"You have been awfully quiet, Jane," said Dragon as they soared through the clouds.

"Dragon, do you think it possible for me to be a lady and still a knight?"

Dragon laughed. "It would be pretty difficult for you to swing a sword or run around in one of those long dresses. You would constantly be tripping over it!"

"I know. It is absurd, right? But the others all seem to think that I am still a lady."

"Well… you certainly are not a gentleman!" Dragon laughed again.

"Dragon will you please be serious! Lily even offered to make me a gown for the ball next week."

"A gown? You hate to wear gowns."

"This is no ordinary gown." She went on to describe the unique outfit to Dragon.

"Hmm… flames on the skirt, a dragon crest, and your scabbard for a belt. I like it! Normally I would say that a gown would look silly on you, but this dress is almost knightly."

"It is the perfect gown for me, and I would love to go to the ball," sighed Jane, "but Guther would never let me live it down."

"That's an easy problem to solve. I will just fry his teasing rump; then he will be unable to attend the ball and see you in your gown."

"No Dragon. You cannot go around blowing fire at anyone who crosses me. I have to learn to handle them on my own."

"Then it is settled. The laundry maid will make an amazing dragon-inspired gown and you will attend the ball and endure the taunting of Gunther." Dragon laughed again. "If you are lucky maybe jingle-boy will even ask you to go with him!" Still laughing, Dragon did a triple loop before landing back at the castle. Jane was unsure if the knot in her stomach was due to Dragon's flips or the thought of Jester asking her to the ball.

The boys met in the stables again late that evening. "So Rake, there was a vase and a rose on the dinner table tonight. Is that a good sign?" Jester asked with a wink.

A wide smile spread across the gardener's face. "I am escorting Pepper to the ball. Thank you, Smithy and Jester. I could not have asked her without your support." Then with a yawn he said, "I better get some sleep. This next week I will be busy as a bee getting the gardens in tip top shape."

As soon as Rake left, Smithy turned to Jester. "Now it falls to you to keep your part of the pact. Are you ready?"

Jester gave the blacksmith a troubled look. "I do not think I can do this…. I …I cannot ask Jane to the ball. It was only a week ago that she rejected me, remember? The heartache of that disappointment was difficult enough to bare. I could not handle another refusal. She wants to simply remain friends. If I ask her to the ball I may end losing her friendship altogether."

Smithy reached out and clasped his friend on the arm. "Sometimes you just have to take that risk, Jester. Remember 'faint heart never won fair lady!'" Jester rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.

"Besides, if I remember correctly, she did not really reject you. No matter what you may think Jane would never stop being your friend, whether or not she attends the ball with you. Perhaps you should talk to Lily. She mentioned having an interesting conversation with Jane about the ball just this afternoon. Just to be safe, take your best outfit with you to keep our lady knight from becoming suspicious."

The next day Lily sat near the window stitching the sleeves on Jane's gown. Jester knocked softly and entered.

"Hello Jester," she welcomed him in with a smile. Catching sight of the clothes in his hand she said, "What have you got there? No, let me guess. They are your clothes for the ball, right?"

"Yes… but how did you know that?"

"Lucky guess," she replied with a wink. "Go on behind that screen and change."

"Smithy told you I was coming, huh?"

"Yep," she giggled.

"Is that your gown you are working on?" he asked from behind the screen.

"No, it is for Jane."

"Jane!" Jester poked his head out the side, his eyes opened wide. "Jane is actually going to wear a dress to the ball?"

"Well, this no typical dress. It may have a skirt, but beyond that I tried to make it as knightly as possible. She seemed to approve of the design, so I am getting a head start on it. Now we just have to hope that she will decide to attend the ball."

She finished one sleeve and held it up. "There."

Jester peeked out again and said with a grin, "Her other arm will get rather chilly in that gown… "

"Jester!"

"…but it does look very much like a knight's tunic."

"Thank you."

Lily returned to her needlework as Jester finished changing.

"Jester, I think it would be good for you to talk with Jane about the ball."

"Me?"

"Yes you," she said firmly. "Jane is very confused right now. She has focused so hard on becoming a knight that she never realized that she is still a lady. She could use a good friend to listen and offer input. Your friendship and encouragement are needed now more than ever."

