She turned around and locked her door. This made Jester very uncomfortable. Despite the cold, he started to sweat. Jane held the handle in one hand and the other on the door. She slowly inhaled and turned around. Jester was looking straight into her eyes.

"They're like the frost on the river," she thought. She quickly looked away.

"Why did you come to my rescue?" the words slowly choked out her mouth.

Jester did not want her angry with anyone. He would just have to tell her the truth or… run away. He chose the second option and started to the door. Jane stood firmly in front of it.

"You can not keep running away. Tell me, please."

"I, uh…" he thought about it. "Because I had to."

Jane's heart sank to her feet. She shook her head through her tears. Jester realized what he had just said and what he had done. He made her cry, something that he never, not ever, in a million years wanted to do. He would rather die.

"No Jane, not-" before he could finish, she ran out the door, sobbing uncontrollably.

Jane had a special spot, for when she was upset and couldn't talk to Dragon or Jester. It was under the Cherry tree, on the swing. The soothing motion of the swing always helped her calm down. She sat down on the swing and rocked back and forth. She nearly slipped off the frost-covered board. Her eyes were now wet and cold. She could barely feel her nose. She heard the footsteps of someone walking. With each and every step, there was a jingle. She automatically knew who it was. She turned away abruptly.

Jester knew what he had to do. He had to tell her how he felt.

"Jane I am sorry. I put the emphasis on the right word on the wrong way. I meant that I had to save you, not because nobody else would, but because I-"

Jane whipped around in the swing. "You what?" she snapped. She glared at him with all the hatred in the world in her eyes.

Quit avoiding it Jester. Just tell her. For some reason, Jester could not himself to do it.

"Because you are my best friend. I do not know what I would do without you."

Jane felt her heart swell. It wasn't what she was hoping for, but close enough. For some reason though, she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. A feeling that told her he was holding something back. What that was, she would never know, unless he told her. Don't bother with it. He apologized and that's all that really matters right now.

"Thank you Jester. I am sorry I misunderstood you."

She got up from the swing. There was only one thing to do at a time like this, go on a Dragon flight. It was the only thing that cleared her mind and helped her sort out her problems.

"Where are you going?" Jester called after her.

Dragon was sunbathing in the garden and that's where she headed.

"On patrol!"

Jester flopped down on the swing. He could not believe he avoided it again.

The wind whistled past Jane's ears and flew through each strand of her hair. The sight below her was

greater than any artist's vision of a perfect world.

"Jane, what is wrong? You are normally so talkative."

"Sorry, Dragon."

"Is there something you want to tell me? Something about you and Jingle-boy?"

Jane could feel herself blush. "What ever are you talking about?"

"I saw you, and heard you."

"So what?" she was getting impatient with him.

"Well, I could hear it in your voice. You really like him."

"And?" Oops. She let it slip and Dragon was the biggest blabber in the kingdom, save Pepper.

"I knew it! So, what are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing. I cannot do anything. I have my knighthood to worry about. No time for courting."

"Pssh. You have plenty of "time"."

"Dragon. You do not have permission at all to tell anyone. You tell anyone, I do not know what I will do to you."

"Dragon's honor."

"I can only imagine what mother would say."

Dragon raised his voice, "Jane? Courting Jester, why that is positively un-lady like."

"I am not courting him, what-so-ever."

"But you want to."

Jane knew Dragon was right, but she figured that she was right as well. She could not court Jester. Well, she could, but it is not her decision. She will have to wait for him. But you want to. Those words, she knew, would stick.