A Sort of Changeling 7/8 (Patreon)

At the sound of the voices, Robert turned sharply to his left, almost falling over from the oddness of his new little body. Before him were a couple, just a little bit older than himself and very well dressed. They were attractive, the man tall and fit with wavy, slicked back hair, the woman tall with rather large breasts. And they both had pointy ears.

Elves? Robert thought.

The woman spoke again, turning to the man, her eyes wet with tears.

“We’ve waited so long…” she said, her voice husky with joy and sadness, “I can hardly believe it’s happened.”

The man gently touched her face and looked into her eyes with obviously deep affection.

“My lovely Chrysanthe, your curse is broken, your life is saved and we have a lovely daughter.” he nodded towards Robert,  “You should greet her, my love. She probably has many questions and not a small amount of fear.”

“Oh!” Chrysanthe gasped, “you’re right!”

She moved toward Robert and he was froze with fear at the sight of the huge woman bearing down on him. He felt his knees shake and he unconsoulsly squeezed Moonlight tighter; the bear seemed heavier now.

The woman must have seen the look on his face, as she moved more carefully. She sank gracefully down to sit on her heels.

She reached out a hand and Robert was too terrified to even flinch. She stroked his face and smooth his hair, speaking gently to him all the while, Her eyes were soft and caring, and Robert found himself, if not relaxed, then less frightened.

“Now, there will be time for explanations later, my dear. To begin with, I am Lady Chrysanthe Leverhulm, your mother. And you, my beautiful little darling,” she brushed non-existent lint from his puffy sleeves, “ are our daughter, Amaryllis.”

With the last word, she booped his tiny nose and there was a flash in his mind. The name Amaryllis echoed around his mind and he now knew it as his own. He tried to recall his own name, but the name “Robert” felt alien and not connected to his identity at all.

“Oh, no…” he squeaked, his own eyes filling with tears, “I was… I am… I don’t want…”

With gentle swiftness, Lady Chrysanthe took his tiny face in both of her gloved hands. The silk felt cool against his skin and went some ways to calming him. Lady Chrysanthe looked deep into his eyes.

“Don’t worry, my little dove, don’t worry! You will not lose yourself. You will have all of you that was the old you. We want you to be your own being, not a little automaton.” She moved to wipe Amaryllis’s tears away and continued, a bit matter-of-factly, but still with kindness, “We had to… augment a few things, my dear, to help you adjust. Some compulsions, some… additions to your mind. To help you adjust, to become the best little lady you can be.”

Amaryllis’ lip trembled. Moonlight’s softness and weight was somehow reassuring.

“But, why me?” his voice was quiet.

“That,” Lady Chrysanthe smiled as she stood, “Is a very long story for another day. But, now,” she reached out a hand, “Let’s go home, little flower.”

Amaryllis looked from the offered hand, over to the man, who smiled warmly at her and back to the hand. She looked up at Lady Chrysanthe who smiled down at her, a look so full of affection that he felt the fear begin to leave him. Not fully, she knew but, enough to move and trust these two for now.

He reached his own gloved hand and it was engulfed by Lady Chrysanthe’s. He did flinch this time, the sensation of his hand being so tiny was jarring. But, his mother didn’t flinch at all or even tighten her grip. She just held Amaryllis’ hand gently, yet firmly.

“Shall we go home, little flower?” She tugged gently.

Amaryllis, her tiny feet making hardly any noise on the oak floors, followed her new parents to the other room and a new life…

STORY NOTE:

I wrote this REALLY quickly today. Wanted to get the art out. I'd 'written' the whole thing in my head on the way to work but, pared it down here. The final image will have more of the story