The Warmth of the Evening Sun

There they laid. The two of them. The warm autumn sun embracing them, giving warmth on an otherwise cold and exhausting day. It was late in the day and to let their minds wander and escape the mundane restraints of the royal day in day out, the two girls had decided to go catch some nice fresh air outside, in the sunny fall afternoon. And so now they laid there, stretched out in the middle of the gravel path that made up the courtyard. Even though they were bound to get dirty and the ground was coarse on their backs, neither of them minded it. They bunched up their skirts and planted themselves under the old chestnut that stood out front of the castle. Un wavering, it had stood the test of time, reaching far above the castles walls. Standing so very still and whise, it looked over the girls.
As the golden rays peeking through the leaves of the chestnut trees touched their faces and bathed them in a soothing almost bodily warmth, the feeling of comfort washed over them. Gazing up at the sky that was hiding behind the glowing orange and lemon leaves, they talked. About trivial things. They talked about the weather, or what it might be like tomorrow and the day after that. What the wind might bring. They talked about what they might do this autumn and what they might do in years future. If they'd ever get to do those thing they so dreamed of. But they also talked about other things.
As the ebb and flow of the conversation carried them they also got to topics like love and the events deeply connecting them with others, were they going to last? The stream further carried them on and so they talked about the life that trapped them in these walls. How it was not their hight that frightened them but their creators. How love, being both so beautiful and universal could also be so cruel.

There was no special occasion to talk about these things, but they felt safe in each-others company, it gave comfort and so as they carried on it did not even matter anymore what the conversation was about. Wether it was what flavour of cake the other liked or if they thought that they would ever find their passion. The connection behind the mundane use of words mattered more than the words spoken. As though all they were was a vessel. So as the breeze swept away their worries and the words grew fewer they did not even mind the silence. In the quiet time passed around them, but for them it did not. In the few glances and the admiring looks, there laid a bond. Though their eyes never met and their fingers never touched, the sheer desire and knowing the other was there, sharing one and the same thought there was enough. It was a connection that no-one could take. They both knew that even when this gentle moment of serene comfort might pass the bond would stay, no matter how many denied it. So as the afternoon lend itself to the evening, their hands grew closer and closer and finally moments before the day had passed, they got the courage and let their fingers interlock. At that Moment there was no need for the suns warmth anymore, for they themselves had overcome the castle walls and done the impossible. A sudden strange new feeling of warmth filled them both. It connected to every part of their souls and enveloped all their worries and doubts. Such an overwhelming wave of comfort radiating from every inch of their being. Their hearts both beating faster than ever, they dared to look at each other at once. As the sun finally traversed the horizon line and their grip tightened, the slight chuckle of relief now broke the silence, and with it washing away any fear that resided in their hearts. This enormous weight finally having been lifted off their chests, they could be free in the end after all. Free together. Free of the expectations and responsibilities they once carried. Liberated from the stress that uncertainty had brought they took the leap and the chains that society had put on them finally snapped.