Ok, when it has only been three hours since posting, and I already have two people asking for more, I know it is time to get moving on the update (plus, I had lost the flashdrive a little ago, and was behind on my updating schedual when I found it anyway). SO I sent my wonderful, fabulous, beta this chapter only three hours after posting chapter 8, which I posted the same day I recieved it.

THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER TO MY FABULOUS BETA, SOPROL!

I know I have already done a disclaimer, and that there is one at the end of this chapter, but I am stepping into the books, and their storyline, so once again, I will include a disclaimer:

"Tell them, now!" Alanna snapped

I gulp as I look at the two sword points that were right at my neck: Alanna's and Duke Gareth's.

"I never took you for the threatening type, your grace" I reply

"I'm not, it is just wrong to take credit for someone else's work. Now, tell the readers the truth"

"Ok, ok, I am not stupid. With the two people who are the best with swords pointing their blades at my neck, I am not about to lie...to all my fabulous readers, I do not own Tortall or the characters you recognize. I only own Aly, her convent friends, and Jane of Trebond (she will be making an appearance again)

Duke Gareth and Alanna put there swords away, and Duke Gareth helps me off the ground

"Ready to go riding?" Alanna asked

"Yep" I said, and the two of us race off to the stables to go riding

AND NOW, WITHOUT FURTHUER INTERUPTION, I AM PROUD TO PRESENT....

Chapter Nine: Alanna, the page

"That is my decision. We need not discuss it." said Lord Alan. He was already looking at a book. Lady Alianne of Trebond looked at her husband, than her oldest children, the twins, Thom and Alanna. The children left the room, closing the door behind them.

"Alan, we need to talk." Aly said as soon as she was sure the children were either too far away or too busy sulking to hear her.

Alan didn't even look up. "Talk about what, Alianne?"

"Alanna and Thom." Aly said.

Alan looked up for a second, then went back to his book. "Didn't you listen when I told the children? Alanna will go to the convent to become a lady, and Thom will go to the palace to uphold the Trebond honor by becoming a knight."

"You're one to talk about not listening; since you never listen to anyone in this house." Aly said. "This is our children's futures we are talking about. Yours and mine! We should have decided it together!"

"Alianne, there was nothing to discuss. What else would we have the children do?"

"Thom could go to the City of the Gods with his sister. They hate being separated, and if you knew anything about your family, you'd know that!"

"What would Thom do in the City of the Gods?" Alan asked.

"He could to what he wants to do! Thom has the talent and the will to be a great sorcerer, and with the Gift-"

"No." Alan said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Aly asked.

"No. Thom will not be a sorcerer. It'll do the children some good to be separated. They'll become too dependant on each other otherwise."

"Alan-"

"That is enough, Alianne! The decision was made. Now, unless you have something besides the children you wish to discuss, I am very busy."

"You are always busy." Aly scoffed.

"You married me, knowing I was a scholar, and knowing I'd take my studies seriously."

"If you'd remember, Alan, I didn't exactly get to decide if I would marry you. My father forced it on me." Aly said. "I had other plans."

Alan didn't even respond to this. Aly shook her head, and turned on her heel before walking out. As she stormed off down the hall, servants quickly side-stepped out of her way. All the servants liked her, but knew better than to be in her way when she got mad. She had an infamous temper (A/N: Remind you of anyone?).

Aly hit the wall hard when she reached the end of what she thought was an empty hallway.

"That's hardly proper, my lady."

She spun around, and smiled. "Hello Coram. Why do you think I waited until I thought was out of servants' eyesight? I know it is improper."

"What is wrong?"

"Alan," Aly said. "Curse my father for making me marry him!" she cried as she hit the wall again, this time hard enough to hurt her hand. She gently began to shake it. Coram walked over.

"What has Lord Alan done to upset ye now?"

"He is sending Alanna off to the convent to become a lady, and Thom to the palace to be a knight. He didn't even talk to me about it; he just went and did it!"

"What other choices did the children have?"

"Thom could have become a sorcerer." she smiled as Coram shuddered at the mention of magic. "And Alanna could become a guard for the temple of the Great Mother. She would at least learn to use weapons and be able to use them. I know she'd be happier as a knight, but that could never happen. It's been 200 years since we last had one...it's too late to send her to Shang...tell me again why I told you Alanna couldn't go to the Shang?"

Coram patted the noblewoman's shoulder. "Because you didn't want to send Alanna off on her own when she was only four years old. You were too clingy to the twins when they were younger."

"Speaking of the twins, have you seen them?" Alianne said.

Coram shook his head. Alianne sighed. "I'd better find them before they cause trouble, and I have to deal with the complaints."

Alianne found the children coming out of where Maude worked. She walked over to the children. "You two weren't bothering Maude, were you? She has important work to do."

"No, mother." Thom said. "We were working magic with her."

Alianne glanced at Alanna. "There is something you two aren't telling me. This wasn't a lesson in magic, was it?"

"What makes you think it wasn't a lesson?" Alanna asked.

"I didn't hear you screaming when you realized Maude had tricked you into using your Gift." Alianne said dryly.

Alanna stuck her tongue out at her mother. Alianne ignored it. "So, which of you are going to tell me what you were doing?"

"We told you, we were using magic." Alanna said.

