Pride and Chance

Disclaimer: i dont own any of the characters you recognize.

A/N:I got a person asking me to stop jon bashing coughtortallanridercough, so it ends here tonight. Please review, and thanks to everyone who have.

As Alanna strode for the training yard, her thoughts still in shambles, she saw a large group of men, all dressed in blue, white and silver. These were the men of the King's Own.

Her eyebrow raised. The men of the Own were not known for their bravery, if anything they were known for how many women they had been with. She almost sneered at the noblemen standing in front of her; Alanna could almost assume she was braver than these "men".

Her haughty thoughts were interrupted by a tall man, not as tall as Raoul but close, wearing the sign of Commander. He had light brown hair that was cut short, even shorted than pages, so that it brushed the top of his ears. He had almond shaped brown eyes, and a firm mouth. His nose was rather small in comparison to the rest of him. He was Lord Jordan of Darroch.

"Men!" he called across the court, "we are having a man come join us today. He is a renowned fighter and is bringing along his own squire. Please welcome Sir Raoul of Goldenlake."

There as a patter of applause, not as loud as it should have been.

"And his squire, Alan of Trebond."

The only sound that filled the air was that of birds and crickets.

"Anyways, there was reports of raiding a small village to the north of us, they say it's pretty bad. Bring your things, you have till noon." with that he stepped away from everyone and started walking away from company.

Raoul caught her as she started the walk to her room. "Hey, I'm sorry I never told you about this, I just think it would be a good way to get some field experience. Besides, I'm going to complain to Jon, the way they act is unbelievable. They make ladies like Destini seem fierce. I'm not going to let this go on."

"Why do you want to do this? I know you, you always have other motives," she told him. "And I thought he'd be more for bigger, exaggerated speeches.

He smiled. "Yes, well, I want you there as my witness. And he is, just wait until we leave the palace."

Alanna nodded in understanding, looking over the men who were supposed to be protecting the realm. "I'll be right back. I have to grab a few things from my room."

"Like your cat?" he asked, all too innocently.

She stuck her tongue out at him and walked towards her room. She started to walk faster, until she reached an all out sprint. Before she realized what was happening she felt the floor beneath her, the cold stone bruising her face. For a few minutes all was silent, until a rich laugh filled the halls. She looked behind her to see Jonathan, doubled over, clutching his stomach. Her voice was dry when she said, "nice to see someone having fun."

He shook his head, still laughing. "yeah, I must say, I missed your bouts of absentmindedness," he sighed. "I know you and Raoul are going out again, I don't know if you'll make it back." when Alanna opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off. " wait. I just don't want to end things on bad terms. With you, or Raoul."

She simply stared at him. "You were being a prick!"

"I know." his voice was muffled because his head was lowered.

"And do you really think we will forgive you just like that?" she demanded. She knew she was being unfair, but he had acted like a spoiled child.

"I was hoping. I know I acted like a four year old. I now realize that if I continue like that, the country I make will be destroyed before I end my coronation."

"You're right about that." she glanced around the hall."where's Geoffrey?"

"I gave him the day off. He deserves it." he grinned. "Poor guy's been putting up with my moping about two friends I lost because of my pride."

"We were never lost. Just not there."

"That's not the point. I lost your trust and your friendship, only to gain your anger. It wasn't pleasant. Right now all I want is to gain it back."

Alanna knew it shouldn't have, but she was moved. Jon had never admitted he was wrong, and now here they were, standing in a corridor, a bruise rising on a young girl's face, the prince apologizing with his hand outstretched, ready for forgiveness after being consumed by guilt.

"Hello?" Raoul's voice was so close and loud it made the two jump.

"Crap!" she hissed. "I have to pack!"

"Alright, I hope you'll forgive me."

"I do," she said as she ran for room.

"Hey, Jon, have you seen Alan?" Raoul asked.

"He just went to his room. You might want to get him some meat for his cheek, too." he got a sparkle into his eyes, and walked away whistling.

"Wait!"

The prince turned. "What's wrong?"

"I'm going out with the King's Own, and I was going to report substandard results from them."

"Your point is?"

"I want you to stay close to the palace until I get back. I'm not going to come back and find my one voice at court gone on some adventure."

"Some adventure?" Jonathan asked, entirely amused. "What if my realm needs me? What if myself and my squire are desired to protect a village of innocent people?"

"Then someone else, like Gary, takes over."

