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Elder Faerie walked down the stairs to find his wife hunched over the sink in the kitchen. He furrowed his brow.
“Lily? Are you alright?”
She turned to face him, her dough a bit paler than usual. Still, she put on her soft smile.
“Oh! Elder Faerie. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
Elder Faerie’s brow furrowed further as he saw her pale dough. He instantly came over to her to feel her forehead.
“My dear, you don’t look well…”
She found her heart fluttering at his immediate compassion, but she gently pushed him away.
“My love, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”
She smiled softly again, but he didn’t believe it. He knew how she never wanted others to worry about her.
“Lily, you’re obviously not feeling well. Why else would you be up at this hour?”
She knew he wasn’t going to let up. She sighed.
“It’s just my period, love. I’m fine.”
He looked at her pale face again. “It’s never this bad..”
“Well, yes, it’s worse tonight. But the pain will subside in a few hours.”
Elder Faerie frowned as he looked at her. He knew she was more than capable of handling herself, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to take care of her.
“Are you nauseous? Is that why your dough is so pale? I can make some ginger tea for you if you like.”
She once again felt her heart fluttering at his kind words. “Oh, you really don’t have to-”
He cut her off.
“Lily. Would some tea help you with how you’re feeling right now?”
She looked at him as he held her hands before eventually nodding. “Yes…”
“Then I’ll make you some. You go back upstairs and rest in bed.”
She would nod and hold the area right under her stomach as she walked slightly slower than usual. Elder Faerie saw this and swiftly picked her up. She gasped.
“Elder Faerie, what-”
“You should’ve told me that it hurts to walk.”
She sighed as he carried her up the stairs. “You… didn’t ask.”
He sighed in return. “You should tell me these things, my Lily. My job as your husband is to focus on your comfort.”
She rested her head on his shoulder as they entered the bedroom.
“I don’t want to burden you with unnecessary things like this.”
Elder Faerie looked at her as he placed her down onto the bed.
“My love, you’re in pain. Taking care of you right now isn’t a burden to me.”
He kissed her forehead. “It’s my duty.”
She looked up at him with soft eyes. He looked back down at her with a gentle smile.
“Now, rest. I’ll get your tea.”
He squeezed her hand one last time before leaving the room, the candle on the bedside table being the only source of light.
White Lily felt so lucky that she had this life with Elder Faerie now. But every so often she couldn’t help but think if she really deserved it. She had caused so many awful things.
Earthbread may be at peace now, but she had still caused both Dark Flour Wars, events that had claimed so many innocent lives. She felt her soul ache whenever she thought of it.
Did she really deserve this? Did she really deserve to be living this peaceful life with Elder Faerie? And as his queen no less. How was she deserving of ruling over a kingdom after the devastation she had brought to so many others? Why-
“My Lily?”
Elder Faerie’s calm voice broke her away from her thoughts. She turned to him. She hadn’t even heard him come in.
He was now holding her ginger tea, but there was more worry on his face. He sat down on the bed as he handed her the tea.
“My love, are you alright?”
“I’m… fine.” She simply says as she sips her tea, but she knew he wouldn’t believe her.
He gazes at her for a moment. “Were you… thinking about it all again?”
She sighs, “I know you’ve said it’s not my fault. But everytime I’m alone, all those thoughts and memories just… seep into my head again…”
Elder Faerie just continues to listen as she speaks. Her voice breaks a little.
“Elder Faerie, I’ve… I’ve done so much. It’s all so much. I don’t know how-”
Elder Faerie wraps his arms around her and closes his wings around them both.
“I know it’s a lot, my flower. And I know I can’t even comprehend how you feel… However, I do know one thing for sure.”
White Lily turns her head to look at him. “What…?”
He gently brushes her hair out of her face. “You are not a monster. You and Dark Enchantress Cookie may have been one in the same, but you are nothing like her.”
“But-” She starts, but he cuts her off.
“You feel remorse for all you’ve done. Even after these past few years your guilt still weighs so heavy… Dark Enchantress Cookie never felt guilt, she hurt others willingly.”
He smiles softly at her as he gazes into her fuchsia eyes.
“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think my Lily is incapable of feeling guilt.”
White Lily stays silent, gently leaning into his touch on her cheek.
“Lily… I will say this as many times as it takes for you to believe it. I love you. I have continued to fall in love with you since the moment we met. And I will continue to love you forever on. I don’t care what you think you’ve done, because Dark Enchantress Cookie isn’t the kind and courageous cookie I fell in love with.”
He gently lifts up her face so her gaze meets his loving one. “It’s you.”
Her eyes fill with tears before she buries her face against his chest.
“I… I really don’t deserve you.”
He sighs as he brushes his hand through her messy white hair. “Lily. Please.”
She lets out a shaky laugh. “I’m sorry…”
“Lily…” He gently lifts her head up to meet his gaze once more.
She softly smiles before leaning up and giving him a gentle kiss. “I love you…” She wraps an arm around him. “Thank you for caring about me…”
“There, much better…” He gently presses another kiss to her sweet lips.
Suddenly, she pulls away and groans as her hand moves to her stomach. Elder Faerie sighs.
“Drink the rest of your tea, my love.”
“Right…”
She continues to sip her tea as he holds her in his arms. He gazes at her as his head rests on her shoulder. She smiles back at him once she finishes her tea.
“What?”
“Nothing.” He replies as he takes her cup and places it on the bedside table. “I just came up with another reason why you could never be evil.”
“And what’s that?” She softly asks.
He wraps his arms around her once more and lovingly speaks, “You’re far too beautiful.”
Her cheeks become tinted with red before she turns away.
“Stop that…”
He smiles when he sees her trying to hide her own behind her hand. He grabs her hand and kisses her cheek.
“Never.”
He holds her tighter and begins to barrage her face with kisses. He laughs at the giggles that arise from her when he does.
“Love! Stop it!”
“Ah yes.” He continues to tickle her skin with kisses. “The sounds of pure evil~”
“No~” She starts but he cuts her off with a kiss on the lips.
“Apologies, no speaking right now.” He holds her flushed face close to his. “I believe all my flower needs right now is some love from her smitten butterfly.”