I feel rather proud. I finished two chapters within a week. That makes me happy. I hope that this one is better than the last one, which I thought was a little rushed. Now the other story, I am almost done with the new chapter of that one. SO YAY! I feel very accomplished. XP Anyway, stop reading my rant, read the story.
Dragon looked back behind him. The castle seemed far enough back now. He looped around and headed back to the forest. Vanessa was sitting on the ground cross-legged, reading a book. He landed on the ground like a sparrow. She slammed it and bolted from the ground.
"Dragon! Well, how did it go?" She cocked her head to the side questioningly.
"She did not even come out to see me go." He gave her a tiny glare. "I have never lied to her before."
"Oh, well. There is a first time for everything. It is going to be worth it. Believe me." She smiled. Dragon furrowed his brow at her. She seemed to shrug it off.
She grabbed his snout and hugged it. "Are you ready?"
He nodded, lifting her off of the ground.
She hopped off. "Excellent."
"Jester! Jester!" Jane banged and banged on his door but got no response. Rake passed by pushing his barrow of freshly picked mushrooms.
"Jane? What are you doing?" He looked at her oddly.
"Nothing Rake. Where is Jester?"
"At the table, it is time for the evening meal service."
"Oh. Why are you not there?"
"Pepper needed some more mushrooms for the Courts dinner." He said pointing to the barrow.
"Oh."
"Come on. We do not want to be late."
The two friends got to the table and took their seats. Smithy and Jane on one side and Rake and Jester on the other. Jane chose that seat because she wanted to avoid any awkwardness with Jester. Pepper placed in front of them, a fabulous tray of fish with lemon butter sauce.
"Looks delicious Pepper." He looked at the dish, practically drooling.
"Thank you, Smithy." She sighed placing her hands on her hips. "Dig in."
And did they. Everyone grabbed a hearty helping, except for Jane.
Smithy paused from stuffing his face and placed a hand on Jane's shoulder. "Jane, are you all right? You seem ill."
"I am fine." Smithy gave her a persistent look. Jane sighed. "No. I am not all right. Dragon…" She stopped.
"Dragon what?" Rake asked before shoveling another bite of fish in.
"He left." Rake choked on his fish before swallowing and Smithy's eyes grew to the size of the plates. And Jester dropped his fork.
"Why on Earth did he do that?" He asked bending down, reaching for his utensil.
"I do not know." She let her head drop into her hands. "It may have been because I yelled at him earlier." She said, her voice cracking.
"Now, Jane. You know that probably is not true." Smithy leaned over to look into her eyes. "You have both argued before. Many times before." He chuckled. Instead of receiving laughter, he got two piercing glares. He bought his hands up in surrender.
"Do not be mad at him. He is right. I have not been a true friend to him lately. And I need to suffer the consequences." Jane jumped in at Smithy's defense. "He is gone," She reached for the last piece of fish. "And there is nothing I can do about it." The table remained silent.
Then a voice cut in, shouting. "Jane!" It was Gunther. "Jane! You need to get out here!" Jane pushed her hands against the dinner table and ran to the driveway. When she got there, her stomach dropped to her toes and she froze. Standing there pointing a sword at Gunther, was the most handsome man Jane ever saw.
He had strawberry blonde hair that almost fell into his eyes. With his free hand, he pushed it out of his face, revealing the shining mint green eyes underneath. His chin was slightly pointed with a button-curved nose. He was a little bit taller than Gunther, and built a little stronger. He wore an puffy white, long sleeved tunic, with a brown vest over it. He also wore brown breeches that were secured with a black sash. And dull, black, shin-high boots. He had no possessions, except a satchel that was on one shoulder that went across his chest.
"Jane!" Gunther called. Jane shook her head, and moved forward. The stranger sheathed his sword and offered his hand.
"I am honored." Jane reached out her hand and the boy grabbed it firmly. Then, bringing it up to his lips, he kissed it softly. Jane blushed furiously and smiled wide. The boy started to slowly pull up, never taking his eyes off Jane's. Gunther coughed loudly, breaking the sweet moment. Jane blinked a few times.
"Right. Um, sir what is your business here?" She straightened her back, trying to look taller.
"I have come to ask for employment in your castle." he smiled and bowed.
"Sorry to break it to you, but you cannot enter just because you want to. And he threatened me, Jane." Gunther looked the boy over again, trying to look disgusted. But reality was, he was a bit jealous. He turned to Jane, looking at her curiously.
"Really? Sorry, but Sir Gunther is right. You cannot enter unless you have the proper papers."
"Oh right right right. Forgot. Sorry." He reached into the satchel and pulled out his papers.
Gunther snatched them away. "You are from… Dulcemia?"
