Arranged: A Future Decided

Changes In Latitudes

June 17th, Maldives 

It was lunchtime when they finally got into their accommodations. They had a private villa booked for them, that was literally on the water. Eva couldn't keep the grin off her face as she stepped out onto the deck, breathing in the warm salt air. Nikolai was setting their bags down before he followed her out. 

"It's beautiful," He murmured, looking around and enjoying the breeze. 

"It really is. Let's go for a swim," Eva said with a smile, going back into the villa and opening a suitcase to fetch her swimsuit, changing into it. 

Nikolai had followed her in, digging through a suitcase to get a pair of swim trunks. He headed to the bathroom, throwing them on. He came back out, finding Eva on the deck, sunscreening herself. 

"What's that look for?" Eva asked as she rubbed the sunscreen into her skin, raising an eyebrow at Nikolai.

"You're putting on sunscreen," He stated, chuckling, "Why?"

Eva laughed at that, "What do you mean why? Five minutes out here without sunscreen and I'll be redder than a tomato. Regardless, everyone should wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. Are you telling me, you don't wear sunscreen?"

Nikolai chuckled and shook his head, "No. I don't burn, I just tan. I'm a quarter Chinese, min keltiskdronning."

"Come here, that's no excuse for not wearing sunscreen," Eva stated, shaking the can before grabbing Nikolai's arm and starting to sunscreen him.

Part of her doing this was to hide the fact that she was blushing at his endearment. It was a cute one as well, very cute. She continued to turn him around, covering him with the sunscreen.

"Here's the stick, use it for your face and ears," Eva instructed, already having done it herself. 

Nikolai chuckled, complying before he watched Eva, run towards the edge of the deck, diving into the crystalline water. He hurried over, seeing her having swum out ten yards at least before her head popped up above the water. She had a huge grin on her face as she turned in the water, sighing out. She truly lived and breathed the ocean and sea, especially the warm water. 

Nikolai chuckled, jumping into the water after her. "You know, in Denmark, we don't swim in the ocean as often. Mostly because it's cold," He stated as Eva swam over to him, "I don't understand how you can so easily swim amongst the waves!"

"Because I grew up swimming in the Mediterranean almost year-round. And Mt.Vesuvius helps to keep the waters warmer," Eva explained, shifting to float on her back, "When you have spent most of your life in the water, you have to become a strong swimmer."

Nikolai nodded, smiling at her. He watched as she turned once more, moving under the water with ease. He watched as she swam towards the stands of the building. 

"Are you opening your eyes underwater?" Nikolai asked when she resurfaced, she had to be given that she was swimming around the poles.

Eva looked a little confused at his question as she brushed her wet hair back, "Yeah."

"But you don't have goggles on. Don't your eyes sting?" Nikolai asked, paddling over to her, her eyes weren't even red.

"No. I've spent my whole life swimming in the ocean without goggles. The only time I wear them is when snorkeling and diving, to keep the sediment from getting in my eyes," Eva explained, chuckling as she swam to join him.

'Well, she just becomes more fascinating by the minute,' Nikolai thought as he smiled at her, gently reaching for her hand and drawing her close.

"I thought I was marrying a woman,  not a fish," He teased her gently, taking in how beautiful she looked, wet hair and all.

Eva smiled at the comment, looking down. "More like a selkie than a fish," She said softly, referring to the Scottish folk creature. 

He raised an eyebrow at that, smiling, "What is a selkie?" 

"A seal woman. She is a seal who can come onto land and shed her skin. They are said to be more beautiful than any goddess, with a voice more enchanting than a siren. There are tales of men falling in love with these women, and stealing their skins, and hiding them away so the selkie will marry the man. But, she spends her whole life on land longing to return to the sea," Eva explained, her hands on his strong shoulders as she looked at him.

"Ahh, like the Faroese folk tales of kopakonan. In that case, you are very much like a selkie," He mused, arms wrapping around her legs and waist. 

"So you are familiar with the tale of the seal-women," She smiled, arms wrapping around his neck before she leaned in and gently kissed him. 

Nikolai hummed in agreement, kissing her lovingly back. He was sure that she was the most amazing thing to walk the earth. They spent the next while swimming, before eating and settling onto the deck's couch, watching the sunset. 

"Tell me about Italy," Nikolai said softly, his arm around Eva as he sipped his pina colada. 

"Mmm, life is old there. Slow, everyone taking their time. There is no reason to hurry. And it's warm, so very warm. And amazingly colorful, between the rolling green, the sedimentary cliffs,  the blue of the sea, and then the red of the tile roofs. You can feel the history. From my bedroom, it looks out on the Bay of Naples and I can see the ships coming into harbor. And from the grounds, all you can see is rolling farmland and vineyards. And no matter where you're standing, Mount Vesuvius is there, rising above everything like a throne," Eva explained softly, shifting to be more comfortable in Nikolai's arms. 

Nikolai smiled as he listened to her tell of her home, "I can imagine it. It sounds beautiful, though I would be nervous about living in the shadow of a volcano. Especially, one that is active and known for such destructions."

Eva nodded, sipping her own drink, "It is at times. Mostly when we feel the earthquakes, then we are more hyperaware that we live on a fault line with a volcano. But, we have plans in case we need to evacuate. But it is absolutely lovely."

"It sounds like it, I hope to visit there with you soon," Nikolai said softly, kissing her head gently. 

They were easily becoming more at ease with each other, realizing how much care their parents had taken in their engagement. If time had shown they wouldn't be a good fit for each other, they wouldn't have gone through with everything. And perhaps, with time, they would truly learn to love each other no matter what happened. 

Holy shit, three days in a row?! That's insane. Mostly this is happening because I'm laid up with a bum ankle. Regardless, my lovelies, let me know what you think of this chapter and what you think is going to happen in the future. And please vote and as always, I will see you in the next chapter!