Author's note: I'm not sold on the title of this chapter. So if I come up with a better title I'll change it. I hope it's not too confusing to change from Marin's given name to her nickname. She needed a name that was two syllable or less like the rest of the castle staff. Plus I just liked the nickname. :)
I know there hasn't been much Pepper/Rake or Jester/Jane yet, but don't worry it's coming.
"Hurry up, Lily," called Jester. "The Lady-in-Waiting is in one of her moods and said she needs you immediately!"
Nearly a full month had passed since Marion first arrived at the castle and she was beginning to feel quite at home. Smithy's nickname for her had quickly caught on with the others. The castle staff had gone from new acquaintances to dear friends; even Dragon was slightly less terrifying. Pepper had been kind enough to offer her a space in the kitchen to sleep. The two of them would often stay up late into the night to talk about their future hopes and dreams.
Each day Jester was sent to bring Lily to the Queen, presumably to keep an eye on the royal children for a few hours. Sometimes she did watch the little prince and princess, but often the Queen used that time to teach Lady Marion, as she called her, proper courtly behavior. Thus far she had learned how to sit, walk, and talk like a lady. She hoped soon to learn to dance as well.
"I'm coming, Jester. Help me dump the laundry tub out near the cherry tree. Last time I left it out Dragon drank all the soapy water and burped up bubbles for nearly three days!"
Together the two friends hauled the tub across the courtyard and poured out the dirty water. Jane took a break from her practicing to watch the commotion caused by Jester's daily arrival to whisk the laundry maid away. Smithy, too, had stopped his work to wish Lily good luck with the prince and princess. He knew they were often difficult to handle.
"Come on Lily!" cried Jester impatiently. He then grabbed her hand and they ran off towards the castle keep together.
Jane felt her heart hit the bottom of her stomach. Had Jester really just held Lily's hand? Jane looked over towards Smithy to see her own feelings reflected in his face: shock, uncertainty, and hurt. Smithy's face quickly changed to a determined grimace and he turned back to his work. Only the increased volume and swiftness of his hammer's strike hinted that things were not right. Like Smithy, Jane resumed practicing, but her mind was elsewhere. Slowly she tried to sort through her confused feelings. Lily and Jester! How could he do that? It simply cannot be. He would have said something to me; I am sure. After all, I am his best friend. He trusts me with everything. I have nothing against Lily, but still… No, I refuse to believe it. The whole idea is just absurd! Jane began to hit the practice dummy with renewed vigor fueled by her frustration at being unable to figure out why such a small incident should bother her so much.
"Lady Marion, I have a surprise for you today," said the Queen. "I'm afraid the King and I have been neglecting part of our agreement to you. You promised to serve in the castle in return for food and shelter. While I am certain that Pepper keeps you well fed, we have been neglect in providing a place for you to call your own."
"Your majesty has been most kind to me." Lily tried hard to speak properly when in the Queen's presence. "There is no need to trouble yourself on my account. I have been sharing Pepper's room."
"Yes, and I can tell by the rings under your eyes and yawns you attempt to conceal that it is not the best arrangement."
"Oh your majesty, I beg your forgiveness. I will try to go to bed earlier. I certainly would not wish one of your lovely rooms to be given up for me."
"Would you take the room as a favor to me, then? You see the King and I sleep several halls away from our children. I have often feared that if something should happen in the night we would not hear their cry. I have chosen a room for you that is near them both. It would take a great burden off my mind to know that you are nearby my little ones looking out for them."
"I would be honored to serve you in any way you see fit, my Lady." Lily curtsied low.
What an unselfish girl, thought the Queen. She does not desire the room for herself, but only if it is to benefit another.
The Queen led her down several halls to a narrow stairway flanked by the rooms of the prince and princess.
"The room is currently being used for storage, but the Chamberlain assures me that he has another place in mind where any of the pieces you do not want can be moved."
The mattress was old and lumpy. Furniture filled most of the room, piled nearly to the ceiling in some places. A thick layer of dust covered everything, but to Lily there had never been a more perfect room. After looking around she ran to the doorway where the Queen still stood and curtsied low, joy radiating from her eyes.
"Oh your majesty, how can I ever thank you? I have never had a room of my own. It is the loveliest place I have ever seen. Why it even has a window that overlooks Rake's garden and the practice yard!"
"My dear, it certainly has the potential of being a lovely room, but it will need a lot of work before then. I am glad you like it. That will be all for today as I imagine the excitement of this news will keep you from concentrating on any lesson of mine." The Queen smiled sweetly down at her.
As Lily strolled down the castle halls she felt a song bubble up inside her. It was a song from her childhood about a cheerful little bird building its nest. A strong tenor voice joined the song as Jester met her at a bend in the hall. The duet ended just as they entered the garden to the cheers of Rake and Pepper.
Jester turned to her with a twinkle in his eye. "My lady, I have rarely heard a voice so sweet. You must allow me the joy of singing with you again someday."
Lily laughed at him and replied with her best courtly air, "Why of course, my good sir. I would like nothing better!"
The sound of angry hammer pounding drifted into the garden. Lily immediately turned to the others and said, "What is wrong with Smithy?"
Pepper shrugged. Jester looked at her quizzically. Rake asked, "There is something wrong with Smithy?"
"Do you not hear his hammer? He sounds upset." Worry lined her face as she hurried to his workshop.
"Smithy?" He seemed unable to hear her above the racket he was creating. She walked over next to him, but he did not see her either. Watching for the perfect moment, she grabbed his wrist just as he landed a blow with his hammer. He looked up at her in surprise.
"Are you alright? It sounded like you were upset about something. You did not even hear me when I called your name."
