The Story of Jane

Maybe This Was A Bad Idea

None of it was supposed to happen. They were never meant to get hurt, never meant to spread word of their existence until the time was right. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She looked at her bloodied knuckles with one ear pressed against the door, listening to Kit's soft snores. Was this how their marriage would be? Secrets and mirrors? Jane couldn't understand why Kit couldn't know. He would be in full support of their cause. He had commented on the state of the kingdom. How a little political change could pave new areas, new opportunities. Her engagement ring was on the floor, its silver tainted with another man's blood. Instead of a symbol of everlasting love, it was a weapon. Another promise she had broken. Another body lying on the floor.

__________

Dead.

The single word rang in her head as the world around her began to collapse. As her lungs deflated and her heart stopped horribly.

But Nicholas had been there and he offered a hand to help. Now more than ever she felt lost.

Two chilly November weeks passed without the spy, without the duke or the king and without any incident. The agreement she had struck with Nicholas proved fruitful during those empty windy nights. They kept trying to outdo each other, Keep their companion entertained while their fathers were out to battle.

"Stay here," Nicholas said, grinning as he left the room. Leaving Jane to wonder what surprise he had to offer. She had done well, attaining a rare wooden chest from the Keydon borders during their country's war status.

"Close your eyes." He appeared with a small rectangular package tied with purple ribbon. "I'm serious, you have to close your eyes."

"Is it a dragon?" She laughed, feeling the package being handed to her. "A painting perhaps?"

"Now open."

It was a painting, and of a dragon, to put it simply. A dragon, sitting high on a tower looking over the most magnificent sunset Jane had ever seen. The pink and purples mixed together perfectly, entirely different from the faint orange light she always saw behind the clouds of their kingdom.

"It's... perfect." Her eyes went from the painting to the affectionate smile on Nicholas' lips. "Thank you." She embraced him, throwing etiquette completely out the window. If anyone saw this, it would cause an uproar from the ladies in court. But Jane could care less. "Thank you," she repeated, letting go of the prince and went back to studying the canvas. The intricate brushwork, the carefully mapped dots were impeccable. She knew he had talent but she had never expected something like this. "How on earth did you manage to make this? To capture the sunset?" With their betrothal, the two and their mothers spent most of their time in the palace getting to know each other.

"Well I..." He scratched the back of his head. "To be truthful, I had no intention of painting something for you. I just... caught whatever was in my mind." He looked at her, seeing wonder in her eyes instead of the silent disappointment he was expecting. "I started it two years ago, wondering who would be the right person to give it to..." he trailed off, avoiding her gaze.

"Then you should keep it." She pushed the painting into his arms. "My grandmother used to say, 'If one looks for the perfect person, the right person, one only finds unhappiness.'"

__________

She looked at the dragon painting hanging over her desk, how many memories they had created together, never once worrying about love until they fell into its arms.

There was no perfect person. And perhaps she needed to face that. He wasn't some heaven sent angel, or a knight in shining armour come to slay the dragon she had made herself into. But Kit was the one who stayed. Everyone had their own nonsense, but somehow his nonsense made hers better.