.
Chapter 51 – High Sky Where Wind Sings
.
When Meliodas went to pick Lily, Ban, Elias, and King came with him.
Ban never saw their Captain this panicked and troubled, so he couldn't help it but ask him "Cap'n, what did Tina mean with Lily's condition started to weaken?".
Meliodas gobbled down a bottle before answering "ever since Lily was born in the Enchanted Wood... no, ever since she was crowned as their Queen, Lily has been tied with the Enchanted Woods as their Queen. As their Queen, she can't leave the Enchanted Woods for too long. Otherwise, her body's gonna get weakened or worse... she can die".
Ban, Elias, and King sucked in a deep breath. King turned to Elias who looked pale, it seemed his little brother didn't know about this, either.
Elias clenched his fists "that's why Lily barely left the Wood".
"don't be mad to her, Elias. She just didn't want to make you worried, that's why she never told you", Meliodas smiled wryly "perhaps, it's because of her position as Queen too. She is the type of someone who keeps her problems to herself and not too used to depend on someone else. She's that kind of girl".
Elias didn't deny it "yes, she's been like that, but it's also why we worried about her sometimes".
Ban tried to lighten the atmosphere, drawling "that part of her sounded like you, Cap'n~".
Meliodas found Lily's body lying unconscious on the ground and he hastened his pace "Lily!".
Just like Tristina said, Lily's body shrank (from how her body looked smaller than before) into teenage version (around Elizabeth's age, perhaps?), even her horns and her wings disappeared. Meliodas cradled Lily's body in his arms before carrying her bridal style. For a second, Ban and King saw her face. They were shocked to recognize that Lily looked a LOT like Elizabeth. Elias, either he realized about it or not, didn't say anything and went to her side right away. But before King and Ban could say something, Tristan appeared and snapped his fingers to send Meliodas and Lily back to the Boar Hat (because it's faster this way, he said to Elizabeth when the third princess came carrying Tristina on her hands). Came to think of it, Lily also tried to hide her face.
Could it be... they tried to prevent anyone in their group thinking or realizing the resemblance between Elizabeth and Lily? Or was this only the coincidence?
(actually, yes).
"Sometimes, there are things that better to not spoken of and kept hidden".
"Just like how people born and die, in the cycle of life, people do reincarnate".
Somehow, Lily's words were getting through their head when they tried to understand and get this into their head as they walked back to the Boar Hat silently.
Her first memory when she was born to this world as a baby, was the memory of colors. Blue was the color of her mother's eyes. White was the color of her mother's hair, just like hers. Emerald green was the color of his father's eyes, just like hers. Gold, or rather the people said that blonde was the color of her father's hair. She wondered why her father's blonde hair was stained by red?
After that, it was a disastrous maelstrom. The people that she would know as her brother Tristan, her Aunt Merlin and her Aunt Nel Hativa, had come back from wherever they were. Drops of blood on their hands and clothes, perhaps they were from the battle?
Merlin and Nel Hativa broke down in tears but they tried to get themselves together as Tristan cried, hugging their parents' corpses. There was a ghost who had been crying by her side ever since her mother breathed her last, that someday she would know as her older sister, Tristina.
She cried too because she felt like she lost something important. She, who still a baby in Silky's arms, was given the name 'Lily Titania' later. She earned her mother's title as Titania, the strongest member of Fay Clan who worthy to be their Queen. Her body grew quickly, faster than her siblings. As her body reached its supposedly 6-years-old when she was only a half years old, her father came back to her side. She cried for the first time and hugged him, begging forgiveness because she thought she was the reason why her mother passed away when she was birth. Instead of angry, her father apologized to her for leaving her side, it felt as if his guilt ate him away and he promised her, no matter how painful and cruel the life could be, he would live for her. Not only her but also all of them, his children.
Her father, her sisters, brothers, and her Aunts stayed by her side for a long time, at least until she was on proper age and ready to be the Queen. Once she was ascended the throne and she was crowned as the Queen, her family left her one by one. Her Aunts. Her sisters. Her brothers. Last, her father.
When her father left, she had reached out her hands, begging him to stay. She cried and hiccupped "or is it... do you truly hate me for causing mother's death? That's why... you can't bear to stay with me and you leave me too?".
Her father gently released her grip from his clothes and apologized, trying to reason with her "it's not that, dear. I'm sorry. I have to leave... for your mother, and for your sake too...".
Liar. If he didn't hate her, then why would he leave? That was what she thought and she believed.
