A Shot In The Dark (Nate & Essie)

[Nathaniel Barton]

Nathaniel picked up the stone and flung it across the water's surface, watching as it bounced three times and then sunk beneath the surface. It was a beautiful night, a light breeze to cool the skin whilst the air was thick with warmth. This was un-common for Germany, but he appreciated the change in the weather. The moon was full and glowing as the stars were reflected off of the rippling water's surface.

Nate had always had an immense appreciation for beauty, and this was a picturesque scene to be in. He was almost in shock with just how beautiful the night was. It was the perfect night to meet an enchanting young woman with red hair, but Nate didn't know he would be seeing her in that moment.

It was night's like this he could forget the war he'd experienced, the pain he remember of his parent's bodies being brutally destroyed before his eyes as they tried to protect him. He pushed the thoughts away and picked up another stone, skipping it lightly across the water.

[Essantha Amera]

Essantha found that she was immensely fond of her job at Durmstrang, but even the position of a Councillor was tiresome and could bring her down. All the emotions she felt from the students, all the pain and sorrow. But the joy and happiness was always prominent in the students and there was nothing that gave more joy to her.

She was currently walking around Die Werft, mesmerized by the beauty of it. She had no idea this place was so wonderful. She hadn't been there before now. She was smiling to herself when she noticed the presence of someone else. It was a guy. She tapped into his feelings for a second, feeling admiration towards the night and sadness and pain for something else. She looked to her left and saw him.

Was that-? No, it couldn't be. Could it? "Nate?" she asked, her voice sounding like a screeching noise in the silent night.

[Nathaniel Barton]

Nate heard her before he saw her but he kept still, listening to the gentle sounds of footsteps on the boardwalk. He crouched down and picked up another pebble, tossing it across the water and smiling to himself, his mood lightened a little by managing to skip it six times before it sank down beneath the surface of the water. He straightened his position and watched as the ripples spread out in every which way.

His body stiffened as he heard a familiar, sweet voice. Like music to his ears - but it couldn't be... could it? Of course it was! Nate would know that voice anywhere, it was a voice like no others. Filled with so much compassion and tenderness, he could picture her eyes in his mind, filled with so much love for everyone and everything. He whipped around and a small smile spread over his features

Essantha Amera. "Essie." He responded in return, taking a few steps towards her. "What are you doing here?"

[Essantha Amera]

Essie couldn't believe it. She hadn't seen him in years! And she had really missed him. They had had such a strong bond, but when Essie started studying abroad in Russia to become a Councillor, she had been too occupied with everything and had lost contact with all her friends, Nate included. And when she returned to Germany, she had intended to let him know, she just didn't know how. Send an owl? 'Hey, I just returned to Germany! Thought you ought to know'? Nope, that wouldn't work.

But she still dreamed of the day she met him, being all kind and gentlemanlike. Not that she remembered all of it, she had been asleep for the most part, possibly even drugged. She did remember the pain of the poisonous cut she had gotten from one of the more exotic animals of Jerusalem, sending her to the hospital where he healed her.

After that, they had gotten closer to one another. Essie would even think of him as her very best friend, no matter who she had grown up with or who she had studied with. Nate was so similar to herself, yet so different. And something about him, his eyes, his demeanor, was so intriguing and mysterious.

And seeing him again now, standing there by the dock, his hazel eyes so piercing and his body-build so strong made her frown at herself; she hadn't done him justice at all upon remembering him. She then remembered that he could probably see her frown, not to mention that he had just asked her a question. Her lips burst into a big smile and she walked over to him, contemplating while walking if she should hug him or not, deciding that it might be strange to do so.

"Just walking about," she said, waving it away, still smiling like Christmas had come early. "What about you? It's been too long! How are you?" she asked, so eager to talk with him again.

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