11A/N: Hi all!
I want to say thank you so much for your kind reviews! I really appreciate them and it is because of you I wanted to get this chapter up sooner rather than later.
I'm having apartment issues so I have to go away for a few days where there is no reliable internet. I wanted to get this up before I left. You all are such a lovely bunch, thank you a million times for reading and I hope you enjoy! As always, constructive criticism is welcome. I do these writings for fun as a way to distress from "real life." Enjoy being young and having someone else pay for your stuff! Lol… (If you don't have that then you know how I feel.)
P.S. I normally would not do this on a fan fiction site. However, my thoughts and prayers go to anyone impacted by the horrible attacks in Paris. I just wanted to mention for we never know where any of us is from and really in my opinion it doesn't matter because evil is evil and no one deserves that done to them.
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Chapter 2:
"Jane? Jane?"
There was no answer, only the wind replied back to dragon as he flew.
"Jane? Jane? I am getting an echo here!" The reptile tried again after a few minutes had gone by.
"Sorry, what?"
"I asked if we could go and see the cows later on," Dragon replied, "You know mooo!"
"What about cows?"
Her eyes seemed to flick down towards the parchment at their own accord as the wind blew. Dragon's words became muddled in the breeze.
Hair like fire; temper to match. Beauty as strange as…
Against their will, her eyes strained to see the rest of the line however it looked like Gunther had scribbled it out.
Letting out a shaky breath, Jane shoved the parchment back into her pocket. There was nothing that could be done now to get the words out of her head. Vigorously shaking one's head did not clear her mind like she had hoped. She trying to remember the last time her heart felt so weighted in her chest.
-…-…
"Back at the castle," Dragon grumbled as Jane mutely slid off his back, "A boring place today…"
His voice trailed off as Jane shoved her hair out of her face, "Unless you want to see Gunther getting a telling-off!"
"What?" the squire started at his name, whirling to see Sir Ivon facing the young knight to be in the practice yard.
"You shirked your duties! I told you to be here… Well, many minutes ago and you are late!"
"I know sir," Gunther replied as Dragon flew up to the wall in order to get a better look, "I am behind my time."
From where she stood, Jane could see the stiffness in his shoulders; the way his jaw was set and how straight his back was against the wall. Her heart went out to him, no matter the piece of parchment she carried. If her tracking skills had been better perhaps he would not have been so late. The notion was difficult for her to admit. However, Jane could not allow one of her friends; for that was what she tentatively considered Gunther to be, take all the blame.
'He is also your fellow squire.' A voice said in her head making her mind up as she exhaled.
"Sir Ivon," Jane began while her long strides moved towards the practicing yard, "Forgive me, Gunther is not the only one to blame for his tardiness."
"What?" Sir Ivon's sharp gaze switched from glaring at Gunther to her.
"Yes Sir," Jane replied, "I was tracking him. I asked the people who I thought would know where he was and I could not see his foot.-"
"This has nothing to do with you," Gunther snapped, "I am late and I will accept the consequences."
"What I was going to say is that if my tracking.-"
"Lass…"
"Enough!" Gunther unexpectedly shouted as he pushed away from the wall. His steel grey eyes glaring at the woman who always seemed to interfere in his business.
A moment of silence followed before Sir Ivon cleared his throat and spoke, "Just, clean all the horse stalls. We will begin with your lesson tomorrow at sunrise. Both of you are dismissed."
Atop the wall Dragon let out a snort, "That is it? All of that yelling… For that? Come on I can-!"
"Dragon!" Jane abruptly cut him off, "I will help.-"
Gunther ignored them, "Yes, sir I understand."
Jane watched as Gunther turned, exiting out of the practice yard without a word. Sir Ivon sighed as he left as well. Unsure what to do, she made her way towards the horse barn. As her steps neared the forge, she noticed the man inside trying to get her attention.
"Good afternoon Smithy," Jane called while the older boy smiled, "How are you?"
"I am well," Smithy replied, "I forgot to mention that I have been meaning to give these old scraps of iron to Dragon. Tell him there are no horse shoes."
Jane laughed, "Champion!" she exclaimed as Smithy placed a few items in her arms.
A moment of silence past before the blacksmith returned to his work.
"Smithy," Jane tentatively inquired while shifting her weight, "Have you seen Gunther?"
"A moment ago," he replied as steam shot around him, "I think I would leave him be."
"Why?"
It was unlike Smithy to comment on other people so this peaked her curiosity.
"I think if he could breathe fire he would not hesitate."
Jane nodded, "I will give these to Dragon. Thank you very much for them."
"You are welcome," he said as Jane quietly moved towards Dragon's sleeping form.
The woman knowing she had to smooth things over with Gunther. Jane could feel that this time was somehow different, and the reason she did not understand made her feet feel like lead.
-…End Of chapter 2….-…-