CHAPTER 155: DANCING WITH THE ENEMY

"Rhane!" Jenna searched around the place, holding her dress. She’d taken so much time trying to explain to her father what Rhane meant to her. Though it caused Jenna to open old scars, it was also worth it.

Her words had solidified her emotions, letting her know exactly what she felt and how. It gave her the opening and end to doubt that she might not be chosen by Rhane. It was true what she felt, and repeating the words Rhane told her made her grow this soft feeling for the man.

Jenna didn’t wait around to listen to her father, she had told him what she felt. Hurt herself in the process, but speaking about Rhane helped her. And just when she felt better, she rushed out of the place. Despite her father calling on her from behind, Jenna waved for him to leave.

At the moment, all she wanted was to be in the arms of the man that made her fears go away, and kissed her scars with love, assuring her it’d never be the same.

Jenna’s eyes were forward that if she had looked around, she would have seen Percy entering a carriage and about to leave.

"Rhane." Jenna got to the first pillar, walked around it, and then to the next. There was no sign of Rhane or anyone. Everywhere was dark, and the rain was beginning to abridge, but it drizzled and soaked anyone who stayed out long.

"Rha- oh....Lois," Jenna halted in her steps, seeing the young woman who looked paler than a ghost at the sight of a priest. "Are you alright?" Jenna took a step closer to touch the young woman’s forehead.

Lois backed away, though frightened. "I...um...I’m sorry, Jenna...when did you arrive?" she asked, rubbing her neck nervously.

Jenna stared at her hand and then at the young woman before she slowly dropped her hand back to her side. "I just arrived," she replied, twitching her lips. "You look like one who has been set before the devil and ready to face damnation." She teased, but Lois took the words to heart.

Turning around, Lois gulped subtly before reaching down to grab the horseskin. When she faced Jenna, she tried to keep a plain expression, but that was harder than stopping a pee after bathing. Her face twitched hard, and all she could do was sigh.

"The rain makes people feel that way, don’t you think?" Lois changed the conversation, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Brings up old wounds and sins, like it would raise the scent of the earth when it touches the red soil and willow trees."

Jenna hummed, now facing the rain. "I guess you are right," she replied with a deep inhale. "But it also reveals what the heart feels the most...aside guilt, scars...love comes too."

Lois didn’t stop looking at Jenna. When Jenna turned, she turned her eyes and nodded. "I guess it does that too."

Jenna slapped her head, "Silly me," she muttered below her breath. "Don’t mind me, Lois, I was on my way to see someone. You can take your time...then." With a swift nod, Jenna began walking ahead, searching for Rhane.

She hadn’t gone far when Olivia intercepted her with a cheery smile on her face. "Jenna! He won! Your man won!" The girl threw herself in Jenna’s arms, and Jenna returned the hug, twirling the girl around cheerfully.

"He did!" Jenna danced around with the girl, this was how she wanted to celebrate Rhane’s win, to show how she actually felt.

Lois stood behind, watching the duo with her grip on the horseskin tightened and her lips pressed tightly. She didn’t know how to react, knowing that she wasn’t exactly happy for Jenna.

Jenna finally let go of the young girl. "I will go find him, I need to-"

Olivia, who was fixing her dress, frowned. "He left already," the girl announced. "I met with some maidens, and they said he was here...when I arrived, he was already leaving and Lois-" the girl paused,

"Lois saw them leave." Both Jenna and Olivia turned to face Lois.

Hearing her name, Lois felt her heart slip into her stomach. She hadn’t expected her name to be mentioned, and also, if Olivia had seen them, how much did the girl see or know?

"Me?" she touched her chest.

Olivia nodded, "I was coming here, and from far I saw the gentlemen pass you," she remarked.

A sigh of relief almost escaped Lois, but she bit her lips. "Oh, they did? I wasn’t paying much attention."

Jenna groaned, she had arrived too late and Rhane had left. Looking around the place, Jenna imagined just how long he must have waited to see her. If only she had disobeyed her father to meet Rhane first.

