A/N This was originally intended as a one-shot, but it became a bit too plot-y to have in one chapter, so it may end up as a two-shot, or even a longer story.
It will focus on Jenny and Gilan, set a few months after And About Time Too.
Jenny will be kind and hit people with ladles, Gilan will be charming and confident, and I will be sitting here swooning over my OTP.
Reviews are appreciated! (By this I mean I mentally throw myself a party with cake and everything every time I get a positive review.)
Disclaimer- Anything you recognize belongs to John Flanagan.
It was a cold night, the first of many as winter began to settle. The icy wind howled through the bare, leafless trees, driving the rain with increasing force towards the roofs of the village, which were clustered like so many mushrooms around the castle Redmont.
It was a bitter night there was no denying, but still Jenny Dalby found herself in remarkably good spirits. However hard the rain might fall, it could not penetrate the warmth and comfort of her restaurant that evening, the roaring fire and lively chatter keeping winter's malice well at bay. She smiled to herself as she surveyed her merry customers, each of them enjoying her own delicious dishes and a carefully chosen mug of ale or mead to complement it.
Everything was going perfectly for Jenny. Her restaurant was fast becoming one of the most highly regarded in the whole of Redmont, with the Baron himself dining there several times a month, along with several of Arulean's most respected figures. Horace and Cassandra and been here only three nights ago, the presence of the princess and her husband, the famous Oakleaf knight, causing quite a stir in the village. Then there was Halt and Will, who both frequented her restaurant, claiming that it was hard for them to go for too long without her company. She suspected it may be more to do with the fact that they could not go for too long without a decent meal.
Then there was Gilan. Handsome, charming Gilan who lived altogether too far away in the neighbouring Whitby fief. She had hardly seen him since Will and Alyss' wedding, almost two months ago, and was feeling the absence keenly.
The wedding had been magical. Under a starry canopy with a carpet of leaves beneath their feet they had danced for what felt like hours. If she closed her eyes she could still feel music of the flutes flowing through them, linking them together until she could not discern where her own body stopped and his began. He was a remarkable dancer.
She sighed. Maybe everything was not going so perfectly after all.
She was pulled harshly from her reverie as a gust of icy air blew over her exposed arms.
"Could you please close the door after you, kind sir? I have a table over here if you wish to dine," She smiled brightly at the man who was standing in the doorway, his eyes raking the room bare as they darted about, taking in every detail. It reminded her of the way the rangers scrutinised a room upon entering it for the first time. Gilan had once told her that knowing your surroundings could make the difference between life and death. Frowning, she quickly pushed aside any thoughts of Gilan. She had to keep her mind on her job.
The man looked her over just as carefully as he had the room, his eyes lingering on her face as she shivered in the winter wind, regretting her choice of clothing. She had only been thinking of the heat of the stove when she had dressed in the sleeveless gown, not expecting the night to have grown quite so cold.
"Do you have room for five?" He asked without moving, the cold still seeping into the room from behind him.
"That I do," Jenny said "Now if I could trouble you to invite your men inside and close the door?" His lips twitched as he complied, moving into the restaurant ahead of four others, each dressed in the same black cloak and trousers and the first man. The last one closed the door loudly, causing other customers to glance over. They looked away quickly.
Unease began to creep over Jenny as she took in the men. They were not young men, but neither did they lack strength or alertness. The youngest looked about forty, the oldest nearing sixty. Each had a sheathed knife at his hip.
Still, she put on a smile, playing the well-rehearsed part of the hostess. She seated them at a table in the centre of the room, wanting to be able to keep an eye on their behaviour, and took their orders. She noticed with slight puzzlement that none of the men ordered anything with meat, some going as far as to enquire if any animal stocks were used in the soup (which they weren't).
She returned to the kitchen, desperately wishing that Halt or Will were here tonight. However, she knew that they were away, taking care of some business on the other side of Redmont. She briefly considered sending a message to the Baron, but just as quickly dismissed it. Five men wearing black and eating no meat were not cause enough to trouble the Baron.
Once all of the men had received their meals and drinks, Jenny returned to the kitchen, expecting that there would be no more business for tonight. It was getting late, and the restaurant was almost empty, save for a few stragglers and the men in black cloaks.
Once again, her mind began to wander. Not for the first time that week, she wondered what Gilan was doing now. Probably off on some dangerous assignment. Saving lives. Putting wrongs to right. She sighed once again, wishing he were here.
