Author's Note: Starting in this chapter, there will be times in the story when I do a direct quote from one of the Tortall books. If I do use a quote, the disclaimer for it will be at the end of the chapter.

Chapter Three-Presentations

Lianne and Aly were, like every other day since their arrival at the palace, gathered at the practice courts. Prince Roald was sitting on top of the fence, carefully balancing himself. Gareth was in the middle of a fencing match against his-according to Roald-usual target, Squire Alan of Trebond, Jane's twin brother. Aly intently watched every single one of Gareth's movements. It took all of three minutes into the fight for Gareth to have Alan disarmed and on the ground with his sword pointed at his neck

"I yield" Alan said

Gareth sheathed his sword, and offered a hand to Alan, pulling him to his feet, then walked over to Aly, Lianne, and Roald

"I still say you are deliberately making a target out of him to humiliate him" Roald said, frowning. His frown quickly turned to a smile "But well done anyway"

Gareth smiled "Thanks"

"That was wonderful, Gary" Aly said

"Thank you, Aly" he turned to Lianne "Well?"

Lianne smiled "I don't see why you insist on practicing. Father is right, you must be one of the best swordsmen in Tortall."

"Gareth"

Gareth turned around. Alan was behind him, bowing to Roald "Your Highness" he said politely. He turned his attention back to Gareth, and held his hand out "Good match"

Gareth took the hand and shook it "Thanks, you too. Alan, before you run off to the library, may I introduce you to my younger sister, Lianne of Naxen, and her friend, Alianne of Blue Harbor"

Both girls curtsied, and Aly got her first real look at Jane's twin brother. He, like his twin, had light brown hair. While Jane had cool blue eyes, his were a deep blue. She knew that if she hadn't know he was a squire, she would have never believed he was going to be a knight. Unlike Gareth, who was tall and muscular, with slightly tanned skin from the amount of time he spent outdoors practicing with his weapons, Alan was of average height and showed no signs of any real strength.

"My sister wrote about you two often" Alan said

"None of it good, I'll bet" Aly said "We're rivals"

"So she told me, often" Alan said

Aly smiled a little at that. It seemed that Jane complained to more people than just the sisters at the convent about her.

"Jane has told us you're the scholar in the family" Lianne said

"I am" Alan said "I wanted to go study at the University, but my father wouldn't hear of it"

Aly could have sworn she heard Gareth mutter something under his breath, but she couldn't hear what it was he said.

"Oh Alan!"

Aly growled at the all too familiar voice and tone that had called Alan's name. Alan turned "Over here, sister!" he called

No! Don't bring her over here! Gods curse it! Aly thought

"Alan, father wants to speak with you...Oh...hello Alianne, Lianne"

"Jane" Aly said, coldly

"Hello Jane" Lianne said

Jane offered her hand to Gareth "Jane of Trebond" she introduced herself

Gareth politely kissed her fingers "Gareth of Naxen"

"Naxen?" Jane asked "You're Lianne's older brother?"

"Yes" Lianne said "This is my older brother, Gareth"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Jane" Gareth said

She smiled "Lianne, you told me many things about your brother...how is it you forgot to mention how handsome he is?"

Aly emitted a low growl. She didn't know why, but she didn't like Jane flirting with Gareth, not even for a second. Lianne rested a hand on Aly's arm, signaling her to calm down. She took a few deep breaths, and calmed down. She nodded to Lianne to tell her she was calm

"Jane, I see you have failed to greet Prince Roald" Aly said "How very rude of you"

"Where is he?" Jane asked, looking around

Aly raised her eyebrows "Do I really have to tell you? You told everyone at the convent about how many times you'd seen and talked to him during your numerous visits to Corus"

Alan looked confused "Jane, this is your first visit to-"

"Shush, Alan" Jane said

Aly's arm crossed over her chest "You have never been to Corus before now, have you?"

"Prove it" Aly said. She turned to Roald "Your highness, have you ever met Lady Jane of Trebond before?"

Jane's eyes grew wild "Highness?"

Roald smiled gently at Jane "I'm afraid we've never met. Hello, Lady Jane" he turned to Aly "And didn't I tell you to call me Roald? Lianne has no problem calling me by my name, Aly"

"Now...what were you saying, Jane?" Aly asked, a victorious smile on her face

Jane's yes were wide, and her jaw was dropped "You...and the prince...and your name...and his name...and friends?"

"You really need to work on your speaking skills, Jane" Aly said "But, in answer of your question, yes, Prince Roald, Lianne, her brother, and I are all very close friends"

Jane just gaped at the foursome "But...how!"

"My brother and Prince Roald are good friends" Lianne said "By spending time with my brother, we spent time with Prince Roald, and became friends"

"Jane, you said father wanted to speak to me?" Alan asked

Jane nodded, still staring at Aly and Lianne

"Alright, come on, why don't you come with me" Alan said

"I can't believe they know the prince before me" Aly heard Jane whisper to Alan as they turned to leave.

