BANISHED

Chapter Two: We're Parents

"She-She's mine?" Elijah asked, subconsciously reaching for the pink bundle in Faye's arms. Faye smiled slightly and handed her over.

"Of course she is. Whose else would she be?" Faye smiled softly as she watched Elijah with their daughter. This was what she had wanted from the start, a happy family. Faye glanced down at the forest floor, her torn clothes and battered body a sure sign that they were a family that couldn't be.

"Why hello there," Elijah smiled fondly, gently poking the infant's nose; his daughter giggled. "You look just like your mother," he mumbled, his attention completely taken away from Faye at the moment.

"I was hoping to make her some applesauce," Faye added politely, trying to regain his attention to hopefully get him to leave. She loved still loved him; how could she not? He was an amazing father already and he was the only man Faye ever really knew besides the villagers.

Elijah snapped back to reality at the sound of Faye's voice and cradled their daughter close. "Faye, my love, what happened?" He asked softly, not wanting to strike any nerves.

Faye shifted on her feet and looked off to the side, watching a small red bird pick at the twigs on the ground. "I-uh, I really don't think we should be talking, Elijah."

"Hey," Elijah reached out and gently touched Faye's shoulder, forcing her to look at him, "what happened? You can tell me, Faye, please." She couldn't tell him no; she'd never been able to tell him no.

"My father, I-, I was very sick, Elijah. I was so very sick and I wanted to meet you, I did, but my father ordered the royal doctor and she told me I was with child and I was so frightened and I wanted to tell you, but I feared that you would no longer want me and then my father found out. He found out and he forbade me from ever setting foot on Zylith's soil ever again," Faye rambled frantically. "He exiled me, Elijah, I am but yet another passing face in the wood. Her name is Aurora. You need to leave."

"Faye, take a deep breath, okay? I am not going anywhere, not without you and our daughter. I'm not going to let you continue to fend for yourself out here. You will come back to Sakora with me. I will explain everything to my-"

"No, Elijah. I cannot enter your kingdom. They would kill Aurora and I if they knew who we were. At least out here we are safe."

"Safe until when? Safe until you find yourself lost in the forest at night? Safe until the war makes its way closer toward Zylith? Your family is losing, Faye. My parents intend to take their heads. How safe is it really out here? For Christ's sake, you're alone in the woods with a baby! Faye, this is no condition for a child to be brought up in."

Faye stood silent. Her parents were losing the war. They were going to lose their heads if they weren't careful. She had to warn them of Sakora's intent. They may have exiled her, but they raised her and she still loved them dearly. She couldn't let them die, especially not at the hands of Elijah and his family. They would blame their demise on her and she couldn't fail them, not again.

"Faye?" Elijah asked, bringing Faye out of her thoughts and back to their current reality.

"I know that Elijah. That's why I'm allowing you to take her. Take her back to Sakora. Tell your mother that you found a struggling mother in the woods who was too stubborn to come with you. Tell her that you want the baby to have a good life and to be raised properly. She took you in; she'll let you take Aurora in," Faye told him.

"I am not going anywhere without you Faye. It's too dangerous for you out here. You're a princess!"

"Was," Faye corrected.

"Regardless of the facts, your parents are royalty and you were raised in a castle your entire life. This is no place for the likes of you," Elijah told her.

"For the likes of me?" Faye asked. "What is that supposed to mean? Are you calling me entitled?"

"What? No! Faye, that's not what I meant. I meant that you deserve the world, not some life in a shack alone in the forest."

Faye sighed and placed her hand gently on Elijah's shoulder. "Elijah, look, I love you, even after all these months, but I cannot go with you. I have to live with the consequences of my actions, but Aurora shouldn't suffer because of our idiocy. That's why you will take her back and I will stay here. Go find yourself a good wife and please, if you can, spare my parent's lives, they've done nothing wrong."

"Faye, I cannot lose you, not again..." Elijah pleaded.

"I'm sorry," Faye whispered softly and pressed a gentle kiss to both Elijah's and Aurora's foreheads, tears blinding her vision. "I love you both so very much and don't you ever let Aurora forget that. Make sure she knows that I only gave her up to give her the best life possible, the life that she deserves. And Elijah?" Faye paused, holding back her tears. "Never come back here again."

"What? Faye? I'm not leaving you please." The desperation in his voice was so very clear that it broke Faye's heart to hear him hurt so.

"Goodbye." Faye allowed a single tear to slip as she began to walk away from them. She felt Elijah tug at her arm, but she pulled away and kept on walking, never looking back. She had to stay strong. She had to find a way to warn her parents. Only when she was out of sight, did Faye allow herself to break down. She spent a few moments just sobbing on the forest floor until she finally found the strength to make it back home. A home without little baby Aurora.