A/N: Ok this chapter was done with the help of my good friend Tortallanrider. Again please read and the REVIEW. Buckle your seat belts AND GET READY!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. TP dose.

A red haired knight upon a golden warhorse and dressed in a leather
jerkin stopped upon the rise above the Tortallan capital of Corus. The
prince, a raven-haired man with sapphire colored eyes, rose up beside
her on his large black mount. They looked at each other and smiled.

"Welcome home," Jonathan said. Alanna smiled.

"It feels good to be back," she told him. They leaned over and kissed.

"Stop starin' and get ridin'," Alanna's manservant, Coram, said. Alanna
smiled. Coram had ridden up beside George. On her other side was her
newly adoptive father, Sir Myles of Olau.

"Are you ready?" Myles asked. Alanna nodded.

"I wonder how Gary and Raoul are going to react," Jonathan mused,
referring to his new engagement to Alanna, who was still widely thought
of as Alan due to her disguise for eight years. People were still
adjusting to Alanna's femininity and her slaying of Duke Roger of
Conté.

"And George," Alanna murmured. George was George Cooper, the King of
Thieves and one of Alanna and Jonathan's closest friends. He loved
Alanna, and Jonathan knew it. Alanna couldn't help but wonder how
George would handle her engagement to Jonathan.

"There's only one way to find out," Jonathan said, smiling. "Let's go."
He started down the hill, Myles close behind.

"Ye comin'?" Coram asked, looking at Alanna.

"In a minute," she replied. "Go on without me." Coram obeyed. Alanna
sighed. She was home again. But there was a bittersweet feeling in the
pit of her stomach.

Not only was she going to tell everyone that she and Jonathan were
engaged, but she would also see her old friends: Sir Raoul of
Goldenlake, Sir Gareth the Younger of Naxen, Sir Alexander of Tirragen.
And her twin, Master Thom of Trebond. Not to mention Jonathan's former
lover, Lady Delia of Eldorne. Alanna drew in a deep breath. What was
she doing? She couldn't just stand there forever. She was a knight, by
Mithros, not a coward! She kicked her mare, Moonlight, and started down
the hill.

(In the palace)

Alanna and Jonathan walked into the practice courts, where their
friends were practicing. Huge Raoul of Goldenlake, with his tight black
curls and black eyes, was dueling Gary of Naxen, who was almost as
large as Raoul, with chestnut hair and eyes. Alex of Tirragen was
standing to the side, watching his fellow knights with calculating dark
eyes.

"Stop!" Raoul exclaimed and Gary stopped. He smiled as he saw Alanna
and Jonathan. The three knights walked over to the pair. Raoul embraced
Alanna warmly. "Welcome back, Alan…na. Alanna." He smiled at his
correction. "Mithros, this is going to be difficult." Gary, who had
known Alanna was a girl a bit before Raoul, hugged Alanna.

"It's good to have you home, Alanna," he said. Alanna smiled.

"I missed you," she told them. Alex nodded at her, and she nodded back.
They hadn't been as close since Roger.

"Welcome back," Alex said.

"Thanks."

"No greetings for me?" Jonathan asked jokingly. "I know where I stand!"
Raoul and Gary hugged him simultaneously.

"We saw you not long ago. We haven't seen Alanna in longer," Gary
replied. Jonathan laughed.

"I know," he said and slipped an arm around Alanna's waist. Raoul and
Gary had suspected there had been something between the prince and his
former squire, and now they were sure of it. "Alanna and I have some
news."

"Alanna's really a boy?" Gary teased. Alanna laughed and shook her
head, glad Gary was making light of the situation, because she was
terrified of what they might say.

"No," Jonathan replied. "Alanna and I are-"

"Betrothed," Alanna finished.

"What?" Raoul and Gary squawked. "You're what?"

"Betrothed," the couple replied together. They smiled at each other.

"Congratulations!" Gary said, hugging them. Raoul scratched his head
and shook it.

"I'm going to have to get used to this Alanna then," he remarked.
"Because otherwise I'm going to be seeing Squire Alan and Jonathan
married for the rest of my life!" Alanna laughed. Alex smiled at them.

"Congratulations," he said, and walked away. Alanna shivered. There was
something about Alex that frightened her.

But it wasn't a new feeling, which made her even more afraid.

Well? Tell us what you think. Thanks for to the people that reviewed, but we wont have any inspiration, or reason to write more if I you don't review! So, please review. Thanks!

Megmae- Tortallanrider