Walking in Beautiful Silence

The sun looks so beautiful today. How the light shines through the trees' first budded leaves, I can't remember a recent time that I felt so peaceful and... happy.

Sief walked along the grassy fielded path towards her favourite park. She loved it for the trees and hedges surrounding the green gardens and their aristocratic flowerbeds. It was quite deserted on the fields and small wooded parts she loved so, but that was why she loved it.

She sighed.

I love how quiet it is, not a soul to pester me; an entire evening kept to myself... and my only company the birds and little buds. It'll be hard to keep my thoughts in check though, they do wander so. Oh, there are swallows!

She watched them swoop and dart through the branches, a smile playing on her face.

She clambered over a fallen log in pursuit, her boots falling into a wintery patch of mud.

Oh bother.

She pulled her skirts about her and continued through the mud.

What a state I'm going to be in! Who's going to care anyway, I'm alone to my own free will and I might as well enjoy the last of our Winter mud!

I do love Spring so, how the light reminds me of Autumn and how it chases after the leaves in the evenings. I do love my lonely little walks, I think I'd go rather mad if I didn't get away by myself; there's just something about being in one's own head and space...

She continued walking along the border, the green leaves brushing against her. She smiled as it tickled her face. Sief was halfway around the park when she got to a particularly magnificent tree.

How grand it must think itself, with those long limbs and twisted fingers; those leaves are truly a representation of Spring with its ombre of hues and little white blossoms!

She grinned as a thought came to her.

It would be a shame to miss seeing such a highlighted view of this park... I really do think I have no choice but to climb this tree to fully appreciate this evenings Spring-shine.

And so, without a care to how her skirts would fare, Sief put one hand on a branch and the other on the trunk, hoisting herself up and swinging onto the first nook in the tree. She continued to climb onto the branch she had spotted as her perch.

Heh, this dress is going to have several 'mysterious' marks and stains on it...

Once up, she half sat, half clung to the tree's limb and looked out over the field.

"Oh!"

This really is the best thing! Look at the sun's rays spreading and lighting up the little drops of dew... the flowers and leaves look like they are on fire! And the shadows look so welcoming and not so dismal with such the contrast of light... I don't believe I could be any happier with another view then I am with this one! The birds even seem happy too, their song is so bright and cheerful.

She sat there, breathing in the warmed evening air.

I think I might sit here a while... where's that blasted pencil...

She took out a little leather-bound journal from the folds of her skirt, it's cover battered from use.

Let's see, there must be a blank page in here somewhere... aha! I shall draw this view so I can remember it for all the Springs to come - that it was truly the most beautiful I could experience.

On the other side of the park, a man in a long dark coat also walked along under the Spring trees, seeking the solace and silence he needed to recover from his annoying younger brother Alec. He had not seen a single person so far this evening and he hoped it'd stay that way.

There was a rustling from above, and on looking up, he saw a little family of swallows.

Hmmm, what a beautiful home, so quiet and peaceful among those leaves...

He looked around and spotted a girl in a tree, her blue dress snagged from her climb up onto the branch. A small smile appeared on his face.

I wish that swallow would just stay still for a moment... I can't get the right angle on its wings! Oh god, there's a person, help, this is embarrassing... oops!

Sief slipped slightly and dropped her pencil.

Blast!

Magnus, the man below smirked.

"Careful, it'd be a rather rough fall. You don't want to ruin your walk."

"Magnus?"

What is he doing here? Oh, well that's a stupid question, of course he'd be wanting to enjoy this evening as well... damn, and I'm caught on a rather annoying little branch.

"Do you need a hand?" Magnus enquired, seeing her awkwardly tugging her skirt loose.

Annndd this evening has suddenly gone downhill.

"Um, I suppose I might..."

He helped her down and they walked together under the trees.

My drawing is missing a certain little bird but, as well, I can easily add it in.

Magnus glanced at the drawing.

"It's very good! In fact, I do believe that is me in the far distance..."

Oh gods, so it is... well that’s embarrassing. If I could run a mile right now, I would gladly run two.

"What brings you out this evening Magnus?"

My friend's brow is furrowing again... so help me he's just as awkward in Spring as he is every other season!

"My brother Alec walked in one direction, and I thought I might walk in the other to give my ears a rest from his banter."

She smiled, and as the sun dipped lower casting a soft orange glow over the park, the two friends walked on, arm in arm.

He is so very pathetic when it comes to Alec's teasing... it's Spring for goodness sake! I need to get him to lighten up. Hmmm, there's a blossom tree coming up... I wonder...

As they passed under it, Sief reached up and pulled on it. The little white flowers tumbled and swirled from the tree, blinding Magnus and flying into his nose and mouth.

"Peeuuuuhhhhhh!" he breathed them out.

Oh goodness, he looks so funny! I think I'm going to die of laughter.

He looked up at her, mock glaring at her.

"Lighten up Magnus, it's Spring and this park is so beautiful! You have interrupted my peaceful walk so have fun!" she laughed, twirling around.

He smirked and reached up to pull the tree's branches. Her smile faded.

Oh no. I take it back!

A whirlwind of blossoms fell upon her as she shrieked.

He howled with laughter as she fell on the ground from the attack of petals.

Oh god, I brought this upon myself though. I need to wipe that smirk off his face!

"Hey! Stop laughing at me!"

"You wanted me to 'have fun.' Fun is staring at me in the face," he teased. "I was happy for a pleasant walk in your company, but I have to admit," he grinned at her, "that was very satisfying."

Rolling my eyes in your general direction Magnus.

He offered his hand and brushed the little flowers off her person, seemingly unaware of his own appearance.

"Come on kitten, we might even have time to try our new trick on Alec."

And then they raced off, laughing through the dying Spring light, chasing and catching each other as they headed off towards the waiting Alec in the distance, they themselves racing in each other's company like the swallows dipping and diving amongst them.

It is a perfect evening, and though I had set off for this first Spring walk to be on my own, I am pleased to say the perfect evening ended in perfect company.