" Oh, then you best come on in then."
Shayna chimed as she opened the door wider for them. Richard gasped at the sight, was he really going to stand there as both families come to the agreement of an arranged marriage between his Shayna and Little One?! He wanted to slam the door in their faces and lock them out but unfortunately, even he knew he didn't have the right to.
"Shayna might have a say it in. Maybe she could reject their offer! Little One is very young and who knows? Maybe when we're older, she might not want him. But then again Little One is an elf and might grow quite handsome in the future. Even so, he is a baby now, and she probably wouldn't see past it... right?"
Richard silently reasons with himself, hoping that it isn't something Shayna would agree to.
" Good morning! Wow, you're here super early. Is there something I can help you with?"
Emma chimed as she sets the table for breakfast.
" A matter of fact, there is."
Philomel nodded. Richard could feel his heart drop to the ground from fear as she could already imagine Philomel asking for Shayna since she and Little One did an emotional link.
" You see, we're leaving the village today and we would be leaving Little One here with a good family. Since we can't afford to take care of him. "
Philomel explained building up to her proposal, which relieved Richard, happy that Little One would become her brother and completely move him out of the chessboard. A formidable piece he doesn't have to worry about in the future, no matter how handsome he becomes.
" No!"
Shayna yelled as she runs up and hugs Amon's leg, grabbing everyone's attention and by everyone it includes.
" Uhhhhh...."
The baby whined causing instant panic to Amon, Philomel, Hector, and even Richard. Amon switched from cradling to holding him against his chest, bouncing him as he rubs the baby's back. Hector immediately started waving his tail against Little One's cheek allowing the soft feeling to lull him to sleep. Philomel was anticipating the screaming cry and covered her ears. Richard fearing that he would feel abandoned by his parents again quickly moves into the playpen. A safe distance from Little One if he happens to do an emotional scream again.
Little One sleepily opens his eyes, twitched his nose sending a ripple of movement through his chubby cheeks, yawns, and nuzzles against Amon's shoulder, making himself comfortable as he goes back to sleep. All four of them let out a sigh of relief before turning to Shayna and shushing her.
" Oops, sorry."
She softly said and then pulls on Amon's white shirt to get his attention.
" No. You can't leave Little One here, he loves you and you love him. You saw how desperate he was for you yesterday and even after all that you're just going to leave him here?"
Shayna continued with a low but determined tone, a tone that shook Amon's constantly wavering decision. For a billion times, Amon lost his resolve and thought about the decision again. Philomel bends down, meeting Shayna at eye level as Shayna continued to hug Amon's leg.
" We can't afford to take him along, where we're going is extremely dangerous. We plan to go through Mountmend and you know how scary that place is."
Philomel explains as she reaches out for her hand.
" This is all we can do to ensure his safety."
Philomel added with a sad smile as Shayna takes Philomel's hand, allowing herself to be gently pulled away from Amon's leg.
" Do you truly have to go?"
Shayna softly asks through a huge frown.
" We are the last hope for our tribe. As much as it pains me, we have no choice. Little One was lucky to be found by us and even luckier to get to know such a wonderful girl like you. But we can't jeopardize our tribe's needs for a baby we found."
Philomel informs as she knelt down to Shayna's height, holding her small furry brown, white hand in both her hands. Shayna soon hung her head feeling sad that this was even happening.
" As... We were saying... would you... be kind enough to take care... of Little."
Amon struggle to say as the tears burning his eyes finally fell.
" take... care of Little One."
He finishes standing tall with shaking shoulders trying his best to hold back his sobs as he sniffed every now and then.
" Anything for the savior of my child. "
Emma chimed with a sweet smile, her hands stayed linked in front of her. Not even going to reach out for Little One even though she agreed to take care of him, trying to make the process less heart-wrenching for Amon.
" Thank you."
He mumbled as he squatted down, all resolve within him finally came crumbling as he embraces Little One in his balled-up body. Crying into the small child's shoulder. Repeating to himself he is doing the right thing, wishing he would believe it after repeating it a million times.
" Oh... Little One, Little One. My Little One. Please be safe and happy. My prayers shall always be with you. Please forget about me and love your new family more."
Amon muttered to Little One shoulder through his tears as he nuzzles against the baby's shoulder just as the baby has done so many times in the past when he was sleepy. Little One could feel the cold tears on his shoulder and once again feel the sad lonely feeling as he dreams the same haunting dream.
Soft murmuring hummed of a lullaby drifts through the room as the figure sways to the rhythm of her tune, gently rocking a young baby. The wind stops blowing and the curtain falls back to the side revealing a young woman with beautiful raven hair and shimmering blue eyes that sparks like sapphires.
" Circles, in circles the world goes round
calling the sun to seize its smile
Morning, evening, star bright night
we all depend on his sweet light."
Little One small hands once more reach out and finally manages to grab the hood of the elf rocking him. His small hands grip tightly to Amon's white shirt as tears slip out of his sleeping eyes. Feeling at ease knowing he caught her, feeling at ease knowing he caught him and there was no way, he was going to let go.
______________________________________________