This chapter is dedicated to my friend Yui, my Fae princess *hearts*

Chapter 10: Only Human

Excerpt from the Fae Folk Book of Common Law

III

Just like humans, the Fae Folk die.

When the Fae Folk die, they become nothing.

Finally, their magic returns to the stars.

Sometimes, the most important decisions to effect one's life are the ones made in nothing more than a split second. They are the ones that can't turn back the wheels of time and change for one's convenience. They are constricted by the suffocating embrace of time. Limited to the options of to choose and to act. To act and to brace the threshold of one's consequences steadfast in the eyes, the portal to one's soul, the entry way to one's deepest and well-kept secrets.

Ciel wondered if he was any different from the mysterious Fae Folk. Mystical beings rumored to wield immense magic while not embodying souls, ethereal spirits trapped in beautiful and smiling cages. Ciel wondered, if he too, had a soul. Dwelling in London's underground had that effect on a person. Wondering whether one is past being human when they carry out one vile and putrid act after the other in the Queen's name. Nostalgia flooded his mind as he remembered the night when the trees burned red and the air was cold, and the manor house filled with all those kidnapped children burned to a crisp and the girl who once called him her friend came running to him with a knife in her hand determined to end his life. She was beautiful, like that of a doll, dressed to look happy and sweet and hide the wretchedness of deceit and suffering inside her soul. She came running to him, with a knife in her hand and tears in her eyes and hatred flaring on her tongue. He wondered, in that moment, whether she saw a soul in the boy he used to be or a cruel wolf in guise of a lamb.

He was hurting then at that time. Proof that he did in fact have a soul. Even if poison and the cruelty of the world tainted his heart. If beings are capable of feeling such pain and if they were forced by the world to become monsters to protect themselves from monsters, then Ceil did have a soul.

Ciel wondered what Tommy Hopkins saw in himself as the blonde-haired youth descended from his horse and aimed his gun at Ciel. Ciel couldn't help wondering what type of monster Tommy saw when Ciel pulled out a gun of his own and fired at the young man with corn silk hair. Ciel shot the young man who looked like an autumn prince and sent him tumbling down without stepping one foot out of the shade of the weeping willow tree.

The motion was so smooth. So poised and elegant. The way Ciel reached into his pocket where gentlemen keep their handkerchiefs and snuff boxes, or wads of cash with the queen's portrait tempting to throw it at their captives to distract them with money and make a run for it. No. Ciel didn't bother in any of these useless trinkets. He had no use for handkerchiefs. He had no use for snuff boxes. And he had no use to carry giant wads of cash. He had Sebastian Michaelis, and that was enough.

But one thing Ciel learned whilst living with a breathing demon is that it is not best to solely rely on them for every unfortunate event to come the earl's way. And unfortunate events were a frequent occurrence in Ciel's life. Sebastian taught these lessons well to Ciel, and lucky for him, Ciel was an excellent student and learned quickly.

A gentleman always takes a fashionable glance behind his shoulder. A good earl never leaves the manor unprepared. An excellent watchdog never takes two steps out of his manor without a gun.

Ciel also keeps a gun underneath the pillow on his bed, and another locked in a drawer of his desk in his personal study. These were the perks of being the Queen's watchdog. He didn't need a reason nor answer pestering questions for hording guns in his home. For god's sake, the Queen's guards are always armed, she keeps a knife tucked underneath her dress, and has an armory in her bathroom. Fashionably indiscreet right next to her vanity of bottled fragrances. Her knives and pistols lingered with the aroma of roses.

It was common knowledge for anyone who served the queen and garnered many enemies in her name never to be in or leave the safety of one's home unprepared or under-equipped. Ciel carried a derringer pistol hidden in the back pocket of his jacket. It was a small palm pistol that was a favorite among court ladies and assassins and disgruntled young earls under assassination threats by young men who look like autumn princes.

Smoke trailed where the bullet left the pistol and the spring woods were left silent from the shock of it. The cacophony of sounds resumed when Tommy collapsed to the ground, withering in pain on a bed of wild and pale wheat now tainted red.

The wind blew behind Ciel's shoulder, and a butler soon followed behind him. Ciel turned his head briefly and looked at his demon in disgust. "You were watching and waiting for me to act on my own." He adjusted his cufflinks, unbothered. "I could have died, you know."

"Yes, but I see that there was no reason for me to interfere when the situation was under control in your care."

"It's amazing how little life means to you."

"Says the young man who shot the other."

"It was in self-defense."

