I hope you liked the first chapter! REVIEW!

-Disclaimer-

I don't own the Song of the Lioness series! I'm just a slave to the writings!

-MK!

"Gary, what is wrong with you?" Jon protested rather loudly.

"You look awful Jon, you're hair is messed and your clothes are wrinkled."

"What?"

"Raoul, can I have some help?"

"Be glad to…" Raoul effortlessly held Jon's struggling figure.

"What?" Jon finally stopped struggling.

"Jon, a…very special guest has arrived…ahead of schedule. You need to be in proper form."

"I don't want to be in proper form for another court lady…" Jon sighed.

Raoul carried Jon into the washroom.

"I can wash myself!" He said shocked.

"I know, believe I don't want to wash you with a ten foot…" Raoul muttered.

"Enough, Raoul, thanks for your help!" Gary, ever the mediator, sensed a potential fight.

Jon shooed Gary out of the room.

"Maybe they're right." He thought to himself, getting in the hot water. He had been dark after his return to Tortall. His mother had never returned to full health, Gary and Roger usually had some kind of Imperial Duty and Alanna, the only one that he had spent time with had left. He scrubbed his body, using the nicer smelling soaps.

After he finished, Gary was waiting for him.

"All right…which one do you want?"

"I don't know? Why aren't you giving me one?"

"Jon, we're just trying to be friendly, now pick an outfit."

"Fine…You guys do realize that I am older than 5 and can make my own decisions."

"When you stop acting like a 5 year old, we'll stop treating you like one." Raoul muttered.

"Look, I have an outfit, I will be dressed by dinner, now can I have some peace?"

"Fine by me." Raoul shrugged and left.

"Jon…."

"I understand what you are trying to say Gary, but I need to think, give me some space please?"

"Yes…sure."

Jon was left alone in the room, until he turned, opened the drapes and let the light in.

"Hurry up Alanna!" Gary knocked again.

"Give me a second!"

"Alanna…I'm going to bang this door down in two seconds."

"Into a girl's room? You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me!"

Alanna sighed and unbarred the door.

"It's open!" She called.

"Took your time and…wow."

"What?"

"You look…"

"…Feminine?" Raoul supplied.

"Close your mouths…Both of you!" she snapped.

Gary smirked, "My lady, would you give us simple knights the pleasure of escorting you to the ball?"

"Gary…I'm warning you…"

Raoul joined in, "No my lady, us simple men are dazzled by your beauty and femininity. Please, excuse my friend, he was banged on the head as a child!" Gary scowled but continued in the jest.

"Both of you!" Alanna glared at them.

"My lady, you should know that you are the light of this room…" Gary dropped to one knee!

"Enough! Both of you, Gary, I'm not scared to start repeating some of the poetry about Delia's glove and Raoul, don't think I'm above saying some of the things you wrote about Lady Alyssa!" Alanna snapped

"My Lady, the others you mentioned pale in comparison to your beauty."

"I am going to eat now, if you two don't quit this, I'll have to find new company. Don't even think of performing this silliness in public…" she used her warning tone, her purple eyes glinting.

Raoul and Gary laughed as they sauntered down the hallway after her.

"Your Highness!" Alanna made her entrance, bowing to both the king and queen. The King nodded, as the Queen kissed each of her cheeks.

"You listened." She whispered into her ear, smiling.

She then bowed to Jon.

"Lady Alanna." Jon said curtly. His eyes wandered over her body, to the silk dress, and back to the purple eyes that caught his so frequently.

"Prince." She replied.

They shared an awkward moment until Gary pulled her to her seat.

"Not in public, I swear…if I had a coin each time I had to break up situations!"

"Gary, don't even make me start about Lady Cythera…" Alanna muttered.

Gary only smiled pleasantly.

"That's won't affect me, as my lovely fiancé would love to hear about what I had said about her in my boyish years."

"Even what you said about Lady Delia?"

Gary gave her a deadly glare, but shut his mouth.

Dinner was an event, many of the women muttered things about the lady knight, some good, many bad. The men were not able to believe that the Alan of Trebond they knew, was now sitting in front of them, as a woman of grace and charm.

Jon, tried to sneak looks at her. Was she sorry after the break up, did she have another? Was she married now? She was at an age where marriage was common, and Trebond was not a poor fief. Albeit, not the richest, but it had done well over the years. It was slowly rising in power.

"Jon, you'll have to be more subtle than that…" Raoul muttered.

"What are you talking about?" Jon asked through the side of his mouth.

"Alanna, it's her first night, I'm sure you'll be able to talk to her afterwards."

"My dear bachelor friend, why is it that you are trying to teach me the ways of women?"

"Because my friend, who is also a bachelor, I thought that you need some help. You an Alanna are not on the best of terms. Alanna and I, however are."

Jon sighed and looked at Raoul, "Well, my favorite knight, tell me how…"

Raoul laughed, a deep and hearty rumble, "My prince, you only needed to ask."

That's Chapter 2! REVIEW! (hey that rhymed!)

-MK