She heard the door open again, and, ladle still in hand, went to welcome the customer. Another chill gust of wind blew through the restaurant. She groaned inwardly as the wind continued to stab her skin. Why couldn't people just step in and close the door? Why wait in the doorway?
"I'll thank you to keep that shut," She snapped, before realising her rudeness. The man had already closed the door when she began her apology.
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, it's just that people have been coming in and out all night and it's so cold that I- Gilan?"
"Sorry Jen. But maybe you should be wearing a cloak, winter is coming after all," She stared at him, open mouthed. Behind her, she could sense that the men in black had fallen silent, watching them, but she didn't care. She only had eyes for Gilan.
"Sorry for turning up without warning like th-" He was cut off in mid-sentence as she threw her arms around him, almost knocking them both to the floor. Luckily, his reflexes were as good as ever, and he managed to both catch her and steady himself, before returning her embrace.
"It's good to see you, Jenny," He murmured in her ear. She just nodded against his chest, relishing the warmth. She heard sniggers from behind her at the display of affection. Suddenly, embarrassment washed over her. She pulled away, cheeks flaming.
"Um, sorry, you were saying…?"
He grinned at her, completely at ease. "I was saying that I'm sorry for showing up unannounced, but I was in the area and had to see you. I missed you, Jen."
Jenny felt herself grow redder, if that was even possible. "I missed you too." She mumbled, before rushing on. "So how long are you here for? Are you hungry? Because I could cook something, or if you've eaten then we could have coffee or something. Is Blaze in the stables? Because I can send someone to see to- no wait, rangers always care for their own horse. How was your journey? Why are you even here? I hope you didn't get too cold, it's such a freezing night, this is going to be a harsh winter, I can tell," She clapped her hands over her mouth as she finished, mortified at her babbling.
Gilan didn't even pause.
"I'm only here for an hour, just passing through. I've eaten at the castle and Blaze is in the stables eating her way through enough apples to last her a week, greedy horse. My journey was cold and uneventful, and I'm here to see the Baron, which I have now done. It will be a horrific winter and I will love you forever if you have any coffee," He paused, looking over her shoulder at the men in sitting at the centre table, who had by now returned to their meal, their interest in Gilan's arrival seemingly fulfilled. "Who are they?"
Jenny shrugged. "They don't eat meat," She said absently, taking advantage of Gilan's distraction to look at his face. He looked that same as ever. His straight dark hair falling across his forehead, but not so much as to obscure his eyes, the same colour green as his ranger cloak. Clean shaven and straight-nosed, Jenny thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen.
"How unusual," He said lightly, his gaze falling back to her. "You look beautiful, Jennifer Dalby," He said with a grin, his confidence making her smile with him.
"So do you."
He shook his head, still smiling. "Coffee, remember?"
She shook her head with mock sadness. "Is that all you care about?"
Without warning, he gently tilted her face upward, and kissed her softly on the mouth. It was sweet and simple and everything she had hoped their first kiss would be. She was stunned.
"Yes. Now fetch me some coffee, serving girl!"
Still exploding with happiness inside, she hit him playfully on the arm with her ladle before bustling off to make his coffee, her heart singing in her chest.
When Jenny returned from the kitchen with two mugs of fragrant, steaming coffee, the men had gone. One of the waiters told her that the second she had gone out of the room they had paid the bill and left without a word. Frowning, she set the mugs down on a table in corner at which Gilan had seated himself.
"Well that was very odd," She said, almost to herself.
"MmHmm," Gilan replied, sipping his coffee. "Jenny?"
"Yes?"
"Did you put honey in my coffee?" He sounded surprised.
"I did. Isn't that how you like it?"
"Yes, it is," He smiled into his cup. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
And there they sat, talking and laughing until the coffee was gone and Gilan had to leave for Whitby.
Then they stood at the door, hands joined.
"Thanks for the coffee Jen. It was good to see you."
Past the lump in her throat Jenny barely managed a strained "And you."
"I'll see you again soon, okay?"
"Okay."
"Goodbye, my love," His love. She was his love. And he was leaving.
"Goodbye," Then quickly, before the moment passed, she stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick peck on the lips, and one more for good luck. He grinned at her, his familiar, good natured smile, then opened the door and was gone.