Author's Note: Thanks for the great feedback! I'll keep going with the story :)
It had barely been two weeks of bedrest, and she was going stir crazy. She and Milori exchanged letters several times a week, but she still missed him. His last letter was from three days ago, explaining there was a blizzard coming and flight to the border would be impossible for a bit. She worried, despite the fact that he had assured her blizzards happened several times a year and they knew how to survive them.
Fairy Mary visited her at the end of each day and was the bearer of the letters. Her bubbly personality kept Clarion from getting depressed. The mood in the room tonight, however, was a bit solemn.
"Mary, is everything alright?" Clarion asked when Mary failed miserably at laughing at a joke.
With a sigh and eyes downcast, she replied, "I think maybe the letters should stop."
"Why?" Clarion asked in confusion. Not her precious letters-they were her only connection to Milori right now.
"He said in winter they write on ice. He asked me to bring ink and paper. He sits on the edge of winter and leans over into spring to keep the ink from freezing instantly. It's difficult for him to write." She looked up at Clarion, whose brow was furrowed. "At first I didn't think anything of it when I came for the letters and noticed his hands were slightly pink. But the last time I found him writing it with a bowl of ice beside him. Naturally I questioned it. His hands were pinker and he had trouble holding the quill. He refused to say anything until I pushed. Then he admitted that the warm paper and quill in the spring sun make his hands go numb." She paused.
"What is it? Is he alright?"
"Clarion, I touched his hand. It was warm. He had sunburn, Clarion. He begged me to not tell you because he wants to send you letters, but I thought you should know. His skin can't tolerate being in the heat for so long every day. I fear what will happen if he continues."
"Thank you for telling me." She looked at her friend, who seemed relieved to have the issue off her chest.
"It can't be done, can it?"
"What?"
"He and I. We're from different worlds."
Mary released a thoughtful sigh. "I don't know."
"Mary, fetch me writing materials, would you?" Clarion wrote a quick letter.
My Milori,
I hope the blizzard was uneventful. This letter will be short and my final one. Do not be upset with Mary for she was only looking to help. She told me how difficult it is for you to write the letters. As much as I love them, I will not see you hurt.
My ministers will transcribe any messages from the council meetings that you need.
Take care and I miss you.
Love,
Clarion
The ministers came daily to discuss what was happening and give updates on the Council. But not once did they transcribe a message from Milori-not even a request for a basket.
It was to be another week before she would be allowed to go for short walks.
Her first day up, she was dizzy and weak from being in bed for so long. By her third day, she was able to walk to the edge of summer. On the fourth day, she headed for the border. Two guards followed, convinced that one was not sufficient for their stubborn queen.
She stopped on the stone and looked out into winter. The snowfall was heavy but likely not enough to keep a winter fairy inside. She sighed in disappointment, somehow hoping he would magically be there. But he was a lord and had duties to attend to. He didn't have the luxury of convalescing like she did to give her time in which to grow bored. With a final glance back, she returned home.
It was at the next council meeting two days later when she saw him.
His eyes were transfixed on her as soon as she came into sight near the border. He walked to the border and waited.
She smiled, expecting a light kiss or a hug.
Instead, he reached into spring and bowed over her hand with a smile. "I'm happy to see you on your feet again, my lady. Shall we begin?" Then he let go of her hand and gestured for her to take her seat at the end of the table, not a middle one so he could sit beside her.
Clarion knew she was staring at him with wide, hurt eyes, but she couldn't make her feet move.
"Is everything alright?" he frowned.
She wanted to cry that everything was not alright! She had not heard a peep from him for two weeks, and now he was civil toward her but nothing more. What had happened? Was he angry with her? Did he decide it was too difficult being with a warm fairy? Suddenly, her heart stopped. Had he found a winter fairy instead? Then her head took over. A queen did not let emotions rule. And this was a council meeting.
Holding her head high, she spun on her heel and went to her seat. She gave Bernard a warning look when he moved to help her sit with her wings that were still bound. Chairs that had backs now proved painful for her to sit in being they made her wings bend. Why had she not thought about this beforehand? She glanced at Mary, who was looking unsure what to do.
Everyone was waiting for her to be seated.
She felt the embarrassment rising in her cheeks and glanced at Milori on the other end of the table looking confused what was wrong.
"Here, my queen," Bernard said quietly and stepped forward. He pulled the chair away and swiped at it with his sword. The back cut off cleanly and he set it back down for her.
"Thank you," she whispered with red cheeks.
He gave a nod and offered his hand to help her sit.
She took a deep breath through the pain as she sat. Everyone sat and was silent. Clearly they thought she was out of bed too soon. Her eyes rose to Milori pointedly for him to resume wherever discussions had ceased last time.
His brow was furrowed as his eyes narrowed in on her. "My lady, perhaps we should postpone the meeting-"
"Discussions left off with the fall animal crossing, did they not?" she interrupted sharply.
He sighed with a nod.
She turned to the Minister of Autumn. "How many animals are to cross?"
The discussion started rolling, and she inwardly sighed with relief at having the attention off of her.
Her nails were digging tiny grooves into the table two hours later. Her back was throbbing, and although Milori had suggested twice that they adjourn early, she refused to let anyone think she needed coddling or couldn't perform her duties.
As soon as the meeting was over, Milori shot over to her and kept a hand on her shoulder to keep her in her seat. Once everyone was gone, he let go and leaned a hand down on the table to hiss at her, "Why are you out bed?"
She pushed herself up, the coolness from him a relief from the how the pain was making her body warm. "I was released from bedrest a week ago, not that it matters to you." She turned to leave.
He stepped in front of her. "What does that mean?! No one told me you were off bedrest!"
"Would it have killed you to ask someone?!"
He blinked.
She pushed him backwards into winter. "Stay there." Then she started marching away.
"NO!"
She spun around.
His face was angry and full of pain as he pointed at the ground. "I deserve a breakup to my face, not in a stupid letter! I wrote to you almost every day because I missed you but couldn't be there. And I get a letter telling me to go away!"
"I never said to go away," she said softly in surprise and slowly walked back over.
"You told me to stop writing and to go through your ministers. What could I send through your ministers besides a basket request, for the love of Neverland! I have been going crazy wondering how you're faring, but no one comes to the border for me to ask! I asked at councils, but your Minister of Autumn told me they were seeing to your care. Mary was my only ally, and she stayed with you during the meetings!" he snapped, his nerves unraveling. "Your ministers clearly don't think I'm good enough for you, and by the Heavens they enjoyed watching me suffer," he growled, his eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Do not tell me I don't care."
She swallowed hard. "Milori, I didn't know."
He stepped into spring and carefully pulled her into his arms. "I love you."
"That's why you were so distant during the meeting?"
He nodded. "Now, I don't care what the healers said, you're not well enough to be out and about yet."
Resting her cheek on his chest, she whispered, "No. It's too hard being away from you."
A sigh escaped him. "What if every other evening we meet here for a bit?"
She looked up at him with a smile and nodded.
He gave her a gentle kiss. "I'll see you the night after tomorrow."
"No, you said-"
A smile escaped him. "Alright. We won't count today. I'll meet you tomorrow night right after dinner. And you must go home at sunset."