A/N: Jane and the Dragon does not belong to me in any way.

Lenora leaned her elbow on her leg, gazing blankly ahead at the wall. Frederick was standing off to the side, writing furiously in a notebook while he chided her, her Uncle Milton putting some sort of foul smelling lotion on her hand. "Ow."

"—and your behavior! Don't even get me started on that!" Lenora let out a breath, closing her eyes. Darius had left soon after she was handed off to the Chamberlain, but Frederick had stayed, intent on nagging her until she agreed to have a heart to heart chat with the Prince. "Simply rude and nothing befitting a—"

"I thought you didn't want to get into it?"

"Don't interrupt! Why, in all my years as a friend to the Prince, I have never in my life encountered someone so—"

"Excuse me, Frederick?" He paused as Lenora smiled over at him. He frowned, eyes narrowing.

"What." She shooed the Chamberlain away and he took his bottle with him. A wave and he was gone. The smiled faded and she curled her legs up under her skirt as she sat on the table top. Frederick rose, standing straight as she gazed at him silently. "I understand your discomfort with the situation, but as it stands—"

"I'll try." He blinked and she let out a breath as she shifted off from the table. "I guarantee nothing, but I'll try. He's avoided me lately, but for you, I'll try." Frederick smiled.

"Thank you, Lenora."

"Markus!" He faltered as something barreled into him. He straightened, coughing out a breath.

"Lenora. What a surprise." She let go of him to stand straight. "What can I do for you today? Ah, you seem to be recovering nicely. We'll leave in four days."

"I'm looking for Darius." His brows furrowed.

"Darius?" She looked off to the side, blowing out a breath.

"Frederick wouldn't leave me alone." She waved a hand and he caught hold of it, peering down at the bandage. "Hey, what're you—"

"What did you do to your hand, Lenora?" He turned her hand over, seeing the red stain on her palm. "Did you fall?"

"Nicked it on some glass. But that's not important. If this fails, I'll never have to worry about it again. Have you seen Darius?" Markus dropped her hand, shaking his head.

"No. Check the stables, he's been with Smithy lately." Lenora smiled and his heart constricted.

"Thanks, Markus." And she turned, leaving him alone in the castle hall, alone with the pain he carried around for years at his single most terrible mistake.

"Clara, let me introduce you to Charles Brightin, a Marquis from Scandinavia." Clara smiled up at the Marquis not that much older than her. Markus looked between the two proudly, as if he did something good. Charles took Clara's hand, raising it to his lips.

"Markus has told me much about you, Lady Clara." Clara looked away, suddenly embarrassed by this green eyed man staring at her.

"R-really? Hopefully all good things?"

"Of your uncanny intelligence, your kindness, your unnatural beauty. And your temper." Clara's eyes narrowed at Markus and the fourteen year old looked away quickly. Clara withdrew her hand, her face pleasant once more. "Have I upset you?"

"My apologies. My sister is waiting for me." Charles took up her hand once more, both of his holding tight.

"I'm sorry if I spoke too forwardly. When Markus described you to me, I didn't believe him, and yet, here you are, standing before me…" Clara smiled softly, looking away.

"W-well, I'll take my leave, Marquis. My sister is—"

"Please." Clara looked up at him, slowly removing her hand once more. "Call me Charles."

"Darius." The Prince glanced over his shoulder, pausing briefly in his work with the sword. Lenora tried a small smile and he turned back.

"I'm sorry, did you need something, Lady Turnkey?" He raised the hammer, pounding against the hot metal as he removed it from the fire. She stepped into Smithy's workshop. She gazed around her at the various weapons hanging from the wall. "I'm helping out Smithy with his work. If you could make it quick, that would be appreciated."

A curse and something crashed from outside. Lenora turned, looking at Sir Ivan stumble around the yard, his arm in a sling. "Sir Ivan? Is everything alright?" the Knight froze and Darius paused in his work once more. "What happened to your arm?" The man slowly faced her, a strained smile on his lips.

