Forgiveness

    I woke with a slight start. The memories of the battle still lingered in my head. Opening my eyes, and blinking them a few times, I started to clear away the haze that seemed to lay in front of myself. I started to sit myself upright. But my body let me know it was still in pain. I let out a small groan like whine. I felt a hand gently place it self on my shoulder. Turning my head, I saw who it belonged to. It belonged to a man I had tried so hard to forget.

    He smiled towards me as he spoke. "You shouldn't be getting up just yet. You are still in rough shape after last night." I hesitated briefly as I searched his face. His eyes were soft and kind. So unlike how I had seen them years ago when I had left. I shut the memories out as I shifted my weight on my arm. "I just want to sit up for a little bit.." I was a little surprised that I could even speak. Not that I had been wounded across my throat in the battle. But that I felt as though my voice had left me just now.

    He paused before helping me sit upright. My eyes widened in surprise. As soon as I was settled, I turned my head towards him again. He simply looked back into my eyes. "I..." I paused, turning my gaze away and sighing. I looked back up at him before finishing my sentence. "I'm sorry.." His jaw loosened a little, but soon became a kind smile. He gently placed his hand on my shoulder. Giving my shoulder a small, gentle squeeze, he replied in a soft voice. "It's alright. Things have worked out."

    I shook my head as tears started to run down my face. "Yeah, but.. If I hadn't been a fool to believe I could forget you by toying with another man, and angering him in the way I did, which caused him to have the desire to take away the power from those he deemed too strong, none of this would have happ--!!" My words were cut off. He had gently placed his other hand against my cheek and turned my head, that had started to turn away, back towards him and placed a gentle kiss upon my lips.

    He soon pulled away, almost reluctantly. My face flushed bright red. He looked at me straight in the eyes, before saying to me, "After you had left, with out saying goodbye, I found myself missing your company." My expression of surprise morphed fully into one of shock. "Y-you.. did?" I managed to get out in a whisper. He nodded his head as he caressed my cheek with his hand. "I hadn't realized how much you actually meant to me. Even with how much you tried to advance upon me, I never realized my feelings towards you." His expression turned to a saddened one. "You didn't say goodbye.. And that felt as though it tore my heart. Especially since I didn't know if I'd get to see you again."

    I wrapped my arms around him and buried my head against his neck, although my body screamed at me for doing it so suddenly. My tears started to flow at a quicker pace now. "I'm sorry.." I felt him smile as he wrapped his arms around me. "It's alright. I forgive you, love." I sniffled a little as I pulled away enough to look at his face. "L-love?" I questioned him. He gave a small chuckle.

    Caressing my cheek again, he smiled. "Yes. Because I do love you." I started to smile again. My tears began to dry up, even though they still stained my face. I leaned my face towards his. "Thank you." I whispered across his lips just before we kissed. I wasn't just thanking him for loving me. But also for forgiving me.