Author's Note - Thank you everyone for your kind words! Just so everyone knows, this story is dedicated to Vintagepop, as I wouldn't have put this up otherwise! ^.^


Chapter 2.

"I will win." Jester said solemnly and Smithy laughed humourlessly.

"I don't think so, you don't have the strength to pull off any manoeuvres."

"Ah, but I have the cunning!"

"Cunning is useless without the strength to back it up."

"And strength is useless without a strategy."

"Which is why I, with my strength and plan, will win this."

"Put your foot where your mouth is and make your move!" Jester said challengingly.

Smithy glared at him and moved.

"Checkmate."

Jester's mouth dropped open. "Wha-! When did that happen?"

Smithy smiled smugly, "I told you 'strength in numbers.' While you were busy watching all of my players, I got rid of yours and lined it up for a perfect attack."

Jester groaned and flopped back on his chair, "Bested by a blacksmith! I hope word doesn't get round or I'll lose my spot as 'Most Cunning in the Castle'!"

"Jester, you've never held that title, everyone beats you in chess, even Princess Lavinia."

"Uh…Jester? Smithy?"

"Ah, the noble Jane! And to what do we owe the honour of your presence today?" Jester said dramatically, jumping up from his seat and sweeping a bow in her direction.

"Hey Jane." Smithy said kindly.

"Uh…Yes…Well…" Jane stuttered, blushing uncommonly.

"Why Jane… What's wrong?" Jester asked, all humour aside (well, mostly) as he took in the rarely seen shy side of his friend.

Jane glanced around quickly before she grabbed their arms hurriedly and dragged them deeper into Smithy's forge.

"Promise not to tell?" she asked anxiously, once they were in the forge's dark depths.

Jester and Smithy looked at each other briefly, confused and worried, before turning to Jane and saying together, "We promise."

Jane gulped and sighed, blushing red, "I – I want to – to…"

"…To?" encouraged Smithy as Jester started to hop from one foot to the other in excitement.

"To…Oh! Fine! I want to go to the ball!"

Smithy nodded thoughtfully and Jester just looked at Jane with a large smile on his face.

"It hasn't sunk in yet has it?" Jane asked Smithy, indicating Jester; who was staring off into space, a large smile still on his face.

Smithy shook his head, "Nope."

Jester started laughing, "Oh, I'm sorry Jane, I just drifted off! I could've sworn that you said that you wanted to go to that upcoming ball!"

Jane raised her eyebrows and looked at Jester with her large green eyes swimming with despair.

Jester swallowed, "Oh, you did,' he set his face firmly, 'Rightio, then you shall go!"

Jane sighed, "It's more than that Jester."

Smithy smiled sympathetically, "I see… You want to go after all these years of saying that you'd never go to a ball in a dress because Knights don't do that. And if you go, you can't take back what you've been saying and your mother will force you to do other things that as a Knight, you really can't. But because you cracked and went to a ball, she'll think that she can crack you on everything else and interfere with your life, as well as voiding your contract as a Knight." Jester just stared at him in awe.

Jane nodded miserably, "And I really can't do that now, especially as Gunther has had to go on some secret mission or other at the moment. I know that on the night Sir Ivan and Sir Theodore will be on the rounds, leaving me free for the ball, but…" she groaned.

Jester tapped his finger on his chin, "…Maybe…It could work…' he muttered, 'The Ball's a Masque isn't it?" he asked suddenly.

Jane nodded, "Yeah, but people will still know its me, because I'll be in the castle and not in my room!"

Jester grinned, "Well, how about, on the day before, you go out with Dragon, saying you have to do…some Knight-y thing or other, that'll last all night, like camping, but secretly fly back in a dress and mask and go to the ball. Then! Before dawn, you fly back to your campsite, pack up and come back home, minus the dress and mask!"

"Jester…That's brilliant…" Smithy said disbelievingly to a preening Jester.

Jane rushed to him and gave him a back-breaking hug, "Jester, you are a genius!"

He grinned smugly, "It's a gift."

Jane started to pace the floor, "Well, on that night a certain astrological event takes place, Aphrodite and Ares will be at their pinnacle and will eclipse each other, I could say that I want to chart the momentous occasion!"

Jester clapped his hands and Smithy grinned, "That's great Jane! And you could always give me the dress and the mask to put in the forge, so you don't have to pack it and take it with you. That way, when you come, you put it on in here. Then, before you go, you can take it off and leave it here!"

Jane smiled happily, "Thank you Smithy!' she frowned in thought, 'The actual eclipsing happens a couple of hours after the Moon's pinnacle, so I'll have to leave at about that time."

Jester frowned, "Why?"

Smithy raised his eyebrow at Jester, "Because, (I'm guessing here, he said stoically) but it might have to do with the fact that Jane'll actually want to chart it as proof that she was there and that she'll have to do it a fair way away from the castle to warrant camping."

"Oh. True."