The Consequential Kiss

After my declaration, of marriage to the one that wins the battle, I decided to just wait and see what would occur. All the men couldn't believe what happened. Jester called the men over "Hey men and dragon, come over here"

Leaving me standing by myself, I think about will they fall for my deception? This is what Jester wanted right? It must be, he would never carelessly give me away like an animal or thing. He must be planning something, I don't know what it is, but it's something.

I couldn't a hear a word, however, looking at their faces it appears that they like the idea, what I did not understand was when their happy faces changed into facial expressions I have not seen.

If what was they're discussing was not meant to be heard by me, than what are they talking about? Are they saying bad things about me? No matter, I won't let my frizzy hair, scrawny body, horrible laugh, or my fire breathing dragon stand in the way. If they can't except me or Dragon, than, I rather stay unmarried.

I chased away the negative feelings, and thought about the army that would soon be near. There must be a way to settle this war without bloodshed? Maggots. Did he think of a different way to settle it? Is that part of his plan? Is that why he's disguised as me?

Lost in my thoughts, I hardly notice Smithy walking toward me. I looked up, and when he had my attention, he answers my declaration on everyone behalf "Jane, we accept your offer"

I bowed in acknowledgement. The men and dragon shook hands, and readying ourselves to move along, we mount our horses, except for Jester who's riding Dragon. When everyone else was preoccupied, Jester winked at me.

So we do have an understanding. Let's play this game right.

Before moving anywhere, Sir Ivon woke up, and began scolding me for bringing Smithy, but not "me" me, but Jester me. What a sight it was to watch myself get scolded. What was even more extraordinary was hearing my voice coming out of Jesters mouth. One of the things that I love most about him is his spontaneousness. Using flattery, he explained the reason for Smithy's presence, and that Jester is a decoy. Without further questions, Sir Ivon mounted his horse and lead the way.

For awhile, there was only silence from everyone. The only sound was from metal clanging and horses clopping. There was no one around except farmers salvaging crops. Looking ahead, a large army can be seen in the distance. I'm not able to count the number, but they appear to be walking. More foot soldiers perhaps. If so then it may be sometime before they arrive. But how are we going to do this? Taking on twenty soldiers earlier was not a difficult task, but I never killed anyone. Its not death that bothers me, its causing death. There must be another way.

"Jane"

I think I can hear Jester calling me.

Again I was torn away from my thoughts when Gunther and Jester started causing trouble. Gunther says in a egotistical tone "I don't know what you're talking about? Isn't it Jane who's scared?"

Scared, yes, I'm a bit scared. I can't deny it. I don't feel like humoring you today Gunther.

I calmly answer "Which Jane are you referring to?"

Let's stop fighting for now.

An embarrassed Gunther looked away and answered "the real one"

Staying composed I replied "Right, your correct Gunther.. I am well now."

Let's just stop fighting.

It wasn't enough for Gunther, he stopped, dismounted his horse, formed a snowball and threw it at my head.

Are you serious? If I don't humor you, you cause more trouble.

I stopped, dismounted my horse, and threw a snowball at Gunther. Then nothing, he just stood there looking at me.

Why are you just standing there?

And that's when the thought came to me there is snow everywhere, can we use snow as a weapon instead?

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jester yelled out "Greetings, good gentles and lady, welcome to our snowball fight. Whoever tackles Jane, will get a kiss. You can only use snow as a weapon, if you fall you lose, I will be joining this battle, if there is no questions, then it starts...right...about...now"

Are you reading my mind Jester? Or is this too your idea?

All the rest of the men, now including Sir Ivon, stopped, dismounted their horses, and started taking down own another. I climbed a tree nearby to ensure the safety of my lips.

Offering a kiss? I didn't know they would all want such a thing. Especially the senior knights, they want a kiss at their age?

Gunther was first to go down, he tripped on a rock and fell in the snow.

How could your ego allow such a thing to occur

Sir Theodore put snow down Sir Ivon's shirt, while Sir Ivon made a snowball of doom.

Men at respectable age act like children too?

