Piecing it Together

Disclaimer: if i owned these characters i wouldn't be writing stories in a FANFICTION website.

A/N: not many people are reviewing! why not? please review! and this is basically just a chapter, it has no real merit... please review on it anyways! i'm already started on the next one!

Alanna's restless sleep was ruined by the large bell that woke everyone in the palace. Grumbling about a bad night, and even worse sleep, she walked over to her privy. She looked at herself in the mirror, and wryly. Pretty horrible, she thought to herself, willing herself to look like she was alive. Her hair was dull and frizzed, her eyes uninterested. Even her skin seemed to be against her, it was pale with small bits of acne popping up.

While summoning her magic, she heard a sarcastic comment behind her. "Well now, that was one of the most entertaining things I've seen in a while."

Alanna glared at her cat. "Don't start with me. I am no mood for this!"

"What if I heed the voice of insanity and continue with my incessant chatter. What if I want to discuss the occurrences of the last night? What if I were to ask you-" he was cut off by the pillow that had almost landed on him.

"I said stop it!" Alanna's temper was rising. She stalked over to her bed and held the thrown pillow to her chest. "Whatever happened last night never happened! Understood?"

Faithful smiled smugly and replied, "I think I would rather remind your friend in the other room about it. Without another word he started to trot off to Raoul's rooms.

Before he could step more than five steps, Alanna tackled him to the ground, throwing a pillowcase over top of him, closed it and tossed it onto her bed. Even as she walked away she could hear growled curses and violent clawing. She had to smile, even though he was a bit irritating at times, he was still funny.

Shaking her head she turned out of her rooms and started the walk to mess hall. She looked in to see her knight-master, looking even worse than her: he was green in the face, and slumped over his meal. She couldn't help but be slightly angry with him. He had touched her, kissed her, and now he only looked hung over while she was up almost all night because she knew he was just drunk and probably wouldn't remember it in the morning. That hurt more than knowing what he did, at least if he remembered he would know not to do it again, but now... things changed too much for this!

She resisted the urge to turn and run back to her room, claiming she was sick. Two things stopped her; one: he would come see his ill squire, two: it wouldn't be believable, she rarely got sick and when she did, she applied healing magic to herself. Alanna also knew if she turned back Raoul might think she was a coward. She told herself that he was her knight-master, but in her Faithful-like area of mind, she knew it was another reason.

She placed her head in her hands, took a deep breath and took one step towards the hall when someone laid a hand on her should. Before she even looked around she rammed the person against the wall, then look up into sapphire blue eyes. Her own violet eyes widened, and she cursed silently.

Jon looked uncomfortable. As he shifted his weight from foot to foot she couldn't help but think about the way the kingdom was going to be when he was king.

When he finally calmed down he said, " listen, Alan, I'm sorry for the way I treated you and your knight-master. If I can repay you in any way, please let me or my squire know." and he walked away.

A thought struck Alanna so hard it almost hurt. He had said "your knight-master" not Raoul. She looked at him, he was about to open the door to the hall. She ran to him grabbed his arm and said, "there is something you can do."

The prince raised his eyebrows. "Oh, really. Now what would that be?"

"I want you to repeat you apology, except instead of using 'your knight-master' use his name." her chin went up at the end in challenge.

He growled lightly. She punched him in arm; he was going to do this: he had too much honour not to.

"Fine. Alan, I'm sorry for the way I treated you and Raoul." something about the way he said Raoul's name made Alanna think of the way she often said Roger's. With disgust and wariness.

She suddenly thought of another something. "Are you going to say this to Raoul?"

"I was." but the way he said it she didn't quite believe him.

"Well I want to see it then."

On anyone but the prince she knew, that would have qualified as a scowl. "Fine, but I won't do it in the mess hall."

"Why not? Are you scared of the ladies we're sitting with? Because trust me, they are no Delia or Destini."

"You mean I won't be attracted to them."

Alanna's mouth hung open for a minute. "Do you even know them?" she demanded.

"I heard about them from Delia."

Alanna's heart rate was rising. Her breathing was becoming uneven, she knew if she didn't get a rein on her temper she would explode. "You believe that lying whore?"

"Don't say that!" he snarled.

"I'll say whatever I damn well want! You may be the prince, but you're also my friend, and I really don't think being around your precious Delia is a good idea!"

Jon snorted. "She happens to be very nice."

"When she wants a nicer place to say for the night!"

