Rhiannon - Child of Twilight
Chapter 9 - Page 1
Love's Candor

When Jenna had first understood that Taliesin was to be made Rhiannon's Chosen and Second, it had been nearly as surprising to her as it was to Taliesin himself. Not that she didn't feel him to be worthy yet just like everyone else of the Bardic lifestyle, she assumed the Chosen would be someone who was at least a Council Member, if not one of Rhiannon's Advisors. Of course, Rhiannon had been an unusual case herself, being virtually 'raised' for the position since birth. And though there were histories in the Archives that bespoke some of the Bardic Heads had known their Chosen for years before the actual Choosing, the Chosen themselves was not told until the defining time when the Head knew their own reign was nearing its end. Therefore, a Chosen may well have been of lesser status when the Head knew their Successor and yet could gently guide and oversee their Choice, allowing a growth and maturity without the pressure and stress such knowledge would afford.

There were such strange circumstances that had brought Rhiannon into her role, so perhaps it should not seem so peculiar that she would choose in the manner that she did. And what did this really mean for Jenna? For Dylan? For the Bardic family of Lord Sean's Court? Taliesin swore that he loved her, more than he had ever loved anyone, and yet she sometimes wondered why. Why her? Who was Jenna? Especially now. Now when he would be deliberately bonded to Rhiannon and all that that would mean in duty, ritual and its consequence. Jenna knew the Histories of the Bards; anyone of Chief Bard Status had read the Histories, had memorized a fair amount and certainly understood the ramifications of what amounted to as a sacred union between the Head and their Chosen. A sacred union beyond and above any other known, for it was more akin the union of Divinity within the depths of the All.

Jenna did her best to be there for Taliesin as the Festivities went forward for Litha; to comfort, to be loving, to watch out for any signs of fever. She did what she could to help Erina with Jesse, though she felt sometimes a bit clumsy, as she had never had a child of her own. Erina always smiled and was patient, as happy for Jenna's company as anything else, enjoying being able to be part of the inner life of a Bardic household and listening to the beautiful music of Jenna's rather sultry voice. And Jenna had come to greatly take pleasure in her own place in this household as well as she tried to learn to be a bit of a mother to Jesse as much as Taliesin's companion and mate. Dylan, too, had fast become a close, brotherly friend that she counted and relied on, somehow making the household complete in its feel of family bonds and closeness.

Jenna had made relationships these last several months in a way she had never done in her life before. In a way she had always been afraid to before. Her childhood of a broken and scattered people, no matter that the village she finally found sanctuary in were good to her, still haunted her and made her forever wary. Even her training with the Bards did not seem to totally eradicate that part of her; at least in the sense that relationships could last. That friends once made could be friends that spanned a lifetime. Only this little group at the Court of Lord Sean and Taliesin had Jenna come to begin finding an easing of her restless dreams. What connections had she made she never could before? Could Taliesin himself be so powerful, as Dylan had once intimated?

When Taliesin had been summoned to stay three days in the rooms with Rhiannon, Mab and Kyle to truly begin the Bonding process, Jenna felt a terrible apprehension go through her that she knew she could not really expose. Yet, she could not help weeping some that night without Taliesin at her side and though she was being quiet in her discomfort, Dylan became aware, coming into the room to sooth her. “I know this man. ”Said Dylan softly, stroking her hair and letting her release her anxiety in his arms. “He would never desert you. And he does not lie about what he feels. I know we all feel a little apprehension. But his feelings for you, I do not doubt.”

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