The Girl from the Valley

Chapter Two - Serena

The celebration for Hannah’s 19th birthday had begun. Every family with status and wealth from Penin was there in the Mayor's home, joining in celebration for his daughter and people were definitely enjoying themselves. Platters of various foods and desserts were being served in the grand foyer as Hannah greeted and thanked everyone who came in through the doors of their 2 story manor. The Mayor’s Manor was neatly decorated with several family portraits of the Mayor and his parents and their families before his. Deer game heads were also hung from the walls along with a banner indicating the village Penin, with a blue base and two gold stripes on both ends.

I had stationed myself at a table at the far back of the foyer where there was less noise and cluttered groups of people while everyone seemed to scramble around laughing and drinking. I made small conversations with a few acquaintances as they complimented me on my attire, but I remained alone for most of the night. Hannah had busied herself making sure that everything was going well and I felt that my presence around her would only cause more trouble than needed.

Taking a swing at the rest of the wine in my glass, I’m tapped on the shoulder.

“Serena?” A familiar voice called.

I turned to the person standing behind me dressed in a familiar dark brown vest and lightly worn cotton tunic that I knew he only wore on special occasions. His sandy brown hair was combed back neatly and he looked freshly shaved as well.

“Roan!” I smiled, hugging my brother. “Where have you been? The celebration started a while ago.”

His smile was the same sweet smile I had grown used to. “Sorry I’m late.” He shrugged, “I went to mother and father’s grave today before I came.” His smile was replaced with a light frown.

Roan’s parents, Daniel and Mary Forest, took me in as an orphan infant and raised me as their own. They had already had Roan and he was about 6 years old then. They had told me I was an orphan when I was 10 years old, but I didn't care. They were the only people I knew who loved me as their daughter and although it hurt knowing that I was not truly theirs, they never treated me like I was anything different. They loved me as much as they loved Roan and they made sure I knew it.

It was almost two years ago when Daniel and Mary died from a wild wolf attack as they were coming back from the corn fields west of the valley toward the main road to The Capital. They had died so suddenly that Roan and I almost didn’t believe it had happened until they had been buried. We had been alone for the first time and it was finally coming to reality that we would never see them again. We grieved for so long that when we did snap out of it, we were forced to move out of our family home in Penin due to unpaid taxes. Roan and I fought and begged Hannah’s father, the Mayor, if there was anything we could do to evade eviction but he stated that he couldn't show favoritism to us just because we were Hannah’s friends, otherwise the rest of the village would riot at our advantage.

Roan and I had no choice but to move to a small, shabby wooden house with 2 rooms on the outskirts of Penin where the taxes were much cheaper and the guard patrols were less active. Living in the outskirts was different from living in the heart of Penin, where it was easy to socialize and know the people living around you. In the outskirts, the houses were placed almost 4 to 5 houses apart, surrounded by various plants and trees. Nights were silent with the occasional sound of animals running around outside and although we worked and made enough copper to sustain our current living condition, it was not enough to move closer to the center of Penin.

“Are you alright? Did something happen?” I asked cautiously, looking into his brown eyes for any sign of worry.

“Yes, I’m fine.” His smile returned, "I just wanted to get something off my chest, that’s all.”

“What did you-”

“Roan!” Hannah shouted, practically running toward us in her pink gown as she gave him a tight hug, “When did you arrive? I have been greeting everyone coming along. I wouldn't have missed you.”

“I came through the servants' entrance in the back,” He pointed to the nearly hidden door under the staircase. “There’s quite a long line waiting to enter, so I figured I would make my way in by myself.”

I sat back down in my chair as Roan and Hannah’s conversation continued. Roan picked a seat next to me and Hannah picked her seat next to him. I noticed that she was more attentive to him than normal and giggling loudly at basic comments he was making. Her hand also occasionally brushed against his arm and she seemed to be getting closer to him as well.

Is the person she likes ….. ROAN!? I thought to myself. When did she begin liking him? Why didn’t she just tell me? That doesn’t matter. Roan has never shown interest in any girl but me and Hannah, but I’m his sister and Hannah is my best friend. Does he like her too?

I glanced between Roan and Hannah. The distance between them has definitely decreased. Hannah was basically breathing on him at this point and he didn’t seem to mind it at all.

I tried to hide my giddy smile. If Roan and Hannah get married, Hannah would become my sister! Then they would have children and I would become an aunt. My imagination was running wild.

Wanting to leave them with their conversation, I got up, raising my empty wine glass.

“Sorry to interrupt but I’m going to refill my wine.” I winked at Hannah, who noticed and blushed. Roan, on the other hand, seemed clueless.

“Let me go with you,” Roan stood from his chair.

“I’ll come t-” Hannah tried to finish but I cut her off.

“No, both of you stay. I’ll be right back.”

Roan looked like he was going to protest but sat back down instead as Hannah followed his move.

I made my way through the crowd of swaying, happy people toward a wall with three long tables seated with various foods in search of a wine pitcher placed at either end of the tables. Picking the table closest to the kitchen door, I grabbed a silver pitcher, tipped the lip toward my glass to find that it was empty. Placing it down, I grabbed the other silver pitcher and, again, it was empty.

I sighed, upset that my glass was still empty, and moved to the second table along the wall. This table looked like no one had touched any of the food, so the wine must not be touched either. I grabbed the pitcher closest to me and smiled as it was heavier than the two previous pitchers and poured myself a near brim-filled glass of wine.

The tanginess of the wine was delicious and instantly warmed my body. I could feel a rush of heat spread through me that was comforting. I don't normally drink wine but with Hannah busy talking to Roan, I thought that maybe today would be nice to just relax and indulge myself.

It had only been minutes since I filled my glass but it was drained again. I didn’t walk far from the food table, so when I walked back to pick up that same pitcher to pour myself more wine, I noticed that it was not as heavy as I had left it. I was empty. How was that possible? There was enough wine in this pitcher to fill my glass two more times and it was empty. I quickly walked to the other pitcher on the other side of the table and lifted it up, smiling at its weight. I quickly poured myself another glass and was just about to gulp it down when a rough hand yanked my glass from my hand.

“Hey!” I shouted at the man next to me, inhaling my drink, “That drink is mine. Give it back!”

The man responded a few seconds later, handing me my empty glass.

“Fill it up.” His voice was husky and deep, a smile spread across his face. His eyes were a piercing hazel that I had never seen before. His hair was a dark chestnut brown and he had sun-kissed skin. His leather armor had two sheath daggers hanging from either side of his waist, his tunic under the vest was tight against his arms and chest, poorly hiding the hard muscles underneath. This man was not someone from the village. He must have come from one of the Capital's training camps near Penin.

I felt my body tense as he moved closer, his body radiated heat as his face came close to mine. His brow tilted up with curiosity.

“What are you?” He tilts his head.

I am confused. “What?”

He smiled and pulled away, standing up straight, lifting my glass and tilting it to gesture to the pitcher.

“Can you pour me a glass of wine?”

“No,” I snatched the glass, “This is my glass, get your own.”

“Alright then.” He shrugged, a smile still on his face as he moved past me to grab the silver pitcher and poured its contents directly into his mouth. He towered a full head above me and I just stood there in disbelief at the sight I was seeing.