A/N: Hey all! Okay so here are a few announcements:
First) Don't feel offended if you don't get a reply to your review. It's nothing personal, I assure you, but a while back I had a…incident… and have been kind of sketchy about PMs. So I apologize that I can't send out Thank You's for your amazing reviewing, but know that they are fully appreciated and awesome and amazing. So thanks for reviewing to the last chapter and please don't feel offended!
Second) In answer to a review: They are fairy feet/inches and not human feet/inches XD. But thanks for pointing it out, Periwinkle and TinkerBell!
Third) Yep! Poem line came from The Outsiders! Congrats to those who recognized it!
Fourth) Okay so I got some mixed reviews about my Update Speed. Here they are and in your reviews you can pick which one you like best: Twice a week, every 3 days, once a week, Update Speed is fine the way it is. It would help a lot to know, thanks!
Whew, I'm a rambler. But I think that's it for now, so on with the chapter!
And it's incredibly hard to try and hold back tears for such a long time...
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
"What's wrong?" Milori asked Clarion. It was sunset the following day and Clarion was nervously picking her dress.
"It's…" she began looking out into the river with an unsure expression.
"It's…?"
"It's nothing."
"It has to be something, surely." Milori responded.
Clarion was silent and Milori didn't push her to answer, but just looked at her intently. Finally she asked quietly, "You promise you won't get upset?"
"I promise."
Milori watched as his beloved took a deep breath before blurting, "Queen Alexandra gave us only one week! And whatever she says goes…"
"One week?" Milori repeated slowly, still looking at Clarion.
"Then we have to say good-bye." She explained looking out at the river, very upset. Milori saw her try and fight off tears by biting her lower lip and avoiding his eye contact. Her light brown hair was down in a five-stranded braid today, and she wore a yellow lily petal tank top and a matching skirt that stopped at the knees. She had explained a few sunsets ago that since she was being crowned Queen in a few seasons, she had to change her attire, something requested strictly by Queen Alexandra herself. Instead of the white lily petal dress she used to wear, she now wore what she was wearing today. While she was explaining this to him, Milori noticed how she disliked the rule but made no complaint of it.
But now Clarion looked as if she were on the verge of a meltdown, and so Milori stepped forward so he was at the very edge of the snowfall and said gently, "Come here, Clarion."
Clarion brushed away a stray tear and looked up at Milori. When she saw his soft eyes and calm face, she took a step towards him until they were inches apart before being enveloped in a comforting hug. She hugged back and a moment later started to cry. Milori just held her gently and rubbed her back and whispered comforts in her ear. Clarion just cried in Milori's shirt, unable to calm down, and her love guessed that the week had finally caught up with her and she had reached her breaking point.
A while later, Clarion's sobs subsided and she pulled away from Milori wiping away remaining tears. She took in a shuddering breath and said, "I-I'm sorry…I don't know-know what came over me…I-I – the thought of –" Her eyes looked distressed and began to water over again.
"Shhh, it's alright, Clarion." Milori soothed.
"No it's not alright! It's not fair!"
"I know."
"I-I just don't want to leave you and –" She looked away to stop another wave of tears from falling.
Milori didn't like seeing Clarion upset and crying and thought hard about what to do to cheer her up. So, thinking fast, he blurted, "Your hair looks pretty today. I mean it's always pretty, but today it seems extraordinary."
For a second, she did nothing and Milori mentally berated himself for saying such a stupid thing. But then she smiled a half-smile and blushed. "Tha-thank you," She stammered looking at him again, her eyes lifting some sadness away.
He was about to grin back when an idea struck him. It's very risky and I don't like it, the Winter Fairy thought. But it just might make Clarion forget about her troubles for a short time…
"Clarion?"
"Milori?"
"Since we have only one week, maybe I could – if you want to that is – show you around Winter Woods." Milori proposed.
Her eyes lit up at that idea, with the sadness was still there. In fact, it was the dominant emotion showing, but her eyes did light up, and that had to count for something, Milori figured. But then her face fell, and she opposed quietly, "But Queen Alexandra doesn't want me to cross. She says it will be too risky for me to break my wings."
"Oh screw Queen Alexandra!" Milori exclaimed, mad at the Queen for multiple reasons.
Clarion's eyes grew wide at his remark and she scolded, "Milori!"
"What? I wouldn't be asking you to go if you were in absolute harm's way! Besides, I wouldn't let you break your wings anyway."
"But how could I not break my wings?"
"Simple, you could wear a coat over them to keep them from freezing and breaking," he suggested.
"Do you really think I could go?" She asked hopefully.
"Yes. Mind you I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think so."
Clarion gave a brief smile before looking up at the stars that were beginning to show. "It would be nice," she mused to herself, "to know what winter felt like before becoming Queen in two seasons."
Milori didn't reply guessing she hadn't meant for him to hear and looked up to where her eyes were drifting. A second later a shooting star so bright it hurt to watch fell across the dark sky in the direction of Pixie Hollow. Clarion's eyes grew wide and her hand came to her mouth as she breathed, "Oh."
"What is it?" Milori asked, now watching Clarion.
"Something's happened to Queen Alexandra…"
"How do you know?"
"That's the Star."
"The Star?"
"Yes. It comes hours before a Queen fades. Something must have happened." Her wide blue eyes sowed fear. "I've got to go, Milori."
"Be safe, Clarion."
She nodded before flying off.
Clarion stumbled in the library and asked the nearest fairy, which happened to be Fairy Mary, what had happened. Fairy Mary had replied that Queen Alexandra had fallen again when she had tried to walk and had broken her other wing.