Sebastian's gaze locked on the bleeding man in the middle of the field. The scent of blood and anguish captivated his senses. "The wound in not fatal. The boy still lives."

"It would seem that a shot to the thigh is anything but fatal."

"You sound disappointed."

"On the contrary, I'm rather pleased, I don't need another man dying on the grounds of my estate…again."

"It's not like we are running out of land to bury them."

Ciel narrowed his eyes and mocked a ridiculing laugh. "That is madness. We've never buried anyone on Phantomhive property. Incriminated, arrested, shot, emotionally butchered. Yes, we've done that. But never buried. Please, do I seem like that much of a monster to you? You say it so hopefully." He scoffed.

"I do recall that Sir Damian was able to escape the oven he set himself him in five years ago."

"What happened to the man that attempted to con me and failed?"

"Well, with scorched and broken limbs it is undoubtably hard to make a quick escape."

Ciel narrowed his eyes.

"He was limping and clawing his way down the rode away from the manor."

"He was a terrible business man, possibly he converted to life a piety to live amongst the monks."

"He was never heard from again."

"Monks live very solitary lives. Many of which are never heard from again."

"Oh yes, as long as he dies like on a dog on someone else's property than it is no concern to us."

"As long as my name is attached, a problem like this will always be my concern, unless they are taken care of appropriately." Ciel shook his head. "back to the problem at hand, this was an assassination attempt on my life and I will not have this go without the proper ramifications, a threat directed to the Queen's watchdog is a direct threat to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, this is a threat to the crown. I can name a happy few who would like to see me replaced by Her Majesty's side, though she wouldn't want me to name them outright since most of them are her many powerful Anglican supporters." Ciel was becoming tired of these assassination attempts. This was the third one to happen this year and it is only spring! Ciel wondered how many more failed attempts will happen till Christmas time. The year prior there were five attempts, so he was certain the number was going to double this time. He wiped a hand over his face, languidly. Ciel wondered what life it would be like to not constantly be a walking and handsome target for assassins. It was tiring.

"And how many would a happy few be, my Lord? I garner that all of London's underground and many more above ground would not constitute as a happy few. A bitter many, is more like it." Sebastian removed a glove from his hand and tucked it safely in his coat pocket. "Should I report this incident to the Yard?"

"As you are aware, I am not well liked by the Yard." Ciel titled his head, slyly. "Where is the proof? Where are the witnesses? There are none. It is my word against this boy's and your guess is as good as mine that the Yard will not be pleased by that. My acting in self-defense will be misconstrued and it will most likely be seen as yet another mishap to sully my name and potentially incriminate me once again, and how happy would they be to have another reason to thrust me behind bars. Remember the Sphere Music Hall Murders?" Ciel scoffed. "It took far too long to clear my name, of course I was innocent, how dare they treat me like a criminal for a crime I did not commit. Fools. All of them."

"Amazing that it was the rare chance you actually were innocent. I am still stunned."

Ciel feigned a smile. "They have never successfully convicted me of a crime I was guilty for. I am innocent." His smile faded immediately. "News will not break out about this attempt on my life if it is well kept. Find the noble responsible for this failed attempt and punish them behind closed doors. I don't want gossip. God knows how I detest it."

"Understood." Sebastian nodded. "this accident will not escape the grounds under no circumstances." This was not the only secret to be buried under Phantomhive land.

They walked up to Tommy and observed the site in front of them. Ciel breathed calmly as his hands laid behind his back, folded neatly one inside the other. Tommy's eyes were barren, and his voice was dry. Ciel ordered Sebastian to check Tommy's pockets to find any more weapons or other artifacts to incriminate the boy.

There weren't any.

Something clicked inside of Ciel when his eyes investigated Tommy's. Up close they were bleak and dull. The boy was still alive, but his eyes looked like that of the living dead. Sebastian kneeled down and cupped the boy's face in his hand, examining every angle. The fire in the demon's eyes burned. "My Lord. My greatest fears have come to pass. The assassination attempt on your life was not made by an English nobleman."

"Explain."

"These eyes." Sebastian stared into Tommy's clear blue eyes that reflected the English sky. His voice was gruff, swelling with bitterness. "I've seen them before on the eyes of mortal's centuries ago. This dear boy is under an enchantment of a Fae, magicked against his will to carry out the biddings made by the caster. Now, he is nothing more than a moving plant. Forced to carry out the caster's bidding until he has accomplished his task. He has been stopped for the moment, but the enchantment won't wear off until he succeeds in ending your life."

Ciel arched his brow, unperturbed. "Fae have the power to take away another's free will? Hm. They are more similar to humans than I originally thought. Can this enchantment be broken?"