They stood there, glaring daggers at each other.

"Alan!"

Alanna looked behind her to see Morgan running towards her arms outstretched, smiling from ear to ear.

"Have you heard from Gary? It's wonderful!" she cried out.

Alanna smiled. Not much could get Morgan of Naxen smiling like she was now. "No I haven't. What is it?"

Her grin turned sly. "he's courting Cythera of Elden."

"Are you serious?" Alanna asked gleefully.

"Yes!"

"Oh, Mithros, he's not gonna go one day without me asking how his time with her was."

Morgan smiled, looked around. "Where did our prince -not-so-charming go?"

Alanna laughed, then gazed into the mess hall, to see him sitting with his parents and squire.

Coward, Alanna thought coldly.

"Are we going in or what?" Morgan asked, sounding very much like Destini. She looked at her to see a quick, yet very wry, grin.

"Sorry, I was very preoccupied." she replied.

"If I ever hear such an understatement I will send a letter.," she said, her joking voice rang throughout the hall.

The two walked to the table where Raoul, Jessica, Isabelle, and Douglass sat. Alanna smiled to see Jessica and Douglass chatting eagerly, but a bit hurt to see Raoul looking at Isabelle with such liking. What am I doing to myself? I don't care if he likes another girl, I'm his squire I should be happy for him and Isabelle, not jealous!

Her eyes must have filled with something because Morgan caught her attention, jerked her head at Raoul and then raised an eyebrow. In return, Alanna mouthed the words "I'll tell you later."

Alanna looked at Raoul and said, "Raoul, I got your armour." she laughed a laugh that sounded very fake. "I forgot to tell you."

Jessica and Douglass didn't notice anything, they were still very involved in their conversation. Isabelle did. Maybe Morgan was right. Thought Isabelle as she looked at the look "Alan" was shooting Raoul.

"Of course. I'm sorry Isabelle, this is really important, though," Raoul was saying.

"It's no trouble at all," she said, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

the two nodded a farewell as the left their companions. They didn't say a word until they reached Raoul's room.

Alanna turned and the air around the two of them turned very cold. Even though a flame was in her eyes, the air was icy. He looked at her, confused.

"What was all that about last night? I know you were drunk but I assumed that you had more sense!" she said, completely vicious.

Raoul was stunned. "Yeah, I was really, really, drunk and I don't know why I did it! If I knew I would answer you!"

"I know you would, it's just that," she sighed, "even a drunk man could tell I'm a different person. I'm sure you could see that, but you went anyways. I need to know why you didn't stop."

Raoul ran his hand through his dark hair. "I don't know!" he looked over to Alanna jump, like he had scared her or something.

"What's wrong?" he was getting very vexed.

"You hardly ever lose your temper, and when you normally it's more important than what I am talking to you about," she replied softly.

"I know, I'm sorry, it's just, I might be more confused about this than you are," Raoul said, shoulders slumped.

"I highly doubt that."

"You never know," he was really trying to get her to believe him.

"Alright, maybe you're right. So, having fun with Isabelle?" she asked slyly, taking pleasure in his blush.

He cleared his throat, though his face was still red. "I like Isabelle, no not in that way," noting the look Alanna gave him, "but I don't think I would flirt with her."

"Oh really, why? This had better not be Jon's response either!" she warned, but her dancing eyes took away from the effect.

"What was Jon's response?"

She snorted. "He said he wouldn't because Delia told him about them."

Raoul raised his eyebrows and shook his head then said, "What happened to him?"

Alanna smiled sadly at him. "I think he just realized he's royalty."

"I don't know, he's always known he was royalty."

"That's not the way I meant it. I mean, you showed him even royalty can't have everything."

They continued to talk for a while, until finally deciding to forget about the kiss, that it had only been a drunken mistake. A little while later Raoul left Alanna to get ready for practise. When the door shut behind him she murmured, "well that's probably all I'm going to get."

"Don't worry, things will get better, just give it time."

Alanna's eyes started to burn, and a lump rose in her throat and she sat down on her bed, picked up her odd cat and asked, "Faithful, why is this happening? I used to be so close with Jon, now he won't even talk to talk me, or apologize to Raoul. And Raoul. You know what's going on. You're almost half my mind. Please tell me why."

"If I could I would. You don't sound that great when your voice is cracking either."

The tears had started. Now they streamed down her face like a steady river. She began to sob, and held Faithful even tighter. Her lips twitched at his last comment.