I did not see Gunther the next day.

This meant that I had no one to spar with. I stood in the practice yard, fighting the dummy. While it still proved to be challenging, it was not as exciting or demanding as when I fought against Gunther. I eventually grew tiresome fighting against the mannequin and went to search for Gunther. I first went to Sir Ivan to see if he had seen him.

"Nay, lass," He said to me. He stood in the stables, petting a copper colored mare. "'Has not shown up today, I am afraid."

"Do you think something is…?" I asked, trailing off to imply my point.

He shook his head. "Nah. I bet the Merchant is simply making him work today. He should be here this week, if not as early as tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sir Ivan," I said. I turned to leave but stopped when he called me to a halt.

"What makes you so concerned over Gunther so suddenly?" He asked me. I swear I saw a slight trace of a smirk.

"Oh," I said, a little caught off guard by the simple question. I turned my head, for fear I might be blushing. "I just wanted someone to spar with me is all."

"I see."

There was a pause of silence; I was looking down at my feet, while Sir Ivan was looking me over.

"Am I excused now, Sir?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. Sure."

I returned back to the dummy. But after fifteen minutes of practice, I became quite bored. It just wasn't the same as battling Gunther. I smiled at the thought of his name.

I then mentally slapped myself.

Why was I smiling? Usually, I would scowl at the sound of his name. He treated me so rudely! Yet, here I was, blushing whenever someone simply brought up his name!

Now I really slapped myself.

"Jane? Why on Earth are you hitting yourself, child?"

I turned around to see my mother standing there, a confused frown laced her lips. I did not want to talk about these strange changes in my behavior, and simply shook my head.

"Well," My mother said, giving me one last bewildered look before turning and walking. "Come along now, Jane."

"Where are we going?"

"Why," She said, giving a back glance at me, "today is your bathing day!"

I groaned.

***

I hated my bathing day. The tub I sat in was too small for me, and so my knees stuck up from the water, making them freezing. With the exception of the rest of me, for the water was beyond chilly.

Do not get me wrong, I loved being clean. But on top of the above I listed, my mother chose this time to lecture me about how unladylike I was. She would say, "Jane! You really should tie your hair up," or "Jane! You are beyond filthy!" and usually, "Jane! You smell horrid! You smell exactly like sweat!"

Today was no different.

Except for me. Today, I did not notice the freezing water, my cold knees, and I took little notice to my mother's complaints. I was too busy thinking. The bathing occasion gave me time to sort out my thoughts.

'Where is Gunther?' I asked myself. 'Where could he have gone? His father is probably making him work again! Honestly, between knight training and working for the Merchant, I do not even know how he finds time to sleep! Why, that Merchant is horrible—!'

My clenched my fingers so hard into a fist that my knuckles turned pale. My right fist came up from out of the water and slammed hard against the top layer, spraying water against my face. I was surprised with myself! Since when had I been so protective over Gunther?

I looked behind me to see if Mother had seen my action. She had not, and still had her back turned, looking for lilac smelling water to put in my hair (which she insisted upon).

'Gunther can take care of himself,' I shook my head, sighing at the feeling of guard for him, 'But still…' His father was a horrible man! Not only did he lie and cheat others, but he commanded that his son do the same things for him! Sure, Gunther sometimes lied and cheated himself, but only because his father taught him it was fine to do so.

Gunther needed a better father; a father that really loved him. I had no doubt in my mind that Merchant really did love his son, but not in the way that fathers should. All he needed was his father to love him; for someone to love him.

'Someone like you, Jane.' Said a voice in my head.

"What?!" I was so shocked that the thought even appeared in my mind that I yelled.

"I said, dear," My mother said. She must have been talking to me, and thought I was addressing her, "'Lean back.'"

I did so, and mother began putting soap in my hair.

'Do not think of Gunther!' I told myself. But I could not obey. My mind kept jumping back to him. I was getting annoyed.

'All right, Jane. Simply do not think!' That proved to be harder. And of course, my mind went back to Gunther. I groaned.

"Oh, come now, Jane," My mother tisked. "It is not that bad."

"I was not groaning of that, Mother," I said, slowly.

"Then what? What are you thinking of?" She asked.

I paused, trying to think of what I should do. Should I tell my mother about these strange and new things I have never felt before? Would my mother know what these strange things were?

"Mother…?" I said slowly.

"Yes, Jane?" She asked, confused on why I was choosing to go the long way with this conversation instead of simply telling her.

"May I ask you a question?"

"Yes…of course."

"Mother?" I took a deep breath. "May I ask you question about…boys?" I looked up at her, trying to read her expression. I hoped she would not become mad at me for asking something so stupid. She instead smirked. She went over to the wall and pulled a stool next to the tin I was sitting in to talk to me.

"So, this is what it is about." She smirked.

I nodded, sheepishly. Mother took my hand and began to clip my fingernails as she spoke to me.

"Which boy is it?" She asked with a wide grin on her lips. "Is it your friend Jester? He really is a good man—"

"Mother!" I now felt uncomfortable bringing up this topic. She seemed not to notice.

"Is it not Jester? Oh! Then it must be the blacksmith! You know, dear, he really is rather cute, and he is very skillful—"

"Mother!" I repeated. I brought back my hand from her grasp.

"Oh, Jane, then who is it?" She asked, looking me in the eyes. I shifted, looking away. I did not want to tell my mother. By the way she was talking, she seemed to be thinking I was talking about becoming sweethearts with another boy. And no, I would certainly not want to be sweethearts with Gunther!

'Yes you would.' Said that little annoying voice.

I swallowed hard. No! It could not be that! That could not explain the strange notions I've been having!

I shook my head. "Nevermind, Mother."

"Are you sure?" She asked me, frowning. "You do not want to tell me?"

"It is nothing," I said, keeping my head downwards.

"Um, all right," She said, looking disappointed. I did not mean to hurt her feelings, but I did not want my mother spreading a rumor about me being sweethearts with Gunther, when that was not the case at all. She took my hand in hers, and she looked me straight in the eye. "But if you ever want to talk about it, I will listen."

I nodded and smile. "I know you will."

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Jane and the Dragon. ): She and the rest of the characters belong to Sir Martin Bayton and Weta. I only own the plot.

Author's Notes: I appoligize for the long wait! I have actually had this chapter for a while, but was rather lazy. _' I wrote Chapters three and four tonight, and hope to get at least five done tomorrow. I will post the third one tomorrow, since I have been so neglecting. ):

Also, I know Jane is taking a bath. O.o But I imagin it as a G rated bath. Nothing graphic, and I hope none of you thought of anything graphic. O_O That would be horrible!

Do not forget to reply! Please? *puppy dog pouts*