"A-ah, L-lady Turnkey! W-what a surprise! I didn't expect ya here!" His eyes shifted around wildly. "Oh yeah, everythin's fine with my arm! Nothing to worry about! Our practice musta twisted something!" He gave a rather nervous laugh and Lenora tilted her head slightly to the side.

"Our… practice, Sir Ivan? When?" The Knight stared at her and Darius shook his head, tossing the weapon in the barrel of water.

"F-five days ago, Miss, when you came out from the party in a temper." Lenora's brows knitted together and she looked away in thought.

"I was upset…? Huh…" Darius paused once more. "Do you know what about? I'm afraid the fever took away some of my memory, Sir Ivan." She looked to him for help with what she had lost and had been trying to regain for the past two days. "I wasn't upset at you, was I?" She wondered if that's why his arm was in a sling.

"N-no, Miss. I haven't the slightest, you were just in a terrible place!"

"Oh. Well, thank you." Sir Ivan hurried away in-case she remembered and came after him again. Not that it was his fault the first time, but all the same. She let out a soft breath, turning back to Darius. "Frederick tells me—D-darius!" She pushed as his chest, looking up at him and trying to struggle out of his arms. "L-let me go! What're you doing?!" He smiled and she thought about slapping him.

"I love you." She stared up at him, lips parted in confusion.

"You… You fool!" and so she slapped him, pushing away and bolting.

She threw the bowl hard against the wall, chest heaving as she watched it crash and crumble into hundreds of pieces. A scream and she tossed the cup for good measure. She straightened, calming her breathing and sweeping her hair away from her eyes. "I am calm, yes, I'm calm, level-headed, collected. I am calm." She seated herself on the bed, brushing at her skirts and fixing up her hair. "I am calm, collected, as tranquil as the—" and knock on the door—" WHAT?!" Jane poked her head in, noticing the broken dinner ware and biting her lip.

"Shall… I come back at another time?"

"No, no, please, come in." She had returned to her original room, giving Darius his room back the day she woke up. Lenora shifted on the bed, patting the spot next to her. "Come sit, Jane."

"Lennie, is something the matter? You seem…upset." Lenora smiled, pating down her hair.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry, Jane, I'll be leaving you soon." Jane smiled, taking hold of her hand.

"I know. But you'll come and visit again, won't you?"

"Of-course, Jane."

"Lady Clara?" Clara hissed under her breath, holding tight to Lenora's hand.

"Nora, don't say a word." Lenora kept silent, gazing up at her elder sister in confusion. Clara plastered on a smile, stepping out from the hedges of the garden. "Charles, what a surprise." Lenora peeked around the bush to see a man take hold of her sister's hands, drawing her close. "A-ah, Charles, that's—"

"Clara, I must confess, I fear I'm in-love with you. I can't get enough of you and I fear now that I've met you, I can't live without you. Marry me, Clara." Lenora scoffed at this man and a hand, one bigger than her's, took hold over her own hand. She looked over at Markus staring at them, his expression one of absolute loss. She licked at her lips, looked at her sister, then squeezed his hand. "Say you'll marry me, Clara." Markus turned his face away.

"I-I'm flattered, but, C-charles, I can't." Lenora gave a smile, but it faded when she saw the man's eyes change.

"Markus!" she hissed at him. He looked at her with glazed eyes. "Markus, she said no!" The Crown Prince looked out at them, light beginning to return.

"Clara, I'm not sure you understand what you're saying." Her sister winced as his hands tightened their grip.

"Charles, you're hurting me, please, let go."

"Not until you agree. Clara, you're beautiful and I love you."

"Charles, that hurts!"

"Clara!" Charles glared at her as she ran out, grabbing her sister's skirts and glaring up at him. "Stop it! you're being mean!"

"Nora!" Charles gave a cruel grin.

"So you're Lenora." She looked up at him, eyes widening at his dark look.

As every relationships has its bumps, this one has mountains. Ah well~

I kinda feel sorry for him, he just can't win, what with Lenora's tragic experience with love and mushy stuff like that. Markus, the poor boy, he understands, but he isn't the one with horrible nightmares.

And so, this ends this chapter. Hope you'll continue reading~!