Authors Notes: This is a little Suspian one-shot I wrote quite awhile ago. I originally wasn't happy with the end result, so I didn't publish it, but re-reading it this afternoon convinced me, even if it isn't the best, that it is okay. Please enjoy, The Garden Audience
The Garden Audience
"So much as my heart has desired to tell you all these things, I sum them up in one small request. Will you….will you…" He trailed off, flushing a deep red and righting himself from an awkward and painful kneeled position. Another failed attempted to propose to the rose bush. Might it have been he was being too poetic? Or was it that the blossoms stared back in an unlifeless way, without any expression or answer?
He cleared his throat, and again began to pace up and down the garden walk, his boots stamping a steady rhythm. Every word he formed while thinking was soon lost into a babble of jumbled sentences. It seemed to be no use!
As a king, he thought much higher of himself when it came to the ability to think up fancy words and speeches. He could recall on several occasions when he had been asked to address a large crowd. Though nervous and shaken, somehow the words had come like a steady flowing river. 'Almost poetic!' the people had praised, and from then on he strived for perfection in speech and written works.
But this time, he could not even begin to put together something he thought could grace the ears of Queen Susan. All he could do was try and try, and pretend the flowers were his audience…..were his love. But perhaps that was the reason he broke down every time. The idiotic thought of this collection of colorful petals being his true love was funny, and quite embarrassing.
He sighed, in a forlorn way, and walked in a circle around a stand of sunflowers. Tall and majestic things, proud, beautiful…he took a breath and burst out "And I, King Caspian the tenth, from bottom of my heart and soul, ask you to become my…" he again couldn't finish it. From behind him he thought he heard a bird snicker, and a host of other critters begin to chuckle behind his back. Even the garden was mocking this childish pretend show. He straightened his shoulders and strode over to a bench, thrusting himself down and placing his head in his hands. No good. Who was he fooling?
Plucking off a white rose from a near by plant, he stroked it's soft petals. Doing this soothed him, and half refreshed his mind. Biting his lip, he swallowed "Dearest, though I can find no words to tell you this how you should hear, I ask you to marry me" he let his head fall as he finally whispered out the last words. Silence. No laughing in his head. No deep inside nagging. Nothing for a moment…..then a soft joyful cry from behind him.
He turned, and to his great surprise saw Susan, standing with her hands over her mouth and drops of water glistening on her cheeks. His eyes grew large and his cheeks flamed up. Now you've done it! She heard! And that was terrible! He felt like hiding his face and leaving her presence, but something made him stay.
She slowly approached, noticing how simply ashamed he looked. She smiled, sweetly, tears of joy running down her face. She came to him, sat on the bench beside him, and took his hands. "Oh Caspian. That was beautiful. I…..I…..I accept your proposal. Yes" She leaned forward and pressed her lips into his, wiping that foolish look from his face. For a minute he didn't realized what she had said, nor that she was kissing him. Then he came to reality and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.
Ending Notes: What did you think! Please REVIEW! I'll write some more one shots if you do! :P
