Author's Note: This chapter ran a little long to build Clarion's and Milori's relationship.

Clarion stood on the balcony after making the announcement that Bernard was the traitor and was to be immediately exiled. The crowd was gone, and the sun was starting to set.

"Let's go inside, sweetheart," Milori said from behind her.

"I want to be here when they return so I can be done with it," she said quietly.

He walked up to her and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry, love. I know you trusted him."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm scared there are more."

"And you will be for awhile. It'll take time," he promised. "But I don't think there are others."

It was minutes before Sled and Thomas returned with the other soldiers, confirming it was done.

Milori walked through the halls with her to her chamber. "Will you be alright tonight?" he asked in concern when she was silent on the way.

"Yes. I just wish you could stay."

"I-"

"No, it's not good for you to be outside of winter for so long, and gossip would start if you stayed again." She stopped walking and her face crumpled.

"What is it?" he asked in concern and stroked her cheek.

"It's so selfish, but I don't want you to get your talents back." She wrapped her arms around him, and he held her close to weep on his chest. "I hate it that everyone else can always be together."

"Love," he said slowly. "I don't need my talents to survive."

She shook her head. "It's not right to ask you to give that up. I just wish things were different."

He kissed her head. "But what if I chose to give them up?"

"No because how will you be the Lord of Winter then? In a couple hundred years you'll regret it, and by then it'll be too late to restore them," she sniffled. "I'm just tired and talking nonsense." She felt him watch her with a heavy heart as they approached her chamber.

"Clarion, I would do anything for you," he said gently and took her hands in his. His eyes searched hers. "I love you, and not having talents wouldn't be a sacrifice."

"But we can be together even if you have talents you said."

"Yes, but it will be difficult."

"But what if you get hurt?"

"I go to a healer instead of a lake," he smiled gently. "You're tired. We can talk about it in the morning. We have a year until my talents can't be restored."

She suddenly burst into stronger tears.

"Sweetheart?" He pulled her closer.

"What if when the baby is being born you can't tolerate being over here that long, or when he smiles for the first time you miss it-"

"Whoa, whoa, sweetheart," he said gently and bent down to meet her eyes. "You are exhausted tonight. We can talk about it tomorrow. Nothing is happening tonight." He dried her tears.

"And you're warmer now, so I don't get cold when you hold me," she blubbered.

He scooped her up and carried her to bed. Once she was tucked in, still sniffling, he said, "I'll stay until you fall asleep, love. Don't cry. I promise it'll be alright." He kissed her brow and lay down beside her.

She wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, so overtired it didn't take long to get sleepy. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you," he said softly. She didn't see him swallow hard and stare up at the ceiling, a tear escaping from the corner of his eye.

She woke up to find the bed empty, but the sun was shining and her spirits were higher. She rolled over to lie her face on the pillow that still smelled like evergreen. Taking a deep breath, she bounced out of bed and was ready to start planning her life with Milori with all of their troubles behind them. But first, she had to get her daily duties out of the way.

"Mary!" Clarion waved when she spotted her building a cart in spring.

Mary looked up in surprise and waved, never having heard Clarion shout before.

She flew over with Thomas, her new captain. "Mary, there are games again tonight, yes?"

"...Yes."

"Save seats for Milori and I with you and Gary?" she beamed.

Mary blinked. "...Alright. Are you well?"

Clarion picked a forget-me-not next to her and smiled. "Of course. See you tonight!" She flew over to autumn to finish up her duties there quick.

It was lunchtime when she finished. Not having any idea if Milori was still busy or not, she packed a picnic basket and threw on her cape. Tucking the forget-me-not behind her ear, she headed into winter.

As she expected, Mountain flew down and met her at their tree. "Hello. I brought you something," Clarion laughed and pulled out a large berry from her basket.

"Who! Who!" Mountain cooed in excitement. He snatched it out of her hand, gobbling it up. "Who?"

"No, that's all I can carry!" she smiled. "Now, let's go find Milori." Climbing up on Mountain's back, they took off.

