Disclaimer: The only characters so far that are mine are Lana, Varnya, Gwendolyn and Holly. The rest belong (unfortunately) to Tamora Pierce.

CHAPTER 6

It seemed as though Jonathan had realised his mistake as soon as Gary spoke, and was about to cover it up when Lana stopped him. She held up a hand.

'You say that these two men are your best friends, right?' she asked of Jonathan. He looked confused at her question and raised an eyebrow, but said 'Yes. With Alanna.'

'Well, we were going to tell everything to Alanna anyway, we might as well tell them too. At least that way if people start asking questions, they can back up my cover story.'

Jonathan considered it, but only for a second. 'You're right. It will be easier that way.'

But the others were far from satisfied.

'What is this?'

'Jon, what's going on?'

'Would you kindly tell us what this is all about? Jon, who is she?' The last one was Alanna, her famous temper getting the better of her.

'All right all right, calm down, all of you. If you all have a moment, Lana and I will tell you everything you need to know, but we'll have to go somewhere private. We can't discuss this here.'

The noise they were making with all the yelling had started to cause other people to stare.

'We can go to my rooms, that way I can show them what I need to.' Lana said, and Jon caught on and agreed.

'Gary, Raoul, Alanna…Lana', Jon added with a smile knowing she wouldn't find the way back, 'follow me.'

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Lana wasn't the only quiet one on the way back to her rooms. Jon looked thoughtful, and the other three looked furious, Alanna especially. She didn't appreciate secrets or being kept in the dark, especially where her former knight-master was concerned. Once Gary, Raoul and Alanna were seated in Lana's sitting room, Alanna was the first to speak.

'Please tell us what this is about, Jon. Who is she, and why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what I'm going to hear?'

Jonathan laughed. My Lioness always did have an uncanny knack for picking up on trouble. But he became serious, fast.

"Listen, what we're going to tell you is going to be hard to believe at first, especially by you two,' he gestured to Gary and Raoul. 'Alanna, you're probably more used to the weird and wonderful, myths and legends, so it might be easier for you to understand.' At this he looked at Lana. 'Do you want to do it, or shall I?'

Lana shook her head. If they're going to believe anyone, it will be the future king. I'll just prove it to them later. 'You do it.'

He took a deep breath. 'OK. Well, Gary, Raoul, Alanna…you're looking at a genuine time traveller. Lana is from the future – the year 2005 in fact.' He waited to let what he said sink in, before continuing. 'Lana was sent here by her Aunt to give me a message, which she has done. Her only problem now is how to get home. She has no Gift, and the only conclusion I can come to is that we need to find someone that will be strong enough to send her back, or maybe we should say forward,' he corrected with a wink, 'in time.'

But the looks on their faces were the same that Lana herself probably had on hers, that very morning when her Aunt had told her what she wanted her to do. Raoul's look was unconvinced, Gary actually laughed, and Alanna's expression was blank. It told Lana one thing: that they didn't believe him. They thought he was crazy. So Lana turned her back on them and walked into her bedroom and picked up her bag. Then she stood in front of them and bared her soul for them all to see.

'What Jon says is true. My Aunt Varnya is an environmentalist, among other things. Currently, in the time that I'm from, there has been widespread flooding through Europe that has destroyed so much and caused many people to die. It was caused because a forest that used to exist was cut down many years ago and it turns out that it's a forest that resides right here in Tortall. My Aunt wanted me to come here and tell this to Jon so that he could prevent the cutting down of the trees, therefore saving many lives in the future. She wrote a letter explaining this to him, and provided pictures of the flooding to prove it.' Jon removed the letter he had kept inside his tunic and handed it to Gary. Lana then opened her bag, took out her purse and opened it to show them something that would prove to them that she was who she said she was.

'This is my ID, my identification card.' She passed it to Alanna who took it. 'On it, it says who I am and where I come from, as well as a picture of me. Everyone in my time has one of these, or something similar.'

Alanna didn't say anything as she passed the card onto Raoul, but just looked at her. Gary was looking at the photos.

'If you have no Gift, then how did you get here?' she asked.

