Disclaimer: I do not own Jane and the Dragon, they belong to their respective owners.

Chapter Eight

Wise Fool

Jane has been avoiding him for the past fortnight, Gunther mused as he caught sight of unruly red hair in the corner of his eyes. He was in the courtyard helping William and Gregory with their archery training all morning, it was only then did he see Jane peer cautiously from the stable before she darted off to where ever part of the castle she was going to spend her day hiding in.

It has been two weeks since their betrothal has been announced and the Castle, even the village, has been buzzing with the news ever since. Everywhere Gunther turned, he would hear a snippet of a whispered conversation about the upcoming marriage between the knights and he was getting very irritated by it very quickly.

How is it that people are still discussing the topic as if it was the morning's news and how could they know more details of their betrothal than he did? And it's not like they were inconspicuous about their gossiping, he knew exactly what everyone was talking about because the minute they see him their conversation comes to an abrupt and awkward halt. He has witnessed many nudging of elbows, shushing, giggling and even pitied looks thrown at him. And being who he was, he pretended he did not care, he did his best to ignore the gossip and carried on with his day.

What he could not ignore, however, was Jane avoiding him. Which did not help the gossip wheel when people had started to realise this.

For the past two weeks, Jane has not attended any of their shared duties and she would bolt every time Gunther was anywhere near her. It's not like she has abandoned her duties, she was still doing her fair share, just not around Gunther.

At first, Gunther tried to just ignore the fact that Jane was deliberately ignoring him, but as the days passed it started to grate on his nerves, chipping away at his ever shortening patience. Hell, he even made sure to give Jane a wide berth at the beginning but now it has gotten so ridiculous that even Sir Theodore and Sir Ivon had wanted a word with him about Jane's odd behaviour.

At this point, Gunther knew he needed to seek Jane out and speak to her, especially with the two older knights asking him about Jane and he could no longer justify her actions. Normally, Sir Theodore and Sir Ivon would rarely get involved because they were sure that the younger knights knew their duties and could perform them well. But now, with Jane completely ignoring Gunther and their shared duties no longer shared, the older knights had given him until late this afternoon to find Jane and tell her that they need to speak to the older knights.

It was not like he had a hand in the matter of their sudden betrothal, he did not ask for it and he certainly did not want it that way. A part of him, somewhere deep and hidden, was glad that Jane would become his wife but the more rational side of him was cautious as to why the Merchant picked her. He knew for a fact that the Merchant chose Jane because of her dowry, but why? There was something Gunther was missing and it alarmed him to know that this wasn't the only thing Magnus has planned. He knew his father has been plotting something big, more dangerous than ever before, and he just hoped he can protect Jane from the damage it will cause.

"Why is Jane avoiding you?" Gregory chirped as he let an arrow fly and hit the outer rings of the target.

"She's sulking," William sniggered "because she has to marry him."

"Knights do not get married!" Gregory wrinkled his nose, disgusted by the idea of his two seniors marrying one another.

"Jane is a lady, it is her duty to marry," William said in a matter of fact tone "that's why she's avoiding him."

"She has other duties to attend to," Gunther sighed irritated with the twins' version of the well-discussed topic "and pay attention to what you are doing instead of gossiping like a pair of old milkmaids."

"But it is true, is it not Sir Gunther? That you are to marry Lady Jane at the end of the summer?" Gregory questioned, his small face scrunched into an innocent curiosity only children could pull off.

"Yes," Gunther said with a curt nod.

"Does that mean Lady Jane will no longer be a knight?" Gregory frowned even deeper, saddened by the idea of not being trained by both Jane and Gunther.

"Of course she will be a knight, whoever gave you the idea that she will not?" Gunther asked, surprised by the sudden change in the younger twin's tone.

"Mother said that if Lady Jane were to marry then she will have no time to run around with a sword. Jane will need to behave like a wife, do the cleaning, sewing and looking after the children?" William said gravely. Just like his younger twin, he rather liked Jane being their mentor, she was kind and patient despite the brothers' constant bickering.

"Your mother is mistaken, Lady Jane is a knight first and foremost, and will be a wife second." Gunther gritted his teeth in frustration at the mere idea of Jane being reduced to a common housewife. Is that another gossip that has been added to their upcoming nuptials or just the rumbling of bored wives?

