A/n: Thank you all for your lovely comments! I would like to thank awes0mesaucer for their comment from a year ago which made me urgent to return to this fic. I also would like to thank Fluffymarshmallows for the continued support and comments that encourage me to update as soon as possible. In the next chapter I plan to include a lot more of the other characters but especially Pepper and Rake. Until then, enjoy!

Chapter 19: The Peculiarities Of Friends

Vanity was not a trait anyone would associate with the blacksmith, but even the humblest of men would not want to appear before his old friends with a dirty face. With a bucket of water, he scrubbed away the smoke and soot that came along with his profession and ran his fingers through his hair. He had no soap but he had dried herbs of both rosemary and mint, which cooled the skin and alleviated part of his bodily smell. With a day of work ahead of him, he did not have the time for a full bath, but he planned to think of a routine that would allow for a proper wash. And as promised, Smithy had appeared for the morning meal.

The seat next to Rake had been kept open for him, and he reclaimed his spot but he had not been prepared for the sight of a fresh-faced Jane so soon or that of the confused Jester. With a bright lilt that was very Jane, she greeted him. "Good morning Jethro. Did you sleep well?"

He had slept well and felt that his small world had expanded; not by much, but enough to give him hope. If his recent thoughts on hygiene said anything, it was that he was more conscious of himself as well as of the intimacy that exists when one uses your birth name; in an odd way, it felt good. Of all people that might have known, Jester could have been one of them for he could read, and from the slight downturn of his mouth had not expected the familiarity between the two. Disregarding the slight shift of the fool's mood, Smithy nodded. "I had. Though, it is the waking up that is the hard part."

"I could not agree more. If it were not for Peppers delicious food and my Knights training, I fear I could sleep for a fortnight after dealing with the consequences of Dragons late-night playtime."

What he had not told her, is that over the years Smithy had tried to do some of the heavier cleaning before she would wake; it was not that Jane was not strong, but it would have tired her more than it had to and he had not wanted for there to be interruptions to her knight's training; her privilege to train under the knights and her well being had always been important to him. "Yet," he reasoned; allowing a ghost of a smile to show. "you handled it well. Dragon is fortunate to have a friend like you."

"Thank you, Jethro, I am fortunate to have him. But, I am sorry to have troubled everyone because of him. I know you had your share of burned barrels to dispose of."

"It was no problem; I would have had to do that anyway. Dragon just happened to speed up the process."

The brightening of spirit which had taken place within the span of the short conversation did not go beyond his notice; relief, joy, and something else he could not recognize. Her sparkling eyes and eagerness made his usually calm heart beat with the madness of a wild rabbit and expectant like that of a patient lover; he was neither. This must have been what those ballads spoke of; the nuances that God had placed in mortals to make them altogether more interesting. The blacksmith wanted to think of a kind word to reassure his friend, but his thoughts were interrupted by Jester. "Do not remind me." The fool started; purposely drawing the attention away from Smithy. "I still have nightmares about that one fateful All Fools day."

This birthed both complaint and playful competitiveness between them and from there, the fool carried on a quiet conversation with the she knight about anything except for topics that the blacksmith might have had knowledge about.

A simple porridge served along with boiled eggs and fresh milk had invigorated everyone's spirits but not as much as the long-awaited return of the blacksmith had. "How wonderful it is to see you." Exclaimed the cook.

"Likewise." Agreed Smithy.

"Mealtime has not been the same without you." Added Rake.

"It was not fun being caught up in my duties," he confessed; although he had allowed himself to become absorbed in his duty for particular reasons. "but I hope that by year's end, I will get some rest."

By now, Jane had gone on her morning patrol and Jester left to tutor the little majesties; leaving Smithy to assist Rake and Pepper with a few chores in the kitchen. Looking over her shoulder, Pepper wondered. "Are you going to visit your family this winter?"

"If I am granted temporary leave," answered Smithy. "but I doubt there will be much for me to do. Unless Sir Ivon wants me to sharpen all his new weapons."

The cook shared a look with her husband who was happily chopping vegetables and added. "Unless there is another unfinished business that will keep you from your leave."

Scrubbing another dish, Smithy knew better than to readily confess his secrets in front of his well-meaning, but talkative friend. "If so, I will carry on as usual."

Unlike the girl she had been in her youth, Pepper was not blind to the subtle meaning in his words and decided that she would do all that she could to help, and enlist her husband to assist as well. Now, if only she could think of a situation that would stir the feelings of her two favorite friends and bring them to a boil.