(Each chapter has a designated song and I will let you know when each should be played with the written material.)
Ch 1 Walking on Sunshine
"No, no! That's not where it goes. Put it over there. Over there!"
Dawn shook her head with a smirk. There Marianne went again. The whole Fairy palace was buzzing with activity and her older sister was at the center of all of it, preparing for the retinue that was coming in a matter of hours. Of course, this wasn't surprising to the young fairy princess. Her sister, who had always taken-on her duties with full energy, was doubly motivated now since it also meant her precious Bog King would also be coming.
The retinue in question was coming from the Dark Forest for the annual Summer-time summit. Traditionally, it had just been a brief meeting between the Bog King and their Father at the border however, with everything that had happened recently, their father had extended the hand of friendship towards the subjects of the Dark Forest and offered hospitality to their King and his household. So, it was no wonder the Fairy Kingdom's future Queen was whirling about the courtyard like a whirlwind, micro-managing everyone to death. However, that had to stop. I mean, the canopies could only be moved so many times.
Dawn knew there was barely enough time to get her easily distracted sister ready before their guests arrived. And, while she knew there was no way she'd get Marianne into the Royal gowns she used to wear before the whole Roland fiasco, she wasn't about to let Marianne be seen by her latest fella looking like she just stepped off of the training bridge.
"Secure those," Marianne commanded right as Dawn swooped down behind her. "We don't want them to fall again. And, PLEASE put one over the mud-pit, otherwise the sun will just dry it all up. Remember shade, shade, shade!"
"I'm sure they know what they're doing," Dawn reasoned as she twirled her sister towards the large stone palace doors. "Now, come on. Let's get you changed before you see your Boggy Woggy again."
"You know he hates that name," Marianne scolded although the slight reddening at the end of her ears was all the confirmation Dawn needed. With all the subtlety of an avalanche, she dragged her sister through the palace's stone halls till she finally slammed Marianne's room door shut.
"Sprites," Dawn called, the three colorful hand-sprites flitting about the air. "Dress her."
"Nothing too fancy, now," Marianne quickly added as they tugged and scrubbed and combed one thing after another on her.
"Oh, magic forbid," Dawn teased. "But, I'm sure you want to look good for your Boggy. It's been, what? A month?"
"Two," Marianne grudgingly admitted as she let the sprites slip a clean tunic over her head.
Dawn smiled with sympathy. Since the castle of the Bog King was destroyed, the Fairy Kingdom had been giving as much aid to them finding a new home as they could. However, that meant Marianne and Bog had to be away from each-other for long periods of time. They both had duties to fulfill, afterall. It made Dawn all the more glad she and her Sunny Honey were so close. He'd even managed a job as a Royal Aid to her Father, putting him at the Palace all the time. Dawn was the happiest she'd ever been but, she could also see how much Marianne missed Boggy.
"Well, you'll see him soon and wait till he gets a look at this," she replied with a bright smile as she lifted a hand-mirror to show Marianne's clean face and neat tunic.
It was longer this time, the material reaching just below her knees, since she was representing the full-authority as the Heir to the Fairy Throne, but the slits on the sides made it just as easy for her to maneuver in, as well as keep her trusted sword strapped to her side. Dawn knew it would take the jaws of life to separate her sister from that blade so she didn't even bother trying.
"What do you think?" Dawn asked her dazed sister. "You'll leave him speechless."
Marianne snapped from her revelry and nervously scratched the back of her head. "You think so?"
Dawn rolled her eyes as the sprites quickly corrected the hair Marianne mussed-up. "You could be covered in swamp mud and he'd find you beautiful," she teased before tapping her finger to her chin. "Actually, is that even a thing for them? I mean, I know they have different beauty standards but still even that-"
"It's amazing, Dawn," Marianne interrupted with a gentle smile that told Dawn she was about to start rambling. "Thank you."
"No problem," she answered with a gleeful spin. "I can't wait for the celebrations and parties. It's going to be so much fun!"
"Yeah," Marianne squeaked, "fun."
"I mean, I know you will happy just to see him," Dawn continued as she twirled about the room, practicing for her and Sunny's first dance for the celebrations, "especially since you've only been able to write him message after message-"
"Great," Marianne quickly the tell-tale signs of embarrassment on her face.
Dawn couldn't help the pleased smirk at brightened his face. Barely a day had gone by where Marianne hadn't sent a message via dragonfly to Bog and Dawn knew there was a 'secret chest' somewhere stuffed full of his own sweet replies that her sister NEVER let her see. That was fine. Dawn had her own love notes and songs from Sunny anyway. But still, it was so funny to watch Marianne get all flustered over it.
"You know, I'm sure Boggy is just as excited to see you as you are to see him," she teased.
"You think so?" Marianne asked before clearing her throat and giving a look of forced boredom. "Well, if he has the time."
