Author's Note: Alrighty. Here I go. This is my first major attempt at writing a story. I have done other attempts, It just didn't go past the 'notebook' stage, or I tossed it thinking that it was crap. Although this is my very first attempt at writing a fan fiction for Jane and the Dragon, every other attempt was for The Legend of Zelda. (I might still try to do a story for the Zelda series, depending on the feedback for this story. ) This one has been bouncing thru my head for awhile, and I didn't do much about it till now. I've put word onto my laptop ( I didn't have any kind of word processor for about 2 years since my trial ran out, but now I do again!! :) So we are all good to write. ) And I greatly encourage all comments. I do warn though, this first chapter might be a little slow to start... But I still hope that you all enjoy it. :)
Summery: When Jesters parents ask for his assistance in a play, and the King grants permission for him to go, how will both Jane and Jester handle themselves without each others presence. And how will they handle themselves when they are finally back together again.
I do not own Jane and the Dragon, Martin Baynton does and company(s) Nelvana and
Weta Productions.
Chapter One, The Letter.
"It was a warm, sunlit, summers day. Clouds where lazily drifting by the window, and a warm breeze gently blowing into the room, cooling down both the body and the soul. Birds where flying in a frenzy being terrified by a giant green fire breathing lizard with a jovial laugh..."
Jester crumpled up his page with a sigh and tossed it into the lit grate, looking out of the window of his room at the cloudy day, far off in this distance there was the flashes of lightning and the smell of rain was lingering in the air, placing hope into the hearts of the farmers in the fields who where fighting to keep their withering plants from dying off. Taxes where coming up, and even though the King was very fair about how the taxes where paid, and did take the weather into consideration when it came to how much the farmers owed, there still was a price to pay for using the land in Kippernium.
The birds where indeed being terrorized by Dragon as he did his semi-graceful loop-e-loops and cartwheels in the air, yelling with an excitement that only he could muster up over the smallest things, like the birds darting away quickly from his large girth, or the moo of the cows in the Ranchers fields. Jester knew full well that Dragon would never eat any of the birds that flew through this area of the land, for why would he have to when Pepper feed him her rejects that just didn't want to work or nobody in the castle wanted to eat, even if they did work.
Smiling he got up out of his chair remembering the day when Pepper burnt her tongue, and Rake not wanting to hurt her feelings by telling her just how horrid her stew was becoming, when she put him in charge of the taste-testing, would feed it to Dragon behind her back. She did eventually find out about the feeding and soon after that found out how horrid her stew was. Jester recalling that Rake described it as 'tasting like swamp-water', something that Dragon thought was delicious. Since then every once in a while when she has some spare time, Pepper would re-make that stew just for Dragon. Slowly placing on his puzzle piece styled blue shoe, and matching jingle hat to complete his mandatory 'uniform' as some would call it, Jester got up to leave his room as he had a duty to addend to the King. Something about the children being bored on this very grey day.
Taking one last look in mirror to make sure there was not a spot on his blue clothes, all of his dirty blonde hair was hidden away under his bell-bound hat, and his grey-blue eyes had their mischievous gleam to them, he picked up his lute and bag of juggling balls then left his room heading toward the royal court room, looking behind him to make sure he had closed the door to his room.
Down in the kitchen, the smell of stew simmering on the open fire was almost too overpowering for Jane. The smells of the tender beef, simmering in the mixture of onions, green bell peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and green chile peppers was making the red heads stomach growl. The Chili powder in the stew was the culprit in the spicier smell that was drifting around the castle making everybody hungry and anxious for lunch to begin.
Jane was washing the kidney beans and corn that Pepper had just set in front of her which where the last two ingredients for the stew that was sitting on the open fire in the centre of the wall on the right of her.
"Jane, when the stew thickens can you please add that bowl of beans and corn?" Pepper piped up while adding flour to the stew to thicken it doing a little bounce of excitement on just about every word.
"I think so." nodded Jane, her fiery red curls bouncing in time with her nod, "and may I ask what exactly you are making? It smells wonderful."
"Yes, I would like to know as well. The Royal Family is getting antsy." said a high pitched voice from the stairwell, "and just let me know if you need some eggs with it..."
Turning from her task at the table, Jane looked up to see a sullen Jester slowly make his way down the stairs covered in eggs, "and what on earth happened to you?"
"Lets just say the royal children thought it was more entertaining to throw the eggs at the funny man, then to watch him juggle them." squeaked Jester looking at Jane with his greyish-blue eyes that carried an innocence about them, all mischievous gone, "and I couldn't tell you what was wrong with my voice. I just hope its not going to change on me again. I already dealt with that embarrassment, don't need to handle it again."
"Oh, But it was SO funny watching your face every time your voice broke and changed." giggled Pepper from the pot of stew, "and for both of your information, I'm making Chili Beef Stew. Jane, I need those beans and corn. Once those are added, it will be about 5 minutes for lunch. Go wash up."