She would be fine, he said. After all, Silky and Spriggan were there with her.
It was different, she thought. No one could replace her father's place in her heart. However, she knew she couldn't be selfish or her father would hate her more than this. So, instead of crying harder, she decided to smile instead. She smiled and waved her hand, telling him goodbye and praying hopefully he would be safe on his journey.
Time passed by. Seconds turned into hours. Hours turned into days. Days turned into months. Months turned into years. Her siblings and her Aunts had visited her periodically but never her father. He never visited. Lily thought she should have known better. Her father hated her, why bother to even visit her? Just like that, she was left alone in the Enchanted Woods. She thought her family left her behind. She was alone, all over, again. She was so lonely.
As time passed by, the little girl who once believed and loved her father and siblings had grown up into a mature woman who decided to lean on her Darkness and Demons. The once sweet and innocent girl who just like the Daffodil flower now had turned into the fierce Warrior Queen who just like the thorny Rose. Lily stayed the same, she was still the Queen of Fay Clan who lived on the Enchanted Woods, helped by Silky and Spriggan as her 'right hand' to rule over her people. Just like her mother, she was proud of her Clan. The difference was, unlike her mother, she had been numb, she had been tired of waiting and hoping, thus her heart had turned cold like the ice, hard as the rock. Even her smile never appeared in her face and her people knew her as the stone-cold-hearted, fierce Warrior Queen.
Queen to be feared and respected.
Graceful.
Quiet.
Strong.
Brave.
True.
Loyal.
Honest.
Lonely.
One day, there was a hunter who found out about the location of the Enchanted Woods, including about how peaceful, glorious and prosper her Clan had, thanks to her efforts as their Queen. It reached the ears of a King and a Queen on a certain Kingdom from Human Clan. Their Greed and Envy had triggered the King and Queen to invade her Clan. This would be Lily's first trial as the Queen.
Spriggan came in a rush to the throne room "Queen! There's a troop of certain Kingdom from Human Clan waited on the outskirt of our territory!".
"calm down!", Lily stood and ordered sternly when the people on this throne room went noisy. She turned back to Spriggan "continue".
"their King demanded an audience with the Queen to create the official relationship between us, but my wife who could read mind had confirmed that he just wanted to invade our territory, to make our territory as theirs and to make our Clan as their subordinates".
Lily tapped her fingers on the chair "how many people in this troop, Spriggan?".
"about 20.000 people. One of them is their King".
"...fool, Humans are hilarious like usual. Do they seriously think they can win against us?", Lily stood and spread her wings "prepare my armor and send our troops to the outskirt. Don't be afraid. They are the ones who will not come back home, alive".
Spriggan and her people dropped one knee in front of her and encouraged "as you wish, Queen!".
Behind the pillar, Silky who had watched everything turned to ask her messenger-bird to send letters for Lily's family members who could come here.
The Civil War between Fay Clan and the certain Kingdom was unavoidable. Although Lily had given one chance as her mercy to let them all retreat and go back home, the King scoffed and mockingly said the horned birdy Fairy-like her didn't have the right to give an order to him, the King.
"you fool", Lily changed her form into Assault mode. Darkness surrounded her body, covering her armor. The Demon Clan's mark (in shape dark, full moon surrounded by dark fire) appeared on her forehead "you have wasted your chance to live and underestimated my mercy. Now, you and your people will never able to go back home, alive".
Merlin, Nel Hativa, Tristan and Meliodas just arrived on the Enchanted Woods when the Civil War had reached its peak. As the climax, Lily killed the King after the entire troop, 20.000 humans, died on her people's, Lily's troop. Without mercy.
Lily noticed their arrival after she dropped the King's corpse to the ground "oh, sorry for the mess. I guess this is just your bad time to visit me".
It invited Meliodas' wrath. Merlin and Nel Hativa looked troubled, but they didn't say anything. For all reasons, Lily just tried to protect her Clan. Tristan didn't say anything, he still didn't too fond of human, except Isolde and her sisters, so he also wasn't in the right place to say anything about what Lily had done. Usually, looking at how Meliodas was angry, it was scary but Lily looked indifferent.
Calmly, Lily asked "what do you expect of me to do then, father? Do you hope that I have to just stay still and be silent? To lower my head, be obedient and just let those humans invade my Clan? Not a chance".
Meliodas growled "but to kill those humans... it isn't helping either!? Just do the right thing, Lily!".
