A/N: Thank you for reading, and for your support so far. You may find it much easier to read this fic (and several others by various authors which have not been posted here!) over at archiveofourown .org which is ad free. There is also an active Jane and the Dragon fandom on tumblr, and we have a discord server. Martin Baynton has also begun publishing a new JatD novel on his website.
It was late evening when Gunther returned to the castle, and as he made his way towards the kitchen for dinner he saw Jester slumped dejectedly over the table, surrounded by his friends.
"You mean she did not say anything to you?" Rake was asking.
"Oh, she said 'Hello' when I walked in and 'Goodbye' when I walked out," sighed Jester. "But apart from that? Nothing. She just sat there and watched me sing. No smiles, no laughter. Nothing."
The old table squeaked slightly as Gunther lowered himself onto the bench opposite Jester.
"She did not recognise you?" he asked, trying to keep his voice light.
Jester pushed his hat back on his head just far enough to allow him to stare dismally at Gunther.
"Not a jot. No spark, no glimmer. It was as though we had just met." He allowed the hat to slide back down over his eyes. "And I fear I was found wanting."
"I am sure that was not the case," said Smithy, settling onto the bench beside Jester. "Lost memory or not, Jane is not the judgmental type."
Gunther felt his eyebrows shoot upwards, but quickly schooled his expression. Did these people know Jane at all?
"Did she enjoy her soup?" asked Rake hopefully as he sat beside Gunther.
"All two mouthfuls of it," muttered Jester, his face pressed against the table top. "She is pale and thin, and has no appetite to speak of." He sat up at last as Pepper arrived, carrying their dinner on a tray, before groaning in mock horror as it was set before him.
Confused, Gunther investigated his own meal; a bowl of hearty vegetable soup.
The others stared dejectedly at the failed memory restoring broth, but Gunther's appetite had been fuelled by his journey up the mountain and he began eating heartily.
"How was Dragon?" asked Smithy, after several moments of silence.
"Miserable," replied Gunther around mouthfuls of soup. "He still blames himself."
"Poor dear," sighed Pepper. "Perhaps I should make him some cabbage soup."
"Oh, no, no more soup!" wailed Jester, pushing his own bowl away dramatically.
"I promised I would visit him with any news in a few days," said Gunther, ignoring him. "I could take some then."
"Very well," said Pepper, taking Jester's rejected bowl and giving it to Gunther, who had already finished his first. She fixed the fool with a firm stare when he protested miserably, although her expression soon softened.
"Please, Pepper, I am to perform for Jane again tomorrow and I cannot bear the thought on an empty stomach!"
Gunther slurped his soup loudly.
"Then I shall fetch you a pea and pumpkin tart," said Pepper, relenting. "But if you reject my soup again you will have to get used to going hungry!" She warned.
Jester performed for Jane for the next two days, and could be found slumped at the table each evening, his self-pity almost palpable as he stared vaguely into the distance.
Pepper shook her head at Gunther as he arrived for dinner on the third night, and the knight knew better than to ask after Jester's day.
He could not muster any pity for the fool, however. After spending his days trying to cover Jane's duties as well as his own, sitting around singing to an invalid hardly seemed to be a sufferance. But it was typical of Jester to over-dramatise in the hope of gaining sympathy. He had yet to find success with Gunther.
"I will visit Dragon in the morning if you have the cabbage soup prepared, Pepper," said Gunther, settling at the table and ignoring the other occupant.
Jester groaned slightly but said nothing, apparently remembering Pepper's caution.
"I have the cabbages ready and waiting," said the cook brightly, placing a bowl of hot stew before Gunther. "I will see to it tonight."
Gunther nodded before attacking the meal with his usual enthusiasm. Being required to keep up with Jane's chores as well as his own was exhausting to say the least, and certainly fuelled his appetite. It had been flattering at first to find himself suddenly so vital to castle operations, but the novelty had soon worn thin when he realised that it simply translated to more work. He hadn't had a decent nap in days.
