Gunther sat on a wooden stool in his family's stables. The morning was rainy and dark. His heart thundered in his chest as his father yelled and paced in front of him. His father had never been so mad. Even the horses seemed scared with the way they neighed and trotted around in their stalls.

"You idiot!" his father shouted at him again. "You should be glad I do not beat you anymore! Why did you think that insulting her was a good idea?"

"I am sorry," Gunther stammered. "It just came to my head. I…I…"

"I still have to consider what to do with you. If you have anything to say for yourself, I suggest you say it now."

"You are right father; I was a complete idiot. I deserve any punishment you give me." Hopefully profusely agreeing with his father's opinions would make the punishment lighter. He really had been an idiot, though, even if he did not regret anything he had said.

"I am glad you think so…"

A shiver ran up Gunther's spine at his father's words.

"You will stay in your room until tonight," his father said. "Because tonight you and Jane will meet again. If you do well tonight, I just might consider letting you out."

"Yes, father." Gunther sluggishly got up from his chair and walked through the back door into the manor house, his father following him. His father opened the door to Gunther's room and shoved him. When Gunther was firmly inside, his father closed the door and locked it with a click.

Gunther felt around the pitch-black room for his bed. He knew that when his father had said he would stay in his room until tonight, he meant the door would not be unlocked for any reason. He meant no lunch and no dinner; just eleven hours in the darkness with nothing to do.

Jane glared down at the stone floor of her bedroom, her arms folded across her chest.

"Jane, look at me."

Jane slowly lifted her head to meet her mother's angry eyes. "I am not apologizing for anything that happened last night."

"How do you think I felt this morning when half the court was talking about the fight from yesterday? Or when you came home last night soaking wet?"

Jane refused to say anything, but she could feel guilt gnawing at her heart.

"Why do you not understand I am doing this for your good?"

"Because it is not for my good! If I marry Gunther, I can tell you I will be miserable for the rest of my life."

"Listen. I had similar thoughts about your father when we first started courting. Look how our marriage turned out: fine. Life is emotionally hard enough on your own. When you become a knight, you will have many duties. You will often be physically and emotionally exhausted. And you might even have to go to war someday. Trust me, Jane, you will need a husband to support you."

"I have friends I can talk to mother!"
"That is not the same thing."

"Maybe it is not. Maybe I will need to get married. But not now, and not to Gunther. He is the one who started the fight!"

"Then why is everyone telling me you were chasing him?"

Jane looked over at the fire place. "I suppose part of it was my fault."

Her mother sat down beside her on the bed, and looked softly into Jane's eyes. "Please just try to make it work."

"Why would you even consider making me court Gunther?"

Her mother sighed. "He has the same interests as you. Since he is going to become a knight, he would be by your side in battle to protect you. His family is wealthy and you would never have to face the hardships of being poor. Jane, think logically about this."

"But what about how I feel? Logic is fine, but you are asking me to love someone I have been at odds with since I started training."

"Then stop being at odds with him! You may be a knight, but you are still a lady. Being a lady means being polite to people, even if you do not want to."

"I will not be nice to him! I cannot!" Jane jumped up from her bed.

Her mother stood up and gently grabbed Jane's arm. "We are going through with this courtship with or without your cooperation."

"Then it will be without," Jane said, escaping through the open doorway out into the daylight.

"Fine," Jane's mother said, following her. "Then you will cause your marriage to be a trial instead of a blessing. At least try to think of how your children will be affected by your constant fighting with your husband."

"Mother! How can you even suggest that?" Jane asked. Children? Disgusting! Raising a family with that vial of snake spit? Jane ran down the stairs and through the courtyard, guilt and conviction running through her veins as she left her downcast mother behind her. But no amount of guilt could convince her to change her mind.

That night Jane yet again thudded up the steps to the garden. I cannot believe my mother is still making me do this! Jane thought. What is madder is that she expects me to be nice to Gunther. Well, I will not! I will be just as stubborn as the night before and tomorrow the entire court will be talking about the disturbance in the gardens.

Jane stood near the entrance, tapping one foot against another. In a little while, Gunther climbed the steps. "Hello. I…I am sorry, Jane. My behavior last night was disrespectful and wrong. Please accept my humble apology. I promise I will not say anything degrading to you again."

Jane's thoughts immediately halted as she stood dumbfounded.

Gunther looked at Jane with pleading eyes.

He could not be sincere, could he? "I accept…" Jane said.

"Phew," Gunther said. "Thank you…Uh, you look quite nice tonight, Jane."

"Thank you," Jane replied in bewilderment. "Your clothes look, um, well, washed."

"Thank you," Gunther said.

An awkward silence fell between them for at least three minutes. Great, Jane thought. Just when I thought tonight would make my mother see that this is horrible idea.

"Let us walk," Gunther suggested.

