Sorry about the delay you guyz, but with christmas and everything it took forever to find time! i hope you guyz like it, and hopefully this chapter answers a few questions. to all of you who reviewed thnx soo much and i have some stuff planned...so with winter vacation i promise you'll get more updates!

Narnia was awesome... and have you guyz heard of Tristan & Isolde? im soo excited it looks AWESOME!

A Discussion Long Due…

Hearing news of a dead man being wheeled into the back of the palace normally wouldn't have received King Jonathan's immediate attention, after all this was the Middle Ages. However, with word coming that the dead body was in the presence of George Cooper, Baron of Pirate's Swoop, Jon put aside anything else that could be a potential distraction. Rushing through the inner courtyard, full of thought, Jon didn't see his surprise visitor.

Looking up for no apparent reason, Jon realized he was too late. He had no time to stop before running head on into Alanna. "Jon!" Alanna called out, but still felt the force of her strong monarch as he crashed into her.

Grabbing her to keep her from falling, Jon looked at her for the first time. "I am soo sorry Alanna…"

"What happened to you?" Alanna remarked, reading the worried look on Jon's face that anyone else would've mistook for stupidity or being lost…even in his own palace.

Jon quickly surrendered his thoughts, "George has just arrived and I believe he has something very important to tell us… something that you might be interested in as well."

Thinking of everything that could possibly be on Jon's mind, Alanna understood his hurried manner. However, unlike him, she was expecting to see him, and had something dire she needed to speak with him about.

"Jon, can I speak with you for just a moment though" Alanna pleaded, wanting to get something settled first.

"Yeah, sure. Anything" Jon added, full attention on her.

"About the other day…" Alanna put out, hoping Jon would get the hint. Seeing his blank expression, "when we…the kiss" Alanna said, her face reddening.

"Oh about that," Jon replied looking sheepish. Why did guys have to make you put yourself out, when they always knew what you were talking about to begin with? Ugh. I guess they liked watching you suffer.

"I shouldn't have..." Alanna begun, but thought, that's not true because I wanted it as much as him- at the time at least. "I just don't know what came over me" Alanna pressed. "I mean I love George to death and would never do anything to hurt him. And I know you feel the same way for Thayet."

After looking around at the beautiful inner courtyard where the two of them had grown up, Jon suggested "it's because we haven't seen each other in ages Alanna."

She knew he was right, but still knew it was wrong. Jon had always had a place in her heart, and even her engagement to George couldn't erase their history… no matter how much she loved George, it just couldn't.

"Alanna, you promised your friends that even after you went on your adventures you would return soon. It was weird without having you so near. Forgive me, but life without my hot-tempered squire, Jon flushed, isn't as interesting as you think."

Alanna would've loved to punch her former knight-master in the arm, but knew he would tease her about being unable to take compliments. Settling for a smile, she said, "Off to save the world again are we?" eyes full of mischief, acknowledging her stupidity to attempt to resolve the issues of her love life in a simple conversation.

Walking with Jon, Alanna was able to catch up on most of the things she had missed at court. Like Raoul's on and off relationship with Buri (im pretty sure it's Raoul...if its not plzz dont kill me!), and how Sir Myles and Mistress Cooper had been residing at the palace for quite some time.

"I think…" Jon began, "Er, well I think your father has something important to tell you, and I don't think he'd appreciate it if I gave it away" Jon added with a wry smile. "So you'll just have to wait."

Alanna winced as a thought hit her. "When was the last time you fenced?"

"Um… Not too long ago. Why? Eager to try me out?" Jon said with a grin.

Hearing voices, Thayet looked up.

"You of all people should know I've been practicing day and night to finally get the better of you…" Jon finished, as Alanna burst out laughing.

"You would have to…" Alanna replied, and seeing Thayet, she replaced her laughter with a friendly smile.

Thayet smiled back, "You just got to the Palace and you two are already challenging each other… god I am glad I wasn't around to hear you fight growing up."

"Actually it was quite exciting." Jon said with a grin, "Alanna always had the attention of the women, which would quite often upset Gary and Raoul at the dances."

Thayet laughed but pitied Alanna, thinking of how it would've felt to make those sacrifices to hide your identity… basically it would've sucked. "And why were you not jealous Jon? Wait… did you know?"

Jon looked at Alanna as if asking for permission, but then Alanna shrugged and he began, "I had an inkling..."

"You jerk!" Thayet called. "Making her do that!"

Alanna laughed. She loved seeing royalty behave at their best. "I agree with Thayet, Jon. I've never truly extracted my punishment. And one day I intend to," thinking of the frogs she had promised to put in her kings bed, on more than one occasion. Never getting her chance, was she really too old to start? Something told her… never. Smiling, "I best be off to hear the news from my father, is he here?"

"It depends" Jon replied, but upon Thayet's elbow in the ribs, Jon let out a squeak of surrender. "Eh...yes!"

Alanna smiled with a "See you guys later" before heading off in the opposite direction in search of her adopted father. (Haha you know what I mean…)

Thayet put her arm around Jon's middle, who thought they were closer now then they had been in weeks. His face lit up as she promised him with "a surprise."

"Really?" Jon asked, curious. "What…"

Thayet scowled. "Jon, it's a secret! That means I can't tell you…well at least not until we get there." Thayet saw the look on Jon's face, "No! Not that kind of place!" Men… She had to admit she liked the look though.

If that's what Alanna's presence had brought- Jon's overall happiness- then she reflected she would have to have Alanna stay at the palace more often. Thinking of the men that she could've had at home, she understood how hard it must be for Jon to put his past aside, bound by duty. After all, it had been for her.

Taking advantage of that duty though, she reached up and kissed him, promising to meet him after the meeting "near the front gate, dressed to ride."

...At last I can see what news and possible evidence George has brought, Jon thought, heading towards the Palace. To think that George can now walk into the Palace without my Lord Provost threatening to hang him... he must like that a lot. No longer having to sneak in, I am sure he'll have something interesting- after all, he always does.