A/N At last, third one here. Thanks everyone who reviewed! They won't all be depressing, I promise. I just keep getting sad prompts XD If you want to help choose my next one, send me a number between 1-100

Prompt: #25 Strangers

Title: You Were Loved

Rating: K

Words: 1116

-x-

Snark's fur was the softest thing in the whole world.

Jizabel pressed his face against it and inhaled deeply, not understanding why one of his sisters had told him it was a silly thing to do. It made him happy. And that meant it would make Snark happy too, right? So it was sensible. And so he did it.

Life was this simple. Nothing more than warm summer sunlight, days spent sleeping in the outdoors with his best friend and the perpetual hope of a visit from father. Until he got sick, of course. But that would always pass. And Snark was always waiting when it did.

Today, they were sleeping by the old oak tree in the middle of the clearing. His eyes were red from crying. Father had cancelled a visit, again, but he had been strong in front of his family. Only Snark was allowed to see him cry. His sisters would probably call that silly too. He didn't mind about that so much.

He rolled away from the lamb to stare up at the sky, laying flat on the grass. The animal bleated beside him and moved closer. Jizabel smiled and closed his eyes, watching the sunlight through the bright red of his eyelids.

Summer was beautiful. He liked times like this best. When it was warm and bright. Nothing felt quite as nice as this.

Footsteps broke the comfortable silence. Snark started and snuggled closer to the boy's side. It took him a few seconds longer to realise what he was hearing and by the time he had opened his eyes a dark figure was standing between the trees in front of him. His eyes widened, orbs the colour of lavender fixing on the stranger's face.

A man. A tall man with strong features. He was wearing a thick winter coat and a cap despite the weather, worn garments speaking of poverty. His hands were encased in woollen gloves. One had a slice in the back, revealing a thin scar on his skin.

"Who are you?" Jizabel quavered. His voice was high and trembling, the voice of a child not born for the position he felt he was meant to take. "Why are you on our property?"

"Don't be frightened." The man took a step forward, sunlight slanting down across his face. He was smiling. "I'm not here to hurt your family."

"Then why are you here?" The boy sat cross-legged and gathered the lamb into his lap.

"To see you," the man murmured. Jizabel wasn't sure but it looked like the man was crying. "One last time. Is that okay with you?"

Jizabel didn't understand. He had never met this man before. Had he? After a long moment, he assumed the man was some distant relative, one he had met when he was so small he couldn't remember. Perhaps he was leaving to go abroad or something. That would make sense. And it would be rude to say no.

"Yes," he said quietly. "Okay. Will it take long? Mother should be calling me in soon."

"No, not long," the man said with a soft laugh. "Thank you. You're very kind."

The man moved forward until he was close to the child and crouched down so that he could look him in the eye. The man had nice eyes, Jizabel though. Sad but warm. He didn't move as the man raised a hand to brush his cheek lightly and then run a finger through his shoulder length hair.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"A friend," the man said. "Just a friend. You can trust me. You...can't you see that?"

Jizabel looked closely at him. So sad but...no one had ever looked at Jizabel like that. Except maybe Snark. This man was watching him as if he was precious, as if he was afraid Jizabel would vanish at any moment. He blinked slowly and nodded.

"Yes. But I'm not meant to talk to strangers."

"I know. You shouldn't. But I'm not a stranger."

A quick breeze shook the trees and the man turned, looked over his shoulder. Jizabel could see nothing there but the man nodded as if someone was standing behind him.

"Just a moment," he said. "Just give me one more moment."

He turned back to Jizabel. The boy flinched a little as the man started crying but didn't run away. The air around him felt safe, somehow. Another brush to his cheek and then the man sighed.

"Can you remember two things for me?" the man asked. Jizabel nodded. "You love Snark, right?"

"Yes. How did you-"

"Remember him. Remember how much you loved him and how soft his wool is. Don't ever forget why you loved this animal. No matter what happens. Think you can do that?"

"Of course! I could never forget my best friend."

"No, you couldn't. Okay. There's one more thing I want you to remember."

Jizabel leant forward, eyes wide with curiosity. After taking a deep and shaking breath, the man gave him a half-smile.

"Remember that you were loved."

"What do you-"

"Don't worry about it. You don't need to understand yet. Just...remember that someone loved you. Someone loved you so much that their life meant nothing without you. For someone, you were all that was good in the world. Do you think you can remember that too?"

Jizabel nodded slowly. As the man stood and turned to leave, he felt tears on his own cheeks but didn't know why. The man reached the fringe of trees before the boy stood up, Snark scrambling to join him, and called out.

"Wait!"

The man turned, eyes wide. Jizabel waited a long time for him to speak, as he had been taught to, and when he didn't the boy continued.

"What about you, sir? Were you loved?"

A soft sound slipped between the man's lips, a sound like nothing Jizabel had ever heard. He bit his lip as he waited for the man to gather himself. Dark eyes locked on the boy's and when he spoke, it was in a murmur.

"I hope so, Jizabel. I hope so more than you could ever know. Remember what I told you. Good-bye."

Jizabel didn't stop him this time. Once the man was gone, he sat back down and gathered Snark into his arms. Pressing his face into the wool, he let the unexplained tears fall.

The man's eyes had been the saddest thing in the whole world. He would remember if it meant he would never have to see such sad eyes again.