I'm so sorry! I know, I know, it's been forever! But life's hard, and I'm freezing cold, and well... stiff fingers don't write all that quickly!

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For the Story Alert

And again to: Aly-Of-Tortall13, Becky Scarlett-Cullen, Gallan Princess, ILoveCockatiels, Kiley 1 09, KlutzyQT, Lady Knight Jocelyn, Lady Leopard, LadyKnightOpal, LadyPirate13, Lilly Romanov, Litara, Mara Jade Angel, PeytonPaigePatriciaHalliwell, Sheyrena Wyrsabane, Shinku Ryuu, Tamora Pierce Junior, bloodsucker13, countrygrlsrolex, cyneris, dares to dream, fakebrit, fox-siren,. freckles rule, kittylitious, pumpernickle93, and qtktkat.
For the favorite story!

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Yes me, Alanna of Trebond, the girl who had vowed never to go anywhere near boys, the girl who wanted her shield and nothing else, the girl who had spent ten years in a foreign country to become a knight, now longed for one thing: one man's love.

Thus the power of love.

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"So, where are we going?" I couldn't help but ask as I snapped out of my reverie. Remembering I had been stupid enough not even to bother to find out.

"Escorting a caravan." Raoul responded leisurely.

I choked; "Pardon me, what? That's the almighty plan?" I felt my temper rise, I cooled it immediately, I was still exiting the still air of the tightly-constricting palace. But a caravan? Honestly.

"To Port Legann, we need to make sure it gets there in one piece, we need it on that boat to Pearlmouth."

"Why can't we just take it directly to Pearlmouth ourselves? Surely it would take not much more than by boat. Especially if there are storms upon the way." I suppressed a shudder, storms at sea. Sea was bad enough, we didn't need added boat-rocking and water above deck. Truly no need.

"Through the mountains would take too long and the desert isn't the safest place right now."

"Why ever not? Bazhir?" I guessed, what else was there in the desert?

"They're unhappy with Jon as king, what with all the strange happenings and unusual dryness, they believe it is the gods way of telling us that Jonathan is unfit to be king. They attack any Tortallan soldier loyal to the crown that enters there." Alex said, dropping onto the table besides us.

"Well, we can't let that happen, we need the desert, we can't let such a large chunk of Tortall go untarnished. It's a garden that needs weeding. Why aren't we going to set them straight?"

"Oh, we're going to, after escorting the caravan of goods. Straight to the desert, but only after. We won't be back to the palace for a while." Will's tray clanged down beside me, used to this, I barely even flinched.

I grinned; perfect, I didn't mind spending some time away from here, I had spent more than enough already. Enough to last for quite some time.

"Well, doesn't someone look happy?" Thom grumbled from besides me.

"You're just upset you wont have a bed warmer for a while." I teased, thoroughly enjoying the flushed look that filled his face. It was indubitably funny. Embarrassed and angry, Thom opened his mouth to retaliate but William dropped a hand to his shoulder.

"Peace my friend, you know she just wants your reaction. She's a bully, it's what they live for." I scowled at my knight friend of many a year. "Asides, you know she's just jealous, she hasn't had Alex to warm her bed yet."

My mouth dropped open in shock, I heard Alex splutter from my opposite side. William sent me a good natured grin but I glared daggers at his face, embarrassed I didn't look at Alex once during the morning meal.

Soon we were mounted and set to go, Raoul calling his troops. Commander of the King's Own, who could've ever thought? I was proud of my tall friend. Ah, well, tallest friend. Ten years ago, none of this could have been thought possible, and yet, here we are. Completely different, and close as ever.

With this caravan, which was in truth three caravans, came one Company of the King's Own, their commander, Thom and Alex. Being Maren knights, William and I could go as we pleased, though we had been commanded to follow the Tortallan King's orders. And Jon dared not defy us the privilege. It did seem like a great deal many people going with three caravans but as I reminded myself again, we were going to negotiate with the Bazhirs after.

We wanted no bloodshed with the usually peaceful tribes of the South, living together in harmony had never been a problem, and still shouldn't be, but they were riled up, and we were to rile them down.

I watched Alexander of Tirragen, the noble Tortallan knight that was to ride with us. The man who held my heart in his hands. The man who had no clue just how much I loved him. Though I would not blame him, I could never tell him, though I yearned to. He had said he loved me, but love is a very fickle thing. I was indubitably in love with this strong, silent and dark man. The man with quick reflexes and quick thinking. The man whom I couldn't get over, no matter how much I had tried to in ten years. But love scared me, in a way that I could not even try to express. Love was a great and powerful thing, love could leave us the happiest person in all the realms. Love could break us in a way that we could never be repaired again.

