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· Malleus’s Queen wasn’t always accepted by the fae. She was a human with no powers, wasn’t brave or courageous, and came from an unknown background.
· While they never disrespected YN, they didn’t fully accept her either.
· They wouldn’t dare to look down upon YN, especially when she was being protected by their King who was one of the most powerful beings in Twisted Wonderland.
· That’s why they couldn’t understand why he chose her.
o Those closest to him knew why though.
o She was there for his darkest moments.
o She was the light to his darkness.
o The star that always guided him when he felt lost.
· YN ignored the looks and the whispers the best she could.
· She tried her best to be the best queen she could be for Malleus and helped when she could.
· It wasn’t always easy.
· Especially when the fae ignored her, but she kept trying.
· Malleus, Silver, Lilia, and Sebek had of course noticed.
· She shook her head and told them it was okay.
o “They are allowed their own points of view dear.”
o “My Queen, it is your right to be respected.”
o “They do respect me. They do what they are told, you cannot force them to acknowledge me as their queen. It takes time.”
o YN kissed Malleus’s cheek, “Let me earn my title beloved.”
o Malleus heeded her wish.
· There will always be differences between the fae and the humans, but she would try her best to break them. That could not happen with Malleus and the others interfering.
· YN spent time with the children and told them stories about her world.
· While it took some time for them to warm up to her, they eventually adored her. She told them stories about her adventures and she showed them games they all could play.
· YN created plans on how to incorporate technology into The Valley of Thorns.
· Many of Malleus’s council looked down on her ideas, but she kept pushing.
· As queen, YN needed to have a personal guard assigned to her.
· YN had no one who would serve as her personal knights without persuasion or force.
· Against her king’s wishes, she chose to stay without her own personal guards.
· Stating Malleus, Silver, Sebek, and Lilia would be more than enough until the time came when the people would chose to protect her of their own will.
· One day, the whole kingdom was rocked to its core.
· While YN and the children had their meet up, the palace was invaded.
· The light fae had corned them in the room, the guards of the palace subdued.
· Malleus, Lilia, Silver, and Sebek had to travel for a diplomatic meeting with another country. Malleus had wanted to leave one of them behind, but YN was against it. He needed the protection while in the foreign country even though she knew how powerful he was.
· It seemed the light fae had wanted to kidnap the children as a bargain in future meetings.
· Children among the fae were rare and it would hurt many to lose them.
· YN instead offered herself up.
· She knew how much the children meant to their parents and they were under her protection.
· The light fae had taken her instead.
· YN doesn’t remember much during this whole ordeal.
· She remembers being tied and pushed into a dark room.
· She remembers the light fae sneering at her about her heritage and her lack of powers.
· She remembers how it felt to starve without food and water.
· Everything went dark at one point.
· Next thing she knows, she woke up in Malleus’s arms.
· He cradled her close.
· She could tell he was furious.
· His wings were out and covering her.
· She could see the thin slits of his pupils as his eyes glowed acid green.
· Scales appeared all over his face and on his arms.
· He cupped her face and she could feel the coolness of his scales.
· YN didn’t dare ask what happened to her kidnappers.
· She didn’t care.
· She only cared for the one in front of her.
o YN held his face, ignoring the cuts and bruises on her skin.
o “Beloved, I am okay.”
o She could hear the rumble in his voice, “If I was selfless, I would set you free.”
o YN shifted and ran one of her hands through his hair, “I do not want to be. My place is by your side always.”
o Malleus pulled her closer and purred.
o YN slept soundly in the arms of her beloved.
· After YN was saved, everything at the castle changed.
· YN was visited constantly by the children whom she helped protect while she recovered.
· The parents of the fae children thanked her profusely for protecting their offspring.
· Fae from many backgrounds volunteered to be part of her personal guard.
· She allowed it so.
· While it was not easy being Queen of the Valley of Thorns, she had learned to love the people she helped ruled over, and in turn they cherished her.