Ball

Disclaimer: i swear to whatever deity is listening, i do not own anything that is copyrighted by Tamora Pierce!

A few weeks later, Alanna was thoroughly enjoying Douglass fuss with his hair; he just asked Jessica to the Midwinter ball. Raoul was taking Isabelle, and Alanna was going with Morgan as a joke, seeing as how Morgan knew her secret they thought it would be funny.

"Alan! What's wrong with me?" Douglass complained.

"I don't know. Maybe you're just not meant to look good," she replied, her voice rang with amusement.

Douglass sneered at her, and a knock sounded on her door. What she saw surprised her; Jon was standing in the doorway with Delia, and Gary was there holding Cythera. Alanna smiled at the couples, but her smile was for Jonathan. She would never flash a fake smile at Delia, not even if her life depended on it.

"So, Alan, I hear you are courting lady Morgan of Naxen, is it true?" Delia asked, once again trying to make everything her business.

Where is she getting this? Alanna thought wearily. Her dislike for Delia won and showed when she said, "no. I never was, I probably never will."

Gary smiled, knowing if his small friend's dislike for women who put themselves forward so much as to be considered a trollop by women and a beloved creature by men. He shook his head and thought of the way he actually wanted to go to this ball; he had even asked out a girl, Gary's sister, but it is still a start.

"And why not? Surely you agree she is rather good looking," batting her eyelashes as she said it.

Alanna looked at Morgan. "Of course I believe she is beautiful. I also admire her for attracting so many people without having to use intimacy as a lure."

Morgan laughed, so did Isabelle and Raoul. Jessica, Douglass, Gary and Cythera could hardly contain their grins; even Jon seemed to want to smile, but he kept his face stern and said, "Alan, that is no way to treat a lady. I must insist that you apologize."

Alanna choked. She would say, but she had to be sure her indifference and amusement made her stutter. "My lady Delia," a snort of laughter, " I must apologize, my comment was," another giggle, "unfair. I will take it back."

Delia was red, even though she had face powder caked on. Shrilly, she went on, "I have never been more insulted! I do not accept the vague apology you have made. My lord prince, if you will excuse us?"

Jon sighed, "yes, Delia." but the look he gave his friends that told them that he would be back sooner than anticipated.

Gary rose to his feet with a groan. "We should really be going too."

The others stood as well, protesting. Jessica was laughing like a murderer. "That was wonderful! Did you see her?" sadly, her hysterical laughter followed them all the way to the banquet hall.

Alanna and Morgan bade their friends good luck on the staircase, and hoped none of them fell to their death. This was a very important "get together"; ambassadors from Tusiane were coming, therefore the squires were not forced to serve. A herald came forward to tell them of the order in which things were to proceed according to. Mercifully, Alanna and Morgan were neither first nor last, they were the middle. Alanna could tell her friend was nervous, she was just like her brother, the joker, and wasn't well known around court.

Alanna just didn't like to be up in front of people, and Morgan was pretty enough to make men jealous of Alanna. Her brown eyes highlighted with black eyeliner, pale brown eye shadow on her eyelids made her look much older. The naturally curly hair was left in a neat style of loose ringlets around her, coming down to her shoulder blades, small pieces of odd pinks shades were in her hair from an experiment gone wrong on Jessica's part; she was trying to dye Morgan's hair a bright red, but ended up with bright pink. Her dress was a work of art. Long red silk skirts, with a red corset and black lining. It had thin straps to hold it up, it had a modest neckline, low enough to attract attention, but not low enough to be considered slutty. It was completed with black gloves that came to her elbows.

Jessica and Douglass were descending the stairs, and she heard the gasps of people at Jessica's dress. Hers was a black gown, with bright pink on the bodice. Her wasn't a corset, but it still had a small bow in the back, pulling the dress tight enough to show her figure off. Jessica's black hair was in a simple braid, her had small bits of blue mixed in it, but these were clip ons. She looked so casual and elegant at the same time.

Isabelle stood close to Raoul, taking deep breaths attempting to calm her nerves. She had her hair in a loose bun, with small locks falling into her face and around her neck. Her dress was a soft blue, with ribbons attached to her arms giving her an angelic look. Instead of wearing high heels like most noblewomen wore, she had flats on, she didn't need the extra height. She had a lot of blue make-up, but she didn't over-do it like Delia did.

"Squire Alan of Trebond and Lady Morgan of Naxen," the herald called.

Morgan raised her head, and started a calm walk towards the stair. Alanna followed, more nervous than the lady, or so she thought. The second Morgan looked down the stairs, her breath caught in her chest and she went pale, her grip tightened mercilessly on Alanna's arm, until she was bruised. Her eyes rolled into her head and she collapsed, nearly falling down the stairs.

