It’d been a few hours since the birth of the princes. Though many were happy about their arrival, now wasn’t the right time for celebrating. Some Dwarven soldiers had died in the battle and King Padraig wanted to honor them. A celebration for his sons could wait another week. He stood on the shores with Oren and Luvern as the soldiers gathered the bodies of the dead trolls to burn. What shocked Padraig was learning of the prisoners the trolls had on their ships and what they were for…

“Did you say…the trolls were using them as a meat source?” Padraig asked the soldier reporting to him.

“Yes, sir. Some of the prisoners told us, and well…we saw the evidence. We’re bringing some injured Fey Folk in for Sir Oren and other healers to check them. We might need the duchess’ help with that.”

Luvern nodded. “I’ll tell my wife, and I can help with those who aren’t gravely injured.”

Padraig heard them talking, but he didn’t hear what they were saying. He saw his soldiers carrying injured Fey Folk on cots. It seemed the trolls weren’t discriminatory about what kind of Fey meat they wanted to eat. His soldiers brought several injured Sylphs, Pixies, Nymphs, and Fairies. A lot of them were missing a limb or two, while those who were still whole looked emaciated and weak.

Two of his soldiers carried a Fairy woman on a cot who was missing her right arm and both legs. She was frantically looking back and crying. “My baby! Where’s my baby!?”

Right behind them, a soldier carried a crying baby who looked about six months old and reaching for his mother. “It’s okay, ma’am! He’s right here.”

“NO! Bring him to me!” the Fairy woman shouted frantically. “I want my baby! Bring him to me!”

The soldiers struggled to keep the cot stable as the woman tried to reach for her baby. Padraig saw Melita rush over to her. “Hey, it’s okay,” the redheaded Dwarf soothed, gently pushing the woman back on the cot. “Your baby is safe.” She took the boy from the soldier and showed him to his mother. “See? He’s okay.”

The Fairy looked at her son and saw he’d calmed down a little in the Dwarf woman’s arms. The wild look in her eyes diminished and she looked at Melita pleadingly. “P-Please don’t let him out of my sight! And p-please don’t let him go.”

Melita gave her a reassuring smile. “I won’t let him go. I’ll walk right next to you so you can see him. Just lie back and let the soldiers take you to the city. You have my word that no harm will come to your baby boy.”

One of the soldiers shifted uncomfortably. “Y-Your Grace, we can take the child if you’d like-”

“Boy, I said I won’t let him go. Did you not hear me, or think I’m not a Dwarf of my word?” Melita questioned. When the soldier didn’t answer, she huffed. “Now, either help these men in any way you can or make yourself useful in some other way! I will carry the boy.”

Padraig chuckled as the soldier nodded and followed them as they carried the woman away. “I see the fiery temper runs in the family. I don’t think I’ve heard Melita talk like that.”

“She is usually soft-spoken, but will get like that sometimes,” Luvern agreed. Deep down, he knew she had a soft spot for babies. After losing their children so many times, his beloved wife had been heartbroken to find out that she would never have them. He’d hired some of the best healers around the continent, and all of them gave them the same grim news. Even healers outside the continent said the same. As strong as Melita was, hearing the same thing over and over sent her into a depression. Months passed by, and she rarely left her chambers. 

When her sister, Queen Xylaurel, revealed her pregnancy with more than one baby, Luvern was sure that it would break her. Instead, this brought some happiness back to her life. She spent much of her time at the palace to help her sister set up the nursery and prepare for the babies’ arrival. There was still sadness in her eyes, but his strong little wife took all the pain she had and poured it into creating a beautiful room for the future heirs.

“Send word to the king of the Eastern Leaflet about the situation,” Padraig ordered quietly. “If they can’t spare any ships to pick up their people, we’ll bring them home ourselves. They’ve been through a lot.”

Luvern nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“How is she, Oren?” Melita asked as she rocked the baby in her arms. It’d been a few hours since she came in with the Fairy woman. Some attendants cleaned her as best as they could without moving her around too much. Keeping her word, Melita kept the boy safe and fed after cleaning him up. She made sure to stay within eyesight so she could see her son and even stayed close when the Fairy fell asleep.

