The following day, Jane's biggest nightmare had come true: the entire castle seemed to now be aware of Jane's potential future engagement. To top it off she had her punishment for missing guard duty yesterday. Despite how disgusting stable chores were sometimes, Jane couldn't help but feel thankful for the secluded task. Jane didn't have proof on how or why her secret had gotten out, but she could make some solid assumptions. The two main culprits in mind were either Dragon or Pepper. She hoped it was her mother, but she feared one of her friend's loose lips were to blame. As she scooped solid hay, Jane tried to be angry about it, but honestly, she couldn't. She knew this whole thing would blow over soon enough. Just like the situation when people thought her and Gunther were courting. She paused in her work as the memory of that day came flooding back. She had done her best to suppress it, but the awkward interaction came back to her at the worst of times. Shaking her head she turned to the wheelbarrow she was working with and saw it was more than full, but she wasn't feeling brave enough to make the trek outside the barn to dump it yet. So, instead, she busied herself with organizing the horse's tack. It wasn't something expected of her but she wouldn't be criticized for it either. She thought the mind-numbing task would distract her but it only caused her mind to wander more. Pepper was at fault for those random rumors of love and courtship. For the life of her, Jane couldn't figure out how Pepper came to that conclusion about her and her fellow squire. The regular gossip around the castle must have been very dull that day. I mean, sure, Gunther was becoming a very handsome man but there were surely other girls in the court that would be a better match for him. "Where did that thought come from?" Jane placed down the halter she was holding. Her fingers twitched as she grew antsy to go somewhere besides this stuffy barn. Turning on her heel, she grabbed the wheelbarrow with new determination and pushed it out of the barn doors in search of Dragon.
To her dismay, instead of Dragon, she, almost literally, ran into Jester. Normally, she would consider this a to be a good thing. Her friend was level-headed and a great person to talk to about serious subjects. Despite being a court jester, she found him to be very wise and insightful. However, considering the context of her now public situation, Jane worried where a conversation with him would go. His feelings for her, that she had neither accepted nor denied, was no secret. They both stood there, a heavy silence weighing over them. It was obvious he was there to speak to her, but she wondered how long he had been standing outside the barn doors thinking of what to say. After a moment, he seemed to muster the courage for an awkward wave and, "Funny running into you here," his voice cracking as he said it.
"Yeah" was all Jane could respond with. The awkwardness was overwhelming.
"So um..." he glanced around, unable to meet her eyes. He finally settled on her wheelbarrow as a conversation opener, "Ah, I see you are symbolically and literally in a shitty situation." Dung jokes were not Jester's typical style, which indicated to Jane just how out of his element he felt. "I guess you could say that," She replied, relaxing a bit as she faked a laugh to his joke.
She continued after another brief pause, "Alright Jester, out with it already. I know you've heard about the potential engagement." She placed the wheelbarrow down with a thud.
"I have..." He fidgeted with his hands, "I was coming to check to see if you were alright," he stepped a little closer, seeming to be relived that Jane mentioned engagement first.
"I don't know how I can be alright considering I'll probably be married to a complete stranger in a months time," She didn't mean to raise her voice but luckily, Jester seemed unphased by her outburst.
"Listen Jane, if there is anything I can do," he approached a little closer, "Please let me know."
There was such genuine tenderness in his eyes, Jane couldn't help but be calmed by his presence. There was a sense that everything was going to be alright radiating from him. She smiled despite herself, "Thank you Jester, truly." She reached out and brought him into a tight hug, which he readily returned.
When they parted, Jester stuttered, "You know, if it comes to it, which I'm not saying it will, but if it does..." He again, was looking everywhere but her, "I would be open to, you know, if it's something you were okay with..."
Jane didn't like where this was going but felt unable to interject.
"I would be open to marrying you," he finally looked her in the eyes. Sensing the moment too heavy, he quickly added," if it meant you could remain in the castle as a knight that is. No pressure, of course."
Now Jane was the one who couldn't meet his eyes as she turned her head, desperately trying to think of a response, "T-thank you Jester, but I doubt my mother would approve of it." This statement was the truth, Jane genuinely didn't think her mother would approve a marriage between them even if it was something Jane requested. She knew her mother would be using her nobility as a political bargaining chip, just as all marriages were. To marry her only daughter off to the court Jester would hold no value to her mother and would be considered a waste. Still, the words Jane used weren't completely her own. What she actually wanted to say she feared would hurt her friend's feelings. She had known Jester since childhood and viewed him more as a brother than anything romantic. She felt things would change too drastically in their relationship if she committed one way or the other. Keeping him in limbo was selfish, she knew this, but she just didn't know how to approach the subject even if she wanted to. He was also her first "suiter," for lack of a better term. The attention and love he offered her was intoxicating and kept Jane from shutting the door completely on the idea.
