The king put down his pen and put away his papers. Once he laid down in his bed, it officially was the end of the day. The king and queen laid side by side and still. The king was tense from his discomfort and disgust, while Queen Ara was stiff with anxiety and regret. She cleared her throat and was met with an angry grunt before she could even speak. Silence overtook the room once again.
A faint jingle approached their room. Ara heard the king curl up and sigh. The jester was appointed with giving the king bad news. She listened to the gleeful bells swing side to side until stilling in front of their door. She waited for a knock, but the silence permeated the room again.
Ara held back a sigh of relief as rain droplets began to knock on the window. She allowed her mental exhaustion to take her to sleep. She soon was in true, relaxed silence and alone with herself.
Small bells rang lightly. They were like Christmas bells gently twinging from the wind and snow. Ara figured she hadn't heard the knocking. She got up without worry for her husband was a heavy sleeper. She walked over to the door across the cold wooden boards with naked feet. How she hated the damn wood her husband loved.
The bells shook frantically as the queen opened the door. "Queen Ara," the jester exclaimed, "I didn't mean to wake you."
"I was already awake," she said without even considering whether she had or hadn't been.
"Mister must've been keeping you awake," the jester said with a wink. The queen just chuckled and began to close the door.
"No! No," he said, "I have something to show you."
The queen stopped and simply looked at the jester. He was tall, especially for a jester, and he certainly had a kind face. He worked more with the children, so he had to be a little more serious than funny to make a good impression upon the little ones. He blinked as she continued to stare. "Well," the jester said and laughed nervously, "follow me."
The queen walked through the halls with the jester. He hummed happily and laughed when he tripped over a small box. She got angry that her servants hadn't cleaned up properly. He talked about the battle with Zegerha, and the leader's funny dog. She worried about their next attack.
"I would have had better jokes if I had known you were awake," the jester said.
"Don't jesters specialize in impromptu?" The queen snapped.
"Oof."
"I should go back to sleep."
"Why are you so desperate to get back in back with nothing?"
"He's not nothing."
"He looks like a mummy. Probably does it on purpose. Y'know, to look like a dead pharaoh surrounded by gold. Wouldn't settle for less."
"Hmm."
