Distant Memories – The Sunrise

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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Riding another horse reminded Alanna of Moonlight. She hoped her faithful mare was safe at home. Alanna was a nervous wreck and the horse sensed it and thought it could play up. Alanna gave the horse a good lesson on who's in control.

"You look nervous," Jorge said, hoping to prod out whatever was on her mind.

"I am," she admitted. She looked towards the horizon, the sun was rising, and it was such a beautiful sight. Alanna didn't want to take her eyes away. It looked as if the sun was climbing the mountains.

"It's beautiful," Alanna murmured, still watching the rising sun.

"That it is," Jorge said. "I'm lucky enough to see it every morning." Jorge slowed his horse down to a trot. "Mother said you wanted to tell me something."

Alanna made a brave decision to just come out and say it; she knew it would be harder the longer she left it. "Your father had been searching for a bride for you."

"Yes," Jorge said, as if to say, go on.

"He picked out four young ladies for you to choose from." She felt as if there was a lump in her throat, this subject wasn't one she felt comfortable speaking of. "One of those ladies was me."

"But you seem sad about it," Jorge told her. He knew most girls would love to have this opportunity, wealth, not to mention power, it would all be theirs.

"I'm not your average lady," Alanna said with a sigh.

"I've noticed." Jorge chuckled. "You have plenty of witty comments ready to use."

Alanna couldn't help but grin, it was true, but it wasn't what she meant. "I have more than one secret to hide, you see."

"Most people do."

"I have a twin brother, Thom. He was to be sent to the palace to become a Knight and I was to be sent to the convent as a proper young lady should. But Thom wished to be a sorcerer and I had always dreamed of becoming a Knight, a warrior maiden."

"When I was five, I had wanted to join the players," Jorge said. He seemed to think they were swapping childhood stories.

"Well I got my wish," Alanna explained while Jorge frowned. "My brother and I traded places. He went to the convent, where all the sorcerers begin and I went to the palace disguised as Alan."

"Alan of Trebond, the prince's squire?"

"Yes."

"The one who defeated Dain of Melor?"

"Yes."

"Mithros … but how?"

"I did a good job of disguising myself. But then when His Grace captured me at the war and took me as a prisoner, your mother discovered my secret."

Alanna let out a laugh, to let out all the nerves she had built up. "She taught me all that I should have been taught at the convent in hope that I'll leave with the Tortallans. Now that I seem to be one of the ladies come to the festival."

Jorge took a few minutes to take in all this information. "My father may act like an idiot sometimes, but he is not stupid. He will notice you are missing when his prisoner is not where he should be."

Alanna gave a faint smile. "It's taken care of. I want nothing more than to return home return home and continue my quest for my shield. Please help me?'" Alanna asked for very little, rarely asked for help. She hoped she would get it, now that she desperately needed it.

"You can count on my help," Jorge told her. Alanna let herself truly relax for the first time in days.

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When Alanna returned to Gwyn's quarters that morning, she wore a grin on her face.

"Was it as easy as I told you it would be, my child?" Gwyn asked, though she already knew the answer. Alanna's smile was hard to miss.

"It was easier," Alanna informed the Duchess. Marriage to someone like Jorge wouldn't be so bad, Alanna decided. If his father were not Hilam.

The girl went back to her room to ready herself for lunch. Since it was a picnic it was less formal. Alanna's dress wouldn't need to be half as elegant the gown she had worn to the ball. Today she wore a pale purple dress, which matched the colour of her eyes.

Though, Alanna didn't know where to sit at the picnic. She certainly couldn't sit with her old friends from the palace. After a while, Lady Catherine, Gwyn's daughter, invited Alanna to sit with her group of friends.

She and Catherine had met one night in Gwyn's quarters. Catherine was coming to say hello to her mother as she hadn't when she had first arrived home as she had been exhausted by the ride. Alanna had always thought she was nice.

Lady Catherine was quite popular within her own country and beautiful. She was nearly the equivalent of Delia. The only difference was that Alanna didn't hate Lady Catherine as she did Lady Delia.

"This is my friend Lady Lana," Catherine said as she introduced Alanna to her group of friends. Alanna smiled as Catherine spoke; she had called Alanna her friend!

Surprisingly, Lady Cythera was a friend of Catherine's. Soon enough Gary made his way over and was flirting with Cythera for the rest of the picnic.

It was good to see Gary again, but she made sure not to draw too much attention to herself, she didn't want Gary to recognize her. But she needn't have worried; Gary hadn't taken his eyes off Cythera once.

As Alanna began to chat with those around her, she found the topic they were discussing was an interesting one. The Young Knights and older squires were complaining, saying the Code of Chivalry was too harsh on them. This was a subject, thanks to Myles, that she knew a fair bit about.

She looked around to find that Jon was coming over in her group's direction to find Gary. Nobody noticed as Alanna slipped away to a nearby, though still out of view, courtyard.

No one, but Jon.

Again nobody noticed as Jon followed her there.

And nobody noticed when she kissed him.

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Well there you have it, another chapter! Sorry for the long wait, I hope you do like it though!

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Madame-S-Butterfly

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