"then where have you been!? Where are you, mother, Aunts, and my siblings... everyone, when I needed you the most? Where are you when I need your guide?", panting, Lily closed her eyes before she opened her eyes and straightened her body, looking down to them "you said to just do the right thing, but to kill yourself and follow after my mother to the afterlife... was it the right thing to do, father?".
Meliodas couldn't say it out loud, that he was just afraid because when he saw her on the battlefield when she sent the killing blow to her opponent, it was reminded him of the old time. Lily looked just like her mother when her mother was known as Bloody Ellie. No, he was afraid if Lily would turn into the fearsome Queen like her grandmother, the Supreme Deity. However, the reason why Lily could become like this, part of it was also his fault. He had no right to blame her. He was not in the place of blaming her.
Instead, Meliodas lowered his head further, his bangs masking his face "...forgive me".
"I don't need your apologies, because it's not your fault. It's mine, to get lost. Deep down in your heart, I can see it, father... you're afraid, right? But before you blame me, can you think about it and tell me? Is it my fault, to get lost because no one guides my path?", Lily only stared down to him, perfectly kept her poker face as she looking down at how he froze. She never saw him like this. Came to think of it, what did she know about her father? Lily sighed and turned her back "...I will excuse myself here and now. Silky and Spriggan will take care of everything for you as long as you stay. I have a lot of things to do. Rest well".
For three days straight on, Lily was busy helping her people, to rebuild the ruined houses of her people, the burial, refill the necessity, fix the broken weapons, etc. She was doing great, even helping her people with her own hands. She refused to stay in her Castle and let her people doing all the work, instead, she helped them. To the point, she didn't even have the chance to speak with her father, her Aunts, and her siblings. Not at all, though. At least, her brother Tristan could talk to her when he helped her to fix the weaponry.
It only made Lily irritated "look, I'm truly grateful that you all, my family, helped me a lot. However, if you just want to mess up with me, just find another. Good luck".
Tristan slammed the scabbard on his arm into the wooden box "how could you and father know each other when you don't even have enough time to talk properly with him?!".
"and how do you expect me to talk with him when he wasn't even here!? Do you blame me too now?!", Lily slammed her fist on the wall, leaving the crater "at least he could visit me. But you know what? He didn't. No wonder. Why would he? After I have killed my mother when she was giving me birth into this world, no wonder father would hate me and blame me for mother's death".
Tristan grabbed her shoulders and pushed her on the wall, looking down sadly "mother's death is not your fault... and tell me honestly, have you ever asked father about what does he think about you? Did father ever blame you for our mother's death, even if just once? Do you think he will blame you for our mother's death, ever? No. He loves you because you're his daughter".
Lily hissed "how could you have known—".
Tristan cut her off "I already have two deceased daughters, in case you forget. You haven't had the kids of your own, How could you have known how and what us, as the parents, feeling?".
"it's not that I blamed father! Nor I blamed my brothers and sisters, it's just...", Lily averted her eyes to the side, pushing him. Tristan only stared down sadly at her. She didn't understand why. She poised herself and straightened her back before walking away "...let's talk again later, at the dinner".
After Lily left, flying to the sky, Nel Hativa and Merlin appeared behind Tristan.
Merlin smacked Tristan on the head "you do realize Lily is just 19 years old, right? It's been 7 years ever since she was crowned as the Queen when she was 12 years old. In this clan, at that age, she has been considered as an adult when in fact, she hasn't. This is her first time to face the war. Give her a break. At this point, she's been doing great".
Nel Hativa wrapped her arm around his shoulder, giving her head-lock "you and your father are just the same... Idiot and hot-blooded... why did you spread the salt on her wound instead, Idiot?!".
"...I can't help it", Tristan choked "looking at father's face, it reminded me of what happened on the Cornwall".
Nel Hativa released him and sighed "but Lily doesn't know about the curses on your family yet, right? She's 16 years old this year. It's time for her to know. Let's see how she reacted after that".
But it had to be postponed because Lily disappeared. When Meliodas found out Lily was attacked by the hunters who aimed Lily for her beauty and her wings, Meliodas totally lost at it and killed them all after he found Lily's wings and her torn dress.
Clutching his opponent's neck, Meliodas lifted him off of the ground and threatened him to throw him off of the cliff "now, tell me... what are you doing to her? Where is she? Answer me, before I throw you off of this cliff".
"Forgive me! We just shot her and cut off her wings! After that, she ran off to the Forest!".
Meliodas looked down mercilessly "oh, don't worry, I will make sure, your journey to the Purgatory will be pleasing".
