Author's Note: Hey again, I'm back. Like I promised, I would write the next part and post it today...yay! I actually did it! And guess what? Instead of only one, or even two new chapters, you are getting three brand new chapters! Oooh. Feel special? I did this all for you, you know, writing them from six thirty to ten thirty PM, after my art class. So I hope you enjoy the mild...or perhaps major...cheesiness and beginning of fluffiness. Yes. Finally! Fluff is going to start coming in soon between the next, like, five or six chapters if I manage to get that far. But that will only happen if you comment. If you don't comment, I will feel like a loser and not write more. So if you like this story, and want it to continue, please comment. Even if all you say is "Hi" or "Write More" or "Blah" or "I eat socks" or something really random like that. Sorry. I'm on one of those "Late-Night-Early-Morning-Crash-And-Burn-Energy Rushes. I should go sleep more.

Yeah, well, this chapter is a little longer than the last one...and...well, let's just say that the other two are probably double or triple or four times as big as chapter one was. Yeah! Mabe even four times as big. I didn't cheap out and do little blips of writing that leave you hanging while I sat there and laugh at your frustration of lazy people. I'm not like that. I won't ever leave my stories untouched for over a month, unless they are already complete. ;)
Blah...it's kind of funny...this story, even though it's incomplete, is more than double the size of the Gunther/Jane one is, according to my computer. Poor Gunther. I'll come back to you soon. Shhh. Don't cry. You will have more stories than Jester will. ;)

Argh. I didn't sleep enough. It's, like, nine something and I didn't get to sleep until probably two or three, and then I was nuts and woke up at six. Not normal, but I had to make sure that I would be awake enough to see JatD. But, I'm paying for my late night now. And then I have my art class later. And I have to write more of this and the Gunther story and the Kel story. Gaah. Well, please comment. I was exhausted by the time I was done, and plus I was using my laptop, so if there are any spelling mistakes or incomplete sentances or things just don't make any freaking sense, comment and let me know. Just a warning, though. If you live in the states, I use mixes of Canadian and American spelling. I don't like using one or the other. So there may be mistakes in your eyes due to that. So, yeah. I talk too much. Just ignore me now. Go read. XP

Request

Jester's request for an audience with the King was, to his great surprise, granted unhesitatingly. Jane and him waited patiently outside the door until Sir Ivon admitted them. The knightmaster's eyebrows were raised, but he said nothing as he motioned them to go in.

Upon entering the grand chamber, Jester felt slightly nervous. Small beads of perspiration slid down the back of his neck. Be calm, he told himself, be calm and composed. You have done more trying things in the presence of the king...and Jane. But still, his stomach squirmed, as he searched every square inch of himself for courage.

The King sat in his throne, accompanied by the queen on his left and Sir Theodore on his right. Jester felt his legs turn to jelly at the sight of them, but managed to steady himself enough for the walk across the hall.

"Ah, Jane," said the King jovially, as the two teenagers bowed, "Jester...do come in, come in. Dismal weather we are having, wouldn't you say?" he smiled kindly at them.

"I am afraid, though, Jane," said Sir Theodore, "that if you have come to complain about the training conditions, I am sorry to tell you that the matter has already been discussed and agreed on between Sir Ivon and myself. Squire Gunther felt otherwise. He has already been here and gone." He nodded his head to the door. Jane turned to the King.

"Actually, your Majesty, we have come with a...request... for Jester, here," Jane looked sideways at her friend, and discreetly nudged him. He blushed at her touch.

"Er...yes, um," Jester stumbled, growing flustered.

Though he spent most of his time in the royal presence of his King and Queen, he had never asked anything of them over the past twelve years. In return for his services, he had been educated in the Higher Arts of reading, writing, singing and the like, as well as fed and lodged for free. It had been a fair trade, and Jester had never wanted to ask for more. He feared that it would seem ungrateful for all that the King and Queen had done for him.

"Well, you see, your Majesties...as you may remember, oh, twelve years ago, or so, a troupe of traveling players from the south passed through Kippernium. They were honest but...erm...poor people. Among them was a young boy whose parents could not provide for him- or, rather, for me. So, your Majesties, as you will recall, my mother and father brought me here and...well... begged, I suppose, that you take me into your services. And, you being the King you are, accepted and took me on as the Court Jester," Jester glanced at Jane for support, and she gave the tiniest of nods. Go on, she seemed to say silently. It gave him a length of courage, and he continued.

"Well, um... over the years I still was able to keep in touch with my parents, you see," he continued, his eyes still locked onto Jane's. "I learnt that I now have several young siblings, and that my family is more...comfortably off... than before. Every six months, or so, they would send a message to me. This was how I knew that they were safe and well." He turned back to the king, his eyes darkening.

"But, you see, your Majesties, it has been almost a year and a half, and I have not heard the slightest whisper of their whereabouts or welfare..." he trailed off, his eyes looking up at his King pleadingly.

"I see," King Caradoc said gravely. "This does not please me, Jester, especially at this time. I would hate to lose such a fine subject during a season such as this. But," he said, his eyes softening as he turned to his wife. The Queen nodded ever so slightly, and the king continued. "But, I do see the urgency in this matter. We could not have the morale of our Court Jester down. It would look bad. I'd feel half naked, as the morale of the whole castle would die. And then where would we be?" He smiled tightly. "So, by my royal power, I give you, Jester, permission to search for the whereabouts of your family for a fortnight, as well as a fortnight to return." Jester grinned.

