gold rush

Gentle fingers grazed against the bark of the looming tree, it stood right beside the intimate cottage offering shade and protection to those who choose to reside there.

It’s been hundreds of years since she decided to move there away from humanity and those she considered her family, wanting nothing more than to be better for the people she loved and for herself.

She memorized the curves and dips of the bark, fingers softly tracing the edge of the skin, almost as if the open forest itself had a life of its own, breathing and living to protect her from the outside world.

Although some may say that living in solitary for centuries may feel lonely and isolating, she never once felt alone. 

“Druig, Ikaris. Stop fighting one another.” 

She huffed as the noise continued, unwillingly moving away from the forest to where the animals reside. A group of alpacas rested next to the patch of sun that met the ground, embracing the warmth, which led to two of them deciding to fight for space in the sunlight.

As she stepped into the sun she felt her body relax, welcoming the heat onto her body. She sighed, stretching her arms and softly closing her eyes for a few beats before being disturbed once again.

“Just like in real life.” She claimed, shaking her head in mock disbelief whilst laughing to herself as she allowed her eyes to glow a shade of gold, a golden aura enveloping her like a warm blanket while the foliage covering the sun from the ground began to open, leaves and branches that were once intertwined now separating from one another while sunlight began to pour over the entire ground like liquid gold.

She couldn’t help but allow a smile to form on her face as she watched the group of animals begin to roll on the grass to bask in the sunlight.

Days like these she’d love to step over the rocks that were strategically placed in the flowing river and pick berries from the bush, a woven basket looped in her arm as she held up her dress with the other to ensure she didn't slip. She felt as though today was a perfect day to make something she hadn’t made in a while, something Gilgamesh taught her, years ago.

Once at home she began to lay out all the ingredients needed.

“Blueberry or Raspberry?” She questioned, glancing at the stray cat that laid on her window sill basking in the warmth of the sunlight, the ginger fur turning a shade of golden as it welcomed the sun, meowing in response to her question.

“Yeah you’re right, I should've thought of that.” She responded, unable to stop herself from giggling as the feline hopped off the window sill to make its way to the Eternal, nuzzling its face in her dress. She picked her companion up, gently stroking the fur before feeding one berry to the animal.

“I won’t tell if you won’t.” 

Hours later the Eternal found herself sitting in exhaustion, the freshly baked dessert sat on the table in front of her. She turned to look out the window to admire how the sunset peaked through the windows and danced across the room, covering it in an orange hue. Her eyes were closed for a few moments, resting for a couple minutes before she had to make her way outside once again to practise her abilities before nightfall.

There was a stampede of footsteps heard running in the distance, she hurriedly stood up, wondering what the fuss was all about. Making her way outside she walked towards the patch of land the Alpacas adored to play in, only to find nothing, glancing around in bewilderment and concern she attempted to follow where she believed the sounds came from.

As she neared the depth of the forest where the sunlight never met the grass, the view of her home shrunk, the sun slowly beginning to settle behind the moon.

The crack of a branch was heard causing the Eternal to raise her arms in defense, eyes slowly turning from her natural shade to the gold. The aura lightened up her surroundings, she opened her arms slightly, the manufactured light widened around her allowing her to see further into the depth of the forest.

She heard another step, although faint, she knew the animals that lived around her were trained to tread around fallen branches to prevent injuries to them and the nature surrounding them. And because of her abilities there were never fallen branches, she cared for the nature around her more than she did herself.

She snapped her arms up, pulling them away from each other and in return the trees parted for her, as if she was Moses and the forest was the Red Sea. 

The trees continued to part as it made its way towards the culprit, shock written on their face as they stared at the woman who parted a forest like nothing.

“Sersi? Ikaris?” She exclaimed in shock, almost unable to recognise her family due to the distance between them and the years that had passed.

The three met each other halfway, embracing one another before making their way to the cottage. She asked them questions as they made their way to shelter.