Meliodas refused to give up. Once again, he took over the throne to rule over her Clan temporarily and ordered them all to find her, while he was looking for her by himself, aided by Merlin, Nel Hativa, and his other children.
Lily couldn't believe it. She was attacked by the group of hunters. One of them had shot her and cut off her wings from her back after she fell to the ground. She used her last energy to run away as fast as she could with her feet into the nearest woods until she fell, rolling down to the base of the cliff. Thankfully, it was slightly sloped. Her dress was torn here and there. She could feel the terrible headache, her sight swaying, like swimming due to blood-loss. At this time, she remembered what her father said to her.
"When you hurt and kill other people, it only will prolong the chain of hatred".
So that was it? Just because she killed those humans who tried to invade her only home, now she had to die here where no one of her Clan knew? How cruel and unfair this world could be?
Lily chuckled bitterly "heh... serve me right... for a rebellious child like me... to die alone here...".
In the middle of her blurred sight and half-consciousness, she could recognize someone coming closer "oi, hold yourself together!?".
She had had enough. Whoever this person was, they had nothing to do with her, why should they care of the stranger like her?
She retorted "leave me alone".
Instead of leaving her alone as she said, the gentle voice asked, "...do you want to die?".
Did she?
Even after what happened to her messed-up family?
Perhaps it was better to just die, so she would not feel the pain. She wouldn't create trouble for her father and her siblings. She could go to the other side and find her mother, perhaps. However... if she died here, she wouldn't able to meet her family who still alive again.
With tears streaming down her face unconsciously, she answered, "...no...".
"then let me save you".
"...who?", she thought as she reached out her hand, blood flowing through her head and covering her sight. She felt someone grabbed her hand "...who?".
"who am I, it's not important right now".
She felt someone who told her that they would help her lifting her body, then she lost her consciousness, unable to hear their answer nor she was able to keep her consciousness. Next time she woke up, looking around, she found herself lying on the comfortable bed. She sat and saw her reflection on the full-body-sized mirror in front of her. She was shocked to find out the changes in her body.
Her horns disappeared and her presence felt like a human, especially with her magic power automatically got sealed. She remembered this from her lesson. When a member of her Clan was in danger, something threatened their life, like her horns or her wings got taken (which the latter happened to her), their body would turn into human-like and their magic power would get sealed automatically until their magic power was strong enough to grow her wings or her horns. Lily had seen something like this happened. She only hoped her wings still could grow back, otherwise, she should find those fiends who cut off and steal her wings so she could ask Nel Hativa to sew it back into its place together again. There was a case where the wings and horns couldn't grow back like Spriggan after he lost it, after all.
What a mess she had been. Looking around, she tried to get up from her bed, crawling but headache and nausea got the best of her. The wound on her back and her head felt throbbing violently. Her body swayed and she staggered. Luckily, before she hit the wooden floor, someone caught her.
"watch out!".
Green long hair like the woods and sharp silver hair like a sword. Her breath stuck in her throat as she stared into his eyes. His hands still wrapped around her body, carrying her bridal style before he put her down on the bed again and sighed "you shouldn't get up from bed just yet".
"ah, thank you... for saving me, just now", hesitantly, she asked, "are you... the one who saved me and brought me here?".
"yes. My name is Dahlia. This is my house. Don't worry, the one who changed your clothes, bandages, and washed your body was Gerharde".
"your wife? Give my thanks to her".
"well, no. She is sort of... mommy wanna-be who raised me".
"who did you call as mommy wanna-be, huh?", Gerharde smacked Dahlia's head with her staff before looking down disdainfully to her "so, how did you get into this Forest, human?".
Dahlia warned her to not push Lily because she hadn't fully recovered yet. Gerharde scolded Dahlia about how dangerous humans could be and he, as the Fairy King, let and allow a human to stay in his Forest.
Lily got up, trying to walk "thank you for your hospitality, but because my presence here is unwanted, I understand it that much, so I will go immediately".
"wait, don't be ridiculous", Dahlia grabbed her hand and supported her "how do you expect to leave this place when you can't even walk properly? See, you're even not strong enough to stand without other people's help".
After Dahlia pushed her back to the bed, she persisted "I will handle it, somehow. Let me leave. What will happen to me, it's none of your business, Your Highness".
"don't think so. I want you to stay until all your wounds heal and you fully recover".
"but—".
"I insist. You can't leave this Forest without my permission, Lily. Try to break free from me", Dahlia challenged as he grabbed her wrists and she only could glare to him. Letting her go, Dahlia got off of the bed "see? You can't even break free from my grip".
