Clarion awoke slowly and calmly as her eyes fluttered open. Gradually things began to come into focus and to Clarion's surprise she wasn't laying in her own chambers. She went to sit up when two hands grabbed her waist and tenderly pulled her back down. Coolness flooded through her body as arms wrapped around her. Two rough lips pressed along her shoulder and it made her shudder. Eventually they made their way to her neck and a deep voice whispered in her ear, "Good morning, sweetheart."
"Morning." Clarion turned to face the sparrowman lying beside her, Milori. She played the memories of the previous night's party in her mind. "Last night was, fun."
"Oh was it now?" He chuckled as he wrapped his arms more firmly around her, allowing her to curl up into his chest.
"What time is it?"
"Breakfast, I beleive, with the indication of my growling stomach," he replied.
She smiled, "Alright, but let's get dressed first."
Afterwards, the two were strolling down the hallway with their arms intertwind and Clarion's head was resting on his shoulder. They entered the dining hall to see the table arranged with piles of food. The Keeper sat towards the end of the table reading over some sort the of list, while the Minister of Winter sat across from him signing stacks of papers.
"Oh look! I don't think we've ever met one of Lord Milori's companions the morning after," Snow remarked.
"Oh quiet you, you probably had your fair share of entertainment last night as well. Where is the Minister anyway?" Milori replied.
"He left a half an hour ago, unlike you, some of us actually have a job to do that doesn't involve constant partying."
"Meh, it's only a little fun."
The minister let out a sigh and went back to work.
"Morning, Keeper," Milori announced.
"Yes, uh, good morning." The stout sparrowman barely acknowledged him as he tried to continue reading.
Milori and Clarion sat down. "You can have anything you want," Milori stated.
After breakfast Milori and Clarion were loaded into a carriage that would take them to Pixie Hollow. Today was the day he was supposed to meet her parents, the King and Queen. Unbeknownst to her was that he already knew her parents, and quiet well. Milori wondered if they would recognize him. His hair was definitely longer and his eyes were definitely paler, and they probably didn't expect him to be this young looking.
Although, another thought quickly took over his mind at the mentioning of her parents, Siron. He wondered how she had aged over the years. Of all things he expected her glossy golden hair to be perfection and her sapphire eyes to shine just like Clarion's. Now he was excited to see her.
"Milori," Clarion spoke.
He blinked and looked over to her, "Yes."
"You're awfully quiet, are you feeling alright?"
She went to touch his forehead, but instead he took it in his own and brought it to his lips. "I can assure you I'm fine." Milori didn't want her to touch him in fear of knowing how flushed he was, or how elevated his heartbeat had become. He felt hot.
The trip wasn't very long, so ten minutes later they were getting out of the carriage and walking along the pathway, up to the Pixie Dust Tree. Many fairies greeted them. Well, they greeted and bowed to Clarion, but they stared uncomfortably at Milori. Most of them had never seen a winter fairy before and he could tell that they didn't feel exactly safe around him.
Ahead of them was a fairy rounding the corner. She was talking with another fairy, but when she looked up and saw Milori she froze. "Milori!"
A warm smile came across his face and he bowed to her, "Lali."
She burst into tears as she approached him, "Is it really you?"
He knelt down so he was at eye level. She placed a hand on his cheek. "Yes, it's me." Milori hugged the fairy close.
"I haven't seen you in so many years! You look so handsome, not that you didn't becomes, it's just-"
He chuckled.
"And you let your hair grow out!" She hugged him tighter.
"Yes... You should have visited, the Keeper and I would have treated you like a queen."
"I didn't even know you were still alive after you disappeared, Siron invited most of us to stay here with her so we could piece our lives back together."
"Disappeared!" Clarion's interrupted, "What do you mean disappeared."
"Clarion!" a voice called from down the hallway, her parents were approaching.
"It okay, darling. Don't worry, I'll explain later," Milori whispered in Clarion's ear.
Lali listened to his choice of words and her eyes widened as she scurried away.
The King and Queen came forward arm in arm, at the sight of their daughter they smiled. Siron went ahead to hug Clarion, "Did you have fun last night? If you're anything like I was at those winter balls, you were screaming laughing."
Milori thought to himself, "Oh she screamed alright." He smirked.
Teribus stared at him with both anger and confusion. Milori could tell he was debating on whether he knew him or not. He did look different after all. In fact they both looked different. Teribus now had thick grey hair and a stubbly beard. His eyes shined with love, for his wife, his daughter, his kingdom. All the things that were once in Milori's grasp.
Siron was suddenly at Teribus' side, "Come on, let's go to lunch-" she had been staring directly at Milori with joy, but suddenly there was pain in her eyes.
"Mum, are you alright?" Clarion asked.
"Darling what's wrong." Teribus shook her when he got no reply.
She let out a groan and Milori dropped to his knees to catch her as she collapsed. She whispered his name before growing limp in his arms. Clarion was screaming ad Teribus was shouting as he tore his wife from the sparrowman's arms. Shock overcame Milori instantly as he ran after him, but things seemed as if they were moving ten times faster and he couldn't keep up. The only thing he could register as real was Clarion's arms wrapping around his body.
Okay so in the next chapter Milori is going to do something really freaking stupid and I cant wait to write it.
I posted a trailer for this story on my Youtube account Bookworm Studios.