Same Destiny, Different timing

Summary: Instead of going to the convent or to the palace, Alanna goes to the City of the Gods and pretends to be Thom as a sorcerer or sorceress... temporarily. With the unexpected help from a certain 'smiling friend', they might just get a chance to swap. While Thom discovers a girl among his fellow pages becoming a knight.

Disclaimer: I am not Tamora Pierce so I don't own her characters and the plot of this story is simliar to the books.

First fanfic so please be nice.

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With the two carriages well on their way, one to the palace and the other to the convent, Lord Alan signed with relief when the carriages were out of sight. He thought that this matter was dealt with but he was wrong. Even though the carriage containing Alanna and Maude is going to the convent, she wasn't going to learn how to become a lady but magic with the Daughters of the Goddess at the convent.

The day before

Pacing around the room, deep in his thoughts, Lord Alan looked up when hearing the footsteps made by his two children when they entered the study room. With a sign, he ordered Thom to close the door behind and began to talk.

'I don't know what you two were thinking of but I thought I said my final answer was no.'

The twins just stood there, dumbstruck.

'I don't know what you mean Father,' said Alanna, looking at Thom as if telling him to help her.

'You know exactly what I mean!'

After a moment of silence and a couple of glances being exchanged between the twins, Alanna finally answered, 'But father, you know that I've an interest for fighting not being a lady! Surely you've seen me hunting and-

'For the hundredth and final time, my answer stands where it is! You should be thanking me for stopping you. If someone finds out about this switch at the palace and reports it, they'll hang you for treason and it will ruin me'

Lord Alan signed 'You are just a girl, Alanna. Ladies don't fight. They become good wives. You should start packing and don't think of any more plans. I'm telling the sergeant-at-arms to keep a close eye on you two.'

'Yes, Father.' Replied grimly by the twins.

After they were safely in their room from prying eyes and listening ears, Alanna flopped on to her bed, 'It was going so well…How did he find out about our plan with Maude?' Alanna said. She started pacing frantically around the room. 'One of the village women must have heard us talking. If I find out who it was I'll-

'Alanna, it's useless now,' Thom interrupted. 'Might as well accept this...'

'Do you think I want to be a lady?' she asked. "Walk slowly Alanna. Shoulders back, Alanna." She said primly. 'Why do you get all the fun? I'll have to learn sewing and dancing. You'll get to study how to become a knight.' Alanna finished woefully.

'Mithros, Alanna!' yelled Thom. 'You think I like that kind of stuff they teach you at the palace? You know me better than that!'

'Didn't Maude see in the fire what was right for us?' Thom nodded. 'We'll just have to discuss this with Maude and maybe she'll think of something.'

'Alright.'

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Maude shook her head. 'I'm sorry but it is your father's orders and I must obey him.'

'But what about the visions you saw in the fire' asked Alanna.

'There were many things I did not understand.'

'But, but we-

'No, Alanna. My mind's made up and you are going to the convent. Now go to sleep so you can rise earlier for tomorrow.'

With that last remark, Alanna ran back to the castle, tears flowing down her face.

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Somewhere, in another realm, a picture of Alanna running was shown in a goblet of water. 'Brother, if this girl isn't knighted, Tortall will be in great danger!' the Great Mother Goddess told Mithros.

'Dear Sister, you know we are not to mess with mortals lives even if it changes the future!'

'I will not just sit here and watch mortal lives suffer. They are depending on us gods to help them. I've seen into the future…. I saw many things…. horrible things.' The Mother Goddess explained grimly, drifting back to the visions. 'If Alanna of Trebond doesn't take this path, the peace of Tortall will be forever lost.'

After a moment of silence 'What do you plan to do then?'

'I must convince one of my followers in order to stop this catastrophe…'

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A/N: Thanks to BabyPerfectionist that I've finally been able to update this.

Please review. If you do, it will make me happy enough to write another chapter. You can just tell me if you like this or not or just give me a couple of ideas.

Thanks

Moonlight1314