Damn him for being so handsome and being so close. Even her heartbeat rocketed. Lily was grateful, he thought her fever got worsened.
Waving his hand after he touched and felt how hot her body due to her fever, Dahlia insisted "stay here and be patient until you recover while I'll try looking for your family. The sooner you recover and heal, you can go back to your home sooner. Once your family knew you disappeared near my territory, they should have come here to pick you".
Lily sighed and her eyelids got heavier "family, huh? We have a fight last time we met. I don't think they will come looking for me".
After Lily fell asleep, Dahlia growled "Gerharde...".
"Your Majesty, shall I remind you about how dangerous human can be and what happened to the First Fairy King—".
"your older brother, you mean? I know and understand why you're always on guard and act this way towards human, but she has nothing to do with what happened to your older brother, neither she has something to do with the humans who aimed for the Fountain Of Youth and tried to invade or sneak into this Forest. You should have known just from reading her mind, right? She was attacked by humans and without knowing where to go, she ran to my territory before I found her in dying state and she could have died, hadn't I saved her that time", Dahlia stood and lifted his hand to the side "I understand we still should be careful around humans but I refuse to be the heartless Fairy King who let dying people die when I have the chance to save her".
"you can't possibly be... attracted to her, right? She is human!".
"Gerharde, feel her presence, carefully", Dahlia lifted his thumb "do you sense only 'human' on her?".
Gerharde knitted her eyebrow and closed her eyes, trying to focus just like her King told her. She felt it when she focused on her presence. Nature magic of Fairy Clan. Light magic of Goddess Clan. The hostile and dark magic of the Demon Clan. Gerharde opened her eyes and gasped "no way... it can't be... why do I vaguely feel the presence of other Clans from her?".
"the first time I found her, I could feel the presence of Fairy but she's closer to Human. I also could feel two other different kinds of magic from her. Ominous and hostile like Darkness but also gentle and warm like Light. Also, you don't think it's strange? Why the Forest didn't let her die or attack her and ask me to save her? I even feel the protection of the Nature that we, the Fairy Clan members usually have, on her", Dahlia looked intrigued "make sure she can't leave this woods until we fully know who is she... when I can't do it, because I will watch over her myself while doing my job as Fairy King".
"even the Forest asked the King to save her?", Gerharde was shocked but she bowed "as you wish, my King".
Like the hell, it could work. Lily was an expert to sneak out of somewhere. Unfortunately for her, Dahlia was an expert to find. The hide-and-seek between them happened ever since then. Lily tried to sneak out of the Forest but Dahlia always could find her to get her back.
"I believe that my presence here in your Forest should be out of your concern, Your Highness", Lily said in boredom as she was carried back by Dahlia "do you think I will spread out about how to get into this Forest or what this Forest has? Nope. I promise. That's why, why don't you just let me leave?".
Carrying her bridal style, Dahlia said, "perhaps I will, after you tell me where's your home and who is your family, so I can send you to go home or simply send a letter to tell them about your whereabouts".
"that I've been under the care of the Fairy King Dahlia and his advisor, Lady Gerharde? Nope. I don't think they will believe me. Not to mention, I also have a hunch feeling that you will not spill out about whatever inside this Forest to the outsiders so easily".
"when it comes to the Fountain Of Youth, yes, but you seem like not interested in it. Normally, a human will come after that for their wealth, prosperity, immortality, or should I say... because of their Greed".
Of course, she wasn't. She was the Queen and she already had prosperity and wealth. She didn't need immortality because she disliked it when she would be still the same when everyone she cared would leave her alone in the end. She didn't need the Fountain Of Youth to prolong her lifespan, either "so what's the point of keeping me here? I don't think I'll be any of use for you, Fairy King Dahlia".
"and what if I said you are my possession?".
"why?".
Dahlia smirked playfully and leaned closer "because I'm curious and I want to know more about you. In another word, I want you to fulfill my greed".
"too close", Lily smacked Dahlia's face before turning her blushing face "I don't get what you said".
As time passed by, they learned to know each other and they started to open their hearts to each other. The Fairies in this Forest less feared her, sometimes they even came around to accompany Lily and Dahlia. Even Gerharde had already given it up and let the Fairy King do what he wanted with Lily. Dahlia told her about how he was different from his surroundings, like how he had the deer-like horns or the unusual silver-colored eyes. Lily told him about her family, how her mother died when she was giving birth, how her father chose to leave her and how she understood Dahlia's feelings, about how it felt being different from the others.
