A/N: Jane and the Dragon do not belong to me in the least.
"Jane? Oh, Pepper, yes?" Pepper jumped at the voice, the bowl briefly leaving her hands before she caught hold of it. She turned quickly, stirring fiercely while she smiled at the newcomer.
"Why, Lady Lenora! I-I didn't expect you!" She dropped the spoon for a moment to brush away at loose hair. "Y-you'll have to excuse the mess, I haven't quite finished washing the dishes yet…" Lenora smiled back at her.
"I expect nothing less of a kitchen, Pepper. Please, call me Lennie." Pepper moved about the kitchen, stirring a pot here, moving a tray from an oven, poking at bread, and picking up glass containers and tapping some of their contents into a large pot over the fire. "Would you… like some help? I'm afraid it's been awhile, but I can still cook well." Pepper dropped a cup, the container bouncing and rolling away on the floor.
"You?! L-lady Lenora! You couldn't!" Lenora blinked at her outburst. "I-I-I mean, you're a lady of the court! S-such a thing—" Lenora grabbed an apron, tying it around her waist and putting a hand on her hip, smiling. "L-lady Lenora…"
"Please. I'm not some lady. I'm just Jane's cousin. Just tell me what to do and I'll do it." Pepper swallowed, eyes shifting around rapidly, searching for something to use as an excuse. "It would be best to just let me do something." Pepper dropped into a hurried curtsy.
"A-as you wish…" Lenora smiled, stepping up. "Well…"
"What needs done?"
Laughter floated around the courtyard as Darius stepped in. He had been looking for Smithy, the blonde promising to teach him some new skills later, but had been at a loss of where he could be if not in the stables. "He was so clumsy as a kid! I tried to help, but he was so stubborn!" Was that Lenora?
"Really? He seems to have grown out of it!" A girl's voice, the cook? What was Lenora doing with the cook? "Ah, not yet, Lennie. It has to be warm. Just keep it in."
"Sure. He tried, but he just couldn't. He just grew so fast, you know? I had trouble keeping up with all his doings in the castle. I just couldn't be one step ahead anymore."
"For what?"
"His pranks and mischief. Sent me a love letter once, but signed it with the name of a courier I liked. Too bad he didn't realize I knew his hand writing better than anyone." A sigh and Darius moved closer, curious about these events. He walked across the cobblestones, dropping down to sit against the wall by the window. "I can't blame him though. He was just trying to help." He peered in, seeing Lenora with flour smeared across her cheek, an apron around her waist. The cook worked beside her on something.
"What did it say? Was it very romantic?" The cook clasped her hands together as Lenora snorted.
"As if. I was 13, he 15." She pulled away, undoing an imaginary letter. "'Dearest Lenora, You are the light of my life and I cannot see a future without you. I know your pain and wish only that I could bring it on myself. Forget all those others, I urge you to rely on me. If you would ever need a soul to count on, to rely on, please, think of me as your servant. I will be forever chained to your will by the strings of Fate. Forever Yours, Adair.' As if he could fool me." The cook braced her hands over her heart, eyes fluttering shut.
"How lovely!" Lenora gave her a look. "Oh, don't you see, Lennie? It wasn't a prank, he was confessing he feelings to you! He loved you then and he most certainly does now!" Darius couldn't listen, rising to his feet. "You're so much like Jane it's uncanny!"
"Markus? No, you're mistaken. He's the annoying elder brother I never had. Besides, he could never love me, he… Well, he loves someone else, told me himself. Slapped him for it, but he trusted me with it and I haven't yet betrayed his confidence." Darius turned his face to the side, leaning against the wall. "Unfortunately, she'll never love him in return."
"Oh, poor Markus…" There was silence for a few minutes and Darius considered leaving them. "But what about you, Lennie? There must be someone out there for you." A sharp bark of laughter.
"Me? Please, I'm stronger than most men. Who would ever find me attractive? Who would ever want me, for that matter?"
"But, Lennie, you're beautiful! And besides, Prince Darius seemed fond of you." Darius considered shifting around the corner, standing closer to the doorway, to be closer to them. "In the time I've seen him, why, he's barely—"
"He's an odd one, that one. Frankly, I think he entertained the idea of me, but decided I was too much trouble. Strong will and sharp tongue and all."
"Runs in the family."
"Indeed. I suppose he's moved on to some poor innocent vulnerable to his charms and royal status." He rolled his eyes. Surely the rumors about him weren't that bad.
"Well, I don't know… He seemed smitten with you. Why, when you were sick, he barley left your side. He slept right on the chair next to you, only leaving for scarce few minutes to eat and personal business. I thought for sure someone told you." He turned away, intent on leaving, not wanting to hear her reply.
"He… Really? For me?"
"Yes, Jane was worried too, but, Darius was always there, so she knew you were in good hands. He was the one who came running when Jane started screaming and he even carried you straight to his room and settled you down quick!"
"Really? He's been avoiding me though… Any ideas?"
"Well, I did hear talk of you speaking in your sleep…"
"He probably thinks I'm crazy then." In all honesty, no. He didn't. It was what she did, that last day, why he had woke her up, that had unnerved him so deeply.
"Perhaps."
"Well, pass those, I'll peel. Ah, isn't that for lunch? Best get it before it burns." Darius stole away, listening to the cook gasp, the rustling of containers as she hurried to save whatever it was she made for lunch.
Jane let out another sigh and Gunther resisted the urge to snap at her. "Jane." She rested her head in her hand, gazing out at the yard. "Jane."
"Yes?"
"Stop being moody." She straightened, glaring.
