Title: Knotted Destiny
By: QT
Edited By: buttons7

Summary: A new era is arising as darkness sets over the vast kingdom of Tortall. People are slain ruthlessly, cities are destroyed, people's hope diminishes rapidly. The only one who can turn the tide and return things to a balance is an unknown and unexpected hero.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tamora Pierce's characters, however, I do own this plot.

"..." Talking
'...' Thinking
blah Dreaming

The red-haired female made her way towards a small, white tent, stopping when her amethyst eyes caught sight of a figure crouched over a wounded soldier. Her smile and calm features, which she had managed to keep while talking to Prince Roald, faltered. Inside, her blood was boiling with anger, and her temper was rising. She wished not to bring her wrath onto King Jonathan's children, but it seemed his daughter needed a lesson, one that Alanna could teach very easily.

Alanna stalked over to where Kalasin slowly began to rise after healing the worse of the soldier's injuries. Grasping the girl's arm firmly, Alanna's eyes gazed dangerously at the Princess. "Might I talk to you for a moment?" she asked, though it was more of a command than a request.

Without waiting for a response, the Lioness pulled the Princess into a nearby vacant tent with ease. All too easily Alanna pushed Kalasin into a chair before pulling the opening in the tent shut. 'That girl is structurally weak, she'll not survive long,' she thought, 'though her love for her people may give her a small chance.'

Alanna's piercing amethyst eyes studied Kalasin's face for a moment. The wide-eyed Princess was trembling slightly, which amused the woman. "Princess Kalasin, you have a duty-"

"I will not go back, and you-"

"Don't interrupt me child," she yelled, causing Kalasin to snap her mouth shut. "As I was saying, you have a duty to the kingdom as well as to your family. You are a lady, raised in the Court. You were bred to be an heir to the throne, and to keep the Conté bloodline from diminishing. Fighting in a war, of which you don't belong, is going against your duty. You don't have the ability, the stamina, or the proper equipment to fight!"

Kalasin lowered her gaze, her blue eyes becoming watery. 'I will not let her see me cry,' she thought defiantly.

"I will have someone pack a few provisions, and then you, accompanied by your brother, will set off for Corus. Do I make myself clear, Princess?"

"Yes Lady Alanna," the girl replied quietly.

About to walk out of the tent, Alanna remembered what Roald had said earlier. "Kalasin," she said sternly, turning around, and facing the girl. "You aren't to go around that standard-bearer in Raoul's squad from now on."

Kalasin's mouth opened slightly as her blue eyes went wide, and her complexion paled. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, she didn't want to believe it. 'I won't listen,' she thought defiantly, glaring at the woman who gazed at her sympathetically before walking out.

Lerant ran towards the girl who stood, waiting to mount the sturdy bay gelding after her brother became situated in the saddle. "Wait, Kalasin," he yelled as the girl reached a small hand up to her brother in order to be pulled into the saddle.

Kalasin blinked, pulling her hand away as she gazed over her shoulder. Tears welled up in her eyes as she caught sight of Lerant running to her. Ignoring the protests from Alanna, Raoul, and Roald, the girl closed the space that remained between her and Lerant.

Throwing his arms around her, he pulled her close, not caring who saw them. "Kalasin, I can't see you after this-"

"I know!" she cried, burying her face into his shirt as hot tears traveled down her cheeks. "I won't let them stop me from seeing you, Lerant-" She frowned, allowing Lerant to pull her even closer when Roald called for her. Gazing up into his brown eyes, she forced a small smile.

Lerant's heart clenched at the thought of never seeing her again. Slipping his fingers under her chin, he dipped his head down, and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her softly. He felt her fingers running through his hair as he deepened their kiss.

Kalasin felt him slowly pulling away as Roald continued to raise his voice, demanding her to leave Lerant so they could be on their way home. "Lerant-" She stopped herself when he slipped something around her neck. Her fingers touched the item lightly, finding it to be a metal chain holding a pendant.

"It's so you won't forget me, Kalasin," he said when she gave him a questioning look. "I would give you a ring," he muttered, "but I don't have one."

"I don't need a trinket to remember you, Lerant. I love you," she whispered, her cheeks growing hot.

Lerant stared at her for a moment before grinning. Seeing Roald ride up next to them, he shot a glare towards the Prince before kissing Kalasin one last time, "goodbye Kalasin."

"No, it's not goodbye, Lerant. It'll never be goodbye," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. Ignoring Roald's snort, she mounted onto the gelding. Sitting up as straight as she could, Kalasin looked ahead of her, refusing to look back.

Lerant watched as her figure disappeared into the woods before turning away. For some reason, he didn't believe he'd ever see her again.

A tall, bulky man walked up to the red-eyed mage, bowing quickly. "Sir, the Scanran armies are in position."

The mage merely glanced at the man. "Good, tell them to start the attack."

"Very good sir," the man said before walking off.

"As soon as the King's Champion is destroyed, we can move on, and Tortall will be mine," said the mage, a wicked gleam in his eyes.

Lerant stared at the men emerging from the forest, dressed in Scanran clothing. Arrows rained down upon the camp. Grim-faced, Lerant stared at the soldiers around him screaming as their bodies became pelted with arrows. Men ran out of tents, yelling to each other while stringing their bows, and firing return shots. The sound of clashing metal, and war cries came from behind Lerant as the sounds of men screaming in pain surrounded him. 'We're cut off,' he realized as an archer loosed his bow.

Not seeing the arrow that flew at him, he gasped when it penetrated his leather armor, and imbedded itself in his chest. A pain flooded through his body as he felt sticky liquid ooze around the arrow shaft. Looking down at his chest, he choked as three more arrows sank into his flesh.

'Kalasin,' he thought as his body began to grow limp, 'I love you'. Closing his eyes, he let darkness wrap itself around him as his body fell to the ground, the screams of men fading away.


AN: I write the chapters 'raw' as it was put. I try to write at least a chapter and one half of another each day, but that doesn't always work out with my schedule. My goal is to keep this updated regularly, because I personally dislike it when the author makes you wait and wait and wait. I'm glad you all are enjoying this.

Please people, be patient and have faith in me. I don't forget the character's personalities, but for the sake of how I want this chapter / story to go, I may leave out a specific characteristic for the time being. (Who the hell is Mary Sue?) Also, I don't mind flames, unlike most people. Everyone has a right to express his or her opinion whether it's negative or positive. I also consider most things as critique, which is what I like :)

Lastly, I'm having some very severe health problems at the moment, along with trying to deal with school.

QT