"I don't believe in the kindness of the world", Lily pulled and hugged her legs, pressing her thigh on her chest "because there's no way someone is being kind without hope something from us. Hope will rise because of kindness. The higher your hope, the more hurt you felt when your hope is not fulfilled and you fell".
"you said you don't believe in the kindness of the world, but I think it's because you're just afraid to believe people again", Dahlia cupped her cheek "and I can feel it, that you're kinder than anyone else, Lily".
"I don't think so", Lily really meant it. Her hands had been stained by blood, after all. There was no way she was kind. She shook her head and smiled sadly "it's alright... I don't mind even if I can't be happy because I'm tired... I'm already tired of waiting, of hoping, so I don't want to hope anymore and it's fine if I can't be happy".
Her smile looked so beautiful and so sad, yet so hurt to be seen. The smile to hide her pain and grief. Dahlia grabbed her hand and looked straight to her face "if your family can't make you happy, then I will be your family".
Lily blinked "huh? What do you mean, Dahlia?".
"...I'm surprised at how clueless you are, or you're just too pure and innocence just like the meaning of your name, thus you wouldn't understand if I didn't say it out loud", running his fingers on his hair, Dahlia groaned before he turned to face her with his blushing face "what I mean... I'm in love with you".
Lily blushed furiously and her breath stuck in her throat "wha— Dahlia...".
They leaned closer to each other and closed their eyes before they kissed. However, something strange happened after they kissed. Lily's eyes turned into golden and her wings grew back. Her nails grew longer, her body felt so hot, her blood felt like boiling, and Lily screamed in pain as her wings spout out of her back.
Dahlia wrapped his arm around her waist, snaking his other arm around her nape to catch her "Lily!?".
The Fairies who had watched over them (a.k.a eavesdropping) from the first place startled and they burst out of their hiding place with various reactions like "she has wings!", "is she a goddess?", or "my King, what are you doing to her?".
Suddenly, Gerharde appeared out of nowhere "my King, it's urgent!?".
"you guys... you were seriously eavesdropping us, weren't you?", Dahlia narrowed his eyes to the stiffened fairies who nervously apologized or chuckled before Dahlia turned to Gerharde "and what is it?".
"the strangers—?!".
Gerharde didn't have the chance to finish her words because suddenly, someone landed from the sky.
"found her, finally", Meliodas came out of the smoke, cleaning the dust off of his clothes "yo, Merlin, Neiva, come here immediately because perhaps I will need back-up and kids, I found her but it seems I have trouble here".
Merlin asked via telepathy "you have the trouble or you make the trouble?".
Meliodas frowned "please don't say it as if I'm the troublemaker who always makes the trouble here".
Nel Hativa added via telepathy "because you are".
"wait up, we're coming!?", Tristan appeared with Merlin and Nel Hativa in tow. Looking around, he only could say "oh, right. You have trouble here".
Dahlia handed Lily to Gerharde and stood, hiding Lily and Gerharde behind his back after giving an order to the Fairies to leave and hide in the safe place "I don't know who you are but as the Fairy King, I insist you leave my territory immediately. You have entered the Fairy King's Forest without my permission and I can't let you stay here".
"so, this is Gloxinia's successor?", Meliodas thoughtfully touched his chin, thinking before he put his hand on his hip, pointing Lily "okay, we will leave... along with her".
"forgive me, but I can't let you all take her away from me", Dahlia crossed his hand before his chest, lifting his thumb "because I will take her as my wife".
Merlin smirked smugly "wow, I'm shocked. Lily sure has stolen his heart".
"so do I, although you don't look shocked at all", Nel Hativa narrowed her eyes and shrugged "well, knowing her mother's beauty, no wonder".
"oh, boy", Tristan facepalmed, this wouldn't be good "um, father?".
"step back, son. I'm taking your sister back no matter what", Meliodas' green eyes turned into dark as he walked forward, darkness surrounding his body "I'd like to see you f*cking try, young man. You will have to give back my daughter, in case I think you're not worthy of her".
Dahlia and Meliodas fought against each other to the point the spectators were worried if they would kill each other. Thank god, Lily woke up in time and she came in between their fight.
Spreading her hands to the side, Lily stood in between them and yelled, "STOP!".
Dahlia stopped his Spirit Spear and Meliodas stopped his darkness. Both froze, barely hurt him. When Meliodas landed on the ground, Dahlia grabbed her bicep "Lily, that was dangerous! You could have gotten hurt?!".
