*I do not own jane and the dragon or its characters
In the spirit of this story game that seems to be going on, here is mine with Peppers point of view. Hope it's alright, since the other two stories "Troublesome Predicament" and "Jane Learns to Take a Compliment" are incredible and are too glorious for words. Written for Solitaire44, lareepqg, and most of all Kyra4.
Happy to have a full basket of eggs, Pepper began to make her way back to the kitchen. Around this time it was not unusual to hear the voices of the knights to be. They were in the courtyard, sparing as usual, but something was off. Gunther of all things was distracted, uncertainty flashed in his eyes. Jane for her part was more forceful, her attacks made out of anger and frustration.
For a little while, Pepper watched from the shade of the forge. It was obvious Jane had the upper hand, but what was going on? Gunther at some point was laying there, staring at the sky, appearing defeated. Was this all a one sided fight? No, wait there was more.
A few minutes later Gunther had beaten her with compliments. It took one simple compliment to leave Jane stunned, and he took advantage of the opening. When it was all over, Pepper left to the kitchen to boil the eggs for breakfast. Could it be possible? She thought.
Jane and Gunther, finally getting along? Oh how exciting this development would be. For sure, Jane, unbeknownst to herself, was enticing her fellow Knight with her femininity. How could Jane not know by his hungry eyes, and delayed reactions? It was there, everything one needed to know of their relationship.
Unlike the other time, when Pepper started a rumor with a careless comment, this time she saw the fragility of their relationship. Insecure, fear, longing, wishing, wanting, most of it from him, a little from her, they were in a tug of war.
Only moments before, with their faces so close, a breath away from love being sealed, she saw it. He wanted to, from that softening face, and troubled eyes, he wanted more than he deserved, then he became rational again, and sent her to the ground. It might have been pride, or youth, or some sense of justice he was looking for, but she knew, there was more than just friendly competition.
Gunther used sarcasm to hide his true feelings. Pepper heard him loud and clear tell Jane how nice she look at the ball. For a moment she thought that was it, but he continued and told the redhead how he thought her dress was stunning, how lovely she looked, and how she was most radiant squire in attendance. If that was not proof of his true feelings, then what was?
Whether they knew it or not, they were made for each other. One helped the other to improve and become stronger. Jane was honest, while Gunther was a little less than sincere, but there was some truth to his actions. He cared what people thought of him, he wanted to be liked, and taken seriously. He wanted Jane to take him seriously, even if goading would be his tactic.
Pepper speculated that something was there, and perhaps the next ball might shine a little light on the situation. Until then, she would enjoy this special secret. Hopefully, there was another gown the Queen had for Jane, one she could not refuse, and a dagger blunted by romance.