Past Time

19 - Don't Look Back

Before me lay the most gorgeous landscape I had ever seen. It was an overfilling garden with hundreds of flowers and thick vines were stretched across the walls. There was an arch above us made of vines and a fountain sat in the midst of it all.

The specks of light peeking through the arch sprinkled across the grass and our skin. "Welcome to Regents' park," Edmund whispered in my ear, making me shiver a bit at his close proximity. I turned to look at him in awe, "Where did you find this place?!"

He sat down at a stone bench, looking at the fountain with a peaceful smile on his face and he gestured for me to sit down next to him. My heart thudded in my ears as I sat down next to him, appreciating the view.

"Look how beautiful the view is," Edmund sighed as he gazed at the garden's surroundings.

"Yes the view is beautiful," I smirked a little as I stared at him openly instead of the garden, admiring the light casting an almost golden look on him.

"I go here all the time to think. It helps me be creative with my inventions," he laughed as he studied the roses, not meeting my eyes. I was always spending my life learning about the serious matters of the world. I was trained to fight and to carry out secretive missions, but I never took the time to appreciate the simple things of life.

He almost looked ethereal sitting there. "Well does this place have any secret passages?" I asked abruptly, cocking my head at him teasingly. A mischievous grin crept onto his face.

"Hmm is there?"

"Well there's only one way to find out."

And so Edmund and I searched the garden for any small spaces or openings. I don't know what had gotten into me, but I SWEAR THIS PLACE HAS A SECRET. Edmund searched the grove with me as I looked under bushes. Instead of finding a hidden door like in Narnia, I found a scared rabbit staring back at me.

I left the bush alone and looked for Edmund. I found him near one of the big oak trees, staring thoughtfully at something. I came up behind him.

"What are you looking at?" I asked, confused.

"Here give me a rock."

I had no clue what he was doing, but I picked up a pebble and handed it to him wordlessly. He chucked it at the vine covered wall. It made a THONK noise as it clattered to the ground. He picked up another rock and threw it at another wall. This time making a CHCK noise.

He grinned at me excitingly, "Did you hear that?!"

I looked at him with widened eyes. I was joking about the whole secret door thing, but whatever floats his boat.

I inched closer to the wall and knocked on it. He was right. This wall was hollow. He pushed the leafy vines aside and to our amazement, there was a small opening enough to fit a whole person.

Edmund and I shared an excited glance. I felt my heart thudding once again when he brushed past me to inspect the opening. Stop this madness, I pleaded to my stupid heart.

Edmund stepped aside once we entered and we were both out of words. The opening led to a shrub-wall-enclosed area that was adorned with trees and flower bushes that actually shimmered, they had small grains of sparkling light dancing around them and it all seemed surreal. The grass seemed like a soft green carpet and an occasional poppy poked from the ground.

Off to the side there was a stone bench like the others only this one was littered with overgrown vines at the legs of the bench, suggesting this area wasn't gardened often.

We approached the bench, not uttering a word to each other as we took in the dreamland before us. We sat and after a moment I broke the silence.

"I didnt expect to actually find a secret passage but this is... its just..." I couldn't find the right word but Edmund finished my sentance. "Magnificent." I smiled at him.

"I guess this is our secret now."

"I have so many ideas running through my head. This garden inspires me way more than the other one," Edmund said, still in awe.

I watched him carefully as he picked up pieces of grass and started weaving them together. He then plucked a few daisies and started weaving them with the grass as well. I didn't know what he was doing as I studied his concentrated face.

I gasped as I realized what he made when he was done.

It was a mini butterfly made of grass and it's delicate wings made out of the daisies.

"Do you like it? I used to make them for my sisters all the time," Edmund looked shy for a second.

"Wow it's utterly amazing!!" I exclaimed as I picked up his butterfly ornament carefully. It was beautifully crafted and there were even tiny details I didn't notice. There were little antennas and legs.

"Edmund you really are talented," I gazed at him appreciatively.

A blush rose on his cheeks as he gave me a small smile.

"Do you mind if I hang it here?" I asked him as I approached a tall gorgeous tree with flowers and vines decorating it's trunk and roots. Edmund stood up and walked to the tree. I balanced myself on the tree roots and delicately hung the butterfly on one of its branches.

Edmund stood behind me in case I couldn't reach it.

As I jumped down next to him, we both looked at the butterfly dangling down from one of the tree's branches with the light hitting it just right, almost making it glow.

"Let's name him Fred."

"Okay."

We shared a look and laughed at my absurdity.

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It's been so long since we updated, but we're trying our best to make this book amazing !! This was a pretty great romantic chapter I must say. We hope you enjoyed sweet precious Edmund 😂😂