Title: Dropped
Rating: G
Summary: The natural balance of things is disturbed when too many clichés are permitted to run around Tortall unchecked. Can our heroine right the wrongs and save our favourite characters from the clutches of the rabid fangirls? Warnings for snark and Raoul without his pants.
A/N: Go check out the Goldenlake forums – fiefgoldenlake dot proboards dot com :)
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Chapter 2
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"I think I'm supposed to start with you." Kat bit her lip. "I don't really know how to say this but... Why are you such a girl?"
Alanna stared at the newcomer. "I'm a noble lady. Why else would I be a girl?"
Kat stood up, and began to pace the room. "You're not supposed to be a noble lady. You're supposed to be a knight." She looked at Alanna. "What happened to the switch? You know, with you and Thom. He goes off to become a sorcerer, you go become a knight?"
Alanna, looking every inch the scandalised court lady, spluttered at Kat. "How do you know about that? Who are you?"
Kat bit her lip. "I'm... a really powerful sorcerer. Yeah. And I'm here to fix the balance of nature."
"Yes, the note mentioned that. But, your name?" Alanna prompted.
"I'm Katrina of... Fief... Goldenlake!" Katrina flashed Alanna what she hoped was a confident smile.
Alanna looked thoroughly unimpressed. "I've never heard of you. But if you are as powerful as you allude to... maybe you can help me bewitch the Prince? Or his cousin Roger? I so desperately want to be a Princess." She sighed happily.
Kat stared at Alanna, somewhat disturbed. "I think we're going to have to work on that. But for now, can I borrow something to wear? I don't really want to go around in... this" She looked down at her clubbing outfit.
"Yes, I suppose we should get you some proper attire. So you don't go around looking like such a prostitute." Alanna rummaged around her closet. "Obviously I don't want to give you anything too grand, since I am to be presented at Corus within the week. There must be something in here for you though. Ah-ha!" Triumphantly, she pulled out a long cotton dress in an appalling shade of green. "This was given to me by my best friend in the whole wide world, Delia of Eldorne. It's too long for me, but it'll fit you."
- - - -
An hour later, Kat was dressed in the horrid dress, with her hair expertly tied back by Alanna. "This is horrid," Kat moaned. "Why do you put yourself through this?"
Alanna bustled around the room. "At least you look mildly presentable now." She retorted. "I suppose if your quest involves me, you'll be coming to Corus with me tomorrow?"
"Sounds good" replied Kat. "Out of curiosity, how long will the trip take?"
"Well it used to take a number of weeks, but in the last few years time has become rather unpredictable. It can take anywhere from a couple of hours to three months." She paused. "Hopefully our carriage ride should be fairly uneventful. We'll be sharing a carriage with Cythera of Elden and Delia."
"You have carriages?" Kat sounded surprised. "I thought you were limited to litters?"
"It depends on the situation I suppose. Technology is another thing that has become rather upredictable of late." Alanna responded. "Now, you can go sleep on the floor. I need to go to bed and get the most beauty sleep I can so I look my most beautiful when I'm presented!"
- - - -
The carriage ride turned out to be far from uneventful. They were attacked by bandits no less than fourteen times. Each time Alanna came to the rescue, with her seemingly endless supply of knives hidden in her bosom. Her impeccable aim meant the bandits dropped dead every single time.
When they finally arrived at the Palace in Corus, Kat was most grateful. Not just for the chance to bathe, but also because it meant the temptation to push Delia out of the carriage was removed. She hadn't quite decided how she was going to go about righting the wrongs in this world, but she knew she didn't want to create more work for herself.
As she stepped out of the carriage, looking very dishevelled, Kat was unimpressed to see a large group of knights gathered to see the new ladies arrive. "Don't they have anything better to do?" She muttered at Alanna. But the complaint was lost, as her companion was already introducing herself to the closest available knight.
"Ah, Thom's sister," the knight was saying. "I should have guessed, from your most beautiful violet eyes and your ravishingly red hair." He looked over at Kat. "And who might this fair lady be?" He politely enquired.
Kat stared at him for a moment, blanking out. Alanna came to the rescue. "Forgive me, Sir Gareth, this is my friend, Lady Katrina of Goldenlake."
Kat realised her cue, dipping into her best attempt at a curtsey for the knight. He ignored her, instead calling out to one of his friends. "Raoul! You sly dog, come over here! You never told us you had a sister."
Panic mode hit Kat as a tall knight pushed his way through the crowd of knights, looking confused. "Gary, what are you talking ab-"
He was cut off as Kat threw herself at him, proclaiming loudly "O' brother dearest, I have missed you so!" Quietly she hissed in his ear, "Play along! Or else!"
As Kat stepped back from him, silently praying, Raoul stared at her for a second. Slowly he said, "Yes. My, uh... sister. My dear, dear sister."
