A Ring of Silver
By DreamwebSpinner
Disclaimer: It's not my box, but I can't resist the feel of the sand between my toes. -_-
Author's Note: I know that blacksmiths don't really work with silver, but hey, it's my story, even if it isn't my sandbox. R&R or take a long walk off a short plank.
Delicate vines of silver curled themselves around the blood-red stone, surrounding and securing it into the ring. Will stepped away from the worktable, his complete focus on the little circlet. His eyes traced over the leaves, the branches…this was his masterpiece, the greatest work he would ever accomplish with metal. A slight tremor ran through him as he noticed a dent – could his devotion to the project have failed? – but it was only a trick of the light, a shadow thrown by the wavering candle as it burned the last inch of it's wick.
He sighed; it was perfect. A perfect ring for a perfect woman. His woman. Will's gaze left the silver band and traveled up, through the open window, seeking the stately house that held his beloved. No flickering lights burned in the rooms of the mansion, and Will's mind crafted an image of what must be going on inside. His darling, his Elizabeth, would be asleep by now; the gleaming moon was high in its celestial path. The heavy covers of her bed were thrown back somewhat, and Will let his imagination travel along the curve of her arm, tracing the statuesque flow of her hand as it rested on the coverlet. Soon that hand would hold his ring upon its finger; he himself would place it there.
Theo, a mild-tempered donkey, gave a light groan. He had been harnessed to the gears all day, and it was late. He pawed at the thick wooden floors, hoping the scraping noise would be enough to break his master from his apparent reverie.
It was. Will gave a start, and turned towards the beast with surprise. "I'm sorry, boy!" he exclaimed, striding across the gloomy space. The creature snorted again, tossing its head. Will pulled the iron pegs, and led the ass over to a stall in the back of the shop. Before long, the only sound Theo was making was to crunch on a carrot.
Will leaned on the edge of the stall, his coffee-brown eyes sliding out of focus as he gazed at the donkey.
"I'll bet you don't know what it's like. Loving someone."
Crunch, crunch.
"It's wonderful." Will pushed himself back from the wooden half-wall. "It's consuming. It's desperate and fulfilling all at once." He wandered through the shop, barely listening to himself, picking up various tools only to set them down again. "It's passionate." He remembered the feel of her caramel-and-toffee hair against his face. "It's soft. Like a whisper. It's silky and it curls. It's…sensuous." His fingers stroked through the empty air, burying his hands in fantasy. "I could play in it forever."
She'd teased him terribly with that hair. Vivid half-memories filled his head: A few stolen hours, a few stolen kisses. Sunlight picking it's way through the thick leaves. Peaches. He'd barely eaten anything; it had been enough just to watch her. Her eyes. Darker than his, and ringed with amazingly long lashes…
"Lie down, Will."
"I can't."
"You've been working so hard lately; I've seen you."
"It's not work to me. It's life."
"So take a rest from life! Lie down, relax. You're so fidgety!"
"I'm not." He was. Being so close to her, only a few feet away…her presence smoldered against his skin. "I'm fine."
"Please?" Those eyes again. He sighed and gave in, letting the grass tickle the back of his neck. The sunwarmth was comforting and gentle. It played tag with the shadows on his face until his eyelids closed out the world. He didn't know how long he slept, only how he was awakened. A soft brushing against his face, and a murmur of content. When his vision cleared, the only sight to be seen were honey-brown curls. He raised his head as well as he could; there was a weight on his chest. Beyond his view of the ringlets…
"Oh, Elizabeth." The words escaped him in a low moan. A satin corset was laid at the base of an oak, along with a pair of slippers. Will slid sideways along the grass, pulling himself along with his arms until he could rise to his knees. Elizabeth stayed where she was, asleep on the soft ground, her hair unbound and flowing like a cape about her shoulders. "This will never do." What if someone saw them? Will knew exactly what would be thought…
"Wake up." He placed his hand as lightly as he could on her shoulder. Much as he hated to do it, her sleep would have to be disturbed. She was dressed, to be sure, but hardly in the ways appropriate to her station. He couldn't bear to have her reputation destroyed. "Wake up."
Her eyes fluttered open. "I'm awake, Will."
"Thank goodness!" He sat back, resting his head on his arms.
"Why?" Why did she have to look so lovable just now?
"You're…um…" he searched for the right words. "You're not dressed!"
Her laughter rang out, climbing the trees and scampering around the bushes. "Of course not! Would you like to be caged in a contraption like that?" she gestured towards the corset. "It's awful! I couldn't breath, that's all."
"Oh."
"Why?" she asked again, leaning towards him. "Is there some reason I should be…worried?"
Her voice had lowered. Will was caught in it, the risings and fallings of the tones, the deceptive innocence. "Perhaps."
"Really?" she arched an eyebrow. "About what?"
"This." It wasn't as though his answer had even been heard. His mouth was too closely pressed against hers to allow any sounds to escape. All that were made from her, he swallowed. He was diving, pressing deeper into a cavern where he knew treasure existed, if only he could kiss her farther, stronger, lavishly.
"It's clear and bright."
Crunch, crunch.
"It sparkles and invites and draws you in so you can never escape. And you're happy to have it stay that way." He pushed open the door to his chambers and sat down heavily upon the cot. "It lessens yourself until all that exists is her." His hands moved of their own accord, loosening each of the buttons on his shirt and pulling it off. "It's protective and careful and full of restraint." He fell back on his bed, staring at the dusky ceiling. "It's wild abandon."
A long while passed. He listened to the donkey, and the wind outdoors. "It's life-changing."
Will slipped into a lover's dream.
You like? Yes? No? It sucked? Tell me! I was thinking of writing another, maybe from Elizabeth's perspective. But I absolutely refuse to write any more unless you give me a cookie!