"That is enough practice for the day, boys," Gunther said, and the twins grinned at each other widely "we'll pick it up tomorrow. Go and make sure you clean the stables first before running off for the afternoon."

"Yes, Sir Gunther!" The twins said in unison before they ran off with glee.

"Pepper, have you seen Jane?" Gunther called out as he entered the kitchens.

"Not since this morning when she came to get her breakfast. She hasn't even returned her plates yet." Pepper replied without looking at him as she busily flitted about the kitchen, stirring one steaming pot before darting off to taste another pot and then continued to chop the remaining vegetables.

"Well if you see her, could you tell her Sir Theodore is requesting to see her no later than tonight?"

"Of course. Are you joining us for supper tonight?" This time Pepper turned around to face him as she wiped her hand on her apron. She smiled at him, somewhat pitifully. Gunther had not joined the others for any of their meals for the past two weeks and Jane had been taking her meals in her room.

Gunther merely shrugged in response.

"She might be in the armoury." Pepper offered, and Gunther nodded his head in gratitude before exiting the kitchen quietly.

Gunther made his way to the armoury tower without even having to think about, for he had walked the same path many times. He had passed a group of female servants gossiping in the corner and when they caught sight of him they giggled and fluttered their eyelids at him but he paid them no attention, his mind occupied with ways to tell Jane that he was as clueless as she was with their betrothal.

He did not want it this way, sure he had fantasised about it but it was just that, a far-fetched dream. Many times he had woken from such dreams, dreams he could never admit to anyone else never mind Jane and now that he was faced with the reality of Jane becoming his wife at the end of the summer, he was unsure whether he was glad or worried.

A few steps in front of him he could see that the door to the armoury was open and as he approached it he could hear two voices talking in hushed tones. As he got closer, he recognised the voices belonged to Jester and Jane.

With curiosity getting the best of him, he leant against the wall and listened.

"You cannot avoid him forever, Jane." Gunther heard Jester sigh, the bells on his hat tinkling softly.

"I can try." Jane said defiantly and Gunther could tell she was sharpening swords for he could hear the telltale sounds of the filing stone stroking the blade.

"You cannot, and you know that. No amount of sulking and hiding will change your betrothal." Jester replied.

"But why him? Why Gunther?" Jane questioned as she turned over the blade and started to sharpen the other side.

"Would you rather it was the Captain?"

"No." Jane replied curtly, disgusted by the idea of marrying the obnoxious Captain.

"You would have to talk to him, sooner or later." Jester said, confident in his answer "The end of summer is near and it will be best if you both come to a civilised agreement now and not wait until the day of your marriage."

It took a while for Jane to answer, Gunther could just imagine her sitting in there, the filing stone in one hand poised over the sword as she bit her lower lip thinking of an answer.

"What if I just… ran away?" Jane said quietly.

"And where would you go exactly?"

"Somewhere. Anywhere but here."

Jester merely sighed deeply "It's a coward's way out and you know it."

"Dragon and I will go somewhere far away from where my parents, Gunther or the Merchant will never find us. Across the continent and see the world. I promised Dragon that one day we will travel in search of what happened to his kind." Jane said, determined to find a way out.

"I know you do not break your promises, Jane, but running away will not fix anything. How can you be so sure that Gunther will not find you? He is a knight, after all." Jester offered quietly.

"He will not care enough to look for me."

"Well what about me or the others, will you not miss us?"

"What if I asked you to join Dragon and I, will you come?" Jane sighed.

"You know I will Jane, in a heartbeat. I know you will never return my affections but you are still my greatest friend and if it pleases you for me to join you in your adventures then I shall." Jester said gravely. Everyone knew the court jester still held feeling for the young knight but she could never see him the way he wanted her to see him and so as much as it hurt him they remained friends. Gunther knew that Jester was slowly getting over it, and this point he pitied Jester for he could not phantom the idea of the girl he pinned for marrying another man.

"I know."

"Then you must stop sulking and go talk to him." Jester said, this time in a bemused tone.

"But he is still an arrogant, belittling, beef-brained, bog weevil!" Jane huffed.

"Gunther Breech may be an arrogant, belittling, beef-brained, bog weevil but your mother was right in saying he will offer you what you want; balance and a great understanding of both your duties to the king and land. Besides, not only is he your fellow knight, but he is also your friend."

