Brelione//DruigxOC

Silent Goddess

i get to my tree fast, walking a little faster than i'd like to admit. my tree has been here for four hundred years, the size of eight deviants stacked upon eachother, the bark glitters in the fading daylight. at the stump, crystals sprout along with mushrooms the size of my hands, chunks of gold so large they'd drown a man. one may call it dramatic, overdone, cluttered. but i call it artwork.

on the left side, small indents in the bark have formed for our feet and hands, easy to climb. on a normal day id rush up those little grooves so fast id get splinters in my hands and little bruises on my skin.  i take my time today, so anxious that i think i may fall down if it weren't for the small branches grazing my skin, wanting me to go up.

what if he tells me he loves me and suddenly all of my feelings dissolve into nothingness? i've heard of it happening to others, that they love someone until they're loved back. maybe it's my fear of commitment, my fear of being trapped to someone or some place. but druig would never trap me, this is entirely irrational. i should turn around, this feeling in my stomach, this is a survival instinct.i tighten my grip on the indents, taking in a breath so deep that it makes my spine crunch like boots against dead leaves.

the branches become sick and tired of my stalling, pushing my. body up until the flat floor of the latibule is revealed to me. his back is turned, shoulders back as he stares down at something. but from here, i can see the small embroidery of his shirt. we're matching. was the urge to wear the shirt implanted into my brain by him? carved into my mind like a subliminal message?

my anxiousness dissolves fast, leaving me feeling like a fool as i step on the platform. don't make a sound. the intertwined branches obey me, remaining quiet. as grand and gorgeous as the domo is, i've always preferred smaller and more personalized spaces. that and my love for secrets and my love for druig lead to the creation of the latibule.

i think we got really close the last three hundred years, during our time here in athens. sure, we've been a little more than acquaintances for a couple centuries, teasing and flirting back and forth. but it wasn't until recent that we've become close close.close enough that we share the secret hide out in the canopy of lush leaves, stocked with blankets and makeshift hammocks, candlesticks and books that phastos made waterproof.

it might even be considered romantic. druig is has been here for some time, it looks like. his shirt is wet, clinging to his biceps from the earlier rain, his hair heavy and weighed down with water. his back turned to me as the sky begins to get darker, letting us know that sunset is here. the wood of the latibule is wet, the fabric of the blankets as well, dripping with moisture.

i bow, touching my fingertips to the wood as the moisture leaks from it. i go for druig too, gaining his attention as the drag of the water from his hair and shirt tickles against his skin. i hear himlet out a tiny laugh, turning his head. "if you wanted my attention, darling, you could've just asked for it."he says, turning his body to watch me entirely. the water collects into a fine cube, embraced by golden circles as it caves in on itself and turns into nothingness.

oh druig, give me attention i beg you. i tease, setting my bag down on the now dry floor, going to grab my favorite circular pillow.

"do you ever wonder where it goes once you've let it go?"he asks. in his lap sits a red wood box, a bronze latch keeps it sealed shut. i stare at it, immediately wondering what it conceals.

same place our water comes from, maybe. why do you have a suspicious box?

he laughs at this, finding me ever so amusing. i know he'll drag this out, make me wonder, ask me what i think is in it. and i know that i'll love every second of it. "tell me, beautiful brelione, why do you think?"he asks, tilting his head, keeping his hands over the box. i smile like an idiot, looking down at it.

i'm not sure

"it's a surprise, you're not supposed to know. what do you think is in it?"he asks, turning the box towards himself, lifting the cover. i lunge forward, attempting to grab it when he pulls it back, smile on his face so wide that he'll get wrinkles. "now, brelione, that was very very rude of you. i might just keep these lovely poems to myself."he says, smirk on his face. poems. he's brought a box of poems. he raises his eyebrows, seeing my expression that speaks before i do. "you like the sound of that?"he asks, laughing when i try to reach the box again. he leans back, hands behind the box as he covers it with his body. "reach for it again."he says.

this is torture

he looks up at me, mischievous smile taking over his features once more. "you're not complaining."he says. the branches move, sliding the box towards me. he doesn't look mad, not one bit as he sighs. "that's against the rules."he says as the box is held up to me by a branch.

rules that you never stated. take the box.

he gets up, standing dangerously close to me. "you want me to take the box?"he asks, his hooded eyes staring down at me. i nod, watching as he stands still. he stands still for a few seconds, moving his arm quick as he reaches for it, the branch moving behind me. he chuckles, moving behind me as the box moves in front of me. instead of reaching for the box again, his cold hands land under my shirt, against my waist.

i shiver at how cold they are, making him let out a low laugh as he puts his head on my shoulder. "open the box."he whispers. suddenly, opening it seems a lot less fun. i look to him, seeing his slight smile. "it's not gonna jump out at you."he says. i hide my grin, opening it carefully. on top is a small statue, carved into stone. it looks exactly like me, from the slight asymmetry of my hips to the length of my hair. "i thought for sure sprite would tell you, i had her casting an illusion as reference. benvolio couldn't get your nose right so i kind of had to take over. actually, i intended on doing this months ago but-" i put my hand on his mouth, making him quiet as i smile at him.

"it's perfect."my voice is just below a whisper, completely hoarse and messy as it's been unused for so long. hues of green and shapes of gold fill my vision, begging to be blinked away. his eyes are wide with bewilderment, just like mine are. i swallow hard, taking in a deep breath as he takes my hand off his mouth. "i must say, i didn't expect that you'd have such a nice accent."he says.

has he gone one moment without flirting? ever? i look back down at the statue, taking a seat on my circular pillow, clearing my throat. not doing that again any time soon. he sits down in front of me, so close that i can feel the warmth radiating from his body.

he watches as i gently place the statue down, a bird soaring down to admire it, making him blush because he knows he's done well. in the corner of the box there a small purple and green statue, small and beautiful. i pick it up, slightly heavy in my hand. it's a flower, carved delicately into fluorite.

did i make this stone?

he nods, watching me. "where else would i get a some so divine?"he asks. it's like he's read my mind, looking for everything i could want and presenting it to me all at once. i hold it in my hand, observing just how perfect it looks in the orange light of the sky, giving the carving the illusion of glowing. i look away from it, still keeping it in my palm as my eyes move to the papers. there are so many poems that the stack is at least an inch thick, all are in different handwriting. the one in the front, that one is his. it's titled. the silent goddess.

this is my favorite chapter so far. also thank you for all the love on the last chapter!! the amount of comments that i got had me literally crying. let me know what you guys think of this chapter!! -H