"She landed on her wing?" Clarion repeated.
"I'm afraid so, Ree."
"Oh Mary, this isn't good!"
"I know."
"Where is she now?"
"In her room being tended to," Fairy Mary replied as Clarion instantly flew towards the room.
It was a quick flight, but it felt like ages before Clarion finally reached the door. Two guards were guarding it and crossed their swords when she tried to get in. Clarion gave each a steely stare and demanded, "Let me through."
"No." They said in unison.
"I have come to see the Queen. Let. Me. Through."
"No."
"Why in Pixie Hollow not?" Clarion asked, anger rising in her.
"The Queen wishes to see no one except the doctor, the nurse, and Princess Clarion." One guard with red hair answered in an aloof tone. He looked at her as if she were nothing but dirt, which only made her madder.
Clarion gave him her Are-You-Serious look and answered coolly, "Then perhaps you had better recognize me. Now LET ME THROUGH!"
"Not possible."
"By the Second Star! Are you really that stupid? I'm Princess Clarion."
The guard's eyes grew wide as his partner gave him an amused look that he didn't know who she was. Clarion, however, merely pushed them out of the way impatiently and entered the room. She closed the door as soon as she got in and turned around only to find Queen Alexandra lying on her bed with her eyes closed, glowing faintly and breathing deeply. "Q-Queen Alexandra?" Clarion asked timidly, her recent anger gone.
The Queen's eyes immediately flew open and she looked at Clarion with an intense gaze Clarion had never seen before. "Princess Clarion," she said.
"I'm here, Queen."
"I can see that, darling. You may leave now." The Queen directed.
At first Clarion thought that she was talking to her, and was about to protest when she looked around the room and saw the doctor and nurse getting up to leave. As they passed her, Clarion gave each a nod which they returned. A moment later, Queen Alexandra and Princess Clarion were alone and the Queen had no trouble to be straightforward the second they were. "Listen Clarion, and listen closely. I'm going to fade in an hour or two, I take it you have seen the Star?"
When Clarion nodded before asking, "How did you break your wing?"
"I fell."
"Again?"
"Yes, I can be a bit clumsy at times." Alexandra chuckled.
Clarion didn't laugh along but only stared at her in disbelief. "Why did you try to walk? You were and are too weak!"
"Don't tell me I'm too weak to do anything, Clarion. Besides, you're ready to take on the role of being Queen. I trained you myself."
Clarion remained silent and tried her best not to let the sinking feeling get the best of her as the Queen blundered on about responsibilities and such of being Ruler of Pixie Hollow. Clarion listened of course, taking in everything her mentor said to heart, and when the doctor came in with the nurse saying that she had to leave, Clarion obeyed and said good-bye to her predecessor sadly.
Clarion didn't stay at the Pixie Dust Tree along with the other fairies and sparrow-men. Instead she flew to Butterfly Cove, where she could see the sky the clearest. There she sat on her knees on a flower and star gazed, looking for an indication that the Queen had faded. A few heavy moments later, Clarion saw a white light explosion and an illuminate star follow after, signaling that the Queen had finally faded.
The fairy sighed and lay back on the flower, closing her eyes. A few tears streaked down her face and she wiped them off sadly, thinking about her dead mentor. It didn't help her depressed and volatile mood when a familiar voice squeaked, "C-Clarion?"
Clarion's eyes shoot open and she snapped to a sitting position, giving Elhas the worst glare her eyes could hold. He coward back in fear with his hands out in front of his cringing face as she replied coldly, "Elhas."
"I-I know you're upset at me and I'm sorry –"
"Don't apologize to me, Elhas. Apologize to Milori."
"But –But he's so…!"
"He's so what?" Clarion snapped.
Elhas huffed, crossed his arms, and didn't say anything else. Clarion didn't feel well enough to say sorry to him so she didn't and asked, "Why are you here?"
"I thought you might want some comfort, because of Alexandra and all," Elhas replied softly, looking down at the ground.
Clarion sighed and declined politely, "That's very kind, but I'd rather be left alone now."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Alright. Well, I best get going now –" Elhas muttered turning around and beginning to fly off.
He halted when Clarion suddenly called out, "WAIT!"
"Did you change your mind?" He asked.
"No," she started. "But I would like to know why you didn't respect my wishes and told the Queen."
Elhas sighed and looked away from her face. After a moment, he said, "It's because it didn't feel right to not tell the Queen anything about your love life."
Anger boiled in Clarion's stomach and she thought: He's hiding something! I know he is! That is not the reason why! But she didn't voice it but instead demanded, "The truth Elhas."
"How do you know I'm lying?"
"You're a terrible liar. The truth please, Elhas!"
Elhas suddenly turned a violent shade of red and he sputtered out some words before saying, "I-I can't tell you…"
"Yes you can."
"N-no…"
"Fine then, I won't push you. But next time, please respect my wishes. I'd hate to completely lose your trust, you know."
Elhas nodded dumbly, relieved, and boded her goodnight before fast-flying away from Butterfly Cove. As she watched him, Clarion suddenly felt very tired and let her hair out of the tight braid before lying back down on the flower. The whole night she watched the stars, especially the brightest one, thinking over things and crying sometimes. Clarion noticed she was crying more than usual lately, and it got on her nerves, so when sunrise came she vowed to be stronger and not shed tears as much – if at all. She needed to be strong, for Pixie Hollow, and so Clarion brushed off the last tear and flew back to the Pixie Dust Tree to change her clothes and get refreshed.
But that wouldn't be the last time she cried, no matter how hard she promised herself.