Killian rubbed at his stubble and grumbled quietly to himself 15 minutes after the phonecall. His backside was cold from waiting on her doorstep like some kind of puppy dog.
He stood and adjusted his plaid shirt and lifted a hand to knock on the door. Before he could, the door swung open and Tessa stood there with a beaming smile on her face. His eyes glanced over her and he was momentarily taken aback, his breath hitching as he looked over her.
A deep burgundy dress that hugged her torso and flowed freely down her thighs until it reached her knees made her pale skin seem creamy and softer than usual. Her deep midnight hair cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves and her light makeup made her emerald eyes look beguiling and endless, like the universe had taken a vacation in them.
"You okay there?" Her voice was mocking concern and a small, amused smile lifted the corners of her plush lips. The way he was looking - no, gawking at her made her heart flutter in her chest.
After clearing his throat, he nodded with a boyish grin forming on his lips. "Yes. You just... You're stunning, Tessa."
His words made her smile pull into an uncontrollable grin.
"So...Where are we headed?" She questioned after a long, not particularly awkward silence and his head perked up as he remembered he was taking her somewhere... Special.
He swooped to lift a blanket and picnic basket into his arm that Tessa didn't notice before and took her arm in his own.
As they walked, she was thankful she's worn simple flats instead of heels. From the signs along the road they were heading all pointed to the Toll Bridge.
Once they had arrived, he helped her down the steep, loose rocks and laid the blanket down on a patch of grass at the edge of the forest.
They sat and talked for hours, all day in fact, and ate the variety of food Killian had bought with him.
Tessa was so engrossed with conversation that she hadn't even realised night falling until she sipped on her champagne. "My gosh, the day has gone by so fast." A soft laugh escaped her and he returned it with a chuckle of his own, his eyes glinting in the moonlight.
"Good thing I bought these."
Her eyebrows furrowed curiously as he slid a hand into the picnic basket, her expression softening as she saw a few thick candles in his hands.
He pushed the bottoms of the candles into the earth next to them and struck the head of a match against the side of the box, proceeding to light each of the 5 candles.
She watched him intently and he glanced up at her with hooded eyes as she watched the candlelight flicker.
Never had Killian Jones seen anything more beautiful in his entire life than he had at this moment. He always though his beloved was stunning, more so than any other woman, but right now with the soft candlelight highlighting her features with a soft glow in the dim night, was the time when he saw her true beauty.
Tessa felt almost dazed as she looked back up at Killian, a giggle escaping her as she saw his intense stare on her, his mouth gaping only slightly.
Using a single finger to tip his chin up so his mouth closed, she spoke in a quiet voice. "You're catching flies with your mouth open like that, Killian."
"Forgive me, dear Tris. I was just too taken aback by your sheer beauty."
She flicked her glance to the floor as she nervously played with her hands, suddenly feeling shy from his words, though the butterflies were fluttering wildly in her stomach and her heart was pounding against her ribs.
He blinked a moment before lifting a tentative hand to her chin, lifting it so her eyes met his as he spoke in an almost bewildered tone. "Why do you hide yourself? Do you not think yourself beautiful?" She shook her head. "Well you are. You are the most beautiful thing in this entire world, and all other worlds out there, dearest Tris. To me, you are perfection in human form."
Her eyes became moist with tears at how lovely his words were. Killian's lips lifted into a small smile as he felt his own heart racing.
He leaned in slowly, tongue darting out over her lips to wet them as he did so. She sensed his intent and spoke before his lips reached hers, internally scolding herself for ruining the moment. "Will you tell me a story?"
Tristessa expected him to be angry, but he simply sat back, a curious smile on his lips. "A story?"
"Yes. I'm tired." A sheepish smile formed on her lips and he cleared the plates away into the basket, opening his arms and gesturing for her to go between them as he lay on the blanket. She did so, resting her head on his shoulder and looking up at the stars as his fingers brushed the bare skin of her arms.
With his free hand, Killian scratched his beard in thought before one story popped into his head. Worth a try.
"Once upon a time," He said, voice low and soft as the candles warmed their chilled skin and memories flooded his mind. "There was a princess. Princess Astrid, her name was. She was the fairest woman in all the kingdoms. Wise, gracious and mature for her age. She was travelling home on her father's ship and visiting one of the nearby kingdoms when her ship was raided by pirates. The pirate captain was handsome and devilish and-"
"What was his name?" She questioned and he had to think for a moment.
"Cole. His name was Captain Cole Ashwater. He was the fiercest pirate in all the kingdoms and had a reputation for it. When he came across the ship, he decided to keep the handsome princess, locking her up in the ship cells for a week before he finally bought her to his cabin for dinner.
"He had dark intentions, naturally, but those changed the moment she arrived in his chambers. He had expected her to be weak and broken, like most princesses, but she was not. She was strong as she entered his chambers. She didn't speak to him at first, but he knew she was stronger than any other woman he had been around. He found her presence... Calming, I guess."
"I think I'd quite like this princess." Tessa giggled.
"Oh, I don't doubt that one bit." He laughed and continued. "The next day he took her out on deck and showed her the dolphins jumping out of the water next to the ship. She was so entranced by it, as was he by how beautiful she looked as she stared down at the dolphins. That day, that one single day had him falling for her.
"He invited her to dinner that night, but as they were talking and flirting he realised something. He was falling deeply in love with her already, but what about her family? The pirate was an orphan, his parents and sister having died in a fire when he was 10 years old; but she... She had a father who loved her.
"He sent her home the next day. He tried to stay away, he really did but the king... The king sent one of his men for him a few months later, begging Cole to go to the palace and make his daughter happy at long last."
"The king knew?" Tessa asked curiously, yawning out as she did so. His dazed voice made her feel sleepy.
"Yes, he knew. He was no fool that man." Killian laughed weakly.
"What happened next?"
"He went for her, of course. Astrid was so shocked to see him, and he her. She was so beautiful that night it took his breath away. It was a magnificent reunion. They kissed and laughed and even cried a little. The next morning they were strolling through the gardens, and the princess asked her to stay with him at the palace, to live with him and marry him."
"Did he say yes?" Tessa asked, rolling onto her side and resting her head on his chest, listening to the gentle thrum of his heartbeat as she listened intently to the story.
"No." Killian replied, voice small as his eyebrows knitted together at the memory, angry at himself for ever saying no as his eyes fixated on the starry skies above. "In his own foolishness, he refused. Refused to leave his ship."
"Choosing the ship over his true love? Ugh. Fool."
Killian chuckled in response but it was tinged with sadness. "You know, it wouldn't have worked anyway. Cole's beloved princess was cursed. The evil queen cursed her mother but it passed onto her daughter. Astrid wasn't allowed to be with the one she was destined to be with. She'd die if she did, and Cole? Cole was her destiny."
Tessa gasped at that and felt a tear spring to her eye. "That's so sad. Forbidden love. Those poor people." Her eyelids felt heavy now.
His own eyes became moist and because her eyes were averted, he allowed a single tear to roll down his temple as he lay on his back. The memories hurt so much, but she had to hear them. Perhaps it might help, he wondered. "He made a promise to himself. A promise that he'd get her back."
"Did he? Get her back, I mean." She questioned, voice sleepy.
"That remains to be seen." He chuckled out but glanced down at her as he heard gentle snoring. Tessa had fallen asleep to the sound of his soft, almost melodic voice as he spoke. A smile curved his lips before he lightly brushed them to the warm skin of her forehead.
"I will get you back. I promise you, my beloved Astrid."
