One, reviews make me update faster: they give inspiration!
Two, I had HUGE writer's block – even for reviewing – recently, for everything. I'm really sorry, but I think my ideas are coming back slowly now – which is why this is here.
Three, I realize the prologue was practically the same as Pierce's, and I'm sorry if you didn't like that. This chapter will be similar at the beginning too, but you'll see what happens! Oh, and all chapters start with a quote that will be somewhere in my story.
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"No, I just couldn't do it. Switching places with Thom was a fairy tale, nothing more. So I had to go along. When I realized my mistake, I promised to never give in again..." -Alanna
If you were asked who was unhappier, Alanna or Thom, the wisest answer would be saying you couldn't tell. One way, you'd get beaten up, and the other, you'd see hallucinations for months.
The twins were given one last chance to talk to each other.
"Well, there's nothing we can do now, Thom. Happy?"
"No, but it's better than having you killed for trying to be a girl knight. We'll live through this, like it or no, but we wouldn't live through an execution, would we?"
"You're right, Thom. I can only wish." She said. The twins hugged for a long moment, before silently getting on their horses. Not a word was said as they left, and not a word was said by either for a long, long time.
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"Well, child, here we are," Maude told the sulking Alanna. The girl grunted, and shivered into her cloak.
"How may I help you?" A cheerful lady asked them, as they neared the wall around the convent.
"Alanna of Trebond has arrived to stay at the convent," Maude told the lady.
"Great! I'm Lady Charlanie, and it just so happens I'm to be your helper on your arrival. It's not very good weather to start your instruction, so may I give you some guest rooms for the night? You can send your horses along with Mistress Mayia over there."
"Thank you, Lady Charlanie. I'm sure Alanna will be glad to sleep on this late, rainy night."
Alanna didn't care if it was a Convent or a haunted house. She just wanted to sleep. "Thank you, Lady Charlaine," she said grumpily. "I'd prefer that."
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The next day, a cheerful Lady Charlanie showed her all around. She learned where her classes were. They included manners, cooking, cleaning, dancing, dressing up, and all sorts of other things that Alanna loathed. The more she saw, the more she hated the place.
At lunch and at supper, nobody sat with her. The all-too-polite ladies took the hint plastered on her face – her frown said she was not to be disturbed, and anybody who ignored it got a glare that would bend metal.
When she had seen everything, she was guided to her room to sleep.
"That's it. Maude, I can't stand it here. I have to leave. Now."
Maude looked sternly at the girl. "Alanna, you can't. All noble ladies must go to the convent. You're noble, aren't you?"
"What's so great about being noble anyway? All it's brought me is trouble. I can't do this, I can't do that, I have to learn this, the only people who let me do things are my commoner friends, and most commoners think nobles are stuck up and ignore me! I made the wrong decision coming here."
Maude looked at her, kindly this time, but still serious. "Alanna, you're born noble. You can't change that. Don't bother with what's already happened. You can't change the fact that you're here right now, because you made that decision yourself. Change what's happening now and maybe in time you'll like it here. But don't look back. Just focus on now."
Alanna bit her lip. Maude was right. She had to do something now, and not think about her past decision. "Okay, Maude. Maybe you're right. I can't change what's happened, but I can change what I do in the present. Presently, I think I'll go to sleep. Fair?"
"Alright, then. Good night, Alanna." She turned over and fell asleep. Alanna turned, and waited. An hour later, she got out of bed, took her things, and hopped out the open window to make her escape.
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