"and you could have died, idiot!", Lily slapped Dahlia twice and shook his body, clutching his collar "do you think who have you fought against with, huh? My father is not a man that you should fight as an enemy. He could be the worst enemy for heaven's sake!".
"I agree on that with you, sister", Tristan chirped before hugging her, rubbing his cheek against her head "and you are the one who idiot! You make us worried sick, you moron! Glad to see you're okay...".
Lily patted his back "forgive me, brother. I apologize, too. The last time we talked—".
"no, don't apologize", Tristan smiled sincerely and sighed in relief "I'm just glad you're safe".
Dahlia rubbed his stinging cheeks "wow, you are the first woman who dared to slap me and called me as an Idiot".
Lily narrowed her eyes "contemplating your position as Fairy King, no wonder. What is it? Are you disappointed?".
"of course not", Dahlia took her hand and kissed the back of her hand "I want you even more".
"no, you don't! so bold. To think you even kissed her in front of her brother and father...", Meliodas sighed heavily and grabbed Lily's wrist, pulling her "go home. We will talk about everything back in the Enchanted Woods".
Surprisingly, Lily swatted Meliodas' hand. Tristan looked like he was about to interfere, but Merlin and Nel Hativa held him back, asking him to watch and observe.
Meliodas reached out his hand "Lily, you have to go back to the Enchanted Woods. Do you think for how long we've been looking for you? It's been a half year. You're not supposed to leave the Enchanted Woods for too long as their Queen. Your body will be weakened and you could have died Now, let's go back".
Dahlia's eyes widened knowing she could have died.
"your father's right, Lily. Listen to him. You know the risk. It's a miracle that you're still alive even after a half-year ever since you left the Woods. More or less, this place is similar to the Woods and you have Fairy King Dahlia as your company. Perhaps, that's why you can survive as long as you stay in the Fairy King's Forest", Merlin persuaded "but this place isn't the Woods. We could finally find you and detect your presence here, after we have sensed your magic power when your wings grew back, but you—".
"But I love him, father! I only want to be with him because only by his side, it feels like home", Lily clenched her fists on her chest, panting before she cried out "I know I have to go back to the Enchanted Woods as their Queen... but should I go back there? That place has been felt like an empty home, without my family waiting for me... so why should I go back? Why should you care? After all... you don't care about me who have caused mother's death, right?!".
Suddenly, Lily felt like her heart lurched out of its place before she was puking blood. In the middle of her barely-existed consciousness, Lily saw her father's scared face and heard their voices calling her name "Lily!".
"My head hurts... everything's so hurt... I know this is so selfish of me... but if death can end up my pain, let me die... so I can meet with my mother... No one would care if I died, after all... that was what I thought on the verge of my death door before Dahlia found me... but after I met you, Dahlia... even if just for a second in this world, if I can spend my life with you, I want to spend my entire life with you and I have no regret...".
That was what he heard from Lily before Lily totally lost her consciousness. Dahlia and Gerharde looked up to Meliodas. Of course, they remembered Meliodas. The one who should have died along with the Goddess Elizabeth, the one who fought alongside the previous, the First Fairy King Gloxinia.
Carrying her bridal style, Dahlia gritted his teeth "...long time no see you, Sir Meliodas. I don't expect Lily to be your daughter. For now, please... bring Lily back to the Enchanted Woods, before it's too late. When she's awake, please tell her...".
When Lily woke up, she found herself in her bed, back in the Enchanted Woods.
Tristan told her "he was the one who asked us to bring you back here. He said—".
"no matter how far we get separated, the bond of our heart will not be severed. I love you, Lily".
She loved him, too. She cried because she thought she couldn't go back to his side and she couldn't meet him, but her father was here by her side.
"you idiot... you are my daughter. No one can replace your place in my heart. The reason why I left... because you didn't stop crying. I wanted to look for your mother's reincarnation and brought her here, to go back home together, to here, where our daughter waiting for us, but I've caused you more suffering instead... forgive me", Meliodas said as he hugged her tightly with his trembling body "I thought I lost you... I can't afford to lose you too after I lost your mother... never scare me like that again, ever. I love you, my daughter. That's why... never ever you think that I'd hate you and don't blame yourself for your mother's death again".
Lily burst out into tears and apologized for all her selfishness and her insolence. Digging her nails on his back, she cried "no... I'm the one who should have apologized... forgive me, father...".