Jane was reading over his shoulder. "Yes Gunther. Dulcemia. We have a peace treaty with them. They are one of our neighboring kingdoms." She took the papers away. "Your name is…" she paused scanning the paper.
"Tristan." He announced happily.
"Tristan. Well Tristan, let me escort you to the throne room, where you can meet the King."
Jane turned and started to walk away, with Tristan close on her heels. They entered the throne room, side by side. "Your Majesty." Jane said bowing. And Tristan followed suit.
"Ah Jane. What is it?"
"We have a job applicant Majesty."
"Really? Well, come forward lad." Caradoc motioned towards himself.
"Does he have any papers Jane?"
"Yes Sir." She walked up the side steps and handed them over.
"Tristan is it?"
"Yes Milord."
"Yes. What are your skills Tristan?"
"I work quite well with animals, if you are in need of a stable boy. I work well with food, if you need help in the kitchen. But I will be ready for any task you need me for, if you will have me sire."
"You seem like a good boy and quite loyal. I would be honored if you would join my service."
"You are too gracious Majesty."
"Jane, show him around the castle and get him familiar with the rest of the staff. Especially Smithy. Tristan here will be taking over Smithy's extra work as stable boy."
"Yes your Highness." She turned to Tristan. "Shall we go then?" He nodded.
After showing him the castle and giving him a basic tour, Jane brought him to the dinner table.
"I am back everyone." Jane announced as she approached the table, Tristan right beside her.
They all looked up from their plates. Pepper had joined them, after having served the court.
"Jane, there you are." Jester said excitedly. "Who is this?" He nodded his head towards Tristan.
"Everyone, this is Tristan." She looked at him and back at the table. "King Caradoc has assigned him the duty of the new stable boy."
"Really? That is fantastic." Smithy leapt from his seat and shook Tristan's hand vigorously. "I am Smithy, the Castle Blacksmith and former Stable boy."
"Nice to meet you."
The rest of the staff introduced themselves and their job in the castle.
"I am honored to become part of your little, family it seems." He joked.
Jane sat down and asked Pepper for some more fish, because she never did finish hers.
"Of course Jane." She got up to go down to the kitchen, but stopped. "Oh Tristan? Would you like anything?"
"Yes, please. If it is not too much trouble." Tristan said as he sat down by Rake.
"Trouble? Oh no. You are one of us now and you will be served like everyone else. I will be right back with a new tray of fish and more roast vegetables." She said winking. And then she disappeared.
"So Tristan, what did you do in Dulcemia?" Rake asked, still red from blushing.
"I was a sailor. I was born into a poor family, and when I was still a baby, my parents died. I was raised by the local merchant and he had me work for him in return." He shrugged. "Little did he know that I enjoyed it. I got to go everywhere. Egypt, Pakistan, even China."
The table was full of "ooh's" and "ahh's", as Tristan told fantastic stories about his adventures.
"That night, a stowaway snuck aboard. He brought his pet goat along with him. The goat snuck around in the middle of the night and went into our cabin. It leapt into bed with the merchant. When he woke up, the goat was nose to nose with him." He laughed heartily. The table erupted in a roar of laughter.
"Now, now. Enough about me, I want to learn about you all."
"Well, I come from a family of gypsies, who I found out died recently." Jester said solemnly.
"Oh. I am so sorry, Jester." Tristan said sincerely.
"Do not worry about it. I never really knew them, they left me here when I was seven and I have lived here ever since."
"Fascinating."
"Frankly, I do not think that any of our lives are as exciting as yours." Smithy said chuckling. "Except maybe Jane's."
Jane blushed. "Oh quiet Smithy." She punched him playfully.
"Really?" Tristan put his elbows on the table and placed his head in his hands, pretending to be very interested.
"I am just a knight. Nothing exciting."
"Nothing exciting? I have always wanted to be a knight." He took his out of his hands. "Not only are you a knight, but you are a girl knight. Very rare, I hear." The table laughed again.
"Well, what did you think she was, a squirrel?" Smithy teased. The group laughed until their sides hurt. "She also has a Dragon, as a best friend."
"A dragon?" Tristan got serious.
"Yes, but he left earlier this evening."
"Oh. That is sad, I would have loved to meet him."
"You want to meet dragon?" Rake joked. The group started to laugh again. This carried on deep into the knight. Everyone was telling stories, and joking. Jane had never been happier. But she realized something. She had not thought of Dragon, until he was mentioned briefly earlier. She had forgotten him.
Whew! Who is this new stranger? Any guesses? Turns out Dragon didn't leave, but where is he now? O_o As always, reviews are a thing of beauty and I am very grateful for them. Love you dearies!