"Help!" cried Alanna. Raoul and Isabelle rushed forwards, trying to help the fallen Naxen.

Long moments passed before Morgan opened her eyes. When she finally did, she turned red, looked down, tears in her eyes.

"I can't believe it. I worked so hard to stop myself from doing that," her voice was choked with humiliation.

"It's alright," said Alanna, trying to soothe the poor girl.

"No, it's not!" Morgan snapped. "If it was alright, I wouldn't be acting like this! Do you expect me just to laugh it off and say, 'yeah, I fainted on my way down the stairs'?"

Taken aback, Alanna answered carefully, "no, I just thought you wouldn't be so upset about it."

"How couldn't I be upset about this? I disgraced my family, they will never be proud of their only daughter!" With that, she turned and strode down the stairs quickly, not holding onto Alanna, and walking towards the doors.

"My lady!" called Alanna. "My lady, wait! Please!"

Morgan looked back quickly and she started to run. But while she looked back a man stepped in front of her, causing her to fall to the ground with an agitated yell. Many curses followed as Alanna ran towards her friend.

"Sorry, Sacherell," Alanna murmured.

The other squire grinned. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."

"What is wrong with you people?" shouted Morgan from the ground.

"Nothing, we're just not the best with this kind of court function," Alanna joked.

If looks could kill, Alanna would have turned to dust. But Gary walked over and grabbed his sister's arm, pulling her to her feet. "It's alright, did I tell you about the time..." and walked away, telling stories of people at court who screwed up in one way or another.

Shaking her head she came face to face with Raoul. He leaned over and whispered, "I need to talk to you."

She nodded to her tall friend and followed him outside. When she glanced around the room, she grinned in spite of herself. Jessica was dancing with Douglass, a little closer than the dance required. Isabelle was flirting with the Tusaine knights, one in particular was drawing closer to the tall lady. Morgan was still in her brothers company, still letting her get rid of the embarrassment that she had felt just minutes ago.

They were going towards Alanna's room. She frowned slightly; they should have just stayed in the garden, where Jon could see them and not think that they were trying to skip out on the ball. Yet they continued, at rather a brisk pace as well. When they got there, Alanna and let her eyes wander around the room in search of Faithful; she couldn't explain why, but right now she felt like she might want him here.

"Alanna, there's a reason I wanted to see you privately," Raoul said quietly.

Alanna eyed him curiously. "What is it?"

A few moments passed before he could make himself say anything. "I- um- it's just that-" he finally got himself under control. "I think you are an amazing woman, so full ideals and dreams. And your looks are extraordinary."

Where was he going with this?

Before Alanna could utter a word, his lips were on hers with a searing heat that almost destroyed her mind. For what seemed like the longest moment she stood there, never thinking, never wanting to say no. She gently reached up and touched his face, and the feeling she was getting from this was explosive. Alanna trembled, and finally returned to her own mind. She backed away, suddenly ashamed of what she had just done. "Raoul, I can't. I want my shield."

"I know, but you didn't seem to protest for a while either, though," Raoul pointed out. He didn't sound confident right now, or all that sure of what was going on now that he had kissed his squire.

"That isn't the point!" she said, feeling small and guilty. She had never felt as good as she did when Raoul was holding her. She was confused. A part of her wanted to hide, and never show her face again, but the other part wanted to be back in his grip, so close that she could fal and she wouldn't move an inch; unfortunately, this was the lager side.

Raoul looked at her, his black eyes searched hers. His shoulders fell, and he looked so dejected Alanna feel worse. Alanna had to say something, now. "We're back to this?"

He nodded, and was pale. "I'm sorry."

"I am too," she replied. "I shouldn't have done anything, I'm just as responsible."

"Did you kiss me? Or was it the other way around?" he asked sarcastically. When Alanna stayed silent he went on, "exactly. I don't know why I did this! I don't why I liked! I don't know why I want to do it again!" realizing he'd said too much he too fell quiet.

Alanna sat on her bed, head in her hands. She'd heard what he said, she needed to put a stop to this. "There will be no 'next time'. I'm sorry, but if you do this again I will remove myself from your service." she knew her words had hurt him, but they needed to be said.

"I know... please, just give me another chance," his voice was pleading."we can visit George."

Alanna smiled. "Alright, but we're taking Gary and Morgan."

He nodded and asked, "why both of them?"

"Because I don't want to have to carry you home, and I think Morgan and George will get along very well."

A/N: it took a while to write these, but they're not too bad... just write if you disagree or agree, or whatever you think, come on, you know you wannnna (there is supposed to be a music note here)