He saw me staring at him and sent me a bright smile, I returned it but stopped staring after him, remembering my manners as I quickly mounted my horse. A dark wonderful mare by the name of Moonlight. I had had another great one, whom I had loved very much but she had died just afore we came to Tortall. Of course William had told George whom had had me buy a horse off him. I still think he gave me a god deal with her, too good a deal. but he wouldn't talk of it, and I decided it wise not to bring it up again.

Ah, George, he too had become as dear a friend to me as any. He had always been there, through it all, good friend and lovely company. His letters had always warmed my cold nights. Maren was no Southern Desert, that was for sure. He could make me laugh whenever. However.

His court of jests was always amusing and his tales of them had always pulled a smile upon my tired lips. I would miss him when I was gone, mayhap that be the only thing I'd miss, asides Lilia and Jon, of the palace. I made a mental note to send him letters every time I could. I owed him that much.

"Move out!" Raoul's very loud voice resounded in the still morning, echoing throughout the empty space. The horses trudged dutifully forwards.

I sighed contentedly; I was always ready for a new adventure.

The sun was starting to lower at an alarming rate, Raoul called his company to a stop. The horses were tired and the riders stiff. We had stopped a few times, but only to feed ad water the horses. This had to be the fastest ride possible to Port Legann. We needed to stop the Bazhirs before they did anything drastic, and we knew that would be soon. And the Bazhir were only the most urgent of our problems, not our only one. We needed to get things done fast but caravans were slow and the riding as well. Therefor, the fewer stops we took, the farther we'd go.

We moved along the coast at an unbearably slow pace, the hills were not helping, but a torturing week had already passed and finally, we could hear the distant sounds of the port harbour. Of the seagulls and the rotting smell of the fish from the markets. I remembered when I had come to Corus that I had always wanted to visit Port Legann, and today I would see it for the first time.

The caravan arrived at the scheduled time and we watched, and helped, as it was unloaded upon the massive transport boat for goods. We watched the boat leave harbour, making sure all was smooth. Raoul gave the afternoon off to his men and they headed of in separate directions, we knights instead opted for a warm and cozy inn where we could get a decent meal and a warm bed for the night. Raoul said he'd prefer to sleep with his men but agreed upon a drink and a boiling meal of meat before he left.

So chatting and laughing we made our cold way to the Trampled Trickster. It seeked like the best that we had come across, and we weren't going to search for any better, our stomachs grumbled to no end, the food we caught and ate during the travel was not very much and not very filling. And not especially warm either.

The inn entrance had a dancing joker painted upon a slab of wood that had been hammered haphazardly to the side, it was smiling dazedly as he held a frothing mug of ale. Feeling a yearning for some good ale, I led the way inside the loud inn and sat us at a table. We yammered on for a long while until we decided to head up too our rooms, not wanting to stay up too late. An early (much to my dismay) departure awaited us and we did not want to be worn out before it.

"'Night." Thom called and William stood with him, they headed up together, Raoul had left already and that left Alex and I alone at the table. Everything had already been payed, and had well deserved the money it had cost. The food had been exquisite though that may have been just my starving stomach talking.

"Are you heading to bed?" Alex asked, I looked up at him, not having noticed he had gotten up.

"Uh, yes, coming." I stood up, stretching my sore legs and straightening, coming only to below his chin.

"You're too tall." I grumbled tiredly as I started to make my way to the stairs.

"Mayhap you're too short, little Lioness." I growled jokingly at him, too dazed to hit him."You're dead." He commented chuckling as he followed me up the inn stairs.

"And I long for a warm bed." I started to take my leave from him but he grabbed my wrist lightly. I looked at his hand and lifted an eyebrow. He grimaced and let go of it. And then he smiled the smile that I knew would melt me anywhere.

"Goodnight my lioness." Timidly he pushed his lips to mine. It felt like it had ten years ago, if not better. The forbidden taste I had longed for for ten long years. I felt the sparks start at my lips and make their way through my body, I pulled back reluctantly from the sweet kiss and smiled at him. I turned and walked off.

I knew there was still a wide smile upon my lips and I also knew that if I hadn't pulled away when I had, who would've known what could have happened. My body yearned my feet to turn their slow walk towards my door and run to my handsome knight's arms.

But I would have to contend myself with that kiss for now, these things were not meant to be rushed, no matter how much they wanted to be. I had made a mistake ten years ago, a mistake that had left me broken for many a year. A mistake I would not make again. I was willing for this to happen, but with time, carefully.

Love is a fickle thing.

And as I saw his dark eyes in my mind and smiled wider, I couldn't help but laugh slightly at myself.

I was a fickle thing too.

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I know, I'm sorry, but here it is.

Hope you like it!

Review!

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Keep Reading,

xxTunstall Chickxx

27/11/08