In the Throne Room Gunther stood before King Caradoc, Sir Ivan stood beside his Squire and Sir Theodore stood beside the King.

"You are healing quite well, and quickly I hear Gunther." The King said.

"Yes I am Your Majesty." Gunther replied.

"However, Lady Adeline tells me she is afraid of your bones healing wrong, and you not having full use and strength of your right arm."

"I assure His Majesty that I will heal just fine and will return to training soon."

"Yes. Yes. But Gunther, we have to look at the whole picture. What if you do not heal properly?"

"It is not something I have thought about Your Majesty. I plan on healing back to my normal self. And even if I do not have full strength of my right arm, I do still have my left which is not hurt, and I assure you I fight just as well with my left as I did with my right. May I ask why His Majesty is bringing this up?"

"Gunther, I need to be sure I have knights in tip top shape and ability in my service. I do not doubt that you fight just as well with your left. Let us just wait and see. The cast should be coming off next week correct?"

"Yes."

"Once the cast is off and you have had time to stretch your arm out, we are to have a demonstration of your strength and ability and movement of your right arm. Is that fair enough?"

"More than fair Your Majesty." Gunther bowed.

"You are dismissed."

OOOOOO

Jane was sitting at the picnic table having lunch with Smithy, Pepper, Jester and Rake when Gunther came to join them.

"Care for some lunch Gunther?" Pepper asked getting up to get him a bowl of stew.

"Thank you Pepper." Gunther replied. He glanced at Jane and she gave him a look that asked what happened. Gunther just shook his head and ate his stew in silence.

After everyone finished eating, Smithy went back to work in the forge and Rake helped Pepper clear the table.

"I'd best go work on this new ballad for the King." Jester said excusing himself from the table.

Once everyone was out of earshot, Jane turned to Gunther and asked him what happened in there.

Gunther just shook his head "It's my problem not yours."

"Perhaps, but we are knights. We are to look out for each other and help each other. Tell me what happened. Please."

Gunther sighed. He knew she would not stop bugging him until he told her. Jane had become quite protective of him lately and he loved that she felt she needed to know everything that happened to him. "I…I may not be to continue training if my arm doesn't heal proper."

"What? No, that can't be!" Jane said in shock.

"The Lady in Waiting told the King there may be a chance that I won't have full strength and ability in my arm again. I told the king my left arm is just as good even if there was a problem and I assured him there would be no reason to ponder my position as knight. He said we shall see next week and then dismissed me."

Jane cursed her mother under her breath. "Don't worry about my mother. I will speak with her. As for your arm, Gunther" she said cupping his face in her hand. "You will heal without a single problem and be back to your old self in no time. I will make sure of that."

"Thank you Jane." Gunther whispered. "I think I am going to go lie down now for a bit."

Jane nodded removing her hand from his face. "Would you like me to walk with you? I mean…in case you were to lose your balance going up the stairs…" She tried not to blush.

Gunther smiled. "Yes, I would."

Once they reached Gunther's room Jane stood in front of the door and looked at Gunther.

"Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day or can I go lie down?" Gunther asked slightly irritated.

"What were you saying?" Jane replied.

"What are you talking about? When?"

"Right before Sir Ivan interrupted you in the garden, you were starting to say something and I want to know what."

Gunther thought back. He remembered very well what he was going to say, but right now wasn't the right time. "I was just going to say thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for me the past week."

"Oh. You're welcome Gunther. But that's what a fellow knight and friend does." Jane said moving to the side so Gunther could open the door to his room. "Right." Gunther replied as he entered his room and closed the door.

Jane went back down stairs thinking about the conversations she and Gunther had that day. She then decided to go find her mother, the Lady in Waiting to the Queen and castle healer, to discuss Gunther's injuries.

