“Ye would dae that?”
Nathan grinned. “That’s the least that I can dae.”
The innkeeper provided very useful information on how to reach one of the only sections of beach that was suitable for swimming purposes. It didn’t take long at all for Nathan and Freya to make their way down there.
Given the concerns she had brought up, he truly felt he might feel some type of way looking out over the pretty emerald water, but he felt nothing. There was no fear, nor apprehension coiling in his gut. It was merely just water they were looking at, the waves swelling and cresting in the breeze.
The tension started to fade from his shoulders, surprising him by just how at ease he felt given the current circumstances. The gulls overhead making their calls, pleading with him for bread or other food that he simply did not have. He slowly started tountuck his shirt, relishing the warm sun on every bit of exposed skin as he folded his shirt and placed it on a nearby flat rock.
“So, why did ye never learn to swim?”
“Well, apart from the fear, I was never truly allowed to wander from the convent as a child,” Freya said as she pushed slightly closer to the shoreline.
Nathan smiled gently at her, placing an encouraging hand on her shoulder. “What is it about the water that scares ye so? I’ll nae let anything happen tae ye, I promise.”
She nodded. It warmed his heart to know that she had already come to trust him so completely. “I’m nae sure… it’s just so large. I think it’s feeling so very small and powerless.”
Made all the worse by the state she had found him in after all of this.
Nathan’s encouraging smile grew as he moved closer to her, pulling at the lacing on the back of her gown. Freya whipped around.
“What are ye daeing?”
“Dae ye want tae get yer dress all wet and heavy with sand?” Nathan offered, his voice dropping slightly lower than he meant for it to. He pulled his own boots and other outer garments and placed them on the rock with his shirt. He reached for her dressas she timidly pulled it off her shoulders and handed it to him. For a moment, she attempted to wrap her arms around herself in an attempt to protect her modesty, her shift doing little to cover her body, and then thought better about it.
She slipped off her shoes and extended her hand toward him. He took the boots, placed them down, and then held out his hand to her as well, cupping her palm with his own as he started toward the water. The closer they got, the tighter she held on to his hand. Not that he minded.
“It’s all right, ye can stand here. There’s almost nae current. Nothing to worry about.” He said confidently and she nodded, taking small steps further into the waves. Slowly he walked backward with her deeper into the water until it was around her waist.
“It’s nae as cold as I thought it would be.”
“Nae this close to shore during this time of year,” Nathan agreed. “The first and most important skill that ye need to learn is how to keep yer head above water, and then ye need to ken how to float. Swimming can be tiring and should something happen, ye need to be able to float and rest.”
She nodded, and it seemed that the practical knowledge was helping a great deal.
“Remember, I’m nae going to let anything happen tae ye.” Nathan assured her, pulling her closer to his body as he started to explain the steps to help her float. He would have showed herby example first, but she didn’t seem to want to let go of his hand any more than he wanted to stop touching her either.
“Ye need to relax yer muscles. Just allow the water tae carry ye. The salt will help keep ye above the swells, but ye cannae fight it,” Nathan continued, and little by little, Freya started to relax in his arms. “That’s it, that’s a good lass, ye’ll be swimming laps around me in nae time.”
Freya smiled, the sunlight turning her skin a pretty pink, making it difficult for him to look away.
“This is the first time I’ve ever managed tae relax this way,” Freya admitted, her eyes still closed as the sun shone on her face. Slowly, he pulled his hands away from her back where he had been keeping her balanced upright and closer to him.
“I’m glad tae have helped.” Nathan said softly. There was no way he was ever going to be able to properly repay her for everything that she had done for him, but he was sure as hell going to try. He smiled and spoke with pride. “Look, ye’re floating all on yer own.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Back in their room, Freya had cleaned up and was sitting in front of the fire wrapped up in a blanket to stave off the sea’s chill from her bones. They had lost track of the time out there in the water together. She was a very fast learner, though, and was already learning the basics of swimming. He couldn’t think of a better way to have spent his afternoon.
He was sitting beside her, watching the way the firelight danced over her pale skin. They had a nice dinner in front of them, good bread, meat, and cheese and they were hungry after all the day’s activity.
They would be embarking on their journey soon.
All their wet clothes were laid out in front of the fire, draped over the various items to make sure that everything was dry and ready for their departure.
“Are ye feeling homesick at all?” He asked.
Freya glanced at him and shook her head, and then focused back on the fire instead. “Surprisingly nae, I dinnae think that I am.”