"The enchantment would have been broken if the boy successfully ended your life, but alas, you are still breathing."

"What a sad day for all those happy few." Ciel smiled a crooked smile. "Under whose command can this enchantment be broken? According to Belasis and his work The Paradox of Spell Casting, a spell may be broken in two ways: it can be broken by the one who cast the spell, or by one of equal or greater power than the one to cast it."

"You've been reading up on the works of English magicians from three hundred years ago."

"Magic is a popular subject to have over swept England. It would be ill of me to ignore it's influence." Magic was a topic that resurfaced in popularity among English subjects, and books that spun tales on magic were the ones the to fly off the shelves at book shops the fastest and had to be restocked weeks in advance. Book sellers couldn't have been happier.

"What are you suggesting?"

"It is in your power. I know it is. I command you, I order you, to break the enchantment."

Sebastian knew that if he was ordered to carry out the will of his young master, then he knew it was his duty to succeed. "And if I were to fail breaking the enchantment?"

"I wouldn't have asked if you were incapable of a such a feat."

Sebastian smiled. "Of course."

It has been so long since Sebastian dabbled in Fae magic. He did not have the blood of Fae, he had the blood of a demon, and demons have their own type of dark magic that tackles that of the Fae. Sebastian can't cast spells, but he can break them. This was another reason why the two kinds of magical beasts despise each other. They are each other's unraveling. The demon lifted his hand over Tommy's eyes. The mark of the contract illuminated on his hand. Wisps of purple and black flared venomously seeping past the lines of his skin. The afternoon light waned weakly in comparison to the glow of the mark of the beast. The menacing aura from the demon frightened the horse away as it galloped briskly out of the wheat field. Suddenly, Ciel hissed as pain radiated through his right eye. He clenched his hand over the throbbing sore and kept his mouth shut. Hissing at the butler to condemn him to unprecedented pain.

"My apologies." Sebastian said without a hint of remorse. "The Fae who casted the spell wields strong magic, I need every last bit of strength I can manage."

"So, you steal bits of mine."

Sebastian smiled. "borrowed, my Lord." Sebastian titled his head back towards the sky and parted his lips. The wind filled his lungs, then he released it with a quiet and low sigh. The mark on his hand soon lost its luster and began to fade. A sudden gasp escaped Tommy's lungs and he breathed with new life once again. The boy looked at the world as if he was away from it for far too long, as if he has forgotten the beauty of the sky or the wind's music whistling through the spring woods or the way the horseflies scatter over the grasslands, but it was his first time seeing the young earl with the butler clad in black. Something inside of Tommy told him that he wasn't safe, he just didn't know why he should have been afraid, but even so, he was very afraid.

"Who are you? What is going—aahh." Tommy rasped in pain as his hands trembled holding the bleeding wound to his thigh. Sweat began to matt his brow and his breathing became erratic, infused with pain. His chest heaved up and down. He pulled his hand away from his wound, realizing that it was covered with blood. "You've done this to me."

"Nothing eludes you, just splendid." Ciel feigned a smile. "Sebastian, take our honored guest back to the manor and treat his wounds accordingly. He looks pale, hungry, and pathetic." Ciel muttered the last word under his breath. "I have so many questions to ask you Mr. Hopkins. I need you alive and well and it would be a shame if you were to…" Ciel lowered his gaze towards Tommy's grimacing wound then back the boy's eyes, "leave us so suddenly." Ciel turned his head, coldly. "Sebastian."

"Which room will our honored guest be staying in?"

"In the room he deserves, of course." Ciel waved his hand, briefly. "You know the one."

"Ah yes, he will be very comfortable there."

Tommy looked at Ciel then to Sebastian and back again, skeptically. Whatever room they were planning to put him in made Tommy want to stay in the field of wheat he was currently bleeding in. Tommy weighted his only two options heavily. He chose the wheat field.

Just as Sebastian went to help up the injured boy, Tommy shirked back in shock. It was a natural reaction, seeing as though Sebastian is a demon and anyone with such knowledge would react in that way, but Tommy didn't know where he was, what he was doing here, and why he was inflicted with a bullet wound in his leg. His mind was a haze of confusion and there were gaps in his memory. One moment he was helping Madame Dauphine with paperwork back at the bank and the next he was bleeding in a field of wheat. Ever since he started working in London strange things have been happening to him, although this was the first life threatening one. Maybe he was never meant to be a banker.

Tommy saw the mark of the contract on the butler's hand and froze.

