Subj: Bring me into the house of wine
Date: 5/25/01 4:08:06 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Julianka
Happy Birthday Donna :)
Donna watched alertly for her turn off. The driving directions given her said
it would be easy to miss the road. Looking at
the wild woods growing up like a solid wall along side the road she could easily
understand this. The trees and undergrowth
were so deep, the bright morning sun couldn't even diminish the darkness of
the tree's shadows.
Donna was on a quest this sun shiny May day. She heard of some rare photographs of Humbert Allen Astredo on the Collins- Library List. And as the address of the person selling them wasn't very far from her home, she decided to go and see them in person. And hopefully buy them. They would be her birthday gift to herself.
At last! The road she had been searching for! Turning carefully, she shivered
as the shadows of trees blocked the light. Now both sides of the road were lined
by the thick foliage. Turning on her car head lights Donna drove on, on down
the twisting road that seemed to get more and more narrow as she went. Now the
world beyond her headlights appeared black as
night.
At that moment her car engine coughed, the car shuddered and stopped! OH NO!!! This couldn't be happening! She had only yesterday had the car in for a check up. It should be running like a top. Now what would she do? The turn off was miles behind her. Getting out of the car, she kicked the front tire in frustration. Nothing to do, but sit here and hope someone comes along soon. After all someone had to live around here.
Stepping off the side of the road, Donna seated herself on a fallen log. Only seconds later she saw a car coming toward her. The windows of the approaching vehicle were so heavily tinted she couldn't see the driver. Oh, please be a sweet little old lady, who will kindly take me to a service station! Please, she hoped.
But instead of a white haired little old lady, Donna saw to her total amazement...
Humbert Allen Astredo! Oh, not as he was
while on DS, but looking soooo fine. A touch of silver graced his temples, a
few lines at the corners of his eyes, but his figure
was just as trim and his step seemed full of engery as it ever was.
"Having a little trouble"? He smiled and said.
"The-The car stopped." Donna stammered.
"Hmmm. Well, I'd offered to take a look at it for you, but I'm not too handy with engines."
"Oh. Thank you anyway." Donna's mind was racing. Should she ask him for an
autograph? Should she blurt out that she's
his biggest fan? Or just faint at his feet?
"Tell you what," he said, "The house I'm staying at isn't vey far. You could call for a tow truck from there."
"Thank you. That is very nice of you."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riding down the road in his car Donna's head was spinning! I'm sitting only
inches from HAA! No one is going to believe me
when I tell them about this! She thought sinking back into the plush uphostery
of the seat.
In what seemed like seconds they were pulling off the road. To her surprised
eyes the house before her looked exactly like
the House By the Sea from Dark Shadows. Getting out of the car, Donna noticed
she could hear waves crashing against the shore.
Turning to HAA she said, "I had no idea we were this close to the ocean."
"I love the sea. Perhaps while we wait for the tow truck, you will take a walk with me down to the shore? I'll show you my yacht."
"Oh yes! That would be lovely! Donna could hardly control her enthusiasm.
"On second thought let's take that walk first and then call? It won't take very long and I'd love to show it to you." he smiled charmingly at her.
Donna swallowed and nodded her consent. After crossing the lawn HAA took her hand and lead her down some steps set into the cliff. At the base of these a sandy shore soon lead to a small private dock. Where a graceful yacht rode at anchor.
"There she is." HAA said with obvious pride in his voice.
Donna admired the sleek vessel. Noticing the gilt painted nameboard on the yacht, Donna gasped aloud! The name....Donamarie! Donna swooned. Catching her up in his strong arms, her escourt blinked his eyes and in an instant they were transported into his luxurious home.
"Where am I?" she whispered.
"Here, where I wanted you to be." he answered looking deep into her blue eyes.
"How did we get here? You aren't Humbert Allen Astredo are you?"
"Care to hazard another guess?" He grinned.
"N-nicholas?"
Bowing from the waist he replied, "At your service My Lady."
Donna's knees weakened and she sat down on a large brocade chaise lounge.
"You didn't think I would let your birthday go by without seeing you, now did you?" he sat by her and whispered in her ear.
"Last year, that was just a dream.Wasn't it?"
(Author's note: this is referring to a story listed under Julianka that can be found at www.dsfanfic.com titled Donna's birthday.)
Arching his brow at her he said, "The night we danced among the stars? No that was quite real as is today."
Gesturing with his hand, Nicholas caused a small table to appear before them. On this was fresh fruit, a wheel of cheese, french bread, ham, a bottle of wine and crystal glasses on a silver tray.
Placing a cushion behind her back he offered her refreshment. As he did so he quoted,
"Bring me into the house of wine;
set love before me.
Strenghten me with perfumes;
stay me with apples,
for I am wounded with love."
Sipping wine Donna sighed as he spoke.
Sliding closer to her Nicholas quoted another poem to her,
"Drink to me, only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thrist that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine:
But might I of Jove's nectar sup
I would not change for thine.
I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be
But thou thereon didst only breath
And sent'st it back to me:
Since, when it grows and smells, I swear,
Not of itself but of thee."
Finishing the final words softly, he leaned closer still and gathered her into
his arms. When Donna did not push him away Nicholas tighten his embrace. And
kissed her tenderly on the lips.
Later she would never be able to say how long they stayed like this... hours? Only moments? Which ever it was it ended all too soon. With his promise of meeting again ringing in her ears Donna came back to reality sitting in her car in her own driveway.
On the seat beside her was a dozen red roses tied with a bunch of white ribbons. And a photo of Nicholas and herself.
The End