Dawn shook her head with a giggle. Sometimes she could just shake Marianne when it came to men. Considering Bog worshipped the air Marianne fluttered in, it confounded Dawn that her sister still seemed so hesitant with him. Well, hopefully this summit would help with that. Afterall, what was the saying? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?
"Oh, I'm sure he does. Nothing could keep dear Boggy from seeing you, Marianne. Nothing."
(Walking on Sunshine- Katrina and the Waves. 1st verse and choruses)
Marianne tried to keep her look of disinterest. Tried. It was a matter of seconds before she was squealing with glee and leaping into the air. Dawn couldn't help but laugh at her sister's obvious joy. This was going to be amazing.
"Well, you've got it bad," Dawn teased. "Look at yourself."
"You first," Marianne countered with a smirk. "Is that a stain?"
"What? Where?" Dawn gasped in terror.
"There," Marianne pointed towards Dawn's dress.
"No!" she shrieked before zipping from the room, her sister's laughter following her down the hall.
"You better hurry!"
SSS
"Higher! Lift them higher! No! Stop! Thang, tell them how to hold a banner!"
"Yes, Sire!"
Bog watched as the little goblin waddled away before a sudden crash caused him to spin about sharply.
"What is this?!" he demanded, coming over to the covered tarp that had crashed down from the wagon-load it was supposed to be strapped to. "What happened?"
The goblin driving the vessel quickly bowed in trembling terror before straightening. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. The rope wasn't as tight as I thought. I'll fix it immediately."
"Well, hurry," Bog ordered, running the tips of his clawed fingers through his leaf-like hair. This wagon carried a tributary gift to the Fairy King and Bog refused to let it be ruined in any way. "We don't have much time before we reach the border. Everything needs to be perfect."
"Oh, perfect smerfect," the tell-tale voice of his mother cut through the chaos running wild around him. "You're getting yourself worked up over nothing."
Bog sighed as he rubbed the throbbing pain starting between his eyes. "This summit isn't 'nothing,' Mother. The Dark Forest needs to show itself as still strong despite what has happened. We need to show our people's true worth to the Fairy King."
Griselda snorted before tapping a thick pale finger against Bog's plated chest. "You mean to show him Your worth, right?"
Bog could just picture the shocked expression on his face because he watched his mother shake her bushy head with an amused chuckle.
"What?" she teased. "I'm your Mother. I didn't just crawl out of the muck yesterday, you know? Well, except maybe for my spa treatment but you know what I mean."
Unfortunately, he did. Bog still remembered the first time he'd accidently stumbled across his mother luxuriating in the plentiful supply of the Dark Forest's swamps and mud pits. He quickly shook his head to banish the memory from him. It was one of the few comforts she could enjoy till they found a more permanent home, afterall. Still….
"I…suppose you have a point," he replied with a sigh, not wanting to argue right then.
Since the loss of their castle, Bog and the other goblins had been scrambling about, desperately searching for a new home to call their own. Unfortunately, nothing had been found to do the job. So, unless they miraculously found a new fortress on their way to the summit, all he had to his name was the camp his subjects were currently packing up. It was….humiliating.
A cool smooth hand lifted his chin, locking Bog's bright eyes with the comforting gaze of his mother's. "You got nothing to worry about," she stated as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "You are the Bog King. You are every bit as great and powerful as that Fairy King is."
Bog wasn't sure if he could completely agree with her but he appreciated the effort anyway.
"And, besides, Marianne loves you," she continued with a relaxed shrug. "And, that's all that matters, right?"
That, Bog did believe. Like morning mist, the tightness between his wings lifted with the familiar warmth in his chest at the memory of the feisty fairy that held his heart.
"That's true," he replied with a smile.
"O'course, it is," Griselda agreed with a nod. "Although, that's not gonna stop her Dad from putting you through the wringer."
And, that relaxed feeling was officially gone. "What?"
"What?" his mother countered, her tone belying how obvious this should be to him. "It's what fathers' do."
"But, you said-"
"That you're every bit as good and powerful as he is, and you are, my dear boy," she replied, patting his pale cheek. "But, every parent wants to look after their children. And, the only thing fiercer than a mother protecting her son, is a father looking after his daughter. And, he has two, mind you. So, be prepared to work for this. It won't be easy."
Bog loved his mother with all his beating heart; he really did. But, there were times she could drive him to bang his head against the wall. She meant well, he knew that, but sometimes the less she said, the better.
"Thank you, Mother," he replied with a sigh.
"Don't mention it," she replied with the easy tone of oblivious pride. "Just calm down and finish getting ready to go. Oh, that reminds me, you brought the 'other' gift, right?"
