A Ring of Silver
By DreamwebSpinner
Disclaimer: It's not my box, but I can't resist the feel of sand between my toes. -_-
Author's Note: Alright, I got my cookies so I'm all set! *sigh* Could use some more of those Marks n' Spencer chocolate chip, though…. -_-
Elizabeth's hand traced a figure eight on the bedspread until the pattern was burned into her brain. She was having a harder time than usual drifting to sleep tonight. She'd tried her best to relax, to let her mind wander, but it was inevitable as to where it would go. The mere knowledge of what she would end up thinking about kept her eyes wide open, staring at the darkness. William occupied her attention constantly now.
She hadn't thought it was possible to eat, drink, and breath a human being, but she'd been wrong. Every time she turned around, her unconscious was longing for him to be there. A living image of him was perpetually in her vision: smiling sometimes, devoted at others, his eyes boring into her own with a passion so strong she could hardly breath. It was his eyes that were her undoing. She'd always prided herself on being entirely unaffected by the attentions of her suitors, but one glance into William's chestnut-brown eyes rendered her completely tongue-tied and flushed.
He knew it, too. Elizabeth couldn't look up at dinner or in the parlor without meeting his gaze, which was always fixed upon her face. When he'd left the house that evening, they had stood for an entire ten minutes at the door before a word was spoken. She'd had no words to say, though plenty had filled her head as she'd stared at him, moon-washed and mesmerizing. God-like certainly did. So did gorgeous and seductive.
He'd said something about having a nice time, and she'd responded along a similar vein. I couldn't have had a more captivating, rapturous time was what she had meant to say, but somehow it hadn't come out right. But then he'd smiled, casting his spell, and she knew he'd understood.
Their good-bye kiss was soft and chaste; it would never do to get carried away with her maid just inside and her father home. Still, the brief touching of their mouths had sent electric sparks running through her body. She'd shivered, and in a wave of protectiveness, he'd removed his cloak to wrap it around her shoulders. She'd tried to explain, to politely decline, but his hands did not leave their place at the base of her neck, and all her brain could form was would you kiss me again?
She hadn't meant to say it aloud, and perhaps she actually hadn't, but either way, he heard. One of his hands skimmed down her arm to clasp around her fingers, and Elizabeth found herself being drawn slowly, oh-so-slowly, down the front steps.
How they'd ended up in the glade she couldn't remember; her eyes never left his. But when she finally looked about her, there wasn't a light to be seen from the house. He'd taken advantage of her temporary inattention, sliding his hand out of hers and placing it instead about her waist. The close contact had made her spin back around in surprise, but she hadn't had the chance to speak. His kiss was insistent, desirous, and opened the gates of her soul. An unnamed passion swelled inside of her, and she felt her body returning the kiss with an almost wild intensity. Her arms cradled his face; her fingers tangled in his raven curls. His arms around her felt as strong as the iron he shaped. She was flying, then falling…if she could be pressed any closer to him than she already was, they would cease to be two people.
Elizabeth's sigh filled the silent room. Why couldn't she sleep? Throwing back the covers, she swung her legs around to sit up on the bed and felt through the darkness for her slippers. She crossed her arms to shield her body from the chilly air, and stepped quietly across the room. The window catch stuck, but she managed to unlatch it with minimum noise. Outside, the moon was high and full, coating the entire town in a silver-slick glaze. Stars flared and shimmered in their remote orbits, showing off and dancing, but Elizabeth's gaze was drawn to a coinciding flicker in the neighborhood. The lamps were lit at the blacksmith's forge.
As she stood and watched the distant glow, comfort washed over her. Somehow, knowing where he was brought peace, like a gentle rain. She turned and went back to her bed, leaving the window as it was. The bed seemed softer, refreshing. If she turned her head, she could see the lone light in the town, glittering and convincing and cajoling her eyes to close.
Layers of enchanted dreams lulled Elizabeth to sleep.