"It’s alright...by tomorrow he should have won the tourney and take you home with him," Olivia reassured, rubbing Jenna’s arm. "Tonight you should celebrate being a single maiden, by tomorrow you’ll enter your own home and make a family."

Jenna gave the girl’s words a deep thought, then pinched her cheeks. "Tch... you speak like a grown lady." She smiled before ruffling the girl’s hair again. "Miss Wisdom of the night, how do you intend I celebrate?"

Olivia tapped her fingers on her lips with a serious look on her face. Then her face lit up, and she grinned. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

Olivia pointed outside, "Don’t you hear it? The rain...the rain is coming."

At the girl’s words, Jenna listened closely. The rain that had subsided earlier came with a greater force. "What about it- Olivia!" Before she could grab the girl’s hand, she had jumped into the water.

"You’ll never get to dance and play under the rain as a married woman," Olivia shouted her words as the rain got even noisier. "It’s now or never...think about it, Jenna..."

Jenna glanced at her dress, then at the girl. What she was doing was interesting, but at the same time, Olivia was decades younger than her.

"Come on, Jenna...I know you want to!" The girl flailed her arms in the air as the rain beat her head down, drenching her dress.

Jenna curled her toes, she wanted to! The girl wasn’t lying, but also...her dress. It was a waste she didn’t get to show it to Rhane and let him slip it off of her.

"Oh bloody hell! I’d regret it if I don’t, and I will swear all night if I do." Jenna dropped her hair down, leaving it cascading down her shoulder before she ran into the rain with the girl.

"Ahhh!" Jenna yelped when the first cold drops touched her ears and then her shoulder before soaking her entire body.

"Yes!! Jenna is going to leave with the man she loves tomorrow," Olivia clapped her hands and sang. "Sing along, Jenna."

Jenna blushed, but sang along, "I am going to leave with the man I love...."

Olivia threw her head back and laughed so hard until her stomach hurt, she waved at Lois. "You don’t want to miss this feeling for the world, come on Lois...the rain doesn’t wash away beauty...look at Jenna."

Jenna touched her face with her wet hands and beamed, "Look at me....."

Lois stood there looking at them. She didn’t want to sing with Jenna about leaving with Rhane, knowing it wasn’t what she wanted, but at the same time she wanted to dance in the rain too. She had redeemed herself, now Rhane won’t have to hate her too much.

If it wasn’t for the nosy young man who had come and almost had her begging, Lois had gotten everything under control. Kiss Rhane and report harassment to the council. It was all going well...Lois exhaled. But still, it was fine. She decided to forgive herself for not stopping Rhane from taking the wine, she had found him before Jenna and taken care of him.

Maybe when he wakes up, he’d remember and seek out her. Lois smiled to herself. She looked at Jenna, who was waving at her to join them. Lois gave her a short nod, she did nothing wrong. If Rhane returns the next day and makes his choice based on his savior, then it was a fair one.

Dropping the horseskin, Lois ran into the rain with them and danced but did not sing. She wasn’t going to agree that Rhane will take Jenna until tomorrow, but dancing was fine since they were friends.

Jenna enjoyed herself under the rain, though she felt a sharp pain under her stomach, but she didn’t let it stop her from having the best night of her life. After now, she’d be waking up in Rhane’s arms and having the scent of him all over her.

"What is this rubbish!"

Lady Rachel’s voice snapped through the rain, with her cane pointing at the three women.

"We are dead," Olivia cried, the smile on her lips streaking down with the rain.

"Come over here this instant, the three of you."

Lois was about to go over, but Jenna pulled her back. "She can’t catch the three of us under the rain...I saw our own carriage on my way here..."

"You mean we disobey and run?" Lois asked with a shocked expression, and Jenna grinned.

Olivia nodded, "I like her plan better."

"On my mark," Jenna smirked, her eyes on Lady Rachel, who was still pointing her cane at them.

Lois licked her lips nervously, "This is a bad idea...."

"Go!"

Lady Rachel couldn’t believe her eyes when they dashed off under the rain, she tried to chase after them but stopped. "You...you...." When they jumped into their carriage, the woman stood there smiling before she quietly turned and walked away.