| Since Vincent and Catherine's Wedding in Sweet Dreams!, it is time to Honeymoon, and to think about their future dreams, and to entertain the thought, that really, all things are possible. Where will the Pratt courses take them, and how will an unexpected person be instrumental in helping Vincent achieve his unattainable dream. Beyond my Dreams! By Sharon Holtz Chapter One |
And so it was, for the next several days and nights, Vincent and Catherine continued to honeymoon, in blissful harmonic seclusion. They contentedly filled their days, reading to one another, hiking to the nether regions of the stone circle, listlessly lying about, talking of their future, and spending endless hours...enoying being alone.
Meanwhile back at the Tunnel Main, Mary became more and more concerned, as the Honeymoon had at this point, spanned over 4 days in length!
So as Jacob travelled through the tunnels, toward his chamber, Mary approached him, and worriedly said, "Father...Father there you are, I have been looking all over for you!"
Glancing up from his book, Jacob said good morning, and then matter-of-factly replied, "My morning constitution is of no secret Mary...I have been in the Library chamber as per usual."
To which she retorted, "Well naturally I discounted that possibility!"
As Jacob continued to leaf through his chosen acquisition of the day, she exclaimed, "Father please! I honestly don't understand how you can think of reading."
Finally getting the idea Mary was truly upset, Jacob closed his book with a prominent thud, and said, "Attacking my insatiable literary fetish is so unlike you Mary..."
Wiping a frazzled wisp of hair from her face, she anxiously admitted, "Well normally I endorse quenching your erudite thirst, however, not at a time like this!"
Gruffly, he asked, "What do you mean, at a time like this?"
Shocked he had to ask, she exclaimed, "Vincent and Catherine's disappearance of course!"
Letting go of an angst filled breath, Jacob scolded, "Disappearance? They haven't disappeared! You know they are on their Honeymoon!"
Excitedly, Mary replied, "Of course I knew they WENT on their Honeymoon, but how many days do you think that could take? They should have been back days ago!"
Laughing softly to himself, Jacob masked his amusement and said, "Mary...Dear Mary...I am sure they are enjoying their time alone, that's all, don't worry."
Anxiously Mary inquired, "How can I NOT worry? I have held back saying anything to you for a few days now, but I sincerely feel it is time to take action!"
After passing a few residents in the tunnels, Mary confidentially whispered, "May we speak where I will not be overheard?"
Entering Jacob's chamber to carry on their conversation more privately, Jacob invited Mary to continue.
Nervously, she wrung her hankie in her hands, and hesitantly asked, "I cannot stop wondering...what if something went terribly wrong?"
Inquisitively, Jacob asked, "What do you mean? What could have gone wrong? Vincent's hiking skills are extremely well honed."
Blushing Mary replied, "It is not his hiking skills I am concerned about."
Realizing, Mary's concerns were more in the realm of marital relations, Jacob cleared his throat and said, "Ehemm...Mary...I think I understand what you are getting at...suffice it to say...you needn't be concerned, I have counseled them in that area."
Unaware such a discussion occurred, Mary blared, "And you didn't tell me about it?"
To which he exclaimed, "It was confidential!"
Hurtfully, she contended, "Still, I feel as though you should have told me! Do you know I have been secretly concerned about this issue, since they became engaged?"
Exasperated by Mary's expectations for him to know she had been worried, Jacob asked, "How could I know? I am not a mind reader!"
Curtly she responded by straightening her stance, and pouted, "Well, I have been worried...and extremely so."
Seeing his only way out was to apologize, Jacob gathered all his metal, and questionably said, "Accept my apologies for...err...for I suppose not telling you about a confidential conversation I had between my son, and his wife?"
Not picking up on Jacob's sarcastic apology attempt, she replied, "That's all right, I know you can't think of everything all the time...however normally...you are so in tune with all the goings on around here."
Jacob looked at Mary, stunned she didn't get it, and managed to turn it all around and attack his mental sharpness! EVEN...after he had made a sacrificing concession to her, for the sake of trying to get along. Shaking his head, Jacob thought to himself, it would seem that for certain...no good deed goes unpunished.
Mary then raised another issue, and worriedly asked, "What if something else happened? What if they fell off the edge of a crag or something! Or what if Paracelsus kidnapped them!"
Mary continued to drone on, providing other possible mishaps, until she successfully peaked Jacob's concerns too.
Mindfully scratching his chin, he finally agreed, saying, "Perhaps we could make sure all IS well..."
He then informatively told Mary, about Vincent and William's arrangement. Telling her, they had chosen a point where additional provisions would be left after a certain number of days.
Thoughtfully Jacob suggested, "Perhaps...we should speak to William for specific details."
Eagerly Mary clapped her hands together, and said, "Yes, I agree, talking to William seems like the proper course of action."
The two of them quickly headed for the Dining Hall, scheming a workable plan along the way.
Cleverly, Jacob suggested, he could instruct the sentry, who would be delivering the supplies, to remain on site, making sure Vincent and Catherine were in good health when they pick up their food.
Just as Mary, and Jacob rounded the corner, they crossed paths with Mouse, who was wheeling a well stocked wooden cart.
Urgently, Mary asked, "Is that for Vincent and Catherine?"
After Mouse said it was, Jacob and Mary looked at each other, both thinking, "Just in the nick of time!"