"Friend is a loose term." Jane shrugged.

"He is your friend. You both have grown up together, went through the same hardship trying to train for your well-deserved knighthoods. You both will be partners in battle, loyal and brave, and you both have bonded through your shared duties and the Knight's code. You two will make a great pair." Jester nodded his head, his little bells on his head tinkling more vigorously than usual.

"I just don't know, Jester…" Jane trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"Many marriages do not even have the liberty to say that both parties were friends before saying their nuptial vows. You will be one of the lucky ones to know your husband was someone you regarded as a friend. Surely, it will give you peace of mind knowing that."

"If I marry, then am I not proving to my mother that I am indeed a weak lady and in need of a husband to protect me? If I marry, then my mother will expect me to perform my wifely duties and have children, tend to the garden, clean the house, cook, sew, mend my husband's shirts! I will be just like my mother!" Jane exclaimed, the sword and the file stone in her hands clattering on the floor.

"You will not need to answer to your mother once you are married, you answer to your husband."

"Gunther!" Jane seethed.

"But, Gunther is not the type to force you to do anything you do not want to do." Jester said in a calm manner, so self-assured that Jane's fellow Knight would never make her do anything she did not want to do.

"How can you be so sure?" Jane asked quietly.

"He is not his father, he is your friend." Jester replied.

"He will be my husband." Jane said even quieter than before.

"He will still be your friend. You two can make this work, you just need to trust one another and your friendship. Marriage can just be like any other friendship, indeed a special one, one more intimate than most but why can't your marriage be like that? A special kind of friendship between two individuals bonded in knighthood. You both just need to talk and try to work something out."

"When did you become so wise, O' great Jester?" Jane laughed.

"I am a wise fool, so full of intelligence and wonder." Jester said boisterously.

"A wise fool, indeed."

"Just talk to him, Jane, he is your friend. He will be your greatest ally in this."

"And you are my greatest friend."

"Dragon will be upset if he hears you say that."

"My greatest human friend."

"Trust each other, Jane, trust each other." Jester said.

Gunther heard Jester move and before he could even move away from the wall and pretend he was not listening to their conversation, Jester appeared in the doorway with a smile on his face that told Gunther the court fool knew of him eavesdropping.

Jester merely nodded at Gunther, patted him on the shoulders once and walked away whistling a familiar ballad.

With a sigh, Gunther straightened up and squared his shoulders before going into the armoury and knocked on the door loudly.

"Maggots!" Jane who had her back facing the door was startled dropping the sword she was about to return to the rack. "Oh, it's you."

"Sir Theodore is requesting to see you, Jane." Gunther replied.

"Yes, I'm on my way." Jane sighed deeply.

"Good day, Lady Jane." Gunther nodded his head solemnly before he turned on his heels and walked away, his long strides echoed softly in the empty corridor.

"Wait, Gunther!" Jane called out after him just as he was about to turn a corner.

Gunther did not reply but stopped midstride without looking at her and allowed her to catch up with him.

"We need to talk," Jane said softly as she wrung her hand in silent frustration "about the end of summer."

"You have been avoiding me, Jane." Gunther replied, a muscle in his jaw twitched indicating he was as frustrated about the topic as she was.

"I know," Jane sighed deeply "I am sorry. It was childish and I apologise if I took it out on you. You know how I feel about marriage and when I - "

"Jane, I assure you that I did not know anything about this. I knew Magnus was planning something but I did not think it was something like this. I have a feeling this is not even a quarter of what Magnus is scheming." Gunther said gravely.

"We will find out what he is planning and we will stop it before it causes damage."

"Jane, you do not need to be afraid of me. I am not my father, I will not force my wife to do anything she does not want to do. We are equals, you and I, and we can just be friends despite being married to one another. Knight's honour."

"Allies?" Jane smiled shy at him.

"Always." Gunther nodded his head, returning her smile.

"Thank you, Gunther."

"I mean it, Jane, even if you are a frog rider." Gunther's smile broke into a familiar smirk.

"Bog weevil." Jane laughed as she hit him in the arm for making fun of her.

"Beef brain."

"Louse."

Edited: 13.04.17

A/N: I am so so so sorry for taking so long to update! 😑 Forgive me? Reviews will be much appreciated X