Golden Glade The Next Generation

Happy as the King was, he was not sure he was as okay with Rowan's disability as his wife was - doubt creased his brow momentarily, but when Aspen started talking again he was happy to just listen. 

In his heart, he knew that if he were smarter, he'd kill the child now - Rowan was a runt, a burden on his bigger, healthier siblings, and with Winter coming they should get all the milk they needed.... But he couldn't do it to Aspen. Unsure as he was of the tiny squirt taking his place as King one day, he nodded to Aspen, agreeing to keep her happy. He would love the boy, if he survived, for it was still a being of his very jewels that Aspen had strived to grow and birth. 

Silent but smiling, Alder nuzzled his pale wife back, running his tongue along the backs of all four children next - he was gentle, barely touching them, and perhaps he skipped out on Rowan halfway through, but he truly did love his children.