His to Save

Chapter Three - a familiar face

Hyde Pov

I followed Lillian quietly down the stairs as she walked in front of me, picking her nails discreetly as I grimaced.

I felt a pain in my chest as I watched her, and my heart truly broke for her. I had heard her quietly sobbing through the walls again last night, it had been every night this week, her cries echoing between our adjacent rooms. But I never dared ask, her temper was quick these days, and sometimes it was just better off leaving things unsaid than provoking her anger.

I hated seeing her like this, and I was desperately trying to be strong for the both of us. I knew she was struggling, which was why I was not pushing her too much, especially for her sudden cruel actions with the werewolves. She had lost everything that day, it was not going to be an easy thing to get over.

"What is the plan for today then?" she said quietly as she turned to look at me, her eyes still slightly red rimmed from last night, clearly the nightmares had been hard on her.

I smiled as I walked up next to her.

"We are going to walk about the people, I think they need a few repairs on the houses, and we need to check in and make sure they're comfortable. Then we are going to check on the training and how far the army is coming along." I said as she nodded and turned back around pushing the door open and walking out of the castle,

We walked in silence past the courtyard as she flicked her hands at the gates, opening them up to show the small village she had created just outside.

"Hey, we can do this another day if you want to take the day off?" I said as she turned and smiled, however it not quite reaching her eyes.

"Thank you Hyde, but the people come first. I am a leader, and sometimes there are going to be tough days, but I need to be there for them, that was my promise." she said as I smiled and nodded following her down the stairs and into the street,

As she did people flooded out of their houses smiling and waving at her, and I saw children running all around the place,

She stopped talking to people, as they thanked her again and again, for saving them and for giving them a better chance in life.

As she walked over to another a house a woman turned as she held a new-born in her arms, the baby softly cooing,

"Oh Gods above, when did this little gem appear" Lillian said as she leant over looking at it, all swaddled tightly in its blankets,

"Do you need any resources? Is there anything I can get you?" she said as the woman looked at her, "Could you please just hold him for a second, I need Hyde to fix a beam in my house" she said as Lillian's eyes widened slightly and she took a small step back,

"Oh gods, I'm not that good with babies-" she began to say as the woman waved her hand, "It's simple, just hold his head here, just like that" she said as she pushed the baby into Lillian's arm and she turned looking to me, her eyes slightly wide in fear as I chuckled and walked up to her,

"Good job nanny" I whispered as she narrowed her eyes at me, a slight sparkle in her eyes, one I hadn't seen in a long time.

I walked past as the woman led me to the part of her house that needed fixing and pushed it gently, and the woman turned to me. "She is just wonderful isn't she? We have hoped for so long someone would stand up to the Vampire King's, and now I finally feel as if I can bring my children up in a world that will be better" she said as I dusted my hands off turning to her,

"Hey, me too. It's been a while since I've had some hope, or someone who really wanted to change things around here" I said as we walked to the front of the house and I leant against the doorframe smiling,

Lillian was bouncing the baby as she cooed and tickled it lightly, the baby just staring at her while she held him. He gripped her finger as she smiled widely her eyes filled with love as she cradled the little one in her arms,

She looked up as she noticed we were back and she walked over handing the baby back to the mother,

"He's just an angel, you are one lucky mother" she said as the lady took him back and smiled, "You're a natural my Queen, maybe one day you'll have little ones of your own and I bet they will be true angels" she said as the smile quickly faded off Lillian's face and I looked down,

"I'm so sorry your highness, if I offended you" she said quickly as Lillian shook her head, and looked at the woman, pushing a smile onto her face, "Please don't apologise, I just don't think children are in the cards for me. But again, I have all these little ones running amuck, I'm far too busy to be making ones of my own" she said as she cooed at the baby again,

"Well thank you my Queen, we really appreciate everything you've done for us, please do visit anytime, i'm sure he would be grateful to have the honour" she joked lightly as Lillian dipped her head and turned away walking further into the small town.

I followed as she picked at her hands again and I turned to look at her, "You okay?" I said as she turned to me smiling, "Of course, I've just never held a baby before, it's a little overwhelming" she said as she turned back but not before a young child ran straight into her,

"Oh gods, it's another one" she said as the little one tucked herself in her skirt hiding away, the mother running up after her,

"Oh your highness, I'm so sorry, we were playing and I think she believes she's found the perfect hiding place" the woman said as Lillian smiled and unfolded her skirts,

As she did, a little golden-haired girl poked out and Lillian gasped, stumbling ever so slight. I turned to look down as I felt a pang in my chest and my heart dropped to my feet. It was practically a mini-Bethany, as if she had been reincarnated in this little girl, and I felt the pain flow out of Lillian's body, the ground shaking ever so slightly as she composed herself.

The toddler held her arms out as she demanded up and Lillian began to breathe deeply, her fists clenching. She lifted the little girl up as she quickly put her back into the woman's arms and turned away walking back to the castle.

"Lillian, wait. Please" I called as she turned to face me, tears in her eyes. "Please Hyde, leave me alone. This was a bad idea" she said as she stormed back into the castle, as she did I saw Irene was waiting and Lillian quickly wiped her tears before anyone could see.

Irene bowed deeply as she looked frantically at Lillian and I crossed my arms, "My Queen, the scouts just made it back. They have important news" she said as Lillian nodded and turned to me,

"Meeting in the office, five minutes" she said as she quickly walked away towards her room and I felt my heart sink, hearing her sobs begin all over again.

I just wished there was something I could do to help her.

Anything.
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Lillians dress

- action coming soon

- I feel so bad for Lillian :(

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