Jester called out from behind the screen, "Every once in a while she lets the lady side of her slip out. She hums to herself when she thinks no one will hear. She loves flowers and dancing. Balls have always been one of her favorite things. But how do I explain to Jane how to be a lady? I should think that it would sound better coming from you."

"I have tried, but I think it will mean more to her coming from you."

"Alright, Lady Marion, I will do my best." He walked out from behind the screen. The suit he wore was the same rich blue color as his everyday outfit, but missing was the crazy the puzzle piece pattern.

"Very nice," she smiled approvingly. "Now, I have given a crest to Smithy and to Jane. Would you like one as well?"

"Actually I brought my own." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a scrap of cloth and handed it to her. The symbol was blue and vaguely reminded her of his hat, but as she turned it in her hands she let out a gasp.

"Jester, is this really yours?"

"Yes…"

"But this crest belongs to the long lost…" Jester's eyes grew wide and he quickly threw his hands over her mouth to cut her off.

"Quietly please." He whispered in her ear as he removed his hands. "Yes it does, but how do you know that?"

The shock was still evident in her face as she whispered back, "The Queen was showing me the different crests I may see at the ball and helping me memorize who they belong to. This crest," she looked down at the one in her hands, "has not been seen for a very long time. No one is even certain if any of the family escaped the night their home was attacked."

With a sigh he said, "Sit down, Lily, and I will tell you some of my story, but just as I kept your secret, you must promise to keep mine."

"I will not even tell Smithy," she answered solemnly.

"The night of that attack I was only 2 years old. My nurse ran in, hid me in a chest and carried me out through a secret passage. The only others things in that chest were the armor I gave to Jane and that scrap of cloth with my father's crest on it.

"My nurse was originally from a family of gypsies that camped near our home so we went into hiding with them. My fair hair made me instantly recognizable among all the dark-haired gypsies, so she made me this silly hat and had me promise to not take it off in public. The gypsies treated me like one of their own. I learned to sing, dance, juggle, and tell jokes. Over the next five years we traveled to Kippernia performing everywhere. My nurse knew I needed proper training if I was ever to return to claim my rightful home so she convinced them to leave me here.

"The only ones who know my true identity are you and Sir Theodore. Nurse thought it wise to let a knight know in case of an emergency. The master of the guard wants to begin secretly training me in weaponry, but I am not so sure. I am a performer, not a warrior. My dream is to travel the world and write beautiful ballads, not go to battle for a place I barely remember. Kipper castle is my home now, and there is nowhere else I would rather be. I have heard rumors that my older brother and sister also escaped that night. They would be better at reclaiming and running our childhood home than I would anyway.

"There may still be those who would wish me and my family harm, so it is very important that my name and this crest be kept a secret. I was hoping that I could honor my family by wearing the crest. Attaching it upside down I thought would be enough to keep it hidden, but you recognized the symbol right away."

"Your secret is safe with me, Jester. Perhaps I can make a crest that is similar to this, but looks a little more like your hat. Then you can honor your family without the fear of revealing your secret."

"Thank you, Lily."

oOo

As Jester left the castle he spotted a bright red bob half-way hidden behind a shrub near the wizard's turret. Jane… He swallowed convulsively. Have courage, Jester, Lily said that Jane needs you. Just be a friend and if the opportunity presents itself… ask her!

Jester's heart was beating so hard, he felt certain everyone in the castle could hear. He approached her slowly, doing his best to appear nonchalant. Jane looked up and gave him a cautious smile.

She was leaning up against the wall in her favorite thinking spot. As he drew near she felt a swarm of butterflies race around her stomach. What is wrong with me? I do not feel this way around Rake or Smithy. Get yourself under control Jane... Goodness, I have not been this nervous since my 'damsel in distress' test. Surprise and frustration mingled in her thoughts as Jester plopped down next to her. He sat with his back to the shrub so they could face one another.

"Why are you hiding out here?" Jester asked. A teasing smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Not hiding, just thinking."

Jane made the mistake of looking up at him and felt her heart jump. Why does he affect me so? She quickly turned her head away, afraid that he could read the mix of emotions on her face.

"Ah, do you mind if I sit and think with you?"

Jane shook her head no, but this time kept her eyes averted.