"That's what you get for lying"

"Shut up, Alan"

The day the new girls from the convent were going to be presented was a big day for Alianne. Her mother woke her up before dawn, had her eat, and immediately got to work. Her grandmother, mother, and aunt made her demonstrate her curtsy for the king and queen for two hours strait. Her legs started to hurt from all the curtsies, and she told her family as much.

"Tonight is the most important night of your life, with the exception of your wedding night, Alianne" her grandmother said "Tonight, you are not just some sixteen year old girl wearing a dress and attending a ball. You are representing Blue Harbor. Everything you do tonight will be a reflection of us. There will be many single men looking at you, many potential mothers-in-law waiting for you to make a mistake. If your curtsy to the king and queen isn't perfect, and I mean absolutely, flawlessly, perfect, it makes your parents look bad, your aunts and uncles and cousins look bad, it makes your grandfather and I look bad, and it makes you look bad. This night will determine what kind of man would become a possible suitor or husband. Your father and grandfather have been building you up with other men with sons of the marriage age. Your grandfather is an old friend of the king, and he went up to him and built you up. A contract for your hand in marriage could very easily be drawn up tonight. Perhaps even with the crown prince...hm, Queen Alianne...I think that sounds just lovely"

"But it's not like we are putting any pressure on you Aly" her Aunt Susan said with a smile

Aly's grandmother seemed to snap out of her daydream of Aly being queen "You can not mess up. Now, let me see you curtsy again."

Aly curtsied

"Good" her grandmother said with a nod "Do it again"

Aly obeyed

"Again"

Aly dipped into another curtsy

"Again"

Aly obeyed

"Again. You are doing wonderfully"

"If I am doing it so wonderfully, why do I have to do it again?" Aly asked

"Alianne, you will practice your curtsy so much today, that by the time you reach the king and queen tonight, you won't have to think about it. You're body will do it completely from reflex. Now, do it again"

Aly sighed, but followed her instructions...for another hour.

"Alright, Alianne" her grandmother said "I think you have your curtsy well enough"

"Finally" Aly said, and collapsed into a chair . She slouched forward, and rested her head in her hands

Her grandmother was horrified "Alianne! I hope you weren't planning on sitting like that tonight"

"No, I wasn't" Aly said "I am just tired"

"Well, we can't take any chances. Stand up. We are going to practice your sitting properly"

"You're joking" Alianne said "You must be joking"

"I don't joke on days like today" her grandmother said "Now, stand up"

It was after lunchtime by the time Alianne's grandmother deemed her ready to make the family proud at her presentation. She was given a light, but filling lunch, and then sent her to take a hot bath that had been made up for her. Afterwards, she was carefully dried off, and then her grandmother slipped her into her dress. She admired the dress in the mirror while her grandmother and a seamstress went over every stitch individually. It was a lovely pale green, which went well with her own green eyes. It had a tight corset she could barely breath in, and a skirt that was so wide, children could have lived under it. The fabric swished whenever she walked. There were gold and silver flowers embroidered on the hem of the skirt and up the sleeves, which were slit from the elbow down. Next, she carefully sat down while her mother did her hair and her two aunts did her face paint while her grandmother watched every movement her mother's hands made, and every dip or swish of the brushes for the face-paint. Her long copper-red hair was braided and then coiled up. Next, her mother pulled out a hair net made of sheer-fabric with pearls and semi-precious stones sewn into it.

Her grandmother nodded at her hair and face-paint after she and the Seamstress had finished with the dress.

"Now, there is just one more thing to be done" the old woman said

"What is that, grandmother?" Aly asked

"Ear drops"

"But, grandmother...I never had my ears pierced. I was one of the only girls not to"

"Well then, we'll have to remedy that" her grandmother said. She walked over to the sewing box she always brought with her, pulled out a needle and a strip of silk.

Aly glanced at the needle. She had a deep fear of needles "Um...I'll pass, I think" she said backing away.

"Alianne, come here" her grandmother said

"But...I don't need-"

Aly didn't get to finish her statement. Her grandmother used her deep Gift to pull Aly into a seat, and keep her there. Aly eyed the needle carefully as her aunt heated it.

"Hold still Aly" her mother said as her aunt came over with the needle and silk.

Aly gritted her teeth and shut her eyes tightly as her aunt pierced the first lobe. Her stomach lurched, and she gasped in pain "Goddess, none of the girls at the convent told me how much this hurts!"

"Trust me" her grandmother said "The pain is well worth the beauty...and the admiring looks of all the different young knights and squires that will be present tonight."

She was amazed by how long it took for her to be completely ready. She had just enough time before she had to leave for her grandmother to make her demonstrate her curtsy another five times, and have her practice sitting carefully and properly another fifteen times. Alianne smiled when her grandmother smiled at her "You are ready, my dear"

Every Tortallan girl dreamed of descending the Great Staircase in the queen's ballroom with all eyes fixed on her, the knight of her dreams singling her out and bearing her away to a life of bliss...

Aly and Lianne grasped hands tightly as they stood in the chamber outside the ballroom

"Nervous?" Lianne asked

"Yes" Aly said "You?"

