Chapter Text
The fire crackled in the fireplace, the only sound in the quiet night embracing the small cottage a family of two called home. Silver, a young boy, only about four, sat in his father’s lap, half asleep.
“Silver?” Silver’s father, Aurore, spoke up, his voice quiet and soft yet like thunder in the quiet night.
Silver pried his eyes open, peering up at his father. Silver always admired his father. He had seen so many people speak of Aurore’s beauty and grace, and how many didn’t understand how he hadn’t found another wife after his first one had passed away. (Though Silver didn’t quite understand what that meant.)
“Yes papa?” Silver asked, his aroura colored eyes looking up into his father’s own equally colorful eyes.
“I need you to promise me something, my little one.” Aurore said softly yet sternly, gently coming his fingers through Silver’s blonde hair.
“Yes?” Silver asked curiously. It wasn’t often Aurore’s voice took on any semblance of sternness. The only time Silver could remember Aurore being truly stern was when Silver had nearly ran off a cliff after a butterfly. And that was more panicked anger than true sternness.
“I want you to promise me that you will never trust a fae.” Aurore spoke, looking at Silver with an intensity that Silver didn’t understand.
A fae?
Silver had heard about them in legends, and the books he had. They were said to be beautiful creatures of the night, powerful unlike anything else in the world. However it was also said that they were cunningly deceptive, possessive of what was theirs. And to never give a fae your name.
Even so, Silver couldn’t but wonder… “Why?” Silver asked softly.
Aurore smiled softly, but it was tinged with a sadness Silver didn’t understand. “You will understand one day, my little one. But for now, you must promise me.” Aurore said softly.
Silver didn’t like being kept in the dark, especially about something that seemed so important. But he trusted his father’s judgment. “Okay papa…” Silver said as he leaned his head against Aurore’s chest, making his father smile softly.
Aurore combed his fingers through Silver’s hair gently as he started to sing gently. “Sweet little one, why do you cry? The moon is shining, and the stars glimmer brightly. So, dry your eyes and look up to the sky. Feel the stars light and the moon’s embrace.” Aurore sung, gently rocking Silver, making the boy yawn tiredly.
Silver nestled himself farther into his father’s arms. Aurore stood, keeping a gentle hold on Silver and never stopping the gentle lullaby as he walked up the stairs towards the bedrooms. “Let the night guide you through the plight, let the stars aid you in your fight, and let the moon offer solace. As the night’s lullaby.”
Aurore carefully opened the door to Silver bedroom, walking inside and laying the boy down on the bed. Silver felt his eyes start to flutter closed as gentle hands laid his head on the pillow. “My sweet little one, sleep soundly in their light. Don’t fear the darkness, reach towards the moonlight.” Aurore sung gently, pulling the blanket up to Silver’s shoulders.
The boy felt his consciousness leave as Aurore sung the last few notes.
“Hear the night’s lullaby…”
“WAKE UP YOU LITTLE SHIT!”
Silver jolted awake at the sound of his adoptive father’s voice, startled despite that being his wake up call for the last five years.
Silver sighed, staring down at the old, worn blankets on his bed. He’d grown accustomed to the rough feel of them by now. Didn’t mean he liked it though…
Silver stood, grabbing his old hairbrush and starting to brush out his silver hair. Silver hated that his hair was no longer blonde like his father’s was, ever since that accident when he was seven. But it wasn’t like he could do anything to change it.
~*------------------*~
Silver walked through the forest, basket hanging from his arm as he looked for berries and fruits. He’d been told by his adoptive mother to go find some. According to her, if he had to be weak due to his sickness, then he should still at least be useful in some way. Especially since they were meant to have guests over for dinner.
So, here he was.
Silver perked up as he saw a large patch of blueberries just ahead. Silver walked over, crouching down and starting to gently pluck the blueberries and carefully setting them down inside the basket.
Despite his careful work, his mind was elsewhere. He didn’t know why he had had that dream. He could remember the time it was about well, it was perhaps one of his favorite memories with his father. But he didn’t understand why he was having it now…
Silver was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a set of gentle but firm footsteps approaching. Silver smiled to himself, waiting for the familiar voice to break the silence.
“Well, it is nice to see you in my forest again, beastie.”
Silver turned around to see Malleus standing there, the fae that he had come to accept as friendly staring at him.
“Hello Malleus.” Silver greeted.
Malleus smiled softly. “What brings you here this time?” Malleus asked, his emerald green eyes watching Silver intently.
“Gathering berries for my mother…” Silver replied. In all the interactions he’d had with Malleus, he’d chosen to keep the fact that he was an orphan secret. He didn’t think Malleus would judge him for it, rather Silver didn’t want to risk Malleus asking questions about his father or foster parents.
