Yellow Dress

Oh no.

Oh no, no, no, no, no.

No-no-no-no-no-no.

"Sorrin," Dorian whispered harshly, going through the halls of the castle in the afternoon light. Why was it so big? There were so many rooms, so many places a small three year old could hide. So many places she could fall and get hurt!

The King had the urge to groan, but contained it when he passed by the twins who were looking at him knowingly, like they found it amusing. "Everything alright, King?"

Dorian smiled, "fine, I am just taking a walk before dinner."

"Ah."

He kept walking, trying to contain his concern, his worry from them. When he rounded a corner and neither followed he sagged in relief, knowing a word from them could get him in deep trouble. The feeling was short lived, however, and once again Dorian found himself searching, entering rooms he hadn't even known existed and feeling the rising panic in his stomach.

"Sorrin," he said again, daring to speak a little louder. Nothing, but then-

There, a bracelet on the floor, too small to fit in an adult's hand, too beautiful to be of a servant's child. She was near, he was sure.

Repeating the name, muttering things, Dorian entered a large guest room, not unlike the one Aelin had stayed in all those years ago. There was a shift and what could be assumed to be a giggle. "Sorrin, my love, come on out, we're done playing hide and seek," he told her, hoping his desperation wasn't leaking through.

It had been two hours since he started searching and the last thing he wanted was for his Queen to come home after he begged her to let their child stay with him for the first time, only to find said child gone. He could already feel the disappointment in her golden gaze with the obliged 'I told you so' and cross of the arms. Perhaps even a pillow and a growl telling him to sleep on the couch for failing. His thoughts of his potential demise halted when he opened the adjoined bathroom and spotted salvation. The skirt of a yellow dress peeking out from behind the large tub.

Relief spread through him, quick and thick as he pretended to still be searching for her. "Hmm," he said, "I wonder where Sorrin is? She doesn't seem to be here." There it was, an adorable tiny giggle, and Dorian found himself smiling widely especially as he inched away toward the door. "Maybe she doesn't want to see Sam," he said, referring to Aelin and Rowan's son, a boy two years older, all of which were on their way there for a ball soon. "Oh, well, maybe next time."

He felt the intake of breath as her little head went over the implications, considering what was more fun. Letting Papa freak out over not finding her for the rest of the night or playing with the young Fae prince who thought he was so strong and big and whom she loved to play pranks on just to prove him wrong.

For a moment, Dorian thought she would stay hidden, choosing tormenting him over the young boy. But patience was on his side as the child laughed loudly and started for him, those golden eyes and that dark hair a whirlwind of color as she slammed into him. "Papa! Papa! I'm right here!"

Despite his worry, despite the two hours he'd been nursing a potential heart attack, Dorian laughed, picking her up and twirling her around. "Oh, there is the princess!" She giggled again. "You get better and better at hiding, huh?"

As he placed her down and took her hand, Sorrin grinned with such budding beauty that Dorian felt a shiver down his spine. So beautiful, he thought as she blabbered about her favorite hiding spots and how many times he had been close to getting her, she was so, so beautiful.

Driving the thoughts away, and thinking how he still had quite a number of years before he had to worry about what exactly that kind of beauty could attract, Dorian tightened his grip on her small hand. "Mama will be here soon, but you know what she will say if you don't eat dinner."

Sorrin's face crinkled cutely. "She says I will grow weak and die!" Hiding his flinch at the bluntness, the King nodded because she was looking at him before the child raised a hand. "And I have to eat lot's if I wanna be a powerful witch like Mama!"

He smiled at her. "So what are you going to do, little witchling?"

Her grin widened and she skipped as they walked across the hall, ignoring the bows from the guards and servants. "I going to eat all of it!"

Not being able to contain himself, Dorian scooped her up and laid kisses on her cheeks and forehead. She laughed at that, holding his face, but letting him do as he wished. "All of it?" He asked her as she hugged his neck.

"Yes! But dessert first!"

Dorian laughed.

Manon had nothing to worry about.

It's Father's Day where I live so Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there that truly raise their children in a caring, loving way. Thank you for being who you are.

Guest - I am glad you are having many feels! That's what I want, hehe

Some Fangirl - Thank you for your comments, perhaps in a more mature snippet I will give some detail on Manon and Dorian's love life. Manon is also my favorite character!

Guest (2) - Thanks for the comment, it makes me feel nice to see that I am writing these characters in a believable way and Dorian is certainly sweet!

Pomxxx - Thank you, and yes, it's unfortunate how rare Dorian x Manon is, considering how interesting this couple can be.

I hope you enjoyed reading! Thank you!

PS: I got the name Sorrin by mixing Sorrel and Asterin, Sam is due to Aelin's first love and the twins knew exactly what Dorian was actually doing and found it hilarious.