Chereads / The southern reach / Chapter 5 - The Enchanted Clearing

Chapter 5 - The Enchanted Clearing

Nina gives Dan an enchanted kiss.

Nina suddenly stopped and looked up at Dan with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"You know, there's a place around here that's said to be full of magic," whispering, her voice barely audible over the rustling leaves and the babbling of the spring.

Dan's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Really? What's it called?" questioning, is it a game? His voice filled with excitement.

Nina leaned closer, her voice carrying a conspiratorial tone. "It's a secret place, known only to a chosen few. Some say it's hidden deep within the forest, where the trees grow tallest and the shadows are darkest. They call it... 'The Grove of Dreams'."

Dan's eyes widened even further, his imagination brimming with possibilities. "Wow, that sounds incredible!" he exclaimed. "I've always been fascinated by magic and the supernatural. Can we make our way there?"

Nina nodded, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Of course. But you must promise me one thing: you must believe in the magic of this place, no matter what you see or experience. For it is said that those who doubt the power of The Grove of Dreams will never truly find It."

Nina leans closer, her voice carrying a conspiratorial tone. "It's a secret place, known only to a chosen few. Some say it's hidden deep within the forest, where the trees grow tallest and the shadows are darkest. They call it... 'The Grove of Dreams'."

Dan's eyes widen even further, his imagination brimming with possibilities. "Wow, that sounds incredible!" he exclaims. "I've always been fascinated by magic and the supernatural. Can we make our way there?"

Nina nods, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "Of course. But you must promise me one thing: you must believe in the magic of this place, no matter what you see or experience. For it is said that those who doubt the power of The Grove of Dreams will never truly find It."

Without a word, Nina takes Dan's hand and leads him deeper into the forest, the trees growing taller, and the air thickening with anticipation as they approach the mysterious location. As they enter the heart of The Grove of Dreams, sunlight seems to dim, replaced by a soft, ethereal glow that dances among the branches like the northern lights on a summer evening. And in that moment, Dan knows he is in a place of true wonder and reverence, where anything is possible if you believe.

With a smile, Nina announces that they have arrived.

You must promise me that you'll close your eyes and not open them until I say so. Dan eagerly promises.

Nina leads Dan to the center of the glade and has him sit down. Softly, she sings a song, whispering alternately in one ear and then the other.

An enchanted fairy,

a magical night,

dancing around you,

my sweet,

Filling you with feelings, strong and light

At last, when you least expect it

I'll kiss you,

and you'll be mine, possesed.

When Nina finishes singing, she leans forward and gives Dan a loving kiss. Dan keeps his eyes closed and enjoys the moment.

"Mmm, that was a wonderful kiss. Was it an enchanted fairy who did it?"

Nina responds with laughter, "No, it was just a dream you had. But now we're here, in this wonderful glade, together."

After the kiss, Dan experiences a mix of emotions. He's surprised by the sudden turn of events, receiving a kiss from Nina, so unexpected, and the fact that he enjoyed the kiss. He didn't dare hope that Nina would want to kiss him, and yet it happened.

At the same time, Dan also feels a bit uncertain about what just happened. He doesn't want to ruin their friendship.

He can't help but feel drawn to Nina. He catches himself wanting to spend more time with her, get to know her better, and explore the possibility of a relationship. He decides to take things slowly and see where it goes, hoping that their friendship can evolve into something more.

A brief silence follows, during which Dan and Nina only hear the sound of the wind and the birds around them.

Nina hopes she hasn't been too forward, but she hopes that Dan enjoyed her playfulness. She looks at Dan with uncertainty, and he responds with a questioning tone, saying, "If you close your eyes, maybe you'll get a kiss too?"

"A kiss?" Nina says expectantly, "from a magical forest creature?"

"Just close your eyes, and you might experience it," Dan suggests. Nina closes her eyes, feeling the anticipation building.

Dan gently leans closer to her and lightly nuzzles her neck. "It's an elf sniffing you," he whispers, then he softly kisses her on the lips.

Nina smiles broadly after the kiss. "That was amazing! I can't believe I just got a kiss from an elf!" she exclaims.

"This is truly a magical glade," Dan remarks.

"Absolutely," Nina agrees, giggling happily, smiling and then wraps her arm around his shoulder.

"Come, let's continue and find more to explore."

  Dan looks into her eyes with a smile on his lips, wondering what she means. Nina, still smiling:

"I've heard there's an incredible place a bit further along the trail, a marsh where rare birds tend to gather. I'd like to see it."

Dan, filled with a mix of emotions, to explore nature with Nina, and they've just shared an enchanting kiss. He's tempted to continue the intimate moment. The tension in the air is palpable as they stand close to each other, and Dan hesitates for a moment. He would like to suggest they stay a while longer and, find more to explore, but he's also aware that there's more adventure to experience. After a short silence, he meets her gaze and gives her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"We also need to get back to our backpacks so the trolls don't snatch them!" as a fitting end to the tale of the glade.