This chapter is being posted in honor of me surviving my first week of college! Yay!
As always, big thanks go out to my beta, SOPROL
Author's Note/Disclaimer: This is Alanna's fight with Sir Dain. If you recognize it, then it is probably from that section of In The Hands of the Goddess, and is not mine.
The July after Aly and Gareth began courting each other, an embassy came to the court from Tortall's eastern neighbor, Tusaine. Important matters were to be discussed as spies had reported that the King of Tusaine was considering retaking the Drell River Valley on the Tortallan border, and King Roald wanted to avoid war at all cost. Unlike his famous father, Roald was not known as "Empire-Builder", but as "The Peacemaker". He was proud of that title and wanted to keep it. Everyone knew that Mikal of Danne, the Tusaine Ambassador, had actually come to see if "The Peacemaker" had the stomach for war. The delegation from Tusaine was carefully watched, but its people received the best hospitality Roald could command.
As Aly was not a key figure in the Tortallan government, she was not permitted in meetings. She tried to get Gareth, who as Training Master and King's Champion was in the meetings, to tell her what was happening, but he told her it was confidential. After a few failed attempts to get information from Gareth, she went to Jonathan and Alanna. As prince, Jonathan had to be present. Alanna was at the meetings serving wine, at Jonathan's request. She didn't like the feedback they were giving her.
Tension was in the air. In the meetings, Ambassador Mikal became arrogant, thinking Roald was weak rather than quiet. Friendly discussions between Alanna's friends and the Tusaine knights grew sharp as each group challenged the other to more and more difficult contests of craft and skill. Matters finally came to a head during what was supposed to be a small, quiet dinner party.
Aly came to the dinner party as Gareth's guest, and Lianne assured her that if Gareth hadn't invited her, she would have come on her invitation.
Alanna, Gary's squire, Sacherell of Wellam, and Raoul's squire, Douglass of Veldine, served the wine at the gathering. Gareth had given them instructions to keep the guests' glasses full and report anything interesting they might overhear. At the party, Duke Roger entertained Mikal while the Ambassador's wife, Lady Aenne told Lianne, Roald, Gareth, and Aly stories of the Tusaine court.
Gary, Raoul, Alex, and Jonathan were talking with some of the younger Tusaine knights, when suddenly everyone was looking at the group. Dain of Melore, a Tusaine knight, was sneering loudly. "Fencing! I've seen what you call 'fencing.' Back home we call it dancing! Prince Jonathan, our Tusaine three-year-olds handle a sword better than some of your knights!"
"You are rude in the palace of your host," Gary replied carefully, his broad shoulders tense. "I wish it were possible to show you some manners."
Aly stood up a little in her seat to whisper in Gareth's ear. "Gary wouldn't start problems with that young knight, would he?"
"No, he wouldn't. He is smarter than that." Gareth said. "And in any case, Dain's comment has already started trouble...look around."
Aly did so. Nearly every knight-with the exception of Myles, who was watching and drinking-had put his hand on his sword hilt. The Tusaines gripped theirs, ready for anything.
Ambassador Mikal turned to Roger. In the quiet, his voice was very clear. "I must apologize for young Dain." He bowed in Roald's direction. The king inclined his head, silently accepting the apology. Mikal added with a sly smile, "I fear I must agree, however. We seem to have done better by the martial arts in Tusaine. Perhaps peace has dulled your fighting edge?"
Aly's eyes grew wide. She could understand the young Dain being careless enough to speak ill of the hosting kingdom, but Mikal was an Ambassador! He should know better than to speak in such a matter!
"I differ with you, Sir Dain." Jon was saying, a touch of amusement in his voice. "Even our pages and squires know how to handle a sword against a full knight, but since our honor and our teachers are in question, perhaps we must show you what a Tortallan can do."
Dain adjusted his sword belt. "Bring on your Champion, Highness. I am sure I can prove Tusaine's superiority over any man of your court."
The prince smiled icily at the other man. "Not 'our champion,' Sir Dain. I said 'even our pages and squires.'" Aly saw him nod to Alanna, who handed her wine pitcher to Sacherell, who nearly dropped it, and walked over to the group of young knights. "Your Highness?" she asked, bowing politely.
No! No! No! No! Alt thought. Absolutely not! She began to stand up and tell the prince as much when Gareth forced her down quickly before anyone could notice.
"Don't." he whispered in her ear.
"He's a head taller than Alann-!" she whispered back harshly, remembering just in time that Alanna was a boy here.
"You don't see me objecting, do you? I have been privately training him and Alex of Tirragen, you know that." Gareth whispered, "Besides, Sir Dain is overconfident."