A year passed. As long as the days passed by, Lily always stared off to where the Fairy King's Forest was. For a year, Dahlia always stared off to where the Enchanted Woods was. They were the Queen and the King of two different places, yet why should they be separated?
Meliodas visited Dahlia when he had had enough "Dahlia, I just want to tell you two things. First, she is in love with you too, so what are you waiting for? Second, make her suffering, I will send you to hell. Are you ready to be her husband?".
Dahlia decided to choose his successor. He departed and he left the Fairy King's Forest with Meliodas to the Enchanted Woods. Lily was shocked when Dahlia came to the Enchanted Woods.
"I'm not the Fairy King anymore. I don't want you to be my Queen. I want you to be my wife, Lily", Dahlia proposed her and grabbed her hand "would you marry me?".
"yes!", blinking away her tears, Lily smiled brightly "don't be my King and make me your Queen. Be my husband and make me your wife".
Meliodas wiped the tears on Lily's face as she woke up "what's wrong? Why are you crying? Are you okay? Do you have a nightmare?".
"no, father. It's okay, really, I'm alright", Lily sat up and wiped her tears. Closing her eyes, she sighed in content "instead... I have a really beautiful dream that makes me crying once I'm awake and realized it was only a dream".
Meliodas narrowed his eyes "...you're dreaming about Dahlia again, aren't you? What's the problem?".
"Tell me, am I wrong, father?", Lily squeezed his hand "mother died when she gave me birth. I lost my husband 20 years ago. We lost Liz 16 years ago. I have lost you once. I'm not gonna go through it again... so tell me, am I wrong if I just want to keep my family safe? Why don't you let me help? I am your daughter but sometimes, I don't even know what you're thinking... Are you ashamed of me because I'm different from my siblings? Am I unneeded and only a burden that will weigh you down for you?".
"you are an idiot. How many time I have to tell you till you understand?", Meliodas sat across her and leaned his forehead on hers "I promise you that I will break the curses in our family. I will bring your mother back. I will survive and live, so don't need to worry about me. Have I ever lied to you?".
"...no, you aren't...", again, Lily closed her eyes, blinking away her tears "I know you're strong... but I'm afraid... what if sister's future vision will come true? Who will support and stay with you when you are betrayed by the people you cared about? You're strong, father, the strongest of us, but who will save you when you lose and fall into the abyss? You always save and protect us, but who will save and protect you? Like how Dahlia did for me".
When they went downstairs to have lunch, they overheard that Nel Hativa just ended her version of a story about Dahlia and Lily's love story.
"they married and be happy. The End~", Nel Hativa clasped her hands and trailed off with a sweet smile on her face "...so, why did you guys cry instead?".
Elizabeth sniffled "because... I think Lady Lily can be kind-hearted and smile like that... because she's been being patient and shedding tears after she's going through a lot... she's really strong and kind...".
"she is. Although father always said she's just like her mother, I always thought her resilience resembles our father", Tristina patted Elizabeth's head, wiping her tears "there, there. Don't cry, mom".
Veronica yelled when Elizabeth covered her blushing face with loud squeak "who did you call mom, huh!?".
Tristina turned to Veronica with her best puppy-like-rounded-eyes "...I can't?".
Veronica felt like getting stabbed by sparkles that came out of her child-like eyes (it kind of reminded her with Elizabeth when she was still a child, when her little sister wanted to ask something from her) and Veronica relented "...fine".
Griamore was amazed, this was the first time he saw someone could melt the stubborn second princess' heart "why did you call her mother, anyway?".
Tristina smiled innocently "because I like her and I don't mind if she's my mom! Can I call her mommy, daddy?".
Meliodas smirked and lifted his thumb "sure".
King twitched his eyebrow "you seriously fought against Fairy King Dahlia, Captain?".
"oh yes, that happened", Meliodas nodded and hummed thoughtfully "I couldn't say 'no' when Dahlia asked for her hand because she said she would elope with him if I didn't give my blessing... on that part of her, she's so much like her mother".
Lily blushed furiously "say the one who fought against Dahlia with the intention to kill each other? Think about me who becomes the main reason for your fight. I swore it felt like I've got the heart-attack!".
A/N :
Hey hey, miss me? Hohoho, actually this chapter is a sort of special chapter to tell the story about Lily and the dynamic on her family because someone said on the review (forgot who, sorry) that they wanted to learn more about Lily.
Good news for you guys, FINALLY, started from the next chapter, we will start the last Arc for Season 1. Yes, the Liones Battle Arc. Stay tuned and wait for me! *lift_thumb
