Chapter Four: Words of Wisdom
Queen Clarion sighed and leaned back into the arms of her beloved. It was relaxing, just sitting here on the log bridge without having to worry over royal duties. She had one arm draped around his shoulder. The edges of his broken wing brushed her fingertips, reminding her of that fateful day long ago—and of the problem at hand.
Lord Milori was such a comfort. He held her free hand in a tender way. His simple, cool touch was more than enough.
The two rulers were sitting alone at the border. No attendants, no ministers; just them. He lounged in the winter side, and she in the warm, leaning into his arms. A few snowflakes from winter danced down into their embrace. This would have been a beautifully peaceful moment if not for the circumstances.
"I don't know what else to do, Milori," Clarion finished explaining. "My best fast-flyer can fly no more; she has barely left her home in weeks. Her friends have done everything they can to console her. Never has a fairy been in more despair."
Milori countered. "Never, Clarion?"
Clarion twisted around to look at him. "You see where I'm heading, then?"
"Yes, I see," He stroked her hair. "I know what she feels, though perhaps not as deeply."
"I never did ask you: what was it like, knowing you would never fly again?"
Milori thought about this for a minute before giving his answer. "It was…devastating at first. It was almost like losing a limb, for wings are so easy to take for granted. Once they are taken, getting from one place to another suddenly turns into a grand quest." He reminisced about the past for a moment. "And because of it, I lost you for a time, Clarion…after losing my wing, I learned how to adapt and live again, though. There are always ways to overcome the obstacles."
"Will you speak with Vidia? Teach her how to live again?" Clarion grasped his chilly hands.
"Yes. I will try. A fast-flyer may be a challenge; I promise to do my best."
"Oh, thank you," she hugged him, glad that no attendants were around to pry. Being alone was a rare moment for a ruler. "She even turned me away, when I went to her myself."
"Even you?" His eyebrows rose.
"Even me. You have your work cut out for you. I'll bring her here in the morning. Hopefully all will go well."
"Will you come by afterwards?" Clarion nodded. That was when Milori lovingly kissed her; a kiss full of comfort and reassurance. "Good," he said. "All the better. Try not to worry so, my dear. Even when all seems lost, there is always something to live for. Vidia will heal in her own way. She just needs to find it."
…
At last every one of the stitches was out. Vidia didn't have to worry about tearing anything, and she was no longer in physical pain. Fawn had been an excellent nurse. She had checked in on Vidia several times a way and helped change the bandages diligently. So far, she had been the only one allowed inside Vidia's house. She also called in her bird friends to carry Vidia to checkups at the hospital; it was the only time the fast-flyer ventured outside.
Now that Fawn was no longer needed as a nurse, she had returned to her own home with the other animal talents. In a way, this was good. It forced Vidia to fend for herself. But she still did not want to go outside. The last few weeks had been spent resting, sleeping, eating, and making tiny cyclones with one finger out of boredom.
She managed a weak smile. At least I can still do this. She thought, making the whirlwind move about the kitchen. The feather bouquets fluttered about. She blew them back into place whenever they flew onto the floor.
The practice only improved her mood for a short time.
A big mirror hung on her bedroom wall. She was getting used to the wingless reflection looking back. The scars still bothered her, though. A long one cut down the side of her face, winding ones came onto her abdomen, a few were on each arm, and the three gargantuan slashes had left cruel, permanent marks on her back. In her old, familiar clothes, most of the scars were mercifully covered. But it was hard getting dressed every morning, when she would have to look at them and be reminded of that day.
Leaving the plum tree was so grim! Sometimes she went down to the stream for water, and there were always fairies hanging around who stared hard at her empty back. It made her want to run back inside.
The tinkers had modified the outside of the tree. Tinkerbell designed a winding staircase that twisted up the old trunk and led straight to the porch; simple, easy to use, and safe. Bobble and Clank, on the other hand, built an elevator using fishing reel, fish hooks, a teacup, and some of their own complicated pulley systems.
"No, Miss Vidia, it's really no trouble at all," Bobble had said upon her protests. "With this beauty, you'll be able to come and go much quicker."
