Disclaimer: Not mine. Yadda, yadda, yadda. You know the shtick!
A/N: Sorry this took so long compared to usual, I had a serious case of writer's block, at least on this story, though I am rather happy to see that Squire Princess has been doing well.
Alanna watched warily as Hansen bustled around, filling her dresser with his own trinkets. Her gaze would occasionally flick towards George, who was still sprawled asleep on Alanna's bed. A few short rays of sun flowed into the room, and Alanna chewed her thumb nail as she became more and more worried.
Finally she knew she had to do something. When Hansen walked into the privy off of her room, she ran over the bed, and knelt down next to it. "George," she whispered, shaking his shoulder firmly. Hazel eyes blinked sleepily opened. He smiled when he saw her, but frowned at the look on her face.
"What is it?" he asked, running a hand through his rumpled brown hair. Alanna put a finger over her lips, and shook her head urgently. George gave a silent nod, and slid out of the bed. He dressed in hurry as Alanna dashed over to where Faithful sat on the chair, his back tense, his fur bristled.
"I need you to distract him," Alanna whispered, stroking the little cat on the back. "Please?" she asked, meeting his violet eyes with her own, equally violet ones. The cat gave a curt nod. "Thanks." Alanna whispered, kissing Faithful softly on the head. Faithful stood up, stretched, and trotted into the privy.
Alanna gave a start when a hand rested on her shoulder, but she looked up to see George, and breathed a sigh of relief. He nodded at her, signaling that he was ready to say goodbye. "I can get out of here myself," he said, pulling his "monk" outfit on over the top of his shirt and pants.
Alanna stood up, and kissed him quickly. "Go," she urged, quietly. "Now, before Jon wakes up." But almost as if her words were a curse, Jon pounded on the door separating his room from hers.
"Open the door Alan!" Jonathan yelled. Alanna swallowed, fear on her face. "That's an order squire!" Jon snapped, pounding on the door with his knuckles.
George nodded as Alanna put her hand on the bolt, and slowly drew it back, unbolting the door. He grinned, and slipped out the window.
When Alanna opened the door, Jon stormed through it. "George was here, wasn't he?" he asked, raising his eyebrows coldly together. He reached out, and pulled Alanna against him. He kissed her.
Alanna tried to pull back, but Jon's arms were wrapped firmly around her shoulders, preventing her from moving. It wasn't that she didn't like the feeling, she did. But she didn't want to succumb to Jon's charm, when her heart was promised to George.
"Aha," Hansen's voice was whispery as it floated across the room to Alanna's ears. Jonathan let her go, and searched her eyes, his face hard. Alanna turned around to look at Hansen. "So I was right," he whispered softly. "You'd better agree to marry the prince," he told her, smiling coldly. "Because I plan on turning you in." He nodded. "Yes, it's me, Roger of Conté."
Faithful snarled in anger and lunged at Roger. Roger tried to step back, but was tripped by his own rich garments of silk. He fell down backwards, swearing at the top of his lungs. Guards came running at the sound, and fists began to pound on the door.
Alanna went over to open it, hanging her face in despair. Roger was right, he would turn her in, and then she wouldn't be allowed to become a knight. But she most certainly would not marry Jon just so she could stay at the palace. That was below her...
She barely even noticed when the guards took her arms, and dragged her out of her room. For the first time she could truly understand it, fight had left her. She was not longer a fighter, she was just the broken hurt girl who was thought to have been a boy.
Alanna watched from what felt like miles away as the pages and squires and knights assembled to say goodbye to the "traitor". She saw few truly sad faces, but there were a few. Gary looked as though he would miss her, as did Raoul, and of course Jon did too. Even Myles, the old sir, looked as though he would miss her lowly company.
"What have you to say for yourself?" the King demanded. "Betraying Tortall like this? You will go live as a commoner of Corus!"
Alanna could not even find the words to shout back. She just looked downwards in despair as it all happened to her. Dread filled her. She knew that she stood no chance of becoming a knight now...
Well? What do you guys think? That's not the end, we do have to find out what does happen to Alanna if she can't become a knight.