A/N: My first fanfic so be kind please!

Disclaimer: I do not own JatD or characters. However, one character in this story is my creation and that is Penelope or Penny as is her nickname.

The Fate Of The Red Roses

Jane saw the mysterious figure in the rose garden. She watched the figure closely and quietly. She was determined to find out who it was and catch them without scaring them away.

As she moved closer, eyes still on the thief, she noticed the outline looked familiar to her. The figure then moved into the light and Jane's suspicion was confirmed. She had identified the rose thief. Questions flooded her mind. Jane thought fast and decided if she was to get the truth to her questions then she would have to follow him.

She followed the figure away from the hall where the ball was being held. He was heading towards the castle gate, into town. What are you up to Gunther? Jane wondered to herself as she kept the appropriate following distance behind her fellow squire, a skill they both learned from their mentors.

Jane followed Gunther to a small house on the edge of town by the wharf. Small was an overstatement. The house was more of a one room shack. After Gunther entered the shack, Jane circled it and found an open window. Inside was a bed in the middle of the room, and a fireplace. In the bed was a sickly looking girl about Jane's age. She had dark hair, pale skin, and hallow eyes.

Jane watched as Gunther kissed the girl on the forehead and asked how she was feeling today.

"Same as everyday. Though there was less blood in my coughs." The girl responded.

"Well, I brought you something to make you feel better." Gunther smiled and pulled the bouquet of roses from behind his back and handed them to the sickly girl.

"Oh Brother! They are beautiful!" The girl exclaimed taking the roses and hugging tightly the one she called 'brother'. "Did you have a good time at the ball? I so wish I could have gone!"

"Yes, dear sister, I had a good time. Maybe you can accompany me to the next one. It would be much more fun with you there."

Gunther has a sister? Not possible! How could no one have known? Jane thought to herself outside the window. She was in shock at what she was witnessing. The girl appeared to be Gunther's sister started coughing uncontrollably. Gunther got up to get her a glass of water when he heard something outside the open window. When he looked outside all he could make out was a thin figure with long thick hair running towards the castle. He eyes narrowed, Jane, you better keep this to yourself. Gunther thought about going after her but decided taking care of his sister was more important than making sure nobody found out that the Breech's have yet another secret.

"Tell me about Jane! Was she there? Did you dance with her?" The sister demanded once her coughing stopped.

"I will tell you tomorrow dear Penny. You need your rest tonight." Gunther kissed her on the forehead again and headed toward the door. "Good night sister. I shall see you in the morning."

"Good night Gunther my brother." Replied Penny.

OOOOOO

Jane decided not to speak to anyone and went straight to her tower room. "I can't have him reprimanded for taking flowers to a sickly sister! If it really is his sister…" Jane was talking to herself while pacing the small room when she heard a knock on the door. Who could that be at this hour? She thought as she cracked the door open. "Gunther!"

Gunther puched the door open to get into the room and since Jane was in shock still it wasn't hard to push her out of the way. Once in the room he closed and locked the door. "Jane. We have to talk." Gunther said out of breath from running back to the castle. He sat down and caught his breath then continued, "I saw you in town, at the wharf. At the cottage."

"I followed you to see why and where you were taking the roses. I knew that was the only way I'd get the truth." Jane said in defense.

"You cannot tell anyone what you saw Jane." Gunther said sternly.

"Is she really your sister? Why is she kept hidden?" Jane asked more concern in her than she would have liked to show.

"Yes, she really is my sister. I keep her hidden for her own safety. Jane, you must promise me that you will breath a word of this to no one. No one Jane. Not to Dragon, not the Jester, No one." Gunther stood and looked directly at Jane.

"Knights Honor, Gunther. I will not tell anyone." Jane promised.

"Thank you Jane." Gunther said and after a moment turned to open the door.

"Gunther." Jane called. "May I meet her?"

Gunther, standing facing out of the open door with knob in hand, shook his head slightly and walked out of the room closing the door behind him.

Jane sighed and plopped down on her bed. She fell asleep thinking about how awful she had treated her fellow knight over the years. How awful everyone treated him. Tears welled in her eyes and she whispered "I'm sorry Gunther."

OOOOOO

A couple days went by without much excitement, Jane and Gunther barely spoke to each other. One evening after supper, and Jester's joke telling quieted down, Jane decided to call it an early night, leaving Jester alone at the table. As Jane opened the door to her room, a hand came out of the shadows and grabbed her arm. "Let go of me!" Jane demanded.

"Be quiet. It's me." The hand became a person in the light.

"What are you doing here Gunther?" Jane demanded in a whisper.

"Did you still want to meet my sister?" Gunther asked, getting right to the point.

"Yes, but why-" Jane started to ask a question, but Gunther cut her off and answered the question she was going to ask. "She really wants to meet you."

"You've been telling your sister about me?" Jane inquired, wondering what exactly Guther tells his sister about her.

"About the first female knight. It helps keep her spirits up." Gunther replied, looking at the ground.

"Of course."

"Meet me tomorrow at midday just outside the castle gate." Gunther said now looking Jane in the eyes.

"I will be there. And I shall have Pepper pack a lunch for us."

"Champion idea, Jane. As long as she doesn't get suspicious." Gunter answered.

"I will make sure she doesn't." Jane assured him.

"Good night Jane."

"Good night Gunther."

OOOOOO

Jester was heading to his room which was below Jane's, when he heard whispering voices coming from Jane's room. He stopped dead in his tracks and craned his neck to try to hear better. He couldn't make out the words but he recognized one of the voices as Jane and the other a male.