Author notes. I would like to apologize for the extreme delay. Please critique and review.

Jester

Jane lied awake in her bed, unable to sleep. The welt on her hand was still throbbing. It reminded her of Gunther and what had happened earlier that day. She was ashamed for running away but she was just in so much shock at the time. She sighed. She would just have to deal with it later.

Jane had had enough. She was tired and wanted to rest. She couldn't fall asleep on her own but she knew it was time for her last resort. She huffily threw off her covers and got out of bed. Jane covered herself in a robe and put on her slippers. She opened her door to the brisk night air. She held her robe tighter to her body and carefully crept to the room of Jester.

Jester roused to the sound of knocking on his window.

"Who is it?" he called out groggily.

"Jester, let me in!" Jane urgently whispered.

Jester got out of bed, unlocked the shutters, and helped Jane hoist herself through the window. It had been a long time since she last came to his room during the night. It was such scandalous situation for a girl to be sneaking into a man's room at night but when Jane couldn't sleep, this was her only relief. Jane was always careful not to be seen going to or leaving from Jester's room. She only did this when something was bothering her and she couldn't really talk to anyone about it. Jester knew better than to pry, so he just did his best to make her comfortable the best way he knew how.

They squeezed onto his small bed together as they had so many times before.

"What story would you like to hear tonight Jane?"

"Surprise me." She said with a smile.

He regaled a story of little people no bigger than thumbs born from seeds of barley. Of a band of men who would steal gold from the rich and give to the poor. Even a romantic story of how the sun and moon were lovers and were cursed never to be together except for every few hundred years during an eclipse. He was going to start another but he noticed Jane was already asleep.

He tucked a lock of her hair away from her face. She looked so tranquil. The light shining off of the fireplace made her face glow. Her full lips slightly parted as she breathed. Jester sighed. This was torture for him. He had a beautiful woman in his bed. Looking completely stunning. It took all of Jester's will power to not do something he'd regret.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Jane. When are you going to realize that I'm a man?" He paused.

"A man who loves you…"