Charlie and Lola- Okay in case you haven't guessed it's A/J. Um, thanks for the compliments!

Pink Squishy Llama- I know, weddings are preeetty:D Anyway it's not going to be for a while if I can help it :D

I know you all love me :D, so yeah read on wary readers, read on!

Alanna was busy with wedding plans. She was picking china patterns, sampling cake and dresses, flowers. She was arguing over prices and to top it off, she had the court ladies on her case for getting engaged to the prince. She was so busy, too busy to think, breathe…eat sometimes.

"I've been told you haven't left for 3 days." Jon raised an eyebrow.

"Who was it?" Alanna sighed.

"You're tired."

"I'm not…" she surpressed a yawn.

"You don't need to kill yourself over this, I'll get my mother to help. Cythera will handle dresses, Thayet can handle the makeup and flowers, Thom Raoul and Gary can handle the dinner (if my mother doesn't), and everything else I'll help with."

Alanna gave a tired smile, "I never knew this was so much work." She sighed, getting up and leaning on Jon.

"Well, you don't need to kill yourself over this, get some rest…"

Alanna was already asleep.

Thayet was surprisingly calm as she looked at her friends. Each of them waited for big news, Cythera chewed on her pinky nail, Alanna was tapping her fingers and Buri was scowling at her.

"Talk. Now." was the only things that she said.

Thayet took in a breath slowly.

"All right, what happened?"

Thayet looked at Cythera, Buri and then Alanna.

"I think I'm pregnant..." She said quietly.

Alanna's mouth dropped, Buri shrugged muttering something about how she expected, Cythera smiled.

"You're…" Alanna looked at Thayet.

"I am…" Thayet smiled.

"But…"

"I don't know."

"Does Thom…"

"No…" Thayet gave a small smile.

"Can someone speak in a sentence?" Buri huffed.

"Congratulations!" Alanna smiled widely, giving her a hug,

"You say that now, but I'll be hormonal and…"

"… it'll be worth it to see Thom's face." Alanna grinned to which everyone laughed.

Thom was ecstatic about a child. He drew up plans of an elaborate nursery complete with toys and everything a toddler would want. Then he insisted on drawing up names for the child.

"Your child is going to be the most spoiled child ever." Alanna muttered.

"Plus he..."

"Or she..." Thayet added.

"Or she, will be loved!"

"He or she will also have a neurotic father..." Alanna muttered again, getting cuffed by her brother.

It was a long nine months, Thayet stayed at the castle, since the healers would be better. A new visitor, Numair Salamin came in around then, stirring up people's attentions. People were enchanted by the coolly handsome mage. His black hair, dark eyes and chiselled looks made him the object of many ladies' affections.

"Lady Alanna…" He said to a rushed Alanna.

"Master Numair." She gave a curt curtsy, she was thinking of the many wys of how she could get out of a conversation.

He smiled, "You have other things to do."

"I wouldn't want to be rude!" She grinned.

"Not rude, necessarily…maybe short. It is odd." He gave her a puzzled look.

"How so Master Numair?"

"I have heard many great things about you."

"Mostly rumors I'm sure." He followed her as she walked down the hallway.

"That I am not sure of, I have heard of how you defeated the Ysandir, the Sweating sickness, even of the greatest sorcerers of the land."

"Maybe there is truth in the rumors." Alanna said lightly.

"Maybe…there is something odd about you Lady Alanna. I'm not sure what it is, but I can feel it."

Alanna stopped, turning to face him. He was many heads taller than her, and his eyes held wisdom and a cool temper.

"I'm not a puzzle master Numai, nor am I a toy to be played with or solved. If you'll excuse me, I must be off not, I may see you later." With that she walked off, hoping he wouldn't follow her.

"He is awfully handsome though…" Cythera stroked Faithful thinking.

"Not my type, besides everyone in this room is accounted for." Alanna sighed.

"Yes, but its okay to look at the sweets without sampling." Thayet grinned.

"For shame Thayet…You were just married!" Alanna said sharply, to which Thayet shrugged.

"He is tall, dark and handsome. He will make a good match for someone one day." Thayet said as she rested her hands on her growing stomach.

"Not you, or me…or Cythera, or even Alanna!" Buri noted.

"Did you see the way that he looks at the ladies, it's like they're animals in a menagerie. He's so aloof with all of the women." Alanna sighed.

A knock rang on her door.

"Ladies…" Jon smiled, "I must pull Alanna away to discuss…china patterns." His eyes glimmered wickedly.

"Of course my lord…" Alanna smiled.

"China patterns, that's the best that you could think of?"

"I had to do something to get you away from the pack." Jon grinned, leaning in to kiss her again. (A/N I'm not going to say what they were doing, don't ask!)

Alanna sighed, putting her head against his chest.

"What's wrong?"

"That new mage…Numair Salamin."

"What about him?" Jon's tone was suspicious.

"I don't fancy him so don't give me that. I'm very faithful." She snapped, the sighed and thought for a moment, "I supposed it always feels like he's trying to scan me. I'm not sure what for, just he's so curious."

"Alanna, take your enemies and turn them into your friends. He sounds like a nice person and a worthy ally for Tortall." Jon, ever the voice of reason, pointed out.

Alanna sighed, "You're probably right, I hardly know him."

"Exactly…" Jon mumbled, yawning into her hair.

They fell asleep together, thinking of what lay ahead for them.