“How did you find me?” She asked in disbelief, assuming Ajax never told anyone about her whereabouts, Ajax occasionally visited to check up on the Eternal and to see her progress.

“I pestered Ajax until she told me.” Sersi admitted, overjoyed to be reunited with one of her favorites once again.

She snickered in response, remembering how adamant Sersi is when she wanted information.

The three sat at the table, Sersi and Ikaris glanced around in interest, wondering how their friend had lived in the last few centuries.

“So, why the visit? Is everything alright?” She questioned, concern written on her face as she remembers Ajax’s words, 

‘When we need you, we’ll know where you are.’

Sersi looked at Ikaris nervously before glancing back at the other Eternal.

“Well, Ikaris and I decided that we want to wed and we’re here to invite you to come.” Sersi began. “not that you have to if you don’t want to.” She hurriedly added.

She congratulated the couple before agreeing to go, the two Eternals agreed that it’s the right time for her to come back due to how much her powers had advanced.

“He’s going to be so glad to see you.” Ikaris commented, causing the smile on her face to fall, she quickly tried to cover it up by turning around and changing the subject. She couldn’t allow herself to think about him, she can’t fall back into familiar patterns

Days had passed since their visit. After the Eternal bid them farewell she got to packing up her belongings to move back to the place she used to call home, it’d take a couple days before she’s able to leave and she had to ensure that the animals that took shelter near the cottage would be safe and regularly fed.

She spent years alone in that home and although knowing it was temporary, it didn’t make leaving any much easier. She fell in love with the rushing water, the sweet melody the birds would create at sunrise, the luxury of being able to practise her abilities with no one there to witness or judge them.

She learnt more about herself in those couple hundred years than she’s ever learnt in the last thousands of years. 

She found herself standing in the Domo days later, looking exactly as it did when she left. Same narrow passageways, same icy chills that cause you to shudder as your skin briefly brushes against the dark walls. She was told that the other Eternals had no idea about her arrival, besides Ajax herself of course. After settling back in she attempted to mentally prepare herself. It was a surprise for all the Eternals except for the three that were involved.

After dressing up in the attire given by Sersi she gingerly began to make her way to the location, it was only a few miles away which pleased the Eternal, she was able to calm her nerves before feeding herself to the wolves.

Well, that is an exaggeration but the Eternal was frightened of the idea of seeing him. What if she looks at him and the feelings come flooding back? The wall that she used all her energy to build would tear down like it’s paper. The heart wrenching feeling of loving someone you can’t be in love with will come rushing back.

“No- I’m saying that if Phastos and I had to fight it’s clear that I would most definitely win.” Kingo claimed, arms folded as he tried to convince the rest of the Eternals.

Sprite began to speak, struggling to let her voice escape from her mouth while she stared at the Eternal. The rest of the group looked at Sprite in confusion before following her eyeline.

“Oh my-“

“You’re here!”

“Did you guys know about this?”

Voices were overlapping with one another as the Eternals grouped around her, enveloping her in a long overdue hug. 

“All right, give her some space.” Ajax announced, chuckling as Kingo unwillingly let go of the Eternal he considered the person he was closest to. 

She pretended to not notice the lack of a warm welcome from Druig, deciding it was best to focus on the celebration itself. All the Eternals wore special attire handpicked by the bride herself, each color of the fabric wrapped around an Eternal corresponded with the color of their armor.

God, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.

But of course, she was oblivious to that, unlike others.

He hadn't seen her in centuries yet Druig was convinced she looked as beautiful as she did the day they first met.

Druig was completely enamored by her, even if she may hate him, even if he hasn’t seen her for years. She was glowing, genuinely. Her laugh was lighter, more carefree. His feelings for her never once faded, even after all these years she was the one to hold his heart in the palm of her hands, he didn’t care what she’d do with his heart because it’s always been hers, whether she’d step on it, tear it up or smash it into pieces it will still be hers.