"W-why, thank you, sir...err...Your Majesty. I shall be there and back again quicker than you could ask for a ballad. And I shall bring some of those back with me as souvenirs, if I am lucky!" The king nodded.

"You are dismissed, Jester, Jane." Jane looked up suddenly.

"Your Majesty, wait a moment, please!" The King turned, a quizzical look on his brow. Jane continued quickly, before he could remark on her sudden comment. "Think of it, sir. Jester...well...he has had no training in self-defense! What would happen if, say...he was attacked?" Jester frowned. What does she think that she is doing? He demanded himself. First telling me to go and ask the king to do something I would be terrified of doing normally, but then, right when I do what she wanted me to do, she starts going out and pointing out the fact that I would be helpless against attacks? What is it with women...?

"That is a true fact, Jane," the king said slowly. "What are you planning?" Jane put her hands behind her back and looked straight at the floor.

"If I may speak freely, your Majesty?"

"You may," the King said, the icy, regal tone of a true monarch in his voice.

"Well, your Majesty, it occurred to me that perhaps Jester here should have..erm...well, an...escort? Perhaps a knight, or a few of the servants, to ensure his protection and safe return? Because, just imagine the dangers for a lone traveler- bandits, beasts, getting lost, being injured on the road. In my...studies, Gunther and I have learnt that it is best to travel in small groups, to avoid such disasters."

"She does have a legitimate point, your Majesty," said Sir Theodore.

"I see," the King said. "And who, pray, would you suggest on sending on this mission, Jane?" Jane turned to Sir Theodore.

"Think wisely, Jane," he said cautiously. Jane closed her eyes a moment.

"Well, you, Sir Theodore, and Sir Ivon, are indispensable to the castle at the moment with out numbers so few. Rake, Pepper and Smithy...well, they could not be removed, either. And that leaves...Gunther and I."

"Your powers of deduction amaze me, Jane," Jester muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He said it so softly that only she could hear. She struggled not to laugh.

"Gunther, I am afraid, has been given some chores to accomplish around the castle to hone his patience and humility. So that, Jane, leaves..."

"Me," she concluded. "Yes, I will go." Jester felt his heart leap in two different directions. One part of him wanted to whoop with joy and perform a summersault. The other wanted to shake her by the shoulders and tell her to stay put. He bit his tongue, though, to keep from saying anything foolish. He ought to be glad for Jane's help.

"What about Dragon?" Sir Theodore asked finally, breaking the silence. His voice was gentle, but carried a double-edged sword to it. Jester knew that he was trying to make a point. Now that they were grown, Jester being about as tall as Sir Theodore and Jane not much shorter, Dragon would not be able to carry them both for long distances. His wings would tire after a a long flight. And in addition, what would they do if they were spending a night at the inns they passed? Dragon could hardly come with them, and townspeople who didn't know him would be terrified.

"I-I think that it would be better if Dragon stayed here. To protect the castle in my stead." Jane said at last.

The king nodded, seated back in his throne. His fingertips touched, creating a triangular shape.

"So may it be," he said.

"Who said that you could do that, Jane?" Jester snapped as they left the throne room. He crossed his arms and looked down at her, desperately fighting the urge to kiss her.

"Would you prefer that I didn't come along?" Jane asked quietly, her green eyes meeting his misty blue ones.

"No! Not at all! I...just...it's...well...it's complicated, okay?" Jester sighed. He had said it more sharply than he had meant to, and the result showed on Jane's face. It looked as if she had been slapped. He mentally kicked himself. He didn't like it when he got angry...especially not with Jane. He could never stay angry with her for long, but he knew that she could fume for hours. Jester, you manky git! He berated himself, frowning. Jane, misinterpreting it, returned the look with a blazing glare.

"Fine," she snapped back, turning on her heel. "Keep it to yourself." Jester watched her retreating back. Dammit! He threw a hand to his forehead. Jester you fool, you complete and utter fool! Feeling the complete idiot, he ran after her.

"Jane," he said softly, when he was an arms-length away from her. When she didn't turn and kept walking, he grabbed her wrist.

Realizing what he was doing, Jester blushed profusely and dropped her hand.

"Jane," he said. "I'm well...I'm sorry. I let my thoughts get in the way. I guess it's just that I wouldn't...wouldn't want anything to happen to you. You know that, right? Do you realize how terrible I would feel, losing my best friend? And if it was my fault that she was there to begin with? Yes, well, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Heh...that...umm...well, it doesn't usually happen, does it? With the snapping and all, I mean." Jane smiled at him, and Jester felt himself wilt in relief. She didn't hate him!

"Not often, you fool," she said softly, shaking her head. Her red curls bounced, and Jester was overcome by a longing to touch them. "You truly are a good friend to me...better than I deserve." Jane brushed a lock of his golden blond hair out of his eyes, and their eyes met properly. Jester was filled with a thrill that went up his spine deliciously. "I'll see you tomorrow, at first light," Jane said. "Be ready, and we'll leave as soon as we can."