The people whispered as they gathered near the world tree - just outside the barrier. Unease and worry engulfed them.
'Why would the Queen call for them?'
'Is it because of the intruders?'
'The killer of Fays is inside the realm maybe that was the reason.'
However, as the Queen came closer the people gasped in fear. Because walking behind her is the humans that intruded the realm.
"Your Majesty what on Gods' name?!" one shouted.
"Murderer!" they screamed.
"ENOUGH" the Queen commanded with a steel-like voice. Stern and full of authority, power even.
"This is not about the past, for the time being, let us forget that. They have come here to find-" another wave of shouting interrupted the Queen. But even with such disrespect, she only breathed deeply to calm herself.
"I SAID ENOUGH! IF I'M TO BE INTERRUPTED AGAIN, PUNISHMENT WILL BE ON CALL. AM I HEARD?" Darius was stunned, an urge to kneel before the Queen spread inside him. The feeling was quite new to him, he had never felt so compelled before.
"WHOEVER SAW THE LAST FAY TO ENTER THE ARCHWAY COME FORWARD! THE REST OF THEE MAY GO!"
The tension thickened in the air, it was obvious that they do not wish to let the past be forgotten or ignored. Which made Darius question Titania's reason for helping them.
'What is she up to?' He asked himself, mentally preparing for any sort of attack.
As the rest of the fays left, the whispering lowered. But of course, they are some that would still turn to look at Darius with hatred burning in their eyes.
He is not forgiven and he might never be, but he already accepted that. A very... very... long time.
The rest of the problem seemed to have solved itself, as the witnesses were asked. The culprit was easily found, she cried and begged. But the Queen still ordered a fitting punishment.
It didn't take long for the Wilson infant must be returned.
Brennan cradled the child, "We are good to go." And said with a smile "Thank you for your help, your majesty."
"Of course," Titania nodded.
Brennan nodded with a smile as the two of them left. Darius on the other hand glanced one last, meeting Titania's eyes before looking back at the road ahead.
Titania frowned, before vanishing into a flash of light.
Up in the branches of the world tree, Titania flew to the center of the tree. Where she placed an ear close to a trunk. Both hands are flatly placed in the rough bark of the world tree.
"Is he… thy benefactor?" she asked the tree, only to be met with silence.
The tree never answers, not to anyone. But there are rare occasions, where the tree sends signs as if preparing for the future.
As Titania pulled away, the tree glimmered with faint golden light. It traveled from the central trunk to the very ends of the leaves and roots.
"It would seem, that we will be expecting more from Darius," Titania uttered.
By the time Brennan and Darius returned, the dawn was already sipping over the horizon. The golden rays of the sun, shine through, providing hope and a new beginning.
"I'm glad that the baby is safe," Brennan noted but Darius only hummed as to agree.
His mind still lingering in the odd encounter with Titania, she was far too kind and far too helpful. It didn't feel right, it was as if, a looming danger will soon come and the thought of it terrifies him.
When they reached the clearing, Lady Wilson immediately run in their direction. As it turned out, she had been waiting eagerly for her son's return.
Tears flow down her tired eyes as she run like a madwoman, "My precious child!" she shouted. She took the baby from Brennan as soon as she came close. She weep as she held the baby close, kissing his head, and rubbing his back.
"Your home now," she whispered to her son.
When she finally calmed down, she stopped crying.
"Thank you! Thank you!" she repeated, a hand reaching for Darius and Brennan.
"Thank you for saving my son."
"No problem!" Brennan smiled.
"Umh… One problem though…" the maid stepped forward, holding out another baby.
"If that was the young master… then what about this one?" she asked.
Darius deadpanned, "Eh?" he uttered.
"What?!" Brennan exclaimed. The young men met each other's gaze, they didn't think of this. They thought the fay will take the changeling back.
"Maybe we can return it," Darius said, cold sweat forming in his temple.
"Y-yeah, let's go back and return the changeling," Brennan said taking the changeling from the maid.
Brennan cradled the changeling.
"W-we will return shortly," Brennan told Lady Wilson and the maids.
Immediately, the young travelers made their way back to the archway.
"It looks weird," Darius said out of the blue making Brennan gasp.
"Don't say things like that! This is a baby!" he defended.
