Betray and Betrayed

Chapter Three-Old Friends and Arrivals

Alanna woke up well before dawn and decided to take a quick bath to both wake herself up and to relieve her so some stress. She put on a regular pair of men's clothing and sat back down in bed.

Now that I know the Tortallians sent that ransom I wonder if they will come… will Char come for me? She thought grimly, for even he can't disobey their king.

Alanna heard the click of her door opening after the faint knock. Turning her neck to look at the person who had just entered, she saw that it was the same man who escorted her to the counsel.

His brilliant blue eyes surveyed her and he said, "His Majesty has said that you may visit any place that you want to. However, he has told me to warn you that there are charms on you to prevent you from leaving or going as far away as ten paces past the outskirts of Corus."

With a faint and grim nod he turned and left but not before saying, "Also, you are not weapons but if you want to practice, there are the practice field weapons." Hesitantly he said, "Just so you know, the Tusainian embassy is coming here tomorrow at noon." Turning around, he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Guess they can't just lock up the person who's in charge of this damn peace offering.

Alanna decided to go and visit the city since it has been years since she had stepped foot in the city.

Alanna made her way to the gates and was surprised that no one stopped her. The guards gave her a glance and returned to their conversations.

Making her way around the market, Alanna was surprised at all the commotion going on. Still the same old Corus all right, she thought grimly. I wonder if George is still around here. Man I miss that thief, she mused. George was the one that had helped her when she was bullied. Basically through her whole life here, he had helped her.

Making her way to the Dancing Dove, Alanna went in and was not surprised that basically no one was here, since it was still early in the morning. In fact, only about five people were here.

Alanna went up to the barkeeper to order a drink. "Oi, Solom! How 'bout a tankard of lemonade eh?"

I'm sorry miss but do I…" he gasped and dropped the glass that he was carrying, "It can't be Master Alan!"

Alanna grinned, "Good to know at least someone knows who I am. And now it's Alanna."

Solom nodded and couldn't keep the happy look on his face. "You'll be looking for His Majesty of course?"

"You read my mind. So is he up yet, or should I wait?"

"Just go up to his room, I'm sure he'll have me ear if I keep ya from 'im longer than I have ta," he said with a wink. Alanna grinned knowing that George had a habit of collecting ears of those that disobeyed him.

Alanna made her way up the stairway and decided at the last moment that she would just let herself in and surprise George. Slowly opening the door she made her way in, tip-toeing.

She felt a dagger from somewhere behind her rest dangerously close to her neck.

"Didn't your ma ever tell yah to not go into a room without knocking?" George growled.

Alanna smiled and grabbed the hand that held the dagger and twisted it quickly away from her while sweeping her feet behind his and tossed him over her hip. It was a move that he himself taught her when she was a page and one that he invented himself.

George landed and rolled landing in a crouching fighting stance. Alanna followed suit and prepared herself in case he tried anything.

"Who are ye and how did yah know that move?" he demanded.

"My, my George! I would expect you to remember friends longer than three years!"

George blinked and whispered in a disbelieving voice, "Alanna?"

Alanna bowed gracefully and lit a violet ball of fire and tossed it at a candle in his room. Along with her training as a knight in Tusaine, she had also had extensive training in magic in case she should ever face it in battle.

The flame flickered and George's eyes widened considerably. Unable to retrain himself he lunged and embraced her tightly, letting go after a long moment.

After he let her go she blushed red, even noticeable in the dim lighting. George was wearing only a pair of breeches. Turning herself around, George laughed realizing the cause of her shyness.

"Aye lass, though I seem to remember you seeing me in worst conditions when yah were a page," he said barely containing the laughter from spilling out as he slid on a shirt.

"Though I seem to remember that at the time everyone thought that I was a lad so that changes matters now," she replied though her cheeks still burned.

George just laughed and gestured at a chair after she turned around. She sat down and he followed suit.

"So how yeh been lass? Three years is a long time and lots have changed in that time."

Alanna soon filled him in on the events leading up to her banishment and what she did afterwards. At the mention of Charles, she noticed that he had a weird glint in his eyes.

George sighed after he heard about her life in the past three years. "Aye if only things were simpler like years ago," he said with a warming look in his eyes. Alanna blushed slightly remembering the kiss that he gave her on Jon's birthday just before she left.

Realizing the time, Alanna jumped up and said that she had to get back as it was already nine in the night and the moon shone brightly overhead. Alanna didn't know that she had spent all that time here with him. After bidding George goodnight she made off towards her room in the palace.

Once Alanna left his view George went to his desk and opened a special locked compartment containing the most important things that he had. Taking out the letter that she had written him years ago he smiled and noticed that a smudge had just appeared there from a small spot of moisture. Surrounding the letter were pools of smudges from what he had shed some years ago on that fateful day.

The next morning after Alanna woke up she showered and dressed in the finest clothes that her given wardrobe contained. She grudgingly admitted that it was rather fine and fit her perfectly.

Around the eleventh hour a guard arrived to escort her to the docks where the Tusainian ambassadors would be arriving. Also there were the various ministers and Alanna noticed that her old friends were there also.

They tried to catch her eye but she chose to ignore then, thinking of who was arriving. Within ten minutes the shadow of the ship appeared in the horizon and all prepared for the ship.

As the people slowly left the large vessel Alanna noticed that Char was one of the men onboard and couldn't resist a grin. He likewise looked greatly relived to see her. In fact, he seemed to be less tense.

After the greetings Alanna went to him as they made their way back to the palace.

Too much for words to say Char just embraced her tightly near the back of the company and let go reluctantly, not expecting anyone to see them. Little did they know that large startling sapphire colored eyes watched their entire encounter with a look of hurt and pain in his eyes.

Author's Notes-This story is now my favorite! I didn't say it but chapter one (not the prologue) was totally my favorite chapter! Also this story got the second most reviews for the last update so I updated this second! So if you wanna read more then UPDATE and I'll update if there's lotsa reviews!

Also, thanx for all those that reviewed with all the encouraging feedback!

Disclaimer-Tamora Pierce owns all; I own Charles of Finwood and the plot.

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