Water Lilies (Response to Weekly Drabble Challenge #14: Temperature)
I've had so much fun making this weeks drabble! Fluf for life:) Hope you guys enjoy reading, comments & reviews welcome, of course!
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Water Lilies
It was a sweltering summer day. So hot, Susan longed for the days she could just put on her bikini and jump into the nearest swimming pool. But Narnia had a lack when it came to those things. At least, that was what she thought when she stood up that morning. The sun was already showing off with his blinding light and Susan sighed when she saw the colors of the outside world change. The green grass and the trees with their millions of leafs, the daisies just outside her room and the sky as blue as the ocean. Susan’s cheeks got red as she stared outside. The heat coming towards her was almost more than she could take. A knock on the door made her forget about her body temperature.
‘Come in?’, she asked, knowing who it was before he even set foot into her room.
‘Good morning, my Queen. It’s a beautiful day to take a walk, don’t you think?’, Caspian The Tenth said, as he came in.
‘Wonderful morning, but very hot… Back in England, we had so much more coolness. I’m not used to this heat!’, Susan complained, not wanting to sound nitpicky.
‘I do get that, and I’m very sorry to hear Narnia is not living up to your expectations’, he began, but Susan interrupted quickly.
‘No, sorry, I explained myself wrong, I think. I meant to say that I’m not used to it, but that I will, for sure! What I’ve seen from Narnia so far, has overcome my expectations’, she answered, nodding her head up and down fiercely.
She didn’t wish Caspian to notice how homesick she was. She had her family here, her great love, and all she ever dreamed of. But still, the thought of missing small things like trains, taxis and bicycles, was confusing.
‘Well then, I suggest we take a morning walk’, said Caspian.
Susan noticed how calm but determined his voice sounded. Like he had already decided they would go. She loved that about him; the one moment, he was shy and gentle, but the next he was a real man, and he had faith he was right. She smiled.
‘A perfect idea!’, she said, and alongside him, she walked out of her giant bedroom.
The corridors of the castle were abandoned, and their voices echoed against the walls. Susan spoke softly to Caspian, not wanting others to enjoy the conversation they had. She loved talking to him, because he understood her well and laughed a lot. They walked onto the grass outside.
‘If I may ask… Where are we going?’, Susan asked curious.
‘You may ask, but I will give no answer to that. Surprises are what life’s about’, he spoke, and Susan wisely shut up.
They walked until Susan’s feet began to hurt, and she started to complain again. “Is it far?”, she asked, and Caspian - to Susan’s big relief - shook his head.
“Almost there”, he whispered, probably more to himself than to her.
Susan heard a sound and she pricked up her ears. She looked around, as if she could match what she heard with something she could see. But there was nothing but trees and bushes. She frowned and walked on, still being very alert.
They walked down a small hill, and the sound got louder, until Susan couldn’t ignore it like she did before.
“What ís that?”, she asked, and saw Caspian was smiling.
“It’s a river. It runs through the woods further on. There’s a stunning place where the river widens and forms an immensely big lake. You’ll adore it, I just know it”, he said, and Susan’s heart stopped beating for a second. This man was too good to be true. And still, she was really walking there, just a few inches away from touching him.
Susan looked straight ahead and saw that the trees had multiplied and a wood began. The sound of the river rang through Susan’s ears and filled her with a peaceful feeling. It sounded like the rain tapping on the windows at home, but these were millions of drops colliding, forming a stream of water. They both said nothing, delighted by the sounds of the forest. Susan’s feet landed on small twigs and brown leafs on the ground. The sound of them breaking and rustling was added to the sound of water. Birds sang high above their heads, sitting on the stout branches and trying to catch each others attention with their melody. Susan saw something sparkling, and realized it was the lake. She grabbed Caspian’s hand, encouraged by the melodic sounds and the smell of flowers.
“Come on!”, she laughed, and pulled his arm.
Together, they ran towards the water, and a miraculous scene came into sight. The lake was situated in an open area, surrounded by high growing flowers and bushes. Because the ground around the water was so profitable, plants Susan had never seen before in Narnia now spread out before her feet. The water was made of millions of diamonds, or that was what it looked like. The light caught every drop, every wave. She had never seen clearer water than this. She gasped for breath and stopped running, almost causing a bump between her and Caspian. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Do you like it, my Queen?”, Caspian asked, but Susan didn’t answer. She simply couldn’t, stunned by this astonishing place.
After trying to remember every detail, to pin everything into her mind, Susan turned around to Caspian. Her eyes were sparkling and she whispered: “Let’s take a swim”. Caspian’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m afraid, that would be rather inappropriate…”, he said, but his smile told her something else.