Milori was looking over baskets of snowflakes with Sled and some other fairies on a small frozen pond when she landed Mountain in the snow. Sled looked over and smiled before turning his attention back to Milori.

"You're sure this isn't too heavy? They'll be flying to the mainland," Milori asked Sled.

"The basket is light, and we think they'll have an easier time not carrying loads on their backs but with their feet."

Milori nodded. "Practice the distance in winter. I don't want the owls tiring over the ocean and drowning."

"Yes, Lord Milori."

"Anything else?"

"No. But I think you have a visitor." Sled nodded toward Clarion.

Milori turned and looked surprised to see her. He smiled, bid his goodbyes and then flew over. "Is everything alright?"

She nodded and threw her arms around him.

He chuckled in surprise and hugged her. "I take it you're feeling better?"

"I think it was just too much stress yesterday."

He kissed her hair and then cocked his head. "Do I smell food?"

She laughed and let go to climb up Mountain to fetch the basket.

"I'll get it," Milori said and flew up before handing the basket to her.

"Do you have time for lunch?"

"I always have time for food," he said as he peeked inside. "Sweet Neverland, what is that?" he asked, practically drooling.

"Fried mushrooms, carrot cake, berries-"

"You can eat mushrooms?" he asked in surprise.

She pulled one out to hand it to him.

He studied it with skepticism. "Aren't these a fungus?"

"It won't hurt you," she laughed.

He took a nibble. The entire thing was gone two seconds later. "Mmm..."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him along. "Where should we eat?"

"Definitely not in winter where those mushrooms will get cold!" He suddenly scooped her up and started flying to spring.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I see the way to your heart is through your stomach. So glad you like my cooking."

"Your cooking? Not a cook's?"

"Not today."

"Ohhh, I have to hurry and mate you before dinner!" he teased.

She blushed. "Speaking of that..."

He set her down in their spot in the grass of spring and helped her spread out a blanket.

"I was a little hysterical last night, and I don't want you giving up your talents. Besides the talents and you being a lord, you're not able to regenerate your own dust. What if something happens to me and I can't give it to you?"

They sat and he looked her in the eye. "I've thought about it a lot, Clarion. It's not that hard doing things without talents." He reached across the blanket and held her hand. "At least let me try for a few months. Giving all of this up with you would be so hard. If we decide after a bit that I need my talents, then I won't fight you."

She sighed, her eyes searching him in concern. "Milori, I can't let you give all of that up for me."

He moved closer to her. "I'm not doing it for you or for me but for us. Please, just let me try it for a bit."

She heaved a deep sigh. "For a bit."

He kissed her cheek. "It will be alright, love. You'll see. Now, did you bring grapes?"

"Grapes?"

He cocked an eyebrow. "You make a picnic for me to seduce you and didn't bring grapes to feed you?"

A laugh burst out of her. "I didn't bring a picnic for my seduction."

He lay down and folded his hands behind his head in her lap and closed his eyes. "Alright, alright. Seduce me if you must," he feigned a sigh. "But I have to get back soon to check that some new frost fairies are learning their talents sufficiently."

She leaned down and kissed him.

When she was laid down or how he got on top of her, she wasn't sure, but minutes later they were caught up in each other. She panted heavily, cupping his jaw in one hand and running her hand over his rippling back muscles while he was kissing her deeply and skimming a hand up her outer thigh.

"Clarion," he panted, pulling up from her for just a moment.

She let out a soft moan in reply and tried to pull him back down for a kiss.

"A month. Give me a month to start our house."

She looked up at him in surprise. "Truly?"

He nodded. "I wish I could ask you sooner, but we need to figure out how to build a home on the border. The tinkers think something modest can be done in a couple months. I'll build you something better afterwards."

She stroked his cheek. "A cabin," she said softly.

"A cabin? Are you sure? It can be a castle or-"

She shook her head. "A cabin large enough for children."

He smiled. "Then a cabin it is." And then he kissed her again.

They ended up needing to eat on the way back to winter-she fed him every other bite as he carried her. He had her laughing and blushing the entire way. Who knew the Lord of Winter could be such a flirt?