"Wait. Did that no mean 'no, you can not stay' …or 'no, I do not mind?'...or 'no, you can not think'?"

Jane could not stop the laugh that rose within her any more than she could stop the snort that always accompanied it.

"Oh Jester," her eyes danced cheerfully as she met his gaze again. They sat in companionable silence for awhile. Jane pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, lost deep in thought. Finally she decided to ask the question that had been nagging at her.

"Everyone seems to think I am both a knight and a lady, but how can that be? Ladies are prim and proper and always smell like flowers. I am rough and dirty and sweaty most of the time. I would much rather practice my weapon skills than my needlework. Just look at me; I am no lady."

"Jane, being a lady has nothing to do with wearing a gown or sowing impossibly tiny stitches. A lady is someone who treats others with kindness and expects them to treat her with respect. You have always been a lady… and you always will be. Besides, you look prettier than any ten of those ornamented girls… even all dirty and sweaty." He told her with a wink.

She ducked her head attempting to hide the blush that rose to her cheeks. "Jester, you are so kind to me… even when I do not deserve it."

"Anytime, my lady," he grinned impishly at her. "So do you plan on going to the ball?"

"Perhaps… but what will I do about Gunther? He will certainly mock me if I show up to the ball in a dress."

"Then you should tease him back."

"About what?"

"About the lady friend he has been sneaking flowers to for the past few days."

"A lady friend?"

"Early the other morning I awoke to see Gunther saddling his horse. He snuck off, came back with three roses and tore out the castle gate as though a banshee was on his tail. I would venture to guess that the flowers were for some girl that he is asking to the ball. So when he teases you about your gown, you can tease him about the flowers."

"Oh that is the perfect plan, Jester!"

"Does this mean you will go to the ball?"

"I suppose it does." She flashed him a bright smile.

"Well then, as a lady it would be considered improper for you to attend the ball by yourself." Jane raised an eyebrow at him. Jester looked away and rubbed the back of his neck, "So how about I escort you?"

He glanced over to see her reaction, afraid of what he might find. The knot in Jane's stomach unraveled as her heart bubbled up with joy. Her eyes glowed a brilliant shade of green and a smile played around the edge of her mouth. Slowly she nodded, yes.

Jester felt like he could fly to the moon. He jumped to his feet and did several cartwheels followed by a back flip. Jane sat and laughed at his antics until he reached down and pulled her up. In his exuberance, the minstrel pulled a little too hard and knocked himself to the ground, pulling her down with him. They ended in a tangled, laughing heap.

"This certainly is not lady-like behavior!" Jane giggled.

"Perhaps not, but you are no ordinary lady." Jester laughed. He picked himself up, rubbing his shoulder where it had hit the ground, and then reached down to pull her up too.

"Come on! We should go tell the others. They will be delighted to hear that you are coming to the ball!" The minstrel grabbed her hand and took off towards the garden pulling her behind him. At the touch of his hand, Jane felt her heart soar even higher. Perhaps being a lady is not all bad. She smiled to herself as they hurried along.

oOo

There were only a few days left before the ball and Jester sat in the royal library reading over the last books on the wilderness years. After several hours the words began to blur together and his eyelids drooped lower and lower. He was about ready to stop for the day when something caught his attention.

Hullo, what is this? He read on, becoming increasingly more fascinated by what he found. This is too perfect, he thought as he quickly reread the passage to make sure he was correct in his assumptions. Quickly placing a ribbon to mark the spot, he picked up the book and ran to the throne room to show King Caradoc his incredible discovery.

Author's Note: I hope you don't get too upset with me for embellishing some of Jester's history. I believe there is more to his story then we have been told. I might be completely wrong, but here are my reasons.

1. Why would a group of gypsies travel all the way from Italy to England? Yes, gypsies travel, but they typically stay within a certain country.

2. Why does Jester always wear that silly hat?

3. Why does Jester keep his real name such a secret?

4. Jane's special suit of armor is given to her by Jester (it's true!). Why would a gypsy boy have a suit of armor at all, let alone one that is small enough for a 12 year old girl and made using dragon fire. (Marin Baynton tells us this on Qubo's Ask Jane's Creator page)

Well, just one more chapter to go. As always, I'd love to hear what you think.