"Yes... I have just been very busy with this new contraption Sir Ivon has invented," Smithy answered, but he would not meet her gaze. She wished rather than believed his words were true.
"Would you take a walk with me? The Queen has given me a room of my own and I want you to be the first to see it." Her deep blue eyes held a mix of worry and hope. Though still full of uncertainty and frustration, Smithy nodded and allowed her to lead him to a shadowy stairway between the royal children's rooms. Simply walking along side her helped to sooth Smithy's nerves. Perhaps he had been mistaken before. After all, she had chosen him over all the others to be the first to see this room.
"You need a candle holder for this walkway. If you tried to climb these steps in the dark you would certainly take a spill. I'll start working on that first thing tomorrow morning."
"You would do that for me?" she smiled up at him. Opening wide the door she announced, "Here it is!" As they moved into the room she began giving an imaginary tour. "Now I know that several things will need moved out before I can even think of moving in, but it is just the perfect size. Do you not think? I plan to keep the bed here. Put a chest over there. Leave this chair in the corner. A little table might be nice."
As Lily talked on about her plans for the room, Smithy began to examine the furniture pieces more closely. "This table could use a new leg. The old one is nearly broken off. That dresser needs a new handle or two. Pretty soon I will need to make a list of things that need fixed up here," he said with a smile.
"Oh Smithy, you must come look out the window. I can see your workshop from here."
Sighing contentedly, Lily rested her elbows on the windowsill and let her hands float in the breeze. Smithy soon joined her. The window was just big enough for the two of them, but small enough that they had to stand with their shoulders touching. They stood in silence watching as the sunset turned the sky brilliant shades of orange and red.
Standing this close to Lily sent a delightful thrill through the blacksmith. I hope she cannot hear my heart beating faster. If only I had the courage to take her hand like Jester did this afternoon, he secretly longed. The remembrance brought back all the confused thoughts and feelings of earlier in the day. He abruptly turned from the window and walked to the center of the room. Lily turned in surprise.
"Smithy, will you please tell me what is wrong. Something has been bothering you all afternoon. Perhaps I can help. Will you sit and talk with me?" Thus saying, she lowered herself into a chair. Unfortunately the few strands holding the seat in place gave way and she fell straight through to the floor. Lily let out a little yelp, dust flew everywhere, and they both immediately burst out laughing.
Between giggles, Lily called out, "Come help me; I cannot get out!"
Smithy crossed the room and took a firm hold on her wrists then pulled with all his might. Lily must not have been as stuck as she thought for his pull brought her up out of the chair and all the way into his arms.
To hide his embarrassment, Smithy chuckled and said, "You certainly know how to break the tension."
She laughed quietly, then looked him in the eyes and asked again. "Will you tell me what is upsetting you now?"
He stepped back and looked first at the floor, then at the wall, and finally out the window. Letting out a sigh he began, "This afternoon… when you and Jester were leaving…" He stopped, uncertain how to tell her of his feelings.
"Please do not stop." The look of concern in her eyes gave him courage to continue on.
"You see when Jester took your hand…" suddenly he had the perfect way to tell her, "Jane… well, Jane was terribly upset by it. She looked so confused and disappointed …just like I was."
"Oh Jester," she said in exasperation. "He should have known better than to do that."
Then in sudden realization she turned to Smithy. "Did you say Jane looked disappointed? Did she say anything to you? Why I bet she is jealous and does not even know it. Oh, this is wonderful! We need to form a plan. After dinner would be the perfect time. Pepper and I can talk with Jane and you could get Rake and talk with Jester."
Smithy was getting more confused by the moment. "Talk with Jester… about what?"
"Why, you need to teach him how to win a girl's heart, silly."
He stared at her in disbelief. "You want me to talk with Jester about how to win your heart?"
Now it was Lily's turn to stand in shock. "My heart!"
Smithy raised his head to stare at a board in the ceiling, but slowly lowered his head with each sentence till he was looking her in the eye. "Is that not what you want? You have been spending a lot of time with him lately. Then this afternoon when he took your hand a great surge of jealousy rose up in me. I have thought about it all afternoon. Though I could hardly bear to let you go, if he is your choice I really cannot blame you. He is funny and smart. He knows how to tease you and make you smile. When the two of you sing, you sound like a pair of birds perfectly matched. He seems just right for you in every way. If he is the one you want, let me know now and I will step out of the way." The torment he had felt all afternoon was apparent in his voice and eyes.
"Oh my dearest Jethro," she said as tears came to her eyes. "Jester has been only a friend to me. He is someone with whom I could laugh and tease and sing. He may be clever and musical, but I could never love him as anything more than a brother."
She took a step closer to him and continued. "My heart was won nearly eight years ago by a boy who is strong and handsome and brave. He is as loyal and noble in spirit as he is kind and temperate. From the day he disappeared I knew I could never love anyone the way I loved him." Her eyes glistened as she looked up at him.
Gently Smithy reached out his hand and cupped her face. With one thumb he wiped the tears from her eyes then pulled her into a warm embrace.
"My dear beautiful Lily, forgive my foolishness. I should never have doubted you."
Nestled in his arms, she whispered back. "I am the one foolish one, Jethro. If I had been more careful with my actions and words you would never have had cause to doubt. The lesson has been learned. From now on I will be certain to think about how what I do will affect those around me." Smithy held her in his arms for several long minutes, enjoying the peace that had filled his heart. Everything seemed right with the world again.
Tenderly he released her saying, "We should get down to dinner if you want to talk with Jane about this afternoon." As she turned to walk to the door he reached down and took hold of her hand.
When she turned to look up at him he said quietly, "I have wanted to do that for a long time."
Giving his hand a tight squeeze, she whispered back, "So have I."