Sebastian covered it up. His expression began to darken as he gazed into the woodlands, at the low branches and brushwood and the crows circling among the tips of the trees. The butler's voice was low and grave. His eyes scorched a burning red. He spoke to his master without averting his gaze. "The one who planned your assassination dares to tread on your domain. With your permission, I would like to acquaint myself with them."

The same look crossed Ciel's face. "Permission granted. Do show them Phantomhive hospitality." No one threatens the Queen's watchdog and get's away with it.

And just like a whisper, fast and fleeting, Sebastian was gone.

The two boys were left in the field of wheat amongst their own accord. Ciel sighed as he looked out into the field. The horse was gone.

"Come." Ciel held out his and towards Tommy. "Let me take you to my manor."

A long moment passed. Eventually, Tommy grabbed a hold of Ciel's hand and balanced himself while he leaned on Ciel's shoulder. "Thank you."

"The walk from here to the manor is short. Do you think you can make it?"

Tommy sucked in his breath and mumbled that he could.

Slowly but surely, the two walked gently through the grasslands and towards the manor house. Ciel was no longer the frail boy he used to be years ago, he was strong, and had enough strength to carry half of Tommy by his side. The sun blared on the two, it was warm and bright.

"There wasn't something right with me." Tommy said after a few moments walking in silence together. "I haven't been thinking clearly after I left London. I felt like I was seeing the world through someone else's eyes, a pair of lenses that weren't my own. I was just watching the world happening around me, not reacting to it." He breathed. "I was no longer me. Whatever your butler did to set me free from that state, thank you."

"Thanks, isn't necessary, I assure you."

"Although, you didn't need to show me anymore Phantomhive hospitality." Tommy limped slowly. "When my mother receives visitors at home she just offers them biscuits and brandy."

"Well, the kitchen is supplied with plenty of those. Especially brandy."

"Aye, there better be." Tommy winced as the pain in his leg seared through him. He was going to need a doctor to stop the bleeding and remove the bullet. He was also in desperate need of several large cups of brandy to numb the pain away. Maybe even a whole bottle.

"My darling, Elsie." Rowan kneeled. Holding the amethyst ring what was once a wildflower in his hand. "You can be a Queen of a world you have only dared to dream of and save your sister in the process. Why, so many before you have fought to rule my kingdom, so much blood was spilt in their hopeless attempts, and all you have to do is say yes." He laughed, lightly.

Elsie stepped back. "You promise all these luxuries in turn for my answer, but I can only see deceit and lies hidden in your eyes."

Rowan laughed, mockingly. "Are you afraid to tie yourself into a loveless marriage? I heard that is a frivolous concern to young women in this time period. I assure you that I will provide you a life, centuries, of unconditional happiness that you cannot compare to an arranged marriage with a country bumpkin."

"I wouldn't want to anchor myself into a marriage where my husband does not listen to what I have to say. You hear my words, but their meaning does not resonate with you." A twig snapped under Elsie's boot. She was going to make a run for it. "My answer, Rowan, is no. Respect it."

She ran.

And just as she turned a tree he was there. Rowan grabbed her wrist and pulled her into him. She could feel his breath on her face. It was revolting.

Her breath hitched, terrified. "What kind of monster are you?"

"Weren't you listening, my dear? Maybe it is the wives who should listen more to their husbands. I am Prince Rowan, son of King Gwyn ap Nudd and Queen Olwen, heir to the throne. You, my dear, are destined to be my queen, my wife." His grip tightened around her wrist. "I will take the throne."

"If the throne is your only corner then why do you want me? I am only human."

"My dear." Rowan stroked her cheek. Elsie flinched from the unwelcome touch. "You are only human, and that is precisely what I need."

A mocking laughed sprang from the woods.

"My, my," Sebastian hummed. A flock of crows spiraled through the trees, revealing a demon inside of them. Rowan turned his head towards the disgusting sight and hissed. "This the first time in centuries to lay my eyes on one of the Fae Folk." He laughed under his breath. "They are as ugly as I remember."

"I can say the same of you, demon." Rowan hissed as he guarded Elsie. He needed her alive, not dead. Demons are unpredictable and so was their hunger.

A black after image, black as a shadow, left a halo of darkness where Sebastian once stood. Now, only a patch of mold and a rotting log stood in the way between him and Rowan. Sebastian stepped forward, Rowan stepped back. Sebastian smirked and mocked a slight bow of his head. "With humble greetings I welcome you to Phantomhive Manor. My master, whom is alive and well after your failed assassination attempt, wishes me to greet you with the family's proper hospitality."

