Lillian hadn't cried in a long while. She was stable, headstrong. She prided herself in being able to withstand every trial, and life had indeed thrown more than a fair share at her. She was often praised as being a perfect queen. She was good at strategizing and not showing her true emotions about anything. Her husband often had to pry into her thoughts and told her many times how much he struggled to read her. Despite this, he was still the person who knew her the most. She could barely stand the sad gaze he gave her, the way he rested his hand upon her shoulder. For in this moment, Lillian's strength was being tested far more than it had ever been before.

"You'll be just fine, darling," she mustered a smile, "You'll have Sir Jingles with you," she gestured to the cat sat firmly in her daughter's lap.

"Wait... I can't take him with me," Fiona's eyes grew wide, "Toys are for children. I don't want my prince to think I'm a child. Mom, you'll have to keep him for me," she thrust the stuffed animal into Lillian's hands. The queen stared at it, she felt her husband's grip on her shoulder tighten.

"No one will think you're a child," she softly reassured her. It made her feel sick to say those words. She looked to her daughter. Her feet just reached the ground from the carriage seat and cushion she sat upon. She was a child. Twelve was no age for independence. Especially not for men and marriage. She had been reassured that no man would be rescuing her for at least three years. "No one will come until you're old enough anyway."

"How long will that be?" Fiona asked, eyes widened in concern.

Fiona's expression was correct, it was alarming how long it would be, how long she would be alone before anything even happened.

"Just long enough," Harold answered in Lillian's speechlessness, "Remember, Fiona, everything will be as it should be."

Lillian nodded in agreement, she felt her husband's grip tighten once more, his words reassuring everyone in the carriage as it headed quickly towards the agreed upon location – set to return without their daughter. She refused to acknowledge how close they were, despite the anxiety growing in her mind the longer they travelled.

"Your true love will rescue you and then everything will be perfect," Lillian reaffirmed her daughter, desperate to ease the child's worry.

"My own happily ever after," she spoke in a quiet voice, much to herself. Despite being excited by the concept before, it didn't even bring a smile to her lips in that moment.

The idea of Fiona's eventual perfect return had been losing its strength on Lillian too as the time grew nearer and nearer. She recalled being young – albeit not quite as young – and thinking about her own hypothetical happily ever after. Of course, things had been perfect and wonderful for a small while, but the stresses of ruling a kingdom, followed by infertility struggles, a curse on her only child, and the current heartbreak she was suffering didn't exactly follow the happy theme promised to her. She couldn't help but let that anxiety about her daughter's future plague her mind as one of the many things that had been keeping her up over the past few months. Not that she would ever tell Fiona.

Her dear Fiona.

Lillian stared at her face, taking in every tiny freckle that dusted her nose. Each tiny perfect imperfection on her soft skin. The way her blue eyes glistened slightly in her emotion, her soft eyelashes, the way her hair fell against her face. She needed to drink in everything before she didn't get to see it anymore. Nothing she gazed at was new to the mother, she had spent many, many moments staring at her beautiful daughter. She always found herself in awe of her beauty, she imaged she always would. Except for when the sun went down… Lillian paused her thoughts, casting aside the seething anger she felt about the curse. The anger that had largely subsided for many years while her daughter was growing up, only to resurface in the reality of their current situation. It wasn't the time for that, not now.

Lillian handed the stuffed toy back to her daughter, placing it in her restless hands. Fiona met her gaze, thankfully taking it, clutching onto its fur. The mother felt an odd desperation for Fiona to take the toy. It was her daughter's comfort item. In a strange way Lillian felt like it would protect her; protect her from the loneliness and insanity that was bound to creep up on her eventually. Perhaps even save a tiny part of her youthful self, the one Lillian adored more than anything else in the world. She had no idea if she would even recognise the person who would return in a handful of years, she could only hope there would still be some of this Fiona left.

The journey took forever and yet in an instant they were coming to a halt. Lillian found herself internally begging for the travelling to never end, for something to happen, anything to prevent handing over her daughter. She would have stayed in that cramped carriage forever if that was the compromise.

Fiona looked to her wide eyed, her gaze darting between her parents. Harold opened the carriage door himself as people entered their view.

"We require a private moment," he spoke definitively, the sorrow in his voice just piercing through his authoritative tone.

He closed the door once more, securing them together.

Lillian stared at Fiona, she didn't dare move her gaze. She wanted to sweep her up and cradle her close, like when she was younger. But she didn't. Fiona couldn't miss her too much, she knew that. They had to keep their distance, like they had for a few years already. She had to learn to handle her emotions by herself. Lillian spoke it to herself over and over, her resolve fading. Surely it didn't matter this one last time? No. It mattered now more than ever. Instead, she took her child's hand, willing her eyes to stay dry - Fiona's own tear filled eyes didn't help the tiny mountainous challenge. Harold took her other hand. Their daughter holding tight onto them both. Harold's other hand, landing on her knee, squeezing it ever so slightly. Lillian rested her free hand upon his. They sat in silence for a small while, each connected, not knowing what to say. Lillian was worried if anyone opened their mouth, it would cause the tears to fall.

"Fiona…" Harold began. Just his voice prompted a tear to escape Fiona's eye. "My darling. I-we…" he faltered, "You know we believe this is for your own good. It will be a while, but your mother and I know you can do it."

"Of course you can, dear," she chimed in, mustering a smile, "Just like you practiced."

