Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places.

"Fight"

Alanna and Kel started to circle each other, looking for a moment of distraction in the other, so they could attack. Alanna saw a small opportunity and tried to reach the bigger girls side with her sword. Kel moved out of the way to avoid her blade and attack the red-head's side.

Alanna parried that easily and counter attacked. They were both learning their opponent fighting style. It was rather eerie due to the complete silence except for the clash of the Lady Knights swords. Kel knew she shouldn't try to use her heights as an advantage. Alanna was extremely short and therefore was probably used to taller people fighting with her.

The fight went on for a while, neither woman wanting to lose. Kel was aware of the sweat that was about to fall into her eyes. She also saw that Alanna was about to have the same inconvinience. However it became obvious, that one Lady Knight was starting to gain the advantage. Lady Alanna had been fighting longer and the sword was her weapon of choice. Everytime Kel did a block on her left side, she always carried the motion an inch to far, leaving her middle exposed for a fraction of second.

However for the extremely fast Alanna, a fraction of second was all she needed to beat her opponent. She made Kel use the left block and snaked her sword in to reach the other woman's throat, however Kel was also fast and tried to dart out of the way when she saw what Alanna had done. But as Alanna saw that Kel meant to fall a step back, so she followed.

Kel then found her hero's sword at the base of her throat.

"Well fought Lioness"

"Well fought Protector of the Small"

Kel groaned at her name. "You need to improve that Left block" said the older woman, as the crowd cheered.

"You know what Alanna?" said Kel. As both Lady Knnights accepted water skins and started to drink heavily.

"What?"

"I think we should try with MY weapon of choice"

"I've only been training with the glaive for like two years! It wouldn't even be a challenge to you" said Alanna. It was apparent in the morning practices that Alanna was envious of Kel's skill with the glaive.

"I was talking about the lance" said Kel

Alanna considered her word. "Well then, we shall joust. And you will see why the lance is not my weapon of choice"

Kel grinned. They walked away together to the chant of 'Lioness! Lioness! Lioness'

"You have been playing with that pig-sticker for too long mom, you forgot the sword"

It was dinner, Kel, Dom and Tobe were eating together. Dom laughed at Tobe's comment. "I shall practice with you until you get that left block properly!" he announced.

"It's true! I need to yield griffin more" she said. Both man and boy nodded. "You guys aren't suppose to agree with me! You're suppose to say I was good and the only reason I lost was because she is the King's champion!"

Dom grinned at Tobe, who shook his head. "You were awesome mom!"

Kel smiled. "Anyways, I'll beat her tomorrow when we joust!" she said.

"Do I smell overconfidence?" said Dom.

Kel glared at him. "Fine!" he said "You will win! After all in all this progress you have jousted around thirty time and have yet to lose a joust!"

"Good job lass!" said George. "You were, as always, amazing!"

Alanna grinned. "She's quite good, but obviously the sword isn't her strongest point"

"No" agreed her husband "however tomorrow you will find out that the lance isn't your strongest point"

"Don't remind me" she said glumly. "Fionala?" she yelled.

"Yes" replied the squire. "Be ready to arm me tomorrow, and I'd like you to join the archery competition, you are quite good"

"Of course, my lady" said the girl "and congratulation on your duel today"

"Thank you"

The next day Kel and Alanna were mounting their horses, ready to joust. Once again a giant crowd had gathered to watch the two of them fight. When the trumpet sounded, they both surged down the lane toward one another.

Kel, as usual, hit Alanna's shield perfectly. She felt her lance shatter. She then felt the hit of Alanna's lance. It wasn't as arm-numbing as Lord Raoul and she could endure it better.

They both went back to their starting point. When the trumpet sounded again they charged. Kel hit Alanna's shield squarely and put her weight behind the hit. She smiled when she saw the small woman pop out of her saddle.

She chanted "I beat the lioness, I beat the lioness" over and over as she went to lend her hero a hand up.

"You are like a hammer!" said Alanna "I'm never jousting against you again! I don't know who is worst between you and Raoul. You are both so strong in the saddle."

"Thank you!" answered Kel. Once again they walked away together as chant of 'Masbolle! Masbolle! Masbolle!' sounded around them.

"Are you on the lists tomorrow" asked Dom. For some reason Kel found this moment somewhat... déjà vu. She was checking the list with her sweetheart. She scanned the list to find her name, linked with Lord Wyldon's.

"Yes" she answered. "You better order me a coffin"

Dom raised an eyebrow and looked at the name of her opponent.

"Surely you'll do good! You are great on horseback! You might unseat him" She was, for the second time that night, struck with the resemblance of a time when a very similar conversation had taken place. The last time however, it had been with Cleon. They had only been courting, and he had been teasing her about becoming lovers.

She snorted at his comment. "Hey give me credit for the compliment!" she laughed as she quickly pressed her lips to his.

He smiled and swept her off her feet and started to carry her, bridal style, towards their tent.

"Hi My lord" said Dom has they passed the baffled Raoul.

"Hi Dom, Kel" he said looking after them.

Kel was giggling at Dom's antic until they reached their tent. The moment the flap fell and sent them into darkness his lips were against hers.

She watched her old training master at the end of the lane. He was quietly waiting for the match before theirs to end. The herald came over to her and told her "You know the rules, but I'll just say this, if you get yourself killed Lord Raoul will never forgive you"

Kel laughed at the words her had said the first time she jousted against Lord Wyldon.

They took their places on the lanes. She saw from the corner of her eye Dom and Tobe sitting together on the first bench. Close to them was Neal and her other yearmates. It took her a few second to realize they were cheering her on. Lady Alanna and Raoul were also there a few seat to Dom's right, cheering as well.

When the trumpet sounded, all of that faded away. She focused on the oncoming shield. She lowered her lance and struck his shield. At the same time she felt the impact of his lance on her shield.

She was pushed back against her saddle as her lance shattered. She went back to the starting point and waited until she could breath normally again. The man was powerful and her arm was somewhat numb.

The trumpet sounded again. She hit Lord Wyldon's shield again. Her lance didn't shatter, however she did not manage to unhorse him. His lance shattered on her shield. One of the shards came fairly close to her face. She felt something tug on her neck. She looked down and found nothing offending so she shrugged and forgot about it.

The field monitor insisted on giving her a new lance. The trumpet sounded for the third time and down the lane she went. She lowered her lance, and she felt completely in sync, from the lance to her shield to Peachblossom. She hit Lord Wyldon's shield and put all the force she had behind her hit.

Silence fell on the arena.

Thank you for all the reviews! I'm know... I'm evil about the cliffhanger :P eheh!