Title: Court Games

Author: Ayla Pascal

Summary: When Roger turns back time and reveals Alanna to be a girl, she gets sent to the convent. Five years later, Alanna goes to court to search for a husband. AU. Alanna-Roger.

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Alanna/Roger

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Chapter 5: The Ball

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Alanna felt a tightness in her stomach as she descended the staircase down to the Great Ballroom. There's nothing to be worried about, she told herself sternly as she carefully walked in her high-heeled slippers, trying not to accidentally trip.

"Lady Alanna," Prince Jonathon greeted her at the bottom of the staircase. "You look beautiful." He took her hand and kissed it lightly.

She gave him a rather weak smile. There was something about balls that she already didn't like. They seemed rather useless. Just another way for women to show off how many pieces of jewellery they owned and for men to show up with another beautiful girl hanging off their arm. People seemed to be milling around waiting for something.

At her puzzled expression, Jonathon said, "They're waiting for us to dance. Traditionally the prince – if the king and queen aren't present – will lead the first dance with his partner."

Alanna gulped. Taking Jonathon's arm, she found herself suddenly on the dance floor with the eyes of all the courtiers on her. I know how to do this, she mentally reassured herself as the harpers began playing. Goddess knows, we went through the steps of the waltz enough times at the convent. Still, Alanna found herself almost tripping over herself as the dance went on. Others joined them on the dance floor almost immediately and she had to be careful not to bump into anybody else. She found the long pink gown – longer than it should have been due to her short stature – was too bright, especially compared to the pale beige-type colours all the other court ladies were wearing.

After the first dance, Alanna excused herself politely and went to get a drink.

"Alanna," somebody said behind her as she accepted a glass from a servant.

She spun around and saw Thom standing there.

"Having fun?"

Alanna couldn't tell whether he was being serious or not, but suspected the latter. "It's a new experience," she said carefully.

He shrugged. "Don't forget your promise."

"I won't!" she snapped. "I'll be there at dawn, I promise."

"Be prepared to be beaten, my dear sister." Thom gave her a mocking bow before turning and walking away.

She glared at his retreating back. A soft touch on her arm reminded her of where she was before she could do anything stupid.

"Lady Alanna, you look pale. Would you like to sit down for a while?" Jonathon looked at her with concerned eyes.

"I'm fine," she said somewhat shortly and then blushed. "I'm sorry, your Highness. It's just my brother Thom was..."

Jonathon frowned. "Say no more." He sighed. "I'm sorry to say it, but your brother has been rather difficult for the court to deal with ever since he came here. I'm honestly amazed how Roger seems to get along so well with him."

Alanna blinked rapidly at his honesty. To her surprise, she saw a faint redness creep over his cheeks.

"I am sorry, Lady Alanna," he quickly said. "I, perhaps, spoke too bluntly." He gave her a wry smile. "Now it is my turn to apologise."

"There is nothing to apologise for," she answered. "I perhaps understand more than anybody that my brother can be very difficult." She gave a small frown. "But he does seem to get along with his Grace very well."

"Is that a problem?"

Alanna collected her thoughts and remembered that she was talking to Roger's cousin. "No problem," she said, perhaps too hastily. "I'm sure his Grace will be a good influence on my wayward brother."

Jonathon gave her a hesitant smile. "What was it that you were talking to your brother about then?"

She sighed. "Thom challenged me to an archery challenge tomorrow morning at dawn."

He looked at her in surprise. "Archery is no fitting sport for a lady," he said with a faint note of disapproval. "Though some commoners might let their women draw a bow, a noblewoman shouldn't lower herself to that level."

Alanna pursed her lips to stop herself from being rude. "Your Highness," she said, a note of frost in her tone, "I have been able to draw a bow since age four and have beaten my brother every year since then until we parted. I would merely like to see how much he has improved since being at court."

"I have offended you, haven't I?"

She couldn't read the note in his voice. Was it regret or irritation? "No, your highness," she answered, diplomatically. "I am honestly curious how much Thom has improved."

"Well then," the strange note was still in his voice, "I shall see this dawn match between brother and sister." He gave her a smile. "May the best win."

-

The next morning, as dawn's light was still pink in the sky, Alanna slipped out of her rooms and down to the archery courts. There, Thom and Jonathon were already there waiting for her.

Thom raised an eyebrow and looked at Jonathon when she arrived.

"Prince Jonathon wished to watch," she explained.

"Very well," Thom said. He turned towards Jonathon. "My sister and I have a unique challenge. We attempt to shoot five arrows, one after each other, into a target. Whoever manages to get the arrows clustered closest together, wins. Since you are here, you can be the judge."

"Seems fine to me," Jonathon said shortly.

Thom gestured with his bow which was already strung up. "Do you want to go first?"

"Go ahead," Alanna said. Inwardly, she was panicking slightly. Technically she hadn't really picked up a bow in five years. The convent didn't allow the girls to have bows and she had hers confiscated in the first week. She had still practiced aiming and throwing stones to keep her skill up, but she hadn't actually handled a bow in such a long time. Feeling along the bows held up in clasps on the wall, she selected one. Then, taking up an oiled string, she looped it around one end and tied it.

Looking up, Alanna watched as Thom placed a target at the other end of the room. Then, he came back to where she was standing.

"Lets see who's better at archery, shall we, dear sister," he said as he stuck the arrows in the ground.

Alanna watched in amazement as he drew the bow with ease and fitted an arrow in the notch. Aiming slightly, he let go. The arrow flew straight and hit just outside the centre circle. He fired the other four arrows in similar fashion. Three landed in the centre circle and two just slightly outside.

"Can you beat that?" he said, panting slightly from the exertion.

Without a word, she grabbed arrows and stuck them in the ground, leaving one in her hand. "Watch me try," she said softly. Then, drawing her bow, slightly hesitantly, since she hadn't done it for five years, she fired her first arrow. And then the rest.

"Well?" she asked, breathing heavily.

Jonathon went over and came back with the target. Two of her red tipped arrows were in the centre circle and the other three were in the next circle. "I'm sorry," he told her, and he truly did look sorry, "but I'm afraid Lord Thom won this contest."

Thom gave her a bow. "Don't take it to heart, Alanna," he told her. "After all, I'm a squire."

She simply glared at him. I could have been a squire if it hadn't been for Roger. She couldn't help but feel very bitter over that.