Who knew that Jane voluntarily took on so many extra duties? Was she afflicted by some strange madness the day she chose to start caring for the castle chickens? It was entirely undignified and not at all befitting of a knight. Gunther would have to try to persuade Rake to take over lest he had to clean their coop out a second time. And what possessed her to take on mucking out the stables with Smithy each week? She scarcely even rode a horse! As for all the extra polishing of weaponry and maintenance of training tools, well perhaps if Sir Ivon insisted on making such awkward contraptions he should be the one tasked with their upkeep.
It would have done Jane well to consider who might have to take on all of her 'thoughtful contributions' before she went eating poison berries. Now she was tucked warm in bed and Gunther had to work double duty doing chores that were better suited to a peasant.
The stew was thick and hot, with chunks of chicken and what Gunther considered to be Dragon's greatest contribution to the kingdom -potatoes. One of the benefits of moving to the castle after being knighted, apart from avoiding his father's ill temper, was the ready supply of warm meals.
After years or returning home from a day spent training or labouring to a cold fireplace and fixing a meal of bread, cheese and cured meat, Pepper's cooking was not something he thought he would ever tire of. At least now he did not have to work on an empty stomach.
Pepper seemed to appreciate his enthusiasm for her cooking, at the very least. Although she did not serve the delicacies Gunther had always claimed to prefer, he had never once turned his nose up at her food.
He bolted down the last few mouthfuls before grabbing a chunk of bread as he stood up.
"I have the first watch tonight," he said by way of explanation. "Thank you for the meal, Pepper."
"You are most welcome!" she called as he hurried away.
Gunther yawned his way through breakfast the following morning. First watch had turned into second watch when he realised that no one was coming to relieve him. Sir Theodore and Sir Ivon were not as young as they used to be, of course, and if Ivon's gammy leg had played up he would have stayed abed. He must have forgotten to inform Sir Theodore, however.
Such things had not mattered much at the quiet castle when Jane and Gunther had had little else to do but assist the senior knights in their duties, but with Jane's absence he had begun to feel the full, unjust burden of doing the work of four knights.
He had expected to see the sunrise, but relief had come at last in the very early hours of the morning when Smithy appeared, looking as gallant as any knight to Gunther's weary eyes.
"I noticed you were still here. You had better go get some sleep before you have to visit Dragon."
Gunther suppressed a groan at the reminder he still had to trek up the mountain, and thanked Smithy profusely before returning to the knights' quarters and stumbling half-dressed into his hammock.
The few hours of sleep had been a blessing, as was the bowl of porridge steaming before him, and both served to brace Gunther for his journey.
He rose from the table, running a hand through his hair and dragging it down the side of his face. It was going to be a long day.
"You look to be lacking in energy today, Sir Gunther."
Gunther jumped guiltily as Sir Theodore approached him, a response born from years of being caught sneaking around or slacking off by the senior knight, rather than any current wrongdoing.
"Sir Theodore," he said, straightening his shoulders. "I was simply-"
"Rather tired, I should think," the older knight cut him off. "Sir Ivon had the good grace to remember that he was supposed to relieve you of your post at the gate last night, after he woke up this morning."
"Smithy came to my aid this morning, allowing me to get some rest. I shall make it through my journey today."
"Ah yes, you are to visit Dragon. It is wise to keep him informed, although there is no good news for him yet, I fear." Sir Theodore sighed, and for a moment looked as weary as Gunther felt.
"There has been no change in Jane, then?" Gunther guessed.
"Indeed not, and as you may have noticed her absence is becoming a trial. We shall have to find a boy to put to work around the castle if this continues much longer. It may even be time to take on a new squire or two," he added pensively.
"Squires, Sir?" Gunther asked. It had been years since new blood had been added to the castle staff.
"Certainly, Sir Gunther. This unpleasant business with Sir Jane has served to remind me how few in number the knights of Kippernium are. In fact, I believe you are ready to train a squire of your own. Something to think about as you ride up the mountain," Sir Theodore suggested.
"Something to think about, yes, Sir," said Gunther, shaken. The entire suggestion had caught him off-guard. Was he really ready for his own apprentice? What a thought!
"Sir Ivon has taken his place at the gate and I believe Smithy was saddling Gallant for you. You had best be on your way if you are to return in time."
