Here you are, LONGER! I was only going to post the other two today, but the other one was sort of sad and short, so I wanted to lighten the mood, don't expect any more today... I don't know how much longer I can keep this updating up for, one day, you might have tio wait TWO days till an update! (Grins...)

Thank you to:

BACswimma, Aly-Of-Tortall 13, Kiley 1 09, Lady Knight Jocelyn, LadyKnightOpal, Rogue-Storm-Rampant, Shang Leopard, bloodsucker13,destinystar105, half-demon priestess, henrychick, addicted2TPierce, LadyReaderofBooks, kittylitious and inktounge58
For the Story alert

And again to: bloodsucker13, LadyKnightOpal, Gallan Princess, dares to dream, Lady Knight Jocelyn, destinystar105 and to Kiley 1 09
For the favorite story!

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Lilia walked into her rooms thoroughly depressed and had a shock to see Jonathan sitting on the bed looking at her. She blushed, gods, no-one had ever made her blush before now!

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"I-I love you too."

"I know, I heard it this morning." he grinned wickedly and rubbed the little tear away.

"Don't tell anyone that I cried." He looked at me seriously but his eyes betrayed his amusement. He picked me up and kissed me again. He put me back down and smiled wickedly again.

"Oh-oh" I was scared of that smile.

He placed his hands around my waist and picked me up! He put me over one shoulder and grinning, opened the door to my room.

"Alex! Put me down right now!"

No use, I just looked down, draped over shoulder and watched the back of his feet as he laughed.

"Alex! Come on, put me down!"

"Not a chance 'Lanna." I thought amusedly about 'Lanna, nobody called me that, it was nice to hear it though.

I felt Alex raise a hand in salute to someone as we walked by. I raised my head to look at who it was when we walked past them. Prince Jonathan and Lilia were laughing, I turned red. They trotted up to us, still laughing.

"Alex, you seem to have made a fine catch." The prince mused. They were walking behind us, I glared at him, he only smiled wider. I noticed they were holding hands and I raised my eyebrows at Lilia who looked innocently away. I felt a smile touch my lips. I was wondering though where Alex was taking me. A short while later I heard more laughter. I looked around, we were at the practice courts. Pages and squires had stopped to watch us and were now laughing. I went even redder and crossed my arms;

"Humpf" Jon and Lilia laughed along with Alex. We seemed to be slowing down a bit. I twisted to see where we were headed. There, under an oak where Thom, Gary and Raoul watching us approach. When we were close enough for them to see what Alex was holding, they burst into a round of laughter. Lilia and Jonathan sat down with them but Alex stayed standing and I still on his shoulder.

"Thom! You're my big over-protective brother! Can't you say something?!"

"I could, but seeing you like this is funny." Thom said with a grin.

I growled. "Tell you what, you say the magic words and I'll let you down." Alex said.

"Please?" I knew that wasn't it, but you always had to try.

"Close but not quite. Say; Alex of Tirragen is the best looking squire at the palace, he is much better than and is superior in every way possible to Alanna of Trebond."

My mouth dropped open and I tried to glare lightening at him, but in this position I couldn't see his face very well.

"I will not."

"You will, or you won't ever touch the ground. Oh, I forgot; "he is dreamy and I wish he were mine." Come on, say it." the others roared with laughter.

I scowled; "Alexander--" I knew that would bug him. "Of Tirragen is the humblest and best looking squire at the palace,--" I clenched my teeth; "He is so much better than and is superior in every way possible to Alanna of Trebond."

"Finish it..." he prompted.

"Alex..." I growled.

"Alanna..."

"Fine!--" I turned bright red and mumbled. "He is dreamy and I wish he were mine." The boys (and Lilia) under the tree laughed even harder.

"What was that Alanna? I didn't hear it." He said innocently.

"Alex." My tone was threatening yet forbidding at the same time.

"Oh alright." he placed me on the ground I glared daggers at him. He smiled and sat down beside me.

"Oh that was great Alanna." Thom wiped a tear from his eyes.

"Happy to entertain you, dear brother." There was a dangerous edge in my voice.

"Careful Alex, I think Alanna is contemplating the best way to kill you." Raoul added with a grin.

"If she does even half the stuff she did at the convent she'll send you packing from the palace." added Lilia nodding wistfully.

Jonathan arched an eyebrow at her. "You have no idea." Lilia smirked as a reply to the unasked question.

Lilia decided she was hot. She looked around making sure there were no convent ladies and swept her hair back. She tied it into place on the top of her head. It was a messy hair style and not allowed by the convent but for warm days it was almost necessary. It revealed the back of her neck that wasn't allowed by convent rules. On the back of her neck she had a small black sign.

"What's that?" Gary asked sharply. Lilia looked at me and we both laughed. Jonathan went behind her and to try and see what it was. She laughed and took off running.

"I'll be back." the prince announced to us and he took off after Lilia. He brought her back in his arms they were both laughing.

To Gary he added; "A rabbit's footprint."

"Could this have anything to do with being 'the jackrabbit'?" Lilia laughed and sat down into Jonathan's lap.

Unexpectedly Alex swept back my hair with a small arm movement. I struggled but it was too late.

"I thought so, a lioness' paw print." he said to them I looked at him, angry, then I decided it wasn't really something to get angry over and I laughed along with everybody else.

They all stopped and looked at me; "What?"

"How did you manage to mark yourselves? You need dye and some other ingredients I doubt the convent would approve. And how did they not notice?" The prince asked interestedly.

"Well, it was all Alanna's idea--" started Lilia, I glared at her and she hurried to add; "I agreed to it instantly, I thought it was a wonderful idea."

"We snuck into the supply room and stole what we needed. I did the rabbit's print and she did the lioness'." I finished.

"But how did the convent never find out?" Raoul prodded,

"Showing the back of your neck is forbidden at the convent, that is why they make you grow your hair so when you tie it up it still covers the back."

The boys nodded in understanding. The afternoon wore on in a blur of talk and laughter. Lilia and I explained our pranks at the convent, the boys were both awed and a little scared, for themselves that is.

The ball passed much the same way and Alex walked me down again. Lilia was walked down by the prince much to everyone's awe (except our little group of course).

Alex walked me back into my rooms and I suddenly felt scared again.

"Alex?" I said meekly.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm scared. The nightmare, it'll come back. I don't want it to, I want my chains to break, I want to stop dreaming it."

He kissed me fondly.

"What if I stayed the night? Would that make you feel better?'

I looked at him slightly startled. "Only sleeping if you want." he added hastily.

I looked at him and laughed; "it's not that, it's just that, well, I wasn't expecting it, is all."

"Well, I don't want to rush you or anything."

"I might have done it before, for all you know."

He cocked an eyebrow; "Have you?"

"No. But if this goes on, I never will. There's a first time for everything." I cannot believe I just said that!

"A first time for everything." He repeated firmly, his voice husky with want.

I kissed him ardently leaving his eyes shining with hope. I laughed and opened the door beckoning him teasingly with a finger, inviting him in. Alex laughed and walked inside feeling the happiest he had been in a long time, I shut the door behind us.

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Hehe, I'll let you imagine what happened...

Hope you like it!

Review!

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Keep Reading,

xxTunstall Chickxx

18/06/08