The Phantomhive boy is still alive? Rowan hissed under his breath. Never leave a Fae's job to a mortal boy. Next time when Rowan wants Ciel Phantomhive dead, he will have to do it himself. It wouldn't be long before he has the dreaded boy under the earth covered with a blanket of daisies.

Sebastian reached into his coat pocket and pulled out silver knives. They came hurtling in Rowan's direction.

Fast as the roaring wind, Rowan opened the palm of his hand and the knives thrown in his direction turned into that of delicate wild flowers that floated onto the patches of mold on the dirt ground.

Sebastian sighed, displeasured. Those were the kitchen's finest butter knives. "Parlor tricks can't save you for long."

"You shouldn't involve my wife in such matters." Rowan roared.

"I am not your wife." Elsie retorted.

Rowan rolled his eyes. Sure, technically, Elsie wasn't his wife…yet. "A minor inconvenience."

Another after image followed Sebastian's form. Where was the butler to appear next?

Elsie felt an arm around her waist. Soon she was hoisted in the butler's arms. He smiled at her. "Forgive me, Miss Elsie, but my master's business solely involves this gentleman, whom I take has overstayed his welcome with you."

Elsie nodded, sheepishly.

"Forgive me once more, for I cannot allow you to get hurt." Sebastian placed a hand over her eyes and suddenly the world began to fade and turn dull. The girl fell asleep in the arms of the butler, and he set her down under the shade of an old oak tree. Sleeping upon a bed of white daisies.

"This does not concern you, demon." Rowan roared. "Leave the girl to me and I will spare your life."

Sebastian adjusted the collar of his suit, it became untidy. "I have no interest in the peculiar ways of the Fae, and neither do I have an interest in a silly little human girl, unlike you. But my master is fond of her and she shall not be harmed, but you." The fire in his eyes flared menacingly. "You threatened the life of my contractor, and for that you will pay dearly."

Sebastian came fast to Rowan, his fist slammed into rowan's chest with the force of an earthquake, sending the foolish prince straight into the woods, toppling down trees in the process. Rowan skidded off the ground, leaving a trail of destruction in his path. If Rowan was human, he would have been dead from the demon's attack. But Rowan was not human, he had the blood of the Fae flowing through his veins.

He stood up and brushed the dirt and broken wood chips off his suit. "Is that all?" Rowan questioned smugly. Soon he was the one on the offensive, he wisped his form behind Sebastian's and struck him in the side.

The butler grabbed a hold of Rowan's wrist and hurled him into the ground leaving a lovey hole from the impact. The trees shook from the battle.

"redire ad pristinum," Rowan called these words from his grimoire book. The grass and leaves and the old oak trees trembled from these words. He was casting on a spell on Sebastian.

The butler was lifted off his feet and an air of black smoke surrounded him, suffocated him. His human form began to melt, this eyes and mouth and nose and every other peculiarity belonging to that of a human began to dissipate. Rowan was forcing Sebastian to revert to his original form.

Rowan bellowed, "You pretend to be human. Let the world see you as you really you! A damned creature feasting off the innocence of life!"

The smoke encircled Sebastian into a tight ball. The ball began to crack and beneath those cracks were a thousand bulging eyes. All on Rowan. Finally, it burst. Revealing the demon's true form. Hideous and revolting, but it wasn't the first time Rowan saw such a monstrous creature. Ugly as they were, they were very powerful, and his guard mustn't be let down.

Sebastian was nothing more than a tail of a serpent and the hide of a wolf and the carcass of rotting eyes and sharpened teeth. He wrapped his form around rowan like that of snake and constricted his hold. Tightening his grip and smothering the young Fae. Draining the life out of him. Rowan suffocated on his words, unable to cast a spell.

Rowan was revolted. Sebastian felt pleased with himself.

"What a pity." Sebastian yowled. "You say you are the son of King Gwyn ap Nudd and Queen Olwen, heir to the throne in the realm of Fae. But you are nothing more than the favored foster brother to Prince Arawn, the true heir to the throne. You are nothing, but an impure Fae born of human blood with magic fused into your veins. I heard it was Prince Arawn himself that turned you into one of the Fae. You were a court servant that soon became his brother no, you became his favorite little pet. Following him around like a dog does to his master. But now prince Arawn, with legitimate claim to the throne, is dead. The only one to love you in a court full of liars and cheaters and murderers is dead. Some say you killed him to rise from your pathetic station of favorite pet to become king. I doubt it is false."

The demon's vile energy consumed Rowan, he felt the poison of the beast seep through his skin and into his heart. He mustered out the words, "you think you know everything, but you know nothing." He spat in one of the demon's eyes.