She gave in eventually, making Bobble quite happy.
On this morning, Vidia ventured out onto her porch feeling disheartened. The sunrise was perfect today. Colors of pink and gold mixed in with the clouds. Birdsong rang out all through the glade. The sun peeped golden over the horizon; she could just see it through the leaves of her plum tree. A pain spread throughout her whole body just then—on mornings like this, she would normally be creating gentle gusts of wind in the trees using her wings…a tear leaked out of one eye and she snuffled.
A songbird suddenly flew past and Vidia jumped back further than expected. Her heart beat a little faster. This had been happening a lot. I'm not scared of birds now, am I? I wasn't before…
A sparkling flicker from below broke her thoughts. She peered over the railing and saw the golden wings of Queen Clarion, of all fairies! The Queen was flying up slowly with a cool face and folded hands. Four attendants in uniform accompanied her, but stayed back a respectful distance.
Not again. I told her to go away, already! Why will no one listen? Vidia tried to stay calm. Maybe she had been too rude to the Queen last time…she tended to do that without realizing.
Clarion landed in front of Vidia with a regal grace that only she could perfect. She observed the fast-flyer with an odd expression: very sorrowful, but smiling in a motherly sort of way. She waved to the attendants who flew down and out of sight. Vidia was careful to keep her back facing away from them. Some had stared far longer than was comfortable.
"Hello again, Vidia," said the Queen lightly.
"Why are you here again?" Vidia demanded. She spoke like her normal, spiteful self. "I told you, I don't want to see anybody."
"My dear, you can't very well stay up here forever."
"Watch me." She crossed her arms, mustering a scowl.
"Vidia," Clarion scolded calmly. "Come with me to the border. I know someone who will be able to help you. So hurry up and get ready. And remember to dress warmly."
Vidia opened her mouth, about to protest. But something in the Queen's kind gaze stopped her from doing so. She was only trying to help, and she had just given a direct order. No one ever dared to ignore orders from the Queen…So Vidia sighed and begrudgingly went inside to fetch a scarf. There was no telling what to expect.
…
Vidia had wondered if she would receive a scolding for being impolite to the Queen, and instead was flown by owl all the way to the border. Dressed in winter clothes, earmuffs and a purple scarf, she realized there would be no need to find a frost fairy to get her non-existent wings frosted.
Lord Milori stood waiting in the falling snow with his own owl, a white-feathered bird that looked around quizzically. "Ah, you're here."
Clarion approached the border, but did not cross. Vidia walked beside her with a sullen face. "Go and spend some time with Milori, my dear. It may be just what you need."
"But—"
"Consider it another order, Vidia. We believe it will do you good." Clarion's voice was gentle. She reached into winter and held Milori's hand briefly. "I'll see you at sunset, then?"
"As always." He kissed her cheek.
Vidia rolled her eyes. Enough with the romance, you two.
"Now then," he turned to the fast-flyer. "Come with me, Vidia."
She crossed over into the snow. The queen waved them goodbye as they walked off, before she herself flew away back into the warm seasons, attendants and all.
Winter was an extremely silent season compared to the others. There were not as many birds singing. The rivers and pools were frozen solid, never running. Falling snow was basically frozen rain, but absolutely soundless. Your breath came out in a cloud. The only sound heard was the crunching of snow under your boots. Owls were a notoriously quiet species; their soft feathers made for noiseless flight. Vidia had been cautious during the ride to get here, and now she found herself putting Milori between her and his own owl. She wasn't sure if she would ever trust birds again.
Milori noticed this wariness. "Do the birds frighten you, now?"
Vidia crossed her arms defiantly…but what was the point in hiding it? "Well…"
"It's understandable. I wish to help you heal completely. Losing one's wings is not easy; believe me, I know how it is. The path to recovery will be a long one. There will be new fears, newfound weaknesses, and self-consciousness. But there will also be new strengths which will take time to discover."
Vidia frowned. She doubted it.
"So tell me: how have you been these last few weeks?" He was earnest as they walked through the Winter Woods. Black and white trees stretched high up with settled snow on each branch. A few frost fairies were up there playing, but their laughter did nothing to lighten the mood. Milori's owl was following them, but flying high up in the tree branches to allow the two a private talk.