'I think my Aunt has it. She was the one who sent me, so she must have. All I remember was a bright green light, and then it turned white, and there was a huge pressure on my chest like I was being squeezed through a really small space, and then the next thing I knew I was here, in Tortall.'

'I've already tested her, and it's actually really strange. Her aura isn't like anyone else's. Maybe you should try, Alanna?' Jonathan asked his long time friend.

Alanna stood and came to stand next to the girl, and took one of her hands just as Jon did, but this time purple air gleamed around their hands, not blue. She felt the same sensation as before, only stronger. Her magic is stronger than Jon's. And it matches her eye colour. But Alanna yanked her hand out of Lana's grip suddenly, and took a step back, with bewilderment etched into every line of her face. She didn't say anything. It wasn't until Gary spoke that she seemed to snap out of it.

'Alanna, what is it?' Gary stood up in alarm.

After a moment of silence, Alanna opened her mouth to say something, but it was Raoul that spoke first.

'They're telling the truth, aren't they?'

'Yes, I believe they are.' Alanna said the words as if she couldn't believe they were coming out her mouth.

'If you all need more proof, I have it. Lots of it.' Lana said, as she moved to pick up her bag once again. Out of her purse she withdrew money, the colourful notes that marked them as uniquely Australian; an orange twenty-dollar note, a blue ten, and some change; small silver and gold coloured coins, different shapes and sizes. She spread them out on the small table before her guests. She also took out of her bag her mobile phone, her sunglasses and her small ipod mini, and placed them all on the table next to the money. She knew what she was doing was right – the only way to make them fully understand and believe, was to shock them. Showing them these unfamiliar and outlandish contraptions - things they'd never seen - would surely do that.

Before they could ask about them, Lana launched into an explanation of each object, first with the sunglasses and the money, then she gave the same quick details about the mobile phone as she did George. At her words, even Jonathan was enthralled. They all had the look of young children being told a fairy tale. I guess that's what this seems like to them. A fantasy. Lana had the same excited sensation that she'd had earlier in the afternoon with George; she liked explaining these things to people who didn't understand them. She was teaching them something completely new, and she liked being so in control in a place where she had absolutely no control over anything else, especially her fate.

At first, the others sat in silence during her presentation, but slowly opened up and started asking questions about each item. When Lana was about to start explaining the function of the ipod, there was a knock at the door. Lana excused herself and rose to open it.

'Good evenin', Lady Lana. I'm sorry to bother you, but I thought you might be needin' some help with getting dressed for dinner. I brought you some washin' water.' Holly, the apprentice seamstress and part time maid held a large jug of steaming water.

'Oh…thankyou Holly. Please, come inside.' And Lana stood aside to let the girl pass. But as Holly started to enter, she noticed the Prince, the Lioness and other two Knights seated around the small table.

'Oh, I-I'm sorry. I didn' realise you had company, miss. I'll come back.'

'No, there's no need for that. We didn't realise that so much time had passed us by.' Jonathan stood and smiled at the girl. Behind him, Alanna was discreetly clearing the table, and putting the objects back in Lana's bag. 'We'll leave you now, Lana, but shall I come back in a half hour or so to walk you to dinner?'

But before the girl could open her mouth to agree, someone else spoke. It was Gary.

'If you don't mind, Jon, Lana, I'll come and get you. There are some things that I would love to discuss with you more.'

'No, that's fine. I'll see you soon.' And with that, they left Lana and Holly alone.

As Lana closed the door behind them, Holly emptied the jug of water into the empty bowl that was sitting on top of the dressing table. 'I'll pick a gown for you, Lana, while you freshen up.'

Lana washed her face and hands, and then Holly helped her put on a floor length burgundy silk dress, which Lana thought was quite lovely, much to her surprise. She added a pair of delicate slip on shoes, and fixed her hair so that it wasn't so frizzy. When she pulled out her make up bag and unscrewed her mascara, Holly looked at her funny, but Lana just ignored it. She finished off the task with a coat of lip-gloss. As she looked herself over, she didn't think she looked so bad.

