| Flora�s Secret Under the shade of a large tree, Christian lay in Satine�s lap, as they shared a bowl of fresh strawberries. The sun was shining overhead and puffy white clouds were scattered throughout the crystal blue sky. Christian had managed to take Satine away for the afternoon, insisting to the Duke that there was �rehearsing� to be done. She needed a break anyway, so he had surprised her with a picnic of egg salad sandwiches, strawberries and a pitcher of lemonade. Satine stretched her arms up over her head and gave a satisfied sigh. She then got up and began to look for wildflowers by the edge of a nearby pond. Christian smiled as she made her way through the unkempt grass and he took out his small, leather bound notebook that he always kept with him and began to write. After a few minutes, Satine returned with her hands behind her back. Christian put his notebook down and looked up at his angel, �what do you have behind your back?� he asked. Satine gave him a mischievous grin, �nothing,� she cooed. �Oh yes you do,� he said, trying to peek behind her back. Satine scooted out of the way and said, �Well, if you really want to know�� and flung some water at Christian that she had kept safely cupped behind her back. She immediately burst into fits of giggles as Christian wiped away the water that was dripping from his face. Satine checked to make sure he wasn�t mad and before she could read anything from the look on his face, he lunged out, trying to grab her ankles. She let out a girlish shriek and ran frantically around the meadow with Christian laughing close behind. �I�ll catch you yet, my little wood nymph!� he called out. After several moments of laughing and chasing, Satine ducked behind another large tree, trying to catch her breath. Several minutes passed and Satine started to get worried about Christian. She poked her head out from behind her hiding space and called out �Christian?� She took a few steps further and called again, �Christian?� She looked around and was about to call out again when she felt a pair of loving hands grab her waist and begin to playfully tickle her ribs. Satine delightfully squirmed in his grasp, she couldn�t remember ever having this much fun. Christian made her feel like a little girl again. She finally was able to turn around and say through giggles, �all right, all right, I�m sorry!� She leaned and gave him a kiss that started out soft and sweet, but desire quickly took over and they soon found themselves on a bed of soft grass, trading delicious kisses and running their fingers through the others hair. Later, Satine lay contently on Christian�s chest, both letting the warm breeze wash over them. �You know what?� Satine asked. �What?� Christian responded. �This reminds me just of a song my grandmother used to sing to me when I was little.� �What does?� Christian asked curiously. �Today. You. Us.� She smiled. �Can you sing it for me?� he replied, hopeful to hear Satine�s beautiful voice again. �I can try,� she paused. �I hope I can still remember it all.� She said as she sat up and began; Lovers in the long grass Look above them Only they can see Where the clouds are going Only to discover Dust and sunlight Ever make the sky so blue Christian smiled at the free-flowing melody, but most of all the way Satine�s face lit up when she sang; Afternoon is hazy River flowing All around the sounds Moving closer to them Telling them the story Told by Flora Dreams they never knew Satine was so happy to be with a man who truly loved her. When Christian was with her, all seemed like a wonderful dream. Silver willows Tears from Persia Those who come From a far-off island Winter Chanterelle lies under cover Glory-of-the-sun in blue She traced his jaw line and Christian sat up as well and put his arm around Satine to hug her tightly to him before she began the next line; Some they know as passion Some as freedom Some they know as love And the way it leaves them Summer snowflake For a season When the sky above is blue When the sky above is blue Satine nuzzled Christian�s neck and looked into his beautiful gray-blue eyes to let him know the next verse was just for him; Lying in the long grass Close beside her Giving her the name Of the one the moon loves This will be the day she Will remember When she knew his heart Was Loving in the long grass Close beside her Whispering of love And the way it leaves them Lying in the long grass In the sunlight They believe it's true love Christian caught on to the lyrics and let his perfect tenor voice blend with hers; And from all around them Flora's secret Telling them of love And the way it breathes And Looking up from eyes of Amaranthine They can see the sky Is blue Knowing that their love Is true Christian lovingly took Satine�s hand in his and chanted back; Dreams they never knew Satine�s face lit up in a smile that made Christian�s soul fly as she finished; And the sky above is blue �That was beautiful, darling,� Christian whispered. Satine smiled and her cheeks flushed a brilliant rose color. She then noticed that the sun was beginning to set on her perfect day. Christian noticed her disappointment. He knew he had to get her back to the Moulin by five o�clock so she could get ready for dinner with the Duke. Before he could speak, Satine whimpered, �I�m sorry I can�t stay with you tonight.� Christian cupped her face in his hands, �oh darling, that�s all right.� Satine snuggled into his chest, never wanting to leave. Christian continued, �You can come to me after your dinner with the Duke. Stay the night, I mean. But only if you want to�� �I�d love to,� Satine responded. Now in a better state of mind, knowing she could come to Christian after what was sure to be a horrible dinner with the Duke, she finished, �Thank you for today, Christian. But I should probably get going. I don�t think that Duke Monrat would care to see me like this.� Christian laughed and pulled away a few blades of grass that been entangled in Satine�s hair. As Christian kneeled and packed up his few possessions and put them back in his small, wicker basket, Satine began to make her way towards home. �Where are you going?� Christian asked. Satine looked at him, confused. �I�m going to get ready, I told you.� Christian stood up and walked to her. �I always escort a lady home,� he said with a grin. But, Christian didn�t feel like being conventional. �Get on my back,� he playfully ordered. �What?!� Satine asked. �Get on my back, I want to carry you home.� �Christian�� she said with a giggle. �Come on,� he coaxed, motioning for her to jump on. Shaking her head, Satine leapt up and straddled her legs around Christian�s hips and clung to his shoulders. Christian easily adjusted to the light burden of her small body and began to make his way home. Satine enjoyed the steady rhythm of Christian�s walking and looked back on the day he had given to her. It was worth so much more than all the diamonds in the world could ever be. Christian had given her his heart. The fact that she was a courtesan didn�t change how he felt about her either. He didn�t try to take advantage of her and all he asked was that she love him back. She sighed happily and let her chin rest on his shoulder, �I love you,� she whispered. Christian smiled as Satine kissed his cheek, �I love you, too darling.� And as the lights of the Moulin Rouge began to show up in the distance, she sang softly into Christian�s ear; Telling them the story Told by Flora Dreams they never knew� *song used-�Flora�s Secret� by Enya |