If these characters were mine, and I was a man, and old, I would be Martin Baynton. But, seeing as how I'm neither a man, nor old, we can conclude that I am NOT Martin Baynton and therefore do not own these characters.

Medicine and Healing

Come now, Jane, take the medicine.

Just sit up, Petal. You only need a little of the elixir; now here is some water, can you take a sip? There, you can lie back down again.

Oh Please, please Lord, please let her wake up. Oh, please… Oh, please...

Come now, frog rider. Why have you not awoken yet? Are you that scared to spar me?

Jane? My child, I had never been more proud of you than when you went to fight Dragon. I was so scared, though. I was scared you would get hurt. Then, you started training and my fears shifted. Only a month ago, you were ever closer to being a knight, mere weeks to go until you swore your oath. And do you know what is amazing? Our kind King Caradoc has decided that despite your illness, if you have awoken by the time scheduled to knight you and Gunther, he will not prolong it. He says you have had the heart of a knight since you ever became a squire, only learning how to use it to honor your king.

The most terrifying thing as your father is no longer you being a knight; I would as much worry about you walking. Now, dear child, I am scared for your future as a woman. At the beginning of this fiasco, Jester came to me. He asked if he may have permission to court you. To make a long, tedious, and probably slightly painful story short, I eventually gave him permission to have your hand should the situation arise. I probably should apologize for that, seeing as how it is your hand he requested and I am only your father, but if it had to be any of the boys of the castle; it was going to be him.

I love you dearly Jane. I know I should have waited to tell you these things until you were awake; indeed, I shall have your friends inform you when you wake up of what I told you. Sleep well child, but please wake up.

"Father?" Jane asked, struggling to wake as one would struggle to swim through tar. She had to wake up, her father was begging. The pleading, from her strong, studious father was too much to bear. She had to wake up, to thank him for giving Jester permission.

"Jane?"

At once, Jane felt warm arms around her, heard her father shouting "SHE HAS AWOKEN. COME QUICKLY! JANE IS AWAKE!" On her cheek, Jane felt a warm wetness; tears, belonging both to her father and her.

A voice Jane had not heard in a long time came from her window, "Jane! Are you done falling asleep? Can we go see the cows now? Are you well enough to see the cows?"

"Green lips!" Jane laughed, finding it easier to breathe when she saw Dragon. She was about to nod her consent to a day trip with her friend, only to be interrupted by an unfamiliar deep voice in the corner of the room.

"She cannot go out yet, high flyer. She needs to recover; though the elixir we found works miracles, the body must provide its own support for her health." As the mysterious man spoke, Jane took in every detail of the man's features and clothes. Dragon nodded, and promptly turned and fell asleep.

He was tall, taller than even Magnus, with long, unruly curls; indeed, the only difference between her hair and his was the color: his hair was black streaked with grey, as Sir Theodore's had been when Jane began her training. He had features much like Apollo's, though not as tan. His eyes were the same stormy blue grey, and though the man had wrinkles around his eyes and mouth, he did not appear old. He wore a long robe that looked like he had cut it from the night sky, with a midnight blue background and silver, tiny, embroidered stars. The robe was belted around the man's middle with a silver belt made of chain link that had pouches and pockets hanging from it.

"Sir," The chamberlain began, and for some reason this bothered Jane. Sir? Why is father calling the man sir? Is he a knight? "Do you think my daughter will be able to return soon to normal life?" Jane's father looked up expectantly, grabbing Jane's hand from where it rested on the quilt.

"Well, it honestly depends on how well she recovers from this-" The man in the corner began. He was interrupted by the loud crash from the door banging into the wall from the force with which it was pushed open.

"JANE!" Everyone surely heard the loud cry. Suddenly, the young woman felt herself pulled forcefully into a warm, tight, long embrace. After a moment, Jane realized it was the court jester embracing her and wrapped her arms possessively around his strong torso. She felt a warm wetness penetrating her night gown at her shoulder. A prickle announced itself as Jane realized that it was caused by the boy sobbing unashamedly in her arms. She could hear him whispering "Do not ever leave me again. I love you too much." Only he was so quiet that only Jane had a hope of hearing.

