Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters and I certainly do not make any economic benefit out of them.
Of Light and Love and Sea Breeze
The coast of Scarborough was slowly, very slowly closing its eyes against all in it, like a child about to fall asleep, still drifting between the lands of sleep and awake. Light and sea breeze in a lullaby as the late afternoon stretched into evening.
The breeze of the sea ruffled her skirts and freed wisps of hair from the tight confines of her hairstyle. Elsie closed her eyes against the picturesque view before her, feeling the gentle warmth of the setting sun upon her face, feeling the glow of the sunlight light up her face and form shadows at the same time. The wind gradually became stronger, slowly, steadily. The smell of sea air and calls of sea birds along with the sound of crashing waves made her feel euphoric. Everything, absolutely everything felt like a dream. Except, it wasn't. It was a real as the wind of her face, the pulse beneath her skin. As real as the heart that beat so full of all of life and love, beneath her ribs.
It was real that she that she was in Scarborough with the sun upon her face and the sea breeze in her hair. It was real that yesterday she had married the only man whom she had truly loved. It was real that they were husband and wife in every meaning of the words. Every facet in the institution of marriage was true between them. He had loved her and she him in the dim light of their room. Banished all fears in the light of the desire that shone in his eyes as he had gazed at her so lovingly and in the emotion with which he pronounced endearments in exclamations, whispers and gasps. The way he spoke her name like a wish, an endearment, caressing each syllable in his smooth baritone timbre.
Charles watched her, standing a few steps behind her. He was mesmerized. But then, she always mesmerized him. Still, this time it was different. Different because he could freely gaze at her, freely admire her, freely appreciate the woman he fell in love with, the woman he loves. He watched intently as the wind made the silk of her blouse clung to her curves as she stood at the edge of the shore, barely away from the reach of the crashing waves. With her eyes closed as she revelled in the feeling, he was free to watch her, admire her.
It was beautiful, the effect that this newly found freedom had on her. Her coat flung over her forearm, her hat in her hand, she was like a picture to him. A painting he had long craved to see, with a yearning as strong as a medieval knight would have to set eyes upon the Holy Land. The same yearning, a similar sacredness about the promise they made to each other before God and men.
Seeing her this free, away from the confines of a job that pushed them apart yet pulled them closer at the same time. Away from the unforgiving black uniforms and strict routine, busy days and duties. He felt he could almost cry. He had almost cried when she accepted him, almost. He kept his tears at bay with much more effort than he had ever needed, even when he had served some of the grandest men in all of England. But then, that was love wasn't it?
He was overwhelmed with desire and affection when he got to know her doubts and insecurities of whether she would be good enough for him. How could she even doubt it, he had often wondered. She was everything, absolutely everything that he had ever wanted and more. To him, she was beyond beautiful. And of course he knew the effort that he had to take to not let his emotions show, to not let her or the world see how much he wanted her. But perhaps… perhaps it was his reticence, the way he held back from telling her how much she meant to him put the doubts in her mind in the first place… If he had, he hated himself for it. For, she was a woman who deserved to be showered in praise and appreciation, to be told how wonderful she is. Now, he could tell her so without any restrictions to prevent them. And he promised himself that he would do so, every waking minute of every day that he could.
In his mind her voice was in constant echo. Every little word, every bit of laughter, every sigh and gasp of pleasure. The way his name rolled off her lips, her delicious accent caressing it, gliding over the sounds.
Her head tipped back as she basked in the light of the late afternoon. His eyes traced over every outline of hers, every curve, every dip and rise as he remembered the night they shared before. Yesterday. The night they bared both body and soul to each other, learning the most intimate details of one another. Worshipping each other committing to memory. Getting as close as two people can… Learning that their love runs deep than their fears and insecurities. And every other moment afterwards when they had physically affirmed their love for each other. The intimate dance of their emotions, souls through their bodies, in all its beauty, its sacredness.
She opened her eyes, slowly, ever so gently and he watched, observed, admired. The way they fluttered to life against the sun and got used to the soft evening light that suddenly seemed so harsh. The way the glorious light tip toed across her eye lashes and glided over her auburn tresses. The way her free strands of hair got caught in the sea breeze and struggled against it. The way the new wedding ring caught a ray of sunshine and shone so brilliantly against the alabaster skin of her ring finger. Light and sea breeze wove around her a magical aura that drew his heart towards her, like a moth would to a flame, like a child would to a beautiful present, a butterfly would to a glorious flower. Enchanted, entranced.
Elsie looked behind at Charles over her shoulder and smiled.
That smile that always captivated not just his heart but even his mind and soul. That smile that illuminated her as affection radiated out of her bright blue eyes, piercing his own and healing him. That smile that would greet him in the early hours of the morning when his eyes fluttered awake, for the rest of his life. The same smile that would wish him a good night's sleep. The same smile that would bless his vision when she soared the heights of pleasure with him, sailing upon the gossamer wings of a shared love.
That smile, that always made him feel that he was the happiest and luckiest of men.
THE END.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this little fan fic and I'd be grateful if you could let me know in the reviews your thoughts on this. Hope you are all doing well and are safe. Hope you enjoyed this! See you soon! And in the meantime, stay safe!