The line snapped. The shout ripping from her throat as Annie felt herself start to lean backward. Eyes widening a fraction in terror at the thought of dropping in the rocky sea below. Nathan's hand whipped out, one holding firmly to his line as he latched on to her wrist.
Annie jerked, snapping her feet forward to slam into the rock, before she could collide with it. "You alright?" Nate's voice held a good level of concern, there would be a bruise on her wrist later. A small price to pay when the alternative was a hundred foot drop.
She looked up at him, taking in his own frightened eyes, he'd been so nervous he forgot to check their lines. The rope must have been frayed, rubbed the wrong way on the rocks after too much use. His left arm shook slightly. Wanting to quell his fear she responded quickly, "Yeah, I'm okay."
He nodded, "Climb up." Not needing to be told twice she monkeyed her way onto his back arms around his neck, and legs around his waist. From there she started the arduous process of twisting so she was in front of him. It was a safer way to climb with her sandwiched in between him and the rock face.
At the provocative position Nate grinned, the humor making his eyes sparkle as she rolled her own. "Come on hero, before your arms get tired."
At this he began to climb, but still managed a snarky response back. "I could do this all day." They both knew that wasn't true, but they both smiled at each other anyway. The rest of the two or so minutes spent climbing were done in silence, a bead of sweat ran down his neck as he hoisted them up onto the cliff side.
"I hope you don't bring all the girls up here." She teased looking out toward the ocean. The view was remarkable, the piercing midday sun made the waves far below sparkle like a thousand sapphires. They stood on a plateau, Annie watching the waves while he gathered up his rope. Luckily for him she had a spare in her backpack.
There was grass at the top, thick jungle grass that wrapped up her black boots and hiking pants. It was a perfect day to be out, one or two clouds a soft 70 degrees. It really was the kind of spot you'd want to experience with someone else. She turned smiling at Nathan. He paused taking in the look before she got to see his dimples when he started returning the look.
"You know it should be a crime to be so pretty." He reached out placing a hand on her waist. Annie just smiled wider reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. Nate bent slightly so she could do it, before their lips met. It was a familiar kiss, the kind they'd had many times before, but never stopped the warm feeling in her stomach.
He still smelled slightly of his cologne, the bitter musky smell he insisted on wearing since he was a teenager. They pulled back before looking down at their target. "Woowee, isn't she a beauty." Tucked below barely visible from anywhere but up high was a small stone village, old no longer occupied for at least two centuries. It had taken a little bit of luck to find the right place, but when he'd see it Nathan knew. The look of wonder that spread on her face let him know he had made the right call. "My amore." He spoke sarcastically as he spread his arm out.
It was everything Nathan had been looking for, down to the old clay roofing and soft grey brickwork. Annie smiled wide making her way toward the old stone stairway, now worn down to barely recognizable stubs. She was careful as she went holding her hands out to balance. Nate followed behind smiling slightly at the action. Once they reached the village she instantly went in the first building, looking around in disappointment when it was empty.
He reached out, taking her hand and leading her around to see a general store that still had remnants of the civilization that had lived here before. There were several old bottles, nails, horseshoes, and jars long since dried. Annie looked at everything in wonder examining the hammer marks on the nail, reminding him for the millionth time why he fell in love with her.
No one else would be able to identify the age of a nail by hammer marks alone, not with the same level of excitement and wonder. He was making the right choice, that was a matter of fact. Nate had a bad track record with women, always picking people too simple or too dangerous to really create a proper connection with. Annie was a beautiful mixture of loving woman and adventurous spirit.
She was a sharp shot sniper, able to handle a shotgun with ease; she was also an avid botanist and could fix all the holes in his clothes. He let her lead going from building to building with that same endless look of wonder on her face, it was nice to stop being shot at for a second. To look for treasure without a time limit like a guillotine.
They'd made their way through the city, tunneling through the maze of structures until they came to Annie's favorite. She looked up, neck craning to see the top, a temple. It was carved into the side of a hill, huge rock pillars worn with time but still recognizable. The sunlight flit perfectly through the valley casting the whole area in a blinding everlasting light. She sucked in a breath turning to look at Nate, wanting to see the way he was examining the structure or sketching it in his notebook.
