Chapter 10

Clarion awoke the next morning to Milori playing with her hair. He smiled warmly at her before kissing her cheek.

"Good morning dear. Did you sleep well?" He asked her as she sat up and faced him. She felt his forehead before answering.

"Very well. How about you? You weren't in too much pain were you?" She got up and grabbed new bandages for his wounds. She was unwrapping it when there was a knock.

"Come in." Milori called. Jonna walked in.

"Good morning Queen Clarion, Lord Milori!" She floated over to the bed. "I see you've beaten me to the new bandages!" She was checking on his stitches as she spoke.

"Yes, I thought I could change them. I'm sorry if you wanted to." Clarion brought the new bandages over. Jonna chuckled.

"No need to apologize Your Highness. Lord Milori you are looking much better. How do you feel?"

"I feel just fine, thank you for asking Jonna." He winced as she gently touched his wound. Clarion quickly moved to him. "I am fine Clarion." She took his hand anyways.

"You know Lord Milori; I think these stitches are ready to come out. Of course you will still have to be bed rest, you are still open for infection, but these are ready to come out!" Jonna sang happily. She grabbed her medical bag and pulled out her supplies. "It seems someone took very good care of you!" She raised an eyebrow at the queen. Clarion blushed ever so slightly. Milori laughed lightly.

"Yes, someone did." He gently brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it. This caused Ree to blush even more.

"Ok, well I'm going to go fetch some help, then we'll be back to remove your stitches."

"Jonna, I can help. If that's alright with you..." Clarion looked hopefully at the head healing talent.

"That would be splendid! That'll save a lot of time and I'm guessing Lord Milori would like to get this over with quickly as possible?" Milori nodded his head and Jonna handed Clarion some supplies, including medical scissors. Clarion looked at her very confused.

"What would you like me to do?" She asked the trusted doctor.

"I need you to gently cut the stitches so they are undone. I'll follow along and pull them out." Jonna turned to Milori. She handed him a squishy foam ball. "Squeeze on this when and if it hurts." He nodded and Jonna looked to Clarion. "Queen Clarion, if you would rather not do this I can go get help quickly." But as she spoke Clarion was already wiping down the wounded area with an alcohol swab.

"I can do this Jonna. Thank you for your concern though." She looked up from her husband's stomach and smiled. Jonna smiled back and grabbed her forceps. "Ready?"

"Ready." And with that Clarion gently put the scissors under the first stitch and cut it. She quickly looked at Milori's face. His eyes were shut but he didn't seem in pain. "Queen Clarion, it won't hurt him that much." Jonna whispered. She could sense Clarion's worry. As Clarion began to cut the second stitch Jonna began to pull out the first. Milori squeezed the foam ball. Clarion tried her best to be quick about her job and she finished cutting the stitches a few minutes later. Jonna of course took longer. She had pulled out five stitches. She still had ten to go.

"Ree?" Clarion was watching Jonna work when Milori whispered her nick name. She knelt down so she was eye level with her husband.

"I'm right here Milori. Are you ok?" She stroked his cheek, causing a smile to appear on his face. Seeing him smile made her smile, and when Jonna took a quick look she smiled.

"It feels funny." Milori told his lover. He pushed back a piece of her hair as she laughed lightly.

"It just feels funny?" She asked jokingly. Milori laughed too. She took his hand in her own and squeezed it.

"Yep. Just feels funny!" He replied sarcastically. Clarion rolled her eyes.

"Look at you, even when someone's pulling stitches from your stomach you still make time for jokes!" He laughed along with her.

"Yes, and that's why you love me!" He gently squeezed her hand.

"That along with a million more reasons." She whispered as she kissed his forehead.

"I hate to interrupt your cute little moment, but all the stitches are out. You are healing faster than I thought you would, so you'll be out of bed and moving by tomorrow!" He smiled and sat up.

"That's wonderful news, thank you Jonna." Clarion replied. Jonna nodded and gather her supplies.