"I know nothing? on the contrary, demons love gossiping as much as humans do, I believe I know as much or even more than the lowliest of my kind! Your presence was only tolerated in court because he saw you with respect and admiration and love. Nothing that the king or queen or court members gave you. Your claim to the throne is weak and illegitimate. That is why you need a bride. To secure your claim before it is stolen from you, by a pure blood no less. But why marry a human? Yes, that question is still fresh in my mind. Marrying a human presents you with little power while you only have to gain by marrying a Fae of pure blood. Ah! perhaps it is because a pure blood refuses to taint their blood with an impure?"

Rage flooded throughout Rowan's veins, and fire through his hands and fingertips. He heard the demon recoil in pain, release his grip, and slither away. Rowan stared at the demon's true form which had so many eyes. He wondered what all those eyes can see. Truths. Secrets. Lies.

Rowan dropped to the ground and pain seared through his right arm. There was blood. And lots of it.

Sebastian's true form came back slowly but surely. He was the embodiment of everything a butler should be and more. He was everything English men aspire to become. Sebastian only looked human. There were no flaws in his illusion. He presented himself as being perfect. Therefore, he was perfect to human eyes.

He looked down on Rowan reveling in the Fae's loss and humiliation. "How pitiful, prince Rowan." Sebastian smiled, mockingly. "You are strong, but if you were to battle me at night you stood a stronger chance at winning. You draw your power from the moon, and your older brother drew his power from the sun. What a shame, that your powers rely on the reflection of another. The moon may shine bright at night only because the sun is so gracious to share its light." He spat out the words distastefully like sludge. "The moon's light is only weaker and paler in comparison to the noble and ever burning sun."

Rowan winced. The moon is not weak. For it has the power to shine upon our darkest hours and spread the light of hope into our hearts. Arawn's words suddenly took hold of his mind. "I embody the power of the moon." Rowan's lips trembled. "I am not weak."

Sebastian leaned forward and whispered into Rowan's ear. "Then why is it that you lay at my feet, instead of I?"

Rowan mustered the last of his strength and chose to wisp away from the demon. Out of sight. Alive.

Sebastian hummed to himself. He shouldn't have toyed with is prey for so long, his master will not be pleased. But! It was time to head back the manor with Miss Elsie who happened to still be sleeping on the bed of daisies, unharmed.

He carried her back to the manor in his arms and thought to himself what he should prepare for dinner for there will be many guests to feed. Roast pigeons with a boiled potatoes and carrots garnished with rosemary and thyme. Yes. That sounds quite right.

The dinner guests will savor every flavor.

The wind thrashed in the spring woods where Rowan appeared.

He dropped to the ground panting, out of breath, holding his wound tight to his body. The coolness of the blades of grass touched his skin. There is only so much magic left inside of him, he needs to heal his wounds and escape the Phantomhive domain immediately. He saved what's left to heal his wounds. He pressed his hand against his arm and chanted ancient spells to remedy his pain.

Suddenly, he flinched.

A shadow jumped between the trees. Hiding and running.

Rowan didn't have any strength left in his legs to run away. If the demon pursued him, Rowan will not be alive at nightfall. His muscles tensed. Blood pumped through his veins. He summoned fire in his hand and made sure to aim for the perpetrator's heart.

The shadow emerged from the woods.

Rowan relaxed his shoulders and let them sag. The fire in his hands dwindled from flames to embers to sparks then to nothing in a quick gesture. In one moment, he carried the sun in the palm of his hand, in the next moment, it left his hand cold and empty.

A little faun jumped out from the woods.

"Master Rowan! Are you hurt!? I'm so sorry for not coming to your aid sooner!" He was small and frail like that of a child. His hooves knocked against the stones of the forest and his ears whipped up and down frantically as he went to his master's side. The faun wore a red scarf around his neck. A scarf that was old and tattered, and the ends were frayed, but it was the only gift he ever received in his entire life, given to him by Rowan. How he cherished it. This little faun goes by the name Theriot, and he is Rowan's most trusted servant. Well, he is also Rowan's only servant. "It is all my fault!"

"Theriot, I should have known better than to battle a demon during the hours of the sun. The hours of the moon," Rowan hesitated. "Is when I am at my strongest. I was too impatient to wait until nightfall. The fault is mine to blame, not yours."

Tears swelled in Theriot's big, round eyes, the color of emeralds. He clasped his hands together and cried. "I am undeserving of your kindness, but look on the bright side, at least you were to secure the human girl's hand in marriage. That it wonderful! Just wonderful!"

