More Than You'll Ever Know - Drukkari

Chapter 2 - I'm Sorry

The room was simple. A small wooden frame bed in the middle with matching dressers on the sides. The blinds were open, the soft light from the full moon shone into the room. Makkari decided to go take a hot shower and put on large, blue tunics and pants she found in the drawers. Of course, all this took her only a few seconds, if not less.

She took in the fresh smell of her shirt... Familiar, she thought.

She felt the gentle vibrations of footsteps in the hallway, nearing her door. She then felt another set of vibrations, this time stronger and in patterns of threes. Someone was knocking. Makkari zoomed over and opened it. The stunned Druig stood outside her door, one hand still up about to knock again. He smiled at her. "Hi there," he signed, "Heading off to bed already?"

Makkari stepped out of the door frame, gesturing for him to enter. He quickly obliged and closed the door after himself.

"What a lovely shirt. That seems familiar," he smiled at her. "I guess I'll let you borrow it."

Makkari cocked her eyebrows. "Yours??" She questioned, pulling at her clothes.

"Oh my beautiful, beautiful Makkari," he signed, stepping closer to her, "I never knew how good you'd look in my shirt."

While Makkari took in his compliment, he took a few more steps closer to her, finally able to place his hands on her hips, pulling her to his torso.

"What a flirt you are," laughed Makkari, wrapping her arms around his neck.

He placed his forehead on hers and closed his eyes. She could feel his grip tighten and his face, at last, serious. She placed her hand on his cheeks, feeling his strong jawlines and warmth. Their foreheads parted; his icy blue eyes, somehow burning, looked deeply into her dark brown eyes.

"So..." he signed and paused.

"What?"

"Did you miss me, my dearest Makkari?"

She giggled, feeling more prepared to answer it now. "Of course, I did."

A wide smile spread across Druig's face.

"Well well well. I'm very happy the feelings are mutual."

Makkari's hands went up to caress his face. Her expression suddenly turned sorrowful. After a moment, she finally signed, "I thought I lost you."

"It's okay. I'm here."

"I mean after you left the group as well. I didn't think you would come back to us... to me."

Druig's face grew weary and sad. He took a deep breath and replied, "I should've taken you with me. I have missed you everyday since I was gone. I regret that."

A sudden flood of tears pooled in Makkari's brown eyes, slowly trickling down. She was lost in his words. The joy she's felt since seeing him again has masked her sorrow all these hundreds of years without him until now.

"I understood your reasons for leaving... but... I've missed you terribly."

Her true emotions have finally caught up to her. All the pain she's felt when he left is all flooding back, rendering her not able to form proper thoughts. She gave out soft cries.

"My beautiful Makkari... I'm sorry. I did my best to do what I thought was right. I'm sorry I hurt you in the process."

Druig has always been tormented by the rule of not interfering with humans' conflicts, and Makkari knew. She remembered the countless sleepless nights Druig went through, knowing he could help but his hands were tied. She remembered the dark circles around his eyes, the weariness in his voice. How he spent hours with his head in his hands, muttering to himself that his suffering is for the better good of the group. He isolated himself from the humans, trying to detach himself from their sufferings; alas, it never worked. This only drove him further from the group. Yet, he always felt a close relationship with Makkari who often stuck close to him and comforted him through the nights.

"Those humans," he signed, "I tried to save them, a small group. We lived in peace and freedom from the evil humanity has webbed. I needed to help them. I only wished I brought you."

"My Druig," Makkari signed through teary eyes and a soft smile. "I never blamed you for leaving, and I still don't blame you now... I should've stood up for you."

"No no no... it was always my battle to fight."

"And that you did," Makkari smiled, tears still swelling in her eyes.

Druig wiped the stream with his thumb. "You always understood me. Thank you."

The two tightly embraced as if to not let the other get away again. Druig counted himself lucky to be alive and standing here with his closest companion, the love of his life.

They finally broke the embrace when Druig slowly pulled back. He tucked a small strand of Makkari's curls behind her ear.

"I love you," he said aloud. Goosebumps went through her body as she read his lips and felt the vibrations of his words. Tears welled up in her eyes yet again.

Druig signed once more, "I'll never leave you again. I'll stay with you forever."

"I love you," Makkari replied, "more than you'll ever know."

A smile returned on Druig's lips. He leaned down and met Makkari's soft lips with his own. With the moon shining into the window, the world was alright to him again.

------- End of Chapter 2 --------