A/N: Thank you once again to every single person who has taken the time to either read this story or read and review. It is so encouraging to hear what y'all think about it. Also, thank you to everybody who has alerted and favorite this story
I'm going to go ahead and apologize for this chapter because I'm not very happy with how it turned out. But, in my defense I was admitted to the hospital last night and am on some pretty wicked medication. That said my brain isn't as clear as it normally is, not that that is saying much, so it took a lot more concentration to write this.
Disclaimer: still don't own the show or the movie
The members of the Powhatan tribe parted like the Red Sea as Puck's lifeless body was carried toward the Chief's hut. Once the warriors reach Powhatan's feet, they gently lay Puck's body onto the soft soil.
Chief Powhatan is furious to see his best warrior dead and tries to contain the rage that is threatening to boil over. "Who did this"? He demands.
Hesitantly, one of the warriors who carried Puck back to the tribe steps forwards. "San…" his voice wavers. Finally, he clears his throat and looks his chief in the eye. "Santana was out in the woods." From behind, he can hear the second group of warriors who have Brittany approaching. "Puck went to find her and this white woman attacked him."
Brittany had managed to stay calm when she was surrounded by the warriors out by Grandmother Willow. But the closer she got to the actual village, the more nervous she became. By the time they reached the outskirts of the village, Brittany was using all her strength to resist against the strong warriors grasps. She dug her feet into the ground and twisted her body to try and free herself, but they held firm. She was panting hard and her muscles were aching.
Brittany looks up just in time to see one of the warriors who carried Puck pointing a finger in direction. She looks from the warrior up to the man she presumes to be the chief and has to stop herself from smiling. Despite her situation, she can't deny that Santana gets her eyes from her father. He is a very tall and strong man and undeniably reminds Brittany of the beautiful woman she can't get her mind off of.
Lost in her thoughts, Brittany is caught off guard when one the warriors kick her in the back of her legs, causing her to fall roughly to her knees. An unseen warrior grabs her by her tangled blonde hair and forces her head up. "Agh," she cries out as pain goes shooting through her body.
Blue eyes full of fear and pain look up to meet the brown eyes almost black with fury. Brittany tries to shrink away as Chief Powhatan raises his spear and places the tip at Brittany's pale skin. For the second time tonight, Brittany feels the rough tip of the arrow-head graze her skin.
"Your weapons are strong," Powhatan says as he stares in Brittany's eyes. "But now ours are stronger." Powhatan pulls his spear away from Brittany's skin and she visibly slumps over; caused by a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
Powhatan lifts his spear over his head and turns his attention to the waiting gaze of his tribe. "At dawn, she will be the first to die," he announces.
Santana had just entered the outskirts of the village when she heard the warrior accuse Brittany of attacking Puck. She quickly makes her way towards her father when she hears him announce that Brittany will be killed at dawn.
"But father!" she cries out as she pushes her way through the people.
Powhatan spots his daughter running toward him and lifts his spear in her direction. "I told you to stay in the village. You disobeyed me. You have shamed your father!" he yells, his voice thick with emotion.
Santana hangs her head in shame and tries to shake away the tears that are once again burning at the back of her eyes. "I was only trying to help," her voice breaks.
Powhatan sees how upset his daughter is and closes the gap between them. He places a calloused hand on her shoulder and looks into her watery eyes. "Because of your foolishness, Puck is dead." He turns back to face the warriors who are holding Brittany down. "Take her away," he orders.
The warriors forcefully yank Brittany to her feet and push her to a hut used for holding prisoners. Santana has to use every ounce of willpower she has to not run to Brittany's aid when she cries out in pain. Once her father is out of sight, Santana slowly crumples to her knees.
Rachel has watched the entire exchange between father and daughter, her heart clenching in guilt for sending Puck after Santana in the first place. Taking one last deep breath she makes her way over to the broken girl.
Santana doesn't even flinch when Rachel delicately places a soft hand on her shoulder. Rachel lowers herself onto her knees in front of Santana and waits for her to say something.
Not having to remove her eyes from the ground, Santana opens her mouth to speak. "Puck was just coming to protect me," she whispers.
"Santana, I sent Puck after you," Rachel says so quickly Santana almost missed it. After a few seconds, Santana registers what Rachel has just said and looks up only to be met by eyes shining with guilt. "I was worried about you," Rachel confesses and Santana once again steadies her gaze on the ground. "I thought I was doing the right thing," Rachel continues, even though her voice begins to crack as she too holds back tears.
Hearing Rachel's voice crack, Santana reaches out and grabs one of Rachel's hands in her own. Looking up into those devastated eyes, Santana feels no anger towards the girl. She understands that Rachel was only trying to keep her safe; as any good friend would. She gives Rachel's hand a squeeze. "All of this happened because of me…And now I'll ever see Brittany Pierce again," with this she drops Rachel's hand and pushes herself up off the ground.
