Author's Note: Alright, just to warn you, I tried to keep out too much violence because the real Milori wouldn't go beating Bernard to a pulp in a parking lot (like we would like him to). Some of you may not be satisfied with this chapter, but it's a Disney movie, not an action flick. :)
Clarion went to the edge of spring where Bernard was being held in a large cave with a cell that was patrolled by eight guards-three winter fairies and five of her guards.
Milori signaled for her to stay back near the entrance. He proceeded forward. "Has he talked?" he asked Thomas.
"Not about anything worthwhile."
"Are you going to tell us what's going on?" Milori demanded of Bernard, his voice hard.
Bernard looked at Clarion and gave a slimy smile.
"Open the cell," Milori demanded instantly.
Bernard's eyes ran up Clarion, and she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling naked.
The door opened and Milori shot inside and slammed Bernard up against the bars so hard that his head hitting made a dinging noise in the bars.
Clarion startled, and the guards all looked away.
"You don't look at her," Milori snarled, holding Bernard by the lapels of his guard uniform and eyes burning through him. "Who kidnapped her?" he breathed through clenched teeth.
"I didn't see him."
Milori roughly swung Bernard around to the other wall of the cell and held him up on his toes, Milori's muscles bulging. "Let me make myself clear," Milori hissed. "I ask; you tell the truth. Who took her?"
Bernard's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't tell a freak like you."
Clarion's eyes popped out in shock.
"Take her out," Milori ordered Thomas.
Thomas escorted her out, but she peeked around the corner, to Thomas's chagrin.
"Do it," Milori hissed as he and Bernard glared at each other, each on opposite sides of the cell.
"Not man enough to fight for her?" Bernard snickered.
"I don't hit subordinates first."
That angered Bernard, who rushed at him.
Milori used Bernard's weight to swing him into the bars.
She gave Milori credit-he only did to Bernard what was attempted on himself.
Bernard pushed himself up off the ground, his eye swelling and nose leaking sugar. Dragging a sleeve across his split lip, he spat, "I should have taken her in the cave."
Milori suddenly glowed a fiery red. He shot forward, slammed a fist under Bernard's jaw and then flung him across the cage. Hauling him up by the collar, his muscles coiled under his shirt. "If she doesn't exile you, you'll wish you had been picked apart by a hawk before I finish with you," he breathed in his face. "Who kidnapped her?! Who started the fire?!" he roared.
Bernard spat sugar in Milori's face.
She gasped softly and covered her mouth.
Milori whipped out a knife and held it to Bernard's throat. "Answer me," he growled dangerously. "Unlike you, I believe Her Majesty will grant me pardon for murdering the likes of you."
Bernard swallowed hard, and the blade bit his throat minutely. The slightest bit of fear appeared in Bernard's eyes.
She stepped in and walked over to the cell. Milori didn't flinch, but she knew he was aware of her presence. "Who set the fire?" she demanded in her most commanding tone.
Bernard's eyes flicked to the side to her.
Milori's free hand slapped Bernard. Hard. "Eyes off her," he snarled.
It happened so fast, that she wasn't certain she hadn't imagined it.
"I don't know!"
"Oh, I think you do," Milori growled. He dropped the knife to between Bernard's legs.
"I did! I did it!" he squealed.
"Why?" she questioned.
"Because an heir shouldn't be a half breed!" he panicked, standing on his toes to get away from the knife.
"Who else is involved?"
"No one!"
"Who dragged you down the hall?!" she barked.
Milori raised the knife an inch.
"No one! I crawled forward on my elbows to look like I was being dragged!"
She glanced at Milori, who glanced at her in the same moment. He gave a slight nod, believing Bernard.
"So you're plan was to father the next heir?" Milori snarled.
Bernard nodded frantically.
Milori growled in disgust and glanced at Clarion to make sure she was done. Then he drew back the knife and plunged it forward.
Clarion could see it easily cleared between Bernard's legs, but Bernard screamed and then collapsed into a dead faint.
Milori dropped him, sheathed his knife and stepped out of the cell. He gave a slight bow. "Well done, my lady." He offered his arm.
She took it with a slight smile. "Well done as well. I daresay you frightened even me a few times."
He laid his hand over hers on his arm. "You, I only defend, sweetheart," he vowed.
"And such a good job you do," she smiled and kissed his cheek. "Now, you are getting warm and must get back to winter."
She sat back on the log in autumn, with her feet dangling over, and Milori sat in winter. She pondered how their lives had changed in just the past couple seasons.
"Milori?"
"Hm?"
"What if he's not the right one?"
He turned his head and looked at her. "He admitted to everything, and you witnessed his acts of treason against each of us."
"At one point Sled admitted to things and I had evidence against you."
"Sweetheart, if nothing else, he tried to kill me and sat back watching you die."
She thought she heard him mutter, "The sick bastard," but wasn't sure being she practically never heard him curse.
"But in the end, you have to make a decision you can live with," he finished.
She nibbled her lip. "I promised exile for the two dead fairies. I suppose adding two counts of treason, kidnapping and poisoning have to add up to more than that," she sighed.
He set a hand over hers in autumn. "You do what you feel is sufficient, Clarion. It doesn't matter what others expect because they don't have to carry it out."
"I know, but I'm so lost. There has never been such a horrid fairy before. What would you do?"
His eyebrows raised and he looked out over the stream. "I'll be more than happy to show you," he smiled.
"Without a beating or anything," she scolded.
He sighed in disappointment. "I'm not entirely sure. What do you want to do?"
"Exile," she shrugged. "I think that in itself is harsh enough."
He nodded and patted her hand. "It is why you are a good queen," he said simply.
The awe and respect in his voice amazed her-she always looked to him for guidance, but he apparently looked to her.