A/N: Don't start the song yet! I'll tell you when to start it :) Also, here's another version if you want to listen to it. Videos are not mine, nor are any of the pictures or videos used elsewhere in the book. [Malleus Draconia] Once Upon a Dream [Twisted Wonderland] - look up on YouTube :)
"Malleus," Y/N breathed, smiling weakly at the man before her. His emerald eyes glowed in the firelight, fraught with worry and fear as he saw Y/N's condition. Her torso was wound in thick bandages, one spot on her side turning red, weeping with the remnants of her blood. Her skirt had been ripped at the knees, whether from branches and brambles or the whip used upon her back, Malleus didn't know, nor did he care.
Slowly, Malleus approached Y/N's side, sitting down on the edge of the bed and gently taking her hand in his. He let out a shaky sigh as he felt her warmth melding perfectly with his own, reminding him of all the times that he had held her close, warmed by the fire as they savoured each other's embrace. The times before the trials began, the times before Y/N was forced to leave by his mother, and the times before Y/N lay on death's doorstep, her life fading before her eyes.
"Is Silver okay," Y/N asked, her eyes fluttering shut as a wave of peace overcame her, erasing the pain from her body.
Malleus nodded. "Yes. He..." He paused to inhale, fighting the waves of sobs that threatened to break him at any moment. "He made it back all right. He and Lilia will be arriving later, once his wounds have been completely healed."
Y/N gave Malleus a soft smile. "Good."
Malleus glanced down at the old wound on Y/N's side and gently pressed his hand to the cloth, shutting his eyes and focusing his powers. It was a simple spell that erased all traces of the wound, now healed by Azul's potions. He would have to thank Azul for saving Y/N's life later, though he hoped that neither Vil nor Rook had struck a deal with Azul in order to save Y/N's life.
"I'm okay, Mal," Y/N whispered.
Malleus turned to see Y/N watching him, her hand gently draped across his. It seemed like she was barely clinging to consciousness as she lay on the bed, weak from her wounds and blood loss. It would take time for her to regain her strength, and even longer before she would be strong enough to travel back to Briar Valley.
"I-I know, darling, but..." he sighed and moved closer to Y/N, lifting her hand to press it against his cheek, the bottom of her palm gently grazing the edge of his lips. "You don't know how frightened I was. When Silver returned to the castle, telling us that you had sacrificed yourself so he could escape." A tear slipped from Malleus' eyes, falling gracefully onto Y/N's hand. "I saw the wounds inflicted on him and could only think of the worst. And when Rook contacted us, telling us that you might not make it, I..." His gaze fell from Y/N's, eyes shut gently as tears started to fall freely.
Y/N forced herself to lift her other hand, cupping Malleus' other cheek, and gently brushing it with her thumb. "Mal," Y/N whispered. "You don't have to say anything. I'm all right. Azul..."
"But I should have been there," Malleus said, his eyebrows furrowing on his forehead. He slowly lifted his gaze to Y/N. "I love you, Y/N. Why didn't you come and get me before you left to get Silver?" The tears started to fall again.
Y/N grunted, slowly trying to sit up. Malleus tried to push her down at first, but when she opened her arms to embrace him, his logical thinking quickly left him, leaving in its place a heartbroken little boy who wanted nothing more than the warm and loving embrace that he knew Y/N would give him. He quickly flew into her arms, tucking his body around hers and resting his head on her shoulder.
"I couldn't let anyone else get hurt, Malleus," Y/N whispered, drawing her fingers through the onyx locks of her lover's hair. "You all mean too much to me for me to allow anyone else to get hurt. It was my fault that Silver got taken, and I needed to be the one to fix it." She trailed a hand down to Malleus' and took it gently, folding their hands together.
"But I could have helped," Malleus whispered, pressing a kiss to the side of Y/N's neck. "The man wouldn't have dared harm me, and I would have been powerful enough to-"
Y/N silenced him with a kiss, and Mallues quickly reciprocated. He pressed himself closer to her, his hand gently cupping her cheek, his thumb rubbing the space beneath her eye. He could feel the tears gently dripping down her skin, and her warm breath whenever she pulled away for a moment. This was nothing like the last kiss they had shared, which was entirely passion and longing. Their desire to never be apart again fueled their last kiss. This one was pure bliss. They were finally safe. Silver was safe. Lilia was safe. Sebek was safe. Malleus was safe. Y/N was safe. Everything was as it should be.