Jane nodded and they started slowly down one of the paths, each of them trying not to look at each other. People stared at them and whispered as they passed.

"Are you ready for the race tomorrow?" Jane asked.

"Yes. You?"

"I think so."

"Good."

Another long silence. After a while, Jane realized they had walked in a circle.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Gunther asked.

"Participating in the horse race," Jane said. "Then I think I will probably patrol with Dragon."

"I think I will be helping my father after the race," Gunther said.

They stopped and stared at one of the ponds in the garden. The sky was getting darker. Jane heard Gunther's stomach growl.

"Light dinner," he explained.

Jane nodded her head. "It is getting late."

"Uh, yes, it certainly is. We should probably return to our homes now."

"Yes," Jane agreed eagerly.

"See you at the horse race," Gunther finished.

"You too," Jane said. "Goodbye."

Gunther hurried down the steps out of the garden. That went strangely well, Jane thought. Why is he being so nice?

The next day at noon all the squires met at the castle gate for the race. Jane led Cleva out of the stables and started putting her saddle on. Please let Gunther be late, Jane thought to herself. She did not need any reminders of her awkward…walk…with Gunther yesterday evening. Of course, once they were racing, she would not have to think about yesterday at all. Jane hopped onto Cleva's back.

"Is everybody ready?" Sir Theodore asked as all the squires lined up. "Where is Gunther?"

Jane looked down the line. He was not there. Maybe Jane would not have to face him after all.

"Here, sir!" Gunther called as his horse trotted right next to Jane's. "My horse was a bit feisty this morning."

Knowing its handler, I am not surprised, Jane thought.

"Today your true horsemanship will be tested," Sir Theodore said. "You will travel down the main road, gallop around the mountain, then return using the small road. This race is about speed, but remember the knights' code as you compete."

Sir Ivan was standing nearby with a flag in his hand. "Ready…set…go!" He waved the flag up and down as the horses raced down the main road. Jane fell in behind three other squires, one of which was Gunther.

The horses kicked up dust as they ran. Jane pushed in front of one of the squires, but just barely. As they reached a turn, Jane quickly galloped in front of the next squire, who had been too inattentive. Now she and Gunther were racing neck and neck.

"Prepare to eat my dust, biscuit weev–" Jane started to say to Gunther. Then she remembered they were courting and such an address was definitely not appropriate to say to him; after all he had been, or was trying to be, nicer than before. Apparently last night would not be so easy to forget about. "Sorry. I mean, good luck, Gunther."

"Thank you, Jane," Gunther said. He probably meant to say it nicer. He pulled on his horse's reins, edging closer to Cleva and almost brushing against Jane.

"Hey!" Jane yelled. "That is not fair. Remember what Sir Theodore said about following the knights' code?"

"I do not believe the knights' code says anything about the rules of horse racing," Gunther said. His horse was ahead by at least a foot.

"It says cheating is wrong."

"Does it say what qualifies as cheating?" Gunther asked.

"Gunther. If you do not stop, I will be slammed into the side of the mountain!"

"Sorry, but this is a race, if you had not noticed."

"And we are courting, if you had forgotten. And I think it would look quite bad if you caused me to get hurt." Jane hated having to bring up their courtship, but it seemed to be the only way to get him to stop. First, he is nice to me, and now he is the same old waste bucket he has always been! Jane thought. I do not understand him!

Gunther said nothing but pulled farther away from Jane. This had to be the most awkward competition Jane had ever participated in. Suddenly, Gunther's horse started to throw a fit.

"Calm down, girl!" Gunther shouted as his horse reared up, trying to throw him.

"Maybe you should consider being nicer to your horse, Gunther!" Jane yelled.

Gunther's horse continued shaking him and rearing. Gunther fell and his horse bolted into the forest. Jane continued to gallop on.

"What was that you said about us courting, Jane!" Gunther shouted behind her. "And the knights' code?"

Jane slowed Cleva. "Right," she muttered unhappily. She turned Cleva back around and rode up next to Gunther, sliding off her horse and holding out a hand. "Are you all right?"

"No thanks to you," Gunther murmured under his breath, taking Jane's hand. "Yes, I am fine."

As Jane helped Gunther up, two squires raced past them.

"Great," Jane said, climbing back on her horse.

"And you are just going to leave me here?" Gunther asked.

"Get on," Jane groaned. Gunther pulled himself up on Cleva behind Jane and gripped her shoulders. His fingernails seemed to dig into her skin.

Cleva started galloping again, but much slower than before. Another squire passed Jane and Gunther.

"Can your horse go faster?" Gunther asked.

"Not with this much weight on her," Jane said. "And I do not want to get thrown by pushing her."

Gunther huffed.

"Why do you even care? Your horse abandoned you, so you cannot win the race anymore."

"I do not want to waste any more time than I have to," Gunther retorted.