Vidia finally answered. Since no one else was around, she thought it safe to finally get some things off her chest. "Everyone is trying to help, I guess." She told Milori about Tinkerbell's staircase, Bobble's elevator and Fawn's nursing skills. "…and they've been bringing me meals, too. But I just want to stay at home. No one will stop staring! Whenever I try to head out, everyone stares."
"It will be like that for a while. My own experience was full of gapes and odd looks of pity at first. That's when I began wearing this." He flicked his feather cloak. "Now, even without it, no one notices my missing wing. Just give it some time. Others will learn not to notice."
"Wings were not a part of your talent, though."
"No. But you can still create wind, can you not?"
"Yes…"
"Then I encourage you to practice. Your talent is not gone."
They saw a frozen pond come into view, where winter fairies were having a skating party, a favorite pastime in this part of Pixie Hollow. A few warm-season fairies were there as well, with frosted wings for protection against the cold. Vidia spied Rosetta, Silvermist, Tink and Periwinkle among the group. They glided across the ice without a care.
Tired from walking, she climbed onto a snow-dusted rock and sat down. The skating pond was still a ways off. No one on the pond had spotted her or the Lord of Winter, which was what she preferred at the moment. Milori's words were giving her much to think about.
"The walking takes some getting used to," Milori sat on the adjacent rock. "But you'll find yourself becoming stronger every day. Have you never noticed how fairies tend to fly more than they walk?"
Vidia perked her head up, listening.
"Think of it as a strength to build on. As for getting around Pixie Hollow, walking or climbing will do the job. For those longer trips, birds are the best choices…take small steps," he advised upon Vidia's nervous look at the mention of 'birds.' "Start with something small and work your way up. It would be terrible for your fear to grow."
"A small bird? I hate riding birds, even before my wings were ripped off! I didn't enjoy them then, and certainly am not about to trust them now. How am I supposed to face them after what that hawk did to me?"
Milori thought for a time. "Your friend Fawn may help. You said she was an animal fairy."
"Maybe…she's been a big help so far, I guess."
"Then ask her. It could be the first step on the road to healing."
It was reassuring, having someone to confess all these problems to. Vidia received words of encouragement and felt better knowing someone else knew what she was going through. She ended up talking long with Milori.
No one in the skating party was flying. It was the perfect social gathering where there was no need to worry about looking out of place. She hopped back down into the snow. "Um…Thank you, sir, for the talk." she said as respectfully as she could before walking off.
Milori nodded. Clarion had warned Vidia was not one for politeness and he watched her scurry off down to the pond. He said to himself. "Well Clarion, I hope I am helping in some way. She seems like a tough fairy. I'm sure she'll come through."
"Vidia! You're out of your tree!" Periwinkle yelled as the wingless fairy came onto the ice. "Oh, I have so many questions! How have you been coping?"
A large group hug from her gang of friends wasn't what Vidia was prepared for. Their arms squeezed the breath out of her like a bear trap. They couldn't help it, though; they were all so glad to see her out and about, finally. She shook them off with great difficulty.
The rest of the day was spent in the Winter Woods. Snowball fights and sledding kept her mind off her troubles for a least a while. Milori's words had given her a few ideas, but she would need Fawn's help with one. Without an animal fairy, who knew if it would even work? His words resounded in her head; she had to tackle her new fear of birds, lest it was allowed to grow.
Late that afternoon, at the top of the hill, she paused. Everyone else was getting ready for another run down on the sleds. From this vantage point, the edge of the border was visible. The warm seasons could barely be made out, with their green leaves and golden sunshine of spring. The view kept reminding Vidia of what she planned to do next.
A glimmer of hope was beginning to grow. Just a tiny glimmer—only a spark, really—but it was there all the same.
It was so nice to write a little romantic scene between Clarion and Milori. I love those two and like them because they are very noble, dignified and serious characters. Something about their old-fashioned way of interacting is just so irresistible! Anyway, hope you enjoyed this part! :)