Once upon a time, in a glade on an island where Fall meets Spring in an endless Cycle, were two sisters born.
Spring was the first, waking to a world filled with light and pale blossoms, the beginning of life. Fall woke within her hollow of amber and golden leaves, decay and fading her birthright.
Spring clad her bower with daffodils, amarylis, and iris, and sang her song of joy into the bright morning light, and her sister, Fall, followed her song to that lively hollow where life began its reign after the long winter's cold.
She greeted her sister, warm and fond despite her season, and crowned her High Queen of Spring, her simple crown of white birch upon her pale hair.
Spring in turn, crowned her sister High Queen of Fall, placing a crown of maple upon her dark hair.
Over time, centuries upon centuries, through the tumble and turn of the seasons, their Courts sang and made merry in their home, keeping to their duties as all Fae must.
But by and by, Spring grew sad and distant, so that one day, Fall spoke to her sister, saying, "Dearest sister, your smile is less bright, your flowers wilting, what has made you so sad?"
"You might think me foolish, dear sister," Spring said, melancholy.
Fall assured her that she would not.
"You know that I love this place," Spring said, "and I love you and our courts most dearly. But my soul longs for another to stand beside me in this kingdom of beginnings and rebirth. A partner in all things, which you, sister, cannot be."
Fall was silent for a long time, and Spring grew more forlorn as she looked at her sister.
"Then you must find one to stand beside you," Fall said firmly. "And though I love you, I cannot do this. We are sisters, and seasons opposite. If you are to find a partner for your crown, it must be of Summer or of Winter. I will make ready a chariot for you, and I hope that you will return swiftly with a partner who is your equal."
Spring wept for her sister's kindess, embraced her, kissed her cheek and set out next morning.
Spring traveled many moons over hill and over dale, finding at length the green woods of Summer, ruled by its fair High King.
The High King welcomed her gladly, for Spring is a cousin of Summer and the two Courts are well-acquainted in the manner of seasons.
Spring told him of her dilemma and the King listened long and considered her worries with an unusually grave face. He was wed to another of his court, and though they were of lower rank than he, he would not cast them aside for one of equal rank such as Spring.
He advised her to go north, for he had heard the Winter's High King was yet unwed, and that perhaps he or one of his court might agree to a marriage.
Spring thanked him gladly, and next day, her chariot flew north.
The land of Winter was bright and cold, but the chill did not bother Spring. Her season was partly born of Winter's fading and therefore did not shrink from such iciness.
She came upon a great mountain and found the Winter Court gathered together at its base, all still and silent as statutes, save for two that fought in their midst, their blades clashing together with a sound like thunder.
"What is this?" she asked a nearby Fae.
The Fae studied her, curious. "The High King fights for his throne, High Lady," the Fae said. "His opponent is the Prince of Sorrows, and his Highness claims that the previous King was slain through treachery by our current King's hand."
"And is there truth to this tale?" Spring asked.
The Fae shrugged. "There is not untruth to his tale, High Lady. And many would rather his Highness take the throne than have the King occupy it any longer."
Spring looked to the battlefield, where a dark Fae with a simple crown wielded faeblades against a Fae bearing the High Crown of Winter.
Their battle shook the earth, and although the ice cracked beneath the onlookers at times, they did not move.
Spring watched the Prince, finding in his proud carriage a nobility and sharpness that called to her. If she was to choose any to wed, she thought, it might be this Prince of Sorrows, who fought with such ferocity against a kinslayer.
The battle lasted for three days, and all that time Spring watched the Prince, and if he felt her gaze, he did not acknowledge it, his bright eyes only ever watching his opponent.
At dawn on the third day, the Prince of Sorrows cut down the High King of Winter and took the crown for his own.
"The court of swords holds that the High King betrayed our beloved King Mathon and slew him most cruelly and usurped that noble throne for his own!" the Prince called. "Does any Fae here dispute this judgement?"
None answered him.
"Then by right of conquest, I am your new High King!" the Prince declared and there arose a great cheer from many of the Fae.
The new King came then to Spring's side, curiosity in his sharp gaze.
"And who are you, High Lady, to visit Winter in this time of change?" he asked.
"I am Spring," Spring replied, "And I come looking for a Fae to rule beside me, in my Kingdom across the sea."
The King studied her, "Winter is very different from Spring, your Majesty," he said, "We are not of life as you and Summer are, but of decay and death."
"My sister is Fall, High King," Spring said, "I am no stranger to decay in all its forms."
The High King smiled, cold and dark as the bleakest winter night, but Spring was not frightened, though she knew some might find such an expression grim and fearful.
"Would then your Majesty consider courtship?" the High King asked, "I must warn you that we of Winter court for far longer than those of the other Courts."
"I would gladly court your Majesty," Spring said honestly. "Time is of no objection to me."
The High King smiled again, and this time, Spring could see the faintest hint of delight in his bright eyes.
And so it was, that Spring courted Winter, and found in him an equal with whom to share her kingdom.
It is said, that once upon a time, in the heart of the Blooming Wood, on an Isle where Fall meets Spring in an endless Cycle, a King of Winter and a Queen of Spring wed before their subjects, their Courts joined together in sacred alliance.