Ballad of a Mother's Heart

[ANNOUNCEMENT: This chapter is dedicated to Cailin Matthews for being such a great friend to first support reading my story and for leaving wonderful comments! I love you, Cai-Cai! Always know that!]

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The night was dark, for the moon was young

And the stars were asleep and rare;

The clouds were thick, yet Youth went out

To see his Maiden fair.

***

Sicily is reading a poem titled "Ballad of a Mother's Heart" for Lilith to fall asleep. As the little girl was listening to Sicily, she looked at her and eagerly waited for the next parts of the poem.

***

"Dear One," he pleaded as he knelt

Before her feet, in tears,

"My love is true; why have you kept

Me waiting all these years?"

***

Lilith felt calm, listening to Sicily's voice softer this way. With a smile creeping on her face as her eyes were still focused on her mother figure, she continued listening to her. The poem was written by Jose La Villa Tierra, a Filipino author.

***

The maiden looked at him unmoved,

It seemed, and whispered low:

"Persistent Youth, you have to prove

By deeds your love is true."

***

Lilith always loved poetry even at a young age. She loved reading picture books even alone whenever she visited the kingdom's library. However, it's always different when Sicily read to her.

It is because of her that she loved to read. Every time she would have lessons with her or either with Eucraick, Lilith was always eager to learn how to read even at such a young age so she could be able to read children's books without pictures.

***

"There's not a thing I would not do

For you, Beloved," said he.

"Then go," said she, "to your mother dear

And bring her heart to me."

***

This part of the poem, the girl was testing how much the boy loves him. To test him, she said that he would have to bring his mother's heart to him for her to believe that there is not a thing that the boy would do for her.

***

Without another word,

Youth left and went to his mother dear.

And opened her breast and took her heart.

He did not shed a tear!

***

When Sicily read this part, she couldn't help but be baffled by the audacity of the boy to do this to his mother! But what happened next in the poem was the thing that made her sad, understanding the meaning of the poem.

***

Then back to his Maiden fair he ran,

Unmindful of the rain;

But his feet slipped and he fell down

And loud he groaned with pain!

***

Sicily read the poem so animatedly, Lilith unable to get her eyes away from her. With a smile appearing on her face, she continued listening to her, actually enjoying how Sicily is narrating the poem.

***

Still in his hand he held the prize

That would win his Maiden's hand;

And he thought of his mother dear

So kind, so sweet, so fond.

***

Lilith didn't like where this is going. She pouted and when Sicily peered over the book for a while, she smiled and patted her head, continuing to read the other parts of the poem.

***

And then he heard a voice,

Not from his lips but all apart:

"Get up," it said; "Were you hurt, Child?"

It was his mother's heart.

***

"This is a sad poem, mama Sicily," the little girl commented, Sicily nodding in agreement as she further conversed with Lilith.

"Indeed," Sicily said, a small smile appearing on her face. "You see, Lilith, despite everything, your mother will still love you regardless. That is the message of the poem."

"Yes, but…"

The little girl furrowed her brows together, looking at Sicily with sadness in her eyes.

"Lilith wouldn't dare do that to mama Sicily… Lilith loves mama Sicily."

"Of course, you won't, child," Lilith said, planting a kiss on top of her head. "I know you're a good girl—you won't ever hurt me."

Lilith sat up for a bit and reached out to Sicily. With her small arms giving the maid a warm embrace, Sicily had the urge to cry but alas... she didn't want to appear weak in front of little Lilith.

Lilith is not her biological child but since she took care of her ever since she was a baby, she always saw Lilith as her own.

"Even though I'm not your real mother—" Sicily started, keeping her tears at bay. "—you love me so much."

"Lilith doesn't care if she doesn't have her real mama," the little girl said, smiling as she kissed Sicily on the cheek. "Mama Sicily is enough and like the mama in the poem, she did not leave Lilith behind~!"

"Oh, sweet child..."

Sicily then cried. With her cradling her in her arms, she planted a lot of kisses on her face. Lilith giggled and reciprocated Sicily's kiss.

"Lilith won't be like the boy in the poem. If a boy challenges Lilith's love, Lilith will kill the boy."

"My!" Sicily this time laughed out loud, not expecting that kind of statement from a little girl. "What did I tell you about violence, Lilith?"

"Violence is not good," Lilith answered, Sicily still laughing at her statement.

"Yes, and why say that, then?"

"Because the boy is stupid for challenging Lilith's love."

"Aaah..."

Sicily tried her best to stifle her laughter. As she now put Lilith back on bed, she tucked her in and started patting her side while she processed what the little girl had said.

"I know we live in the Kingdom of Gehenna where demons reign, but Lilith, killing is bad. Alright?"

"Even if they're wrong?"

"Even if they're wrong." Sicily pinched her nose slightly, teasing the little girl. "Be a good girl and don't ever do bad stuffs that would make mama Sicily cry. Understood?"

"Hihi!" Lilith cuddled Sicily, promising to behave. "Lilith understands~!"

And with that, the two of them slept—expecting to have a fun and great day tomorrow.