Tiger Lily walked away from the village. The more distance between Rumple and Malcolm, the better. She'd gone maybe two miles before she realized how much she would miss being able to fly. She was not used to walking, but still, it was no use thinking of how things used to be. This new life was what was, for both her and Rumple. They'd have to make the best of it together.
By now, Rumple had started to cry again, and was clutching at Tiger Lily as if wanting to suckle. Tiger Lily hadn't really thought of how she would feed him. Still, his mother was gone, and she doubted Malcolm would have hired a wet nurse. He'd have had to be fed somehow anyway. Rumple wouldn't be the first baby raised sucking goat's milk from a cloth. Now the problem was finding a way to get that milk.
She finally came to a hut that had a small flock of sheep and goats outside. Perhaps, she could offer some work in exchange for some milk. At any rate, there was no harm in asking. Things couldn't be much more desperate. The door was open, and through it she could see two ladies working together at spinning. No wonder they kept a flock. They must make a living at selling what they spun, one of the few options open to a woman.
"Excuse me? I noticed your goats, and my little one is hungry." Her little one. Strange, but that was true now. "I have no milk. Is there any way I could work for some? I'll do anything."
"Oh, but of course, dear!" the first one answered. "We wouldn't turn away a hungry child and his mother, now would we Hilda?"
"Indeed not, Roberta." Both women stepped forward.
"What a darling baby!" Roberta nearly cooed, taking in the sight of the child.
"Absolutely precious!" Hilda agreed.
"He is," Tiger Lily said, happy and relieved to find them so welcoming. "I'm- not his mother though. His mother- is dead and his father doesn't want him. I'm his godmother-" she paused "Lily." She'd rather not have too many questions asked.
"Why don't you come inside Lily?" Roberta invited her. "We'll see to it that the little one is fed, and then we'll decide what is to be done."
It didn't take long to get a bowl of milk and a cloth. Rumple sucked hungrily, although "Lily" worried about the change in milk. Rumple was just over a month old now, and many babies who changed milk that young became ill. There was no avoiding it. He had to be fed something. He seemed to be satisfied at least after drinking, and was soon sleeping in his basket near the fire. The last day of winter had passed, but it was still cold. The kind spinners wrapped him in an extra blanket and gave his godmother a warm shawl.
"You needn't worry so," Hilda comforted her. "He seems a determined little thing. He's had a rough start in life, but he'll be fine."
Tiger Lily kept watching the baby as she spoke.
"I don't know how to thank you both. I don't know where Rumple and I will go from here, but-"
"You'll stay with us, of course," Roberta told her.
"We certainly can't let you just keep wondering," Hilda agreed.
"But- I have no way to pay for our keep," the ex- fairy told them.
"Don't you worry about that. We'll all work together to look after the sheep, and the wool we spin will bring in enough for us to get by with," Roberta said. "What kind of people would we be to send you away with a baby and no way to care for him or yourself?"
Tiger Lily vowed if she ever had magic again, she would bless them in every way she could. Rumple would be grateful too, she was sure. How appropriate. Rumple's life had begun in the middle of winter, on the coldest night of the year. Now, a new life seemed to have begun for them both on the first day of spring.
In the weeks that followed, Tiger Lily learned how to spin and tend the sheep, and once the warm weather began she helped with the vegetable garden and planted the flax that would be made into linen later. Slowly, it became as if this was the only life she'd ever known. Only the smallest twinge of sorrow pricked at her when she thought of flying or other magic. It was hard to be sad for too long. Roberta and Hilda were so kind, and the work of living like a human wasn't so bad when divided among them. Most important of all, little Rumple was thriving. The hum of the spinning wheel became his favorite lullaby, and he loved to watch it circling round and round.
All the women loved taking care of him, and he in turn showed him he loved them as best a baby can, with smiles and giggles and pats with his tiny hands. The days grew in happiness as well as warmth while the bonds between them strengthened. Now that she knew he was safe, Tiger Lily allowed herself to dream of Rumple's future a bit. No doubt he'd learn to spin, and be apprenticed. This was their home now, and odds were he would learn the trade that supported them. He would learn more than that too. It was a question of time before he first used magic.
It frightened Tiger Lily that there was no one but her to teach him how to use his gift, a former fairy who'd been banished and had lost her powers. She told her self she was better than no one at all though. At the absolute minimum, he wouldn't be left with an abusive, neglectful father. He was loved. And wasn't that the most powerful magic of all? She smiled thinking of that. Not even Blue could take that magic from them.