A Kippernium Christmas - a Jane and the Dragon fanfic
A Kippernium Christmas
Note: this is a Christmas present for SailorWednesdayMercury.
Making ready for the holiday
At Kippernia Castle, it was Chistmas Eve. As in previous years, the castle was gearing up for the annual Christmas Eve dinner for the local orphans. King Caradoc and Queen Gwendolyn had instituted the tradition as a way of giving the orphans something to look forward to, and to make them feel special during the holiday season.
In the kitchen of Kippernia Castle, a 22-year-old Jane was helping a 22-year-old Pepper cook food for the annual dinner. The two of them had become happily married women, with Jane being married to Gunther, and Pepper being married to Rake. Pepper looked at a vary pregnant Jane.
"How long before the baby is due, Jane?" Pepper asked.
"The royal physician says it could be anytime now" Jane answered. "I'll be happy to have it over with. I feel like an over ripe melon".
"Just what we need - another short life running around the castle" Dragon commented as he stuck his head into the kitchen.
"Deep down inside, you know you enjoy our company" Jane smiled at Dragon.
"Yes ... you're right" Dragon admitted.
"And I know you and Princess Lavinia are getting along well" Jane happily said to Dragon. "You are all she ever talks about".
"Well, the princess has good taste" Dragon said with a self assured look on his face. "Which is why I let her ride me on patrol duty".
"How is Princess Lavinia's training coming along, Jane?" Pepper asked.
"She has the makings of a first class knight" Jane answered proudly. "Gunther has taken her under his wing, and she's progressing well".
Honor guard duty
A sixteen-year-old Princess Lavinia stood in the great hall of the castle. In a few moments, a seventeen-year-old boy walked into the great hall. The boy was Greg, the cousin of Gunther. Both Lavinia and Greg were knights in training.
"Just stand to one side, and I'll show you how a real knight in training looks" Greg said to Lavinia in a self assured way.
"Oh, is that so?!" Lavinia laughed. "How about last week when you tripped over a barrow of apples? I suppose that's how a real knight in training looks, too?".
"Just remember, I earned my place as a knight in training" Greg snapped. "You were handed your chance on a silver platter, just because you're the princess".
"I'll have you know that's not true!" Lavinia exclaimed in anger. "I worked very hard to earn the position of knight in training".
"Well, the truth be known, girls have no place as knights" Greg pointed out.
"That's quite enough!" a man's voice rang out.
Lavinia and Greg looked up to see a 24-year-old Gunther standing there. Gunther had taken over Sir Theodore's duties when Sir Theodore died of old age a few years earlier.
"Greg" Gunther started, "I've warned you about that attitude of yours. It will get you nowhere. Princess Lavinia has as much right to be a knight in training as you have. I suggest you get used to it".
"Not if I can help it" Greg said under his breath.
"I heard that!" Gunther snapped. "You are under the mistaken impression that women have no place as knights. Well, let me tell you that my wife, Jane, is one of the finest knights in the kingdom. Not bad for a woman, wouldn't you say?".
"Yes, Sir Gunther" Greg acknowledged, nearly choking on the words.
"I'm glad you agree" Gunther said. "You'll have plenty of time to think about it ... when you're cleaning out the stables".
"But, Sir Gunther ..." Greg started to say in protest.
"The stables are waiting" Gunther directed.
"Yes, Sir Gunther" Greg acknowledged as he walked off toward the stables.
"I'm sorry about Greg's behavior" Gunther apologized to Lavinia. "It would appear to run in the family. There were times in my youth when I treated Jane with less than respect. Over time, I discovered that Jane was a fine warrior ... and a fine woman who I fell in love with. Today, I can't imagine not being with Jane".
"The two of you make a fine couple, Sir Gunther" Lavinia smiled.
"I'm blessed having her in my life" Gunther smiled back. "I'm a much better person because of it. But, now onto something else. For the Christmas Eve dinner, we'll need an honor guard. And I've decided that you will be in that honor guard".
"Thank you, Sir Gunther" Lavinia said, grateful. "And what of Greg?".
"He'll be in the honor guard as well" Gunther answered. "I'll tell him ... after he gets done with the stable".
"Understood, Sir Gunther" Lavinia acknowledged.
"You're a fine knight in training, Princess Lavinia" Gunther gently said. "Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. You have the heart of a lion, along with a sense of justice ... just like Jane. I look forward to seeing you become the fine knight I know you'll be".
A few hours later
In the great hall of Kippernia Castle, it was now early evening. King Caradoc, Queen Gwendolyn, an eighteen-year-old Prince Cuthbert, the orphans, other invited guests, and the honor guard were present.
"Welcome to our annual Christmas Eve dinner" Caradoc welcomed everybody. "May we all have a fine dinner, and give thanks for the blessings of the season".
Everybody had a fine time talking to each other, and enjoying a fine dinner. In a little while, a 24-year-old Jester came out to entertain those gathered. Jester juggled balls, sang songs, and told jokes which made everybody smile and laugh.
