WARNING- THIS CHAPTER HAD SOME IMPLICATIONS THAT SOME MIGHT FIND OFFENSIVE! THIS IS FICTIONAL PEOPLE, IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE FIRE AND TO THE NEXT CHAPTER (MENTIONS OF ABUSE AND RAPE)

Disclaimer... I don't own Tamora Pierce, she owns me!

THE BIG 1-0 woot woot! Have fun reading this, because I enjoyed writing it!

The ball was running smoothly. People were happy and dancing, the meal had been served. Many had gone back to their room, and the room was practically empty. Suddenly a man entered, visibly angry and storming in.

"SLUT!" A man came in, brandishing a sword.

People turned to look, the guards were mostly drunk and the king and queen had retired.

"I have to talk to Alanna of Trebond…" he sneered.

Jon instinctively put his hand to his sword, Alanna cursed that she had left hers in her room.

"Where is she, the whore who ruined my life..." He started to mutter incomprehensibly.

"Who are you?" Alanna was visibly confused.

"Why whore, do you now recognize me?" His teeth were rotten and he reeked of alcohol.

"Sir, I think that you should lower your voice…" Jonathan advised coolly.

"Your highness…" He mockingly bowed.

By now Gary and Raoul had also gathered.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Alanna's voice was low and dangerous.

"You…I want to know why…" He hissed, his eyes red with fury.

"I cannot tell you why, if I do not know who you are…" She fought to keep herself under control.

"I am Duane of Malven, you ruined my brothers life many years ago and last year you ruined mine…"

"Malven…"suddenly her face paled

"Alanna?" Thom came through the crowd of people surrounding his sister.

"I would suggest you leave before you get yourself into a situation you cannot handle Duane of Malven." Raoul spoke in a tone few heard him use before.

"You want to know what that trollop did? Do you? Why don't you ask the sweet Alanna what she did…"

"Leave." Alanna was pale, but her eyes shone with fear and rage mixed in large amounts.

"My dear Alanna, shall I tell his Highness? How you teased me that night in Spring?"

"I did no such thing…" She hissed, "If I had my sword I would have your head…"

"Duane of Malven, you test my patience. I did know your brother, and if you are any like him you are not worthy of my time, or Lady Alanna's. So if you would leave…" Jon said in a voice that meant he was ordering.

"Highness, I'd actually prefer to stay here if you didn't mind."

"I don't think it was an order Malven…" Raoul growled.

"I'm sorry I don't talk to lapdogs, or just dogs…" he sneered.

"Gentlemen…" Alanna hissed, holding Raouls sleeve, preventing him from gutting him at that moment. Her eyes pleaded with him, until he relaxed. She then turned back to her offendor, "I am perfectly capable taking care of myself. Malven, you can spew whatever lies you wish, you may call me names, but if you think you can attack my friends you are severely mistaken. If you are so brave as to face me in the ring tomorrow, that is a different matter. However, I believe that you have ruined our celebrations and should leave." She glared at him.

"I will see you in the ring tomorrow whore." He spat on the floor and turned around.

Alanna collapsed onto her chair.

"Alanna, you should get up to bed." Thayet said quietly.

"You're looking awfully pale," Cythera added.

"I'm fine…" She felt slightly dizzy.

"Alanna, you're not fine, I'll walk you back to your room…" Jon's voice was cold and confused at the same time.

"Jon,"

"That was an order Alanna." Jon gave her a look that said he needed to talk to her about something.

"Fine…" She said goodnight to everyone and leaned on Jon.

They walked in silence down the hallways. When they got to her chambers, she invited him in, knowing he had much to say, and she much to tell. They sat on chairs opposite from each other.

"Well, are you going to tell me what happened, or are you going to make me guess?"

"Malven was a mistake I made. It was a year and a few months ago…Right after you had left for Tortall."

She paused to see that he was listening intently.

"I stopped in at an inn, and he bought me a drink, I suspected no foul play, but then I got slightly dizzy. I don't remember what happened after that, but the next morning I woke up and I was…well I had no clothes on." She turned red.

"Did he…?" Jonathan showed no emotions, but his hands had tightened around his chair.

"I don't know," she sighed, "In the lobby I met a man who promised to help me learn more about how I could protect myself. He turned out to be the Shang Dragon…"

"Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Jon, I have no proof, he isn't even a knight. I am sure that the Lord Provost can do nothing now…don't even think of avenging my honour."

"I don't like it."

"What?"

"He hurt you Alanna, and you couldn't no a thing…"

"I did, I spread vicious rumors about him at the bar, making sure that no lady would ever accept a drink from him again." She grinned.

"Alanna…" Jon's eyes were misted over. He got up and pulled her up into a hug.

"I'm coming by early tomorrow to help you prepare…lock your doors tonight."

Alanna smiled and nodded, tomorrow would be a long day.