And, sometimes her constant talking was helpful. With a confident smirk, Bog lifted the edge of his armor to show a small package wrapped in swamp-grass. His mother's understanding smile was the last thing he saw before spreading his wings and flitting up into the air towards the breaking light of the border, never noticing the knowing look his mother gave his retreating back.
"The love bug has bitten and it's not letting go anytime soon."
(second verse and chorus)
Zipping from one end to another, he could see his people were ready to enter the Fairy Kingdom. It was now or never. Gently slipping the small package, Bog studied it in the palm of his large hand as he landed at the shaded edge.
Soon. Soon he'd see his Marianne and all of his frustrations would melt away like snow. Soon, he'd see the fairy that had fought her way into his respect and affections. Soon he would feel her in his own embrace and it would take everything to let her go.
With all the delicacy of a dandelion puff, the Bog King carefully slid the package back into the protective plating of his armor. 'Soon.'
The familiar wet slaps of Thang's webbed feet echoed in his ears.
"Sire, Sire!" he called before clearing his throat. "A message from the rear of the caravan. The Fall is Steady."
Bog could only stare at his helper, wondering how he was supposed to interpret this garbled mess. However, Stuff thankfully took care of this one as she shook her slimy head beside Thang.
"No, it's All is Ready," she bellowed, causing Thang to jump. "On your word, your Majesty."
"Well, why didn't you say so?" Thang argued, causing Stuff to huff as she crossed her meaty arms.
Bog ignored their silly bickering, it was all foolish anyway. They were ready. It was time to make themselves known. Despite the worry that nagged at the back of his mind, Bog couldn't stop the anticipation building in him as he gripped his staff and stepped confidently into the awaiting sunlight. The constant buzz of his wings filled the air, signaling the others to move.
"I'm coming."
SSS
"And, in conclusion, the whippoorwills have finally agreed to limit their songs to till midnight," Lord Ambermint announced, "IF we increase their supply of seeds by half."
"That's robbery!" Lord Elmgrass argued.
"Do YOU want to hear birdsongs at all hours of the night? Just loosen your seed-stores already."
"So, that's it!" Elmgrass accused. "This is a plot to drain my family's stores! I wouldn't be surprised if you had trained those birds yourself, Ambermint!"
Dagda sighed as he listened to the members of the council take one side or the other on the matter with half an ear. The time was drawing closer. He couldn't deny it, anymore. It was time to seriously consider the future.
"I've never anything so ridiculous in all my-"
"I have decided it is time to consider my Abdication," Dagda announced, stunning everyone present into silence. "It's been on my mind for some time. Marianne is ready."
The lords' shifting eyes would be concerning to Dagda if he thought they really made a difference. While he always tried to make an effort to not abuse the power that went with the Crown, it was nice to be King every-now-and-then. Now, which stunned soul would be the brave one in the group?
"That's….. surprising, Your Majesty," Lord Petalwing replied tentatively. "I mean, you are still in your prime, afterall."
Dagda was tempted to snicker at the weak attempt at flattery. Prime, indeed. Maybe a few decades ago. But, even the stout King knew his head wasn't really in ruling anymore. He was too busy worrying about his girls and the fight was slowly leaving him with age. He grew tired of the constant meetings and moderating nobles' squabbles. He wanted to enjoy life and watch his spirited daughter rule as the Queen she deserved to be.
"Nothing is set in stone yet," he finally answered as more council-members started to raise their own arguments in response. "But, the steps will be taken. With the approaching changes in our kingdom's future, it is time to look to the next generation."
"But-"
"Of course, Your Majesty," Lord Mistwood calmly replied. "This opens much to be discussed."
Dagda didn't really think it would be hard but even he had to admit, that was surprisingly easy. Now, if he could just tie-up a few more lose ends.
A sudden banging on the council-room door barely sounded before Sunny poked his pointy little head through the opening.
"The horn has sounded, Your Majesty," Sunny announced cheerfully. "The Dark Forest delegation is within view."
"Excellent," Dagda said, rising from his seat before the others followed suit. "The meeting is done for the day. We shall pick this up at the next one."
And, with that he was gone.
The busy halls quickly cleared to let him pass and Dagda was glad to see everything seemed to be in order. The last thing the Fairy King wanted to do was insult the King of the Dark Forest.
Dagda had to admit, the Bog King still made him nervous from time to time but that was because the man was of an intimidating stature and skill. But, he had also seen how the King treated Marianne and that made up a lot for his past….. choices. The Dark Forest and the Fairy Kingdom hadn't been active enemies but there were just so many things about the goblins and their king that frightened the fairy-folk. Hopefully, this summit would show how the two kingdoms could actually get along with each other. It would certainly help ease Marianne's chances…..provided no-one got eaten. He really hoped Bog had warned those who came with him about that.
Well, Dagda decided he was going to give the Bog King a chance and that was exactly what he was going to do. What could go wrong?