A/N: Finally updated! Thanks for all the reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own JatD, or any of the characters except my own creation, Penelope.

"Gunther, may I ask you a question?" Jane asked when they were halfway back to the castle.

"Depends on the question." Gunther answered without looking at her.

"What happened that she needs to be kept hidden?"

"Magnus believes her to be dead, and that is the way it has to stay. For my safety and hers."

Jane nodded and was about to ask another question, but Dragon landed in front of them and inquired about where she had been and Sir Theodore was looking for her.

"Maggots! I am late for archery lessons!" Jane cursed herself, and took off running.

"What were you doing with my Jane?" Dragon hissed looming tall over Gunther with arms crossed.

"N-N-Nothing!" Gunther cried nervously at the beast. "I must be going, have to help my father at the docks!" He shouted as he took off running the other direction away from Jane's overprotective pet.

OOOOOO

Jane was released from training an hour before dinner. She had not seen Gunther since lunch, she wanted to thank him for introducing her to his sister. Dragon, who was sitting on the wall between the practice yard and garden, pulled Jane from her thoughts with questions on where she went with the beef-brain.

"We went to go practice some drills in the town Dragon. No need to go setting anyone on fire. Understood?" Jane said with a hand on her hip.

Dragon squinted and locked eyes with her for a minute, then sighed and answered "Fine."

"Good. Now let's go get ready for supper."

"How was your training today?" Jester asked as he placed himself across from Jane at the table.

"Well. Thank you Jester." Jane replied, glancing up at Jester for only a second before looking back down at her plate.

Jester continued to look at her intently, then pushed his plate aside, declared that he was not hungry and left the table.

Jane found Jester sitting on a bench in the gardens. "What is the matter Jester?" Jane asked, standing in front of the blue boy.

"You do not tell me things anymore, Jane. I fear we are growing apart." Jester replied quietly.

"What are you talking about?"

"You spent the afternoon in town with Gunther, and did not even bother to let me know so I would not worry about you." Jester said with hurt in his voice.

"We had drill practice. I did not know I had to tell you every time I did something. How did you find out?" Jane answered more harshly than intended. "Sorry, I am just tired."

Jester just sighed and looked away. "Pepper said you had training outside the castle, and Dragon told me he found you in town with Gunther."

Jane sat down beside her friend. "Jester, just because I did not tell you about a drill practice outside the castle does not mean we are growing apart. I apologize for not informing you of my absence, and will try to keep you better informed. However, on the other hand Jester, you have to understand I cannot always tell you where I will be."

Jester nodded that he understood. He thought about asking about the male voice he heard at her tower room the previous night, but decided against it, afraid of the answer. Instead, Jester bid Jane good night and went to his room.

Jane collapsed on her bed and fell asleep thinking about the days events. Meeting Gunther's sister, Jester's jealousy.

OOOOOO

Jane awoke with a start. She thought it was a noise that woke her, but she did not hear it again. Walking over to her window, Jane noticed the moon high in the sky, must be near midnight, she thought. Wide awake, Jane made her way up the stairs that lead to the roof of her tower room. When she reached the top step and looked up, she saw a figure standing on the other side looking out across the darkened land.

"Who goes there?" Jane demanded from the figure.

"Surely, you should recognize your fellow squire by now." The figure answered snidely and turned to face Jane.

"Gunther? What are you doing here? And at this hour?" Jane questioned, her heart still racing from being startled awake by something, then startled by Gunther's presence above her room.

"I came to inform you, that Penelope demands you to see her everyday. I went back to her at dinner, and she was quite cross that you were not there also. So, she demanded you go see her at least once a day, with Pepper's cooking, and with or without me." Gunther told her easily and without care that he was not necessarily needed to accompany Jane on visits to his own sister.

"Oh." Was all Jane could manage. She knew the girl wanted to see her again, but so soon and so often?

Gunther stared at Jane in silence, while she tried to form thoughts and words. Finally, when Jane did not say anything, Gunther snapped, "Do you not want to see her again? You promised, Jane. You promised her and me, that you would visit her. Never mind the promise you made me, but do not break the promise you made her. I thought you were better than that. I guess not, if you mean to break a promise to a sickly girl."

Shocked once again that night, Jane's mouth fell open at his words. He was fiercely passionate about the promise Jane made earlier that day. She meant to keep the promise, but everyday? That would be difficult.

Gunther started walking to the stairs, when Jane managed to speak. "Gunther. I always meant to keep the promise I made you both. I would adore to visit your sister everyday. However, I am unsure of how I will be able to explain my recurring absence to…"

"The Fool?" Gunther finished her sentence for her, but coldly. He knew Jester was in love with Jane. Everyone knew it, even Jane finally saw it.

"Not just Jester. I would also need to have explanations for Pepper, as to why I would be needing packed meals for two, or three everyday." Jane added.

Gunther turned to face her, "Are you and that Fool courting?"

Taken back by the out of nowhere question, Jane scrunched her eyebrows together. "What? That is none of your business, Gunther!"

"Just answer me. Are you?"

"No."

"No, you are not courting, or no, you will not answer me?"

"No, we are not courting." Jane snapped, then inquired, "Why do you care if we are or are not, Gunther?"

"Because, if you are not courting, then he has no right to inquire of your business." Gunther answered calmly.

Jane was silent, unable to think of something to say. She had told practically the same thing to Jester earlier that evening. She shook her head.

Gunther was angry, "Why do you love him?"

"Why do you assume I love him? Jester is a good friend." Jane was just as angry.

"If you do not love him, you are very cruel to him. You lead him on, let him think you share the same feelings. That is the most cruel thing you can do to someone. Especially someone you call a friend."

"How dare you imply such things. I do not lead him on, and further more, I do not need to explain myself to you." Jane's voice was low and harsh.

Gunther, realizing how out of hand the conversation was, tried to make amends. "Jane, I-"

"No, Gunther. Just leave." Jane interrupted him with a cold voice and pointed to the stairs. She then turned her back to him, and stared into the dark.

"I am sorry, Jane." Gunther half whispered in her direction, before leaving.