Distant Memories – Secret's revealed.

Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I don't own these characters, countries or anything. I just added in a few extra character's to make things exciting.

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Alanna came to a few hours later in a healer's room. She had been taken care of by none other than the Duchess herself. Alanna tried to sit up, but struggled to do so.

"It looks as if you've hurt your shoulders," Gwyn said. "If you like, I could take a look at it for you."

Alanna thought this was very kind of her. "Thank you," she said. Duchess Gywn brought Alanna some water and Alanna began taking sips from the glass.

"Duke Hilam may be my husband, but I do not approve nor like the manner in which he treats his servants and those lower to him," Gwyn said, then added in a whisper, "It's not honorable."

"But His Grace believes in results, not honor," Alanna sighed. This was a fact Alanna knew only too well. She had heard Hilam say it himself.

"Many do," the Duchess said. "It doesn't make it right."Alanna nodded. It sounded as if Duchess Gwyn didn't think very highly of her husband, and said so.

"To say anything of the sort would be considered Treason against the crown," Gwyn whispered, though when Alanna met her eyes, they seemed to say something different. Alanna knew Duchess Gwyn didn't think very highly of her husband, her eyes said it all.

"His Grace may only be a Duke," Gwyn continued, "But he is still King Ain's brother, and he is still royalty, my child."

Alanna chose her next words carefully, so they sounded less treason like. "Why marry someone you don't love then?"

"Politics, my dear, some of us have no choice."

Alanna thought this was very foolish, not that she was planning to marry at all. "I just wouldn't marry at all then," Alanna said frankly.

A feint smile appeared on Gwyn's face. "Very amusing, my child." Duchess Gwyn helped Alanna to sit up. "Now let me take a look at your at your shoulder."

Alanna's shoulder seemed to be badly bruised, luckily nothing was broken. Her Grace, who apparently had the gift, began to heal it.

"Let me check your back," the Duchess said.

As soon as Alanna realized this would require her to remove her shirt, she refused to. For a boy this would have been fine, but Alanna was no boy.

"My dear child, don't be silly. Your back needs healing," Gwyn insisted.

"I have the gift, I'll heal it myself," Alanna protested.

"You'll hardly be able to see what needs healing," Gwyn objected.

"I'll be fine," Alanna snapped. Then she made her mistake, she tried to stand, and as she did fell to her knees.

Duchess Gwyn helped her to lie back down on the bed. "You'll be fine will you?"

"Yes."

"Alan," Gwyn warned. She was growing suspicious. "Why must you be difficult?"

"I can't show you my back."

"Can't?"

Alanna then knew that when she told Duchess Gwyn, she would not run off to tell Hilam, but try and help her. "I'm a girl."

Gwyn grinned. "A wonderful joke, my child."

Alanna looked at the ground. "It's no joke, Your Grace," Alanna said. "I wanted to be a warrior maiden and my twin brother wished to be a sorcerer. So we switched places." Alanna didn't dare look up.

"My dear child," the duchess gasped. "We must get you out of here, before someone else finds out!"

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Authors note: It has been brought to my attention, that this story is much like Saphron's story "Homeward Bound." I hadn't read the story, and didn't know just how similar they were. It's not plagiarism, simply similar. If you do like this story so far, then I suggest you check out Homeward Bound, if you haven't already.

Happy Reading

Madame-S-Butterfly

xoxo