"Theriot."

"Look what I found in the London town shops!" Theriot, too preoccupied to listen to his master, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small treasure chest the size of his hand and when he placed it on the ground, the chest expanded into ten times his size. The little faun opened the chest and leaned inside, his hoofs dangled off the edge. From the chest he pulled out a white laced veil that stretched on and on, he placed it over his head and twirled around giggling. "I heard a woman in London say that a bride cannot get married without a veil!"

Rowan's eyes widened as Theriot pulled out more bridal veils from the chest. Many were white, and others were pastel like pink and blue and green. Theriot was practically swimming in a sea of pretty veils.

"Theriot." Rowan groaned. "You went into town without my permission. That is not what we agreed on."

Theriot stopped making veil angels in the pile of lace and jumped up excitedly. "Need not to worry! No one saw me! I even paid for the veils like good English people do."

Rowan wasn't concerned with the price, but he asked anyway.

"I'm not sure." Theriot answered honestly. "But beautiful veils ought to cost very much, so I left ten shining rubies in each of their place!" Theriot traced his fingers over the intricate patterns, tenderly. There were so many beautiful things in the human realm. "I hope that was enough for such pretty things."

"That was more than generous, Theriot." More than necessary, actually.

Theriot smiled, his cheeks were rosy, and his eyes gleamed like true emeralds. "I'm happy you think so! Where is your bride? I hope she likes these veils for the wedding!"

"Theriot."

"Hm," Theriot hummed. "Can a bride wear more than one veil to her wedding? But they are all so beautiful! Maybe she can wear them all!"

"Theriot." Rowan groaned.

Theriot trotted behind the trees and rocks and scampered over the little hills, jolly. "Where is your bride to be? I don't see her?" The faun sucked in a deep breath in his lungs then yelled, "PRINCESS! I HAVE PRETTY VEILS FOR YOU!"

"Theriot!" Rowan half yelled, half whispered. The faun stopped in his tracks. His ears turned downward, and he pouted his rosy cheeks. Bouvardia white flowers settled on his red hued hair. He waited for Rowan to speak. "I asked for her hand in marriage."

Theriot leaned on the tips of his hooves. "And she said yes?"

Rowan shook his head.

Theriot frowned.

"I can always try again, and maybe next time I won't freeze time." That seriously freaked Elsie out.

Theriot began to whimper.

"No, no, Ther—" Rowan reached his hand outward, the faun began to whimper louder and louder. "Don't cry. Don't you dare cry. Please, don't cry. I beg of you. Don't-"

Theriot was crying a river. His wails caused the birds in the trees to scatter away from the high-pitched wails. Tears the size of cherries dripped down Theriot's cheeks and created ever growing pools of water around his hooves, and Rowan's shoes. "That means you won't get married."

"Well, not yet. There is still a chance."

"And then you'll have to spend the rest of your days being lonely and miserable and grumpy!" The tears came down harder than before.

Rowan sat there, silently. Holding in his tongue.

"If you can't get married that means you can't ever become king and that means you won't ever have the power to wake up Prince Arawn from his eternal slumber!"

"Theriot!" Rowan pulled the crying faun by the arm towards him and whispered under his breath. "No one knows that Arawn is still alive. Everyone at court and even that wretched demon thinks my brother is dead, that he died a long time ago from his sickness."

Theriot sniffled. "But he didn't die."

"Yes, I know. But that is a story we don't need anyone questioning. There are too many of the high Fae that believe they should take the throne. If they knew of Arawn's current condition and where he is, there is no telling how many will try to stop him from awakening, permanently. The day when I become king, infused with power from the holy green well, is the day I will have enough power to release Arawn from his entrapment." Rowan sighed, deeply. "That will be the day I get my brother back, and the Otherworld will once again have their favored prince on the throne. Understand?"

Theriot nodded.

"Good." Rowan let go of the little faun's arm. Theriot held unto his arm, pretending that it didn't hurt. "Now, take all these veils and head back to the cottage and I need you to write back to my advisor telling him that I will be returning home to the Otherworld with my bride shortly."

"But," the faun mumbled. "She has already said no to you and I heard English women were very stubborn in their decision making. I doubt she'll say yes if you ask her a second time."

"…I'll think of something."

Theriot packed up his trunk of pretty veils and scampered back into the woodlands, hiding beneath the brushwood and thickets. Leaving Rowan alone to heal his wounds in solitude.

