Daisies
545 Words
"Thank you. That was very nice," Anne told Louis.
"You're very welcome. I enjoyed it, too," he replied.
Hand in hand they stolled along, until Louis told Anne to stand still where she was. She did, and he stepped away a few feet.
"I just can't believe how lovely you look surrounded by daisies," he said. He picked one and wove it into her hair.
"Now you're even more beautiful." He came and stood beside her. She felt his arm slowly move to encircle her waist, and she rested her head on his shoulder. As he was a few inches taller than her, it was quite easy for them to assume the pose.
After awhile, he took her hand and began running through the grasses with her. They ran until they came to a tree with low-hanging branches, which Louis began to climb as Anne watched hesitantly.
"Come on," he gently urged her. He helped her up, and soon they were sitting side by side on one of the higher branches. From where they sat they could see far into the horizon. Louis' arm slowly crept around Anne's waist again.
"If while on earth we knew what was to come after, we wouldn't fear death nearly as much," he said softly.
"As a child, I was taught that there was a heaven, but the impression I got was that of a rather monotonous existence where one basically simply sat on a cloud and played a harp all day. It was never presented to me as something to look forward to in particular."
Louis laughed. "I was taught pretty much the same thing." His eyes twinkled. "Of course, how monotonous one would find it would undoubtedly depend on the degree of loveliness of one's fellow harp players."
Anne giggled. "Are you flirting with me?"
Louis blushed slightly. "Forgive me. It's such fun, and I never did while on earth."
"You never flirted, you mean?"
Louis shook his head. "I was always so painfully shy around women. Marie was the first woman I ever...kissed."
"How old were you when you were wed?"
"I was fifteeen, and Marie was fourteen. She was much more confident than I was. For seven years she tried...but I just couldn't..." He was stammering and looked quite uncomfortable. Anne put a comforting hand on his knee.
"I never visited Paris, but I found Calais quite lovely," she said.
"How I wish that I could take you there," Louis said gratefully. "It's the most amazing place on earth during peacetime."
"London is quite a remarkable city as well. Have you ever been there?"
"I'm afraid our respective countries weren't the best of friends during my lifetime." Louis laughed. "To have visited London would have meant almost certain death for me."
"That's sad."
"Indeed. I'm sure it's a grand city."
"My body lies in the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London."
"Please, let us speak of other matters. It hurts me deeply to think of what was done to you."
"You only just met me, and yet you speak of me as of someone you know well."
"Strangely, I feel as if I do." His arm tightened around her, and she rested her head on his shoulder once more.
- Writer
