Hello once again darling people. Look at this, the update is sooner than last time. Although that's not saying much, :p but anyway, I give you chapter 11. I would like to thank someone who give me the push to keep this going. My lovely best friend Sydney. Without her and my readers, you wouldn't have this. So be grateful. ;) Thanks for the time and reviews. It truly means a lot :)

The throne room was decorated to the extreme. Torches and candles sat in holders everywhere, lighting it in a heavenly glow. Yellow and purple streamers hung neatly from the ceiling in swirls. A new green curtain stood closed across the stage. Colors danced off the walls.

"My goodness, it has never looked so beautiful in here." Jane sighed dreamily.

"As do you." Tristan whispered, gazing into her eyes. Once again, Jane blushed and tucked a loose hair behind her ear. Tristan reached over and tucked another behind. Pepper giggled, causing Jane to burst into a snorting laugh. Tristan grinned and placed his other hand on her arm. The five took the row behind the Royal Court, leaving one seat open.

Langley took one sold leap up the steps and cart-wheeled to the middle of the stage, landing smoothly upright.

"Ladies and Sirs!" He spread his arms out over the crowd.

"Fair maidens and handsome nobleman!" His voice carried far.

"Your gracious majesties!" He brought them down to Caradoc and Gwendoline, causing the room to explode in applause. Langley waved his hands in signal to quiet down.

"We have brought you here tonight to witness a performance of the greats! We shall tell you a story of bravery!" He beat his fist against his chest. "Love!" He covered his heart with folded hands. "And loss!" He loosely placed a hand on his forehead. "Enough of my jabber, ladies and gentleman, The Fairy of Nutwood!"

The crowd clapped their hands and Langley exited. The candles were put out, the stage being the only thing lit. Esme entered, dressed in a flowing, layered, white strapless dress. Her hair was perched atop her head neatly adorned in fake pearls. Fake wings were strapped on her shoulders and she was barefoot. A perfect fairy. A man entered dressed in an all orange set of tights and overcoat.

"Madame, the moon-"

"What did Jester need to talk to you about?" Tristan hoarsely whispered.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing." Jane replied still staring at the stage.

"It was something, I heard you shouting."

"SHH!" Cuthbert put his finger to his lips. Tristan stuck his tongue out in reply. Jane giggled and punched him in the leg.

Pepper leaned in close to Jane. "Flirting are we?"

Jane nudged her with her elbow. "No..."

"Oh yes. Of course not."

The door suddenly creaked open and Jester scanned the room for an empty seat. The only one available... was the one next to Tristan. Fabulous. He plunged into his seat with a huff, arms crossed.

"You are late." Tristan said jokingly.

"Hush you."

"Wha-?"

"You heard me." Jester's eyes nearly shot through Tristan's soul. Langley popped up next to Jester's chair.

"Excuse me? Tristan, will you assist me in a matter most dire?"

"He will gladly do so." Gwendoline leaned back.

"Thank you your majesty. Come, you will be part of our verse competition."

"Me?"

"I can do it Langley." Jester started to stand. Langley pushed him back down.

"We do not want to be surpassed in skill Jester. Tristan, come along." Tristan looked at Jane for reassurance. She nodded. Begrudgingly, he followed.

Jester burned in a white hot fury. He hated him. Tristan was taking everything from him. His only love, his laughs, his profession, his best friend. He took it all with such ease and swiftness, Jester never saw it coming.

Remember Jester, this is Dragon. Not "Tristan." You cannot go against a dragon. Wait. He is no dragon. Not anymore. He is but a mere man. You have never spoken up to him out of fear for being roasted. No fire now. Stupid Dragon.

"How are things Dragon?" Vanessa stood beside Tristan and smiled slyly.

"So far so good. About the time limit..."

"What is done is done Dragon. You knew that getting into this."

"But, we have not even discussed payment."

"All in due time. The question now is, can the dragon rhyme?"

"Can I what?" Before she answered, Vanessa pushed him through the curtain. Tristan landed face flat on the stage on the right side of Langley. A tall boney girl stood on the other.

Langley stared at him strangely but continued. "Now, while those hungry feast on fantastic treats and those with swollen bladders seek relief, for those of you staying behind, we have a little diddy."

Tristan groggily got to his feet.

