The Girl with the Red Hair

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 27th July 2024

Characters: Elana, Jomum
Description: Elana is approached in the Dining Hall by a guardsman from Amber Hills Hold.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 11
Notes: Mentioned: Lord Corofel

Her fingers hurt. Elana massaged one hand with the other before picking up her spoon again. Between her regular duties, the embroidery sample she was submitting to the Turn's End competition, and the modifications to the dress she wanted to wear to the Gather, she felt as if she'd done nothing but sew for the last month straight, both within in the Laundry and in her spare candlemarks. And her hands _hurt_.

She looked up as a shadow crossed her table, hoping to see Selemere and instead finding her gaze caught by a young man in a guard's uniform. He was tall with floppy brown hair and a deeply dimpled chin, and his knots said that he was one of the men brought over from Amber Hills Hold. "May I join you?" he asked.

Elana hesitated. She didn't know him, but they were in the dining hall and surrounded by others, and she was unmarried and twenty one Turns of age, so she nodded at the other chair.

He sat and smiled. "Thanks. It's good to sit. I've been on my feet all day."

"Mmm." Elana picked up her spoon again. "I'm sure that everyone here thanks you for your work to keep us safe."

"What about you? Do you thank me too?" he asked.

Elana glanced up. How was she supposed to respond to a comment like that?!

But he saved her by laughing and extending a hand in greeting. "I'm Guardsman Jomun, from Amber Hills Hold. And you are...?"

"Elana," she said, then clasped his hand briefly. His fingers were warm where they wrapped around her own.

His smile widened. "Elana. Pleased to finally meet you. I've seen you around lots. Your red hair is hard to miss. You work for the laundry, right?"

He'd been watching her? Elana felt flattered but also a bit unsettled. She dug her spoon into her soup and carefully blew off the steam. "I do."

"How is working in the laundry?" Jomun asked.

She sipped her soup before responding. "I enjoy it. I mostly sew rather than wash, although I do get to care for the Lord Holder's children's wardrobes. The old Lord Holder's children," she amended. "Except not Lord Corofel. Just the littles."

"Well that's good. I wouldn't know how to feel if you were managing another man's wardrobe," Jomun said lightly. He winked at her as she glanced up, then quickly dropped his gaze to his soup. "The kid's clothes, though. That must be hard since they grow pretty fast. Are you making them Gather outfits?"

"Just letting out older Gather clothes to make sure that they fit properly." She suddenly felt suspicious. Just who was this guardsman, interested in their Lord Holder's children? Just because he was from Amber Hills Hold didn't make him _safe_. Anger felt more comfortable than the off-balance way Jomun had made her feel at the start of this conversation. "Why do you ask?"

"You look like a busy woman, that's all. I've seen you in the gardens working on something too. Is that also for the kids?" Jomun asked.

Elana shook her head. How long had he been watching her? "I'm submitting an embroidery sample into the competition for the Gather. Are you competing in any of the Gather games?" Time to change the topic to something that wasn't about herself, or the children.

"Wrestling. You should come watch me," Jorum said. He looked up at her again and smiled. "I know I'll do better if you're cheering me on."

Elana arched an eyebrow. "That seems like showing off," she said.

"Maybe. But who can blame me? I am a sucker for a pretty woman," he said, winking at her again.

Elana flushed but she didn't drop her gaze. "That's rather bold of you, Guardsman Jorum."

"When is saying something true bold? You're very pretty, and I've wanted to speak with you for a while now."

"And you didn't wonder if I was already engaged?" Elana asked.

He shook his head. "I know you're not. I admit, I asked around about you before this. I already knew your name when I sat down, Elana from Nadol Cothold, fostering with her old Auntie. I'd be a bad guard if I didn't."

That did make her look away, embarrassed both that he'd asked about her and that she had so few prospects. "That's unfair, that you know about me but I know nothing about you."

"I'm from Amber Hills Hold, I have an older brother and two little sisters, and I'm anticipating a promotion within the guard when I get back home from here," he told her. "And I promise that I won't step on your feet at Turnover when we dance."

"That's assuming that I choose to dance with you," Elana shot back.

He laughed again. "You already know you want to dance with me. And I'll save a seat for you at my wrestling match."

"It'll go empty,"

"No, you'll be there," Jorum said confidently. "Just wait and see."

His certainty was irritating. Elana set down her spoon and stood. "This has been... interesting, Guardsman Jorum."

He smiled up at her, his gaze guileless as summer skies. His eyes were a brownish blue, she noticed. "I'll see you soon, Elana of Nadol Cothold."

As she left, Elana wasn't sure if what he'd given her was a promise-- or a threat.

Last updated on the July 31st 2024

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The Girl with the Red Hair