Sir Ivon aimed for Smithy's head, but missed the target, and hit Dragon in the eye. An overly excited dragon took one step, and snow fell from a the tree behind Sir Ivon, taking out the senior knights. Smithy, and dragon circled each, waiting for the each others move.

Sorry Smithy, but I'd rather kiss Dragon

Looking at Jester, he was enjoying himself as he was making my likeness out of snow. After a few minutes, Smithy and Dragon were still circling each other. Smithy tried to discourage Dragon, but still lost. He was hit with Dragons giant snowball.

Now only stood Dragon and Jester. Dragon said confidentially "So short life, any last words?"

Pretending to have horns Jester says "Mooooooooo...moo...mooo"

Laughingly, Dragon started laughing "ha haaaha ha ha haha ha!"

My big green newt, your downfall are cows

As he continued to laugh, Dragon slips on snow and falls down. The ground shook when Dragon fell down, so hard that I lost footing and fell out of the tree.

When I hit the ground, it was softer than I thought. When I looked, I noticed I crushed Jesters snow Jane. With a tender smile he said "Jane, they say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but what do you say when a Jane falls?"

I started to blink to prevent tears coming out of my eyes and answered "I'm not sure?"

Bending down, Jester gently picked me up from the snow, and looked at me warmly with those silver eyes, he said affectionately "You must have fallen for me than. It seems you can't fall for any one else but me."

I also think so too.

Looking at my hands, there was a scratch that I must have got from from my fall. Jester notices where I'm looking, and kissing the scratch says "I hope the pain will go away with my healing kiss"

He looked to meet my eyes once more, and we just stayed staring at one another.

Why? Why is it that I feel weak against your gaze?

As Jester touched my face, and I can feel my cheeks get hot

I look weird, please stop that

Then he passes his finger over my lips

Your finger is warm

With tears welling up in my eyes, he lightly kisses my eyes

Why do I feel as though I'm crying?

And he softly kissed my cheeks

No, my face is all weird, don't look

Lastly he tenderly kisses my lips. Our lips didn't want to part, but Gunther asked "So, does that mean if she becomes ours, we can kiss her like that?"

No Gunther, not you

He puts me down and tells Gunther how when it comes to a relationship, the feelings must be mutual. Sir Theodore and Sir Ivon spoke highly of me as well. However, we were wasting precious time so I interrupted "Why don't we wait for the enemy? We would save time, and not use unnecessary energy."

Smiling, Sir Theodore says "Very well, you and Gunther will stay here and rest"

Picking up a dead tree, Dragon breaks it in half to make a place to sit, using the branches, he lights a fire and said "stay warm Jane, I'll be back."

Hugging Dragon's head "thank you Dragon, don't cause trouble"

Smiling he said "I promise not to be a pain...today. I don't know about tomorrow though."

Clapping his hands to get everyone attention "everyone will have a different task. Gunther and Jane will guard the horses and rest. Sir Ivon, Smithy, and Jester will gather wood for the fire. Gather a good amount, just in case the temperature drops. Myself and Dragon will gather food to eat. Now Jane and Gunther remember your honor, and don't fall asleep. You wouldn't want to enemy to easily over take us. Understood?"

Together me and Gunther answer "Yes Sir Theodore"

Sir Theodore before leaving whispers in my ear "Be wary of Gunther."

Patting my head, he left with Dragon to hunt. Smithy hands me some rope and whispers "be cautious around Gunther, he's a little...off"

With a smile, Smithy patted my arm, and left with Sir Ivon to gather wood. As they walked away, before he left, Jester looked back at me and said "be careful of Gunther he's dangerous" then happily waved. But I don't think he wanted to leave me.

Be careful of Gunther? There's no way a beef brain like him can be dangerous

It was not night yet, but I started to feel the cold air get to me. Gunther looked at me and said in a angered tone "Are you cold? If you are just say so."

Maggots

I didn't want to look weak especially not in front of Gunther, so I lied "I'm fine Gunther, no need to concern yourself"

It would only be troubling

Taking off his coat, he places it over me and started scolding me "Stupid girl, its obvious you are, I could see you shaking. Your not a man, so you have to take care of yourself."

