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Maleanor had never intended to be a mother to anyone more than Malleus. She had Raverne and Malleus, and that was enough for her. They were her entire world, she loved them both deeply.
But even sometimes still, after the human-fae war ended, when the death of Lilia still weighed heavily on her mind, she needed time to herself to think.
More often then not, that ‘time to herself’ ended up with her taking a walk through the woods. For Maleanor, the atmosphere of it was calming. There was no one around to bother her like there was at the palace, only the sound of the wind and wildlife.
She must have been more out of it than usual today to walk all the way to an old abandoned castle that even she did not remember ever truly seeing. Maleanor didn’t know what possessed her to continue walking rather turning and going home, but she walked into the rundown palace anyways.
Half-way up one of the towers, the sound of shrill crying reached her ears. A sudden pang of concern sounded in Maleanor’s heart at the sound. It sounded like a baby’s crying.
But why would an infant be here in an abandoned castle? Who would leave someone so defenseless in a place like this? Who would practically leave an infant to die without proper care?
Maleanor’s pace quickened up the stairs, but despite her urgency she open the door to what was presumably a nursery gently.
The sight of a small baby with bright golden hair within a cradle shrouded by thorns and vines is what greeted her.
Just how old is this place? Maleanor found herself wondering as she approached the cradle. Her magic pulled the vines back to allow her to step beside the cradle housing the infant.
As soon as she hovered over the baby, it stopped crying, looking up at her with such wide, innocent aurora eyes that were still filled with tears. Maleanor let her gaze trail over the small thing, only to realize with a cold clarity that its ears were round. A human.
That did not justify abandoning it, not by a long shot, but that did instill a certain amount of hesitance in her.
The human-fae war was long since over, but Maleanor retained some hesitancy when it came to humans. Not out of hatred, but for the simple fear that they had such short lifespans.
She did not wish to get attached when humans could die so easily, so suddenly, and after such a short time.
Maleanor knew that she should simply take the baby to an orphanage in the capital, she had made sure that there was a few within the kingdom to take care of orphans.
But when the baby reached up to her, eyes so full of misplaced trust and affection that it should not feel after only a few minutes of knowing her, Maleanor knew that wouldn’t happen.
Perhaps it was because she had Malleus, perhaps it was because dragons were naturally greedy yet family-oriented creatures, but she knew that this child was hers now.
Maleanor reached into the cradle, gently picking up the baby and lifting him up. She cradled the small human close to her and whispered a spell to grant him the night’s protection. Anything to hopefully prolong the short life of the infant in her arms.
The baby watched curiously as magic wrapped around him, settled close to his head and fading out as his once golden hair turned silver, now matching his pale complexion and aurora eyes.
Huh.
Silver.
What a fitting name for the little one.
“Come now, Silver, it is time for us to return home.” Maleanor said softly. The baby refocused on her, letting out a happy giggle. “I’m sure Malleus and Raverne will love you.”
~*-----------------------*~
Raverne had complicated feelings when it came to humans. He did not hate them, nor did he necessarily like them right off the bat.
The human-fae war had ended, there was no need to hold a grudge. And if a human wanted to be his friend, or ended up working in the palace, Raverne wouldn’t mind. He would still treat them with the same kindness and respect that he treated fae.
However, he knew that Maleanor saw it differently.
Ever since the human-fae war ended, Maleanor had sworn to never get attached to a human. Not out of hatred, no, but out of fear.
She knew that human lifespans were depressingly short compared to fae, especially them. And after Lilia’s death, Maleanor refused to become close to someone who would leave her, even if unwillingly, so quickly. She didn’t think that the pain was worth the miniscule time.
Raverne always thought that no matter how short the time, the grief that would follow would always be worth it.
But he never pushed his ideals on her. She was still fair and just when it came to her human subjects, so Raverne saw no need to try and force her to like humans.
So, it can as a surprise when Maleanor returned from one of her walks with a small, sleeping infant cradled in her arms.
“Maleanor? What happened?” Raverne asked, worry slipping into his voice as he walked over to her.
Maleanor looked down at the infant in her arms. Upon closer look, Raverne noticed the silver hair and round ears of the baby.
“I found him abandoned in old, rundown castle.” Maleanor explained. “I don’t know how long he was there, or how he survived, but I couldn't just leave him there.”
Raverne understood that.
Maleanor always had a soft spot for children, one that only became a bigger soft spot after Malleus hatched. Even if the baby was human Maleanor would never leave it, or him Raverne supposed, to die.
“I see. Shall I arrange for us to drop him off at the orphanage? I’m sure they have room.” Raverne asked, already mentally planning.
The closest orphanage was only about an hour’s walk from the palace, faster if they teleported. But either way it was already well passed nightfall, they might have to wait till the morning.
