Jenn could not believe how hard she could fall. She had been sent here to do a job, and performed exceptionally well, but the end goal was now not so clear. She dared not disclose her true identity, and yet she could not live in a world without Jesse.

The whirlwind romance that she had been swept up in had lasted only four days before she found herself sitting on the edge of their marital bed and waiting for him to return. She felt more full now than she ever had before; as if a hole in her life had been filled, and yet she was reluctant to abandon her objective. Jesse walked in, returning from the fields and her face lit up like the morning sky.

All her conflicting thoughts fled from her mind as she was overwhelmed with the love she felt for him. Jenn jumped from the bed and threw herself upon Jesse. “I have something to tell you,” he said after they were able to calm their hysterics.

Jenn looked deep into his eyes and saw his pride and reluctance behind them “What is it?”

“I enlisted in the army.”

“So soon? We’ve only been together four days!”

He returned her gaze and began to explain to her what she well knew although she would not dare to reveal it. “The Baaman Empire has been making offensive movements into Taybridge territory and the only way to repel them is to join up with Pitt and oppose their advances.” He stopped and put a hand on her arm, “we need every able body to fight and push them back.”

“When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

Jenn turned her back to him in anger, and yet felt great pride for his courage. Though he was going to serve against the empire which still held her allegiance, she could not help loving him more for his choice. Her mind was no longer divided. Jenn served Taybridge fully and without restraint. She could no longer fathom the idea of completing her mission for the Empire if Jesse was fighting for freedom from it.

Her anger tempered throughout the evening and by twilight she lay in his arms, happy only to be with him as long as she could. Still overstuffed from their evening meal, they lay on the bed intertwined with each other until the natural progression of romance found them even closer. Jenn dozed off next to the sleeping form of her new husband for the last time before he left for the campaign in the morning, thinking of what the future may hold.

Jesse woke her before he departed and kissed her goodbye. As she remained in the threshold of their home, tears streamed down her face. She could not break now; if Jesse was to serve Taybridge, she would also take up the mantle.

For months, Jenn worked as she was able to support the war effort, always diligent in her duties until she woke early ine morning to a knocking at her door.