"Terrified" Lianne said

Just then, Jane walked over to them, dressed in a rich, royal purple gown. She smiled at both of them as she passed "Hope you don't fall, Aly" she said "That would be terribly embarrassing" she laughed as she left.

Aly glared at Jane's back "I hope she does fall" Aly said "I hope she falls and her head cracks open and she bleeds to death"

Just then, the herald beckoned to Lianne, who turned to Aly, panic in her eyes

"Breathe" Aly said as Gareth came over. He was to escort his sister down the stairs "You'll be fine"

Gareth offered his sister his arm, and she grabbed it. He smiled at Aly "You look beautiful, Alianne."

"Thank you, Gareth. Might I say you look handsome"

It was true. In Gareth's dark green silk breeches, crisp white tunic, and a tunic in a green a shade or two lighter than his breeches. Gareth did look good. His boots looked new, and freshly polished, which, Aly thought, was probably the case.

"Save me a dance?" he asked

"Of course" she said with a curtsy

As Gareth and Lianne walked to the herald, Aly heard Lianne say to Gareth "Don't you dare let me fall"

One of the two doors opened, a slowly, silence fell. The herald called out in a clear voice "Lianne of Naxen, accompanied by Sir Gareth of Naxen"

Aly listened, and smiled when she heard the courtiers clapping for Lianne. That meant she had successfully descended the staircase, and curtsied before the King and Queen.

The other girls were beckoned forward one by one with their escort-a father, a brother, a male cousin, an uncle, a grandfather, and-in a few cases- their betrothed.

She was the second to last person to be presented. It was down to her and Jane. Her father would be escorting her, and Jane's brother, Alan, would escort Jane.

Her father took Aly's arm, and led her to the door that led to the staircase.

The door opened, and Aly took a deep breath. Her father squeezed her hand reassuringly as the herald announced her "Alianne of Blue Harbor, accompanied by Lord Thomas of Blue Harbor"

Aly had a death grip on her father's arm as they walked down the staircase Don't fall, don't fall, Goddess, please don't let me fall!

At the foot of the staircase, Lord Thomas gently let go of her, and smiled encouragingly at her before she turned to walk down the scarlet runner to the King Jasson's and Queen Jessamine's thrones.

The short walk was endless to Aly. Her grandmother's words filled her head the whole way there "Tonight is the most important night of your life, with the exception of your wedding night...You are representing Blue Harbor...Everything you do tonight will be a reflection of us...many potential mothers-in-law waiting for you to make a mistake...Your father and grandfather have been building you up with other men with sons of the marriage age...A contract for your hand in marriage could very easily be drawn up tonight...Queen Alianne...I think that sounds just lovely...You can not mess up."

Finally she was at the bottom step that led up to the thrones, she lowered her head, and curtsied until she heard the queen speak "Lady Alianne"

Aly looked up, but remained in a curtsy. The queen had a gentle expression on her face, and a smile "Welcome to court"

"Thank you, your majesty" Aly rose from her curtsy, and walked over to where her father was waiting. The courtiers clapped for her as she walked away.

"Jane of Trebond, accompanied by Squire Alan of Trebond"

Aly watched Jane walk down the staircase, and resisted the urge to use her gift to force Jane to fall down. Jane made a perfect descent, a perfect curtsy, and the presentations were over. The party and dancing in honor of the newest additions to court began.

Disclaimer

1) Every Tortallan girl dreamed of descending the Great Staircase in the queen's ballroom with all eyes fixed on her, the knight of her dreams singling her out and bearing her away to a life of bliss. from Lioness Rampant, pg. 273

Review Reply

The Shang Kudarung: Should I take your 'heh' as good or bad? Or are you not sure what you think about it? If you think it is good, than thanks. Bad? Please give me an idea of how to improve it.

Merkaba7734: Thanks, I am glad you like it. Yep, there will be some Roald/Lianne.

SOPROL: I am glad you loved the last chapter. And, I would love it if you would edit this for me. My sister was my editor, but she went to college this year, and is busier with her education. Just tell me how you want me to send it to you, and you can edit chapter four before I post it (I have a reviewer asking for more detail, so if when you are editing you could point out areas to expand on discription, that would be great).

Lady Leopard: I don't really see Alan with a sword, but as a squire, he would be forced to do some swordwork. That is why I made him bad at swordplay...he dodges it as much as possible. So? What did you think of Alan and Aly's first meeting on the courts?

Christie: I gave you a little action between Jane and Aly...a little, tiny bit, but there was still some there. I will try to get in a little more action as the story goes on.

LittleMissGiggles'94': Thanks :)

Evilstrawberry: Thanks. I am glad you are intewrested. Thank you for the suggestion about working on detail. I'll work on it a bit more at each chapter.

Taybur Sibigat: Thanks!

dares to dream: Thanks! I am glad you like this storyu so far. I based Gareth and Lianne's relationship off mine with my sister and I.

xxTunstall Chickxx: Thanks!

Kate of Carlay: I am glad you like how I am making Alianne...like mother like daughter, right? I suppose I could have held off bring Roald in for a bit, but I don't know, I felt like that was where he was meant to come in.