Heartbeat

The next few day's were normal, for everyone else, I was still shaken up because as it turns out the man who I'd slammed into the ground lived, his skull was dismembered but he still tried to fight the villagers, his band of soilders had fled after the rest of the villagers started pounding them, a few men including Jeanne's father had died before the soilders made their retreat but had left the man behind thinking he was dead. Jeanne told me the man was alive for a few hours after waking up, one of his eyes looked horribly enlarged and he couldn't form a sentence, he had eventually dropped dead after screaming in agony for around twenty minutes.

I caused that…

I've been sticking closer to Jeanne recently, I haven't let her out of my sight for more then a few minutes, I followed her everywhere and when she asked me why I was blunt with my answer.

"I don't want to leave you alone, I'm afraid something will happen to you."

I guess she liked that answer because she never tried to push me away, she just let me stay with her. I knew my limits though, I wouldn't follow her to the bathroom or when she wanted to bathe but besides that I was always with Jeanne and I'd like to think she wanted me there. We talked a lot about her life, she had lots of siblings that lived all across france, one day I'd probably meet them, they might not like the idea of me following their little sister around but it's better for both of us this way.

I'd been practicing swinging a sword, I didn't have a teacher but Jeanne would always be there watching so I didn't feel lonely, just really embarrassed.

Around a week later while I was helping Jeanne's mother cook, which I wasn't the best at, Jeanne ran up and whispered in my ear telling me she had another vision.

"Tell me about it later okay Jeanne?"

"Okay!"

I loved how cheerful she was, even during church I couldn't help but stare at her the entire time, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen and just looking at her made my worries fade away.

I didn't have to eat but since I wasn't able to tell Jeanne about that I just ate so she didn't worry about my health. She looked cute even when she was eating, sometimes she'd catch me in a daze while watching her, she wouldn't get angry or creeped out, she'd just look me in the eyes and give me that same cute smile she always did and then carried on with whatever she was doing.

After we finished dinner, I followed Jeanne into her room, I'd been staying in there since Jeanne convinced her mother nothing would happen, her mom seemed to like me which was good. We slept in separate beds on opposite sides, her mother came up with the idea and neither of us resisted.

"What was your vision about Jeanne?"

"Well… Do you know of Saint Margaret and Saint Catherine?"

"Not really..?"

"Jeez you need to pay attention more in church! What's more important then the lord?"

"You."

"…"

That wasn't suppose to come out.

"No no, I didn't mean it like that I promise!"

"Oh… You didn't?"

Wait, she's sad? Is she sad because I told her I was kidding?

"Wait wait Jeanne, I was telling the truth, you're more important to me then anything!"

Her frown turned to a smile as she walked towards me and hugged me, I hugged her back.

"That makes me… happy…"

That's so fucking cute.

"I'm glad you feel that way Jeanne, now tell me more about your vision, something about the saints right?"

She pulled away and looked up at me.

"They told me to go to the king and tell him God sent me to aid France!"

"Isn't that dangerous? Why not send a letter?"

Jeanne looked at me nervously.

"Jack, I do not know how to write…"

"That's fine, I do! I can write a letter for you, can you write your name atleast?"

"Mhm! My mother taught me!"

"That's good then Jeanne, should we write the letter now?"

"I suppose so, I am sorry for not being able to write it myself, please forgive my shortcomings."

"Awh Jeanne, it's perfectly fine, aslong as I'm here then you won't have any shortcomings, I'll help you with anything I'm able to!"

"But why..?"

"I'm not entirely sure why, I just like being around you, and helping you makes me happy so I'll continue to help you for aslong as I can."

"How long would that be?"

"Hopefully until I die."

"O-oh! I- Uhm, thank you! I would uhm, like that a lot…"

"Then it's a promise, I promise to help you until the day I draw my last breath."

"No no no Jack! You can not be serious! Something like that is wasted on me!"

"I don't think so Jeanne."

"Y-you don't?"

"Not at all, I think you're well worth it."

"I see… Please excuse me for a moment."

Jeanne hurriedly walked out of the room with her hands on her face. She looked embarrassed, which was good, I really do like her, if it came to it I think I would really die for her, I mean during the raid I was seriously considering killing myself for her.

I think I love her.

Minutes passed and Jeanne walked in with something to write with and a piece of paper, she avoided eye contact which hopefully meant she was still flustered and not that she hated me.

"Sooo, what do you want me to write?"

"Tell the king that I am Jeanne D'arc, daughter of Jacques, I have recently received visions from Archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine telling me to save France and that I was chosen by god to lead them into victory!"

