A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Thirty-Five

The falcon screeched and pulled on Alastor's ear all the way into the stables. Once inside, the falcon released him and transformed into her original form, which was a very angry Millie.

"Now Millie calm down-" Alastor started.

"Don't you 'Millie calm down' me!" She replied furiously. "You are in so much trouble young man! You lied to us! And you sneaked away on the night of a hunter's moon! You know how I feel about that!"

"Millie I understand your concern, but I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself. If I should happen to run into that, what did you call him? A rogue alp? If I should run into him, I can defend myself against him no problem. After all I once killed a bear twice my size."

"A rogue alp and a bear are two completely different things. A bear, a regular animal, doesn't posses any high intelligence or shape shifting skills. And they don't target their prey specifically."

"Millie please-"

"And to make matters worse you went to the palace! A place full of people who would presume you a monster at first sight and have you killed!"

"I'm sorry for making you worry. I should have told you that I was planning to go out that night but I thought you'd try to stop me."

"You're right! I would have! I swear Alastor, you're going to drive me to an early grave!"

"Early grave? You're three-hundred years old."

"That's thirty in alp years." She said. "But that aside, what in the name of the almighty father were you thinking?! You haven't done anything so impulsive and thoughtless since you were nine years old! You know better than to do something so reckless!"

"I know, I know, I know it was wrong but will you please leave now? You've already embarrassed me enough."

"Consider that punishment for sneaking out, and no I shall not leave. You're too tall for me to drag  back home so I'll just stay right here until you decide to leave."

"When are you going to stop treating me like a child?"

"When you stop acting like a child. A mature adult wouldn't lie and sneak off. Nor would he go charging toward danger without thinking."

"I wasn't charging toward danger without thinking."

"Going out on the Hunter's Moon and creeping around the royal castle is extremely dangerous to someone like you! And you know that! We've told you that! Why did you even come here in the first place?"

I...I just wanted to check on Charlotte and make sure that she arrived at the castle alright."

Then Millie's anger began to quiet and she smiled.

"So that young woman was the famous Charlotte I've heard so much about."

"Yes. That was her."

"Well I must say that I approve."

"You approve?" Alastor asked confused.

"Yes sweetie. She'll make an excellent wife for you."

"Wife?!" He blushed.

"Of course, and not only do you sneak away on Hunter's Moon and almost give me a heart attack, but you keep it a secret that you're now courting. I'm both angry and proud."

"Millie I...I...I...I didn't-" He was stuttering.

"Why didn't you tell me? Well then again I guess you were a little worried that we wouldn't like her but you were worried for nothing. She's beautiful, kind, obviously adores you, and I sense a strong spirit and a great intellect within her. Not to mention her hips are perfect for birthing children."

"Birthing children?!" Now he was burning red hot in the face.

"How many does she want anyway? I myself would want seven if I was capable of producing offspring."

"I'm afraid there's been a huge misunderstanding. Now while I am glad that you like Charlotte, I am not courting her. We are just very good friends. Nothing more."

"Oh. Now I see what this is."

"You do?"

"Yep. You're insecure about your feelings and you haven't even confessed to her yet."

"What?!"

"Moxxie was just the same when he fell for me. Heaven knows how long it took him to finally tell me how he felt. It was well worth the wait mind you but such a long wait."

"Millie I really don't mean to belittle your intelligence but you are wrong. I'm very fond of Charlotte and I would do just about anything for her, but it's only out of a deep, respected friendship."

"Typical human nature. Your mouth says one thing but your eyes say another."

"Can we please not talk about this? And can you please not be here tomorrow morning? Charlotte is coming to meet me here around that time and she doesn't exactly know about you yet."

"What do you mean she doesn't know about me? She must know that someone has been looking after you for all these years. Or does she think that you somehow survived in a dark forest by yourself, starting from age nine? Very unlikely by the way."

"No. No I told her that I was an orphan who was taken in by three individuals. But I had yet to disclose to her that said individuals were alps."

"Why didn't you tell her?"

"Must've slipped my mind?" He grinned nervously.

Millie gave him a disapproving look.

"Alright I was afraid she'd laugh or be creeped out. I'm not entirely sure what her views on alps are. I was going to tell her about you all eventually, the opportunity just never arose."

"Well why not tell her tomorrow morning? Give her proper introduction to me?"

"No. Not here. Look if I let you spend the night with me here, do you promise to go home first thing in the morning? I'll be back at the house before dark. I swear!"

"Alright." She agreed. "I'll leave at the crack of dawn, but you better back at the house by dusk or you'll really be sorry."

"I give you my word that I'll be in the house by dusk and no later tomorrow." He swore.

With that being said and done, Millie changed into a falcon and sent out a special call to inform Blitzo and Moxxie that she had found Alastor, that they were safe, and that they would see them tomorrow. Then she proceeded to make herself comfortable for the evening. Alastor chose to stay awake for a few more hours, he would sleep eventually, he just wanted to ensure that no servants would discover them that night. None did. But he fell asleep with a bad feeling about what tomorrow would bring.