"Fine," he said, still smiling, "you should see to your squire."

"Of course."

"And, Raoul?"

"What?" he asked, Jon just told him to talk to his squire, now he was holding him back?

"I'm sorry."

Raoul turned to look at him. "Your forgiven, just do this again, please."

The two separated; Raoul to Alanna's room, Jon to his own. Raoul knocked on the door, and started to feel uncomfortable.

"I don't have time to talk right now!" was the call.

"It's Raoul." the second he finished the last sentence, the door swung open. Alanna looked up to face him and laughed at the way his widened when he saw the bruise on her face. "I fell down."

"Were you in a fight?" he teased.

"No, for once I actually fell down!" she said and with a small laugh.

"Right, almost done packing?" Raoul inquired, eying all the bags on the ground.

"Yes, I just have to grab one last thing," she replied and searched her the area until she spotted a black lump. She grabbed him, placed him on her left shoulder so that both sets of violet eyes were leveland nodded.

Raoul sighed. He knew there was a chance that they would never make it out, there was a very large chance that the Own would break and run.

"Listen, there's a chance we could die," he started, but before he could continue, Alanna had cut him off.

"And we'll take the chance, we have to find those raiders. There was a chance I could've died when you and Gary found that one afternoon. I knew I was tempting death by choosing this life, but I don't care. There are tons of people in Tortall, they need someone to look up to, someone to frown down upon. I'm going to be that person. I will never refuse a cry of help, no matter what, and I'm not going to right now." she said, the flame back in her eyes.

Raoul nodded slowly. "If your sure?"

"This is why I became your squire."

"Thanks, I really didn't want to leave behind a good fighter. One that won't run when attacked."

"Goldenlake, I never run."

Trumpets blasting called Alanna's attention to the front, to the man who should never be in command.

Rage pulsed through her veins like hot lava; the man stood at the front, his hand mere inches from a stable boy's face. She never thought, before she realised it, she was on the ground running towards Lord Jordan. She was furious. He would not hit the child and get away with it, without thinking, she reached for her neck, like you with a necklace. What she felt shocked her; it was the stone, for some reason it gave her strength.

A loud smack rang in her ears and the small boy fell to the ground, whimpering. Violet magic pooled around Alanna's outstretched hand, whipping around the general's face, leaving red welts. He glared at her.

"Insubordinate child!" he cried in pain and rage. He took steps towards Alanna, despite the fact that she had magic, and he didn't. A hand grabbed Alanna's shoulders, pulling her away from jordan, and the fight she craved. A voice whispered in her ear, "don't! Squire, you may be good with a sword, but my lord is probably better. Don't try his patience, he has connections."

"So do I!" she hissed viciously. "I can beat Duke Gareth of Naxen one third of the time! What makes you think I can't handle myself? I won't break formation like a stallion near a mare, and I could probably lead better than he could!"

"Don't start with that," he replied tartly, "and why are you doing this?"

"He hit an innocent child, I'm going to become a knight, so why should I let people walk all over everyone I'm supposed to protect?"

The hands turned her to face him. The man wasn't that old, only twenty or so, with black hair, brown eyes, with scars on his face. He was tall, about as tall as Raoul, but skinny, some of the ladies at the palace might envy his build. His voice was that of an educated man, and joking, more dry and sarcastic humour than anything else. He seemed to be the type to point out the obvious and get beaten for it. He smiled wickedly. "Just don't get on his bad side. He isn't all that stable in his mind. He might turn on you in battle, so don't anger him."

"So, glorious saviour, do you have a name other than that?" she asked sharply.

"I do, I'm Dean of Fenrigh. And a child like you must have a small name as well."

"Alan of Trebond." she said with confidence.

Dean's eyebrows raised. "I thought you were just being arrogant about being a good fencer I didn't actually think you could best someone like that at their own sport."

"Well I can," she said and looked ahead. Raoul was riding towards her, and everyone else started moving.

"How long are you here for?" Dean called.

"I'm not sure, only as long as my knight-master wants to."

"Well, if your staying until the end of this chase, I'll be seeing a lot of you." was his last reply and disappeared into a sea of blue, silver and white.

A raven in the distance seemed to be laughing at Alanna and Dean. When she looked at it she realised it wasn't the proper colour of deep black, but a brown black. The second Alanna took notice of its abnormalities, it took to the sky, still jeering at the lady squire and her companions.