"What else?"

"What do you mean Jack?"

"Well why not tell him where you are, how to reach you, and do you have anything more… convincing?"

"Jack! Are you telling me I am a liar?"

"No no Jeanne, it's just the king might not believe you as easily as I had."

"If his majesty does not believe me then I will have no choice but to go there myself and prove to him I was chosen by god!"

"How?"

Jeanne looked at me with a confused and defeated look.

"I do not know yet…"

"I see, well we will deal with that when it happens. Can you sign your name at the bottom here Jeanne?"

"Of course!"

I handed her the feather, she tried to grab the middle to avoid my hand but I grabbed her hand with my other one, moved it down to the tip, and then softly grabbed her hand.

"J-Jack what are you doing?"

"I'm just helping you Jeanne."

"I-I am quite capable of signing my name!"

"I'm just making sure, wouldn't want the king to misidentify you."

That was a lie, I just wanted to hold her hand, it was soft, just as soft as the rest of her, her hand was shaking as I guided it over the paper, she was definitely nervous but she didn't tell me to stop which was good. After she signed her name I let go of her hand, she just held it on the table, I tilted my head down and saw her face more red then ever, I guess I went too far.

"Should I not have "helped" you?"

"N-no I appreciated the h-help… thank you."

Awh, she's so adorable.

I went out to find a messanger willing to pass on the letter to the king, it took some time but eventually by nightfall I was able to convince someone to pass along the note, I just hoped it would actually make it to the king in one piece.

By the time I returned home it was pitch black outside, Jeanne and her mother had probably been fast asleep so I slowly made my way inside and tip-toed my way into Jeanne's room.

"Why were you gone for so long?"

"Holy fuck you scared me Jeanne!"

"Stop using that vulgar language I told you!"

"Ahh, I'm sorry for that, and I was looking for someone to deliver the message."

"Promise?"

Why was she so concerned, waitttt.

"Jeanne what do you think I was doing?"

She looked down at the floor, put her hands behind her back, and twisted her body back and forth.

"Were you out with someone else?"

She's jealous. Holy shit, sorry Jeanne, she's jealous.

"Maybe I was?"

"What! You were!?"

"Jeanne I'm messing with you."

"That's called lying! Why would you lie to me!"

"Jeanne, I'm sorry, I thought it would be funny."

"Well it isn't!"

"Were you jealous?"

"Yes!!!"

That was way too straightforward of her.

After saying that Jeanne's face started turning pink, she looked to the side and started pouting while waiting for me to do something.

"How can I make it up to you Jeanne?"

She pointed at my bed…

I looked back at her, she was staring into my soul, I guess she really did want to sleep in my bed.

"With me..?"

"YES WITH YOU!"

"Okay okay, calm down."

I made my way over and crawled into my bed as Jeanne shyly followed behind me.

"I want you to hold me like the day after the raid…"

I just nodded. She crawled into bed besides me, this time she had a nervous look on her eyes, I pulled her closer to me, while wrapping my arms around her I could feel her chest nuzzling closer to mine, I could feel her breasts against me.

"Is this fine Jeanne?"

"M-mhm…"

It was silent, Jeanne said nothing as she clung to my chest, I could feel her heart beating, listening to her heart was soothing, I was nervous as hell but she was too. We both knew nothing more then this was going to happen tonight but this was more then enough to make me the happiest guy in the world.

"Do you want to stay like this the entire night?"

"Yes please…"

"What if your mother sees this?"

"Then I hope she will forgive me for disobeying her…"

"I can hear your heart beating."

Jeanne lifted her head up and looked at me with an embarrassed expression.

"Don't say things like that Jack!"

"Sorry."

"I can hear yours too…"

"Can we do this every night Jeanne?"

"W-what!?"

"I want to be this close to you every night Jeanne, I want to feel your heart beating besides mine."

"I-I know what you meant dummy! If you want to then I guess we can keep doing this…"

"Do you not want to?"

I already know the answer to that question.

"No! I do want to! I like being this close to you too…"

"Promise me you'll stay with me Jeanne."

"What do you mean?"

"No matter what happens, promise me you'll always trust me over anyone else."

"I uhm, I promsie to trust you no matter what!"

"Thank you Jeanne, goodnight."

She didn't say anything, I think she was too embarrassed to say anything, truthfully I was too

My mind slowly drifted to sleep with her in my arms, I was happy she wanted this because I wanted it too, I won't ever let her get hurt, I'll protect this girl with everything I have, that's my purpose in life now.

I won't let anyone or anything keep her away from me.