For someone who is portrayed to have a heart of stone, a misguided villain. Druig loves her like he is the moon and she is the sun, she manages to bring the best out of him when he cannot do it himself.

If she was broken, bruised and damaged Druig would destroy himself into thousands of little pieces just to make her feel whole once more. 

And years later historians would assume things about the members of the Eternals. Did Ikaris truly fly too close to the sun? Can Sersi turn men into swine?

But there’s one thing the historians cannot deny, Druig does indeed care for and love humanity, but not as much as he loves her.

Druig felt overwhelmed.

He was pressed up against a wall, eyes focusing on anything else but her, everytime he found himself staring at her he found it impossible to look away, but he had to, it’s not fair to her.

Didn’t she leave because she hated him? And because of Ikaris? 

But as the destined lovers they were, the night somehow inched the two closer to one another, eventually making it impossible to avoid one another. Druig sat looking at the view outside, admiring the starry night above, the streets seemed hauntingly empty during the moonlit night, as the sun hid behind the moon the temperature dropped, although still bearable due to the climate the Eternals were in.

“Phastos where’d you go? That practical joke was funny, we were kidding!” He heard her call out as her footsteps made their way towards him, he heard the footsteps still as she took in a sharp intake of air before making her way towards Druig hesitantly.

She stood next to him, arms leaning against the stone balustrade looking out at the city displayed in front of the two, rather than at the person beside her.

They stood in silence, wondering who would be the first to break, the first person to give in and lose.

A frustrated sigh disrupted the silence, cutting through the tension like a sharpened knife, Druig turned to face her, an exasperated look on his face. She hesitantly turned.

And all of a sudden she fell back into familiar patterns, lost in the shades of blue in his eyes, the crinkles by his cheeks that became more prominent when he’d laugh. Just being in his presence brought her comfort yet terrified her completely, Druig was the only one to make her want to give up everything just for a chance for him to always be happy, whether that’s with her or not.

“Why did you leave?” He finally spoke, voice laced with emotion. 

“You know why Druig.” She responded, voice low almost as if she was afraid to speak, afraid to accidentally say something she’d end up regretting. 

He shook his head in response, not accepting that as an answer.

“Was’ it because of Ikaris?” He questioned, hesitating before asking.

“Ikaris? Why would it be because of him?” She questioned, eyes widened in surprise at the question.

“I thought- well don’t you like him?” Druig argued.

She was in disbelief, how could Druig get such an idea in his head?

“No! What?- How did you get such an idea?” She probed, stunned at the question.

“The week before you left, I saw you with him, you held his hand while sitting next to one another. A week later you were gone and he was with Sersi.” 

“I don’t like Ikaris, Druig. I was helping him with Sersi.”

“Then what made you leave?”

“Nothing, I chose to leave myself, nothing made me.”

“Bullshit, you avoided me for more than a week before you abruptly left without a goodbye, no letter, nothing. Like you never gave a shit about us.” Druig scoffed in response, taking a few steps away from her.

“I’m shocked you were able to notice my absence, given the fact that you were too preoccupied to even look in my direction.”

“That’s not true and you know it, I was with-“

“Makkari, yeah I know.” She cut him off, voice distant as if relieving what happened in those weeks.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He demanded, she froze in response, not realizing she spoke out loud. She glanced back at the night sky, admiring the glow of the moon to calm her from the intense argument.

Druig sighs, leaning his elbows on the balustrade. She mimicked his actions. The streets were quiet, peaceful.

Druig fumbled with something in his pocket before pulling it out and twirling the object in his fingers before passing it to her as her eyes glanced down, a sudden noisy breath escaped whilst she stared at the rose, it’s blush pink petals were unmistakable as it turned a shade of gold as his fingers curved around the edge of the petals.

He kept the rose.

After all these years.

No more words were spoken between the two, her fingers reached for his own hesitantly hovering over his hand before he interlocked their fingers together. It was a simple action yet it had spoken the words they cannot say, and that was enough for them.