Magical

Humphrey looked out through the carriage window watching how people went about their business. Children played round, chasing after one another in happiness. Men pushing carts with goods on it while women gossiping and working at the same time.

The village was lively and cheerful.

Humphrey couldn't even recall taking a stroll around town to greet people and see how they were faring.

Seated on the opposite seater facing him, Gladys had her eyes on him. She couldn't look away when he was finally before her, his spectacles made him look more charming in her eyes.

God, she wanted to tell him how she felt.

But she felt he might not like her approach, she huffed and had a sad look in her eyes.

She tore her gaze off him with difficulty, her heart was hurting at how he couldn't even look at her or even talk to her.

It was so unfair...

"How is Theon?" Gladys' eyes swiftly shifted to him but she had a calm look. Inwardly she was looking for a good excuse.

"He's good."

"How about Celeste and Nero?"

He watched her with keen eyes and she stared back at him with the same intensity, she wasn't going to back down when he was finally giving her attention.

"They are doing great."

He held her gaze, watching and observing her behind his glasses. He turned silent but his eyes never left hers.

"How are you?"

She couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise at his unexpected question. Her heart was jubilating.

"I'm good."

"Are you sure?" He could sense she was not being truthful. He lifted his hand and used his index finger in adjusting his spectacles at his nose bridge.

"Why would you think am not sure?"

She had a slight frown and curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"You got easily annoyed at Nero's auction the last time we met and later I and Celeste found you in Nero's arms...you didn't seem alright to me. And when I saw you in my private room, you looked upset...even now I can sense it, what's the matter Gladys?"

Gladys tried as much as she could to act natural, now this was the Humphrey she had been looking for. The Humphrey who cared a lot and made sure she was alright by all means.

"You upset me."

Silence reigned after she answered his question. His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to say something but they closed again as if he was unsure on what to say.

"How did I upset you Gladys?"

"You always avoid me with the excuse of being busy, you were never like this Humphrey. We always had time for each other."

He kept quiet knowing he had offended her so much, she had a sullen look which he didn't like.

"Forgive me."

She nodded and looked away without saying anything again to him. Humphrey took this opportunity to capture her pretty face in his mind.

However, the carriage stopped and he opened the door before stepping out.

He offered his hand to her and she took it before gracefully stepping out. The light breeze of the environment gently blew her small strands of hair and she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of it against her skin.

Humphrey admired her as they both stood outside the borders of Pristine Shaw on the green pastures surrounded by trees at a distance.

"Do you remember when we always come out here yo play?"

She opened her eyes when she heard what Humphrey said and she grinned.

"Of course."

Her eyes glimmered when an idea came to her mind. Humphrey's lips curved upward at her reaction and for some seconds she basked in his rare smile. How perfect his smile was.

The wind blew with much force at them, blowing her dress slightly and moving Humphrey's hair away from his forehead.

"Seems like the wind wants to play."

Gladys happily told him and she twirled round gracefully with her arms spread wide open. The wind came with so much force and went round her, causing her dress to turn with her, making a shiny circle. Her hair loosened and fell loosely to her shoulders.

Humphrey felt a strong pull of affection, it was so strong he felt like hugging her.

He snapped his left fingers and a purple spark similar to his eye colour glowed and when he waved his hand, light purple colored butterflies appeared in multiples and the wind pushed them to Gladys who was dancing like the wind. Her moves were graceful and light.

When she noticed the sparkling purple coloured butterflies dancing with her, she laughed and turned to look at him, he also had his eyes on her.

She instinctively lifted her hand and pushed a strand of her hair behind her left ear. Humphrey's lips parted and he let the wind push him to her magically.

All this while the coachman sat on the grass watching the beautiful display of magic with a wide grin. It was very entertaining to him like a theater play.

Gladys smiled mischievously when he was close to her, after all it was her doing which he was aware of.

The butterflies danced round both of them as they flapped their magical wings which released sparkling purple dust.

"Never knew you still had that touch."

She held his hands on hers and the wind lifted them from the ground while turning them.

"Why is that?"

He frowned slightly but the smile was still there which she very much appreciated.

She let go of his hands and twirled in the air while he watched her with longing. He wanted to still hold her hands so he moved with the wind and caught her by the waist causing her to be so close to him.

Her lips parted at his unforeseen actions, it made her heart bubble at the proximity. She looked up at him and he looked down at her innocent face.

They were still in the air, floating. It was very relaxing and soothing. Everything was magical.

"I have that touch whenever am with you," came his answer to her previous question and for a fleeting second Gladys froze at the words he spoke.

Without warning, Humphrey leaned in and landed a light kiss on her forehead and her heart fluttered.

He took her hand and twirled her, her smile stretched when he pulled her back to himself and they moved like feathers to the cool sound of the wind.

She recalled when they had done something similar to this, they laughed and chased each other. She would tease him by lifting him up with the wind and he would flail his arms trying to balance himself.

But now he was used to it, the wind and him were one. She had shown him how to dance with the wind multiple times when they were in their early youth. He was the only one who could move well with the wind amongst the four.

What he said earlier replayed in her mind again;

'I have that touch whenever am with you'

If only he loved her like the way Theon did. What if he did, she thought to herself.

Her light brown eyes searched his dark purple eyes, looking for a sign...something.

Amongst the four brothers he was the only one without an element which was something to ponder upon.

Humphrey searched her eyes too, it surprised him to see a hint of longing in them but he didn't want to get his hopes high. How he wished she felt the same way as him.

'Goodness! I love you so much Gladys'

His mind screamed what he felt but he never said it even though he wanted to.

Slowly she lowered them to the ground and the wind moved around them one last time before going away. Her hair covered her face and she was about to push it back but Humphrey beat her to it.

"We should do this more often Gladys."

He stated while gently pushing her brown hair backwards. He loved it when her hair fell loose to her shoulders. She looked more alluring and magnificent.

"We should," she agreed while watching him with her eyes. However, a clap pulled them out of their magical world and their heads turned in the direction of the noise.

It was the young coachman who gave them an applause. Gladys and Humphrey both burst into laughter, they had forgotten he was there all this while watching them.

"That was entertaining," he remarked and Gladys thanked him.

Feeling the urge to still be in her presence, Humphrey decided to plan something.

"Take a stroll with me Gladys."

He requested and she moved her gaze back to him in curiosity before nodding her head in agreement.

How couldn't she agree to the great offer from the man she secretly admired and loved.

He took her small slender hand in his and they strolled along the green pastures.

With her side eyes, Gladys stole glances at him stealthily. Not knowing he too was stealing glances at her.

'Gladys, I've tried so much to stay away from you so I could get over you, but the more I try to stay away the more I long to be close to you. You're like the early sunshine which lightens up my day...'

In his mind he said those words to her as they strolled across the meadow. The sun shone brightly on them as if it was happy for them.

'Humphrey, how on earth do I let you know how I feel right now. My heart always skip when I see you around...you're like a forbidden fruit I long to have a bite from, but I can't because I don't know what the outcome might be...'

Gladys said those words to him internally with bubbling emotions and she squeezed his hand lightly in hers.