[Woohoo, fifth chapter already! Let's do this! Let's take a look at Gunther's side for a while this time :D.]

-.-.-

Gunther paced restlessly. The clearing just outside the castle walls was the perfect place for pacing, for him, anyway. The straight line of trodden grass proved it. His hair, tied in a loose ponytail at the base of his neck, was in a mess, with strands hanging all over his face, and his bangs whipping about in front of his eyes whenever he turned at the end of a straight line.

Jane has something important to say? And regarding the Ball, too! It must be about that! He thought to himself, over and over again as the afternoon wore on, and the grass wore thin.

She couldn't have found out, though, he said, trying to reassure himself. She couldn't know that-

With a sigh, he stopped in his tracks. Out loud, he said, to no one in particular, "That's right, she couldn't know what I was planning to tell her. So I might as well tell her tonight."

And with a nod of his head, he started walking back towards the castle as the sun set in the horizon.

-.-.-

Jane waited patiently on the appointed parapet, leaning forward on one of the gaps in the battlement. She stared out absent-mindedly into the darkening night, just waiting.

Jester leaned on the wall next to her, playing a mellow song on his lute. He paused a bit before turning to Jane. "Are you sure he'll come tonight? No one's seen him all day, after all. Maybe you could tell him when you see him tomorrow."

"Oh, maybe you're right," Jane said, fiddling with her hair, in a loose braid which she had pulled over her shoulder. "Probably too busy today to listen, anyway."

Jester put down his lute and stretched. Through a big yawn, he said "Well, I guess it's time for me to hit the hay. Gotta watch out for when it hits back, though." He shadow-boxed playfully at Jane, then picked up the lute and started walking down towards the courtyard.

Jane sighed and smiled after the jingle boy. After the sound of his footsteps receded and disappeared, she turned back to gaze at the sky.

"He's right, I could always just tell him tomo-," she said out loud.

"Jane," suddenly came a voice from behind her.

"Gunther!" she said, turning around quickly. "Where have you been all day? I looked everywhere for you," she said, excitedly. "I have something to tell you, about the Ball."

"Yeah, well, I was kinda busy-," he said, his voice trailing off as he looked down at his feet. "And- and I've got something to say about the party as well."

"Oh, good thing you found me tonight, then," she said, brightening up. "You go first, then."

"Well, I just wanted to ask…"

-.-.-

"He asked you what?" Jester said, apparently quite shocked, as he nearly overturned the bench that he and Rake were sitting on.

"Ugh, don't make me say it again," she said, burying her face in her arms. "It's embarrassing enough saying it once."

"What about it? I don't get why it's such a big deal," Rake said, in his usual calm voice. "I asked Pepper to the dance, but she isn't upset about it."

"It's not just about the asking, Rake," Jane said. "But more of who's doing the asking, and who's being asked."

"Well I think it isn't such a bad idea," Pepper said suddenly, approaching the table with a big bowl of breakfast. "Having a date to the dance is a wonderful thing."

"Not if it's Gunther," Jane groaned.

"Well, what did you answer?" Jester asked, anxious.

"I said I'd tell him today, after our duties," she said, her face still buried in her arms. "But what do I tell him?"

"It's not like you to fret over something like this, Jane," Pepper said, comfortingly. "The normal you would just take it as a joke, laugh it off, and then call him names."

"Well, it's not like I couldn't take him seriously, not with-," she said, catching herself. Quietly, she mumbled to no one in particular "With the way he looked in the moonlight, his face framed by his raven hair." Feeling her face flush at the thought, she groaned again.

"Have you told him about the bet?" Jester asked.

"I didn't get the chance to tell him last night. It was too much of a shock, what he said to me," Jane said, sitting upright, finally, fixing her hair timidly. "I could tell him later on, but it'd be too embarrassing to bring that up when he's so serious about the dance."

"Let me talk to him later, then," Jester said, with a proud nod of his head. "That way, you could avoid answering his invitation to the Ball, and I could tell him your proposal about the bet."

"That's a great idea!" said Jane, and she felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "Now all that's left to take care of is -,"

"Your dress, Jane," a twittering voice called from behind them, in the courtyard. "I've arranged for you measurements to be taken by the dress-maker this morning, before you start your duties."

Jane groaned as she stood up grudgingly. "Right on cue. Never thought I'd go to her willingly for something like this, but - Coming, Mother!" she shouted as she let herself be led by the lady-in-waiting, still chatting about fabric and sequins and hairpieces.

"Is she going to be alright?" Rake asked nervously. "I mean, she hasn't had a dress in ages."

"Oh, she'll be fine. I'm sure the dress will turn out lovely," Pepper said, with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm sure we're all excited to see what she'll look like at the Ball."

"Well, then, my good folks," Jester said, suddenly standing up from the table. "I'm off to prepare my act for the evening."

"Don't forget to tell Gunther about the arrangements for that bet you talked about," Pepper called after him.

"Oh I'll give him a bet, alright. I'll give him a bet," he said, as he walked out of the courtyard.

-.-.-

[Ooh, what is Jester planning? And how will Jane's dress turn out? Find out in the next chapter! Wow, this story arc is really getting drawn out. Needs more fluff!]