Promise of An Iris Ch 3

Chapter 3: Memories of an Rose

Francis's eyes narrow at the man, his face remains in a frown as Jeanne stares in wonder and awe of the former military commander. A twinge of jealously runs through Francis's body, La Hire had befriended someone who apparently knew sorcery, and made him immortal in exchange for something. La Hire never revealed what it was he exchanged for immortality, he often changed his name over the years and continued to fight alongside Francis in many wars.

Although Francis never minded the great commanders' help in battle, there was still a great deal of tension between La Hire and Francis. Francis still to this day was somewhat angered that La Hire did not get to Jeanne in time, while La Hire was angered that Francis didn't give him warning that they was going to be captured for trying to aid Jeanne and was later imprisoned.

Jeanne happily embraced the military commander and began asking him questions on how he still remained and alive. He gave answers here and there, they began to become deep in conversation and Francis began to become increasingly jealous.

He shook his head back and forth trying to shake it off. 'Jeanne and I are together and we're happy. La Hire is just a friend to her, nothing I should get jealous over. Although then again, he always kept showing up right when I was about to confess...' Francis thought folding his arms over his chest.

Jeanne looks back at Francis before intertwining her arm with his and resting her head upon his shoulder, thus making him feel much better about the situation. La Hire smiles at Francis although it was a clearly false one. "Is it not good to have our beloved Saint Jeanne back?" He asks staring Francis in the eye, Francis wraps her arm around Jeanne's shoulder and puts on a smile.

"Oui, it is mon ami" He replies Jeanne looks to Francis and then back at La Hire not thinking about it. "Francis and I were about to head to lunch. Do you think we could catch up later La Hire?" she asks La Hire smiles at her words taking her hand into his, "Oui, mon cher Jeanne I would love to spend time with you later." he replies and with that he takes his leave leaving Jeanne with a secretly jealously Francis.

Francis grumbles in anger as he leads Jeanne away, Jeanne tilts her head in innocence "Mon Cher is something wrong?" She asks Francis looking up at him, Francis glances back and puts on a smile. "Of course not Ma Cherie" He exclaims leading her towards a beautiful looking restaurant, Jeanne's eyes fall on Alfred and Matthew who were sitting at a table outside of the restaurant, they smile happily looking towards them they wave at them.

"Jeanne how are you, eh?" Matthew says to her above a whisper, Jeanne smiles at him taking a seat beside Francis. "I am doing well Matthew and how are you?" she replies sweetly, Matthew smiles warmly he had always been fond of Miss Jeanne and found the stories about her fascinating. "I-I am doing well myself, thank you Miss Jeanne." he whispers, this pleases Jeanne and Francis lunch would be quite pleasurable.

A few hours later Jeanne found herself back at her cottage, pouring wine for her guest La Hire. She sits down on the couch beside the military commander, he smiles at her accepting the glass of wine as she takes a sip of apple juice. "It is really good seeing you again Ma Cher." he exclaims leaning back into the couch, Jeanne looks to him and nods in agreement.

La Hire looks up to the ceiling a small smile comes to his lips, he places down the wine glass and turns to Jeanne. He takes her hand into his and smiles at her sweetly. "Jeanne, Ma Cher do you remember the promise that I made. The promise I made on the rose I gave you so many years ago." he asks her, Jeanne's bluish green eyes grow slightly as his words trigger the memory of a promise...

Jeanne smiles sweetly as a small group of children come over to her and give her a bouquet of picked flowers, she smiles as she accepts the bouquet. They giggle and flee when the see the approaching commander Jeanne lifts her head and smiles at La Hire as he stops in front of her. She rises to her feet to be presented with a rose, her eyes grow at the sight of the beautiful flower before her.

She then accepts it before inhaling it's scent. La Hire smiles at her before brushing back her hair, slowly cupping the side of her face with his hand. "Jeanne, with this rose I make this vow to protect you and keep you safe from all harm. I also vow to make you happy as long as I may live, if the lord allows it I wish to ask your father for your hand after the war is over and your mission is complete." he says to her.

Jeanne's cyan eyes grow wide in disbelief; she steps back from La Hire and shakes her head slowly. "Forgive me Lord La Hire, but... I am afraid I cannot wed... My mission is clear by the lord, if he wishes for me to wed then he or the angels will send me a sign... But... I am afraid marriage is not in my future." she replies La Hire grimaces and curses under his breathe. Didn't she how much of an impact she was on him?  La Hire began to go to confession regularly because of her and he even renounced his bad language thereafter cursing only upon his enemy.

La Hire sighs heavily and looks at Jeanne with his hazel eyes "Jeanne if I may ask how do you feel about France?" He asks Jeanne looks at him now perplexed, she holds the rose along with the assorted bouquet. "I-I feel that Monsieur France is kind, caring, passionate..." She begins to say, La Hire shakes his head and his eyes narrow at her "No! Jeanne how do you feel towards him! Do you see him as a man or do you see him as a nation! Because you wanna know what I see my dear Jeanne, every time I see you and him together I see something that simply just cannot be!" He growls, her eyes look at him with fear and confusion.

"Humans cannot be in the hearts of a nation, you cannot have him even if you wanted to. It's a silent rule Jeanne! I am sorry! You can't love him... That's what I see Jeanne... I see it in your eyes, you are in love with France, you have sinned Jeanne. Maybe that is why the angels have not spoken to you in the past few days, you are seeing your nation in a way you shouldn't be." He growls Jeanne steps back wide eyed, tears come to her bluish green eyes. "N-Non... I-I... You... You are wrong mon ami! You're wrong!" She shouts at him before dropping the bouquet of flowers and fleeing from him. La Hire watches her flee, he now was left alone feeling anger and guilt.