“No.” Maleanor said, looking up at Raverne with a serious look that he’d only ever seen her have when it came to ruling the kingdom or something with Malleus.
“No?” Raverne asked. Not mad, simply confused.
“I wish to keep him. He seems to not have parents, we have plenty of free time, and once he’s older he may keep Malleus company.” Maleanor said.
Raverne’s brain needed to do a full restart at that.
Keep… the infant? The human infant?
Raverne would never have any objections to doing so. He’d always wanted another child, the only reason they hadn’t was because the idea seemed foreign without Lilia. Raverne also knew that Malleus tended to get lonely, so him having a little brother would be rather nice for him.
Raverne had tried to convince Maleanor to adopt, but each time they visited the orphanage her instincts never clicked with any of the children.
And Raverne had always assumed that if Maleanor didn’t want a human friend for fear of them dying, he thought that Maleanor would never want a human child. Someone who it would hurt even more to see slowly age and die over the years as they remained the same.
But Raverne saw the way that as Maleanor looked back down at the infant in her arms, her eyes softened and her pupils sharpened into slits. It was then that he realized Maleanor’s instincts had taken to the baby.
Raverne looked down at the human infant himself. He wouldn’t be opposed to having a human son, as he said, he would always think that the pain was worth even the smallest of moments. “Have you decided on a name already?” Raverne asked.
He assumed she had, it would only be fair considering he and Lilia had picked out Malleus’ name. they had very purposely named him that so the ‘mal’ at the start of his name matched Maleanor’s.
Maleanor looked back up at Raverne, a small smile pulling her lips up. “Silver.” Maleanor answered.
“Silver huh? I think that’s perfect.” Raverne said, gently reaching out to cradle the little infant’s head.
Silver unconsciously leaned his head into Raverne’s hand.
Raverne felt his heart practically melt.
He was doomed.
This kid was his now.
The fae council could kiss his ass if they didn’t like it.
~*-----------------*~
Malleus had always been a rather lonely person. He was kept cooped up in the castle for the most part, only allowed out to accompany his parents on diplomatic matters or the occasional time that they managed to sneak away for picnic.
So, that limited his interactions with civilians. And none of staff within the castle seemed interested in talking.
Malleus never had many interactions with humans. Almost all of the palace staff were fae, courtesy of the fae council, and the ones that were human were even more jumpy around him then the fae.
Because of that, Malleus never had a high opinion on humans. Or a low opinion. Or really any opinion. It was hard to when the only human he’d ever held a conversation with was Buar’s son-in-law.
He knew that they were weak compared to fae, and the lifespans were absolutely laughable at how short they were.
So why in all of Twisted Wonderland had mother chosen to take one in? And as her son? His brother?
Malleus would admit that he almost laughed in the poor servant’s face when they had tried to tell him, the only thing stopping him from doing so was years of etiquette lessons.
But it was true.
Malleus was in shock for a long time and had practically refused to look at the infant when mother and father had tried introducing him to the baby.
After two months of doing so, Raverne finally decided that a talk with Malleus was in order.
“Can you at least try to see where we’re coming from?” Raverne asked, his voice as gentle and patient as ever. It only served to grate Malleus’ nerves further.
Why did father have to be so calm all the time?
“No. It doesn’t make sense. Why take in a human? It’ll die in a hundred years anyway, if that.” Malleus said, barely keeping himself from raising his voice, though he couldn’t stop the annoyance that leaked into it.
“Silver doesn’t seem to have a family to take care of him, Maleanor found him abandoned in the middle of the woods.” Raverne explained. It sounded so cut and dry when he said it like that. Like adopting him was the only answer.
“So why not take it to an orphanage? I’ve received lessons on how each part of the kingdom works the orphanages have plenty of funding and room for an infant.” Malleus practically spat the words out.
“I know. But Maleanor didn’t want that, neither did I when she brought him home.” Raverne said.
Yes, but why?! Malleus wanted to screech, but he kept his mouth shut and simply turned around on his bed to face away from his father.
Raverne sighed and walked over, sitting on the edge of Malleus’ bed. Raverne kept his legs hanging off the bed, letting Malleus stay turned away from him. He always did, whenever they argued. He never forced Malleus to look at him, let Malleus push him away but still offered comfort.
“Do you not want a little brother?” Raverne asked.
Malleus hesitated at that.
On one hand, he did want a younger sibling, brother or sister. It would be nice to have company within the palace. But on the other hand humans were oh so fragile, and if rumors and whispers were anything to go by, many fae still didn’t like them all that much. The human would die far too quickly, and that was assuming it lived to die of old age instead of something else.
And on top of that…
Malleus was scared.
Scared that his parents may end up spending even less time with him. Royal duties kept them all busy. They might try to at least have meals together and say goodnight to each other, but on some days that was it. And now they had a baby to care for.
