My Knight in Shining Armor

Jamie Benn, the Jester/Narrator

Valencia

Taylor and Brad sneak up on Jamie Benn, who has returned to looking out the windows. He is grabbed by the two and dragged him toward Tyler's chambers. Taylor unlocks the door and opens it up. They shove Jamie in and then relock the door, trapping him inside the room. Tyler pushes himself up on the bed. He has removed the lipstick from his face, but the tiara is still stuck in his hair. He spots Jamie, awkwardly standing at the door. He sits up and wipes his eyes.

"Who-who are you?"

"I am the Jester."

"Jester?" Tyler questions.

"Yes, there's no need to be frightened, I am Jamie Benn. And I've got a joke for you, uh...a lord comes home to his fair maiden with a goose in his hand. The lord says, 'Tis be the hog I lay with every evening. His maiden says, 'That be not a hog, tis a goose.' The lord says, 'I was not speaking about the goose.'"

"Jamie Benn...the Jester?" Tyler chuckles a little bit. "Tis a funny joke you have told me Jester. So, what are they killing me with ridiculous jokes now? Is this still punishment for me? As if being locked in here wasn't degrading enough...I'm the king, not some pretty princess or maiden...I mean I was considered a fair 'maiden' when I was once a peasant...with Jonathan...but...!"

Jamie comes forward to him. He sets his staff down and walks up to Tyler, who is eyeing him. He stops at the foot of the bed and procurs his hands out to Tyler. The young man looks at them and then back up at Jamie, blinking.

"Take them, Tyler," Jamie says.

Tyler does so. And he is pulled to his feet and led over to his dresser. Jamie helps him to sit down and picks up the washcloth that is sitting on the dresser stained from the pink lipstick. He is careful not to get it back on Tyler, but wipes his eyes, from the tears. He sets it back down and then situates the crown in place of the tiara.

Tyler turns to Jamie and smiles. "Thank you. You are the first person to be nice to me in this castle." They gaze into one another's eyes longingly. Tyler isn't completely sold on Jamie innocence, given that he works for Queen Taylor, but Jamie is putting on quite the facade for him.

"I'm just nice overall, I mean Queen Taylor can be a real bitch sometimes, but like you, I can't escape this place either."

Tyler chuckles again, Jamie has just called Taylor a "bitch", he has to be innocent, and he cups his hands over his mouth. Jamie grabs his hands and lowers them back down.

"There's no need to hide your emotions with me, Tyler. I won't tell Taylor."

"So what's your story, Jamie?"

"My story? Gosh, when I was a little boy the Queen's parents killed mine and kidnapped me. I was forced to make jokes and try to provide humor..."

"How horrible!"

"Tis so, but it is just how my life goes and Taylor has kept me safe from harm and been nice to me...well, as nice as someone like her can be."

"Well, never get boyish looks Jamie, they don't help you out at all."

"I think you'd look handsome even without the boyish looks. In my eyes, it's what's on the inside."

"No one's said that...since..." Tyler trails off, looking into Jamie's eyes.

"Since what?"

Tyler gazes into Jamie's soft brown eyes. He lets Jamie hold onto his hands and bats his eyelids, flirtatiously, "Since Jonny."

"Jonny?"

"Jonathan Toews. He's this dreamy man I fell in love with," Tyler replied. He blushed at the thought and lifted one of his hands to tuck a strand of his wavy hair back in place.