The old Dwarf sighed wearily and looked at the woman lying on the bed not too far from them. “It’s truly a wonder how she’s still alive. The trolls didn’t cut off her arm and legs at the same time, but none of them were treated properly afterward. Her body has been rotting this whole time. This would’ve killed anyone else by now…”

“But not her,” Melita murmured and looked at the sleeping baby. “A mother’s will is a very powerful thing.”

Oren nodded as he pushed his gray hair back. “Indeed it is.”

Melita saw the woman wake up and walked over to her. She sat on the chair next to her bed. “My name is Melita Oaken-Heart. I’m a duchess here on Oretierra. What’s your name?”

The Fairy looked at her, then at her son and smiled softly when she saw him sleeping. “Adilyn. His father, Talonir, and I didn’t have family names. We grew up in the same orphanage in the Southern Leaflet. Even after we married, we didn't create a family name. After our son was born, we planned on returning to the Blossoming Isles to do so, but…”

“I see…” Melita’s heart broke for the young woman. She could imagine how happy the couple were when their son was born and all the dreams they had only to have it crushed. “And your husband…?”

Adilyn’s lip quivered. “He…was eaten. They killed him because he fought back when they tried to eat our son.” She looked down at her body and laughed grimly. “Being half-Fairy and human wasn’t too appealing for them. Said human meat is too tough for them. Only ate my legs and arm because I fought them.”

“Such horrible creatures,” Melita grunted. “I know that word will be sent to the Blossoming Isles to see if they can come for you and the others. If not, King Padraig will ready our ships to take all of you back home.”

The Fairy smiled weakly. “Home…I wish Talonir and I could’ve had that with our son.” Her light pink eyes looked at her son, then looked at Melita. “Your Grace, can you grant this poor soul one wish?”

 

Melita grabbed her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. “If it’s within my power, I will grant it.”

“Can you take care of my son?” Adilyn asked desperately. “Please don’t let him go back to the Blossoming Isles. I don’t want him to be raised in an orphanage.”

The Dwarven woman looked at her with wide eyes. “B-But what if he gets adopted? Surely, someone will-”

“Those with mixed blood are seldom selected,” Adilyn cut her off as tears ran down her cheeks and her breathing got more labored. “I won’t make it back to the Isles, and even if I do, I’m too weak to care for him. Please, Your Grace. I know I’ve no right to ask this of you, but I beg you to take care of my son. I’ve watched you care for him as if he were your own these past hours. You’re the only one I trust.”

Melita’s eyes welled up, and she felt Adilyn’s hand squeezing hers tightly. As much as she wanted to deny it, she felt connected to the boy. She knew she shouldn’t have let herself get attached, but caring for him had filled an emptiness in her heart. While she accepted that she would never have a child, it didn’t stop her yearning for one. “Dear, you don’t know if I’m a good person.”

Adilyn smiled and squeezed her hand even tighter. “You are. I see it. You kept your word to keep him safe and always kept him in my sight. You’ve treated him as if he were your own. Please, Your Grace. I know this is too much to ask for, but please take care of him. I want him to grow up in a loving home and know what it's like to have a family.”

The Dwarf looked at the boy, then looked at her and nodded. She squeezed the Fairy’s hand more firmly. “Adilyn, I, Melita Oaken-Heart, give you my promise that I will take care of your son in your stead. I will love and cherish him as if he were my own. And I will let him know that his mother and father loved him very much.”

The Fairy woman sobbed and let go of her hand to brush her son’s hair back. She wanted to take in the sight of her baby boy one last time. His violet hair, tawny brown skin, and pictured his lilac eyes, all of which he got from his father. “Thank you, Melita Oaken-Heart. Thank you so much.” Her vision slowly got blurry and felt her body weakening. But at that moment, she felt relief. Her son would be safe and loved. That’s all she wanted for him. Even though she wouldn’t be there to see it, she was happy that this woman would do this for her. “Daelyniel…his name is Daelyniel.”

Melita nodded and smiled through her own tears. “A strong name for a boy who came from strong parents.”

Adilyn’s eyes slowly closed as her hand fell. “Thank you…”