She had no idea what had happened. Pushing herself up to a sit, she held her head and looked around. She was in some kind of cave, with the only light coming from a hole above that faced the sky. The stars were out. How had she gotten here? How long had she been here? Quickly looking over her shoulder, she saw her wings only faintly glowing-she had less than a week at best.

Pushing herself to her feet, she swayed. She was terribly weak and her stomach hurt from hunger. It was chilly in the cave, and she rubbed her bare arms. The cold would drain her dust faster. She reached for her whistle to find it gone. "Help!" She didn't dare fly up to the small hole and risk using up her dust.

It was nearly sunset, and she had gone hoarse from calling for help all day. The cave was only large enough for her to take a few steps to each side, and none of the walls revealed a secret exit. She had searched for her whistle, but it was nowhere to be found. She was freezing being in the damp cave all day-it must be an underground one. Her light was fading fast, and she could no longer even stand.

"Queen Clarion!"

Her head snapped up.

"Queen!" It was Bernard.

"Bernard!" she tried to scream, her voice scratchy and unable to carry far.

"Clarion?"

He had heard her. Her heart beat faster with hope, and she cupped her hands around her mouth. "Bernard! I'm in a cave! I think underground!"

His startled face came into view through the hole. "Clarion! Where's the door?! Your light is fading!"

"I can't find a door," she wept, so relieved to have help that she started crying.

"Shhh, it's alright. I'll get you out." He tried to dig the hole larger, but it was stone underneath. "Hold on."

"Get help. Bernard, I don't have much dust left."

"There's no time. And if he comes back, he might move you again. You'll be out of dust by morning." He pulled out his sword and started thrusting it into the ground to find a weak spot. "Stay against the wall so nothing falls on you!"

She crawled over to the wall and pulled up her legs to protect herself from the pebbles that were starting to fall.

Suddenly, Bernard came crashing down.

She hurried over. "Are you alright?"

He sat up and rubbed his head. "I think so."

Clarion looked up to see only the small hole. "What...?"

"It must be a trap door." He flew up and reached out the hole to try to find the release. "I can't...I don't know what I hit." After a few more minutes without success, he flew down and knelt beside her. "You're terribly ill." He felt her warm brow. Then he pulled off his uniform cape and wrapped it around her. "We have to figure out how to conserve your dust. Why are you losing it?"

"I don't know," she said as Bernard pulled her into his lap and rubbed her arms to warm her.

She huddled into his heat. "Where are we?"

"Under ground. You've been gone for three days. Someone must have hit me over the head when I was trying to get your door open. I woke up in the hall hours later. I think someone posioned several of the guards so no one would even know it was only you and I there. Everyone seems fine now, and we've had search parties out everywhere. We're on the far side of autumn." He kissed her hair. "Someone will find us. Can you take some of my dust?"

She shook her head. "Only if talents are stripped out of you. Even then, I can't do it when I'm this weak." She laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry I thought you were the traitor, Bernard."

"Me?" he asked in surprise.

She nodded as her eyes started to drift shut. "You've been a good guard."

"I hope I'm more than that," he whispered softly as she drifted off to sleep. "Rest, sweetheart."

Her eyes opened a bit later, the moonlight and Bernard's glow lighting the cave. She was wrapped in his cape on the floor while he paced. "Bernard?"

He turned and hurried over. "Clarion, you're so terribly weak. I called and called for help, but I don't think sound carries well in these hills-I only heard you when I was practically over the hole." His hands were shaking as he took hers. "Sweetheart, your light is fading faster than I thought it would." His eyes searched hers sadly. "Whatever is happening to you, you won't last until morning. I...I've been thinking. Fairies who mate can share some dust when the other is injured, yes?"

She gave a weak nod.

"Love, we're running out of time. If we mate, you can take some of my dust."

"What?" she breathed. "But we have to stay together for life," she panicked. She couldn't. Her heart belonged to Milori. He would be looking for her-he would find her in time.

"Clarion?"

"Bernard, I have to tell you something. I love Milori-"

He brought her hands to his lips. "I know, sweetheart, but he's gone. I won't let you die."

"He's not gone."

Bernard blinked. "What do you mean?"

She told him everything.

He sat back in shock. After a few minutes, his eyes turned to her. "But what if he doesn't find us? You're willing to die and leave Pixie Hollow without a queen because he is not your mate?"

"Bernard-"

"I'm not trying to be cruel, Clarion. It's reality that you will not be alive by morning," he said gently. "I know you don't love me. I've known that the entire time, Clarion. But I have protected you for years, and I won't let you fade." He brushed a kiss over her brow. "I will try my entire life to make you happy. Sweetheart, I can give you things that a winter fairy can't. I can give you a home that you deserve and hold you all night. Please, Clarion," he begged, his eyes so desperate. "I love you. I will give you all of my dust to see you live. We are out of options, and you are fading with each minute. Clarion, will you be my mate?"