"Just a little further this way!" Louise's lilt rang through the soft golden green light of the forest, grey gnarled trunks stretched up strong branches that ran on into fine finger twigs emblazoned with the crests of elm, oak and birch. The high branches spread above them as the leaves formed light green tunnels through which dappled grass sung invitingly to weary and not so weary feet to come and rest a bit.
Ducking under a low-hanging branch, Erik followed the flash of brown skirt that weaved on ahead of him, his foot slipped on a patch of moss and he caught hold of a tree to swing himself around and narrowly avoided ending up tumbling into Louise.
"Easy!" she cried, catching his arm, helping him stand upright she gestured to the space before them, "What did I tell you?"
Erik stared about him, a moss carpeted grove of ancient elms, poplars and birches sheltered raspberry and blackberry briars from the worst of the early summer heat, a chuckling brook giggled over smooth river pebbles, spilling out into a shallow pool ringed by moss and heavy stones. A weeping willow drooped graceful branches to kiss the water gently and tiny white daisies peered up through the soft grass. The place held an almost ethereal feel, like stepping out of the mortal bonds of the real world and into a child goddess's plaything. "It's beautiful," he murmured, touching a heavy hand to his face, wondering if he even belonged there. Louise did not seem to notice, she spun a lazy circle and fell beside the stream, "This is my favourite place of anywhere," she declared, Erik smiled, "I wonder why?"
Louise tugged off her shoes and stockings and took a seat on a soft cushion of moss, dangling her bare feet in the cool water, a silver minnow swam up and began nibbling at her toes. She laughed and flinched away motioning for Erik to drop the basket he carried and relax on the cool moss.
Erik set down the wicker basket and crouched beside the stream, Louise sighed as the minnow flashed silver in the sunlight and disappeared into the wider pool. Erik's turquoise eyes watched the tiny fish as it was swept along by the smooth current and a smile twitched at the corner of his lips. Dipping skeletal fingers into the cool water he began stroking the current, fingers flowing back and forth through the glassy water, humming a soft tune as his fingers danced. Louise gasped in surprise as the minnow reappeared, soon followed by another five or six. Still humming, Erik directed the silvery fish to swim a circle chasing one another's tails through the light speckled water. The circle broke into two smaller rounds, then joined together again as a figure eight. Louise propped herself forward and stared down at the water, her grey eyes wide. Erik stole a glance at her and smirked in satisfaction at her shocked gaze. Changing the tune slightly his tongue rippled out a tiny issue of commands, matched by the flickering of his fingers in the clear water, each minor swam up close to Louise's pale feet and swam a brief somersault before her, a fishlike bow of regard before flashing away into the shallow pool. Louise gravely returned each curtsy with a nod and a smile to each of the seven miniature fish. The final fish, also the first one who had made a snack of her toes, turned two somersaults and was rewarded with a laugh of delight from the healer's cross encircled throat, then flashed away as Erik removed his fingers from the water and dried them on his shirt.
Louise watched the water eagerly for a moment with the open-mouthed enchantment of a child, then glanced at Erik.
"I will not ask how you did that monsieur," she teased, "But I thank you just the same,"
A smile twisted Erik's face, "The pleasure was all mine," he murmured, lifting her hand to press it to his lips. They stared at one another for a moment, calm, shy grey eyes against a blend of green and blue that were as mysterious and haunted as they were beautiful.
Hesitantly, Erik took Louise's face in his hands, she stared at him wide-eyed, a tiny tremor running through her frame, her grey eyes closed against the cool green daylight as he slowly lowered his lips to hers. Did all kisses taste of something? Erik wondered, Christine's had tasted of salt and tears, Louise tasted of warm flour and rosemary. He had never kissed anyone before, oh he had been kissed, of course he had, but that was not a real kiss, Louise leaned against him as his lips continued to move against hers, and slowly, oh so slowly their mouths opened to one another.
Their heads nodded in time as he deepened the kiss. Fingers brushing cheeks, hair, collars, hesitant and daring, cradling that shared fragile love in the sweet simple depths of a kiss...
Goddamnit I am good!