Eleni had tried to get back to her room without any of the boys, but it seemed that boys liked to travel in packs. Or maybe it was just Schuylar, and he lacked survival instincts. Regardless of the reason why, she was stuck with the Fool and he followed her back to her room. Some would have argued that since Schuylar's room was right next to Eleni's, it would only make sense that they walk together.

Eleni Crow was not one of those people. In fact, she wished that Schuylar would stay far away from her for quite a long time. Because the boy could only talk about was Alanna the Lioness! It seemed that the faster she walked, the more determined he became to keep up with her and recount stories.

"And did you know that she was only twenty years old when she found the Dominion Jewel? They say she had to fight the spirit of the mountains itself to get it and the-"

"Don't you know when someone is walking away from you?" she shouted.

Schuylar was stunned into silence. He stood where he was and stared after the redhead, his mouth hanging open in shock. He would have stayed there if Warren hadn't come up behind him.

"Come on, Schuylar," he comforted. "I know you still have some work to finish tonight."

"He yelled at me." He was still stunned. Sure, Schuylar knew that there was no such thing as fraternal love between him and Myles, but he had never imagined him yelling at him lke that. "I thought we were getting along."

Warren pitied the younger page, but he knew the root of the yelling. "Do you have any legends in your family, Schuylar? A relative who ballads are sung about?"

"None that I know of," was the simply reply.

"Then you can't begin to understand how Myles is feeling. The Lioness of Pirate's Swoop is a great legend, a living legend. She's someone who-"

"I know," Schuylar exclaimed. "I know all about her and her feats! I was only retelling some of the stories, before Myles shouted at me."

The large boy was tempted to sigh in defeat. As intelligent as his young friend was, some aspects of civilized society were beyond his understanding. "Would you like to be reminded of a relative's greatness? At all times? By all people?"

Comprehension finally dawned behind Schuylar's eyes. "I was doing what people have always done to him. I-," his words faltered. "Gods, what have I done?"

"Nothing that a modest apology won't solve. I know Myles is probably sorry as well." Warren ruffled the boy's hair and added, "Now, will you cheer up and go finish your work?"

His words had the desired effect and Schuylar sped off for his room. Warren needed a book from the Blue Library and went back the way they had just walked. Truth be told, he had had no reason to head back to the wing where the pages were housed, but he had felt Eleni's unease. Warren knew the lion cub was a lit fuse waiting to go off, and only a fool like Schuylar was incapable of feeling the waves of agitation rolling off Myles.

Shaking his head at the emtional antics of his charges, Warren prepared for a night of independent study.

While Eleni had been lashing out at one of her few friends, because of her frayed nerves, Alanna was proving correct the tales of her temper. Whether he was her knight commander, her prince, or her king, to Alanna, Jonathan of Conte would always remain a mortal man. A mortal man capable of making mistakes. And she was ready to show him what she thought of his latest one.

When she arrived at his private study, where she knew he spent the later portions of his nights, Alanna's face matched her hair. She was livid and braced for a fight. History had equipted Jonathan for once surprising slam of the door, and he was already waiting for his Champion when she entered. Although, the fact that George was leaning against one of his shelves acknowledged that he had prior warning to the attack.

Alanna didn't care. Slamming the heavy door shut, she began the one-sided screaming match. "How dare you! How can you let that boy run around the palace and never tell me? Was this your plan all along, to wait it out? To see how long it would take for me to see the ghost living with my grandson? How do think I felt when I saw him? Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

Jon was an old pro at these matches and knew that Alanna would wear herself out soon enough. George was also an expert and knew the exact moment she would tire of yelling.

"The boy is Alex's mirror image! You never told me! This has been going one for a year already, and tonight was the first I learned of it! How could-" her voice died and was replaced by dry sobs.

George was at her side in an instant, ready to help her into a chair. Despite his almost sixty years of age, he knelt at his wife's side and held her hand while she wept. Jon was still sitting behind his desk, moving only to hand George a handkerchief for Alanna. Once the Lioness had calmed down, Jon knew it was safe to explain.

"Alex's mother gave little room to argue, Alanna." The king was now kneeling on his champion's unoccupied side. "You remember what the old bat was like. I can't simply deny a woman like her, even if I am king. She actually came all the way to the city last year, bent on putting me in my place." The memory caused him to chuckle a bit. At Alanna's unamused glare, he continued. "She said that her great grandson deserved a chance, just like any nobleman's son."

"And you just agreed to it? After everything that her family did? How-"

"Before you start screaming again, Alanna, remember that the boy is innocent. The blame for Alex's betrayal should not fall on his grandson's shoulders." Jon straightened up and stood tall in front of Alanna. "Would you burden any of your grandchildren with your faults?"

All Alanna could do was shake her head. The sight of Alex's young face in the dining hall had chilled her old bones to the marrow.

"You still should have warned me, Jon." Her eyes turned hard and she whipped around to face George. "You should have definitely told me," she roared, stabbing him hard in the chest.

George sighed and stood up. "I didn't know. I found out six days ago, when I brought Myles to the palace. The boy helped us out in the market when Myles mare got spooked."

"See," Jon insisted. "Maybe you were too quick to judge. Though I'm told the boy's friends leave much to be desired, he's never started trouble."

"Padriag said he injured Myles. That one is far from innocent." The woman was famous for being mulish, and she was proving it to two men who already knew.

George chuckled at his wife. Needless to say, she did not like it. Getting up from the chair, she the two men aside and began to pace. George knew which tactic his wife was going to try next and relaxed. The battle was half-way finished, and it was two against one.

"You're being overprotective, again."

"No, I am not. My grandson was assaulted."

"I agree with George," Jon added. He, like George, knew the direction the fight would take and had settled himself on his desk.

"Remember what his mother did when you tried to smother her?"

"George, I did not smother Aly. Keep her out of this!" Of course, she remembered. The last time she had argued with her daughter, she had lost her. She wouldn't lose her grandson.

"Alanna," said Jon. He knew why she was acting this way, the reason she had resorted to hysterics. He knew the haunted look in her eyes. "Myles will be safe, I promise you."

"Can you," she snapped back. Jon chose to ignore her.

"I do. He will be safe, you have my word on that. I know what he means to you, that his safety is what is really troubling you."

"How would you feel if you suddenly found out Maggur had a son, and that Jonnie was expected to live with him, train with him?" It was getting to be too much for her. The very thought of her grandson at the mercy of Alex's kin terrified her, and she told them so.

"What can he do?" Jon wanted to reason with her, to put her fears at ease, as well as his. "He's only a page, under constant supervision. I know you'll be here more often now, so Myles has even more protection. Tell me, Alanna, what could a single boy do?"

Alanna was tired of it all. George was already mollified with the situation, but she would be damned before she let anything hurt her grandson. The Lioness, the King's Champion, the woman who defied courts and customs, turned her back on the two most important men in her life.

She swore she would protect her grandson, and by the gods, she would make sure he was armed with the truth.

So Eleni is a hothead, but still has a soul. Alanna often yelled at her friends, but we all know she regretted the words soon enough. Eleni adores the friends she has, but is still learning to reign in the famous Trebond descended temper.

I'm interested in any feedback about Alanna's reactions. Please, tell me what you thought about it, if it seemed realistic.