Another squire was gaining on them. Jane urged Cleva forward. "Come on, girl. Faster!" They managed to stay ahead as they turned onto the small path back to the castle. Their lead did not last for long though, as the squire passed them soon after. Eventually, the castle gate came into view. Cleva trotted through the arch at last.

"Jane is in fifth place. Gunther, what happened to your horse?" Sir Theodore asked.

"It threw me, sir," Gunther admitted hesitantly. "I think I might have been pushing her too hard."

"Certainly," Sir Theodore said. "Well done, Jane. You kept to the knights' code even when your rival needed help."

"It was no difficulty," Jane said. Fifth place? And the knights' code had nothing to do with her behavior. She did not know how she could ever get used to her courtship with Gunther. It was taking all her will to keep herself from yelling at him.

"Jane! There you are!" a giant green beast called from the sky. "Done with your race?"

"Yes, Dragon!" Jane called out, climbing off Cleva.

"Took you long enough," Dragon said. "Come on. Patrol waits."

Jane and Dragon looked down on the kingdom. From so high up, the trees appeared as lush moss across the landscape. The castle seemed like a pile of rocks. The villages were turned into mounds of dirt, and the sea into a simple lake.

"Nice view," Dragon commented.

"Indeed," Jane agreed. "Dragon, I have a secret."

"Hey, I thought you said that you would never keep anything from me," Dragon accused.

"Well, this is a new thing."

"What is it?"

"Guess."

"You've stopped your knight training to become a farmer of cows."

"No."

"Hmm. Then you have been proposed to by a handsome prince."

Jane laughed hard. She found she could not stop. "Hardly!" she said between breaths.

"Was it really that funny?" Dragon asked. "Less ridiculous then?"

"No, no, no," Jane said, still laughing. "You are getting closer."

"So, something romantic as you short-lives call it?"

"No. Definitely not romantic. But I am courting someone."

"Jane, I do not get it. You are courting someone, but you do not like him."

"Exactly."

"Does that not ruin the whole point of 'courting'?" Dragon asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Jane moaned. "Guess who."

"Hmm," Dragon said. "You are friends with pretty much everyone. Except for Gunther, of course. But that would be just—"

"You got it," Jane said.

"What?" Dragon asked. "Gunther? We are talking about the arrogant, cheating, puny little knight-in-training short-life, right?"

"Yes."

"Why in the world would your parents make you court Gunther? You know, I think I can fix this." Dragon started descending.

"Dragon! Do not go and turn Gunther into charcoal. Do you hear me? Do not!" Jane ordered

"Are you sure? It would fix the problem immediately," Dragon said, landing by the castle.

"Yes, I am quite sure," Jane said, sliding off Dragon.

"Well, at least your life is a short one," Dragon said. "Are you sure there is nothing at all I can do to help?"

"That does not involve baking Gunther alive, no," Jane said. She hoped Dragon would listen and just let the situation be for once. The last thing Jane needed was Dragon terrorizing the person her parents had arranged for her to court.

"Jane!" Dragon said, standing up on his hind legs and crossing his forearms. "You and I both know what will happen if this continues."

"What?" Jane asked, glumly turning around to face Dragon.

"You and Gunther will get married!" Dragon exclaimed.

"Yes, I am aware of that! I know, it is disgusting," Jane whisper-shouted. "Please keep it down though! This is embarrassing enough as it is. I do not need the whole castle knowing about it."

"And once you two get married, you will have to give up your knighthood," Dragon said, going back down on all fours. "To take care of your children and things like that."

"Why does everybody keep bringing children up?" Jane asked. "Wait. You might be right. That sneaky hog's breath. He just wants to push me out of becoming a knight! He must think that if I get married, he could convince the king to relieve me of duty."

"So, are you going to take me up on my offer now?" Dragon asked, swinging his head down to meet Jane's eyes.

"No," Jane said. "I think I have a plan of my own."

"Does it involve turning your beloved into a pile of ash?"

"Dragon!" Jane scolded.

Dragon laughed. "You should see the look on your face!"

Three days had passed since the horse race, and it was time for the grand ball. To her mother's surprise, Jane was perfectly fine with wearing her gown, even her elegantly tapered shoes. She even agreed to take a bath and let her mother do her hair.

"You look so grown up," Jane's mother commented, letting out a sigh.

"Thank you, mother," Jane replied.

"You should be going. The ball will be starting soon."

"Are you not coming, mother?"

"The queen has given me a night off as she plans to attend Princess Lavinia herself. I plan enjoy a rare night of peace and quiet."

"Very well. Goodbye!" Jane said as she walked out of the door. She jogged to the ballroom. She wanted to be on time.

As Jane approached the doorway, a familiar face met her.

"How are you tonight, Jane?" Jester asked.

