Sir Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau descended the stairs in the Crow's Wing Inn to find her squire looking confused in the midst of a bunch of drunken, rowdy, laughing men.

"Neal!" she called over the din as she approached. "Did you order our meals like I told you to?"

"Yes," he replied. "I-"

He was cut off by the loud cheers and catcalls that erupted from the nearby men.

"Well hello there sweetheart!" called one.

"We've just been hearing all about you," added another, as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Alanna raised an eyebrow at Neal, who shrugged.

"Hey copper, I think you could be saving your coins and sharing a room with me tonight!" shouted the drunkest of them all with a lusty wink. "I sure am feeling a little frisky tonight!" This was met by whistles and cheers from the others.

Alanna wrinkled her nose in disgust and looked him up and down, before fixing him with her perfected I'm too good for you look, and answering with "I think not". She grabbed Neal's arm and steered him away. "We'll have our meals brought upstairs."

Back in Alanna's room, she pushed Neal onto the bed and stood in front of him, arms crossed. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing really, they were just being silly."

"They said they'd been hearing about me. What did you tell them?"

"It was them that asked!"

"Asked what?"

"What you were like in bed."

"They what?"

"Asked what you were like in bed."

Alanna sighed and rubbed her forehead, and then sat down at the desk, propping her head in her hands. "Well, what did you say?"

"That from my experiences so far, you sleep well, and…"

Alanna rolled her eyes. "And what?"

"Yousnorealot."

"What?"

"You snore a lot."

Alanna's head slumped forward until it banged onto the desk.

"…that didn't sound good," commented Neal.

Alanna gave a muffled sigh and straightened up again. "They weren't asking how I sleep, they were asking what I'm like in bed."

"That's the same thing."

"No, it isn't. Think Neal."

"Yes, it-"

"In bed."

Neal stared at her blankly.

"Sex, Neal."

"What?!"

"Sex."

"What?!" Neal's voice rose about an octave.

"SEX!" bellowed Alanna, before remembering where they were.

A knock sounded on the door, and Alanna opened it redfaced to find the maid delivering their meals.

After she had left again, Alanna turned back to Neal to find him still sitting on the bed, mouth gaping.

"Why would they be asking me about..you know?"

"Sex?"

He nodded.

"They were asking how I was."

"Exactly. Why would I know? They should ask George."

This time it was the wall that had Alanna's head banged on it. Neal winced and decided to wait for her to talk.

"First, George isn't here. Second, they were insinuating that it was you I'd been sleeping with."

Neal stared, horrified. "You…and me…?"

She nodded.

"You…and me…having…you know?"

"Sex? Yes."

"EWWWWWWWWWWWWW! EWW! Ew ew ew ew EWWWWWWWWWWWW!"

"The feeling's mutual, you know."

"Thank the gods for that."

"…although I think I'd take you over that drunken creep downstairs any day."

"EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!"

"Just saying! I'm not that desperate."

Neal was rocking backwards and forwards on her bed, looking traumatised.

"Look Neal, surely you've realised that people have been saying that about us?"

"About us having…you know...?"

"Sex. Yes."

"Ew."

"I agree. Ew."

"Ew!"

"I know. Just…don't take it personally. It's not really to do with you, it's to do with me. Ever since my secret got out, I've been accused of bedding every man I've laid eyes on. I really don't know how I'd find enough hours in the day…but that's not the point. The point is that you've got to ignore it. Trust me, you'll get used to it after a while. Just keep your chin up and ignore them all."

"But ewww."

"I know. Come on, it's time for bed soon and your dinner's getting cold." She handed him his tray. "Take that with you next door and get a good night's sleep. We've got an early start tomorrow morning."

He took the tray and headed for the door.

"Good night, Neal."

"G'night Alanna. Sleep well."

She grinned as his eyes widened. "No, wait! Don't sleep well! I mean…no, I mean-"

"Good night, Neal."

"Ew," he muttered. "Um… good night."

Alanna closed and locked the door behind him. She flopped down on the bed, exhausted from the day's ride and the evening events. She gave up on getting undressed, and instead wriggled under the covers fully clothed. A forgotten part of the conversation with Neal popped into her head just as she was drifting off to sleep. Hey, was her last thought. I do not snore.