𝑅𝐸𝑀𝐸𝑀𝐵𝐸𝑅 𝑀𝐸 | druig

𝓈𝒾𝓍𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

At that moment, nothing else in the world mattered to her. Not the attack, not the village, not even Andres. All that mattered to her was the rapid beat of Druig's heart thumping against her ear.

Because of you, milady. Those words were on repeat in her head. When he first said them, her immediate response was why? Why did his heart beat like that for her after everything she put him through? After living for over seven thousand years, having women come and go in the blink of an eye to him. Why was she different when she gave him no reason for him to feel anything but hatred toward her.

But she didn't ask why. Instead, they both stayed silent as he stood in the water still fully clothed, holding her in his arms with her ear pressed to his chest. She didn't notice until after a few silent moments–save for the crashing of the waterfall before them–that he was gently swaying her back and forth in the water.

As Nita's mind was emptying, all she could think about was being in that moment with him and the comfort she felt slowly starting to seep into her. A part of her felt that she didn't deserve to feel this way. That she didn't deserve to feel at peace after what she did to Andres. But she couldn't help herself. Something about Druig made her feel as though she did deserve those things, even if it was just for the short time she spent in his arms under the waterfall.

"Remember this, Benita. Remember what it is you're feeling at this moment," Druig said quietly, gently brushing a half wet strand of hair from her face.

Nita slowly opened her eyes at his touch, her gaze immediately locking with his. The moonlight casted a silvery glow on half of his face, turning his left eye a shade lighter than his right. Beautiful, she thought.

A strong shiver then shot down her spine and continued all the way down to her shoe covered toes. The water was cold and the chill was starting to seep through her skin, to her bones.

"We should go back. You're starting to shiver, Benita," Druig said, turning them back toward the mouth of the pool.

Nita still stayed silent, letting Druig carry her through the water. When he slowly started to emerge from the water, she pulled herself away from him and he lowered her legs, keeping his arm around her waist until she was fully out of the water.

"Take this," he said, draping his cloak over her shoulders. It was a size too big but still warm over her chilled skin. She was grateful as she pulled it tighter around herself. Nita muttered a thanks and then they started the trek back toward the village.

Neither of them spoke as they made their way, both occupied with their howling thoughts. Well, Nita was at least and either Druig was too or he noticed her solemn expression and decided to give her a little space.

Druig gave her his hand when they came upon the large rocks and fallen tree branches and she gladly accepted it. When they got back to the village, there wasn't a single person outside or a lantern lit. It looked completely abandoned and it sent a different kind of chill down Nita's spine.

Druig led the way past his cabin and toward Nita's. When they were a couple feet away from it, he stopped and turned to face her.

"You didn't get to ask any of your questions," he said quietly as he parent's bedroom window was only a couple meters away from where they stood.

As that realization set in, Nita's mind began to scramble again after that long while where it was fully at peace. Fully quiet. And now she was back to her reality.

"Oh, um, right," she said as she tried to grasp onto one thought but they just kept bouncing around in her head, almost teasing her.

"I'm going to assume that you have a question regarding the guns I brought back?" He asked, plucking the question right from her mind. She looked at him quizzically for a moment and he lifted his hands in defense. "No mind reading, I promise," he said and then dropped them, clasping them in front of him. "You're an observant woman, Benita. I knew the question was coming sooner rather than later."