"Do not worry," Jane said. "I have a plan now. Gunther and I will stop courting by tonight."

"Good to hear," Jester said enthusiastically. "I trust you will be much relieved when this is over."

"Very," Jane said as she pushed through the doors to the ballroom. The ballroom was four times as big as the courtyard. Its ceiling seemed to rise forever. Rows of banquet tables lined the ballroom on both sides. Pepper had been preparing the feast for weeks, and Jester had been preparing his show for as long. It was too bad that Jane had other things on her mind tonight to properly enjoy any of it.

First, everyone ate. The food was wonderful, as always. Jane would make sure to compliment Pepper later. Next, Jester told jokes and sang ballads. He was hilarious, even more so than the year before.

Finally, it was time for the dancing. This was what Jane had been waiting for. She had run over her plan again and again in her head. It was going to be perfect. Where was Gunther? She remembered him groaning at Jester's jokes during the feast. There he was.

Jane ran over to Gunther right as the music started to play. "Shall we dance?" Jane asked.

And they did. Jane was accustomed to dancing with people at the ball, but not for the purpose of courting as she did now. She would have been utterly embarrassed to be in Gunther's arms, if it weren't that her plan was dominating her mind. Besides, she smirked inside, her face was nowhere near as red as Gunther's.

Jane had hated having to wear her fancy pointed shoes in previous years. They were tight and getting too small for her. But they were good for one thing. As they danced, Jane picked up her foot and jabbed the pointed end into Gunther's foot. It was easy. Gunther had never been fast on his feet. Gunther flinched. That is what you get for trying to court me out of my knighthood! Jane thought.

"Jane," Gunther said after the dance, reaching down to rub his ankle that had somehow been kicked often by her unfortunate clumsiness, "I am sure you would love to dance with some of your other friends." He stumbled back to his own table.

After a few more dances, Jane marched up to Gunther's table and spoke sharply. "Since we are courting, I think it would inappropriate if you did not dance with me at least once more tonight."

Gunther rose from his seat, gritted his teeth, and walked with her to an open space among the dancers. As they danced, Jane made sure to grip Gunther too tightly, and dig her fingernails into him. When the dance approached its climax, Jane yanked Gunther's arm, causing him to lurch forward.

"Jane!" Gunther hissed.

"Oh, sorry," Jane said. "Was that step at the end of the dance?" They resumed dancing. Jane "accidentally" elbowed Gunther in the stomach a few times and used her earlier tactic of her perfectly crafted dress shoes as well.

When the dance ended, Jane laughed, perfectly pleased with herself. Gunther stood beside her, rubbing his arm. The music began anew, and with it a new dance.

"You know, I think it would be best if I retire for the night," Gunther said.

"Already?" Jane asked. "Sir Theodore is right; you do need to work on your stamina."

"Or, I suppose, I could endure one more dance," Gunther conceded. If there was anything Gunther could not stand, it was being shown up by the girl training to be a knight.

The next dance was just as, if not more, painful for Gunther as the last one had been.

"I really must be getting to bed now," Gunther insisted after the dance ended. "Sir Theodore has given me a special mission for tomorrow, and I need to be well rested."

"Are you sure you absolutely cannot stay for just one more dance?" Jane pleaded.

"I am sorry, Jane," Gunther said, irritation rising in his voice. "No. Goodnight."

Gunther left the ballroom. Jane grinned wickedly. She had certainly given Gunther good reason to abandon his courtship scheme, but had her machinations been enough?

Gunther quickly walked down the stairs to the training yard. I am very glad I do not actually have a special mission tomorrow, Gunther thought. My arm feels like it has been stretched five inches. Why did everyone always want to dance with Jane at the ball? Dancing with her was nothing but pain and misery!

"Leaving so soon?" Gunther's father emerged from the shadows of the castle walls.

"Uh…" Gunther stammered. Even being a natural born and well-trained liar, it was hard to think of an immediate excuse. His father knew he had no special duties tomorrow. "I… It is getting late and I am tired."

"How is it going with the girl?" his father inquired.

"Besides my broken toes, fine," Gunther reported.

"Then get back in there," his father ordered.

"But father! She is insane! She is clumsy as a pig and enjoys every minute of it. If she is not kicking my feet and ankles, she is pulling my arms out of joint!"

His father chuckled. "Clever girl. You are a naïve boy. I doubt she truly is as clumsy as you say. You are as oblivious to schemes as your mother was."

"Father?"

"What would you do, Gunther, if you wanted to get out of a courtship?"

Gunther scowled. She was mistreating him on purpose! How could he have missed it? Well, I can be just as clumsy as she can!.

"I think I will go and ask Jane for the next dance," Gunther said resolutely.

"Good," his father replied.

Gunther angrily trotted up the steps again. How could he have been so stupid? Well, if Jane wanted a battle, it was a battle she would get.