Author's Note: I realized I had been going light on the Smithy, so I tried to write him in.
Do not think I am writing SmithyXJane, he's just sympathetic.
"You and Gunther will arrange shifts in guarding the Prince. One of you will always be at his side. If you see anyone suspicious, blow upon your horn. I want no heroes, you understand. I would rather have a live squire than a dead hero. Sir Ivon and I shall be guarding the King, and two more senior knights shall protect the Queen. Good luck, and keep the Prince safe," Sir Theodore was instructing the on their duties for the next few days, weeks, months, however long it took to catch those behind the attack. It was agreed that Jane would guard the Prince between midnight and noon, and then Gunther would take over until midnight. Jane immediately went to find the Prince to alert him to his new situation.
"But I don't need a guard! I'm a knight!"
"Not yet, your majesty, and we need to be sure you are safe. You are the sole heir. And on that note, you will not be allowed to continue your squire work as long as the threat remains. There are simply too many ways for you to be attacked. And if you were to die, I know that your mother would fall even deeper than she already has, not to mention your father! He tries to act as though he does not care, but we all know how much he cared for Lavinia. If you were to die, it would be with the hope of the kingdom. I can not let that happen, your majesty," Jane attempted to explain to the stubborn Prince.
"Very well. But if I must remain 'safe', I at least would like you to help me study battle tactics," Cuthbert whined loudly. The young Squire-Prince did not enjoy studying, but anything would be better than nothing.
"Of course your majesty. Now, if the enemy has the high ground, and…"Jane and Cuthbert continued on as such until Gunther came to relieve her. Jane went to nab a quick lunch from Pepper and then proceed to decimate the practice dummy. To Smithy, it seemed as though she was saying something while destroying the dummy, but he couldn't be certain, and it would have been rude to ask. Quite suddenly, he heard the jingle of bells. He saw Jester enter the practice yard, and make his way toward Jane. Smithy muttered a curse. You would think he was trying to get himself killed! Smithy thought for a moment before looking down at the horseshoe on his anvil and realizing he should save his friend from certain doom.
Smithy jogged up to Jester and intercepted him just in time. "Jester, I was wondering where you were! Perhaps I could talk to you?"
"Of course, Smithy!" Jester was trying hard not to grind his teeth. If Smithy hadn't walked up just then, he could have remedied things with Jane! And Gunther would have been to busy with Cuthbert to know.
Smithy put an arm around Jesters shoulders and began leading him towards the gardens. "I'm beginning to think you are a liver-headed, weevil-brained, lily-livered fool. Did you see the pounding she was giving that dummy? I have the distinct impression that the dummy is either you or Gunther, and either way, you were about to volunteer as her new target! Look, I may not understand love and such, but I understand anger, and right now Jane needs that anger to try and find the murderers. If you try to distract her, she might become a murderer. Got it?" Smithy had never really planned on such a conversation, but it had to happen. Jester was being more of a fool than his profession dictated, and that is not a good thing to do.
"But I love her Smithy! I don't know what to do!"
"I know you love her, and I think she knows too, but it doesn't matter. She can't love you, not yet, and acting like a lovesick puppy will not help." Smithy took the liberty of using the phrase that Jane had coined, simply because he thought it worked.
Jester sighed. "I suppose you're right. I probably would find myself maimed if I were to talk to her, even if it was about the weather. But it doesn't mean I have to like it!"
"As long as you're alive, it doesn't really matter if you like it."
Jester sighed again, and walked off with some excuse about a royal puppet show. Smithy was somewhat relived that the numb-skull understood that he should avoid Jane for now, and so he headed back to his forge to try to salvage what was left of the horseshoe. A little while later he looked up to find Jane. "Thank you," she said, and went back to the dummy until nightfall.
The five of them gathered for the evening meal, once again in stony silence, and Jane went immediately to bed to try to salvage some sleep until she woke, just before midnight, at the sound of a horn.