"My boy, she will be fine now. Just a little time and your girl will be right as rain" the tall man said, walking towards the bed, hand outstretched toward Apollo. With a speed Jane would have given her left hand for, the young man moved out of the reach of the man, whom Jane was beginning to think was probably the castle wizard. The man –wizard?- backed into the corner again, and Apollo sat at the foot of Jane's bed.

"Of course she will; this is Jane you are speaking of." A soft voice affirmed. Pepper entered the room with a tray that held a bowl, a cup, and a small biscuit. "Some soup for the lady knight" Pepper said, winking at Jester as she walked to Jane's side. "Only broth; I shan't risk more until you are better." Pepper chattered on as Jane ate, encouraged by the squire's appetite. Taking the trays from Jane, Pepper waved away the thanks she attempted." Tomorrow night, perhaps, we may have some pear petal pudding! Or… Oh, excuse me..." With that, the young brunette ran from the room, one hand holding the tray, the other over her mouth.

"Pepper?" Jane asked, confused

"She will also be just fine. I may need to mix up something for her morning sickness though. Pregnancy is such a bother." The tall man said, walking to the door.

Oh, of course. Jane thought That made total sense. Jane winced in empathy.

"Thank you, Sir …Wizard?" the chamberlain said, the confusion evident in his voice as to how exactly to address the man. He turned to Jane, mouthing 'Pregnant?' She nodded, and he looked back at the door.

The jester said nothing, turning only a hard glare at the wizard. Jane could not help but to feel slightly proud for deducing who the odd man was. Now she just needed to understand Apollo's animosity towards him. Why on earth was he being so cold towards the man?

Jane's father turned to her, a question in his eyes. "How are you, Jane?"

"I feel quite well, Father. A little overwhelmed, but not ill; I think, however, that I should get some proper rest."

"Yes, the wizard said you would feel tired. Shall we leave you?" Jane's father indicated with his words that Jester would have to leave as well; both young adults caught on.

"In a moment, Chamberlain." Apollo said pleadingly. The older man nodded, going to stand by the door. The blond pulled his hat off, sat next to Jane, and leaned his forehead against hers. Jane could feel her father's disapproving glare but neither moved.

"I," the jester began, swallowing audibly "I was so scared. You did not sleep as long this time, only 4 days, but each day you did not wake up was another day I spent in terror. You are supposed to be knighted in 3 days. The king promised he will knight you despite your poor health, especially since you are recovering." Apollo let out a shaky breath, then continued. "I promised myself I would wait until after you were knighted to ask for permission to court you, but I could not wait. I already asked your father, as you said to,"

Jane interrupted, "I know, he told me."

Apollo smiled; Jane could feel his face move through the contact of their foreheads. The blue clad man asked "And he told you his answer?"

"I think he said yes?" Jane answered timidly, painfully aware of how close the Jester's lips were. To reach out and kiss him once more… it would not be proper. Not yet.

"He said I can request your hand, if I feel the courage to do so. Also, he told me that if I was to marry you, I would have to be aware of your stubbornness, and of your inability to do as told; essentially he told me you would be an unconventional wife." Jane felt him chuckle. "I told him I have known that since we first met." Jane suddenly felt her face flush- how long had Apollo loved her?

A harrumph broke the spell. Jane felt her- what? Was he her betrothed? - pull away, and wrap his left arm behind her. He guided her back until her head rested on her pillow.

As her father blew out the candles on the other side of the room, Jane felt warm lips press a kiss to her forehead, "Until the morning, my love."

El Fin

I'm finally done! So… I did post a different version of Chapter 6, but a loyal fan/friend/fanficcer smacked some sense into me (not literally, she isn't abusive) and I took it down and fixed it. If you saw the other one, I apologize. Here is the proper ending. Also, soon to come:

Nerves-Jester & Chamberlain's talk

Elixir-Dragon's journey with the Wizard

Wizard(s)(?)-Who the wizard is in THIS continuity. And why Jester hates him.

All of these will be marked +Sleepless Continuity+