A/N: to all the romance fans who are reading this- this chapter has some romance but it might not very good. Me, I love some romances but I don't think I can write it very well. I hope all enjoy. And this is a lot shorter than the last chapter. Hope it's still good.

Chapter Three: The Trouble with Love

Late August/5 months after arrival at Palace

The Dancing Dove was filled with people and smoke. Jonathan wound his way through the throng and went to George. When George saw him, he beckoned Jon to follow him upstairs. Once in George's room they sat across from each other.

"I take it you know what happened," Jon asked once they'd settled knowing George would have only done this if he knew information was coming.

"I know what happened, but not who; Stephen got it second hand from one of the new holsters."

"It was Arian and Alan, or I should say Alanna and Arianna. They leave

tomorrow at dawn for the Convent."

"So what happened?" George sounded a little shaken.

Jon conveyed the day's event. "It was weird to see that, especially after seeing Arian- Arianna- with a full chest. Gods that was strange. Well I might have to get used to it because they are coming back. Alanna is going to write me when she's coming back and she is going to be wearing a dress with Arianna. That is going to be a shock." George chuckled.

"Hey, you're going to see them too, so be ready." Jon said almost laughing, despite himself.

"Well I hope the Convent is ready for them because they are going to be trouble."

The Prince smiled broadly "Yes, I agree. I think we should go back downstairs and have a good time. Alan- Alanna said they were going to be back for our knighthoods so we shouldn't worry too much." Jon got up and went towards the door. "Coming?" then headed out the door as George followed him.

6 months after arrival at the Convent/ February/Alanna and Arianna- 12

"We shall find out who did this and they will be punished severely."

Alanna, Arianna and all the other young Ladies stood in a line listening to Mahira's, the First Daughter, lecture. It was the sixth prank that had been pulled in the last three months. Once again everyone had to listen to the Lecture. 'You will be caught and punished …blah, blah, blah.' Alanna had heard it all before.

No one but Arianna and Alanna knew who did the pranks because it was their own special work. Once they had arrived, the plan begun. It had taken three months to become perfect angels to every one, including the students, and to also know the entire lay out of the building- hidden doors, escape paths. Then once no one would suspect them they started their tricks. One was dying a Daughter's hair a shocking blue; another magicking all (including their own) the young Ladies fans to bite their owner; this time it was making the crocheting needle attack the users hair and crochet it. Arianna made sure to get all the needles so it wouldn't single out anybody and to hide the magic that had been done so no one with the Gift could trace it back to the owner.

'I don't think Mahira is very happy' Alanna Mind-sent to Arianna with glee. Alanna didn't know how she got the gift to talk to Arianna through mind speech, but it was pretty damn useful.

'No she's not, but her hair does look better' Arianna replied with merriment. Alanna stifled a laugh as to not call attention to herself

"You are dismissed to lunch." Was the sound that roused Alanna and Arianna from their thoughts.

After getting food they sat down in their usual corner table that they had chosen to sit at to stay away from everyone. People didn't bother them because why would you bother the new, quiet, polite people? They had started eating when Cynthra, who was one year older than them, came over with her eating tray.

"Nice prank" was Cynthra's greeting.

Alanna and Arianna looked at her startled. They stared at the chestnut topped, round, sunny faced young Lady.

"How did you know?" Arianna stuttered, - and cursing herself inwardly for not trying to deny it. Oh well the ruse was up.

"When you hid your passage you only hid it from Gifted people, not ones with the Sight." That was Cynthra's logical

"Well, aren't you clever?" Alanna said spitefully disappointed in her and Arianna's plan. Cynthra looked sad; she was one who never liked hate. "I'm sorry Cynthra, I didn't mean to be a bitch" Alanna sounded very sincere. "It's just that I didn't like some one discovering our secret." That made her smile.

"I'd like to help you," Cynthra said suddenly. "I have some ideas that might work but need some help finishing them. Do you think we could all work together?"

'What do you think,' Alanna Mind-sent Arianna.

'Well, I like her and I don't care if disagree, but she has a good mind and I'm letting her in' Arianna replied. Alanna gave her consent

"So, partner, what are these wonderful pranks I've been hearing about" Arianna asked Cynthra as Alanna pulled up a chair for her to sit in.

1yr 6months after arrival at Convent/ Feb again/ Alanna and Arianna- 13

Alanna was once again sneaking in to the city. She was headed through the February snow and slush to the Painted Bird, popular Inn, home to the Rouges of the City Of The Gods. She had started sneaking off into the City this previous fall; after she was an angel and knew the Covent's lay out to the point if you blind folded her she could go any where unhindered. The Rouges knew who and what she was and accepted her. They learned she was not fair game for 'play' as were the tavern maids and flower sellers. One Rouge, who taught the others she was not fair game, tried to get her into his bed found himself on the floor with a broken nose and bruises where he thought he'd never be bruised. Alanna had even gotten some applause for that.

Now she was going to her bi-weekly fighting lessons with Shylock, whom she considered her friend and teacher. He talked to her after that incident, the only time she had ever shown her skills to anyone besides Arianna. Her teacher had offered to teach her more hand to hand combat than she thought she could have ever known and the use of most weapons. She had told Arianna about them but Arianna just asked her to teach her in the mornings because she was not a late night person, when it came to getting up early. So now Alanna and Arianna worked out every morning.

