Author's Note: Hey! Wow...I can't believe it! If you're reading this right now, thank you very much! To be quite honest I am amazed...looking back on the story...blah I feel like it's kinda-really lame. Or am I just being too hard on a story I knew would be sappy from the first word on? Got any ideas? Or just want more? Comment, comment, comment! Thanks...
-Mintermist

Turmoil

Gunther's heart was in complete turmoil. For about an hour he walked aimlessly around the courtyards, his head reeling. He couldn't believe it. He never would have believed that a kiss from Jane could make him feel so elated and yet so flat. He passionately wished he had kissed her back, and knocked on her door many times. There was never an answer, no matter what he said. He went about his duties carelessly, all the while his mind on Jane.

He tried to imagine what he would say to her when he saw her, but his mind drew so many blanks that he finally gave up.

The sky gradually began to turn pale pink and bright orange with the setting sun. With the sunset, he would have regularly left the castle. Instead, he sat down at the foot of the stairs leading to Jane's room, and waited. There was nothing more he could do.

Jane slipped out of her tower with the twilight. Her head and her heart were in turmoil, clashing and causing her great distress, and the only way she could think of calming herself was taking a round at the practice dummy.

Wooden sword in hand, she nimbly decended the stairs. Gunther would have returned home by now, and she could use this time to try to heal the memory of that morning. Sighing, looked up. It was practically night now.

"Jane?" She spun around, and saw Gunther leaning, arms crossed, against the stone base of the staircase. He watched her face curiously, and Jane felt very self-concious. Was her hair sticking up? Were her eyes still red?

"W-what are you still doing here?" She scowled to hear her voice quaver. Gunther took a step out of the shadows and took one of her hands in his. Jane flinched. "Gunther, please. We've been over this." Gunther shook his head to silence her, fingering her hand.

"Jane, I...I need to know. Please, just tell me. Did you mean that kiss?" He looked so vulnerable. Jane closed her eyes.

"Yes...and no...and...well, I don't know, Gunther..." she let out a little groan of frustration and pulled her hand out of his. Turning on her heel, she stalked over to the practice dummy and began hacking visciously at it with her practice weapon. Thrust! Thrust! Parry! Block! She set the pace, each stroke a symbol of her inner turmoil. Gunther followed her.

"Jane!" His voice was gruff and deep, as he grabbed one of her arms, stopping her midswing. Jane glared at him.

"Maggots! Just forget about it, Gunther. I'm sorry that it happened, alright? Happy?" Why did he have to bring out the worst in her? She had suffered it the past six years, when their knight's training had first begun.

"Fine," he said quietly. "I will forget about it." He turned his back to her and began walking away. Jane immediately felt a chill overtake her, and something dropped in her stomach. She watched his retreating back for a moment, and a terrible sadness overtook her. This was Gunther! She tried to call out his name, but her voice caught in her throat.

He was already under the archway seperating the kitchen courtyard from the practice one, when Jane caught up with him. He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps, but seeing her, his eyes hardened and he continued walking.

"Gunther! Gunther!" she cried, grabbing the sleeve of his tunic. He turned towards her slowly, and looked down his nose at her.

"Yes, Jane?" he replied with an icy coolness. Jane's insides squirmed at his distant behaviour.

"Gunther...I...I'm sorry for what I said," she could feel tears brimming in her eyes. "For everything I said. I just...well...uggh! You make everything so...so difficult!" He looked at her critically, but she noticed how his eyes softened. She took a step forewards, and looked up at him. They were a breath's distance apart. "Yes, I was sorry for the kiss," she saw his face fall, so she added quickly, "But only because it meant so much to me. I...Gunther, I think that I might just love you." She bit her lip and looked up at him, her eyes so full of hope. A tear trickled down her cheek, but she brushed it angrily aside.

"So, Jane," he whispered, bringing his face even closer to hers. She looked up at him a moment, and then it happened. Gunther closed the space between them. She felt the soft pressure of his mouth over hers, as he kissed her. His strong arms wrapped round her waist, comforting and warm, pulling her close to him, and she snaked her arms round his neck. She felt so loved, so safe, and she knew she had found her place in him.

The two broke away for breath, but before Jane could think, Gunther had kissed her again. He ran a calloused hand through her hair, and she leant into him. Everything felt so right- the feel of his mouth, the touch of his arms, the scent of him. At last they broke away, and Gunther cupped a cheek in one hand, brushing the corners of her mouth with his thumb.

"So...how was that?" he asked nervously. Jane smiled and lightly kissed him again.

"It was wonderful," she said. Gunther sighed and nodded, and then put his forehead against hers, eyes shut in a peaceful bliss.

"Jane," he whispered at last, eyes still shut.

"Yes?"

"I...love you." She grinned up at him wickedly.

"I know." Was all she said, as she leant her head against his chest, the turmoil in her heart subsided.