"Moody? Who's moody?" The sound of a lute whispered from above them and Jane stopped glaring to look up at Jester, who sat on the wall, strumming absently to himself. "Jester? Is everything alright?"
"Hm?" His eyes cast down to where they sat. "Oh, yes, I'm fine." He stated rather dreamily. Jane quirked a brow while Gunther rolled his eyes. He let out a content sigh. "Isn't it a lovely day?"
"Here we go again… Well, Jane, as much as I would absolutely love to sit in on this conversation, I have work to be done. Give my best to Sir Ivan and Sir Theodore." He gave a single wave over his shoulder, striding away. Most likely to find Janine.
Jane gazed up at her best friend, pursing her lips. "Jester, what's gotten into you?" He hummed, rising and moving slowly down the stairs, gazing up at the sky.
"I just heard… the most lovely voice…" Jane raised a brow.
"You mean besides your own?"
"It was lovelier than Dragon's." Well then. That would do it. "And I haven't the faintest on who it belongs to, a woman, I know that much." Jane tilted her head lightly to the side.
"A lady, hmm? Well, the only new people here are… Oh…" Jane closed her eyes tightly against the pain.
"Jane, do you know who it is?" Jester strode toward, taking her hands in his. "You have to tell me! Such a voice must be shared with the world! We could do a duet!" She opened her eyes, brushing him off.
"She would kill you if you suggested it. She no longer sings in public." Jester's face fell and Jane pitied him. Really, all he needed was his lute, some paper and ink, and singing, his or someone else's, and he was content.
"That's too bad…" His form deflated and Jane squeezed the bridge of her nose.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask her…" His eyes lit up and Jane felt a migraine coming on. "But if she says no, you must drop it, deal?" She held out a hand and he grasped it tightly.
"Of-course!"
Yes. Definitely a migraine. Curse him and his sad eyes.
Lenora hummed quietly to herself, rolling out dough, kneading it with her hands and flattening it repeatedly. "Excuse me, is Pepper here?" She didn't look up, continuing with the bread dough.
"Sorry. She's in the hall, setting up everything for lunch. She might be awhile."
"Oh. T-thank you." She turned, catching sight of a hint of tunic as he left. She shrugged lightly, returning to hum lightly, getting a dish to press the dough into, and then putting it off to the side to rise properly.
"Lenora." She whirled, jolting at the sudden voice, knocking over a glass in her surprise. It went crashing to the ground and she immediately ducked down to pick up the pieces. Blood appeared as she nicked herself. She hissed under her breath, ignoring the pain in her palm, picking up the pieces. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you." He knelt down, helping. She looked up at him hurriedly.
"D-don't do that, you'll hurt yourself." He rose with his pieces, dropping them in the trash.
"Like you?" She scoffed, letting them slide from her hand and going for the broom. "I'm just trying to help. Lenora, I'd like to talk to you about Darius."
"I don't have anything to discuss with you then, Frederick. I thank you for your help, but, if you'll excuse me, I have to start for dinner. Pepper will be back soon and we'll be pressed for time." Frederick ran a hand through his hair, leaning against the counter. Lenora turned her back to him, peeling potatoes.
"He's not been himself these past few days. And you're the reason why."
"Well excuse me for not fainting in his arms." Frederick pinched the bridge of his nose, closing him eyes.
"No, it's just—he—bah. He said you talked in your sleep but when I asked what, he wouldn't say. You must have said something that set—"
"I can't be accountable for all his moods. If, in my sleep, I confessed I was in love with the blacksmith, he shouldn't be cross with me. It's not my fault his heart was broken. He needs to fall in-love with a Princess, not a Lady-in-Waiting. Maybe you should talk to him instead of—gyee…" She hissed as the knife cut into her thumb. "Curse it all, I've done it again!" He took the knife from her hand, grabbing a towel and wrapping it about her hand. "I don't suppose you'll—"
"Shush, Lenora." She rolled her eyes, breathing out a sharp breath as he tied it in a tight knot. "Sorry."
"I bet." He pulled her away from the table, pushing her toward the stairs. "Hey, wait a minute, I have to—"
"Not now, Lenora. Confound it, why are you so stubborn?"
"I'm not stubborn! I just don't want to be guided into—Oh. Prince Darius." She licked at her lips as Darius looked at her curiously as they ascended into the light. "What a surprise." She glared at Frederick, who held tight to her arm.
"Frederick?"
"Sir. Sorry to take her away but, she's needs some medical attention." Darius was instantly on Lenora's other side, a hand on them small of her back as they both led her toward the castle.
"Oh please, I'm fine! Darn it all, why won't the two of you listen to me? All I need to do is—"
"Settle down, Lenora, we can't have it get infected, or worse." Darius chided her, as if she was a child.
"I know that! Dear angels, what have I done to deserve this torture?" She gave up, knowing that they would drag her if need be.
"Nora, what have you done?" Clara looked at her little sister covered in bruises and shallow scratches. Lenora lifted her chin proudly, hands on hips.
"Markus challenged me to a wrestling match!" Clara blinked before nodding slowly.
"I see that. Did you win?"
"Yep!" Clara took her hand, leading her toward the castle. "H-hey, where're we going?"
"To get you fixed up. Can't those scratches get infected. That wouldn't be fun." Lenora tried pulling her hand from her sister's grip, but it didn't work very well.
"But I'm fine! They're just little! They'll heal fine!"
"Nora, don't argue with me. I know best." Lenora ducked her head, stopping in her struggle to walk beside her sister.
"Yes, Clara."
"That's a good girl."
AHA~! So I'm back~
Ha, bet you all thought that was Darius, hmm? Nope~! His babysitter, Frederick!
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, everyone, may your holidays be joyous.