Shylock was kind, courteous, and soft-spoken; he was only quiet until got to know a person after that he was all laughter, listening, and fun. Also, he was a bit of a theatrical person, dramatizing his word and adding flourishes to his movements; Alanna thought he liked to give amusement. He had midnight black hair; liquid blue, soulful eyes; and had an understanding look to him. Alanna liked him right away, more than she did George but in a little different way. When Shylock looked at her, her insides lit up with a warm pleasant fire; when he spoke in his secretive, light tenor voice, her heart beat as fast as a rabbit's when a hunter was near (not that she felt hunted though).

Tonight's lesson was going to be fun, yet painful. No it's only going to be fun, she told herself sternly. She forced down her feelings by telling herself it was only lust and by the she arrived the feelings were only a memory and if they got out of hand again Shylock would never know. Shylock was waiting for her at the Painted Bird's entrance. "Hello again my dear Alanna, it is once again time for your lessons. Follow me." Alanna almost melted from his voice and with a mental 'Damn it', she followed behind the Inn and into an open yard.

"We are going to try something new today," Shylock announced as he passed her a dull practice sword. "Tonight and on, you will be fighting with a sword. Come into the middle here and I shall instruct you. I expect you to be practicing with the other weapons I've loaned you, while you are not here. Also I think you should try to come for a third in the week so you can practice those weapons with someone."

Alanna was still a little lost and just replied spacily "I try to do that."

'It's ten months since I started training again and he's already teaching me swordplay. Hey, this is going to be fun'.

"Stand like this" Shylock told her as he demonstrated, then bent down to fix her feet. When he came back up again he looked at her face asking "How is your friend doing. What weapon is she favoring?"

"Arianna is doing great. She is favoring daggers and hidden weapons and is as good as me," she said getting used to the new stance, while being entranced by his eyes. "I think she'll be better at them than me." She managed to not stutter, though her mind had gone blank.

"Well good for her. Sometime she should come down and have a bout with me."

"Ok, I'll tell her".

"Now, for the basic pass of swordplay." That statement had shaken Alanna out of her stupor and made her concentrate on the task at hand.

1yr 7months after arrival at Convent/ March/ Still both 13

'She's a good student. A very good student. She learns faster than anyone I know. Soon she'll be able to handle more than one person. She told me she worked out every morning with Arianna, but I didn't think it'd help that much; maybe it's just her.' Shylock was sitting on a bench, sweating after a bout with Alanna. It was March, only a month after first starting swordplay, and already Alanna was giving him a run for his money. She could now beat him once out of three rounds. That was amazing. 'I'd better start teaching her really complex movements now that she's this good'. Soon, she'd be better than him, and that would be an outstanding accomplishment. It would be great because, even though Alanna didn't know, he was the best swordsman in all of Tortall. He had been trained from a young age the how to's of weapons along with many other skills that had proven useful. It was all thanks to the Disas'

The Disas' were warriors like the Shang, trained from young childhood but specialized in weapons more than hand-to-hand combat. The Disas' were also more secretive and fewer in number. People of the Disas' were chosen specially by a 'priest' who could tell the Chosen from the not. That was why they were few- the Chosen were God touched with luck and given adaptability to the lifestyles of a Disa. Their patron Goddess was Zeria- courage, luck, wisdom, duty and change. They were secretive because they were only called upon for, at a hefty price, assassinations, and help in war fare (which side depended on the morals and causes of each country). You could call them mercenaries, but this special group was more; they had morals (usually) and could win a war when hired. They were trained for everything from Court manners to many languages and academics, anything in warfare to healing, and managing households. A problem now was that the Disas' numbers had diminished dramatically in the last few years because of unsolved murders and mysterious deaths. How this could happen, no one knew. Everyone attached to the Disas' was sworn to certain oaths because of the strange uniqueness of this small group.

Shylock now was regretting his oath; his oath of love. Love led to having trust, trust led to no lies, and no lies meant you had to spill your secret, so therefore the oath. He liked Alanna, but much, much more than he was allowed to. With a passion, he yearned to be with Alanna every minute of the day; just to look at her- her smooth stubborn face with its pert little nose, her wiry, lightly muscled form, her dazzling smile, and her gorgeous hypnotizing purple eyes. Also to hear her sardonic, eloquent, honey-sweet voice. He also desired to know what was under that dark shirt she always wore, but pushed back his feelings because of his oath. But she was so beautiful; to him if not any body else and even if she didn't think so herself. He felt that if she left, and he never saw her again, he be depressed beyond words; feeling so lonely with out her there. He didn't want to tell her his feelings because he knew she would be scared when he started to talk of love. 'If it even is that,' he thought with chagrin. He wanted to know her past but dare not ask in fear of what she might want to know. He was now very confused.

He jumped when a hand touched his shoulder. "Shylock, are you ok? I've been trying to get your attention for awhile now." Shylock smiled and assured her he was fine. "Ok. I got to get back to the Convent. See ya." She smiled him a good bye.

'What a glorious smile' Shylock thought to himself as Alanna walked out of the yard. 'Damn it, just damn it.'

A/N: I hope you like the story so far and if you have any comments (I don't care what) just click the little review button and say- well type- your thoughts. I'd like to hear what you think. And as a name meaning, Disa means 'double' in Greek.

P.S Because Arianna and Alanna became perfect angels that means they do the womanly arts well. So yes if they had to they would knit, cook, and dance all pretty well.