"Rosaline and Tristan will be partaking in our verse competition. They will build an entire rhyming poem on the spot. I shall provide them with the subject. Then they go on from there. Every two line must rhyme. The player with the most clever lines, wins. Now, keep in mind folks, neither participant is prepared. Purely a game of wit. Contestants, are you ready?"

Rosaline nodded and Tristan tried to speak.

"Let us start. The subject is, a simple man. Rosaline, begin."

Tristan's mind went into a state of panic. I have no idea what I am doing up here. A man? What about the man? Oi...

"There once was a man." Rosaline stated blandly.

Ooo, that was clever. Okay. What rhymes with man? Can, fan, ban, tan... Tan!

"Whose skin was rather tan."

"He owned no shiny armor."

"He was but a humble pig farmer." Where did that come from?

Rosaline furrowed her brow, but straightened and stood tall. "He owned a rusty pitchfork."

Tristan hunched over awkwardly. Fork? A rhyme for fork? I am dead...

"He kept his wine open with no cork."

Pepper whispered to Jester. "He is doing quite well for a beginner huh?" Jester glowered and sank lower in his chair.

"The pig he owned was round and fat."

"Nothing was to be done about that."

Langley intercepted. "Competition is getting a bit fierce huh? But! You will all have to wait. Until then, see how the fairy of nutwood flies!" Langley, Rosaline and Tristan suddenly dropped beneath the stage. Esme slid through the curtains from a great height. Underneath her dress was a harness and ropes. Behind stage a gypsy pulled her high. Esme danced in the air gracefully and landed softly.

Tristan landed in the dirt beneath with an oof. Rosaline and Langley on the other hand, landed on their feet.

"Tristan you were positively wonderful!" Rosaline exclaimed as she swiftly pulled him up.

"Indeed!" Langley vigorously shook Tristan's hand. "Was that your first time?"

"Actually yes."

"Excellent job!" Langley and Rosaline trotted through the dark the tunnel to the outdoor entrance and returned to the stage, Tristan to his seat.

Jane lowered her voice. "How did you do that disappearing trick?"

"Trap door."

"Yes. Right. For a moment I thought there was trouble." She took her hand off her sword.

"Oh, were you ready to protect me Lady knight? To brave certain danger to save me from the evil story tellers?" Jane grinned, then trained her eyes back to the stage.

"Well done." Commended Jester.

"Hmm?"

"Shh." Jester put his finger up.

"But, oh-" Tristan folded his arms to pout.

"So the fairy of nutwood saved her kingdom and lived happily ever after!"

The applause was absolutely deafening. Every person rose to their feet and clapped until their hands were red and swollen. Each gypsy had broad smiles and bowed deeply.

"Thank you all!" Langley stepped forward once more. "You have all been too kind. Now to reward you for your generosity, the last half of our verse competition! Tristan, Rosaline, if you would both join me." The other gypsies left the stage.

"Now then, there once was a man. Who was a humble pig farmer yes? Rosaline, would you begin?"

"He lived in the mountains high."

He nodded. She thinks she is so great. We-he-ll.

"He brought in his pig once noon time drew nigh." She raised an eyebrow in astonishment.

She paused. "He loved his little house of stone." She finally stuttered.

"Except for his pig, he was all alone."

She glared. "Then one day a sound came from the hill." She cocked her head smugly.

Ha, thought you trumped me? "Perhaps the void in my heart will fill?"

She grimaced. "A maiden made the noise."

"A maiden of certain poise." Where is this coming from?

"He and his girl lived a long time." Rosaline's pace quickened.

"They lived far beyond their prime." He quickened as well.

"There would be no way to change fate!" She nearly shouted.

"So the farmer died, happy and old with his mate." Tristan ended eloquently.

The crowd cheered, Smithy giving a standing ovation.

"Goodness, a poem of pure beauty. But! Who is our winner? Audience?"

"Tristan! Tristan! Tristan!" They chanted. Dragon's heart swelled. He knew that people would shout his name one day. Except... that is not my name. That man does not exist. His swollen heart diminished.

"Well Tristan, you seem to have won. Enjoy your dignity." Langley chuckled. "No, do not fret. We shall give you a prize. Here." Langley placed a small ring in Tristan's hand.

It was a silver band, nothing too pretty. He tried to slip it on his finger. Agh. Too small. Oh well. He buried it in his vest pocket.