What trickery is this? Are you calling me weak?

I was about to retort his remark, but looking at Gunther, his lips started to look pale, so I sat closer and wrapped the both of us with his coat and said thankfully "Thank you Gunther, but you too need to take care of yourself"

I guess he was being sincere. Thank you. Its awkward to sit this close but were comrades, we have to watch out for one another.

In order to keep warm, I sit as close as I could to cover me and Gunther as much as possible. Gunther begins to fidget around. As I snuggle up against Gunther, I could hear his heart beating furiously.

No ones heart beats like that, right?

I wondered if he may be ill, so I asked "Gunther, are troubled? Your heart is beating way too fast."

He retorted "That's how a mans heart beats, fast and manly"

Not convinced "I listen to his heart " Are you sure, its beating as fast as a rabbits heart"

Pushing me away he says "Your wasting your time, I won't fall for your tricks."

Looking at him directly in the eyes with concern "I'm not tricking you, I am seriously concerned about your well being. I care about you, that's what friends do"

Looking away, Gunther replies irritated "Goodness Jane, this is what I hate about you. You try to be more brave than me, you care for others more than yourself, you never comb your hair, your vunerable at the worst times, you allow strange men to kiss you, and you don't even care."

My blood began to boil the things he said were mostly true, but its not that I wanted to be kissed by strange men. I only wanted to kiss Jester. And Dragon I don't mind so much neither.

Not able to contain my anger I angrily reply "What's wrong with you? Today I have tried my best to be patient with you, so why is no matter what I do you are angry?"

Without facing me he says "Because I hate you, I hate everything about you. The way you look at me, the way you smell, when you smile, your green eyes, your red hair, your friends, your freckles, I hate them all!"

No matter what I do he won't stop. But I'll try one last time

Lookingat him, calmly I asked "why do you hate me?"

Suddenly turning his head, his face and eyes were red and he yells "BECAUSE I DO, I HATE YOU"

OK, I had enough. I'll just walk away. There nothing I can do.

I stood up and started to move away from him, this action only angers him more as he yells "That's it? You have nothing to say? Your not mad? I just said I hate you?"

Like a child, throwing a tantrum, aren't you too old for taught you to be so hateful?

Hoping to stop his anger, with a smile I say "There is nothing I can do if you hate me. I give up, you win."

As I'm walking away Gunther says "I'm still talking to you, you can't do this, I'm not done with you yet."

He grabs my arm too hard causing me to fall on my butt. Feeling frustrated, without permission, my tears let themselves out.

Gunther's rage suddenly disappeared when he looked at my saddened state. Looking away, he offers a hand to pull me up, but when I try to get up I pulled too hard on purpose to make him fall, and we both fell down. To my dismay he fell on me. When he pushed himself up to sit down, his eyes met mine, he started blushing furiously and he pushed me away from him. Giving me his coat, Gunther picks me up, and puts me down to sit near the fire.

He sat not too far away as he looked the other way. I stand up, and get closer to look at his face, but he avoided eye contact, I tried touching his forehead to see if he's sick but he slaps my hand away too hard causing him to fall back.

Something is off

Worried I ask "Are you alright Gunther?"

While looking toward the sky "I'll be fine, just don't look at me."

Curious I asked "Why can't I look at your face?"

Calmly he answers "I'm broken."

I help sit him up, and I asked him "Where does it hurt? Show me"

He grabs my wrist and places my hand on his head and says "I'm broken here"

Then he places my hand over his eyes "these hurt everyday"

Then over his ears "here too"

Then over his cheek "and here"

He pauses for a few seconds and then places my fingers over his lips "and here"

And placed my hand over the center of his chest "and my lungs"

Lastly over his heart "especially here"

Grabbing both my hands and squeezing them "and my hands hurt"

How can all those things hurt and your still be walking around?

He began to smirk as he pulled me close to his face, and pridefully said "does this make you mad?"

How peculiar, how come I never noticed how handsome Gunther was?

Gunther starts turning red as soon as our eyes met, he released my hands, stands up, runs, but right away, fell to his knees while grabbing his chest.

