Disclaimer: I don't own any Sly Cooper characters; they belong to Sucker Punch Productions/Sanzaru Games.

Claimer: I own all of my original characters.

Well…as I mentioned in the last chapter that I wanted to post before things got worse, well, because the odds never seem to be in my favor, they did. So now I'm taking care of my grandparents and the recent car accident victim who is my mother, along with keeping my college work in check and keeping my romantic relationship from falling apart due to stress…I finally broke down and just relaxed. Thus, chapter 7 was created! I was actually really happy to write it…it's corny with rather lame medieval jokes…but it made me smile at its corniness, so I had fun. And I'm sorry for the update delay, I have been extremely busy and well…this took a while to write! Anyway, please read, review, and let me know what you think!

Chapter 7: To Play the Fool

Nottinghamshire, England 1453 A.D.

I yawned deeply, stretching out on my bed cot as I gazed up at the ceiling of my new home. After being banished from the castle, I was forced to live in the village…stripped of my title and dignity. Now, I lived in a simple thatched cottage, wasting away inside. About a week had passed since I'd last seen Katherine, and from what I'd heard from Sir Henry, whom I have stayed in close contact with, Katherine wasn't allowed to leave her tower unless her father escorted her everywhere in the castle. She was a prisoner inside her own home and her father was the key holder. My old friend had also related to me that not only is the king keeping a close eye on Katherine, but he was keeping a close watch on the queen as well…fearing that she may be up to something as well. The king had become seemingly paranoid, fearing that his wife and daughter were plotting against him…giving him another reason to marry his daughter off to the skunk.

I rested my arms behind my head and flicked my tail against the cold floor of my cottage, thinking of the weeks past events. It had been of my own accord that I'd lost my title of Sir Galleth, but I knew that if I didn't say something to the king, then Katherine would have been beheaded the following morning. She was still locked away in the tower, but at least she was still alive. I wasn't too sure if her father was still going to have Katherine marry the prince from the next kingdom, but it wounded me deeply to even fathom that she was to be married to a man who didn't love her properly. I'd seen the way the man had acted at the party, and it was shameful. He had left her alone after the news of the recent sighting of the dragon and honestly didn't seem like he cared too much for Katherine.

After running my paws over my face and sitting up, I made my way from my small home and outside into the town village to just get out of the cramped home I now dwelled in. I had gone from shining and well respected knight of the King Hector's castle…to a peasant living in poverty. I would have to learn how I would go about farming potatoes and other root vegetables to survive on stew and anything else I could find. I was still a thief, but I couldn't and simply refused to steal from the other peasants. With the taxes the king imposed upon his kingdom and the scarcity in general of food, I wouldn't steal from suffering people…although I would enjoy stealing from the king or Katherine's fiancé; Prince Maxwell of Camelot. These thoughts plague my mind as I walked around the village, glancing towards the poverty stricken people of the land. Each family that dwelled here lived in a small cottage similar to mine, only they had to support two adults and as many as nine children on one pot of stew, which consisted of mainly turnips, potatoes, and carrots…never any meat, and about six shillings per week. The king's people were starving underneath his rule as he spent their tax money on lavished parties, expensive wines, and women of the night.

I strolled slowly through town, scratching at my beard as I passed by clucking chickens, screaming donkeys, and small children who were looking for someone to play a game with. The town was rather boring and a bit depressing due to poverty. There were a few shops in town that had started before King Hector took over, but since he ascended the throne…business was horrible. A person survived mainly by farming, and the land was a horrid place to grow crops. Despite the depressing atmosphere of the town, there was a large event taking place tonight that would bring smiles to the faces of the people; the circus. Full of jokers, jesters, musicians, storytellers, and performers, the circus was the highlight of the town. The tents were already set up in the middle of town and villagers were already buying their tickets for admission. After glancing at the posters for the circus, I continued my walk around the town, searching for something of interest. Life had become a bore after I had been stripped of my title and I was growing restless.

As if my prayers had been answered, something of interest came my way. I had passed by a few tents when I hard a woman call my name softly. I peered around, looking for the mysterious voice. I finally spotted a cloaked woman hunched between to tents, calling me over to her. I was wary at first, not recognizing the woman or how she knew who I was, but eventually, I met her between the tents, waiting for an explanation. Once we were hidden in the shadows of the tents, the woman removed the lid of her hood, revealing her identity.

"Queen Isabel?" I asked with disbelief, "What art thou doing in the village? If your husband were to know of your escape…" she scoffed, shaking her head in the process.

"I came not to talk of my husband, Sir Galleth; I came to speak with thee. Oh Galleth, you have to give me your aid…I have become desperate." She looked worried, scared and concerned about an unknown subject.

"With what, may I ask, my lady." The started wringing her sleeves, becoming more and more frightened.

"It's Katherine, Galleth, she hast become silent. She refuses to speak with anyone, myself included!" she whispered harshly, "She hast not left her tower since her imprisonment and I fear that she is becoming ill of the mind; becoming as mad as a hatter and I know not how to console her. She refuses to speak or even eat and she hast started to frighten me." she gripped my paws firmly, a pleading look in her clear eyes.

