A/N: for the beginning of the story here's what age everyone is (for now on you'll have to calculate what age they are)-

Jonathan: 3rd yr page- 13 yrs old

Gary: 4th yr page- 14 yrs old

Raoul: 4th yr page- 14 yrs old

Alex: 4th yr page- 14 yrs old

Luciano: 4th yr page-14 yrs old

Caleb: 2nd yr page- 12 yrs old

Alanna: 1st yr page- 12 yrs old

Arian: 1st yr page- 12 yrs old

George: 15 yrs old

Between the Beginning and the End

Chapter One: The Beginning

'I made it, I finally made it' was the thought going through the short, stocky, violet-eyed, temperamental, almost twelve year old- Alanna of Trebond's head. It was the second week of April and she was at the Palace in Corus ready to begin her knighthood training. Here her name was Alan, the younger twin of Treebond. She was disguised as a boy because girls weren't supposed to become knights. Girls went to the Convent in the City of the Gods to become a "Lady", much to Alanna's disgust. A week ago her father had given her and her twin brother letters for the Overseer of the Convent and to Duke Gareth of Naxen to ensure the care of his children. The twins both agreed that he really didn't care for them (especially after he didn't send them away at ten years old- like tradition called for), but just thought it polite to give letters to the other adults. So instead of following their father's instructions, Alanna came up with the idea of her going to Corus for knighthood and her brother Thom going to the City of the Gods to learn to be a sorcerer, as he always had wanted.

Alanna was finally were she wanted to be. 'Though it took forever to convince Coram.' Coram was her guardsman who had raised her and Thom (because her father didn't care a wit about anything accept his studies) since they were babes and feared both twins' magic. Maude the village Healer, who taught them many uses of their Gifts and helped raise them, was easier to convince. She just listened to them and gave advice to ease their paths.

Now at the present she was in her rooms after serving and eating dinner. When she was serving she was awed by everyone there. She got her first sight of the Royal couple, King Roald and Queen Lianne of Tortall. Roald's nickname was "Peacemaker", not "Empire Builder" as his father.

So far she had met all of Gary (her sponsor to show her around)'s friends- Raoul, Alex, Robin, Luciano, Caleb, and, of course, Prince Jonathan. After serving the nobles, Gary took Alanna to eat with his friends and their page sponsors. By the end of dinner Alanna felt she knew most of them pretty well. She liked Raoul for his ease, Robin for his eagerness, Caleb for his mischievous ways, and Luciano for his caring aloofness (it evened out the other eccentric personalities). The other older pages Alanna had no clue what to think of them. Alex was dark and mysterious and Jonathan was…Royalty (she felt very uncomfortable in his presence). The other first year pages were shy as Alanna. The only first year she really got to know was Arian. Arian almost always had something to say, was very energetic, and as mischievous as Caleb, yet there was something about him that was...off. Safe inside her room she got undressed, locked the door and went to bed. 'My secret is safe." Sighing mentally with relief and fell straight asleep.

The next morning a little before dawn, Coram crept into Alanna's room to wake her. Shaking her he said, "I thought you might want me to wake ye so the servants wouldn't have to."

She just grumble her thanks and rolled over, not paying any attention to him.

"All right, I'll just go get the pitcher of nice, cold water." That was Coram's response to her unresponsiveness.

"Ggrrr, OK, OK. I'm up I'm up," was the answer that came. Coram retreated to his rooms as she stumbled blindly out of bed.

Since Alanna was not a morning person she moved sluggishly. Cold water splashed on her face didn't really help either. After her not so wake up with cold water she pulled on her breeches and then using bandaging cloth (which helped just enough- if she got wet there would be no doubt of what she was) she bound her chest (remember, she older now than she was in the books), wincing from the not so comfortable pain that resulted from the binding. She'd just pulled on a shirt when Gary knocked on her door to lead her to the mess hall for breakfast. Stumbling along only half conscious, following the wide-awake, cheerful Gary to the Mess. After being steered towards the food line she picked up only an apple, but Gary, who had to be right behind her, put more food on her tray. She tried to protest but was too tired to try hard. Again she was steered, but this time to Gary's table, which held all of his friends who were just like her- tired and not awake.

When the bell rang to call all pages and some squires to study classes Alanna followed everyone else, only feeling a little more awake than she was before. The day went by fast, but terrible. The studies were tolerable because her father made her study all classes that the Mithran priests here taught. The ones she had troubles with were Deportment and philosophy. In Deportment she had to learn Court manners. She never had been taught those because her father saw no need so she knew nothing. Philosophy was just a bore, the teacher droning on and on about duty and rules. Everybody was always falling asleep in that class. After lunch she got lead out to the practice courts to learn fighting skills. It was worse than the study classes. She was a raw beginner in her teachers' eyes. She and other first year pages got bruises, though Alanna knew she had more than everyone else. Finally, after serving and eating dinner, settled down in a tub of hot water. She wanted to stay in the tub forever but she knew she had to do homework for her classes tomorrow...

Life went in a pattern; Wake up, get breakfast, go to classes, eat lunch, get beat up in the practice courts, serve & eat dinner, go do homework, fall asleep in the middle of working, get more work the next day for punishment along with what else was assigned. On free days (which was rare for her) and during classes; Gary, his group, Alanna, and Arian all struck up a good friend ship and talked when ever possible.

On one of those rare free days, they all liked to go to the Dancing Dove and hang out with the "'King' of the Rogue" George and his Court. I had a very strong liking towards George, he was the kind of person she instantly liked.

In May, right before Alanna's twelfth birthday, she broke her right arm by being thrown in to a fence during wrestling practice (no Ralon in my story). It was difficult for her to work properly, but she worked extra hard to keep up with every one else, while using her least used arm, though it did help her become In three weeks the cast was off her arm because she was impatient and used her Gift to heal it faster. The night the cast was off I snuck out to the Dancing Dove. 'I hope I don't get caught' was the only thought going through her head as she crept around the palace, out a lesser used gate and into the city. Once at the Dove she sought out George. As usual he sat on his 'throne' at the head of the table in front of the fireplace.

"Why it's Alan, out in the City at night. That's a first for you." The Dove owner saw her and laughed. "Would you like any thin' ta drink." Alanna shook her head politely and went towards George.

"Uh, George, can I talk to you privately," she said quietly when she reached the 'throne'.

He gave her a questioning look, but stood up and motioned for her to follow. As soon as the door was closed she asked George "Could you teach me how to fight"? George looked at her funny then she continued

"I'm doing the best I can in my classes, but still I'm getting thrashed every single time".

"Why me? I only know dirty, street fighting," was the reply. There was no emotion readable on his face.

"You, because you'll make sure I get what is being taught before going on to something else, leaving me lost and clueless. And you know tricks that they don't teach at the Palace that will help me."

George thought it over and then answered. "Alright, I'll teach you". As she relaxed he added, "Your first lesson starts now". She scrambled to attention again.

Well I hope you liked this. It's been through its third revision, with new titles and chapter names. Nothing major's been changed but I felt it needed it. For all those first time readers- don't worry about this and just read on, enjoy, and review to give me some ideas. Thank you