Disclaimer: I do not own Jane and the Dragon.

Okay, I'm really really really sorry about the long hiatus. First came a crazy summer, then my inspiration took off, then the craziest year of high school started and I had no time to go look for it. -_-'. Anyhow, finally dug back into the episodes and got back on the ball for this project. Yeah, not much of an excuse....Enjoy the long-worked on chapter!

Chapter 11: Boxed In

Darkness pressed in on him from every side of this frightening place. As far as he could tell, he was utterly and completely alone, but it was unnerving. There had to be someone out there, there just had to be.

He tried to move, but even though he felt what seemed to be a ground, he couldn't tell if he was even going anywhere. He called out to the black on all sides, for someone to answer and prove him within at least one other's company.

His yell, however, seemed to have more of an impact on the dark world around him then moving did. As soon as the sound reached out to the empty space, the blackness became alive with the sounds of unseen things chattering in the gloom, and the darkness suddenly shifted apart into moving gray shapes. The world that had seemed so dark and so foreboding was suddenly menacing with shadowy figures and many upon many of ominous feels in the hazed air. What seemed to further a case of hyperventilating was the fact that most of these silhouetted shapes appeared to be attempting to focus on moving toward where he couldn't see them, like at his back. One thing was for sure, there were no friends here.

It made him nervous…and forlorn, as though there were something about this observation that held a certain meaning to him.

Then something changed, abruptly. The chattering stopped, the shapes dissolved back into the darkness, and he was alone again. The darkness, the isolation pushed at him from all around, closing in around him like water. He was drowning in it, and the shapes pushed at him, further punishing him in this secluded hell hole.

And the worst part of it was…no one cared…

But then there was light streaming in, forcing him to open his eyes. He was still lying on relieving warm ground, and the sunshine had gone to that deep gold that usually comes from a sunset…

Something about that thought stirred in his groggy mind….sunset…

All at once it came back, him leaving the barn, flying as far as he could before finally crashing, and the fact that Jane had left for the castle, where all their enemies were.

The last part alone was enough for him to resume his efforts to get to his feet. Surprisingly, it was easier than it had been last time, although the burning from the muscles, as though they had been unused for longer than a couple days, lingered.

He would not give up. He would get there, he would make sure no harm came to her. Not his friend.

The knight's quarters had probably seen stranger things, but the fact that there was a squire sneaking through it's halls that was supposedly dead was a definite oddity.

Jane, in the meantime, was doing her best to stay out of wind of the other knights. As she went back the way she came, her ears and eyes were on full alert for any others coming her way. Surprisingly, she met no trouble, which in itself was an object of worry. Surely she would have at least seen one of the other knights by now…

But at the moment, all she could do was keep moving and be thankful for her luck, although something told her it was going to turn bad. She had considered the fact that it may have been a ruse, but she wasn't going to be able to get to the other gate. It would force her to go past the practice yard and the kitchen, not to mention the garden. Something told her it wouldn't be a good idea to gather attention right now.

Slipping into the stables, Jane gave the place a good long look, and seeing nothing moving that wasn't a horse, she stepped quietly out into the open. But before she could slide out the slightly ajar door, her arm bumped against a stirrup, making it clank noisily against the wall. The racket uneased a few of the horses, which neighed in response. Before anyone could show up to investigate the din, Jane slid through the door, into the yard, and dashed over to the space in which carts sometimes unloaded, taking refuge behind a set of barrels. Her eyes swooped several times over the gates, attempting to discern something anything that would explain this unnatural quiet. It just did not seem right that no one would be around, even at sunset.

However, there was no one at, or near the gate, as far as she could tell. The sun cast long shadows on the ground, and the occasional sound of the birds, small mammals, and the neighing of the horses in the stables behind her. Another oddity, usually there was at least a century. But no one was there, and as she darted out to the gate, the atmosphere remained silent.

The sun sank lower in the sky as Rennard watched from his vantage point. The last and hopefully final plan was well-underway. The squire had been so easy to predict. And once she was gone, they could move on to their bigger prize. The loathsome beast would be next. With the finances they had secured, a proper lance would be no problem. And, with any luck, they would get an ideal opportunity.

The knight's plans were briefly put off by the slight sound of feet scuffling on stone, and his eyes landed on the faint shadow of a very familiar squire attempting to make her way through the castle gate unnoticed, even with her disguise, he could still discern her by the few wisps of red that he could see hanging from under her hood. She was going at a halting pace, obviously deeply suspicious of the lack of activity. Of course she would, she would not be worth considering an obstacle if she weren't.

He waited until she was at the end of the gate, about to break down the path that led to a more secluded way, around the village instead of through, before sending a signal to Barden, who was similarly hidden behind a thicket.

Time to end this.

From there, the sign went through the concealed ranks of six knights, all scattered along the bushes and trees near the road. Once it reached the last two, John and Richard, they stepped out of their places, a good ways ahead of Jane. Moving towards her on the path, Rennard noticed with a smirk how the cloaked figure stiffened, how her steps faltered, before she attempted to put on the façade of impassiveness. But this ruse would not be enough to fool him, not by a long shot. In pairs, the knights left their places, and moved shadow-like to box the squire in. Rennard, coming up from behind, saw her hand reach toward her sword.

"Do not even think about it."

Probably have no rights to ask, but I've been hearing mixed things about whether or not there will be a new season of Jane and the Dragon. It's been everything from 'no new episodes', to 'we have a season waiting, but it's not coming out yet'. Can anyone give me any clarification on this?

Until next time.