For a moment, Rowan closed his eyes and felt that the world was changed. He could feel it in the water. He could feel in the earth. He could smell it in the air. In the forests of this world. In the sighs of the wind. Once upon a time, he was born into this realm. He was born a human.

For a moment, Rowan let himself succumb to his senses, to the cacophony of nature. He used to remember the sound of water dripping from leaves, water running down streams, of toads croaking in the marshes. Exploring through Scotland's marshes to look for toads was his favorite game when he was a child all those centuries ago. There was a time when he remembered all of these nostalgic sounds in Scotland. He lived and breathed the human realm air and it filled his lungs, bountifully.

For a moment, he pretended that he was human again. A faint smile caressed his lips, there a joy in that fleeting thought. To be only human and nothing else. He wasn't a Fae of pure or impure blood. He was only human.

A twig snapped.

Alarmed, Rowan opened his eyes. Then he released his breath that he unknowingly held in and thought to himself that it was only Theriot. The faun probably came back to ask an important question he didn't think only of until he departed for his journey back to the cottage, or the little faun forgot how to get back to the cottage altogether.

The bushes trembled slightly, and Rowan cocked his head to his side. Theriot might as well come out now, there was no point in stalling. Maybe his hoof is wedged in-between two rocks.

Rowan moaned, barely. "Come out. I know you are there."

He expected his little servant to come hopping out of the bushes with flower petals falling off his head. But the child to come out of the woods had brown hair instead of red and had feet instead of hooves. The child was not Theriot nor was it a faun.

It was a little human girl.

She walked barefoot in the woods and the hem of her white dress was stained with grass and dirt and adventure.

Rowan shuddered. He didn't have the energy to move from where he was lying, his wounds weren't even healed yet. Basking in the faint afternoon and early evening sun. Fragments of light pierced through the leaves and branches and scattered tenderly on his skin. The little girl slowly approached him, bravely.

Rowan scooted back, uncertainly. "Stop." Rowan called. "Who goes there?" Then his mind wondered curiously. He did know who this little girl was.

The little girl put her hands on her hips and spoke with confidence and regal serenity like that of the thousand-year-old oak trees around them. "My name is Frances."

The light of the sun began to change. It was a soft glowing light that saturated the soil and flowers. Slithers of pink and orange and yellow cascaded over the sky and onto the earth. Twilight was soon approaching, but it was the dawn of a brilliant idea for the Fae prince.

Who was soon to be king.

Replies to Reviewers:

Tanaka-Chan: Thank you again for your kind review :)

James Birdsong: HI AGAIN! Thank you so much for reading those two chapters and I'm so happy you liked them!

BBFan: Hello again XD I'm glad you enjoyed the roller coaster haha I loved reading your review! It was so delightful! Thank you so much! haha did I surprise you there? XD Although you were right to fear for Tommy's life lol but he's going to be okay, as long as he doesn't get treated with any more Phantomhive hospitality lol Yes! I'm glad you noticed that one detail about Elsie's opinion about cousins marrying cousins. The next chapter will introduce Elizabeth and we'll get to read about her interactions and relationship with Elsie, if everything goes according to plan lol Thank you so much for your support!

VelvetCoral: Hi! Thank you so much for all your kinds words in your review! I'm happy that you like Elsie and who she is and her relationship with Ciel! She didn't play that much of a role in this chapter, but she definitely will in the next. Yes, I am aware of what's currently happening in the manga, I plan to incorporate as much as I can from that phase, but I also want to wait until more is revealed in canon. That or I will improvise myself haha Thank you for your review!

A/N: Thank you guys for much for reading chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it! What did you think? XD

This chapter was very Ciel, Sebastian, Rowan heavy and I enjoyed writing the dialogue in this one. Plus, there was a new OC XDD His name is Theriot and he is this little cute faun that is Rowan's servant. We also learned more about Rowan himself, his reasons for even wanting a bride, not for love but to rise in his station and attain power in order to save his brother, Prince Arawn who is secretly alive but in a sleeping enchantment! How did Arawn get trapped in such a fate? Why does Rowan need to marry Elsie, a human girl, in order to save his brother? What's going to happen to Frances who accidentally stumbled upon Rowan while exploring the woods? What is the 'deserved' room Tommy will be placed in? haha All/most of these questions will be revealed in the next chapter!

Thank you for much for reading! Your reviews make the writing process fun and exciting! The fall semester has started for me so that is why this update was slow, I'm so sorry, the next update might take awhile because of my workload from school, which can be very demanding. But i'll try my best! Thank you so much for the support! Please review this chapter! I'd love to know your thoughts!

See you guys next time! Bye!