Malleus hummed in response. Before Silver could say something more, a bat flew down from the treetops, twirling theatrically before landing on Malleus’ shoulder, making the fae sigh softly.
Silver blinked in surprise at the bat’s entrance. What was a bat doing outside in midday? Most species of bats were nocturnal.
Malleus seemed to notice Silver’s surprise – Malleus was always annoyingly good at reading him – and smiled. “Apologies if he surprised you, he was simply curious and decided to follow me.” Malleus explained.
“Oh.” Silver replied, a bit dumbfounded. He’d heard that most fae had an uncanny relationship with animals, but he never expected one like Malleus to have a bat companion.
The bat fluttered off of Malleus’ shoulders, flying towards Silver. The bat looped around him a few times, and Silver realized he was waiting for Silver to hold out his arm for him to land on.
Silver did so, holding his arm out straight for the bat who immediately landed. Silver smiled softly, raising his other hand to gently pet the bat. The bat squeaked in satisfaction, nuzzling into Silver’s palm happily.
Malleus watched the interaction, fondness and something Silver couldn’t quite identify in his gaze.
Silver felt his lips pull into a small smile. It felt wrong to be so at peace in the presence of a fae, but he couldn’t help it. He’d gone most of the last five years being either ignored or yelled at. The only person who’d been truly kind to him in the last five years had been Kalim, and he was nice to everyone. Well… and Malleus as of a couple weeks ago.
Silver knew that his father had made him promise to never trust a fae. But he didn’t trust him… not really… Silver just enjoyed Malleus’ company.
And what was so wrong with that?
~*-------------------*~
Silver walked back into the house, trying not to make much noise. He’d let himself get distracted with Malleus and stayed out longer than intended. And in doing so he’d stayed out past when his adoptive parents allowed him out, and missed dinner as Malleus had conjured some food for both of them. He didn’t want to risk angering them – especially his adoptive father – anymore than he likely already had by making noise.
Silver carefully set the basket full of blueberries down onto the table, before starting to try and make his way to the stairs.
“Going somewhere brat?”
The voice of his adoptive father made Silver freeze, spinning around to look at the man.
His hair was a dark brown, almost black, and he had blue eyes. He was lean and a few inches taller than Silver.
“Ah- um- yes, back up to my room, I won’t disturb you further.” Silver said panicky.
“Do you think I’m in the mood for your sarcasm?! You were supposed to be back by dinner!” Silver’s adoptive father yelled, anger emphasizing every word.
“I-I know, I’m sorry, I just got distracted-“ Silver’s frantic sentence was cut off by his adoptive father harshly slapping him across the face, making Silver wince.
“Do you think I want your excuses? You clearly can’t be trusted to be allowed outside.” Before Silver could say anything to protest, his adoptive father grabbed him by the wrist, his grip painfully tight, and started dragging him up the stairs.
Silver yelped, trying desperately to free his wrist, only for his adoptive father to tighten his grip more.
Silver’s adoptive father shoved Silver into his room, hard enough Silver fell to the floor, before slamming the door shut.
Before Silver could even stand back up, he heard distinct click of his bedroom’s door’s lock from the outside. He’d locked Silver in…
That was okay, it was nothing that hadn’t happened before. Silver was usually allowed some leniency with curfew, he’d still get smacked around but not actively locked away. However, if it was something like this, when there were guests over for dinner, it apparently reflected badly on his adoptive parents if Silver wasn’t there. Meaning that if he missed a dinner where someone else was visiting, it was much worse. And therefor needed more drastic measures to correct.
It had only happened a couple of times, but Silver knew how this would end up playing out.
He’d be locked up in here, only allowed out to go to the bathroom, for a few days, then everything would go back to normal. A torturous normal. But normal, nonetheless.
Silver stood up and walked over to his bed, curling up under the old, tattered blanket.
Silver reached up to his neck, where the ring his father had given him hung from a golden chain around his neck. It was the last thing Silver had left of his father, aside from his memories and lullaby he would always sing to him.
Silver held the ring tight enough that his knuckles turned white and his hand shook. He felt tears brim his eyes and trail down his face, dampening the pillow underneath him.
Silver found himself reciting the same lullaby his father sung to himself.
“Sweet little one, why do you cry? The moon is shining, and the stars glimmer brightly. So dry your eyes and look up to the sky. Feel the stars light and the moon’s embrace. Let the night guide you through the plight, let the stars aid you in your fight, and let the moon offer solace, as the night’s lullaby. My sweet little one sleep soundly in their light. Don’t fear the darkness, reach towards the moonlight.”
Silver felt his eyes start to droop closed as his tears gradually came to a stop. “Hear the night’s lullaby…” Silver song softly before sleep claimed him completely, dragging him into a peaceful slumber that a bat with strangely crimson eyes guarded protectively.