The Ones Who Had Loved Her The Most

Something Begins

Regis kept his promise and introduced Jenny to several respectable landlords. By the end of her fourth day in Toussaint, she had found the perfect house to rent with plenty of space on the ground floor for a surgery room for patients and a small suite above for her living quarters. There was a small fenced yard in the back with garden plots ready to be seeded with herbs and medicinal plants. Everything was falling into place smoothly, and Jenny was already planning several years in advance in terms of her future garden.

The afternoon of her fifth day in Toussaint, Jenny had a messenger arrive at her door with an invitation from Dettlaff asking Jenny to join him at the Tournament to watch the melees that evening. She sent the messenger back with a simple yes. Jenny then rushed to look presentable, luckily her new wardrobe had arrived, and Jenny picked a simple dress of green and gold. She pulled her hair into an elegant bun, wetting and curling any stray chunks of hair that had escaped. Jenny looked into the small mirror and was satisfied; her neck looked long and graceful with her hair pulled off it. She had no powder to cover the freckles on her nose; such things were not necessary on long travels. She made a mental note to get some powder the next time she was out shopping, slipped on a soft new pair of shoes, and grabbed her shawl, in case they stayed out late.

A soft knock on the door to her rented room kicked her heartbeat into high gear. She steeled her nerves and opened the door with a smile.

Dettlaff was dressed in a black leather long coat with a long red shirt beneath. A beautiful gold and green moth was pinned to his chest. Streaks of grey peppered his hair, she had not noticed it in the candlelight at Regis's dinner party, but under the bright afternoon sun, it was noticeable. She thought he looked dashing and handsome.

He bowed elegantly, and Jenny curtsied in return. He offered his arm, and Jenny took it. They walked together towards the Tourney Grounds sharing pleasantries about the weather and local gossip. He asked her about her hunt for a place to rent, and she informed him of her success in finding the perfect house and her move in several days. They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they walked. Jenny got the feeling that Dettlaff was not big on small talk or any talk for that matter, but she enjoyed his company never the less. The noise of the Tournament was audible long before they reached the grounds, and when they entered the stands and took their seats to watch the melee, any talk was not possible due to the rumbling of the crowd.

The melee began, and Jenny only watched with mild interest; instead she was stealing glances at Dettlaff out of the corner of her eye. He sat with comfortable ease on the bent, his elbows resting on his legs and his chin resting atop his large hands. His nails were long and pointed like Regis's but well-groomed. There was a wornness to his handsome face, lines of care, and sorrow. His mouth looked like it was more accustomed to frowning than smiling. The small ringlets at the back of his hair begged to be touched, but Jenny would never have dared. She may have grown up in a small village but had spent the last twelve years in cities and high societies, she would not break propriety in such a way.

When the melee was over, they stood and clapped with the crowd. Jenny had no idea who she was clapping for; she had spent too much time eyeing Dettlaff and not the melee.

They left the stands together and wandered around the grounds enjoying the sights and spectacle. They sampled wines at one stand and nibbled on fresh fruits at another. Dettlaff bought her an orange, and they shared the delicious treat as they walked.

"Jenny?" a strangely familiar voice called out from the crowd.

Jenny turned and saw a middle-aged elven man dressed in bright colors walking towards her. She starred for a moment trying to understand where she had seen this face before, for she knew it well.