Author's Note: Tamora Pierce is the legal mother of Alanna of Trebond and Olau. I only get to baby-sit her occasionally.

Chapter 14: Midwinter Challenge

"We wish you the best of health and happiness in the coming new year. May the gods bless and keep this kingdom." Jon raised his golden goblet to the assembled crowd.

"Somote it be."

Alanna looked out at the group, all in their finest silks and satins and velvets and fur, through her good eye. Many had given her the odd look, but she had noticed that the looks had been more concerned than scandalized. As Jon finished his toast, others rose to offer their own wishes for Midwinter.

"To our king and queen, for their continuing efforts to better Tortall."

"To the health of Prince Roald and Princess Kalasin!"

"To the great gods, for blessing us with our current happiness!"

"For King Jonathan!"

"For Queen Alanna!"

"For the Lioness!"

Alanna had to wipe away her tears with her sleeve. She hadn't realized just how much most people had come to love her as their queen. It healed the hole in her heart that Burchard of Stone Mountain had caused.

"You have surpassed my hopes, my daughter." The red-head blinked and before her, in all her glory, was the Great Mother Goddess. "I had worried, for this was not a path I wanted for you. My vessel, I believed, would better serve her purpose without a crown on her head, but you, Alanna, have done well."

"Tha—thank you." Alanna noticed that the hall was frozen, cheers and raised glasses held as though it were a tableau.

"As queen, you have struggled beyond your nature, and have done wonderful deeds. As Champion, you have protected the king's law. Your life is not unpleasant."

"It is not, my Goddess."

"But is it happy, my chosen?"

Months before, Alanna would have said that no, this was not a happy life. But thinking of her slumbering infants tucked away in their cribs, she honestly answered yes.

"Motherhood has done wonders for you, Lioness. The tender emotions do not come easy for you, but your son and daughter have awoken them in you. But beware, for Fate has been thwarted and it does not wish to be thwarted again."

"My mother, what do you mean?"

But the Goddess was fading from the red-head's sight. "Time will show, my daughter. Fear not, for I shall be always watching."

Alanna blinked and the immortal was gone. As if nothing had happened, the cheers and toasts continued. Jonathan grinned at Alanna, who returned his smile as bravely as she could.

"Thank you, Tortallans," Jon said, holding his own goblet high. "For your support this past year. My Lioness and I are much beholden to you. It is because of you that our great kingdom shall continue to thrive. We promise to continue to do everything in our power to benefit all Tortallans, so that the future will be secure for the future generations."

Applause thundered through the hall. Music swelled and Jon pulled the queen onto the dance floor, where he spun her about. She laughed as she was whirled from his arms to Gary's.

"Mithros, that's a beauty," Gary whistled at the up-close view of her black-eye. "What were you doing? Dueling a nursery maid?"

Alanna rolled her eyes, but was grateful that the steps of the dance brought her away from her friend at that moment. She wasn't sure how she wanted to explain her battle with Burchard of Stone Mountain in the corridor. Fortunately, she was twirled away from Gary to Raoul.

"Someone got lucky," Raoul laughed as he saw the great purple-blue-black-green spot.

Alanna grinned ferally. "I wouldn't say they were lucky."

She could see the question forming in Raoul's face and purposely stepped on her giant friend's feet. As Raoul yelped, she once again moved to the next partner in the set. This time, her partner would not ask questions—for it was Arram, who already knew the story of her colorful appearance.

Arram was grinning. "Such tact and diplomacy in the Tortallan court," he teased.

Alanna couldn't help but return his smile. "Only for very special guests." She glanced over at Raoul, who was still whining like a baby. "Or very old friends."

"Fighting in corridors, stomping on feet…what's next in this display of the court of Jonathan IV and Alanna? Dueling a foreign guest?"

"I am not so crazy as to challenge you. You'd find a way to witch yourself out."

Arram pretended to be offended, holding his hand to his chest. "Do you think so little of me, Your Majesty? I would, at least, make the appearance of fighting you. A simulacrum of me, perhaps."

