“What a fine washday this has turned out to be! And lucky me, being able to lug this heavy load, in this wretched heat down to the river. Why did I have to offer to help Thalia? Because she has sprained her ankle and I being the idiot I am, sought to remove this burden from her so that she may rest.” Daphne spoke out loud without fear of anyone hearing her as she lumbered down the path that would lead her to the washing area at the river.
“Why is it that I always choose the wrong times to be of help? This day is so unbelievably warm and washing these clothes will just make me warmer. What am I thinking? I will be in the water and that is sure to be cool and refreshing. Maybe I could even go for a swim when my chore is done. Ha, if only I knew how to swim.”
Daphne placed the large basket of clothes on a rock by the river edge. A beautiful laurel tree stood by the bank of the river creating a shady area just near the cleared beach. She ran back to the keep quickly and grabbed a basket containing her lunch. She knew she would be at this task a while.
Having retrieved her basket she set it beneath the laurel tree and spread a blanket for her to sit on after finishing her work. The tree provided the perfect place to lie after working hard and taking a refreshing dip in the river. She never learned to swim so she stayed by the rocks where she cleaned the clothes. A slightly deeper area nestled near the cleaning spot. There she felt safe from the danger of the river. She tucked her long red hair in a bun on top of her head. She tied up her dress so that her long legs could get wet but not her clothes. Daphne still debated on taking them off.
Soaking in the water on this hot day would be lovely and safe. All the men had left the keep to attend a meeting in some town two day’s travel. They left yesterday. Last night, Thalia decided to make a joke and danced at the hearty laughter of her audience. It happened then. She twisted her ankle as her foot hit the step on the landing.
“And here I am. Doing her chores. I really shouldn’t be complaining. I love the water and would not have found an excuse to come here today. So I suppose I should thank my friend.” Daphne thought as she worked the clothes clean. Water splashed up at her and she wiped her face dry. Almost done, she placed the last item in a basket on a rock. “I will be sure to thank her when I return after my lunch and soak.”
“I shall thank her also.”
“Who said that?” Daphne spun around, looking everywhere to find where the voice had come from and in doing so her hair fell free from her bun. There was no one there. Daphne stood with no fear, her red hair flowing down past her waist, curling at the ends. A crow sat on the branch of the laurel, the only creature around. She knew that could not be what had spoken. A man’s voice spoke to her. “Where are you? Show yourself”
It spoke again, “You remind me of my very own first love. Her name the same as yours, Daphne, a nymph. Her hair, red like yours, seemed to glisten with all the colors of a sunrise, as does yours. Her eyes the color of smoky quartz twinkled when she laughed. And her laughter touched my soul.”
“Who are you? Why are you telling me this? Please show yourself.” Daphne stood transfixed as a man appeared on her blanket in the place of the crow that had flown onto it. She didn’t even realize he knew her name so startled she felt.
“I have shown myself to you. Are you frightened, my sweet?”
‘I’m not sure if I am frightened or just seeing things. My imagination tends to run away from me at times. I can’t figure out where you came from. So you could be real and then again, it is hot today.” She spoke to the gorgeous man before her. He stood slightly taller than her and she is tall. He moved toward her from the shade of the tree as if her gaze spoke for her, beckoning him closer for a better look. She gasped. He was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. Golden blond hair, green eyes the color of emeralds and a lovely tan that looked like it didn’t stop at his shirt. His shirt, open to his waste, moved with the warm breeze that played with it. She could tell that his chest was magnificent. “I can only wonder how I could have created something so amazing.”
He tossed his head back and laughed. The laughter, pleasing to her ears, relaxed her. “You, my lovely one, make me laugh. I have not done that in a long time. You have not created me. I am real and stand here before you.”
Daphne looked at him tilting her head slightly from side to side. She still could not be sure this man was not of her imagination. He was too beautiful by far. His clothing was not what the men from here wore, his legs were covered with leather buckskins, his shirt was lighter than that made around here, so fine was the material. Her fingers itched to touch the magnificent material and skin for that matter. His skin gold as his hair looked smooth. Her hands rose slightly to touch him.
I must gain control of myself. Here stands a man unlike any I have ever seen and he has told me that he is indeed a man. I should tell him to leave. Yes that is what I will do.
“You, sir, should go. You can see that I am alone and it is not proper for you to be here with me. Please leave.” A feather dropped in front of her. She stooped to claim it. When she rose, he no longer stood before her. The crow flew from a branch on the laurel. “Well, I asked nicely, he must be a true gentleman.”
She walked to the laurel and sat on her blanket in the same spot the man stood not moments before. Daphne ate part of her sandwich and some of her wine. She wanted to get into the water. Her blood boiled with the images of the golden man fresh in her mind.
Feeling enough time had passed and truly she sat alone, she removed her clothes and placed them carefully on the blanket where they would not get wet. Walking quickly into the water, shock quickly changed to tranquility. Daphne leaned up against the large rock.
“I have never been called a gentle man before, but I like how it sounds from you lips.”
Daphne jumped startled by the voice, though now familiar and touching her heart, still sent shivers down her spine. She covered herself. “Why have you returned?”
“You are a bold one. Naked as the day you were born, but ready to face me down. I was warm and sought to cool off in the river. I did not realize you were still here. I promise I would do nothing to harm you. I will be the gentle man you spoke of. I would like to be refreshed in the water, do you mind?”
Do I mind? Wait, I shouldn’t. “If you were a gentleman you wouldn’t even ask to join a lady in such a position as I am in. Though I do admit it is a hot day and would be rude to send you away again. I will turn away as you get undressed. You stay over there. I stay here.” That should be safe enough.
“I am not shy. But if you are more comfortable, you may turn away.”
The splash made her turn. He rose out of the water and shook the water from his hair. His skin glistened with sparkling droplets of water. “You are daring my lovely. This water is very refreshing. You are lucky only I have come by today.”
“The men from the keep are away. No one will bother me.” Oh, smart one Daphne, now he knows know one can come to your rescue. Maybe he is a gentleman. “Other than you.”
“The water over here is nice, don’t you want to swim rather than sit in the rocky area there? I promise not to bother you.”
