Author's Note: Back again with the second chapter! I think that I actually know where this is going to go. But I'm not telling. Not yet at least. But I will have it be known that chapter three (3) is currently in progress. I think that there are about...four lines so far? Yes! Because that is how you write a bestseller, folks. Just kidding, just kidding. XD

This chapter is, I think, mostly dialogue. I hope you don't get bored. Please comment and criticize my work. Why? Because I said so. I don't know. Just do it. I guess it's the whole "constructive criticism" thing. Blah. I want to go write more Jane and the Dragon and Protector of the Small fanfic. And draw. Draw lots and lots of pictures. Of Jane and Gunther and Jester and Pepper and Rake and Smithy and Kel and Dom and Cleon and...well, yeah. You get the picture. I'll come back soon-ish to load up the third chapter. Or maybe just when it's done. Cheers!

Silence

He sat in silence, in the company of his own thoughts. His mood had begun to darken with the twilight, and as the sky had grown dark, there wasn't a sound to be heard from the practice rings.

Above him, he could hear Jane moving around her room, perhaps muttering mild curses under her breath, or humming to herself. After a bit, all of the noises stopped, and Jester supposed that she had gone for supper.

"Having trouble rhyming, Jester?" He turned around sharply, and blushed at the sight of a soaked Jane leaning against his doorframe. At seventeen, she had grown tall and pretty, but he knew that under that mask she was strong and determined.

"No, well...not exactly..." he said, nervously thrusting his hands deep into his pockets. He averted his gaze, and looked down at his shoes.

"Oh...it was just that I did not hear, well, anything...no ballads...not even lute music, for a long time, and I wondered if you were alright." Jester shrugged.

"Sometimes silence is one of the sweetest sounds of all, Jane," he said softly.

"And sometimes it means that something is wrong," she countered, reaching out and playfully pulling Jester's hat down over his eyes. He shook his head.

"It's... nothing, Jane...just something very...personal." he smiled at her crookedly, but she wasn't convinced. His smile did not meet his eyes.

"Please, Jester," she said, putting a hand on his arm, "If something is troubling you, I would rather know." He could feel his arm tingling at her touch, and sighed.

"Jane, even if you knew, there would be nothing you could do to help," Because I know that you don't feel the same way, he added bitterly to himself.

"Oh, well, alright," she said dejectedly, and began to turn around. Jester couldn't stand it- the sight of her turning away.

"Jane, wait," he said, and she turned back quickly. Invent something, Jester, invent something now! He urged himself. A sudden thought gave him the answer.

"It was just...well...as you may know, my family are traveling players. From Italy. The thing is that I have not heard news of them in quite some while, and I find this worrying. Usually word makes its way to me every few moths or so, but it has been almost a year and a half." This was true, and something that he had been nagging at him recently.

"Perhaps there's still something we could-" Jester shook his head at her.

"I see nothing I could do, Jane," he said, "Tracking them would be... nearly impossible, especially on my own." Jane cocked her head and crossed her arms indignantly.

"What do you mean 'on your own'? What am I here?" she said sharply. "You don't expect me to send you off on your own, do you?"

Jester looked up suddenly. Two conflicting feelings rose in him- hope and fear. Of the two, fear smothered his hope.

"No, Jane. I couldn't let you do that. Anyways, I would need the King's permission first, and also..." he trailed off. He would need everything from supplies to horses to coin- all of which he had none.

"Have you at least asked him?" Jane asked quietly. Jester shook his head.

"No, not yet. But, I do plan to..."

"Then let's go right now! There might not be another chance."

"Jane, uh...now?" Jester hesitated.

"Yes, you fool!" Jane laughed, "It is now or never." Grabbing his arm, she dragged him out the door of his room, into the rain. Jester submitted to it in silence. Here we go...he shook his head. It had just begun.