A/n: I haven't updated this for a while, but I thought I'd write a small chapter cause I know people are actually reading this. Let me know if theres anything you guys would like to see.
Chapter 7: Jealousy
The sounds of hammering were typical for this time of day, and would otherwise give no cause for alarm unless there was a pause. The prelude to the pause would start with Jane calling after the blacksmith, and the hiss of hot metal touching water, and the usual sarcastic reply to the lady knight's inquiry before the softening of character took place. What followed were the sounds of laughter that distracted Gunther from his archery practice as well as the conversation that carried on between them. Smithy was indifferent to most and carried on with his sense of duty from day to day, but with Jane, he exhibited a rare warmth, and dare the raven-haired knight to say chattiness? Yes, the knight thought so.
Bat bladders! Having missed his target once more, Gunther set down his bow and glanced at the two who seemed to be discussing horsemanship as well as areas in the forest that was pleasant for riding. It disgusted Gunther with how pleased the blacksmith seemed to share such information or how openly Jane received it. What did Smithy know? He scarcely had the time to traverse such areas, but that did not matter to the lady knight. Much to Gunther's annoyance, Jane was eager to listen to all that had to be said on the subject before the blacksmith resumed his activity.
With clenched fists, the raven-haired knight lifted his bow and wondered how accurate his arrow would be, whether it would hit its mark; the blacksmith's head, but just as quickly dismissed the thought. Who was he kidding? It was no wonder Jane readily approached the blacksmith on such matters. Smithy was far more skilled in horsemanship than he was and must have passed a better part of his youth becoming familiar with the land, but that did not mean Gunther did not have his fair share of information to give.
Still, the raven-haired did not possess the calm demeanour nor the assurance in his skill to be able to help himself let alone Jane. If he was half the man the blacksmith was, Gunther might have been a better knight. And kicking the ground with his boot, and groaning in frustration, he headed for the armoury to put away the bow as well as to search for a different task to distract himself.