Chapter 12 - Part II
Okay, so I started writing this out and it turned into a huge chapter even after breaking it into two parts.
So the sentencing will be spread across four sections, but I will try to get all four posted by tonight.
The next morning Queen Clarion woke and had her breakfast while reading the full and final report of the mouse incident at Vidia's home in the Sour Plum Tree. It was a terribly disheartening read and tears began to run down her cheeks. Tinker Bell, what were you thinking?
She contemplated what would be an appropriate punishment for each of her two most talented fairies. Another task wouldn't be sufficient to change Vidia's cold heart. She needed to be humbled before Vidia could be reformed. The queen reflected deeply on Vidia's words and deeds since the fast flyer arrived and a startling pattern of growing disregard for others emerged. Now it was time for the queen to take matters into her own hands.
Tinker Bell was a different matter. She needed a traditional punishment, but also one that would illuminate why Tinker Bell couldn't give in to such intense emotions. As she gave consideration to Tinker Bell's penalty, a memory surfaced. Clarion had Viola fetch a book from the Queen's private library to study before handing down her reprimand to the tinker fairy.
Tinker Bell and Vidia spent the night in separate confinement cells. Although they could talk with each other freely, Vidia didn't have much to say to her rival. Neither slept well that night. Vidia and Tinker Bell were filled with too much dread and anxiety wondering what penalties the queen would hand down to each of them.
Tinker Bell didn't think her reprimand would be too severe. All she did was get into a fight with Vidia, which the flyer started. Though the queen certainly wasn't very happy to see them scuffling about on the floor of Tinker's Nook. Tink felt quite confident she would emerge from this with only a slap on the wrist.
The queen studied the old book and found some interesting information about fairies with "super" talents she had forgotten. It provided her with what she needed to properly ground Tinker Bell that would hopefully help prevent future outbursts of extreme emotions.
With all of this in hand the queen finally decided on the punishments to hand down and summoned the two fairies, plus one more, to her presence in the main audience chamber.
Tinker Bell and Vidia were served breakfast and then led out to the baths so they could clean up and put on fresh clothes before facing their queen. Once this was done, both were lead to the main audience chamber. When they arrived they were rather surprised to see another fairy there: Silvermist.
"What are you doing here?" Tinker Bell asked of the water talent.
"I don't know," she replied. "I was just told to report here after my bath and breakfast."
"But you didn't do anything wrong," Tinker Bell commented.
"Yes, she did," Vidia interjected. "She got in my way yesterday morning."
"I did no such thing, Vidia," Silvermist groused. "You took too much pleasure in tossing me into the water. I hope the queen throws the Pixie Dust Tree at you."
Viola entered the chamber and blew her horn. "All stand for Her Royal Majesty, Clarion, Queen of the Never Fairies, Ruler of all Pixie Hollow and the Winter Woods."
"But we were already standing," Vidia said dryly.
"You know what she meant," Tinker Bell whispered. Vidia just rolled her eyes at the goody two wings.
When the doors opened, Queen Clarion, in all her splendor, gently floated into the room, her regal bearing thoroughly unshakeable. She stood before the three young fairies under her charge and held a roll of papyrus scrolls in her hand. The pages were clipped together with a twig that was split down the middle and tied off on both ends with thin vines.
"Vidia, Tinker Bell, Silvermist, each of you has been brought here for your actions yesterday in the thistle and the mouse incidents."
The queen looked at the young water talent fairy and addressed her directly. "Silvermist, you are guilty of actions detrimental to yourself and to others."
Clarion then floated to the young tinker fairy. "Tinker Bell, you are guilty of actions detrimental to yourself and to others; for placing innocent bystanders in harm's way; for causing willful damage to Vidia's home and for willfully acting as a vigilante. You are also guilty of negligently placing the animals under our, and your, care in a dangerous, potentially deadly situation."
"Deadly? But I…." The queen raised her hand and silenced the young fairy.
The queen then floated to Vidia, whose body language clearly indicated she didn't care a whit about what the queen was going to say.
"Vidia, you are guilty of actions detrimental to yourself, to others and to all of Pixie Hollow; for placing innocent bystanders in harm's way; for the planning and willful destruction of Tinker Bell's home…."
Vidia smiled when she heard that charge.
The queen continued uninterrupted, "…for the willful planning and damage to several homes in Tinker's Nook; for the negligent damage of tinker wares in the courtyard of Tinker's Nook; for employing the thistles in willful acts of destruction; for seeking and planning revenge against an innocent third party; a blatant disregard for the well being of others; for thoughts of prejudice and acts of discrimination towards a talent guild; for persecution of an innocent third party and lastly, for possible sedition against the crown."
Vidia was stunned when she heard the last charge. "Sedition? You can't be serious, Ree."
Viola stepped in and berated Vidia, "You will address her majesty as Queen Clarion."
Vidia was steaming mad, the accusation of sedition or speaking towards rebellion or trying to incite rebellion, was just insane. Vidia now was certain that Clarion had it out for her.
Next: Part III - Silvermist