"It will all be worth it when you come home."

"With your prince charming."

"In your true form."

"Happily ever after, Fiona, just for you," Lillian rubbed her thumb against her hand.

Fiona didn't smile back at their forced enthusiasm, another silent tear spilled over her cheek. Her brow was slightly crossed, her body tense. Lillian could see the millions of anxieties running through her mind despite her still, quiet demeanour.

There was a knock on the window that seemed to startle all of them.

The tall man outside was emotionless, "Fairy Godmother's orders," he spoke through the glass.

"Who?" Fiona asked.

"No one," Harold answered quickly. It was a silent agreement between the couple that Fiona didn't know who the Fairy Godmother was, despite her involvement in the child's life. It just seemed better that she remained as unknowing as possible to the business side of the arrangement. They were worried it would break the wonder of it all. "Don't mind that, dear," he continued. "Now, it's time to go." He released his hold of her, only to grasp her shoulder. She stood abruptly, wrapping her arms around him. He held onto her, avoiding Lillian's gaze.

"I love you, daddy," Fiona spoke in a small voice, muffled against his tunic.

"I love you too," he choked the words out. With a sniff, he peeled her away from him, though still holding her shoulders. "Remember who you are, darling, you're strong, just like your mother."

Fiona finally mustered a small smile, a playful glint in her eye, "The prince best be handsome, daddy. Just like you promised."

He broke into a grin at her, "I still do promise," he waved a finger in the air before lightly tapping the end of her nose, "But never as beautiful as you."

Lillian felt like her heart was about to burst with emotion, she could hardly contain it from spilling out. She barely just forgot about the weight of the situation as her daughter giggled at her father. Finally, Fiona's gaze fell upon her. Lillian had barely opened her arms before Fiona was in them. She held onto her as if her life depended on it; Lillian almost felt like it did. She didn't allow herself to dwell on the wave of sadness that was going to hit her, like a tidal wave looming in her peripheral vision. Instead, she stroked at her child's head, breathing in what she smelled like one final time.

"I love you, my darling," Lillian spoke gently as they parted. She pressed her forehead against Fiona's, "I am so proud of you, we both are," she released the child, chancing a glance toward Harold, who nodded. Fiona had been through far more than any child should, and she was about to encounter even more. Trials that Lillian could barely hold a candle to. Fiona's toughest trial was yet to come, she imagined. Holding Fiona's hands, she kissed her cheek. "We'll miss you, Fiona. But we'll be waiting just as long as you are. Awaiting the day you join us again."

"What a day that will be," Harold joined, "And-"

He was interrupted by the carriage door being opened.

"We need to go, Your Majesty."

His gaze heavy, Harold handed over her cases. They had been assured she didn't need anything more than a few things to occupy her time. Her clothes were enchanted with changing with her forms and growing and adapting to her age. The tower itself was magically self-sustaining, the Fairy Godmother had made sure of it. Everything perfectly set so no one else needed to enter the room once it had closed behind the child.

"I love you," Lillian dared steal one more moment, keeping herself in her daughter's gaze.

"I love you too," Fiona spoke back, but she was distracted. She held onto her mother's hands even tighter.

Harold had stepped down from the carriage and held a hand out to their child. Fiona looked from Lillian to her father's offering and back again.

"We need to go, dear," Lillian spoke the words she had been dreading.

She felt the reluctance in Fiona's movements, as she replaced Lillian's hand with Harold's and stepped towards the doorway. She warily watched the two imposing, bald men who stood behind her father. Lillian stayed firmly attached to her other hand, following her, encouraging her out of the carriage.

It was almost immediate how soon the two men grabbed a wrist each of Fiona's, just as Lillian stepped out of the carriage herself. They forcibly ripped her away.

"It's okay, Fiona," Harold reassured her as she looked back to them, wide eyed. Terrified.

"Mom?" she spoke urgently, "I change my mind, I don't want to go," the strangers hands secured onto her arms and they began dragging her away. "Daddy! Please!" she shouted for them as they hurried her along.

A tear finally escaped the queen's eye. It slid down her cheek and she didn't stop it. She stayed standing strong, until the carriage they battled her daughter into was gone. They nodded at the man holding open their carriage door, stepping inside. Lillian's eyes immediately caught hold of the ginger tabby cat, a bow tied to its neck with a little bell. She'd left it behind. The queen picked it up quickly, holding it against her as the second tear began to fall. And then the third. The door was safely shut behind them, locking them in a private moment, this time without their daughter. Lillian turned to her husband and collapsed onto his shoulder, sobbing.

"I'm sorry, Lillian," he spoke to her. His voice was strained, the emotion thick in his throat.

. . .

Another half-finished oldie finally got completed and emerged from the vault! Sorry I'm back on depressing again. It's sad hours apparently.

Nevertheless, thanks to Fauxgre for the encouragement and conversation over the past few weeks!

Also, I want to bring everyone's attention to this incredible work on DeviantArt (not sure if any of you frequent there). The artist ComicNinja409 turned rawshark's Happy Birthday chapter of Something Much More Important in Mind into a comic. I mean, the piece of writing in itself is so well written and wonderful, and the adaptation expands on it perfectly! Ugh! Please please please go have a look!

Now let's see if I can post the link here without being kicked from the whole site:

deviantart (DOTcom) (SLASH) comicninja409 (SLASH) gallery74323170 (SLASH) something-much-more-important-in-mind-comic