"Yes, Sir. Uh, in time for what, Sir?"
Sir Theodore looked at him in surprise. "To visit Jane, of course. Has Lady Turnkey not spoken with you? It seems that Jane has been asking after you."
"Asking after me, Sir?" Gunther blinked. "Why me?"
Sir Theodore shrugged. "I do not know, Sir Gunther, but the sooner you leave the sooner you will return to find out."
"Of course, Sir." Gunther bowed quickly before hurrying away.
Talking to Sir Theodore always transported him back to a time in his boyhood he would rather forget. A time of feeling that he could never measure up, or prove his value. It was a discomforting feeling, and one that had a tendency to sneak back to visit him on occasion. Even the offer of a squire seemed to arise more in answer to the difficulty of Jane's absence rather than as an acknowledgement of Gunther's own accomplishments. He had grown used to such feelings but that did nothing to lessen the sting. However, he had become practiced at pretending not to feel that, too.
Making his way towards the stables he found Smithy buckling the last strap on Gallant's tack.
"Sir Gallant seems to be looking forward to your ride today," said Smithy as Gunther joined them.
Gunther could not help smiling as he rubbed the horse's nose. "At least one of us will enjoy the trip."
"I do not envy you being the one to tell Dragon that Jane still does not remember him." Smithy took Gallant's reins and lead him into the yard.
Gunther watched his horse walk outside, coat gleaming in the sunlight. He knew Smithy enjoyed tending to the quiet gelding, which made Gunther all the more proud to have been the one who trained him.
He had realised years ago that if he was to ride into battle alongside Jane he would need a mount that would not disgrace him by shying away from Dragon, so he had found himself a promising young horse and spent a great deal of time on its training. Gunther's own training had benefited from the arrangement too, of course, and his skill as a horseman had improved greatly as a result.
"But at least the sun is shining and the wind is still. A lovely day for a ride." Smithy handed Gunther the reins.
It was all true, Gunther had to admit. Smithy had a practical way of looking at life which Gunther had come to appreciate. Smithy never wasted his words and when he spoke Gunther had found it was usually worth listening. He resolved to make the most of the trip up the mountain. If nothing else it would give him some respite from chores.
"Quite right, Smithy," he said. "Thank you for preparing Gallant. And you have my gratitude for your help earlier this morning, too."
"We all have to do what we can while Jane is . . . away. Now I believe Pepper has a pot of soup for you to take."
It had been no small task to load the cabbage soup onto Gallant, but with help from Smithy and Rake, and with the load divided between two pots and settled either side of the saddle, Gunther and his horse had at last been able to set off. They were nearly to the castle gate when the Lady-in-Waiting called out to Gunther. He pulled Gallant to a halt as she hurried towards them.
"Good day, Sir Gunther," she said, ducking into a brisk curtsey.
"My Lady," Gunther inclined his head. He couldn't help but note that he had held more conversations with the Lady since Jane's accident than he had in the previous year. "How may I be of service?"
"I understand you are off to see Dragon so I will not delay you long," she began. "Could I impose upon you to visit with Jane after your return this afternoon, if it is not inconvenient?"
"Uh, of course, yes. Has she remembered something?"
"Oh, no, nothing so helpful as that," sighed Lady Adeline. "As far as Jane is concerned this is to be your first official introduction."
"I see," said Gunther, frowning. "You have no good news for Dragon, then?"
"Sadly not. And Sir Gunther, please be so kind as to remember that, as far as Jane is presently aware, she is a lady of the court and should be treated as such."
"Yes, my Lady."
"Very well, I shall expect you this afternoon." The Lady gave another quick dip before bustling away, and Gunther urged Gallant into a brisk trot out of the castle grounds.
It was an odd concept, to treat Jane as someone he had never met, and as a proper lady at that! Never in the years he had known her had Jane wanted him to treat her as anything other than his fellow knight apprentice. In fact, calling her 'm'Lady' in jest had always earned him a sound thrashing in the training yard.
First meetings with the comrade he had known for years, new squires and an apprentice of his own. At least he would have plenty to think on as he rode up the mountain.