Disclaimer: Here we go again. Once more, not mine, T P's. I know, I abbreviated, but I don't want to spell it out!

A/N: I hope this chapter can be longer than the others. It finally, is told from Alanna's heart, though not point of view, and then switches to George's.

She stumbled back, the sword slicing slightly into her thigh. Her reflexes were too slow just then.

"What was that?" The training master demanded, waving his hands wildly, his voice angered. "Tell me Alan, what was that? You used to be the best student besides Alex, now you're all dumb!"

Alanna winced at the cruelty of the Master's words, but secretly, she knew he was right. Ever since she and George had spent that night together two weeks ago, her mind had been elsewhere. This fact wasn't helped by the fact that Jon kept cornering her to talk to her, and try to kiss her. And for him, cornering her wasn't difficult, she was his squire after all.

"Sorry." Alanna grumbled, bending over to look at her leg. The cut was long and shallow, bleeding sluggishly. She knew she would be fine, but just to make matters quicker, she called on some of her Gift, healing it to a scab in seconds.

"Sorry?" the training Master repeated. "I never want to hear that word again." He turned his back on Alanna, his hands on his hips, obviously fuming without taking it out on anyone. He turned around, pointed at two of the boys and ordered them to take the ring.

Alanna walked off to court, dejectedly sitting down next to a boy in the class. She sighed heavily, her anger burning away silently inside her.

When she turned to leave after class with the rest of the boys', the Master called her back. Turning around, she strode towards him, Lightening held loosely at her side. "Yes Master?" she asked, bowing deeply.

"What is going on?" he asked, placing his hands on his hips, and making a face. "Alan, I want the truth. For the past two weeks, you haven't fought like the warrior that I know you are! What is up with that?"

Alanna gritted her teeth, replying as calmly as she could, "Really sir, it's nothing, just personal matters."

The older man shook his head, showing his obvious disgust. "Very well. Go then, Alan. But I want you to talk to someone, fix these problems you've been having, or at least don't let them interfere in class."

Alanna nodded, bowed, and walked back to the palace as fast as possible without looking like she was running away.

"What's the matter?" George sat on his bed at the Dancing Dove, watching as Alanna chewed on her fingernails. She had been like that since she had showed up half an hour earlier, and he was growing frustrated.

She didn't answer him at all, but carried on, nibbling at her fingernails with a precise and gentle action of her teeth.

"Alanna?" George said, his voice growing strained. He slid off the edge of the bed, and walked over to the chair she was in. He pulled her to her feet, kissing her, wrapping her in his arms. She seemed not to care. She sunk back into the chair when he let her go.

Rolling his eyes in impatience, George sat back down on the bed, pulling Alanna over to it with him. "What is the matter?" he asked, the annoyance clear in his voice.

"Nothing." Alanna said. No matter how many years she had lied for, she couldn't seem to get this one across... "It's just..." then the whole story came out; about Jon cornering her, trying to kiss her, how she was failing most of her classes all at once, how the Duke Rogerhad taken an interest in her personal affairs... all of it.

But only one part registered in George's mind. "Jon tried to what?" he demanded. He tried to breathe slowly and calmly, but it seemed to come in irregular gasps no matter what he did.

"It's no big deal," Alanna said quickly. "I don't feel that way about him... but I do about you."

George grinned, and pulled Alanna down onto the bed, kissing her soft and sweet, savoring their moment of passion.

Well, that was the chapter. I am finally getting to a plot! Duke Roger is starting to take an interest in Alanna's "personal affairs". You'll just have to figure out exactly what that means... next time.

PLEASE! You promised! Stop that Drop Your Oboe! I made it longer! You have no right to hit me with your over-large noodle! HELP!

Hee hee. Bye for now.