Alanna had been having fun talking with her new friend, she almost missed the next movement of the dance. Reluctantly, she moved away from Arram and found herself in the arms of a partner she knew she recognized, but could not quite remember. She knew that the man recognized her as well, but was just as confused as she. She supposed she could ask, but decided not to.

Finally, the music drew to a close. Gratefully, Alanna curtsied to her partner and quickly made her way back to the dais, where Jon and Thayet were murmuring together. Alanna was used to the sight, and was only mildly surprised when Jon's expression was guilty as he noticed his wife. Thayet's face gave nothing away.

"Alanna!" whispered Jon, "There's someone here that you should be aware of." The redhead thought of several smart-aleck comments, but chose to keep them to herself. "Does the name Dain of Melor ring a bell?"

"Not particularly, no. Melor is…Tyran?"

"Tusaine, actually. Sir Dain has been in Corus once before, and during his time here, he dueled a young squire." Here Jon gave Alanna a significant look.

"That Dain?" Alanna asked incredulously. Suddenly, she remembered where she had seen that man before. No wonder he looked familiar! "Gods bless, what is he doing here?"

Jon frowned. "Apparently, his defeat at your hands took quite a toll on his self-esteem. He is here to challenge the former squire Alan."

"Merciful Mother," Alanna breathed, feeling as if the breath from her lungs was rapidly being pulling from her body.

Jon seemed to read her mind. "If a loss to a squire hurt his ego so badly, how much worse would it be if he were to find out that you were a girl?"

"Does he know?"

Jon shook his head. "We're not sure. It's pretty widely known we've turned out a female knight, but your ruse isn't as well-known. Dain hasn't announced his intentions formally, but his manservant told someone and it's just being going 'round the rumor mill." He grinned. "Many in this room are aware of his past with you and are looking forward to you confronting him."

Alanna rolled her eyes. "So glad I'm a source of entertainment."

"What are you going to do, Alanna?" asked Thayet, biting her lip worriedly.

"As far as I see it, you have two choices," offered Jon. "You can reveal yourself now or, my personal recommendation, go disguise yourself, show him up, and then reveal yourself. But you better decided quick, 'cause here he comes."

Alanna looked over her shoulder and saw that indeed, Dain of Melor was approaching the dais. Quickly, she took her seat, trying to compose herself. What should she do?

"Your Majesties." Dain offered them each a low bow. Jon gravely inclined his head in acknowledgement, a gesture Alanna copied as she met her former opponent's eyes.

"Dain of Melor," Jon began in his regal voice. "It has been many years since you have visited our palace."

"It has, sire. The last time I had the pleasure of being in Corus was with Ambassador Mikal, during your late father's reign."

"So it was," Jon said, his even tone and expression not letting on the tension that had belied the time of the Tusaines' visit.

Dain turned to Alanna, captured again by the queen's eyes. He had seen her eyes before, but the eyes he remembered were as hard as steel and cold as ice. These eyes were the same shape and size, but their expression was not the same. But this woman before him could not have been the upstart boy who'd thoroughly disgraced him. "Your Majesty," he addressed her. "Have you a relation by the name of Alan of Trebond?"

Alanna raised her eyebrows. "I have," she said.

"Is he a Knight of this realm?"

"He is," she replied as calmly as she could. After all, her father, Lord Alan of Trebond, was a Knight of Tortall, though a deceased Knight of Tortall.

"You may think me forward, Queen Alanna. But your face is very familiar to me. Have you a twin brother?"

Alanna was sure he could hear her heart beating hard against her rib cage. "I do."

A slow smile crept across the man's face. Aha! No wonder the woman looked so familiar! Her twin brother! "Then I would like to make a request." He turned and faced the crowded hall. As if sensing drama, a hush fell over the assembly as they watched the foreigner. "I would like to challenge Sir Knight Alan of Trebond to a re-match duel. We fought when he was but a squire. My defeat at his hands did not much disgrace me, but I have returned to prove, before the gods, that I am the better knight."

