(A/N) I confess that I am probably the worst fluff writer you will ever see. I tried to make it as cute as possible, but I do have to say that my mind is, as of yet, pretty unscarred. I can't bring myself to describe that many kisses...it just doesn't work out. Anyways, I hope you enjoy my best attempt at writing fluff. I tried to make some parts funny...tell me how it turns out...lol

Disclaimer: Just in case you've forgotten...My name is Cathy, not Stephenie Meyer, so I don't own Twilight...nor New Moon...nor anything else that I've forgotten to mention that's related to the above mentioned...

Chapter 9

I watched as the splendid palace with its sparkling golden roof and white walls slowly disappeared in the distance. The gates with their beautiful flags waving, dancing on an invisible breeze, as if saying goodbye to me faded away as I traveled further and further away from the home I had known all of my life.

I turned my attention to the city – the city I had never seen although I lived in it. The royal city was bustling with activity. Merchants called out their wares, people passed by in pushcarts, small and large, to sell their goods. Other people, with patched clothing and hair tied back in a bun, browsed the different shops, bargaining. One particular woman was shaking her fist at a merchant whom, I supposed, overcharged for a particular item.

A few minutes later, we left the city limits, entering a wide field of sparse trees and farms. There were farmers with their hatchets and spades; horse farms where uncountable numbers of horses roamed free. I gasped in awe at their grace and at the grace with which certain farmers rode them.

"Away from the luxury are many different marvels, though those who create them do not know how rare they are," Edward said suddenly. I was so busy in my own awe that I had almost forgotten he was here.

"I had never been outside of the palace limits before. This is all new. I've only read about them, but…" I shrugged hopelessly, unable to convey my true feelings.

"But, the real experience is much better than an induced one from a book," he finished for me. I nodded, smiling.

"And now, when I finally leave, I get to go further than I had ever imagined. I get to go as far as the Alps, the mountains, and I shall see everything I had wanted to." Quietly, my smile faded. I murmured, "Before I die."

His eyes seemed to harden for a moment as something passed through them. Pain? Guilt? I did not know. Perhaps I was dreaming. "Your life is laid out long before you. Going to Austria is hardly enough for you to claim that you have seen the world."

"I know, but perhaps it will be the only chance I will get," I replied softly, hoping he did not catch it. He did.

I looked into his eyes, his golden beautiful eyes, and felt a single tear slid down my cheek. His eyes smoldered with emotion and confusion. He must have not known about the curse. Gently, but hesitant, he raised a hand and brushed away my tear. It was replaced by more tears, as I realized how much I would miss life.

"Don't cry," he whispered, his breath blew into my face as my thoughts were scattered. "Tell me what's wrong? No one's life could be that short. You just turned fifteen!"

I shook my head, unable to speak, unable to remember how a pleasant conversation had been turned into one about my upcoming doom. As if sensing my discomfort on this topic, he changed the topic. "Have you ever seen snow before?"

I shook my head again. A hint of excitement in his voice caused my curiosity to perk up. I listened as he spoke of the fluttering flakes of white snow falling softly to the ground. He spoke of how soft and beautiful, yet cold they were to the touch. I began visualizing images of snow-covered pine trees swaying in the breeze and whiteness so bright that the night was almost like dawn. I saw pictures of a pond freezing over, yet the ice so clear in some parts that the fish underneath could be seen.

I felt his arm as he draped it protectively around my waist, drawing me to him as the images he described continued. This time, there were two people in them. A girl in a pale winter dress, her brown hair flowing free in the cold winter breeze, snuggled up to a boy wearing winter boots and coat, his bronze hair tousled by the wind. They were happy together, and so beautiful. I leaned my head sideways. Naturally, his shoulder was there to support me. I smelled his intoxicating scent, heard his melodic voice. Time seemed to have stopped.

But then, as with all such times, it had to end. When he finished describing how his castle looked, with icicles dangling from the roof, the snow causing everything to become a dazzling white, he stopped. The silence that followed was both uncomfortable and comforting at the same time. I lifted my eyes and immediately lost my thoughts again as I saw his smoldering topaz eyes. Unconsciously, my gaze dropped to his lips – his agonizingly tempting lips.

Almost as if time was slowing down for just this moment, I leaned toward him, still staring at his pale lips, unsure of what I was doing. He seemed to stiffen as I approached closer and closer, unable to stop my own movements. My breath became ragged.

Then the carriage jolted over a large bump on the rough road. I felt myself being almost lifted out of my seat, almost hitting my head on the high ceiling of the coach, before the Earth haphazardly pulled me down with its power. I landed ungracefully with a thud on the seat. Edward had released his hold on me. His whole body was rigid in pose. I noticed with surprise that his eyes had a dark tint to them, but were becoming lighter by the second. He seemed to be barely breathing, and he had pulled himself as far away from me as possible.

That was when I felt the tension between us – so great that a cow could even stand upon it. (A/N I don't think there's such an idiom, but I don't want to use the standard "cut through with a knife" thingy so I used this little creation of mine. I would use an elephant, but I don't think she had the knowledge of an elephant in her time …lol.) I looked out the window, my eyes registering the beautiful trees and fields through a line of trees lining the road. My mind was not set on admiring the scenery, though. The suffocating silence caused me to become very self-conscious and even more aware of the bronze-haired god sitting beside me. My skin tingled with unknown excitement; my head ached from the tension, my lungs labored over the thick velvety air.

He was the first to break the silence. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice as light as a feather.

I jumped at his voice. I was too tense. "What is there to be sorry for?"

He shrugged before turning to stare at me with his eyes, smoldering me until I felt my mind melt to mush. I felt a few tears leak from my eyes. He brushed them away, leaving my cheeks tingling. Then he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.

"Life does some people no justice," I sniffed. He chuckled and held me close. I leaned on his chest, and promptly fell asleep.

Edward woke me up when we arrived at the inn. We stood outside in the chilled air, watching as the distant star traveled away. The sun was setting and the nearby mountains looked majestic as the last rays of the sun caressed its sharp peaks. They were tall beings, their snow-capped tops reflecting more light than was possible. As the sun disappeared behind the horizon, a flash of green light spread around the countryside, blinding and beautiful, before the night settled itself. I had seen the rare green flash. I looked at Edward in wonder. "Wow," I said. He nodded, not speaking, only giving me a light kiss on the forehead.

That night was wonderful.

Tell me what you think of this. Oh, and before you ask, the Green Flash described at the end is a really rare phenomenon that happens when the sun sets a particular angle to the Earth's atmosphere. It's just called a green flash, and only lasts for no more than 2-3 seconds. I think wikipedia has some articles about it...

Anyways...review! Any constructive criticisms are welcomed...even ones that (gulp) will advise me on how to write better fluff chapters, whenever I feel like dedicating another chapter to fluff again...lol... So...five reviews and the next chapter comes on or before Friday?