Photo by Erik Karits: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cockroach-in-macro-photography-11022142/

Writing inspired by the following SWC prompts:

Lavender Blue

Throughout history the lavender plant has had many, many uses. The Romans used it as a soothing balm or salve and the medieval French as an expensive perfume. It can be infused in teas, added to honey, baked in breads and cakes. It’s blue flowers often decorate celebratory glasses of champagne, or if dried become wedding day confetti. Write a story or a poem which includes lavender.

Lavender Blue

by Natasa Pap

The sun was slowly disappearing behind the hills as Du Lan, finally, walked through the main gate of his master’s lavish estate. The giant gate was made of strong wood, painted in red and black colours. It was decorated with gold ornaments meant to bring good luck to the inhabitants.
Du Lan headed towards the huge mansion. He intended to enter and inform his master of a successfully fulfilled task his employer had given him. Less than halfway there though, he made a turn to the right and started walking towards the garden behind the house. There was a certain someone he wanted to see first.
As he walked through the garden, Du Lan admired the pond that graced the centre of the estate. The lotus flowers on the crystal-clear water were in fool bloom. His nose caught the scent of camellia, rose, cosmos, violet cress and hibiscus.
When he arrived at the small house on the edge of the garden, Du Lan was greeted by the smell of lavender. He hadn’t smelled lavender in almost two weeks. He missed it dearly, as it reminded him of her.
He tried to calm his rapid heartbeat with a few deep breaths as he knocked on the door three times in a specific way. He soon heard footsteps, running footsteps. He blinked and the door was opened.
Before him stood the woman he loved more then life itself. As always, she greeted him with a smile so bright it could put the sun to shame.
“Du Lan!” she exclaimed happily.
“Hello Yuna,” he greeted her.
She took a quick look around, grabbed his hand, rushed him inside and closed the door.
“When did you get back?” she asked.
“Just a few minutes ago,” he answered. “I’ll go and let your father know that I’ve returned soon, but I wanted to see you first.”
Her bright smile transformed into a soft gaze full of longing. As always Yuna didn’t hesitate, she embraced Du Lan tightly and without a second thought. He happily wrapped his arms around her.
“I missed you too, Du Lan,” she said softly into his chest. It was almost scary how accurately she could guess his thoughts and sense his feelings. Regardless, he loved how intuitive she was.
As they stood in the middle of the room, holding each other, lost in the moment, Du Lan became aware of the smell of lavender again. He looked over at the small table in the corner of the room. He noticed a small pile of Lavender flowers on it, next to a wooden bowl. A small, thick, wooden stick she, no doubt, used to crush the plants, intensifying their scent in the air. There were more wooden bowls on the table, small wooden boxes, as well as some dried lavender flowers hanging on a thin rope tied to the wooden window.
“Yuna, are you making something out of lavender again?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m making a healing balm…” When he saw the way she looked at him, he knew that she noticed the small cut on his neck. He got that cut by fighting a bandit he encountered on the road, as he was on his way back to the estate. He had hoped that she wouldn’t notice it.
“What happened?” she asked, concerned. “How did you get that cut?”
“Yuna, it’s nothing…” he said reassuringly. “It’s just a scratch.” He didn’t mean to make her worry, but her genuine concern for his well-being deeply touched him every time. No one ever cared for him the way Yuna did.
“It looks like it only recently stopped bleeding,” she said as she examined the cut. She took his hand again and lead him to the table in the corner of the room.
“Sit down.” She pointed to one of the chairs in front of the table.
“Yuna, it’s just a small scratch, you don’t have to…”
“Stop babbling,” she said firmly. “Just sit down and let me take care of you.”
She took one of the small wooden boxes on the table and opened it. Du Lan obediently sat on the chair behind him, smiling in amusement. Once Yuna set her mind on something, there was no stopping her until she reached her goal. He loved that she was so determined to mend the cut on his neck, no matter how small it was.
Her fingers massaged his neck as she applied the lavender healing balm on his wound. He closed his eyes, clenched his fists and took a long, deep breath as quietly as he could. He felt a tingling sensation in his stomach and his heartbeat sped up again.
“There, done,” Yuna said as she closed the wooden box.
Du Lan stood up. “Thank you Yuna,” he said, gently.
“You’re welcome,” she answered sweetly.
The doors opened. Du Lan stepped out of the small house and turned towards Yuna who was standing right behind him.
“I have to go now,” he said as he gently stroked her cheek. “I’ve kept your father waiting long enough.”
“I’m so happy you’re back,” she said as she rested her hand on his bicep.
“Me too,” he said with a smile. He felt her squeeze his arm a bit, then noticed the look she was giving him, and he immediately understood what she wanted him to do.
They both quickly scanned their surroundings, making sure that they were alone. Du Lan moved his hand to the back of Yuna’s neck, bent his head down and captured her soft lips in a sensual kiss.
At first, he kissed her slowly and gently, but when she threw her arms around his shoulders and pressed her body against his, it almost shattered his self-control. He kissed her more deeply, more passionately, but he knew he had to stop before they both reached the point of no return.
With a heavy heart, Du Lan broke off the kiss, turned around and started walking back towards the mansion.