*****It's been too long! Hello all! I am recovering from a hard family loss, but determined to finish this fic out! Have patience with me please!*****
***Hello fans and readers! I have good news! Starting with chapter 1 and going alllll the way to chapter 22, I'M EDITING AND UPDATING ALL THE CHAPTERS! ALL OF IT! CONTENT WILL BE DIFFERENT (and hopefully better!)!
Ciel gave Lizzie a leg up into the saddle and made sure she was settled before vaulting into his own. He'd forgotten how far off the ground he was on top of Blitz. The stallion pawed the ground, impatient to get going. "I'm gonna let Blitz out to run, can you and Lily keep up?" He teased. The mare had some speed, but she was no match for the powerful stallion underneath him. Lizzie just laughed and called, "You're on!" She kicked the mare in the side and threw the reins forward, giving the mare her head to run. A grin split Ciel's face as he urged Blitz after her. The stallion whinnied his happiness and took off like a bullet. The only reason Ciel stayed on his back was because he was expecting it and squeezed tight with his knees.
Even with their head start, Blitz and Ciel quickly caught up to Elizabeth and Lily. They smiled at each other and laughed at the adrenaline pumping through their veins. Both of them were hunched over the necks of their horses, but Ciel kept a tight hold on Blitz's reins because the stallion needed a firm hand, whereas Lizzie had loosely looped Lily's reins over the saddle horn and was guiding her with her grip on Lily's long mane. Ciel let the horses run for a bit longer, neck and neck, before slowing Blitz to a trot. Lizzie followed suit, laughing with the biggest smile on her face. It's been too long since we've gone riding, he thought. I'll have to remember to do this more often with her.
They stopped their horses beside a stream to let them drink and catch their breaths. Ciel looked around and realized they had let the horses run a lot farther than he had intended. "Ciel, where are we going?" The innocent question held so much anticipation that Ciel worried for a second that she had guessed his plan. A quick glance at her face revealed that she had no clue, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Sebastian and I found a spot just ahead that I've been wanting to show you." He answered easily. "Let's go then!"
Her genuine enthusiasm made Ciel smile and nudge Blitz onward. They walked the horses the rest of the way, side by side, hand in hand. A few moments later, they broke free of the trees and strode into a clearing. Elizabeth gasped at the sight that lay before them. The clearing was roughly circular, surrounded by towering, ancient trees, and filled with many different types of colorful wildflowers. The stream they had stopped the horses at before wound in through the trees and led to a small waterfall that poured into a medium-sized lake. Ciel had been drawn to the natural beauty of the place as soon as he laid eyes on it, and ever since he had found it he had wanted to share it with Elizabeth. Now they were here.
Elizabeth just stared, awe-struck and entranced. "It's simply magical, Ciel." She turned to him, just glowing with her own natural beauty. "I love it. Thank you for bringing me here." He smiled and dismounted, dropping Blitz's reins to the ground. Lizzie reached down to put her hands on his shoulders and he grabbed her waist in his hands, helping her dismount like the proper gentleman he was. Together they took the saddles and tack off the horses, leaving it in a heap on the grass. Both horses shook themselves, relieved of the weight. Lizzie and Ciel left the bridles on and clipped a rope onto Lily's, tying the other end to Blitz's. The two nuzzled each other and walked a short distance away to eat the lush grass.
Ciel went to grab the picnic basket from the heap and took a large blanket out of the top. After choosing a spot free of flowers and close to the lake, they spread the blanket and settled in. Lizzie played hostess and served their food. They spent the next hour eating, talking, and laughing. It was one of the best days of Ciel's life, and the best part had yet to come.
When they had finished with dessert, Ciel helped Lizzie pack the basket and then he took it back to the pile so it wouldn't be in the way. Elizabeth went to stand at the edge of the lake, and Ciel recognized the opportunity. He walked up behind her and took a knee, waiting breathlessly for her to turn. The small box was in his hand, the sun glinting off the ring, the setting perfect. Elizabeth took a deep breath of the clear air and turned around.
Her eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped in shock. The last thing she was expecting was her Ciel, down on one knee in front of her. "Lizzie," he began. "You know I love you more than life itself. I want nothing more than to marry you and have children with you and grow old with you by my side. I want the first thing I see when I wake up to be your beautiful face, and I want it to be the last thing I see before I fall asleep. I need you in my life, Lizzie. Will you marry me?"
Tears of pure joy cascaded down her cheeks and she couldn't stop smiling. She giggled through her tears and nodded. "Yes, Ciel. Yes, I'll marry you!" He grinned and reached for her left hand. She gladly gave it to him and watched him slide the ring onto her finger, right where she had always envisioned it. It was a three-banded, silver ring. The top band had an emerald surrounded by small diamonds, the middle band had a large diamond, and the bottom band had blue diamonds interspersed with white diamonds. Untraditional, but so meaningful to the both of them that Elizabeth's heart swelled to the point of bursting.
Ciel stood and Elizabeth launched herself into his arms. Just like that morning, Ciel lifted her and spun her around. He could not remember a happier time in his life. When he set her back down, he could do little more than gaze into her eyes. Her eyes met his, and then flashed to his lips before darting back up to his eyes, a blush spreading across her cheeks. Ciel took advantage of the hint and kissed her, cupping the back of her head. Elizabeth channeled all of her love into that kiss, and was overwhelmed when it was wholeheartedly returned.
Soon, Elizabeth felt weak-kneed from the sensations zipping through her body. She broke the kiss and took Ciel's hand, leading him back to the blanket. Together they laid down, cuddling like the lovebirds they are. They lay that way for a few minutes before Ciel spoke up. "Thank you for giving me a reason to smile again, Lizzie," he whispered near her ear. Her heart threatened to burst and she propped herself up on an elbow to look down at his face. "Thank you for loving me back," she said. Ciel reached up and brought her face down to his, pausing just before their lips met. "I will always love you," he said before kissing her so passionately it made her toes curl.
Her senses were so heightened, yet she was only vaguely aware of Ciel lowering her to the blanket and leaning down over her, never breaking the kiss. She was aware of his hand traveling down her side to rest on her hip. Her flesh seemed to sizzle wherever he touched her. He broke the kiss and they were both breathing raggedly, each extremely affected by the other's touch. "Ciel," she whispered as his mouth moved to her neck. Her back arched involuntarily and she whimpered against the sensations he evoked. Ciel released a ragged breath and drew back. He looked deep into her desire-filled eyes and made a decision. "Lizzie, I have to stop. If I don't..." He let his sentence trail off and Lizzie's cheeks flushed. "But," he said in a husky voice, "If you really want me to continue, then I'll have you tonight." Lizzie searched his eyes for a breathless moment and then nodded. "Please, Ciel."
Ciel kissed her forehead and smiled at her. "Alright," he said gently. He glanced at his pocket watch and sighed. "It's time to head back, Lizzie." She sighed, not wanting to leave this magical place, but she let Ciel help her to her feet. Then a thought struck her and she looked around the clearing, searching for their horses. He noticed her worried search and smiled before stepping away from her and letting loose a piercing whistle. A few seconds later they heard hoofbeats and the stallion appeared, pulling the mare along with him. Lizzie laughed and walked over to the mountain of tack they had left in the grass. Ciel threw Lily's saddle on and Lizzie left the bridle on but unclipped the rope and stored all the other tack in the saddlebags. She preferred to ride bareback, but couldn't just leave the saddle in the clearing. Ciel took a little bit longer saddling Blitz with full tack, but soon enough they were trotting out of the clearing and back towards the manor.