The next morning before it was even light out, Milori was awoken by the screeching sound of his cell opening. He stood up without being told to with a glum expression on. The two guards took off his cape, but this time he didn't fuss. He seemed robotic, emotionless now.
They walked down the hall and the fairies all stared at the unbelievable sight. Milori knew that he was still being showcased as the sparrowman that broke the queen'a heart. By now everyone in Pixie Hollow had to know about what had happened last night. If not, they were going to find out soon and would be the ones to spread the word of him being stripped of his lordship.
The doors to the courtroom were opened and there was practically no one in there. No one was there to see them take away his dignity. Not even the ministers were there. But when Milori looked up he saw who was here, Benedict. The sparrowman looked down at him smugly as he was seated to the left once more. What is going on? Clarion should be here! "Where is Clarion? What have you done to her?"
"The Queen is fine, but we both agreed it would be best for her not to attend. So I will be taking over her duties for this morning. That includes removing your title as Lord of Winter."
Milori was angry, he had to be lying, "You don't have the right!"
A grin crawled across Benedict's face, "Oh, but I do. I have just as much power as you and those ministers. If I had a say in it, I could exile you, because stripping you of your Lordship just doesn't seem like enough. It might even entice you to do more than just steal a crown, but Queen Clarion believes that you are still loyal and is against it. The council on the other hand took the measure upon themselves that you must be punished and have too much power."
There was a moment of silence and Milori just kept trying to process it all. Was he really going to be defeated here? Did no one really think that he was the slightest bit innocent? Then he heard Benedict continue, "Any last words? Before you are thrown back into your cell as a fairy with no power." He was staring down at Milori's hand, and when Milori followed his gaze he realized that he had Clarion's necklace in his grasp. Milori hid it under his arm.
"I do have a few actually, I need you to give Queen Clarion a message."
"Are you sure that's appropriate?"
"She will understand when she hears this."
"Fine, go on."
"Just like a crow chasing a butterfly, the crow never stops chasing because it lives for the light."
Benedict chuckled, "Oh look, we have a poet in our midst, maybe you can do that when you are released in... What was it that we agreed on? Oh yes, two weeks. Enjoy your cell." He repositioned himself. "Now, Lord Milori, I Benedict strip you of your lordship, under the rule of Queen Clarion, and the Pixie Hollow councils you are dismissed" Benedict got up to leave.
"You will tell her, yes?"
"Yes, of course, I am a sparrowman of my word," then he left.
Clarion was frantically searching her room, every jewelry box, and table with a shelf. "Where did it go? How could I have lost it? I usually put it right there."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Clarion let out a sigh, "Come in."
Benedict stepped in, he was reading over a note, "Queen Clarion, we must go over today's activities and business. We'll start with the discussion of that letter you requested I deliver last night- What are you doing?"
"I can't find my necklace!"
"You have many beautiful necklaces, which one are you speaking of?"
"My silver one, the one with the cobalt pendant. Milori gave it to me for my birthday and I can't find it!"
"It's just a necklace, Milori probably stole it too, besides there is work to be done."
"That was a very improper way to address him!"
He looked at her surprised, "Queen Clarion, the letter..."
"Oh alright." Clarion let out a sigh and sat down at her desk. She started flipping through the pages of a huge book on said desk. It was a documentation of each and every fairy in Pixie Hollow. Her eyes scanned several images, until she saw the most familiar. Milori. Years ago she had drawn and documented him.
Clarion read over the paragraph, "Lord Milori, sparrowman, lord of the Winter Woods. He focuses on things that cause him stress, specifically. It is very rare that he sleeps, which presumably leads to his inhability to control his emotions, such as anger. The sparrowman over works himself, but despite everything he cares about his fairies. Though one day he might kill himself because of how he is treated by others and himself. If others are stressed he feels that it is his duty to solve the problem and take on the stress on his own."
"You fell asleep writing that letter and when I came to check on you, you hadn't signed it, so I forged it for you. I've memerised it so it looks identical."
"Thank you."
"Your highness, you seem distracted."
"Oh yeah, sorry, don't worry I've been listening."
"The ceremony this morning went well, but-"
"Wait, what ceremony?"
"You told me to take care of Milori's punishment, he's no longer a lord."
"Oh, of course. I must have forgot... Do you think it would be alright to go and see him?"
"No, your majesty, it's best that you try and stay on task today. Oh, but there was one thing, he told me to give you some sort of message; Just like a crow chasing a butterfly, the crow never stops chasing because it lives for the light."
There was a moment of silence as Clarion processed what he said.
"Of course I don't know what it means, but it's none of my business. Anyhow, today's duties include... Queen Clarion, are you alright?" She was crying and sobbing now.
Benedict approached her, but then she stopped him, "Just go please, I-I need a moment to myself."
"As you wish," he replied and left the study.
She picked up one of the picture frames she had slammed down on her desk the previous night. This one was of Milori smiling, but the frame was cracked and it made her sad. She knew very well what Milori's message had meant. Milori was the crow chasing after the pretty butterfly, herself, always there to protect and keep her from danger, while also protecting itself. Clarion cried harder as she stared at the photograph.