"Thank you for everything Jonna." Lord Milori told her as she flew out the door. She waved to the royal couple before shutting the door and heading back to the infirmary. Milori then turned to his wife. "What are you doing today?"

"This morning Mary and I are making Rosetta's wedding dress, then after lunch I have to supervise the preparations for fall with Redleaf." She smiled as she spoke.

"I can see you are excited. Is it maybe because you get to play seamstress today?" He raised an eyebrow. Clarion laughed lightly.

"Indeed it is." She stood and got ready for the day. When she walked out of the bathroom Milori called her over to him. "Is there something wrong dear?" She asked in a worried tone. Milori reached for her crown and placed it on top of her head.

"Nothing is wrong at all. You look extraordinarily beautiful today." He pulled her into his lap.

"Thank you Milori." She kissed him on his cold lips and he melted into her warm ones. "I love you honey."

"I love you too Ree." They kissed again. "Please be safe." Clarion nodded before pulling him close.

"You too." She hugged him tightly before leaving. She quickly flew to Tinker's Nook and into Mary's workshop. Rosetta and Mary were waiting patiently for the queen to arrive.

"Hi Clarion!" Rosetta greeted her happily. Calling her 'Clarion' instead of 'Queen Clarion' was still a little funny to her, so she couldn't help but smile.

"Hello Rosetta, I'm sorry I'm late. Something came up…" Clarion trailed off as she looked at the white fabric in the workshop.

"Something huh?" Mary asked. Clarion turned to see her friend smirking. Rosetta looked at Mary, then Clarion.

"Oh my!" Ro exclaimed when she realized what 'something' Mary was talking about. Clarion instantly knew as well and jumped to her own defense.

"Not anything like that Mary!" She rolled her eyes. "We removed his stitches this morning!" Rosetta began to laugh.

"Sure…" Mary said sarcastically.

"I mean it Mary!" Clarion angrily told her best friend.

"I believe you Clarion." Rosetta said. Clarion smiled warmly at her and picked up white fabric. She walked over and asked Rosetta to feel it. "I like the way that feels." Clarion nodded and Mary took measurements. They cut and sewed the dress together. Rosetta tried it on and stepped out in the plain white dress.

"It fits perfectly!" Mary exclaimed.

"You look so pretty Rosetta! But Mary, it looks a little dull." Clarion observed. Mary nodded and they flew back to the fabrics. She picked up spider web lace. "We could wrap this around the top…"

"And make it slowly blend in with the bottom and train!" Mary finished.

"Do you think there is enough for a matching veil?" Rosetta cut in.

"Of course!" Clarion giggled. Together she and Mary added detail to the beautiful wedding gown. When Rosetta stepped out the second time she took their breaths away.

"My gosh…you look so amazing Ro…" Ree gasped. Mary was lost for words so she just nodded in agreement.

"Thank you." Ro giggled. "Can I keep it here?" Mary nodded once again as she inspected the dress all around.

"Wow…you really look beautiful Rosetta. Sled is going to flip when he sees you in this!" Mary exclaimed causing the two others to laugh. Rosetta changed and the three fairies went back to work.

"Hello minister." Clarion greeted nicely. Redleaf turned from the group of fairies he was watching to the queen.

"Hello Queen Clarion. Thank you for assisting me today." He showed her what fairies were working on that day and they helped when it was needed. When everything was completed Clarion waved good bye to the fairies and traveled home as pixie dust. She walked in and began to panic; Milori wasn't in bed.

"Milori…" She called nervously. She heard her name and followed the sound out to her balcony. He was there sitting watching the sun go down.

"Would you care to join me love?" She floated over and sat on his lap. She leaned up against him as he hugged her close.

"Why did you get out of bed? You could have hurt yourself." She stroked his arms lovingly as she spoke.

"I was feeling much better and when I got up to use the bathroom, I decided to sit out here. I'm sorry if I worried you love." He apologized whole heartedly. She sighed and looked to the sun set. "It's a wonderful sight isn't it?"

"Oh, yes, but not my favorite." She turned to him again. He looked at her questioningly. "Those brown eyes of yours, they are my favorite sight." She leaned in and kissed him; he returned the kiss and let her hair down.