"What spell?" Alianne asked.

"Um...well...uh..." Thom stuttered.

"Mm-hmm, that's what I thought." Alianne said. "So what it the truth?"

"We were working magic!" Thom said. "We were...well, Maude was consulting the fire."

Alianne glanced sharply at her son. "What did you say, Thom?"

"Maude was consulting the fire." Thom said.

"She can't do that! She doesn't have enough power to do a spell like that. She could have killed herself, and the two of you, with you being in the same room as her. Where is she?"

"Resting." Thom said simply. Alianne ran to the workroom, and soon found Maude.

"Maude, what were you doing, using magic that you didn't have?" Alianne asked.

"I needed help in making a decision."

"And what decision was that?" Alianne said, her hands on her hips.

"I can't tell you, my lady."

"Maude, if it was something involving my children, I order you to tell me." Alianne said.

"I promised I wouldn't say anything."

"Then I won't say anything." Alianne said. "The children don't have to know that I know. I just have to know."

"I am sorry, my lady."

Alianne sighed. "I guess I'll just have to get it out of the children."

"Good luck, my lady." Maude said. "They won't tell you anything."

Alianne smiled. "We'll just see about that."

Alianne walked back into the castle, and went straight to Alanna's room. It would be easier to get it out of Alanna. She looked in her hand-held mirror, and set her face in a stern expression, then knocked on the door.

"Come in." Alanna called. Alianne walked in.

Alanna took one look at her mother and winced. "Mother, what's wrong?"

"Alanna, how did you and your brother think you could get away with this?"

"Away with what?"

"I just talked to Maude. She told me everything."

"Everything?" Alanna asked shakily. "Even-"

"Yes, even your secret."

"I can't believe it! She swore she wouldn't tell on us!"

"It is such a big secret for the two of you to keep. Did you even think of how many things could go wrong?"

"Thom and I had planned for everything." Alanna said. "You won't tell father, will you?"

"I don't know, I really should." Alianne said.

"Please mother! Don't ruin this for me! I am looking forward to training as a knight, and Thom really wants to be a sorcerer."

"You will be training as a knight!" Alianne asked sharply, and then swore, knowing her cover was blown.

Alanna eyed her mother, suspicion written all over her face. "You said Maude told you everything."

"So I lied. She told me nothing. But I just got it out of you. Tell me, how were you going to pull this off?"

"Well..." Alanna started, and then jumped into the whole plan.

Alianne nodded when she was done. "It's a good plan. But what about Coram? He knows how to tell you and Thom apart."

"I'll just threaten him with magic." Alanna said, shrugging her shoulders. "Please mother, don't tell father. In a way, this is your fault. You told me all those stories of Lady Knights roaming the land 200 years ago, and that is when I got interested."

Alianne rubbed her temples; it seemed to be that every time Alanna got started on the topic of Lady Knights, Alianne got a headache. "Are you sure you know what you are doing?"

Alanna nodded.

"What about your hair?"

"Maude will cut it tomorrow right before we leave." Alanna said.

"What will you do in a few years when you start developing a chest and start showing other signs of womanhood?" Alianne asked.

"I'll deal with it when it happens." Alanna said. "Please mother? Maude saw that we would both succeed in the fire. That means the gods mean for it to happen. If Mithros, the god of warriors, thinks I should be a knight, then who are we, mere mortals, to argue? I mean, we don't want to displease the gods, they could easily see to our deaths."

Alianne made a face at her daughter. "You would pull the gods into this conversation."

"Please mother?" Alanna asked, her eyes wide with hope.

Alianne took one look in her daughter's face. "Oh, alright." she said.

Alanna squealed, and quickly covered it. "Thank you, mother!"

"I've never seen you so excited about something, and I suppose if Maude saw that you were to succeed, then you will succeed. Will Coram know when you leave?"

Alanna shook her head. "I'll tell him on the road at some point"

Alianne nodded "Alright. Well, I guess I have better go talk to Thom before you leave tomorrow, since I'll have to call him Alanna while in front of Coram"

Disclaimers:

1) "That is my decision. We need not discuss it." said Lord Alan. He was already looking at a book. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 1

2) The children left the room, closing the door behind them. from Alanna: The First Adventure; pg. 1

Review Reply

dares to dream: It is fine that you didn't review before. You made up for it by reviewing now. I totally understand schoolwork issues...I have them too! I am glad that you enjoyed the past few chapters, and everyone is feeling sorry for Aly and Gareth. Yes...this is when things get interesting...the troublesome twins are here! (inseert evil laugh here)

Kate of Carlay: Haven't you caught on? I love holding people in suspense! THAT IS WHY I LOVE CLIFFHANGERS! (but only when I am writing them, not when I am reading them)...however, I don't want to make you bald, so I posted this chapter.

The Shang Kudarung: Thanks! I enjoyed your thoughts

brezzybrez: Thanks for the review

a happy camper: The end was fast because I couldn't think of whatelse to write and I had my head about ready to burst with ideas for Alanna coming in, that's all. Yes, there is still a thin thread of hope for Aly and Gary. Alanna goes to court very soon.

Victoria Taylor: A lot of people want to see Aly and Gareth together at the end.

Lady Leopard: I am starting to focus more on the story from TP, but I will every once in a while go and do a flashback to when they were little.