"But how am I to sneak inside, my lady? I am forbidden from entering the castle." She nodded, brushing her hair from her face as she spoke.

"This I have a plan for, but will you promise to talk to Katherine? I fear that it will not end well if you don't." I nodded, agreeing to speak with the princess, for whom I now feared for.

"Of course, Your Majesty." She smiled, thanking me as she released my paws. Isabel replaced the hood on the top of her head before ushering me to follow her. I did as I was instructed to do, but I had the feeling that the queen's plan would be less than 'pleasing'.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"My Queen, are you certain that this should work?" I asked at I put on the final component to my outfit. I wasn't certain that the queen's plan would work, and I was afraid that this wouldn't pan out correctly. With the circus in town and the king's constant search for entertainment while he eat his meals, non-female entertainment of course, the queen decided that playing the part of a jester would be the perfect cover for me to use. I would be able to see Katherine and keep an eye on what her fiancé had in mind for the raccoon.

"It will, Galleth, trust me." she said as she inspected my outfit, making sure it was flawless. I felt absolutely ridiculous in this out fit. The bright, bizarre colors, the hat meant to symbolize a jackass, and bells adorning my hat and shoes made me feel utterly, and completely stupid.

"Now listen to me," she said as she pointed a finger to my nose, "Thou shall enter the dining hall alone, for thou will be the last source of entertainment. The minstrels, jugglers, and other entertainment will come first, but thou are to supply the laughs. If my husband doesn't laugh at thy jokes…" her voice trailed off as the slid a finger across her neck, hinting at execution. This, of course, eased my mind no further. I nodded with a bow of my head as the queen left and I waited for my signal to go on.

About an hour had passed when it was finally time for me to enter the dining hall and hopefully please the king with my jokes. I took a deep breath before I entered the silent hall, glancing to the table as I approached. The king sat at the head of the table with his wife to his right and his daughter to the left, her fiancé beside her. The tension was obvious between the family, the females remained silent and their heads down looking to their plates at the men laughed and joked. I stopped in front of the table, bowing my head as I did so.

"So tell me jester," the king mused as he adjusted himself at his throne, "hast thou gone far in thy travels?" I gave him a smile, nodding my head as I did so.

"Many places, my Lord, and I have made many a kings and queens laugh and I pray tell you good sir…I shall try to do the same for thee." Maxwell, Katherine's husband-to-be, scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Many places, you say? Then tell me, jester, hast thou ever seen a Duchess?" and that, was my first chance to not only crack a rather ridiculous joke for the royal family, but I could answer the skunk in a way I'd dreamed for almost a fortnight…with sarcasm.

"Of course I have! And I must tell thee…it looks the same as an English 's'." Maxwell's ears flattened and his smirk disappeared from his face. The king however, roared a laugh and playfully slapped the man on the shoulder.

"Do not take what the man says to heart, Maxwell, for he is a fool! He knows not what he speaks of!" the skunk rolled his eyes again, slumping in his chair as he drank from his goblet.

"Oh he is a riot, Sire," he said sarcastically, "If he were to tell another joke I would be likely to spill my goblet into my chair as I bark another laugh."

"Then I do insist that thou be careful, sir…for the king would certainly have thee throne out of dining hall!" Maxwell's expression continued to sear hatred as I continued my foolish charade.

"King Hector I must say," I said to the king, "that thou art a much better king than the last one. The man simply sat at his table all day writing inside his journals and personal books." The king cocked an eyebrow, unsure of the joke.

"Who was that, jester?" the queen had a questionable look on her face as well, not completely sure where I was going with this.

"Why King Author, or course, sire!" Hector roared another laugh as he downed more wine from his goblet. Thankfully the king had dipped into the wine a bit early and his intoxication made it easier for him to enjoy my horrid jokes.

"And I'm certain that thou knows who build the infamous round table for the king, don't you sire?" the king shook his head and I continued, "Why Sir Cumference, did my King!" the king laughed as well and I even managed to get Katherine to show her beautiful smile.

"And we all know that he used a round table for a simple reason…he was afraid to be cornered!" the queen laughed as well, probably finding her husband actually laughing at my jokes to be outlandish.

"Thou art my new favorite jester, good sir!" the drunken king laughed again as he leaned in his chair, "but I must turn in for the night soon. Please us all with one more laugh before thy must part." I nodded, turning to the skunk for my final joke.

"Where are thou from, good sir?" Maxwell straightened his posture proudly, finding pride in his origins.

"Why I am Prince Maxwell of Camelot!" I smiled bowing my head for him 'gracing me with his presence' before continuing.

"Then thou must know why Camelot is so famous, don't you, sire?" he shook his head and delivered my final joke.

"Camelot…has excellent knight life." Maxwell found this to be humorless, but the three raccoons laughed happily and I bowed my head a final time before ducking out the hallway.