“I’m scared…” Malleus quietly admitted. It was so odd for him to feel scared. He never felt scared. He was a powerful mage and prince of the Briar Valley. He shouldn’t be scared of something so trivial.
“Of what?” Raverne pried gently. “Of Silver dying quickly? You know that the pain is always worth the love, at least I think-… it is.” Raverne said, his voice trailing off when he heard sniffles coming from his son.
“Are you going to start prioritizing him? Forget about me?” Malleus asked, his voice meeker than he had thought possible.
Raverne’s eyes widened in shock. “What? No, of course not, why would you ever think that?” Raverne asked desperately. For what was probably the first time, Raverne reached out to gently grab Malleus’ chin, guiding him to look at Raverne directly rather than wait for Malleus to do it himself.
“Because you and mother are already so busy, and I constantly have studies to attend to. And now that you and mother are taking care of that human… Will you have anytime for me?” Malleus asked desperately.
“Oh, Malleus…” Raverne said softly before sighing. Raverne pulled Malleus against him, carefully moving so Malleus was half in his lap, the young dragon fae’s head against his father’s chest. “Me and Maleanor will always make time for you. No matter how hellish our schedule’s get.” Raverne said.
“We may have a new kid, but you are still one of our priorities.” Raverne said and Malleus sniffled slightly, wiping furiously at his eyes. “I should have realized that this is a big adjustment for you and that you may worry, rather than assuming you were immediately fine with it just because you hadn’t said anything.” Raverne said, a bit of guilt in his tone.
Malleus wanted to agree, wanted to blame both Raverne and Maleanor. But he couldn’t. Because he knew that they were trying their best to make this work.
“I promise you, that no matter what you still mine and Maleanor’s son and we will always make time for you, us adopting Silver will never change that.” Raverne said.
“Promise…?” Malleus asked. It felt childish, but at the moment he couldn’t bring himself to care.
“Promise.” Raverne said. “But I need you to try to accept Silver.”
“I’ll think about it…”
“That’s all I ask.”
~*------------------*~
Malleus stared down at the human infant nestled in the cradle in front of him. It was well after dark, Malleus should be in bed. His parents already were, to his knowledge at least.
Even after his talk with Raverne a few days ago, Malleus still couldn’t understand what his parents saw in this little thing.
Suddenly, Silver’s eyes opened, looking up at him. Malleus was tempted to step back into the shadows to avoid scaring the creature and making it cry, but Malleus stood still. He didn’t care if the infant was scared of him.
But to Malleus’ surprise the infant simply giggled and reached up to him, making grabby hands. Had this thing mistaken him for their mother? Why was he not scared? He should be scared, all the other humans and even fae are scared of him.
Why would someone so much smaller and more defenseless than the adults not fear him?
“I am not mother, Beastie. You should not be happy to see me.” Malleus said. He hadn’t even realized he had referred to the human by a nickname.
However, the child simply stared at him and made a cooing noise, as if saying ‘I know’ and resuming to make grabby hands.
Malleus hesitated before reaching into the cradle and carefully picking up the infant, being sure to support his head as his mother had informed him. He didn’t want the small thing dying so soon.
The baby giggled again and rested his head against Malleus’ chest, his small hands bunching up in the fabric of Malleus’ night shirt.
“Why are you not afraid?” Malleus asked as if the human could respond with words and not indecipherable babbling.
Silver looked up at him, blinking slowly before yawning sleepily. “What a strange Beastie you are…” Malleus murmured, whether to the sleepy infant in his arms or himself, Malleus wasn’t sure.
Silver looked up at him. “M-Ma-Ma-…” Silver said. Though, ‘said’ was a stretch.
Malleus felt one of his eyebrows raise slightly. “Oh? Are you trying to say something? I’ve heard that humans’ first words are often ‘mama’ or ‘dada’. Are you asking for them? They are currently asleep, so you have to settle for me right now-“
Malleus stopped talking when Silver babbled again. “Mally!” The baby exclaimed with such joy and pride as if he had solved a world problem.
Malleus felt his mind go blank. No thoughts, just blank.
Did… Did the human just-?
Did he just try to say Malleus’ name? Sure, it was horribly butchered and if anyone else dared to call Malleus that he might have struck them with lightning.
Malleus stared down at the baby, who was now settled back down against his chest… Before promptly falling asleep.
Malleus felt magic gather at his fingertips protectively, his pupils sharpened to slits, and his tail moving to subtly wrap around his own ankles, being unable to wrap around the infant.
And that was when Malleus realized that he was well and truly doomed.
This tiny human who didn’t realize that he was asleep in the arms of one of the most powerful mages in the world, was his little brother.
And Malleus wouldn't let anyone dare to say otherwise.