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"Here seems like a good place," said Finé as she spread a blanket across the grass next to a small, steady stream.
The scenery here looks like something you would read in a fairy tale, Izetta thought to herself.
Finé sat down on the white blanket and set the picnic basket to the side. She patted the place next to her and asked Izetta to take a seat. This is where they would have their first picnic together in years.
"How do you know about this place?" Izetta asked as she stared in awe at the stream. It was so far out from the castle, and they had nearly walked half a day to get here.
"This is one of my favorite secret spots," she said with a sly grin. "A hiding place, if you will. Not even Bianca knows about it."
"I highly doubt that," Izetta said with a giggle. The thought made Finé laugh a little, too. "How did you get her to stay behind, by the way?" she added.
"I told her I had things to say to you in private. She was reluctant, of course, but she succumbed and promised to handle things while I was gone."
Things to say to me? Izetta thought. In private??
Finé whisked out the sandwiches she had Lotte prepare, and the two began eating their lunch.
Today was beautiful. The sun was out. There were no clouds in the sky, as far as the eye could see. The stream was crystal clear, steadily running. They would catch glimpses of tiny fish every now and then, and cheer them on as they tried to swim up steam.
The two girls reminisced and talked of their childhood together. Nostalgia almost gets the better of Izetta, and it's everything she can do to hold back the tears. She wishes she could go back to the time when they were small, when they would go on adventures together, such as the one they had taken today.
She recalls the time when her grandmother had made cookies, and when she wasn't looking, she took a few and hid them in her pockets. She would meet up with Finé later that day, right next to a stream like this one. They would swim, tell ghost stories, and she would show Finé a trick or two that only witches could do.
It was just her and Finé. The only two people in the world. The two of them, and no one else.
Just like today.
They finish up their lunch and lay on their backs staring at the birds in the sky. Izetta thinks of how she has never felt more at peace. If only life were this simple. If only they didn't have to go back into the world of pain and suffering.
If only she could stay here with Finé. Forever.
Izetta looks over at Finé, who has her eyes shut with a warm smile on her face. No doubt the same thoughts are circling through her mind as well. Izetta smiles, and closes her eyes too. She couldn't think of a more better time to take a small nap.
"Izetta..."
She opens her eyes to find Finé laying right next her. Her face is directly in front of hers. How did she not hear her come closer? Had she dozed off that quickly?
"Izetta, I," Finé choked a little. Her cheeks turning a cute peach color. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something."
Izetta holds her breath. That's right. She had almost forgotten Finé was suppose to talk to her in private about something. But what could it be? Battle plans?
Finé stares directly into Izetta's eyes.
"Izetta, I love you."
Finé gently rests her forehead against Izetta's, and there's a short silence. A silence that wasn't quite long enough for Izetta to process what she was hearing.
"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner," Finé said as she shut her eyes. "I didn't know how to tell you. You have always been there for me, and I didn't want my feelings getting in the way of our perfect friendship. But with the way things are now, I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I don't know what's going to happen to me. So today, I," she begins to choke as she tries to hold back her tears. "I just wanted to let you know how I felt about you, before it's too late."
Finé's tears trickle down onto Izetta's cheek. Izetta places her hand on Fine's face, and caresses it. Her skin had always seemed so smooth, and she had always wanted to touch her like this. She had always been confused about her feelings for Finé, but today they were as clear as the stream running steadily beside them.
Izetta gently wipes the tears from Finé's eyes, and whispers softly, "I love you too, Finé."
Finé opens her eyes in astonishment. It was obvious she was not expecting her feelings to be reciprocated.
"As long as I am alive," Izetta continues. "I will not let anything happen to you." She places her other hand on Finé's other cheek, holding her small rosy face within her hands. "Until my last breath, I will protect you."
"Izetta..."
Finé's face inches closer to Izetta's. She shies away, and inches even closer. Izetta can feel the warm breath of her best friend begin to tickle her lips. Her heart pounds even faster. She feels her hands grow cold with fear, and they begin to shake.
Finé gently places her lips on Izetta's, and they share their first kiss.
Izetta's heart begins to calm, her hands begin to gain back their warmth. It's as if Finé is taking away every sorrow, every insecurity, every fear she has ever had. Just with the touch of her lips.
Finé begins to kiss her more assertively and with more vigor. She places her arm around the arch of Izetta's back, pulling her closer.
Izetta has never been so weak in her life. Her weakness isn't the ley lines. Her weakness is none other than Princess Finé.
Finé traces Izetta's lips with her tongue as their bodies become more entangled. They become entranced in one another's touch and smell. Strands of blonde and red hair blow in the cool breeze, becoming tangled together as the two finally show the love they have for one another.
They cease, but only for a second. As they stare into each other's eyes, they both become aware of the same thing at once. They smile at each other, as if they've just shared the most intimate telepathic message.
There isn't anyone in this world who could come between them. No one could challenge them. No one could stand against them. Not as long as one had the other. Not as long as they were together for the rest of their lives.
No one exists today. Just the two of them.
The witch, and the princess.