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P E T E R
I swaddle Nerissa up in yet another blanket. She's still shivering even though it's hardly that chilly out and after three layers of blankets, she's still freezing cold. One more blanket and we won't have anything to sit on when we get to where we're going, but that didn't matter, I'll gladly let my slacks get a little muddy if it meant Nerissa was nice and warm.
Tucking the blanket under her chin and making sure any exposed skin save for her face was covered and shielded from the wind, I pull myself back onto the horse, regaining control of the reins. All while Nerissa is pressed against me, her back to my chest as we continue to make our way through the woods.
I snap the reins, and soon enough, we were back en route.
"Where are we going?" Nerissa asks halfway through. Hearing the shiver in her voice, I pull her closer to me.
"You'll see, my love."
She nods wordlessly, leaning her head back against my chest and basking in the sun against her skin with a small smile on her face.
I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips as I watch her. I don't even think she notices how effortlessly beautiful she was. I take in every freckle that dusts across her nose and over her cheeks, and the scar across her eye, though slightly faded now. Some people think of it as a flaw, but me? I think it contributes to her personality and I absolutely love it.
Leaning forward, I plant a kiss on her cheek. Her eyes flutter open and the smile she rewards me with fills my chest with warmth.
"I love you." She says softly, her smile widening.
"I love you, too. So much." I mutter into her hair, pressing a kiss there. Mine.
When Nerissa's head lolls against my chest and her breathing evens out, I knew she had fallen asleep. Banding an arm around her waist to support her, I take extra care when rising over bumps in the pathway, not wanting to wake her up.
We move at a steady pace and before long, we were at our destination.
Smiling down at Nerissa's sleeping form, I press my lips against the crown of her head, "Wake up, sleepyhead. We're here."
I wait a couple of seconds, expecting her groggy voice to ask us where we are, considering I'd never told her where we were headed, but it never comes.
"Darling?" I gently shake her shoulder, "Time to wake up, now."
Her hand slips off her lap, falling limply to her side, causing my heart to lurch out of my chest.
"Nerissa, wake up." I call urgently, cradling her face in my arms, "Wake up, my dear. Why aren't you waking up?"
Minutes tick by and panic claws at my throat as I desperately try to wake her. The first thought that pops into my head was that the fire-flower juice didn't work as well as we thought it did. But no, it didn't make sense. Her chest was rising and falling, although her breaths came in shallow spurts, she was still breathing.
The skin of her cheek was cold as I rested my palm on it. But then again, she was complaining about feeling chilly.
"Nerissa!"
Finally, her eyes flutter open, still hazy from sleep, and relief flutters in my chest as they meet mine.
"Oh, thank god," I muttered, holding her tightly against my chest.
"What's going on?" She mumbles, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"I've been trying to wake you up and you weren't. What happened?"
A wave of emotion flashes across her eyes. First, it was shock, then it was sorrow and finally, a look of reluctant acceptance settles on her face. Of what? I'm not sure.
"I just dozed off." She rests a palm on my cheek, "You worry too much." Nerissa brushes it off before leaning forward to plant a kiss on my cheek.
Being the light sleeper that she was, always alert and ready for battle if needed, there was no way she wouldn't wake up. Especially not with me trying to wake her with such vigour.
"Nerissa-"
"We're here?" She diverts the subject, looking out to the large willow tree that makes for a cozy spot to just be.
I stare at her for a moment, before shaking my head, deciding to just let it go for now.
Nodding, I place my hands on her waist and lifting her off the horse's back and onto the ground.
"You're sure that you're okay?"
She smiles up at me, but her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes.
"I'm sure. Now, stop being such a worrywart."
Nerissa rises up on her tippy-toes, wrapping her hand around the nape of my neck and pulling me in for a kiss- no doubt, one meant to be a distraction.
When I feel her smile against my lips, there's no stopping the smile on mine that mirrors hers.
I clasp her hand tightly in mine, leading the way through the tall grass blades, stopping right under the willow tree. It's branches and leaves provided the perfect amount of shade while leaving a sufficient amount of sunlight for Nerissa to bask in till her heart's content.
Laying out our last blanket out over the grass, I lower myself onto it as I pull Nerissa down with me and settle her in the space between my thighs, her chest to my back.
My arms circle around her instinctively, holding her close to me. Taking in a deep breath of the crisp Narnian air, I press a kiss to the crook of her neck.
Nerissa snuggles back into and hums in contentment, "This is nice."
"Isn't it?" I say in agreement, "Imagine bringing our children out here to play in the future. I bet they'll enjoy themselves, wouldn't they?"
I watch as Nerissa's smile widens, before it falters and then disappears, a frown taking its place.
"What's wrong?" I ask, "Can't imagine us becoming parents?"
She shakes her head, pulling herself out of her daze. "It's not that."
"Then what is it?" I rest my forehead against hers, "You know you can tell me anything, right? It doesn't matter to me if you don't want kids. As long as I have you, that's enough for me. I just want you to be happy."
"I know that." She says with a smile- a forced smile, "It's just...What if that day never comes?" She says on the last part in a mumble so soft I almost didn't catch it.
I feel a frown taking over my face, "What do you mean? Darling, where is this even coming from?"
Nerissa turns to meet my eyes with a small smile, "It's nothing." She says, "Just a thought, that's all."
It was a weird sentiment. Nerissa usually had more faith in her skills than this, but I chalked it up to her still being slightly shaken up from the battle, and rightfully so considering she'd almost lost her life.
"Well, you have nothing to worry about." I reassure, tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, "And I'm sure you'll make an absolutely amazing mother."
The statement earns a chuckle from her, but I could still see the lingering worry in her eyes.
Her fingers fidget with her engagement ring hung around her neck before she turns to me, pulling the chain over her head.
"Keep this safe for me until after all of this is over?" She says, offering the chain to me.
"You don't want to hold on to it?" I question, "It's yours, after all."
Nerissa shakes her head before looping the chain around my neck, "I don't want to lose it. You know how battles get. I think it'll be safer with you."
I take her hand, kissing the inside of her wrist. "Okay, then. Till after all of this ends, and when I give it back to you, it'll be when we finally tie the knot." I rest my hand on her jaw, running my thumb over her petal-soft lips, "Promise me we'll never lose each other again?"
She smiles up at me as she leans in, her lips brushing against mine as she whispers, "I promise." But there's no missing the sadness in her eyes when she says those words.
Again, I let it go, for now, knowing that she wasn't ready to talk. She'll open up when she is, she always does and for now, I revel in the feeling of her in my arms, grateful that she wasn't taken away from me.