"Thank you, the exits are behind and to the left. Thank you your majesties for this delightful opportunity. Thank you and good night." Langley back flipped through the back curtain as the green curtain came down around for the final time. The crowd cheered a final time then left neatly through the back doors.

"Oh Rake! That was absolutely lovely!"

"I agree Pepper. Tristan, I did not know you had that in you." Tristan burned.

"Yes Tristan, that poem-" Smithy clapped again.

"Thank you all. I had no idea I was capable of that either. The rhymes sort of just came to me." He shrugged. Pepper yawned.

"I better turn in, always an early start in the kitchen."

"Erm- let me walk you back dear." Rake offered his hand. Pepper smiled and grasped it firmly. The two smiled and hands entwined, returned to their dwellings. Smithy, without saying a word went back to his quarters alone.

"Well done." Jester gave Tristan a pat on the shoulder, then squeezed it. Hard.

"Thank you- ugh- Jester." He pulled away and turned to Jane. "Jane, would you allow me to walk you back to your quarters?"

Jester's jaw dropped.

"Of course Tristan. I would love that." Tristan offered his hand and they lightly stepped away. Jester flopped back into his seat. He felt tiny warm tears welling up in his eyes.

I never cry. What is wrong with me? God, why are these things happening? Why? First my family, now Jane. "Do I not deserve any happiness?" Jester covered his eyes and rocked back and forth.

"Yes you do."

Jester lifted his head and sniffled. He saw Esme walking towards him, still dressed as the fairy of nutwood. Her hair was down though, loosely flowing over her shoulders in neat curls. She quietly sat in the chair beside him.

"Everyone deserves happiness."

"Then why is everything coming down around me? All in a matter of two days."

"I am truly sorry about your family Jester. Believe me, I share your pain. Not only was my brother Lancelot killed in the raid, but your family was our close friends. Your sister Gwenivere, was my best friend."

"I know, she wrote about you frequently in letters. I feel as if I knew you. She loved you dearly Esme."

"She told me all about you, and how you have grown up to be such a good-standing young man. I believe her."

He smiled. "Oh bother, here I was moping, when you lost your best friend."

Esme wiped her eyes. "That was not what I was trying to get at. I understand personally how hard it is. So very hard...To think. I only lost my brother and friend. You have lost an entire family and the affection of a friend I am guessing."

"I have not even seen them since I was seven." He shook his head.

"That makes it all the more difficult. I am so sorry."

"Thank you."

"Jester, it is not right for Jane to treat you the way she has. It is no fault of yours. Friends should not abandon one another just for a new love interest."

"I thought we loved each other. Turns out it was one-sided."

"Oh Jester." She hugged him tightly. "I think she does love you. Just, not in the way you want her to." She backed away and then held his hand.

"I do not know. I just feel so very alone. And I just do not want to die this way." He took his hand away and concealed his face within. "Sorry for burdening you with this. I sound like a sappy old fool." He laughed.

"No you do not. You sound like any person I have ever heard." She leaned over and boldly picked his head up out of his hands. "And you will not die alone." She rubbed the tears away with her thumb. She brought his face closer, holding his head lightly in his hands. She slowly removed his hat, then she gently pressed her lips to his. She pulled away and dropped her hands. But before she could return to an upright position, Jester gripped her shoulders and pulled her into another kiss. They separated. Esme sighed deeply and Jester ran his fingers through his hair awkwardly.

"Er- does this mean anything?" She narrowed her eyes to the floor.

"Oh, only if you want it to." Jester spoke quickly and sweetly.

She smiled, eyes twinkling with pure joy. Jester smirked at her, showing one side of his teeth. He fiddled with his hat in his fingers. She stood, curtsied and lightly ran to the door on her toes. She stopped before completely exiting. Jester stood abruptly, shoving his hat over his blonde hair. She laughed without letting it leave her mouth, then scurried out. Jester strode out the side exit practically skipping. The only noise was the jingling of bells bouncing off the walls.

Hehehe... not sure if you guys were expecting that or not. But, if Jester has found happiness and Dragon and Jane are all lovey dovey, then why am I continuing? Well... you shall see. ;) And hey, it's longer than last time! Oh! If you would like a copy of the full "Ballad of the Pig Farmer". You can ask for it (in a review or PM) and I will gladly send it. :)
Remember the 3 R's. They make my day. :D