They then spoke to Mouse, explaining their concerns, when in conclusion, Jacob vehemently instructed, "Now Mouse...under no circumstances are you to speak with Vincent and Catherine...or let them know you are there...after all, we don't want to disrupt their privacy, or..."
Mouse butted in, and in a sing-song fashion, cautioned, "Or be spied on! Not sure Vincent will like you asking me to spy on them."
In an attempt to manipulate the sound of this covert mission, Jacob anxiously corrected Mouse by giddily explaining, "No, no, no Mouse, we're not spying! Rather, merely checking on them, making sure they are all right."
Trying to help, Mary added, "Think of it as being a secret Sentry! Yes, merely a secret HONEYMOON Sentry, who is making sure they are safe and sound!"
Deceptively, Mary then added, "Of course if this is too difficult a task to go undetected, well Father and I understand...perhaps Zach could go instead Father..."
Not wanting to be upstaged by Zach, Mouse quickly said he would go, but as he declared so, he shrugged his shoulders, contending it still sounded like spying to him. But, because it was for Vincent's welfare, he was happy to be included in any mission to help him.
So slyly he added, "Don't worry, Catherine and Vincent won't see Mouse! Won't even know Mouse is there!"
Meanwhile, farther below the city streets, deeper still at the crag's bathing conclave, Vincent sat on the bank of the pure running spring water pool, totally transfixed, as he watched Catherine wash her hair. A moment more passed, before he sensually inquired, "Are you using your rosemary shampoo Catherine?"
Smiling at her husband, as she enticingly worked up the lather in her hair, said, "Of course, I know how much you love the scent of it."
As she rinsed out the last of the bubbles, Vincent huskily replied, "You DO know what I love, and continue to please me so."
Swimming gracefully toward him, she came to the bank's edge, to appealingly say, "That is my plan Vincent...for the rest of your life."
She then invitingly asked, "Come, and swim with me..."
With a smile in his eyes, he said he would love to inhabit the water with her. He then stood and looked so powerfully massive as he gazed downward into the pool at her. Gingerly, he then dove into the water beside her.
Long after the appropriate amount of time passed since Vincent should have surfaced, Catherine nervously looked down into the dark water all around her, and began to plead, "Come on...where are you Vincent?"
Catherine's heart began to race, becoming more, and more anxious as the seconds ticked by. Frantically she called out his name, and then louder still called out once more!
Sensing Catherine was upset, Vincent sportingly burst through the water's surface, and as he wiped the water from his face, he asked, "What's wrong Catherine?"
To which his wife scolded, "That wasn't funny!" And swam away from him.
A totally perplexed Vincent, caught up with her on the bank, and asked why she was upset with him.
As her ire gave way to tears, she explained, "Because Vincent! It frightened me when you stayed under the water so long!"
Feeling badly he caused Catherine concern, he wholeheartedly apologized, but explained he thought she knew it was his ability to stay under water for a long length of time.
Saying she DID know, but for what ever reason, it frightened her this time, as she began to imagine all sorts of piteous scenarios.
As she looked up at him, he seemed so little boy-like, making it difficult for Catherine to keep any sort of a peeved façade going. Though still attempting to, she firmly asked him to swear, not to do that again.
Taking her into his arms, he intently looked at her, and said he would never intentionally frighten her for the world, and begged for forgiveness.
Wiping her tears away, she began to embarrassingly giggle, realizing, she may have over-reacted a little bit. Holding him tightly, she went on to lovingly witness how much she loved, and needed him, and she never wanted anything bad to ever happen to him.
Sweetly, he leaned his head upon hers, and soothingly said, "Don't worry...nothing bad will happen to me, not as long as you are on this earth caring for me as you do."
She then looked up at him, as if he was her refuge, and with all her heart, trusted what Vincent decreed was so.
The look in her eyes, revealed the intense faith she held and was empowering to him. He then thought back on the very day he first received her trust, and knew that was the day...his life had changed forever.
With downcast eyes, Catherine disappointedly said, "I wish I wouldn't have gotten upset...we were having such a nice day."
Vincent slightly smiled, as he lifted her chin to assure her, "We are still having a nice day."
Happy with his nurturing reply, she looked so irresistible to him, as she flirtatiously asked, "So you're not put out with me for being a worry wart?"
In an attempt to convince her, Vincent kissed her hand, this perfect woman who he loved more than life, and said, "I am not put out with you, and I know you cannot contain your concern for me. And may I say, you are the loveliest worry wart I have ever seen."
Catherine laughed at his curiously worded compliment and Vincent then took her tenderly in his arms, until they were both back on track again.
It wasn't long, until they both had to admit they were really hungry!
After dressing, Vincent told her, "Seeing you there, so lovely, makes it difficult to leave for the provisions."
Contentedly sighing, Catherine stretched and said, "Oh my, your ready to go? I'm going with you...just give me one minute."
Answering he would gladly wait, as he would love her company on the hike. Easing himself down to wait, he helplessly shook his head as he lamented, "Dear Catherine, what am I to do when we go home? I don't know if I will be able to return to any semblance of normalcy after these days of heaven with you."
With a smile, Catherine decreed, "Our normalcy will be heaven Vincent...I promise you."
After Catherine readied herself, Vincent then lead Catherine on their hike, to the drop off site.
To be continued
Chapter Two
