Jane

Jane was in her room, readying herself for her match with Gunther. She tested her bow, checked the fletching on her arrows and pulled her hair into a manageable bun. She grumbled disdainfully at her leather gloves. They had once been magnificent; its leather was supple, allowing free movement and lined with rabbits fur for warmth and extra padding. They were shabby now with most of its lining lost and the area between her thumb and wrist worn away, from the slap of bow strings, leaving the material thin. The leather didn't allow for Jane to be cut or be left welts but she could still feel every painful sting from the bow.

Although she wanted to, Jane couldn't replace them herself because she wouldn't make any money until she was properly knighted. So if she needed money, she had to go through her father. Unfortunately, because of the king's lavish spending habits, the chamberlain took it upon himself to return a majority of his wages to balance the castle books. Jane didn't want to hassle her father. She sighed to herself "Nothing I can do". She slipped on her gloves and made her way down to the courtyard.

When Jane arrived, Gunther was already waiting for her.

"Where is Sir Theodore?" asked Jane

"He said that he trusted us to judge ourselves fairly."

Gunther was fiddling with his prized bow. It was imported from Germany by his father to congratulate him on becoming a knight. The bow was excellently crafted. It was a compound bow, which reduced the draw weight, and had an arrow shelf, to keep arrows from sliding when aiming. Although Jane agreed with Gunther that his bow was superior to her standard one, she felt a little smug that she could shoot just as well without it.

Gunther finished prepping his bow and set up two targets along the wall.

"Same rules as last time Jane. Twelve rounds and one step back after each." Gunther said as he came along side Jane. She nodded. She pulled back her string "Ladies first" She said, and released. She hit her mark dead center and gave Gunther a cheeky grin.

Gunther smirked and drew his bow. He took a deep breath as he aimed and released the arrow. "Bull's eye" He returned her smile and it grew wider from her cross look.

They both took their turns firing. Jane's hand was starting to shake. After shooting the seventh time, her hand was in a considerable amount of pain. It was now the last shot and her hand felt like it was on fire. "You can do this." She thought. A sharp pain stabbed through her as she fired. The arrow flew and hit the white border of the target.

"Maggots!"

Gunther shot his arrow and hit the red. That made it 12 to 11. Gunther won.

"How's your hand?" he asked

"It's fine."

"Let's see it."

As Jane pulled off her glove Gunther hissed. The bow string had finally ripped through the leather glove and left an angry purple mark on her hand. Gunther couldn't help himself. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the welt.

"Gunther what are you doing!" She tried to pull her hand away but he held it firmly.

"Jane, I won. This is what I want." He pulled her body against him and kissed her lips instead. The kiss was rough but intoxicating. He skillfully entered his tongue and deepened the kiss. Gunther had lots of experience with girls but none were as sweet as Jane. His body was electrified and he wanted her. Jane was in shock and her knees grew weak. She didn't snap out of it until his hand wandered to her bottom. She regained herself and shoved him away; her face excruciatingly red.

"Jane I-"

"I have patrol with dragon." She said as she dashed off.

"Wait Jane!" but she was already gone. "You're so stupid Gunther! Stupid, stupid, stupid." He cursed himself as he smacked his forehead. He was about to snap his bow into two but stopped himself before he did something that he would regret. He sighed and went home.