The door opened slowly and Malleus pulled away from Y/N, though he didn't go far. He sat on the edge of the bed, allowing Y/N to use his chest as a pillow as his arm remained wrapped around her. He would never allow her to suffer the cruel punishment that she had endured all her life. The life her mother forced her to live, the life that his mother had inflicted on her, and the pain that the henchman had dealt at his mother's command. He would keep her safe from now until her last breath.
Silver, Lilia, and Sebek stepped into the room, and immediately, Silver rushed over to Y/N, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Y/N," he sobbed. Malleus moved his arm so Silver could hug Y/N properly. "Why, why, why? Why did you stay behind?"
Y/N quietly hummed to the boy. "None of that matters now, Silver. We're safe. We don't need to worry about that. I'm okay, and I'll regain my energy soon enough."
Silver looked up from Y/N and nodded, slowly backing away from her. Lilia was the next to thank Y/N for what she had done, also crying as he replayed the image of Silver crying that Y/N had taken his place at the queen's hand. He recalled the panic that had come when they had searched the cavern, only to find it barren and abandoned. Y/N's blood still littered the ground, but it was dry and cold. No one had been in there for hours, if not a day. Malleus had been inconsolable upon finding the cavern empty.
Azul, Vil, and Rook came in briefly to ensure that Y/N was healing all right, but soon they too left, leaving the last guest alone with Malleus and Y/N.
"I'm glad to hear that you're safe, Y/N," Aloren said, keeping his distance. He had become somewhat accustomed to caring for Y/N, but now he had to remind himself that he wasn't the one that would be caring for Y/N. That job now belonged to Malleus.
"Thank you, Aloren. You didn't have to come all this way."
Aloren waved her off. "Of course I did." His eyes flickered to the prince and he bowed to him before leaving. He would speak to Y/N later when she was completely recovered. For now, she needed to rest.
As the door closed behind Aloren, Y/N let out a long sigh, her eyes fluttering shut as she relaxed in Malleus' embrace. How long had it been since she had been able to rest in his warm arms, feeling as though she was protected from every evil in the world? How long had it been since she was able to just relax with him by her side, rocking her back and forth and soothing her with quiet nothings?
"Love? Are you okay?"
Y/N smiled sleepily. "Of course, Malleus." She blinked open and smiled at Malleus before allowing her eyes to fall shut again.
They sat there quietly for a moment, but soon, Malleus started humming, rocking Y/N from side to side as he slowly slid into the bed next to her. Y/N snuggled closer to him, slowly slipping into slumber as she listened to his voice.
A/N: Start the song :)
"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you... that look in your eyes... is so... familiar a gleam, and I know it's true, that visions are seldom all they seem... But if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once, the way you did... once... upon... a... dream..."
Y/N smiled at the words. Once she had confessed to Malleus that she had dreamed of them dancing the night away in an enchanted castle with only the moon as their audience. He had sung her this song the next night, hoping that she would have the same blissful dream. She had. She had danced once more with Malleus, across stones of cobble, broken by small tufts of grass and dandelions. Only this time, the castle was crumbling, and it seemed as though ages had passed since she had come here. But Malleus was still the same, and she was still the same.
Malleus smiled at Y/N's expression and waved his hand toward the lights in the corner. They dimmed themselves and soon the room fell into peaceful darkness. There were no monsters that threatened to jump out and rip the happy lovers apart, no queen that was threatening either one and no whispers of marriage proposals. For once, they were free.
"But if I know you... I know what you'll do... you'll love me at once... the way you did... once... upon... a... dream..."
Malleus slipped farther down into the bed, waving his hand and replacing both his clothes and Y/N's with more comfortable sleepwear. She sighed at the rippling of fabric, and nuzzled her nose into Malleus, inhaling his calming scent.
"I know you... I walked with you once upon... a dream... I know you... that gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam and I know it's true... that visions are seldom all they seem... but if I know you... I know what you'll do... You'll love me at once... the way you did once upon a dream..."
As the moon rose, and the house fell silent, Malleus watched Y/N in the darkness. There was still the issue of her magic and immortality that would have to be dealt with, but he would confront his mother about that later. Right now, he was content to lie here with his love, ensuring that nothing would harm her.
He leaned over and gently lay his lips on her forehead. "I love you, darling," he whispered into the dark, his nose skimming her hairline.
"I love you too, Malleus."
Malleus smiled and rolled onto his side, his arms wrapping around Y/N's body. This was perfect. The silence of the house, the wind and animals frolicking outside the window, and the love of his life safe in his arms.