word count: 639
"Is that really necessary, dear Godric?" Rowena asks, nodding toward the trusty sword that Godric keeps secured at his side.
Perhaps she shouldn't be too surprised that he's bringing it. Godric and his sword are damn near inseparable; she cannot remember the last time she's seen him without it. Still, she's only going into the forest to collect what little plant matter hasn't died in the snow that has fallen over the last week. A sword seems rather excessive.
"You never know what may be waiting in the forest, my love," he says, ever the chivalrous beau, bowing his head politely. "If required, I would step in and slay a werewolf for you."
She knows he means well, and that's exactly why Rowena doesn't point out that, even if it wasn't in the middle of the afternoon, the moon is waning, and there won't be a full moon or any werewolf encounters for quite some time. Instead of correcting him, she just smiles politely and nods. "My hero," she says, and she loves the delighted blush that stains his cheeks. "Shall we?"
He nods and takes the lead. "Yes, we shall."
Rowena loves the moments like this, when it's just the two of them. Living in the castle with Salazar, Helga, and the many young students makes these moments so precious. Of course, she's sure they could sneak off to one another's bedchambers, but she's also well aware of the scandal that would cause. And so, she takes comfort in these stolen moments when she and Godric and slip away with the most innocent intentions and have time together.
"Wait!" she calls after they've ventured into the forest just a bit. "I need these mushrooms. They're good for a fever remedy my mother taught me."
"Do you know how much you captivate me, my beloved Rowena?" Godric asks as Rowena kneels at the base of a large tree and collects the plump yellow-and-green mushrooms. "Your knowledge and wisdom know no bounds. You are truly one of a kind."
It's Rowena's turn to blush; she's grateful her back is to Godric, and he cannot see the way the deep color burns her face. "I am hardly extraordinary. I merely spend my days learning all that I can, so that I can impart it on the next generation."
Even though she dismisses his flattery, she secretly loves it. Some days, it feels like no one recognizes her for her cleverness. She is little more than just another professor. Godric sees her in a way that no one else really does. Perhaps that is why it was so easy to fall in love with her dearest friend. What woman doesn't want a partner who sees only the best in her? Loving Godric is a beautiful thing, one she hopes to do for the rest of her life.
After the mushrooms have all been collected, she stands and dusts the dirt from the skirt of her sapphire dress. "That was quite a treat," she tells him. "I was mostly hoping to find an abundance of knotgrass."
He smiles at her. "Did you know that your passion is one of the most beautiful things about you, rivaled only by your wisdom."
Being loved by Godric Gryffindor is an adventure, and Rowena never wants it to end. She smiles. "Let us continue, dear."
As snow crunches beneath her feet and she exhales a happy sigh where her breath is visible, she finds herself smiling. These stolen moments alone with Godric are the most beautiful parts of her week. She wonders if he knows how much she loves him. Words don't seem to do her love justice, try as she might to express it aloud. She can only hope that he understands what she loves unspoken, that her passion is not limited solely to her work.
