Get ready for what I can only describe as the most anticlimactic epilogue I have ever come across. I felt I just couldn't leave it where the previous chapter ended, I wanted to capture Aislinn's actual tranformation. Now, I did stray quite a bit from the book. My change is not quite as subtle. Try to imagine how Thumbelina became a fairy in the 1994 animated movie.

And if you want some background music, I was listening to "She Is The Sunlight" by Trading Yesterday.

Thank you so much for reading. (I promise this is the last you will hear of this story...)

A few weeks later…

"Are you sure, Aislinn?" he asked, his eyes searching for even the slightest flicker of doubt. If only he knew that he would not find any. For she had made up her mind, and she would never regret her decision.

This was what she was destined to do, what she was destined to become.

"If you are not the one, you will agree to withstand Winter's cold, and warn the next mortal how unwise it is of her to trust me?"

It was as if he was giving her one last chance to turn her back on him, to forget everything that had happened between them. As if she could ever forget! As if she ever wanted to forget.

Aislinn tried to picture how cruel cold might rush through her veins, ending her and Keenan's love forever. However hard she tried she couldn't imagine it, for she knew she was the one. She could already sense her mortality slipping away, promising an everlasting future by Keenan's side.

She moved to stand in front of a hawthorn bush, a staff laid on the ground by her feet. They were in a clearing, the setting sun making it seem enchanted. Summer fey were slowly creeping from the edges of the clearing, drawing nearer and nearer to their future Queen.

Keenan moved to stand by her side, his hand carefully drawing her fingers to his lips.

"No mortal has chosen to take the risk." He gestured to the Summer Girls. "They all chose to stay in the sunlight rather than risk Winter's wrath."

Her skin beneath his lips filled with sunlight, causing her skin to glow faintly.

She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before staring down at the staff in front of her; the object that would determine her future.

The Summer fey had now gathered around them, watching in silence and anticipation.

Aislinn slowly bent to retrieve the staff. She let her hand hover over it slightly before she clenched her eyes shut and gripped it forcefully. Even though she was sure she was destined to be with Keenan, a small part of her couldn't help but wait in fear of the cold that would forever chill her heart.

The cold didn't arrive. She felt nothing of the sort. She felt her last shred of mortality being scorched away from the sunlight that seeped through her skin, warming her very soul. Her vision went white behind her closed lids and she opened them slightly to see that her skin was glowing.

Sunlight seeped from her very being. Her raven black hair was streaked with golden highlights. Her body was soaked with sunlight and she felt the warmth burn away her jeans and shirt, and replace them with a beautiful gown.

It was a glorious yellow colour, golden and extravagant. It was strapless and corset-shaped on top and was laced with swirling designs around her waist. The skirt billowed out around her, the layers of silk and chiffon touching warm grass beneath her now bare feet.

She looked down at herself, her fingers lightly touching the silk of her dress before she glanced up at Keenan who couldn't take his eyes off her. He was in awe at the beauty of his Queen. His Aislinn.

She beamed a smile at him. "It's really me," she whispered, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.

Keenan leapt forward to lift her and swing her around in pure joy and relief. She laughed and relished the warm breeze that rushed through her hair. As he brought her back down, he held her face in his hands. He too had tears in his eyes.

"Of course it's you." He brought his lips to her and kissed her gently. Their intimate touch made sunlight burst from their entwined bodies and flowers grew at their feet. The Summer fae rejoiced and cheered in joy that their King had finally found happiness.

Aislinn drew back from their kiss, as she suddenly felt the Court's presence. She could sense every single fae in their court, and she could feel their belief in her. They really believed in her.

Keenan kissed the top of her head and smiled down at her.

"I have something for you," he said, drawing one of his hands away from his loving hold on her. He turned his palm up and Aislinn stared in awe as a blinding glow seemed to seep from his palm. When the glow eventually faded, it left a beautiful crown in its place. A crown of daisies.

Keenan placed it on her head and let his fingers trail down her cheek.

"You're breathtaking," he murmured. She saw how his eyes had a golden hue to them, a hue brought on by desire. She imagined she, too, had the same look in her eyes.

"So are you, my King." She said as she ran her fingers through his copper strands, trying to come to terms with the fact that she was actually a Queen. She was actually in charge of something.

But she knew she wasn't alone. For she had her lover by her side, the one who would guide and help her, and cherish her always, just as she would him.

She knew she wasn't alone. For she was embarking on the trail of forever with her one and her only Summer King.