"It's that overconfidence that scares me. He won't be trying, and he could seriously hurt Alan."
"Relax and trust Jonathan. He wouldn't do this if he didn't think Alan could handle it. Remember, they are friends. He is not going to put Alan in a dangerous situation he can't handle."
"So you don't deny it is a dangerous situation." Aly said.
"Not nearly as dangerous as what he could face as a knight."
"As hard as this may be to believe, Gareth." Aly said, "That didn't make me feel better."
It was soon decided that there would be a duel, and the king invited everyone at the dinner party to come. Aly rose shakily.
"Aly?" Lianne asked.
"I don't like this, Lianne." Aly said. "This is my son who is risking his neck."
"Gareth would have objected if he thought it a bad idea, and Jonathan is Alan's knight-master. He must have confidence in Alan if he is doing this"
Aly bit her lip. "I know, but I still don't like it"
"Come and join Roald and I in the stands. It'll be alright, you'll see." Lianne said, and led Aly down to the court that was being used for the duel.
Aly saw Alanna and Gareth talking as Alanna stretched before the duel. She saw Gareth lightly slap Alanna, and wondered what Alanna had said. Just before he left, Alanna looked up at Aly, and gave her a nod and smile. Aly couldn't help but give Alanna a smile of her own.
Mikal leaned toward Roger. "The squire is brave, but this is folly. Dain is good, very good, and he cannot always control his temper. I fear tonight will have a sorrowful end."
"Lianne," Aly said, a hint of panic in her voice and eyes at Mikal's words. Lianne squeezed her hand reassuringly as Gareth sat next to Alanna.
"What did Alan say that made you slap him?" Aly asked.
"He was being pert." Gareth said, but there was a small smile on his face, and Aly knew the 'pert' comment had complimented Gareth somehow.
"What did you tell him after that?" Aly asked.
"To be careful. I said you would never forgive me if he got himself killed."
"Your right, I wouldn't forgive you." Aly said. "Or Jonathan."
"He'll be fine, Aly." Gareth said, "I have confidence in him...maybe you should have some confidence too."
Aly took a deep breath of relief when the duel was over. Alanna had won. But what really made her smile were Ambassador Mikal's words.
"He was holding back...all along-that boy was holding back." He looked at Roald. "If all your young knights are like that one squire, your army must be formidable indeed."
"See for yourself," the king pointed to Jonathan, quiet and commanding; big Gary and even bigger Raoul; slender, dark Alex with his cat-like grace. "They are all a part of our future." the king said,
"It's a future we all want to protect."
Mikal looked at Aly and bowed, "That is your son, if I heard correctly?"
"Yes, my son, Alan." Aly said.
"You and your husband should be very proud." Mikal said, "He is young, and already a good warrior."
"He's had good training." Aly said.
"It would appear so." Mikal said, and then bowed. "Good night, my lady, your grace."
Aly curtsied, and Gareth gave a small bow, and then Gareth led her back to her room.
Review Reply
Elssquire90: Yeah, when I wrote this, I was re-reading First Test, so thank you for pointing that out to me. But I know there are a few chapters in the future which have Aly and Jon bonding.
Certified Luniatic: Yep, they are finally together
TwilightPrincess2008: Alright, thank you for the sugestion. I will look over what I have written and see where I can slide in some Jon and Aly. Have you read my Twilight story yet? I am going to jump out on a limb here and guess that since your penname is Twilight Princess, you like Twilight. If you haven't, it is called Family Support.
Trisana Sarrasri: I am gad you like it. Yes, this is while Alanna is a squire, and before the Tusaine war, but not too fart before.
Miakoda of Pirate's Swoop: Thanks.
sazzysassyangel: Thank you!
WAFFLESxARExUS: I am glad you liked it.
xXthenextbookwormXx: I don't think they were called dates, but I didn't know what they would call it, so I went with the current term.
SarcasticLoner: Glad you liked it!
LittleMiss Giggles'94': Glad you like it, and it was a filler chapter, so yeah, it was short.
DomLuver: I was able to decode your review pretty well. I am glad you liked me including the date.
a happy camper: Thank you for the bit about Aly having too easy a time keeping Alanna's secret. I'll work on that, because you are right. Don't worry, it won't come between them too much. Yes, I am going to keep going with cannon. It is just I had a lot of reviewers wanting less cannon, so I was trying to keep them content for a while so I could move forward with Alanna's story.
Susie q: Yep, you'll just have to wait and see if Gareth will tell Alanna's secret or not, because he will eventually find out.