"And perhaps after lunch Jester, you may want to go lay down for a rest." King Caradoc said with a worry in his voice, as he lazily wondered into the kitchen, "I fear that the this dismal day may be getting to you, and it would be most unfortunate for my best Jester to come down with a horrid cold. Most unfortunate indeed."
"Yes your Majesty" squeaked Jester, "but may I add that I am your only Jester?"
"Yes, yes." nodded the King. "That indeed you are. But if you fall down with a cold, I would be most upset. My children like their entertainment, and I refuse to let their entertainment fall down with a cold because of my carelessness."
"Now," started the King putting on a regal tone and placing his finger into the air, "you will eat a bowl of that delicious smelling stew, then rest up for the evening. I expect you in the court room ready to sing tomorrow morning." Turning to Jane, the King continued with his demand. "and you will have to watch the children tonight. Without the Jester, they will be most bored. Most bored indeed."
Turning around, walking back up the stairs out of the smokey kitchen, the King nodded to the cook then walked out, his chest pushed out in front of him putting on the air of royalty and power.
"Great." Moaned Jester. "pass me a bowl of that stew so I can get started on my long night."
"And I'll gather up everybody else for lunch Pepper!" Stated an excited Jane, her hair flying out behind her like a majestic cape as she bolted up the stairs to collect everybody while Pepper started filling up bowls and placing them on the table, humming a happy tune while she did it.
Why was it that every time we sit down to eat, there was only enough for everybody to have one bowl or plate full of food? Pepper always insists that she makes more so that there should be leftovers, but yet there is only enough for one plate. Looking at all the bowls of stew including his own, Jester figured he had come to the conclusion as to why there never seems to be enough for seconds. They where taking more to begin with.
Growing season was back, and in more then one way. Rakes plants where becoming beautiful, blooms coming into full, and some fruits and vegetables starting to ripen, but almost all the castle staff where growing again. Jesters fifteenth birthday was coming soon, which means that Rake would have already turned fourteen which means his puberty would be coming in full bloom, Pepper was also maturing, she had managed to gain some height but was still shorter then everybody else, even at thirteen. Smithy wont be celebrating his sixteenth birthday till the winter months, and is easily the tallest out of them all, he even towered over Gunther who insisted he was the most mature (when he was the farthest from it). Jane was the woman he really noticed though. She had matured the most, in the sense. She actually had little grapes starting on her chest, and the only reason why Jester noticed was because her father couldn't stop bothering Jane about how 'his little girl is growing up' and proudly announced it to just about everybody he sees.
Jester went back to eating his stew, the clinking of his spoon into the wooden bowl adding into the steady clinking of everybody else eating and taking drinks of the fresh milk that Smithy had just gotten from the cows this morning to cool the spiciness of the stew. It wasn't too bad, little spicy, but pretty good. The beef falling apart in his mouth, the bell peppers adding a little crunch to a usually softer meal. Pepper was even more proud of herself for this dish, as apparently it isn't made like a traditional stew, but he wasn't sure how traditional stew was made to begin with so it was hard for him to see how it was different. She was going off about how she had to brown the beef, sauté the vegetables, put the meat back, and stir. Didn't sound too hard to do, but it did sound like a lot of work depending on how she wasn't just making it for the six of them, but for the entire castle.
"Jesta. I hasth thomething for you... Jesta?" Piped up a small child-like voice from just beside him, but very far away. It seemed like it should be closer, but it was farther away.
Upon the feel of a gentle hand resting across his cheek, Jester snapped out of his revere and looked down at the little Princess Lavinia who was beaming up at him with her bright smile with the two front teeth missing, a letter in her left hand, and her right gently resting on his cheek. "your thupposed to thay hi."
"Yes, I'm sorry your little Majesty, hello, and how are you doing?"
"Good, look! I hath a letter! I wanted to bring it to you mythelf, did I do good?"
"Yes, very good, thank you." Jester nodded rubbing her head while she handed the letter to him.
Opening the letter, Jester looked up at everybody else and grinned. "Haven't gotten one of these for awhile."
"Well? What does it say?" Jane asked, concern plastered on her face. Curiosity on everybody else s.
Watching Jester open the letter worried Jane to no end. She wasn't sure why, but there was this feeling that it wasn't a friendly 'hi, how are you' letter. Her suspicions where proved correct as she watched Jesters face go from excited, to concerned, to worried, to happy, to a mixture of sad and happy with water filling up his eyes.
"What is it Jester?" She asked wanting to make sure that the feeling that she had wasn't real. It seemed too dark, too sad.
"It's from my parents." Jester whispered more to the letter that was crinkling in his hands then to anybody else, tears threatening to fall from his eyes, "They want me to come home."
Author's Ending Notes: I hope it wasn't too cheesy. This is one of my first attempts so it probably does need some improvement. But I'll work on that... maybe... Please review. I wont put up another chapter until then. :p * gives evil smile *
Also if you want the recipe for what Pepper was making. Just let me know. Ill track it down again for you.