Didn't Think This Would Ever Happen...

Chapter 6: Sharing Insight

"You really want to know everything?"
"Everything!"
Lilia sighed, "then I might be here for a few days..."
"Yes!!!" She spun around in triumph.
Lilia shook his head. He really didn't want to stay in one place for so long... but he owed her this much.
"Where should I start?"
"Hmm, well I really don't want to accidentally hurt you, so how about you tell me what your weakness is?"
Lilia sighed, "I knew this wasn't going to be as easy as it sounded..."
Sylvie giggled as she sat down in the grass. She pat the ground beside her, "get explaining!"
Lilia sat down beside her, "iron. It melts our flesh."
"Oh. Is that what..." she gestured to his chest.
He nodded, "that, and whatever magic they were using. I don't know about any other weaknesses, but people can get shamans and others like them to create wards that we cannot enter."
"Oh! What about your Queen??? What's she like? I think it's super cool that your leader is a woman!"
Lilia chuckled, "I will never understand why humans keep men in charge when this is what happens." He pointed to the sky. "Our queen is kind and softhearted, but she knows when to rule with her fists. This battle was hard for her, but I raised her to be a strong leader."
"How come you aren't king? I mean, you're so old and wise?"
Lilia laughed, "I would never want that! Being chained down to a throne sounds awful! It makes my skin crawl just thinking about it! The royal family has always been natural born leaders and I wouldn't want to break their bloodline. Besides, if I were king there would be no heirs."
"True," Sylvie nodded, "do you have currency and trading?"
"Of course. We aren't animals."
"Well, I had always thought of fairies as the sharing type. Though, I guess you're different..."
"There are many kinds of fae. The royal family are F-A-E faeries and rule over all the other kinds without prejudice. We're all quite happy in our forest. But now that there is a possibility of humans knowing where we are... we'll have to move again."
"Again?..."
Lilia nodded, "word spreads quickly amongst humans, especially those with ill intentions."
Sylvie sighed, "why can't we all just get along... There's so much we can learn from you guys. I'm sure you'd be fine with sharing if we just asked, right?"
Lilia nodded, "if your people could show their respect and atone for their crimes we would have no issues living in harmony with them."
Sylvie shook her head, "some people are just so hard-headed!"
Lilia smiled, "don't worry, there are a few good ones, too."
"Aw, thanks," Sylvie returned his smile.

"What was it like? Raising kids?" Sylvie asked.
Lilia smiled, "I never really had to deal with any rebellion, so my opinion is going to be very different than most." He paused to collect his thoughts, "all of the children I raised were well behaved, so it wasn't all that difficult... Then again, all I really did was teach them how to read, write, fight, and use magic. I was more of a "babysitter" than a parent, I believe. If I am even using the word right."
Sylvie smiled, "I think you are. How many people have you raised?"
"So far I haven't raised any humans," he smiled, "I have not raised quite so many fae, either. The royal family likes to have only one child per generation so that no one can fight over who is next in line."
"Wait- so you've raised all the rulers of the fae?"
"All the more recent ones, I suppose."
"So you're like... a royal advisor?? Why?? You could ask for so much more than you have, you've done so much for them!"
Lilia chuckled lightly, "I don't want more than I have. I was happy where I was... I may never have a family of my own, just being close to someone else's is enough for me."
Lilia's face was painted with a smile as he stared down at the wish flower between his fingers. He blew at it gently, watching the little seeds fly off.
"Lilia," Sylvie began, "... you're really lonely."
He blinked at her, "Hm? Lonely? What makes you think that?"
"Well, you've lived forever... and you can't have a full family... isn't there anyone you're very close with?..."
Lilia nodded, "the current queen and-"
"Outside of their family."
Lilia's mouth slowly closed.
"You've outlived them all...?"
Lilia nodded as his gaze was drawn back to the wish flower. Or rather, what remained of it. It was only a stem now.
Sylvie crawled over to Lilia and sat beside him, "do you want a hug?"
Lilia didn't respond. How could he? Sylvie was only human, how could she understand the scope of his emotions?
"Do you need a hug?" Sylvie asked, her arms held open.
Lilia leaned into her. How was he supposed to answer that?
Sylvie closed her arms around Lilia, letting him peacefully sit in the quiet of the evening.
As they sat there, some of Sylvie's friends decided to return. Lilia was so consumed by his thoughts that he didn't notice all the small woodland creatures coming into the clearing.
Soon, there was a circle around Sylvie and Lilia consisting of birds, squirrels, deer, and many other animals.
Sylvie had never seen this many in one place before. And why had they all returned when Lilia was still here? Hadn't they left because of him?...