Finally! I've gotten off my lazy butt and wrote you the next chapter! Aren't I great? ;)
"We have another issue to deal with before the trial is adjourned." Finnick said smoothly. "Let's start with the fact we have a War fairy present..."
There was a noticeable intake of breath when the Head of the Royal Guard said that. Queen Clarion felt like her heart had frozen.
"...Fairy of War?"
"...I've never heard..."
"...Do you think the fairy is dangerous?"
"...Will there be a war?!"
These whispers and more were heard throughout the court. Clarion pursed her lips in clear disapproval, letting the Talent Head know that she was not pleased with the scene he was making. He just smirked.
"A fairy of War comes when there is going to be a war." Finnick explained. All the fairies who didn't know this gasped. "Also, they don't come centuries before the war. They come when it's right on Pixie Hollow's doorstep."
"Oh no." Rosetta murmured.
Silvermist frowned in confusion. "Pixie Hollow has a doorstep?"
"The fairy is none other than Vixen." Finnick announced, causing all the fairies to look at the new arrival as if this was all her fault. Poor Vixen was sitting in her seat next to Prilla looking as confused as ever. She was a war fairy? She had no idea.
"Finnick-" Queen Clarion began with a warning in her tone. He was completely unfazed.
"-Vixen arrived shortly after the Queen and Lord got engaged, of all times. Ironic, is it not?" Finnick interrupted, a smile creeping up on his lips. "So, I propose, out of the best interest of everyone, that the wedding be canceled."
There were mixed reactions. Half of the fairies were taken aback while some were seriously considering his proposal.
"Surely, your majesty," Finnick said, looking at Queen Clarion pointedly. "You don't intend to put all your fairies lives on the line just so you can marry. If you don't mind me saying, that is rather... selfish."
"I do mind actually." Clarion thought darkly but didn't voice her thoughts out loud. She needed to take the more professional approach to this which, sadly, did not involve her telling him off.
"Are you calling my wife-to-be selfish?" Lord Milori asked, the threat hanging in the air. He had only so much patience for certain fairies, especially those who got into his personal affairs.
"Of course not." Finnick replied, unfazed. "I was simply stating that it would make her look bad."
"Too late for that." Vidia grumbled. "She already looks pretty bad."
"Permission to speak?" Thorn asked.
Before Finnick could say anything, Clarion said, "You may speak Thorn." Then she glanced at Vidia. "That is- of course -if Vidia's royalness will allow it." Clarion gave the fast-flyer a mock bow. The corners of Vidia's mouth twitched.
"The only thing that keeps me from blasting you to next week is the fact that you're the queen." Vidia thought. "And just barely."
"Sure, sweetie, knock yourself out." Vidia told him, with a bit too much sugar in her statement. He chose to ignore it for the time being.
"Look, a war is obviously coming, that much is true." Thorn said. "Who's to say it happens because of the wedding though? Just a few minutes ago we were talking about a villain who wished to escape from their prison. Now, what sounds more likely to cause a war: a wedding or an evil entity bent on revenge on Pixie Hollow?"
Fairies began to nod. It made sense so far. Encouraged by this, Thorn continued. "So, let's assume that it is the evil entity that will rage war against Pixie Hollow. We all stand a better chance if we are joined together as one nation. We've lived divided for too long. The seasons aren't supposed to be separated. It's the four seasons. Not three plus one."
Lord Milori remained silent throughout this speech, taking every word into consideration. His face was unreadable.
"This is the best chance we've had in millennium to join the two countries back together." Thorn said. "Another opportunity probably won't arise for several more millennium. Why not wed them? Besides-" Thorn added, turning to smile at Clarion and Milori. "-If anyone deserves to find their happily ever after, it's them. They both sacrifice so much for us every day. The least we could do is let them have their happiness that is long overdue."
Thorn then went to get off the podium. Not before he bowed to Queen Clarion and Lord Milori. "Queen Clarion." Thorn said as he bowed to her. Then, as he bowed to Milori, he said a bit bitterly, "Lord Milori."
Lord Milori watched Thorn walk off the stage, saying nothing.
"Well, I don't know about you bozos but I'm in favor of the wedding." The Minister of Winter said, raising her hand. The Minister of Spring gave her an incredulous look.
"Just yesterday you wanted it canceled!" He exclaimed in disbelief. She shrugged.
"Meh. I change my mind fast." Was all that she replied. He shook his head, exasperated, then rose his hand too.
"For what it's worth, I change my mind too." The Minister of Spring announced. Many fairies looked surprised about this; Lord Milori being no exception.
"Well... all in favor of the wedding raise your hands." Queen Clarion said. She paused, holding her breath, as she waited to see what they all decided. One by one, about every fairy in the room rose their hands, with a few exceptions.
"It seems the wedding is still on." Queen Clarion proclaimed. The fairies began to cheer and clap. All the while, Queen Clarion sent Finnick a smug smile that Vidia would've been proud of.
"Take that." She thought.
A month later...
"Hold still, your majesty." Hem, a sewing talent, ordered gently but firmly. Queen Clarion was getting fitted into her wedding gown which was white as the snow and as intricate too. Beautiful, hand sewn designs were layered all across the gorgeous fabric.
The colors for the wedding theme had ultimately been decided to be turquoise and purple(much to Vidia's pleasant surprise). Queen Clarion had hoped those would be suitable colors for the wedding since she wasn't that savvy when it came to colors like what matched together versus what didn't. There was still so much to do. She had to get the decorations ready, the catering, the music...
Then there were other problems. The war was to name one. It hadn't come yet but Clarion still had to get prepared for it without raising the alarms of all the fairies. Even so, there was still more work. She was helping the Minister of Summer prepare for her season. This all made for a very tight schedule.
The identity of the evil entity was never discovered. The member of the Royal Guard came back to inform the queen that the prison she had been sent to check was undisturbed and the prisoner was still trapped inside. Queen Clarion had even checked herself and found this to be true. In fact, they haven't heard from any evil entity since last month. The Voice had gone quiet and stopped tormenting fairies.
Or so she thought.
Little did she know that the Voice was still speaking in the minds of fairies and in one mind of a very particular Fairy of War...
Cliff-hanger! Time to stop it there.