Fri Sep 05, 2003 6:11 am
Jaana Denfaul's recovery had not been a swift one. The priests of Ilmater had managed to heal the shattered ribs and punctured lung before the girl had died, but it had been months before Jaana had gotten back on her feet.
Joshua, the son of the village blacksmith, had refused to leave her side for those first days. His calloused hands had cradled one of her own, only releasing it long enough to eat the meals his mother brought to him. If tears had been shed at her condition, Jaana never knew. All that she was aware of was that when the darkness receeded, Joshua had been there to welcome her back with a relieved smile.
It had been Joshua that had managed to get her to drink the foul-tasting potions of the priests of suffering. She had quipped, after said priests were gone, about suffering their horrid concotions and both young ones laughed until Jaana hurt. It had been that same boy that had carried her out of the temple after she finally convinced him to help her out of that bed so that she could go home. Unfortunately, all had not gone to Jaana's plan and she had lacked the strength to make it all the way back to Jaacb's. When she was strong enough to lift a weapon again, it was Joshua that went with her to watch her practice and to catch her when she pushed herself too hard.
There would be no surprise, then, that three years down the road, it had been Joshua that had caught her sneaking out of Jaacb's house in the middle of the night, carrying little more than a pack of supplies and the sword that Joshua and his father had gifted her only days previous.
"Josh," her voice had uttered, both in surprise and pleading. "Just let me go."
"No," his voice had retorted firmly. She could still hear the stubborness in that voice, and in the dark of the present, she couldn't help but smile to herself. She had played dirty, after that.
"Then promise me you'll forgive me for leaving." Jaana, at fifteen, was easily within a marriageable age range. Yet, all of her outward attention had been spent on the sword, and she had no true father to arrange such things. In theory, she could follow her heart wherever it led. "It's time already, Josh. I have to find him before he can come back looking."
He would have protested. Jaana knew that, now, as she had suspected it that night. His reactions to her excuses within the Broken Dagger's commons had proven that beyond all doubt. In the night as she had attempted to creep off, she had stepped close to her childhood friend so as to embrace him. Yet, hands rose to grasp shoulders far broader than hers would ever be, helping to lift her up onto toes to match his height. Then, gently, Jaana pressed her lips to his. It was her silent token of things she would never get to say.
"Live happy, Joshua," her voice echoed into her ears again, as sapphire eyes stared down at the sleeping form nestled within blankets on the floor of her room. That minotaur had suggested she get extra blankets. How did she know that she'd need them so soon? '.. pair of you two married just yet?' The memory of the Paladin's voice caused an unseen blush to rise into her cheeks.. again. "No," Jaana whispered into the darkness, barely audible to herself. "I'm cursed."
Then, silently, Jaana Denfaul rolled over within the bed and tried again to fall asleep.