A/N I thought I was done with this story, but I guess all this time at home has gotten the creative juices flowing again, and SOTL is my ultimate comfort re-read. Hope everyone's staying safe out there!

"What's on your mind?" George asked after a long stretch of silence as they rode slowly back to Corus.

"How to tell Jonathan what happened," Alanna replied.

"Ah. You don't think he'll take it well?" George asked.

"I'm really not sure how he'll take it. He has enough to worry about with the queen's failing health, and I'm afraid that he'll want to limit me in an effort to keep me safe," Alanna said.

"I won't tell if you won't," George offered.

"No, I need to tell him," Alanna replied. "Word about his squire killing a gang of men might well get back to him, and he would be furious if I had kept it from him. And even if it doesn't, we both know that the attempt to capture me was only a means to an end. I need to warn him."

"Shall I go with you?" he asked.

"No, thank you, but he doesn't even know you accompanied me, remember? I need to do this alone."

George stayed with her until she was on the main road, just out of view from the palace guards.

At that point, Alanna reached for George's shoulder, examining the bandages around the arrow wound. "Don't lift anything heavy with that arm for at least three days. I healed it as best as I could, but it still needs time. And have your mother take a look, just in case," she instructed.

"Yes, mistress," George replied with a mocking smile.

After checking that no one was around, she hugged him fiercely on his uninjured side. "Thank you, George. Without you, I would probably be sitting in some dungeon waiting to be used as bait in a trap for Jonathan."

"Can't have that now, can we? Next time you need an escort, you know where to find me."

"And if I don't, you'll come anyway?

George only smiled, kissed her cheek, and rode off into the night.

Alanna returned to her room to find the door to the prince's adjoining room open with a candle lit.

"You're back!" Jonathan said as he entered her room and greeted her with a weary smile followed by a quick but passionate kiss. "How was the trip?"

"A little too eventful for my taste," she replied. "I know it's late, but let me change and then I'll tell you about it?"

After dressing in nightclothes and removing as much road dust as she could without a proper bath, Alanna climbed into bed next to Jonathan who was sitting up and waiting for her.

She leaned against her prince, letting herself enjoy his warm and comforting presence. They were both safe, at least for now.

"So, what happened? Jonathan asked, putting an arm around her and stroking her shoulder.

"George accompanied me. I hadn't invited him, but apparently he had Stefan watching for me to leave. And it's a good thing he did, because we were attacked on the way home."

Jonathan abruptly turned to look her over.

"I'm fine, Jon," she reassured him quickly. "I escaped completely unharmed, and George will be okay, but he did take an arrow through the shoulder."

"Tell me what happened," Jonathan commanded softly.

Alanna recounted how 5 men had attacked them, managing to hit George with an arrow before the knight and thief killed 4 and interrogated the 5th.

"He said they were ordered to kill George but keep me unharmed, and as soon as he had said that, he died...magically. It wasn't from his wound. It was like some other force choked the life from him," she explained.

Jonathan leaned back into his sitting position next to her, this time with a much firmer grip around her shoulders.

"I should have gone with you. Or sent guards or something. Apparently George is doing a better job watching out for you then I am," he said tightly.

"George doesn't have an ailing mother at home and a kingdom to run someday. Please don't get protective on me," Alanna pleaded. "It's my job to protect you, remember?"

"And you do it admirably, but in case you hadn't figured it out by now, I don't want to lose you."

"You haven't lost me," she said.

"Good."

"But, I don't understand the why of it, and that worries me," Alanna explained. Whoever hired those men wanted me alive. There are far easier ways to make money than kidnapping and ransoming a nearly full-blooded knight, and we aren't at war, so I don't have any particularly valuable information for an enemy kingdom. The only thing I can conclude is that they wanted to somehow use me to get to you. I would die before I betrayed you, but someone was ready to go to a lot of trouble to get me, so they must have had a plan."

"You may be right, but what good am I while my father is on the throne? Would they really try to get to you, in order to get to me, in order to get to my father? That's complicated, but possible," Jonathan mused.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Alanna replied.