I ran up to Gunther and asked anxiously "Gunther, you are sick, what's wrong? what makes you ill?"

Trying to catch his breath he says "you..ha.. ma...ke...ha...me..sick"

Curious I asked "Why, I myself am not with any ailment, and yet you say I contaminated you? Its clear that your unwell, wait here I'll fetch Dragon and Sir Theodore"

He tried to stand himself up, but started to fall, I caught him before he fell to the ground. Standing him up and with his body leaning against mine "Gunther will you be alright?"

Using the strength he has left, he tried to push me away, but fails as he pleads "no...n.o...no...Don't, look at me...I feel terrible... When you look at me...stay away...my...face...its...weird...ha"

Then Gunther faints.

Without delay, I drag Gunther near the fire, lay his head on my lap and started to pat his hair. The unconscious Gunther, had his cheeks colored red, while his hair was sprinkled with snow.

When he's not mad or yelling he's pretty cute. Who knew he was so weak and could be so vulnerable.

After a few minutes he started to talk in his sleep "no...Jane...st..stay away...I... I...I...like...you...don't...look...at...my...face...ill...get...mad..and...say something... Stu...pid...Jane...your...eyes...yo...ur...eyes...are...da...nge...rous..want...to...kiss...yo...uuu

I continued to pat his hair and start to coo "Its alright, I'm right here"

Grabbing one of my hands he sleepily says "please...touch my face some more...I liked it."

So I touched his face his face is soft.

Then it appears as though he having a bad dream "no...do..not...Lea..ve..me...Jane...don't...Lea...ve..."

Then tears started coming out of his eyes, and he softly groans " noooooo...pl...ESE...I...lo...ve...yo..uuuu"

Moved with pity, I decided to give him a peck on the lips, but as I do he grabs my face and passionately kisses me, he continued to passionately kiss me as tears fell out of his eyes. Once he is done he opens his eyes and smiles "Is this a dream? If it is, then don't let it end"

What was that? He thinks this is a dream, well I'll snap him out of it.

Ready to hit him, I froze when he began to caress my face. As I'm stuck in shock, and I didn't speak, while touching my hair he says "Jane, why is it this time, you didn't run away from me like you always do?"

I'll play along and see what he's thinking

Looking Gunther directly in the eyes I asked "why would I ever run from you?"

Laughing happily, his face began turning red and says "Jane, stop that, you know that I'm weak against your eyes."

Gunther smiling, no he's beaming with happiness

Laughingly he covers his eyes "OK, now that I'm protected against those eyes. In my dreams you always walk away when you get mad and run into his arms"

Still curious I asked "Who's arms?"

Uncovering his eyes he grabs my hands and holds them up "This feels good, we should continue doing this."

Growing impatient I said "that doesn't answer my question?"

Laughing happily, he mischievously said "please do get mad, I love it. Oh Jane, I'll tell you but you have to tell me how you feel about me first."

Smiling I tell him "Ok , but I'll have to show you, close your eyes first"

Excited he closed his eyes and said "Jane I didn't know you were so forward. Your not going to run away are you?"

Reassuring him "I promise, I'll show you how my heart feels about you. Don't peek. Tell me when your ready"

Growing impatient he said "give it to me, give all your heart has to offer"

Happily I said "Ok, I'll give to you"

I slapped his face with as much force I could muster up. Falling back from the force he opened his eyes and realized it wasn't a dream.

Confused he asked "Jane, I was sleeping, right?"

Coldly I answered "After the kiss, You were awake the rest of the time."

Gunther fell to his knees and began to beg "Jane I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I told you to stay away"

Feeling my heart cold as the ice around us "I felt pity for you, after you said you hated me, stealing my lips without permission and this is what you do."

A desperately begging Gunther pleaded "I'll do anything"

Acting high and mighty I said "than let me step on you"

Gunther accepts this and before I can step on Gunther, Jester yells "stop! What are you doing? Did Gunther do something?"

I answered "and if he did?"

Jester answered "than I'll punish him by stepping on him in your behalf."

Gunther soon regretted his actions as now he's stepped on by a man.