“I’m afraid… I don’t really care”, Susan answered, and turned back around.
She reached for the laces on her back and began to untie them. She had nothing to worry about, because she still had a petticoat dress underneath her normal dress. Of course, Caspian didn’t know that, and he stopped her.
“Wait. My Queen… That… That wouldn’t be very clever of you. It’s not appropriate”, he began, but Susan laughed.
“Come on, Caspian. Nobody can see us; nobody can accuse us of disgraceful behavior. For once, be not a king, but the man you are. The daredevil, the stubborn and the untamed man”, she answered, and Caspian blushed heavy.
He was helpless and lost for words. Susan continued undressing, and the dress fell on the ground on the moment she untied the last lace. Caspian gasped for breath, but she knew he was relieved when he saw the petticoat dress. She looked at him, throwing her hair back.
“Now it’s your turn”, she said, and grinned. Caspian was again speechless.
“My Queen, I can’t! They will never forgive me. Undressing myself would be like… Like I’m up to something with you”, he spoke, but Susan noticed how he couldn’t find the right words anymore.
She had uncovered his other side, and she wasn’t planning on letting this moment pass.
“You ARE up to something with me”, she said, and came closer.
“And if you don’t want to do it, I’ll do it myself”, she threatened, and touched the buttons on his caramel colored shirt. He shivered and took a step back.
“I will do it myself then”, he mumbled, and began to unbutton.
Susan giggled as she saw his bare chest, highly developed as she expected. Once he was done, he looked up to her. The desperation in his eyes made her giggle even more.
“You may keep your pants on”, she said, and he rolled his eyes.
He folded his arms before his chest, like he wanted to cover it up.
“This is something I’m not used to”, he explained, and Susan knew she needed to make him feel comfortable.
She took a step closer and laid her hands on his shoulders.
“Caspian… You are the most stunning man I’ve ever seen. And seeing you like this, without something to hide behind, makes you even more beautiful. Don’t worry, nobody will find out, and this will be our secret”, she whispered, and let go of him.
He nodded and for her, that was the sign it was alright. She took his hand and walked to the edge of the lake. She threw out her shoes and stuck one foot into the water. It felt cold but defiant. She put her other foot in and shivered because of the muddy surface she felt. Caspian followed her as they waded into the lake.
Suddenly, thrilled by this new feeling of enjoyment and letting go of everything, she turned around to Caspian and looked him into the eyes. Spreading her arms out, she fell into the water, causing a splash that made Caspian wet. She laughed as her hair touched the surface and sank beneath it, as her back got wet and water ran over her belly as she sank down. Just before her head could sink away also, she got up and stood on her feet. Water trickled down from her hair and dress, and Caspian just stood there, watching her.
Like a magical spell was broken, or an anxiety had disappeared, Caspian smiled and let go of her hand. He reached for the surface with his right hand and made a splash that ended up against Susan’s chest. The latter opened her mouth and made an overwhelmed but pleased sound. She took a step towards him and pulled Caspian’s arm again, causing him to fall onto her. He didn’t expect this, and together they tumbled into the water. Both of them laughed and a feeling of freedom welled up inside them. Nature made them forget about daily life and about all sorts of ruled they were committed to. The sound of spattering water and their laughs sounded through the forest and they knew some Narnians, like squirrels and hedgehogs, could hear them.
After what seemed like hours, it became silent. Caspian and Susan sat on bank of the river, letting their feet float around in the lake. The water had a refreshing but also chilly effect and both of them felt cold. Caspians shoulder touched Susans arm and she blushed slightly. As water lily hovered around in front of their legs, Caspian leaned forward and cupped it with his hands so that it couldn’t escape. He looked at Susan while he took the flower out of the water.
“Susan Pevensie, my Queen. Although your beauty cannot compare to anything on this earth, I will make a comparison. This water lily is one of the most gorgeous flowers that exist, to my opinion. You, are a million times more beautiful than it”, he spoke, while a drop of water found its way across his face.
Susan smiled and wiped away the drop from his cheek. She folded her hands around his, so that they were holding the fragile flower together.
“And that feeling is mutual”, she answered.
She let go and Caspian put the water lily back into the water, watching it drift away. Susan brought her head closer to Caspian, and kissed him. Birds sang louder as their lips met in a very wet kiss they would never forget. The power of nature was incomprehensibly big. Susan and Caspian experienced it, that one hot summer day in the land of Narnia…
- The End.