Rachel is taken aback by how much Santana cares out this strange white girl. Before Santana can get too far away, Rachel jumps up and grabs Santana by the wrist. "Come with me," she says when Santana looks at her questioningly.
Rachel leads Santana to the opposite side of the village where the prisoner tent stands. Rachel takes a confident step forward and makes her way to the warriors guarding the tent. "Santana wants to look into the eyes of the woman who killed Puck."
Both guards look from Rachel to each other, as if silently having a conversation through their eyes. One of the guards finally nods and looks over to Santana. "Be quick," he tells her as he cracks open one flap one the tent for her to squeeze through.
Santana has to keep herself from running towards the tent as she passes Rachel, quickly giving her a 'thank you' squeeze of the wrist, and ducks through the tent flap. Once inside, the guard lowers the flap and she is engulfed in darkness. Taking a moment to let her eyes adjust to the little bit of moonlight coming through the very top of the tent, she takes a deep breath.
The tent in held up by a small tree trunk and attached to it is Brittany. Her arms are tied behind her back with a thick, scratchy rope and the rope is tied to the tree trunk and she sits on her heels, knees digging into the uneven ground. Her head is facing the opposite direction and covered by her tangled, blonde hair. She's too lost in her own thoughts to notice Santana approaching. At first she thinks she might be dreaming when she feels the warm skin she has come to cherish caress her cheek. Without thinking twice, she leans her head into the touch and closes her eyes. Expecting the warmth to disappear, Brittany's eyes flutter open when a thumb begins to stroke her cheek. Turning her head, Brittany's eyes widen in surprise when she finds Santana kneeling beside her, her hand never leaving Brittany's face. "Santana!" she whispers out in relief as she jerks her body forward, intending to wrap the smaller woman in a hug. Brittany lightly cries out as the rope rubs against her chaffed skin.
Santana winces at Brittany's cry and shuffles even closer, practically kneeling in Brittany's lap. She leans her head against Brittany's shoulder and nuzzles her nose into the crook of her neck; Brittany immediately resting her head against Santana's. Taking her right hand she places it against Brittany's chest, feeling Brittany's heart beating against her ribcage. "I'm so sorry," she says, causing her lips to ghost across the creamy skin.
Brittany lets her eyes flutter close at the contact and takes a breath to steady her now, rapidly beating heart. "For what, this?" she asks a little breathlessly. "I've gotten out of worse scrapes than this," she says, trying to lighten the mood. "Though I can't think of any right now, but…" her eyebrows scrunching as she gets lost in her thoughts.
Getting momentarily lost in Brittany's humor, Santana allows a small smile to grace her lips before reality came crashing back down on her. "It would've been better if we'd never met, none of this would've happened," she says as she pulls away from Brittany so she can look into those clear blue eyes she has come to dream about.
"San," she says, pleased by how easily the nickname rolls off her tongue. "I'd rather die tomorrow than live a hundred years without knowing you," honesty coating every word that spills from her lips.
Santana wonders if Brittany can hear her heart beating against her chest. Santana leans forward and closes the gap between the two women in a chaste kiss; pouring their hearts out to each other as soft lips meld with soft lips. It's a kiss that steals their breath from their lungs and both women lightly whimper as they pull away, the need for oxygen hindering them from continuing. Their noses brush and Brittany leans forward to once again capture those delicious lips, desperate for the contact.
"Santana," they hear Rachel call from outside the tent. Santana runs her fingers through the sun-kissed hair and places short kisses against Brittany's lips. "I can't leave you," she chokes out, locking eyes with Brittany.
Offering a smile that doesn't reach her eyes, Brittany leans forward to capture her favorite pair of lips in one last kiss. "You never will. No matter what happens to me, I'll always be with you."
Wordlessly, Santana brushes their noses together and presses her forehead against Brittany's. Santana pushes her body off the ground and places her palm against Brittany's flushed cheek; running her thumb across her thin lips. Santana steps away from Brittany and lets her hand drop down to her side. Santana walks to the tent flaps and grabs the deerskin with shaking fingers. Tightening her grip on the fabric, she turns around to look at Brittany one last time. Dark, chocolate eyes meld together with Cobalt blue and Brittany forces a small smile. Returning the small smile, Santana turns and disappears through the flap of the tent.
Watching the flap close again, Brittany looks up into the moonlight streaming through the top of the tent. "Forever," she whispers into the darkness of her prison as a single tear slides down her warm cheek.
I know this chapter is a lot shorter than normal but like I said, I'm a wee bit medicated and falling asleep as I write this.