OOOOOO

Gunther lay on his bed with his head turned to look out the window. He found himself thinking about Jane. He thought about what he was going to say at the fountain earlier that day. Gunther you fool. Why did you almost do that? Thank you Sir Ivan for saving me from humiliating myself. He scolded himself for almost saying that. Why would she love me? I cannot give her anything but a bad name. Though, she did look furious when I showed up at the last ball with a girl. And she told me herself that she does not love the Jester. Gunther fell asleep thinking about Jane and hoped that she would come check on him again today.

Meanwhile:

"Mother, may I speak with you a moment?" Jane asked the woman who was sewing a dress for the princess.

"What is it dear?" The Lady in Waiting inquired without looking up.

"I need to talk to you about your diagnosis of Gunther."

At this Lady Adeline put down her task at hand and looked sternly at her daughter. "Jane, the matter has been taken care of and does not concern you."

"It does concern me Mother. He is my fellow knight, and I must be there to help him. You told him he won't be able to continue his training and be knighted! Why would you do such a thing?" Jane demanded.

"Yes, you must help him. Go help him heal properly and gain use of his arm again. However, Jane, that man caused extensive damage. Damage that may not fully heal. And the truth is Daughter, he may not be able to be a knight. The King knows this and is prepared for worst case. If you truly care about his knighthood you should be helping him get his strength back instead of here arguing with the messenger. I only want what is best Jane. Whether you believe it or not. And besides, King Caradoc has the last say next week when Gunther's cast comes off."

Jane was speechless for once. Her mother was right. There was no sense in arguing with her since, for one the king does has the last word on the matter, and second, she should be helping him gain his strength back. "Yes Mother. Good day." Jane left the chamber and headed outside. She decided she needed to be alone for a while and went for a walk in the woods just outside the castle walls.

OOOOOO

Gunther was not at supper later that evening. Pepper made him a plate and Jane volunteered to take it up to him. "Make sure he eats Jane. He needs to keep healthy." Pepper instructed. "Yes Pepper. I will." Jane replied.

Jester watched Jane walk towards the stairs his heart sinking. Though it had been two months since he asked Jane to court him, he still held out hope. But now as he watched her slowing getting closer to Gunther, his heart sank into his feet.

Jane knocked on the door to Gunther's room but there was no answer. She let herself in and found that he was asleep. Jane sat the plate and glass of water on the table beside the bed, then lit the candles in his room. She sat on the edge of the bed amazed at how peaceful Gunther looked while sleeping. As Jane gently brushed a stray piece of hair out of the sleeping young man's face he sighed softly, and cracked his eyes open. For a moment he thought he was still dreaming. Closing his eyes and then opening them fully this time, he realized he wasn't dreaming.

"Jane! What are you doing in here?" Gunther exclaimed now fully awake.

"I brought you supper. Pepper demands you eat everything on the plate." Jane replied standing up from the bed. "You looked so peaceful sleeping I was afraid to disturb you."

"So you decided to watch me sleep?" Gunther inquired.

"No, not exactly…I let myself in when you didn't answer, and I had just sat the food down and lit candles just before you awoke." Jane could feel her cheeks starting to burn red.

Gunther nodded and started eating.

"I suppose I should go get some sleep myself now. Do you need anything else Gunther?" Jane got up and headed for the door.

"No, I don't believe I need anything." Except you Jane. Just tell her you coward. Gunther thought to himself.

"Alright then. Good night Gunther." Jane opened the door and started to walk out when Gunther asked her to wait a moment. "If you are not too tired, perhaps you could stay for a while longer and keep me company? I-I mean, seeing as how I've slept all afternoon and won't be able to fall right back asleep again anytime soon…you don't have to though." Gunther said in practically one breath.

Jane had turned to face a blushing and nervous looking Gunther. "Of course Gunther." She pulled the chair closer to the bed so she could put her feet up and sat down. They both stayed up most of the night talking and laughing.

It was well after midnight when Jane decided she should turn in. "I will sleep through my lessons tomorrow if I do not get some sleep. Good night Gunther." Jane stood and stretched.

"Good night Jane." Gunther replied as Jane walked out of the room.