Chapter Text
Lilia had good hearing. It was most likely the result of being in war for so long, he learned to pick up on small sounds from a distance. Whispers of a spell, a human sliding a weapon into place, or perhaps, a child crying.
It was impossible to sleep with that sound. Screaming in the middle of the forest. It wasn’t even like he had lived in the town with the other fae. It was just him out there now that Malleus was old enough to live in the castle.
He groaned and tied his hair back. Perhaps he would just have to scare its parents out of his leg of the forest.
As soon as he opened the door, he realized just how loud the baby was crying. Lilia wouldn’t be surprised if the fae in town could even hear it. Taking care of the issue fast would be the best solution.
The sun was just barely starting to dip lower in the sky, painting it all sorts of shades of orange and pink. All of the other dark-based fae would soon be awake to start their nightly duties. As long as he handled this quickly, he might be able to get a bit more rest before he had to visit the castle.
Lilia could tell he was getting closer wincing a bit from the light from a clearing in the trees. Did the humans think to have a picnic in this forest? Didn't they know better? Wasn’t the war enough to learn to quit being selfish?
Yet, he couldn’t see anybody. Clearly, the crying was coming from the clearing, but where were the parents? Or any adults at all?
Lilia decided on letting his hair down in order to let it help cover some of the sun. It wasn’t that he couldn’t go into the light, it was more of a personal preference. Most fae would go out in the daytime, but he preferred to avoid that time. It reminded him too much of all of the fighting and loss and… He shook his head. That wasn’t what was important right now.
Small fawn walked into the clearing, sniffing around the brush toward the shaded area. The crying quieted down, almost immediately. More animals must have taken this as a sign to surround the bush.
Quickly coming to terms that something was very wrong, Lilia ran towards where they had all grouped together. Sure enough, a small baby laid amongst the leaves.
Lilia shooed away to animals and took a hold of the small child. It couldn’t have been that old, but more importantly, it was a human. Two perfectly rounded ears.
His heart almost stopped. What was it doing in the forest all alone? Human babies should never be left alone, especially in fae territory.
Magic hung in the air, acidic and humid. Something had happened here, though Lilia just couldn’t figure out what. He grabbed the small child into his arms and held it tightly to his chest, just as he did with Malleus when he was told to raise the young prince.
The baby opened its eyes, blue and purple and lovely. Lilia felt his chest clench. He really shouldn’t do this. He really shouldn’t put himself through the pain of raising a human child. But how could he just leave it there?
He began to move to pick up the baby, but flinched back, “Dear, child, you’re freezing!”
That solidified it. He picked up the small child. After all, how could he let such an innocent creature die? A child who was abandoned by the ones it was supposed to be able to trust and the ones that were supposed to take care of it.
Lilia opened the door to his small cottage. The one that felt so quiet and empty without the giggles of a young prince. The one that was so dark and lonely on the nights when he needed to think positively and recall that there was hope for a world with peace and love in it.
The sun was nearly set now, it was almost time to visit the castle. He sighed and looked down at the small baby again. An idea entered his mind and he smiled mischievously as he grabbed one of the prince’s old hooded sweaters. Yes, this would do.
The town was still bustling, a neverending town that never fully slept because of the rotating shifts of work and rest. Night fae were groggily beginning to set up their own shops and stands of fruits and vegetables picked by their neighbors during the mornings.
Though Lilia could feel all of the eyes of the town watching him, he continued on his way and avoided conversations. Most of the night fae were much more relaxed after the war had ended, but if anyone else were to overhear that he was in possession of a human child things could get… messy.
Glowing in the distance was the castle where the queen and the future heir of Briar Valley were currently preparing for their nightly duties.
Lilia approached the gates and smiled as the guards bowed their heads. He wasn’t royalty by any means, but to the military among fae and humans alike, his was a name everyone knew and either feared or respected.
He readjusted the baby on his hip and opened the tall doors in a flourish using his magic. Neither of the nobility even flinched, they were used to his constant theatrics.
He bowed low, keeping a strong hold on the bundle in his arms.
“Your majesties, lovely evening, isn’t it?”
“Hello, Lilia. Yes, it is, though I feel there is a more pressing matter to discuss, yes?” The queen started, gesturing to the child in his arms.
He smiled, looking at Malleus’s confused expression, “Ah, yes! I’m glad you noticed!”
“It’s quite hard not to notice,” Malleus quietly commented.
“Well, I’m happy to provide you with your first request of the night.”
The queen frowned, “And that would be…?”
“I would like to ask permission to raise this child,” Lilia turned the baby around so his face was turned towards them.
Malleus turned towards his grandmother, then back to Lilia, “Who’s baby is that?”
“That’s what I’d like to know. Honestly, who abandons a poor child in the middle of fae woods?” Lilia grumbles taking a few steps towards the other two, “But look at him! Isn’t he adorable!”
The queen shifts back, “He reeks of dark magic, Lilia. You wouldn’t have cursed this poor thing, correct?”
“Of course not! I found him like this, which is part of why I want to take care of him,” He corrects.
Malleus observes quietly, looking at the baby’s small rounded face before leaning towards him, “Why is he wearing a hood?”
Lilia inhales, “Oh, yes that! I forgot one small detail,” He takes the child's hood down, revealing its very humanlike ears.
“A human?” The queen hums.
“Lilia, why would you want to raise a human?” The prince asks, looking even more confused.
He wasn’t quite sure himself, Lilia hummed, “I think part of it is… How embarrassing. I think I’ve grown lonely since Prince Malleus left my home. And, if this child of man is cursed, I’d like to help him have a good life after what someone has done to it.”
She looks for any trace of dishonesty on Lilia’s face, but when the queen is convinced of his truthfulness, he nods, “Very well, then. You may raise the child of man as if he is your own.”
Lilia smiled fondly, looking down at the baby in his arms and into his eyes. Something warm settled in his chest, “Thank you, your majesty.”
“Oh, and Lilia, before you take Malleus to his lessons, I want to let you know that there was a crocodilian fae just married to a human. If you have any issues with this child, you should go to Mrs. Zigvolt’s house, though you’ll have to go in the daytime.”
He nodded, “Yes, thank you.”
Malleus stood from his smaller throne and followed Lilia into his room to begin learning of the war and practicing smaller spells.