"No, I don't either," Jonathan agreed.

"Jon, I can take care of myself, and I don't plan to let anyone capture me ever again, but if they do, promise that you won't come for me yourself?"

"Alanna-" Jonathan started.

"Send the entire army if you so choose, but you stay safe, okay? I know why it had to be you when I was kidnapped by the Tusaine during the war, and I'm grateful, but I never want to be the reason you get caught."

Finally, Jonathan answered, "I'll think about it if the time ever comes... How's your brother?"

Alanna didn't miss what Jonathan was doing, but she let it slide. "He...he's an exceptional sorcerer. He'll have his mastery soon which is rare for anyone, but especially for someone his age, and he's agreed to come here when he's done. I want him in your service, Jon. I want you to have that kind of power on your side, especially when I'm gone.

I'm worried about him though. He loves his work and the power, but that seems to be all that he has in his life. I had hoped he would have found what I've found. I'm mean, we've both found something that we excel at, which is nice, but I also have friends and mentors and-" Alanna struggled for a moment to find the right words. "And whatever you are to me," she said finally.

"The word you're looking for is 'lover'" Jonathan supplied.

"No... I mean, yes, you are my lover, and it wouldn't hurt for my brother to have some female companionship, but you're more than that to me."

She slid her hand over his and kept her eyes on their hands as she explained, "When I was 11, I went through with this whole insane plan to become a knight because of some vague hope of glory and a desire for adventure and because I liked sword fighting. I still like sword fighting. I still want adventure, but now I want to be a knight primarily because I want to serve you and protect the future that I know you will bring about when the time comes. Don't get me wrong, I serve your parents too, and I love Tortall as it is, but it's you that I fight for."

She squeezed Jonathan's hand for emphasis before continuing, "Thom hasn't found anything outside himself to fight for. I think that honing his gift and being the cleverest person in the cloisters is all that's driving him now. And that just sounds so...so empty. I would be miserable. I wonder if he's miserable."

"That fact that I'm your lover is an afterthought, is it? My pride may never recover," Jonathan replied.

Alanna gave her prince a pointed look. "That's what you took from all I just said?

"No, but I couldn't just let it pass." He kissed her hair and moved their enjoined hands closer to him so that he could get a better grip on her.

"Your faith and loyalty are worth everything to me. And I know what you mean about finding a purpose. My father is a good king, and I love him unconditionally, but I want to create a Tortall where you wouldn't have to hide who you are to do what you're best at. I think this kingdom can be better, and it's you more than anyone that challenges me to think that way - about creating a good kingdom, not just a peaceful one or a powerful one. So you understand why I want to rush in if you're about to be killed...or kidnapped...or attacked by wolves or any of the other trouble you seem to keep finding. Does your brother attract that much trouble? because I don't know if this court can handle two of you…"

At Alanna's glare, Jonathan smiled. "Thank you for recruiting your brother to my service. I will gladly receive him. And maybe here he'll find what he's missing."

They were silent for a moment before Jonathan spoke, "Part of me is so tempted to command you not to leave the castle or, better yet, insist that you must remain within six feet of me at all times, but don't worry, I know how ridiculous that impulse is."

"Maybe I should just wear a mask every time I go out, or better yet, a dress! Any would-be kidnappers would be completely foiled," Alanna quipped.

Jonathan laughed warmly at the suggestion. "I'll promise to resist the urge to rescue you if you promise that you won't take any unnecessary risks, at least for as long as I still have you as my squire."

"I'll try. I can't very well protect you if I'm dead or captured, can I?"

"No, you can't. So it's settled. No getting killed or captured."

"Yes, your highness," Alanna said with as much of a bow as she could manage while sitting in bed with his arm around her.

Jonathan pulled her to him for a long, penetrating kiss, then blew out the candle, leaving them in darkness.

"Goodnight, Alanna. I'm glad you're home. And tomorrow, I'll get to work convincing you to think of me first and foremost as your lover."

Alanna just laughed as she nestled more comfortably into his hold.