The Ones Who Had Loved Her The Most

The Halls of Learning

Jennevieve Gontier was born on a stormy night in a farmer's loft in the wilds of Velen. Her name written on a ripped piece of parchment tucked into a small purse of golden crowns. Her mother died several hours after her birth. The owner of the farm and loft, a kindly older man, went out that morning with the sole intent of feeding his two cows and ten chickens. He did not expect to find a dead woman in his loft, nor did he expect to see a small baby bundled in rags.

The older man only had his farm, his wife had died many years before, and his three sons had marched off to join the wars in Tameria and had never returned. He was content in his simple life, but as he looked down at the red-faced screaming bundle, silver hairs sticking on end, fists clutched tight in anger, well he knew that there was nothing for it, he would have to take care of the new baby.

He found a wet-nurse in the local village, a quiet middle-aged woman who's husband had died of the flux the previous winter and children had gone on to start families of their own, he paid her generously from the little pouch of coins. She moved into his cottage, and his life went from peace and quiet to midnight feedings and sweet lullabies sung by the fireside.

The man and woman settled into a comfortable little life together. Eventually easing each other's loneliness and sharing the same bed. They became mother and father to the silver-haired baby. They called her Jenny for Jennevieve seemed to "uppity" to them.

It was apparent from an early age that Jenny was not a normal child. She screamed and ate and overall acted like a normal child, but her large blue eyes held wisdom in their depths. Often they would find her out in the yard sitting with wild rabbits gathered around her, or other wild creatures of the forest. Birds especially liked her and would happily perch on her chubby little hand and sing to her.

As she grew older, she became wilder at heart. She would spend days wandering the forests behind the farm. She feared neither monster or wolf, and none ever tried to harm her. Jenny's way with animals extended to all creatures, and somehow, she cast a spell over them all.

She especially loved the old ruins of kingdoms of old. She would climb through them exploring and sometimes would find ancient treasures which she would bring home to her father.

By her eighteenth birthday, Jenny had explored every inch of the surrounding countryside and felt a desire to see the rest of the wide world. She was not well-loved in the village. The locals called her a witch, a feral child, and those her age called her mad. Finding friendship or even love was not an option for her, not that she felt any desire to settle down and raise children like the other girls of the village. Had one of the local boys wanted her, she would have refused them.

High in the ruins of the kings who were gone, her father found her one sunny afternoon. Her long silver hair shone brilliantly in the sun; flowers weaved into it. Too him, she was a beauty, but he, also knew her happiness was not here on the small farm. He sat down on the ancient stones and wrapped an arm around her small shoulders.

"What do you see when you look out there?" he asked her.

"The wide world Da," she rested her head against him and sighed, "I love you Da, but I do not belong here, do I?"

"Your mother and I love you too Jenny, but we have known you would leave us for a long time now. The question was never of if you would leave but when. We have saved the money from the trinkets you have brought us over the years. If you must go at least, you will have something to take with you."

So, Jenny bought a horse and supplies and, on a foggy summer morning set out from her childhood home in search of something more than the simple life she had always known.

Her first night alone under the stars was terrifying and exhilarating. She could hear small animals and large alike snuffling around in the darkness. She spent the night close to her small campfire. In the early hours of the morning, she drifted off to sleep and woke as the sun rose. She cooked a small breakfast over the hot coals of the fire and ate. She was back on her horse and riding on down the road before the sun had even entirely risen into the sky.