Nevertheless, this answer seemed to satisfy Jester. Well, maybe "satisfy" wasn't the right word to use, for his head hung low in response. She could tell he was hurt but understood her reasoning. "Yeah, you're right. Who am I to ask your hand in marriage?" He laughed at himself, "the Jester and the Knight! I could write a comedy story about that," he again laughed but his eyes betrayed his sadness.
As if sensing this was both the best and worst possible time to show up, Dragon flew in, perching on his wall, "Well hello Jane and Jingle-boy." he called over, cheery as ever, "Jane, Jane! You would not believe what the cows were up to today!"
Despite his horrible ability to read human social cues, Jane leapt at the opportunity to get out of the current conversation she was in. "And I'd love to hear all about it as we patrol, which I was just about to come find you for!" Turning back to Jester, "Sorry, I have to finish up this chore and-"
"Yes, yes, and I need to return to my duties. Lots to do, things to rehearse and all that," he lingered only a second longer before before backing away, smiling as if nothing happened.
Jane allowed Dragon to ramble on during their patrol. Something about a farmer's dog getting mauled by a badger before cows trampled it to death. it was quite a gruesome story but the way Dragon told it made it sound like a hilarious comedy skit. Although Jane didn't laugh either way. She was too busy trying, and failing, to keep her mind off her future wedding. She just wanted to soak up this moment, the feeling of freedom and the wind in her hair. She never imaged she may lose this feeling but that is exactly what she feared. She looked down on the valley below. She had patrolled them a dozen times both on Dragon and on horseback, yet there was still so much she hadn't explored. Gazing off into the horizon, she saw the sea by the harbor. She had heard stories from tradesmen and even from Dragon of towns and cities with completely different cultures that exist beyond the boarders of the kingdom. She was saddened by the thought that although she had already accomplished so much in her life, much more than any other woman she knew, there was still so much left she hadn't done. The old man she would marry would probably force her with child as soon as possible, crushing her dreams of adventure forever. "I could run away," she thought, remembering the time she almost did. That time felt so long ago now and so foolish as well, "Eh, maybe not."
"Jane?" Dragon's call snapped her of her thoughts.
"Hm, yes? Sorry, my mind was somewhere else."
"I could tell," he replied sarcastically, "Have you listened to anything I've been saying?"
She hung her head, "Um, no, sorry."
"Well, what are you thinking about? It must be very important if it's better than my cow story," he continued on, all malice gone from his voice.
"Nothing happy, I'm afraid," she mumbled.
"Because you had stable duty today?" Dragon asked, causing Jane to roll her eyes. "I suppose that wasn't the most pleasant activity, but no, I was thinking about my wedding again." The words felt foreign in her mouth. It bothered her how easily she had come to accept the idea of a wedding in her mind. As if it was already something set in stone. Then again, maybe it was.
"Why?" was Dragon's simple response.
"Because it's a major life-changing event," Jane answered dryly, her patience with her friend running thin. "By the way, is there a reason the whole castle knows of my potential wedding?" Jane asked with a bite to her tone.
"Whaaat? Pepper had asked me if I knew about it and then we got to talking, and I'm not sure who overheard!" Dragon whined, "Plus, you never said anything about keeping it a secret!"
Jane sighed, "I suppose that's true, but still, you two blabber mouths have practically ruined any hope I had at staying sane!"
"Well, SOARee" Dragon said in a not-sorry kind of way, "Listen, if it makes you feel better, I will personally roast anyone who tries to make you quit being a knight."
The sentiment genuinely did help Jane feel better. Who would be brave enough to marry the "dragon tamer?" Jane was so used to Dragon, she sometimes didn't remember how terrifying he could be to others. Especially those who didn't know him. Anyone who married her would have to deal with Dragon on the daily, and ordering him to stay away wouldn't be easy for anyone to do. "Thank you Dragon. I am putting you in charge of keeping my future husband in line." she half-joked.
Dragon chuckled before responding, "Yeah right, as if you wouldn't be able to do that yourself."
"Come on, promise me!" Jane didn't know why, but she really needed confirmation that Dragon would support her through this.
"I promise, Jane. I would have done it even if you didn't ask me." He turned his head so he could look at her. She smiled as she fully relaxed for the first time since learning of her mother's plans. As she looked back over the horizon she took a deep breath, allowing her lungs to full completely with the fresh air before releasing it back into the world. She gripped Dragon's horns tightly, signaling him to fly faster. She had a new goal, she would survive this and, marriage be damned, enjoy every second of it.