Instead she found him staring at her, that wonder she felt directed toward her as if she were more precious than all the history in the world. It wasn't often that Nathan could still make her blush like she was a young girl. Yet she felt the warmth in her cheeks that stated he was doing just that. At the color he only seemed to soften further reaching out to take her hand to walk forward.
Inside the temple were large open beams of light carved up onto the hill to circulate it. A bundle of birds spooked as they approached taking flight and disappearing up the holes with practiced ease. There were statues carved into the stone all around them with a large fountain at the center, above another cutout to allow rain to flow down into the fountain, it even seemed to be shaped to encourage the rainfall.
Moss had begun to cover the ground with just the right amount of light and heat to thrive in the environment. It made their steps nearly soundless as they walked further into the space. It was like standing on thick fluffy carpet. Annie glanced at him, the smile growing wider by the moment, walking forward to examine the fountain with glee. It was for the most part clean, and he'd insisted it be when he hauled a bunch of water up the opposite direction to make it. He'd scrubbed the sides. But left enough that it looked somewhat natural without the smell.
Reaching for his bag he dropped it on the ground, shirt following, then boots and socks, lastly his jeans. She watched him slightly amused before following suit. He slipped inside the fountain, feeling the warm water against his skin. The kind of serenity he felt as she slid in beside him, wearing nothing but underwear had Nathan staring past the point of decency. The water can up around her mid-torso if she was sitting straight up. Instead the large fountain was massive enough she could spread her whole body out underneath the sun and float.
He watched the ease in which she floated skin glistening, hair growing damp as she moved in the water. "Beautiful." At this a slight smile spread across her rosy cheeks, but eyes remained closed. It felt good to have a chance to wipe the sweat off from the climb up, and he was glad that Sully was waiting patiently a little ways away to pick them up and fly them back.
When he'd told the old man, Sully had been far more supportive than Nate had originally expected, just giving him a clap on the back and an 'about goddamn time'. Sully had liked Annie since they'd first met, but not in his usual sexualized fashion, more gentle with her than other women.
They stayed in the water for a little while longer, the sun going lazily across the sky. Warming the water further, while a gentle wind that glowed past complimented it perfectly. They were slow to get out sitting on the stone ledge in silence back to back as they air dried off.
"How's you find all of this?" She whispered barely wanting to break the natural sounds around them.
The woman could feel Nathan shrug, "Friend told me about it. I knew you'd like it." They stood, dressing back into their clothing. Nate held out his hand as they walked forward through the old arch that led further into the hill. Glad to be fully redressed the chill became obvious due to the stone and lack of sunlight.
They walked in semi darkness before exiting into an entirely enclosed field. Perfectly hidden from everyone a variety of wildflowers had reclaimed the section. It wasn't a massive field perhaps the size of a four car garage or a tennis court. The sun was bright, but very little of the breeze from before bothered the fields. Annie stared in amazement at the miniature aqueduct around it, a huge stone trench built to catch the runoff and push it off into another tiny tunnel for water.
With the system there was very little chance that the space would flood or any flowers would be damaged, it was in fact nature's perfect greenhouse. In the center of the circular field there was another statue, this one more worn than some of the others, possibly a woman but it had been eroded so much it was hard to identify. At the feet there was another basin, this one carved out of a different more resilient stone.
It hadn't weathered nearly as much, she approached barely remembering Nathan behind her as she walked not entirely of her own volition to look inside. Sitting a lone object in the large offering bowl, was one diamond ring. She reached forward picking it up and turned to ask Nathan about it when she had to look down.
There on one knee holding back that same charming smile, as always, his hands holding one of the plucked wildflowers, the kind he loved to press in his notebooks. "Annie, will you marry me?" He didn't bother to pepper in more words, not needing to flourish or convince her that this was what she wanted. As he always did Nathan was direct, wanting what he wanted and damning anyone who tried to take it from him. The Drake family curse, one she was now getting the option to take on and be a part of.
She paused feeling the tears begin to flood her vision, before answering in a soft voice. "Yes." As soon as the confirmation left her lips he was laughing, great bouts of relieved laughter as he jumped up throwing his arms around her waist and spinning her in circles. Annie couldn't help, but join in twirling among the wildflowers.
In the beginning she hadn't expected to end up Nate's wife, but she had a feeling Sully would be over thrilled, always pushing Nathan down a calmer path than the mustachioed man had chosen. A thousand adventures lied ahead of them, walking down an aisle was just one of the many they would share together.