I could feel my shoulder being shaken gently.
"Come on Week. We're here."
I opened my eyes slowly, the light from the coach stung as the shapes around me came into focus. I sat up and stretched, trying to wake my body.
"You were making some really cute noises while you were sleeping you know." Coach grinned.
I can't believe he went straight on the attack after I had just woken up, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I snore sometimes."
"It wasn't so much snoring...but talking? I could only make out a few words....something about a coach, and how you really, really like it. You can't be on about this battered old thing." He smirked.
"I bet I didn't say any of that!"
"I swear!" He grinned. He knew exactly how to push my buttons, I launched his coat at him.
"Come one, you said we're here!" I pushed against him but he barely budged.
"Ooohhhh you're grumpy when you wake up. I forgot about that." He smiled, clearly not put off by my less than pleasant attitude.
"Want me to carry you to the falls your highness?" He laughed as he raised himself to his feet.
"You can throw yourself into the falls if you like?" I grinned up at him.
He grabbed his chest.
"Ow my poor heart! There's going to be a new Icelandic saga about this! The handsome giant who's heart was broken so he threw himself into Kirkjufellsfoss."
I shrugged.
"I don't know, I heard the giant was actually a troll."
He leaned in so he could whisper in my ear.
"If I'm a troll I'll have to make you my troll king."
I pushed back from him, he looked so smug. He always knew how to push it so far I couldn't possibly respond.
"Come on! The coach is empty, you're always making us late!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me up from the seats.
The wind outside had picked up and was a lot stronger than before, snow was falling gently from the sky. It felt like ages since I'd felt the cold caresses of snow flakes on my skin.
The road from the car park wound its way down towards a small wooden bridge, as we crossed I could hear water crashing to my right.
I lent over the wooden guardrail to view the falls crashing below us. They weren't anywhere near as high as any of the other falls I had seen but they were still impressive in their own way, more charming than powerful.
"Come on, this isn't the right angle to view it from!"
Coach pulled me gently across the bridge, we made our way down beside the falls and I suddenly saw what he meant.
The smaller falls cascaded down, crashing into a river that flowed down and off into the distance which would have been beautiful alone but off in the distance behind the falls stood a large, imposing mountain. The mountain was an almost perfect cone and was the perfect backdrop for the falls.
Coach made his way to the edge and sat down, clearly not bothered by the damp ground. He dangled his legs over the edge and I followed suit. The gentle spray of the falls could be felt on my cheeks. I placed my hand on top of Coach's as we sat next to each other. The sky darkened as stars began to flicker to life, the snow started falling heavier too.
We must've been sat for ages, again just enjoying being close to each other.
"I wish I could enjoy views like this all the time." I finally broke the silence.
"I wish I could enjoy views like this with you all the time." Coach looked toward me, his eyes glossy, I felt a weight in the pit of my stomach.
"I..I..." I couldn't say anything. I just sighed and lowered my head. I span my head as I heard the rest of the group moving away.
"Come on, let's head back before we get left behind." I stood up and held my hand out to Coach but he just sat staring into the falls.
"Coach...." the weight in my stomach seemed to grow.
I heard him sniff before he stood up and turned to me with a smile. I could still see the remains of tears in the corners of his eyes.
Seeing he was upset, but knowing there was nothing I could do, hurt. He took my hand in his as we moved back up the path towards the coach.
The three hour drive back to the hotel was spent mainly in silence as Coach fell asleep this time. There was no way he would have fit across the seats laying down so his head rested on my shoulder. My arm lost all sense of feeling but I didn't mind.
Every so often he would flinch, I could only guess he was having a nightmare.
I grabbed his hand gently and squeezed to let him know I was here, it seemed to sooth him even if only for those few seconds.