"Clarion…" He wasn't smiling anymore. He was dead serious. "I know things haven't been going our way. I've had two close calls and the baby…" He could feel his wife tense up in his arms. "But I have a feeling things are about to change. I have a feeling everything is going to fall into place."

"I have that feeling too Milori, like miracles are about to happen." She kissed him again and they walked inside. Together they lied down on the bed and cuddled close, sharing a kiss every so often. Clarion was running her fingers through his hair as he kissed her neck. She gasped as he brushed by 'that' spot.

"I love you." He mumbled into her skin. He continued moving downward, leaving a trail of kisses.

"I love you too." She spoke so softly it was barely audible. He began to kiss her right above her breast.

"Milori…" She breathed. He looked up into her eyes and kissed her lips. He pulled her close and they fell asleep together.

The next morning came and Clarion helped him out of bed.

"What do you have to do today?" She asked him as she put his cape on. She was so focused on her husband she hadn't even put a robe on.

"I have to go make sure winter is doing alright. But no worries darling, Sled agreed to come with me today and keep me company. I think he wants to talk as well. I'll tell you about it when I get home tonight." Clarion smiled; she was relieved he wouldn't be working alone today.

"Alright, but please honey, if you start to feel bad come home. Winter can manage a few days without their lord." She kissed him and was about to leave when Milori stopped her. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just I like the outfit for today." He smirked. She blushed and playfully punched his shoulder as she went to get ready. After that they went on to work.

"Hello Lord Milori." Sled greeted the lord as he walked up to him. "You're feeling better I hope?"

"Yes, I'm feeling much better. Thank you for asking." They continued walking deeper into the woods. "How have the preparations been going while I was out?"

"They have been right on track. Not a minute behind." Sled informed him.

"Brilliant." They walked in silence for a while. "Do you think we should check the snowflake baskets first or go check the frost fairies?"

"I think it would save time if we check the snowflake baskets first." Milori nodded and they went to check.

"These snowflakes look wonderful. Keep up the good work." Milori told the snowflake fairies before heading off with Sled to the frost forest. When they got there Milori watched and helped a few fairies with their techniques. Sled stood back when suddenly a snowball hit the back of his head. He turned to see Gliss, Spike, and Peri sticking their tongues out at him.

"Guys I can't play right now. I have to stay with Lord Milori." He told them.

"Come on now Sled! Don't be a baby!" Spike teased good naturedly.

"I really can't!" He replied to her teasing.

"You can good ahead Sled. We have time." Came Milori's voice. Sled turned to his lord.

"No, if I leave Queen Clarion will kill me! Plus I don't feel like playing anyway." Sled sat down on a leaf. Milori turned to the girls.

"Sled can play later ladies." They nodded and flew off to find someone else. Milori then sat next to Sled. "What's wrong Sled? You've never turned down a snowball fight." Milori was very concerned for the winter sparrow man.

"I guess I'm just worried." Sled had always seen Lord Milori as a father, so confining in him wasn't hard.

"Worried about what?" Milori placed a hand on Sled's shoulder. He was having a war with himself.

"What if Rosetta and I get married, but we stop loving each other?" Milori was taken aback by his question.

"Well, do you love her with all your heart?"

"Yes."

"Does she love you just as much?"

"Yes."

"Then everything will be fine." Milori assured the younger sparrow man. Sled looked to the ground trying to decide if he should ask his next question.

"How do you and Queen Clarion do it? I mean you've been in love for so many years and I seems like your love just keeps growing! Or at least that's what Rosetta and her friends say." Milori thought for a moment. He knew he had to make his next words count.

"Sled, you have to remind her every day that you love her. Surprise her by doing things out of the ordinary. Tell her she looks beautiful, they really like that. Bring her cute little gifts randomly. Kiss her as soon as she wakes up, and when she least expects it, and right before she falls asleep. And Sled,"

"Yes Lord Milori?" Sled was hanging on every word.

"Over use 'I love you'."