon forced out. "Yes," he heard Alanna say without hesitation. "I love the quiet. And you Jon?"

"Yes," Jon said flatly, never knowing more of a lie. After all, the only time he and Thayet really spent together was in a formal manner, deciding over some matter to better the kingdom. He thought of her more as a friend and ruler- not at all as a lover.

Hearing another knock on the door distracted everyone's attention, giving Jon an excuse to drop the subject, as the provost and another man following him came in.

When Alanna saw the man following the provost, her jaw dropped. The man had reddish hair and was tall and muscular. Alanna couldn't help her curiosity, and walked over to the man. Standing close to him, she confirmed her guess- yes, the man even had the bluish-grey eyes. "Liam?" She asked.

Jon swallowed the lump in his throat remembering hearing about Alanna's other love.

The man looked around. In a kind voice he answered, "No my Lady, Liam… Ironarm, I presume you are asking about... he is my brother." The man saw the disappointed look on the girl's face. "I am Sir Garrett though. I am the second in command in the King's Own with Sir Raoul."

Alanna looked at Raoul, who nodded his head to confirm. "Well then I am sorry about your brother Sir Garrett…"

"Garrett" Garrett said at ease, smiling at her. "And thank you."

"Well then," said Jon all attention back on Jon, "Let the meeting begin."

The Meeting…

Gary, taking heed of the papers before him, slammed his fist down on the table. "All this work and… nothing" Gary said with disappointment and with sarcasm in his voice.Jonathan watched Gary thinking of how well his friend had filled his father's, the older Gareth of Naxen's position.

Jon knew he was lucky to be surrounded by close friends. After all, he could name numerous stories and folktales he had heard growing up, about even the best men (and women, he thought, for Alanna) turning against their king. How many kings could say they were surrounded by friends that they would trust with their lives? Not many. Letting out an exaggerated breath, Jon asked, "What else is there to do? I have spies everywhere, so how can we come to the conclusion that we have no lead, just a bunch of useless information?"

The provost interrupted, "And with the threats becoming more treacherous..." taking a moment, then continuing "… especially after," and was cut off by the dangerous look Jon gave him.

Alanna who had been half-listening, enjoying the simple pleasure of sitting with her friends just like she used to- although under considerably varied terms- was abruptly drawn back into the conversation and asked in a careful tone, "Especially after what?"

Raoul noticed the daring look in Jon's eyes, but went on anyway. "That's right. You probably haven't heard." Continuing to ignore Jon, he went on, "Just last week a man who claimed to be a messenger of Gary's walked into Jon's" and with a quick glance in Thayet's direction, added, "and Thayet's room, and tried to assassinate Jon."

Alanna, astounded, glared at Jon. How could he not have told her?

Jon clearly seeing the distress in Alanna's face, just shrugged and said "It was nothing… I am fine." Realizing the 'fine' wasn't as convincing as he wanted it to be, Jon instinctively reached out and grabbed her arm. "I am fine," Jon insisted once again, this time more forcefully, although knowing it was a lie.

Alanna spotting her friend's lie right away, thought, after all the years we've spent together, how does he still think he can hide things from me? Quickly pulling her arm out of his grasp, Alanna glanced at Thayet, wondering how Thayet had taken all of this. Finally Gary's words that Thayet was sharing a room and therefore a bed with Jon, was lingering in her head despite Alanna's best attempts to drive it out. "What happened that night?" Alanna heard herself asking Thayet.

Thayet said in a soft voice, "There was a party that night" and glancing at Jon a worried look spread across her features, "and Jon became pale and didn't feel well, so I had Timon take Jon back to our room."

Alanna hearing 'our room' batted in, "so you didn't take him back yourself?" An implied, Oh, and where were you?

Once again Alanna was ashamed at herself for letting her temper get the better of her, and apologized. "I am sorry Thayet."

"I understand your feelings Alanna," Thayet said in a sweet voice. "We all care about Jon… At the time I just thought it would be a better idea to stay and entertain the guests so that they wouldn't get the idea that something was wrong and start rumors, since we are already in the mist of chaos. If I had only known…" Thayet begun.

"It's ok. You were right in your actions" Alanna assured Thayet, remembering that this was her friend- her friend that had gone through hell carrying a baby with only Buri to help her safely through Sarain, when it was her own father's army that was after her. And with Alanna and Liam's help, Thayet had not only saved that one child, but brought along as many children as she could. Which had almost killed all of them through starvation, but that was beside the point.

Thinking of Liam, Alanna turned to Garrett. He seemed to be deep in thought. Ah, he was charming wasn't he? Suddenly a thought hit Alanna. "Did the messenger say anything?"

Gary replied, "No, but we know it was planned because the messenger seemed to know that Jon would be in his rooms. Later we found out that Jon's food had been poisoned. We then searched all though the kitchen, but couldn't find anything. And you can believe me, Raoul and I thoroughly questioned and threatened all the cooks, but the person who did it must have snuck out."

Alanna noticing Jon's faraway look said, "Jon, did the messenger say anything to you?"

Jon, who had paled a bit said with a stern look on his face, "No. He fell to the floor clawing his throat before his eyes rolled to the back of his head leaving him… dead."

Alanna felt sick. The messenger had died exactly like an assassin she had been attacked by before, when she was traveling to the City of the Gods with George. That messenger had been sent by Duke Roger himself. Alanna felt herself pale and had sensed Jon's fear. For after Alanna had killed Roger the first time, she had told Jon about all of her suspicions against Duke Roger, now giving Jon a perfectly good idea of why to worry.

Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me, they belong to Tamora Pierce (except for Garrett & Kathyrn... you'll know who Kathyrn is later)... oh yah... and the plot belongs to me!