"I know but it is the truth, that's why it was abandoned by the mother," Darius replied.
"Still you can't just call his weird or anything terrible! You'll hurt his feelings."
"He can't understand us so why bother…"
"Sssh… don't be so rude!" Brennan hissed, to which the changeling laughed.
"Oh? You're happy huh?" Brennan played with it, smiling brightly at the changeling.
Darius will admit, its laugh sounded like those of a normal child.
Upon reaching the place where the archway was, the young men stood in the middle of the woods unsure what to do next. The archway was gone and not a single sign of any fairy can be found.
"Bloody hell," Darius cursed.
With the archway gone, they can't go back to the Kingdom of the fays to return the changeling.
"Now what?" he asked Brennan.
"Maybe we missed it?" Brennan replied with his wishful thinking.
"No… that can't be," Darius shook his head.
"We can ado-"
"Not going to happen," Darius interrupted. "We are in no situation to adopt a baby much less a changeling." He reasoned.
"Darius is this about the appearance again?" Brennan rebutted with knitted brows, upset about Darius's discrimination.
"No, but we can't go around adopting children. Brennan, I have a deadline." He looked Brennan in the eyes.
"About a year, that's all I have left to get stronger and find my little brother. I may act like everything is fine but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about it at all the time."
Darius shook his head, "I fear that I will never be strong enough to fight the white crow and save my brother. So tell me, do you still think I have the time to play around?"
"I…" Darius stopped before he could say anything he might regret, he didn't mean to snap at his companion. But it was true, he may not act like it. But the pressure had been crashing him as if his head is under a giant boulder.
"I'm sorry," Brennan lowered his gaze. Looking at the changeling, "I wasn't thinking clearly, I just pitied this baby."
"Yeah… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap on you like that." Darius admitted.
Darius scratched the back of his nape, "Maybe Lady Wilson will be kind enough to take the changeling in."
"You think she will?" Brennan asked.
"If we asked her nicely… there's a chance. Besides she can't just ignore her benefactor's request." Darius smiled at Brennan.
"Think about it, she's grateful for our service. We saved her child and she's static, she's so happy she won't think twice before agreeing." Darius explained.
"That sounds like swindling…" Brennan chuckled nervously.
Darius laughed a little, in a way he knows it is. But he refuses to admit that.
Upon reaching the edge of the wood, the young men were met by a maid. One that they haven't met before.
"Ah, Sir… eh? The baby is still here?" she asked as she tilted her head to the side.
"Well things changed, we can't return the baby," Darius replied.
"I see… w-well, Lady Wilson is waiting for you in the drawing-room. Please follow me." She said before walking ahead.
Warm tea and fresh pastries are neatly placed on the table, begging to be eaten. All the while Darius sat across Lady Wilson, beside him is Brennan who still holds the changeling.
"You want me to take her in?" Surprisingly, Lady Wilson looked a lot better already. It almost looked as if she wasn't in the hysterics last night.
"Yes, that's our only request. You see… the archway leading to the fays has vanished and we can't return the baby. I know you're worried but I can assure you, it's not dangerous." Darius explained.
Gazing at Brennan he decided to borrow his naïve companion's line. "After all it's just a baby, it doesn't even know it was abandoned by its parents. Don't you feel sad for such a poor thing to be left alone like this?"
Brennan to say that least was impressed, he never thought that he could act like this.
'He must have an experience being a scammer in the city.' He thought.
"Say less, you have saved my son. You even followed her to the other realm, how can I ever refuse your request." Lady Wilson replied.
"I promise to raise the child as I would do to my own," she oath.
"You're too kind, thank you, Lady Wilson." Darius smiled.
"Don't mention it. For now, the two of you should rest. I already had the beds prepared, you've worked hard." She said nodding to the maid, while in return the servant took the changeling from Brennan.
Another approached, "Please follow me. I will guide you to your rooms."
Flashing another smile to the woman, Darius then followed the maid.
While walking through the halls, Darius asked a question that had been bothering him for a while.
"Have you seen Anne?"
"O-oh, she… she left earlier. She said she can't stay anymore after what happened. She said she feared that no one will trust her again and that she might be in danger if any other problem arises."
Darius could feel his throat go dry… that was on him.
If only he could see her again to apologize.