I waited for the king and prince to leave before I started my search for Katherine. I needed to talk to her and try to cheer the princess up before returning to my home. I lucked out, seeing that both men left the dining hall at the same time, chatting drunkenly to each other. Seeing this as the best opportunity to spy on them and see what they had in store, I decided to follow them and listen in on their conversation.

"Prince Maxwell, I do see thee becoming a fine heir to my throne. I believe I could consider calling you my own son." I silently followed the king and the prince at a distance, keeping from their sights.

"I thank thee sire, thou art quite the king. Thou hast managed to keep thy kingdom in order, have a steady flow of peasant taxes, keeping the power of both the nobles and the church to a minimum, and thy daughter hast behaved quite well. I only hope that I may rule half as well as you have, King Hector." The king chuckled dryly, and drunkenly, as the two walked the corridors of the castle.

"Good, good," the king mused, "Now allow me to ask thee something…what are thou to do with my daughter? Thy wedding date is in a few days and with Katherine locked away, how are thou planning to keep her thievery under control?"

"I have given this much thought and I do believe that I have created a reasonable solution…if thou wishes to hear it." The king nodded and Maxwell continued his speech. I listened intently, wanting to figure out what her husband-to-be had in store for my beloved Katherine.

"Tis a simple plan, sire. I shall allow her out of her tower the day of our wedding. Allow the thief to chat with her friends at her pre-wedding ceremony before she would be escorted into the church where we would exchanger our vows. Once we are wed, I shall return her to the castle, consummate the marriage, and then keep her locked away. If the village people were to believe that she is happily married, then they would not utter a word. She shall be kept under lock and key, not allowed to steal things from thy kingdom, and your bloodline is secured. Then, we shall try to produce an heir for once I take your place, my king, after your long rule.

"An excellent plan, Maxwell, but what shall thee do with the child if Katherine were to produce a daughter?"

"Keep the babe with Katherine in the tower, not allowing her to wander the castle and become tempted to steal as if she is her mother. Then we should continue until she gives me a son."

"T'would be flawless…but thou cannot keep the child in a tower all her life…she would indeed be tempted to escape."

"Then send the girl to a nunnery once she is no longer a suckling babe in need of her mother." The king and Maxwell both laughed as they continued down the corridor and I still followed them. I found their plan to be horrendous. Not only was it a shame to keep Katherine inside her tower, but still force her into the marriage where she would be expected to produce a male. Then if she did give a daughter…she would not be allowed to keep the child more than a year. That would break Katherine's kind heart to give up her child after the burden of child bearing and labor.

I knew that I had to save Katherine from Maxwell's sinister plans, but first I had to speak with the princess. The king handed the skunk a key, telling him that it was the key to Katherine's tower door. Maxwell shoved the key into his pocket as he followed Hector down the hall. Putting my thieving skills into use, I snuck up behind the two males and stuck. I silently slipped the lock key to Katherine's chambers from her fiancé before hurrying up the stairs silently to her sleeping quarters. Keeping to the shadows of the dark corridor, I stayed out of sight as I climbed the many stairs to the top of the tower where Katherine was being held as prisoner. I gripped the key tightly, not wanting to loose it, as I finally reached the door to her bedroom. It was a heavy, wooden door, covered in at least three locks, one padlock and two different sliding locks. I tapped on the door, hoping Katherine would answer from inside. I could hear shuffling from the other side before Katherine's voice finally spoke for the first time in more than a week.

"I wish not to be disturbed." I said loud enough for it to be heard, but was still soft. I placed my paw on the handle, leaning towards the crack in the door before speaking.

"My lady, I would love to fulfill thy wishes, I must confess to thee that I know not when I may be able to return." There was a pause on the other side of the door as I could hear the ruffling of more fabric.

"Sir Galleth?" Katherine's voice became hopeful as she spoke and I took that as in invitation. I slipped the key into the lock and turned it, opening the padlock that had been kept on the door. After sliding the other locks open, I pushed the door to the princesses' chambers open and stepped inside.

"Lady Katherine," I said softly with a bow of my head after the door had been closed. Katherine had been lying on her bed, keeping away from the commotion of the outdoors. She had pulled her body from the sheets, straightening her night gown as she stood and I continued, "I am no longer a knight…thou dost not have to address me as 'Sir'." She quickly darted from her bed and across the room, her arms catching around my neck as she pulled me into a hug. I smiled, having missed the princess greatly this past week, and slowly allowed myself to hug her back.

"Thou art a knight, Sir Galleth, and thy always will be. I care not what my father says." She pulled away slightly, running her paws over my face and her fingers through my beard. I smiled, softly gripping her chin between my thumb and forefinger.

"Then I thank thee, my lady." She smiled and quickly lurched forward, beating me to my plan. I could feel my fur stand on end and my heart start to pound as finally, her soft, crimson lips were pressed to mine.

Oh Galleth, you do tell such lame jokes. Anyway, please let me know how I did on this chapter and again I'm sorry for the delay. Oh! And please keep an eye out for April 23…it's National talk like Shakespeare day. Just thought it was relevant to the manner of speech in this story. Anyway, feedback is appreciated!