A/N I guess I didn't disappear for that long after all.

This chapter takes place at the end of the second book, before the epilogue.

The whole room stared in horror and disbelief as Alanna's sword dripped with Duke Roger's blood.

Jonathan was the first to wake from the shock of the moment as he stood at his father's side. He looked at his father, who gave him a slight nod of permission, and strode purposefully toward Alanna and his dead cousin.

She looked up at the sound of his footsteps, but couldn't meet his eyes. She knelt before him, setting the bloody sword on the ground between them.

Jonathan faced their onlookers and declared in a loud clear voice, "The gods have granted you the victory, Sir Alanna of Trebond. You have done us a great service by exposing this traitor and bringing him to swift justice."

He raised her to her feet and said quietly, "I need to talk to my father. I'll come to you when I can."

Finally, she met his eyes and was relieved to find in them an intense reassurance that he was on her side.

Jonathan next looked to Thom and signaled him with a small jerk of his chin. Thom immediately came forward and escorted Alanna out of the room.

Jonathan followed his father into a private sitting room in the royal chambers. They stayed silent until Roald had poured them both a glass of wine, and they sat staring at each other.

"I hardly know where to begin," Roald began. "Every time you do something reckless or disobedient you manage to follow it with something exceptionally heroic so I can't reprimand you properly. Your squire seems to have learned well from your example." His voice held no hint of amusement.

"That's because neither of us disobeys or takes risks lightly, Father," Jonathan responded, equally serious.

They sat in silence again for a long moment.

"The Provost found the fountain in his workroom, just like she said," Roald said quietly. "There's no question that the dolls were spelled, and they explain your mother's poor health." He paused and looked his son in the eye, "Is there any chance that she did do it herself and falsely accused him? Maybe if Roger was getting close to discovering-"

"No," Jonathan interrupted. "Trust me, I don't want to believe Roger could have been plotting against us all this time either. Besides you, he was the man I looked up to most in the world. But Alanna didn't do this. She wouldn't have had opportunity or motive. And she has proven her loyalty to me more times than I can count."

"How did you find out she was a girl?" Roald asked finally. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"When we were fighting the Ysandir in the Black City, one of them read her mind, discovered her secret, and revealed it to me in an attempt to separate us. It didn't work."

"Of course it was during one of your reckless, heroic deeds," Roald said dryly.

"Father, I went to the Black City because Roger dared me to."

Roald looked up sharply at his son.

"Not in so many words, but he told us squires about the city and its dangers while looking pointedly at me. All this time, I've been giving him partial credit for our victory there, assuming he knew I would be victorious and wanted to help me build my reputation.

Now I realize how foolish that sounds. He's powerful, but not clairvoyant. I don't know if he used some sort of magical persuasion on me or if he just knew the right way to appeal to my pride, but in retrospect, I can't believe I would ever have risked my life or Alanna's so recklessly."

"That would explain a lot. I have no doubt he could have weaved such a spell if he so desired." Roald went back to staring into his wine cup. "So you decided to lie for her?"

"We had just defeated literal demons together. She's the only reason I survived the sweating sickness. She was one of my best friends. Keeping her secret seemed like the least I could do, and more than that, I wanted her by my side."

Roald nodded reluctant understanding.

"Which brings us to my disobedience that ended up winning us the Tusaine war."

Roald looked at his son as realization dawned, "You didn't want the Tusaines to find out that she was a girl."

"I am sorry that I disobeyed you, especially so publicly, but I couldn't abandon her to that fate. It's a relief to finally tell you the truth about that now."

A long silence stretched between them again as Roald considered.

"Your mother has always watched the way you interact with the young ladies with great interest. She's remarked to me several times in the last year that she can't understand why you seem to have changed around them, like you've lost interest in pursuing any of them. Tell me truly: are you... involved with her?"

Jonathan met his father's eyes without flinching. "I am."

"I see."

Roald sighed. "Well, I can hardly take away her shield when she passed the ordeal and saved my wife and son."

"Thank you, Father."

Roald met his son's eyes and smiled sadly. He stood and closed the gap between them, and Jonathan hugged his father back tightly.

When they stepped apart Roald looked thoughtfully at his son. "My best efforts at peace have still resulted in wars and now treason within my own family. I don't know if I've done right as king, but I've done the best I can. I know your reign, when the time comes, will be very different. But I am immensely proud of you, my son. You are smart and caring and courageous and you inspire loyalty from good men. Despite our disagreements, I have every faith in you."

"Thank you, father. Whatever I've become, I owe to you and mother."

Roald smiled. "I know you're anxious to go back to your squi- your...knight. I won't hold you any longer."

This time they shook hands solemnly and Jonathan turned to go.

"One last thing- who was that man who escorted her into the trial with you? The one in the hooded cloak?"

Jonathan paused for only a moment. "I'll tell you next time I do something heroic."