'You look lovely miss. Sorry…Lana.' Holly corrected. 'The stuff you put on your eyelashes really brings out your eyes. What is it?' Her curiosity obviously outweighed her shock.

'It's called mascara, and it's designed to do just that. I never go out without it, otherwise I look like I'm asleep!' Holly laughed, not realising that it wasn't really a joke. But Lana laughed with her. They stopped chatting when there was a knock at the door – Gary.

'Wow, you look great. I envy the man you call yours.' Lana blushed at his compliment, just as Holly cleared her throat.

'Err, Lana, I'll be leavin'. But I'll come first thing in the morning to show you the baths.'

'Thanks Holly. See you tomorrow.' And followed her out. As Holly went one way down the corridor, Gary took Lana the other, and lead down a flight of stairs towards the mess hall.

'So how are you? Have you taken it all in yet?' Gary asked with a smile.

'Honestly, Gary? It's been like some sort of dream. If I seem like I'm dazed or a bit quiet, it's only because I'm still accepting the fact that I'm here. It still all seems so unreal.'

'Even I'm amazed. I mean, I don't even know how far ahead the year 2005 is. We don't count the years like that. It seems like a long time away…your gadgets prove that you come from an extremely sophisticated era. It's nothing like I've ever seen. Even our Lioness is surprised, and it takes a lot for that to happen! But I wanted to ask about the floods. They really happened?'

'They're happening now, just…the now in the future.' Lana laughed at her own words. 'Sorry I know that doesn't make sense. What I meant was that they were happening at the time that I left, yes.'

'And the people? It's true?' His face was grave.

'Yes…tens of thousands of people, dead, sick, or left homeless. Between the flooding, the landslides and the famine and disease, it could be more.'

'Mithros…well if it is a law that must be passed for the prevention of so many deaths, then that's what it will be.'

They had reached the hall, and Gary steered her to the table where Jon sat with Alanna, Raoul, and two other people she didn't know. They stood as Gary introduced them. They were sirs Geoffrey of Meron, and Douglass of Veldine. He introduced her only as Lana, a friend of Jonathan's.

'Pleased to meet you.' She said as she sat down between Alanna and Gary, opposite Raoul. As she looked around the hall, Lana noticed for the first time how many people were there. The hall was a kaleidoscope of colour, full to the brim with people, with everybody emersed in their own conversations. All except one man, who was watching her look around. He was just as good looking as Jonathan, with the same royal blue eyes but with short hair and a trimmed beard. The other difference was that when she looked at him, she didn't swoon like she felt like doing with the Prince; instead she got the worst case of goosebumps that she had ever had. It was only when he noticed Lana staring at him back, that he turned to the man next to him – a redhead who's face was partially hidden by another person – and spoke to him.

If that man means well, then I'll have Alanna turn me into a toad. I'm going to have to watch him, he gives me the creeps! Lana silently swore to herself.

Raoul saw her shiver involuntarily.

'Everything OK?' he asked quietly from across the table.

'Who is that?' She motioned to the man who stared at her once again.

As she asked, the table went quiet. When Raoul turned back around, it seemed he either couldn't, or wouldn't answer. But he had a scowl on his face.

It was Douglass who answered her query.

'That's Duke Roger, Jon's cousin. The man next to him, is Lord Thom, Lady Alanna's brother, and twin.'

This time when Lana looked over, she could see the man next to Roger, and could definitely see the resemblance. But as the Duke met her eyes once again, she hastily looked away, uncomfortable under his gaze.

Alanna leaned close to the girl and whispered 'you'll want to stay clear of Roger; if he found out about you, he'd take an unnatural interest in you. Trust me, stay away from him.' The look on her face and the venom in her voice was unmistakeable – she hated this man. Lana didn't know what he had done, but Alanna had made Roger her enemy, of that she was certain.

A/N: How will Lana react when she hears about the Duke's past? What will he do now that she's peaked his interest? And will Lana find someone who can help her go home? To find out, stay tuned!

Thanks to those who have reviewed, but I would love to continue hearing your thoughts, so please click that little button!