Whispers broke out, as everyone turned to their neighbor. Jonathan stood and raised his hand, signaling for quiet. "My queen, what do you say to this challenge? Shall we allow this knight a re-match to prove his honor?" His eyes met hers, amusement dancing there. Alanna found her lips curving into a smile, the same reckless smile she had worn before facing Dain the first time.

"I think," she replied, her voice echoing across the hall, "that Sir Alan would have very few objections to another trial by combat."

Dain smiled, a hard grimace across his face, and his eyes twinkled maliciously. She could tell that the man was desperate to beat this Alan; his temper had probably not changed since the last time they had crossed blades. He seemed to have lost some of his bluster, but she couldn't believe it was completely gone. He was so humiliated at defeat that it had affected him for this long. She pitied him, wondering how anyone could ever hope for peace if one always had to win.

"The indoor courts should be clear at this hour," Jon supplied. "Shall we move towards them?" He offered his hand to Alanna, who shook her head.

"You go on. I shall check on the children and inform my brother of this challenge."

She picked up her skirts and left the Great Hall. She could see on every single person's face a mischievous delight in the spectacle. They all knew of her identity, but none would step forward to inform Dain of the misunderstanding. She saw a few men shake their heads, heard them wonder aloud how he could not be aware of the Lioness' deeds. She winked at these as she passed, her heart humming with excitement. Thank the Goddess she had been working in private to build her strength back. At least she would have the stamina and muscle to hold him off. She had learned from her scuffle with Stone Mountain that practicing movements was not the only way to keep in top combat condition, but it was a start. Alanna passed the nursery, but didn't stop. As tempting as it was to peek in on her sleeping son and daughter, she had something important to do. Now, she must protect her position as both Champion and legendary knight. The hum of excitement thrilled her, reminding her of why she had gone through all the trouble to become a knight.

In her chambers, she drew on the soft combat clothes she owned, similar to the ones she had used in her first battle with Dain. As she tucked her shirt into her pants, she reviewed what she remembered from that day. Dain had had some drink in him, but he would be sober tonight. He preferred to try to antagonize her by insulting her. He also had no control on his temper. And if the defeat she had handed him before had simmered in him for this long, it would not take much for it to boil over. This could either be an advantage or a disadvantage.

She found a pitcher of water and began to scrub off the light face-paint Thayet had applied earlier and removed her necklace. She looked in the mirror and realized that her hair still hung down to her shoulders. What could she do? Twisting her hair up would not help disguise it, nor would a cap be practical. She considered pulling her hair back into a tail, but long hair would be a dead giveaway. She would have to cut it.

For some reason, the idea made her excited. She missed life as Alan, she realized. The only thing she had truly hidden during those years was her gender—she had never changed her personality. The freedom to ride into the distance, to swing a sword without causing old men to scold… Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she lifted the scissors towards her red locks. She considered closing her eyes, but realized she wanted to see her hair fall…and closing one's eyes while using scissors on oneself was positively stupid.

With a few snips, her hair fell away, landing on the floor. She tried to make it as even as possible, but the back was a little crooked. She shook her head, relishing in the feel of her bare neck.

She grinned in the mirror. She looked just like an older version of the boy she had been…except for the breasts. She scrambled into the trunk for one of her old corsets. There was no use going to all this trouble to forget this one crucial element.

With that final finishing touch, she could barely keep her eyes off the looking glass. There was nothing she could do about the bruise.

"It's been a while, Alan," she said to her reflection.

Yes, it has. With a bound, Faithful leapt from the door frame up on to the dresser, and then onto Alanna's shoulder. Now the picture was complete.

Let's go remind this court who you are.

"But I'm not Alan," Alanna reminded her cat.

Yes, but you are a warrior, not just the queen. Show those conservatives just why you are the first female knight in centuries. The unique thing about you, Alanna, is your ability to cling to yourself despite your surroundings…or clothing.

"Thank you," she whispered against her cat's silky black fur. For being such a sassy kitty, Faithful was the greatest friend she'd ever had.

No sentimentality. Forward, Sir Alan!

It seems that old and new characters are just popping out of the woodwork! Let me know your favorite part and line! Thanks for reading!