After Jester had finished, a 23-year-old woman walked up to him.
"Hello" the woman smiled. "My name is Sharon, and I've been recently put in charge of the local orphanage".
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sharon" Jester smiled back. "How may I be of assistance?".
"I just wanted to thank you for putting on such a fine show" Sharon answered. "The orphans enjoyed it very much, as did I".
"Why, thank you" Jester said, pleased.
"What a wonderful gift you have, being able to make people laugh and smile" Sharon observed.
Jester and Sharon spent some time talking, and getting to know each other in the process. As Jester and Sharon talked, Gunther and Jane watched from a nearby table.
"They make a nice looking couple, Jane, don't you think?" Gunther observed.
"Indeed they do" Jane smiled.
Jane suddenly felt a strange sensation coming from her stomach area.
"Oh, my!" Jane exclaimed to Gunther. "I think the baby is coming".
"Is everything alright?" Queen Gwendolyn asked as she walked up.
"I think this little one inside me is ready to arrive, Queen Gwendolyn" Jane answered.
"Call for the midwife" King Caradoc instructed. "And see that Jane is helped to her and Sir Gunther's room".
As Jane was being helped out of the great hall, King Caradoc walked up to Jane.
"Good luck, my dear" Caradoc said as he gently held Jane's hand.
"Thank you, King Caradoc" Jane smiled.
A new life arrives
In Gunther and Jane's room, Jane was laying on a bed when the midwife walked in.
"Don't you worry, my dear" the midwife reassured Jane. "Between the two of us, you'll get through this just fine. Meanwhile, if the rest of you will step out, Jane and I have some work to do".
Gunther, and Jane's parents stepped out of the room.
A long while passed as Gunther, and Jane's parents waited in the hallway. Suddenly, the three heard a baby crying. In a few minutes, the midwife came out into the hallway.
"Sir Gunther" the midwife started, "you have a healthy baby girl".
Gunther, and Jane's parents smiled at the news.
"And how is Jane?" Gunther asked.
"She's doing fine" the midwife reassured Gunther. "You, and Jane's parents, may go in now".
Gunther, and Jane's parents entered the bedroom where Jane was sitting up in bed, holding the newborn baby.
"Come meet your daughter, Gunther" Jane smiled as Gunther walked over.
"Hello, little one" Gunther happily said to the baby as he gently picked her up. "Welcome to the world".
"She's beautiful" Jane's mother commented about the baby.
"The two of you are truly blessed" Jane's father happily said to Jane and Gunther.
"What shall we call her?" Gunther asked Jane about the baby.
"I've been thinking about that" Jane started. "I was thinking her name should be Jade, as in our precious jewel".
"Then Jade it is" Gunther happily agreed.
"Jade will make a fine lady in waiting ... or a knight" Jane's mother smiled. "If she's anything like you, Jane, she'll excel at anything she puts her mind to".
Christmas Day
At Kippernia Castle, it was Christmas morning. Gunther and Jane walked through the courtyard, with Jane holding Jade in her arms.
"Dragon" Jane called out.
Dragon flew down, and landed near Gunther and Jane.
"I'd like to introduce you to mine and Gunther's daughter" Jane smiled as she held up Jade for Dragon to see. Jade smiled at Dragon, and held out her tiny arms as if to reach for Dragon.
"She is rather sweet, isn't she?" Dragon observed with a smile. "Congratulations to the two of you".
"Thank you, Dragon" Gunther said with a father's pride.
In the great hall of the castle, the inhabitants of the castle were making ready for Christmas breakfast. As Gunther, Jane, and Jade entered the great hall, everybody clapped. King Caradoc and Queen Gwendolyn then walked up.
"What a wondrous Christmas" Caradoc smiled as he looked at Jade. "A Christmas that begins with a new life. This day is truly blessed".
"Indeed" Gwendolyn happily agreed as she, too, looked at Jade. "What a sweet girl she is. A precious blessing to her parents, and to us all".
Gunther and Jane smiled with pride.
In a few minutes, everybody sat down to a glorious Christmas breakfast. After breakfast, presents were exchanged. It was a fine day filled with promise. Everybody was happy.
However, this is not the end of our story.
June
It was now June. In the great hall of Kippernia Castle, an event of special significance was getting underway as Jester and Sharon stood before King Caradoc.
"Among the privileges afforded a King, there is none greater than the power to join two people together in matrimony" Caradoc happily said to those gathered. "Do you, Jester, take this woman, Sharon, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?".
"I do" Jester smiled.
"Do you, Sharon, take this man, Jester, to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?" Caradoc asked.
"I do" Sharon smiled.
"Therefore, by the power vested in me by ... well ... by me" Caradoc started as he and the crowd happily chuckled, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. Jester, you may kiss your bride".
Jester and Sharon embraced as everybody clapped in celebration. Afterward, everybody had a fine wedding dinner, and enjoyed a fine wedding cake. It was a happy time in Kippernia Castle. Everything was right with the world.