For a while silence descended on the pair as they continued walking. Eventually however, they both fell back into companionable conversation. James found himself amazed by how knowledgeable Synnnove was on topics from politics to literature, she truly was an outstanding you woman. She was just the kind of woman James could imagine marrying one day. James shook his head to banish those thoughts and subtly tightened his grip on Synnove's arm. They continued onwards until James stopped abruptly, "do you hear that?" James asked.
Synnove tilted her head in the same manner, "Yes, it sounds like the ocean."
"Impossible surely and yet that is what I hear also."
"Let's go then!" Synnove began running towards the noise dragging James along beside her.
Synnove tripped on the length of her dress and tumbled down the embankment once again dragging James along with her. When they came to a stop at the bottom of the hill James was lying precariously on top of Synnove. His head was resting on her chest and one of his legs was tangled in between hers. He could feel the heat and the curves of her body beneath him and he knew he had to move before something happened.
"Well hello there Admiral James, when I said earlier that there was no need for propriety I didn't exactly mean this," Synnove said throwing her head back and laughing.
James threw himself off of Synnove and turned away to hide his flushing face. He closed his eyes in an attempt to calm himself down but he instantly missed the warmth of her body against his. Once again James found himself shaking away intrusive and altogether improper thoughts of Synnove and her warm body. When he opened his eyes again he found Synnove sitting in front of him looking at him with concern in her ocean coloured eyes.
"Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"
"I'm quite fine Miss Synnove, just a tad dizzy is all."
Synnove launched herself into James' arms and squeezed him tight, "I'm glad," she said with a pause and she wriggled around to sit beside James, "look James – it's the ocean!"
He didn't know how he could have missed such a welcoming sight. In all of the confusion he had missed the fact that he was sitting with Synnove on the edge of a vast ocean. His jaw dropped as his eyes settled on a conveniently placed small rowboat with four oars.
"How convenient," James said dryly pointing towards his discovery.
Synnove pulled herself off the ground and made her way over to the rowboat. She bent down to pick up two of the oars. She threw them both at James, and much to her relief neither of them hit him despite her rather atrocious aiming.
"Let's get rowing shall we?"
"And where exactly do you suggest we row to? That ocean looks about as never ending as the plain we just came from."
"My point exactly, we've come this far and found something new so we may as well continue onwards. Who knows what we will find. I bet you will feel much more at home on the open sea rather than on land and so will I."
"Best get rowing then Miss Synnove."
