The next few hours things were turning back to normal. Well at least as normal as they could be. Word of the dead sparrowman spread around Pixie Hollow and beyond like wild fire. Milori had kept Clarion hidden in the Ice Palace all night because fairies were beginning to ask questions and possibly think that their Queen killed someone.

This all made Clarion overload on stress and made her feel sick to her stomach. Thus she would not eat much unless Milori begged her to. Even then she had only had a few spoonfuls of soup. Eventually he gave up entirely due to his own grumbling stomach and the exhaustion that had taken over his body. Milori fell asleep with his queen wrapped protectively in his arms.

Clarion on the other hand did not sleep. The fact that she wasn't even tired probably had to do with the restful nap she had taken earlier. So Milori let her be and didn't even bother asking her to at least attempt to sleep. As long as she stayed with him tonight she could do as she pleased. For most of the night Clarion lied there, wrapped in Milori's tight embrace, alone to her thoughts.

How could I possibly not know that sparrowman! I know every fairy in Pixie Hollow and he definitely wasn't a winter fairy! So who was he?

At some point Clarion fell under the taunting spell known as sleep too. Her dreams were peaceful, just like they had been when she was in the hot springs. They weren't of anything in particular, just random memories of happy days in the hollow. This included the night Clarion and Milori had first met.

Clarion stood swirling her wine as she listened to the conversation she had been engaged with by some diplomats. It certainly wasn't interesting, and it appeared that all anyone else was doing was talking too. Tomorrow she was supposed to be crowned queen, so this was like some sort of pre-coronation ball, not much of a ball though considering there practically wasn't any music playing and there definitely wasn't any dancing.

The queen-to-be searched the room for a sign of anything that could possibly be interesting, from the balcony above. So far she had no luck, considering even the music fairies were bored. Clarion wanted to do something, but leaving the diplomats and other important guests and commit herself to childish activities. Such as dancing when obviously no one else was.

As she continued to examine the room, someone caught her attention. A sparrowman had just entered the hall. He was extremely late which caught the attention of many fairies on the main floor. Many took a pause from their conversation and looked over to see what had happened. A few even approached this mysterious sparrowman and spoke with him as if he were someone that was important to know.

Clarion had never seen this sparrowman before, or even someone that was remotely like him. He wore a teal suit that stood out compared to the blues and greens that didn't even come close to its state of awe. His silver looking hair shined in the light and his skin was as pale as clouds. Young fairies quickly surrounded him, ready to swoon over him.

Who was this sparrowman and how come every fairy knew who he was, but not her?

Suddenly he turned in her direction and the two made instant eye contact. The sparrowman turned back to the fairies surrounding him, but kept staring at Clarion out of the corner of his eyes. The queen-to-be forgot the conversation she had once been a part of and watched him. He smirked and every fairy around him nearly dropped to the floor. A glint appeared in his eyes that Clarion didn't understand, but it signified that she was what he wanted and he was going to get her.

Having been put in a small trance, causing her to stare blankly below, she didn't notice him slip away from the crowd. When her focus returned, Clarion was surprised to find him missing. He gaze quickly darted across the room, but there was no sign of him. She didn't think to look at the stairs beside her that connected the balcony and the main floor.

There was a tap on her shoulder that cause her to almost spill her wine. Clarion turned to see the sparrowman suddenly standing behind her. He was even more handsome up close. Clarion wasn't allowed to think that though because it had been burned into her brain that the interest in sparrowman is wrong and unfitting for a queen to be thinking about.

The sparrowman bowed, "Your majesty." He held out his hand, requesting her own without words. She politely did so, letting him have the chance to kiss the back of her hand.

"Might I ask who you are?"

"Milori, Lord of the winter fairies and all things that may pertain to the season. You yourself need no introduction everyone knows you, your majesty."

"You appear to be known by many as well."

"That is true, but it's nothing compared to your stature. Now, may I ask the queen-to-be if she would care for a dance."

Clarion was at a loss for words. Everything froze. Nowhere in a million years had she imagined being asked for a dance by a sparrowman like Milori. She was actually shocked by this and it cause her to gasp and drop her glass of wine. It shattered, causing the blood-red liquid to go everywhere.

Now the whole room was silent and everyone was staring at her. Milori looked bewildered, almost worried. Someone proceeded to call for servants to clean the mess.

Blood began to trickle down her finger from the apparent cut she had gotten when the glass dropped. Clarion stared at the liquid with a look of horror upon her face. She could never stand blood and right then was no exception. Seconds later a wave of nausea flooded her body and the room began to spin as she fell.

Screams rang out. Milori successfully caught her before she landed in the glass, but anything after that was a blur.

Clarion awoke to Milori staring at her, obviously concerned, "Are you okay? You were shaking."

"Yes, I was just dreaming of the night we met."

"That certainly was a mess."

"Yes, first I froze when you asked me a simple question, I ruined a perfectly good wine glass, and cut… my… finger." She stared at her hand a moment.

"Clarion?"

"I think I met that sparrowman before…"

"Who?" Instantly Milori felt like an idiot and regret asking.

"The dead sparrowman in my study," tears instantly began flooding from her eyes as a faint, and seemingly insignificant memory came back to her, "I met him on the night of my pre-coronation ball. He was the one who bandaged up my hand."

Clarion fell silent and buried her face in Milori's chest. She could feel the rise and fall of it as he let out a sigh and wrapped his arms around her once more.