Milori helps her up from the ice for the nth time that day. "I don't even know why I suggested we go ice skating." She sighs, standing back up wobbly on the ice. "I can never get it."
He laughs, "You've gotten better though."
"Barely." Clarion's grip on his arms tighten, finding it challenging to balance on the two thin blades. "My hip is going to be bruised tomorrow."
"Every fairy gets hurt ice skating once."
"It's definitely not just once for me." She smiles sadly.
"Well," He takes her hand in his, "I love you regardless of your ice skating abilities." He kisses the back of her hand.
Clarion scoffs, rolling her eyes. "That's too cheesy."
"You know you love it when I say things like that to you."
And perhaps he was right.
˚ʚ ɞ˚
"Let's go to the meadow." Clarion says as they cross the border back to the warm seasons.
"The meadow? Aren't you tired? We've been out the whole afternoon."
She shakes her head. "What about you? Are you tired?"
"No, but I'm not the one that's been slipping on ice the whole day."
She shoots him a glare, "Well let's go then. I want to watch the sunset."
Milori chuckles, just letting her take his hand in hers and tug him towards the meadow. He remembers the first time they visited the meadow. It was shortly after winter fairies were able to cross into the warm seasons and Clarion made it her goal to take him everywhere and show him her world just like he did for her. She showed him the blooming tulips in season and taught him the different varieties of wildflowers that populated the meadow although he still hadn't managed to remember all of them.
And just like that night, they would end their date watching the sun set over the flowers.
Clarion flutters through the meadow, leaving a trail of pixie dust in her wake. With the exception of ice, she was the most graceful fairy he'd ever seen. Like a dancer, and the world was her stage.
She picks a spot in the middle of clumps of wildflowers, like it was reserved just for them, sitting down and patting the spot next to her for him to join her. "The sunset at the border is beautiful but this place is nice for a change."
"It is." He agrees.
Clarion rests her cheek on his shoulder. Before she met him, she'd never been a lover of the sunset. Until he showed her all of nature's intricate beauties she had been too ignorant to notice. "Every sunset is different." He told her before. The sky could be pinker one day and warmer the next. And they were short-lived. Only occurring for a few moments before being replaced by the dark night. It was like what they had. Memories that lasted for the best few moments of their days. It had always been their thing.
Even when the memories weren't confined to a few moments anymore the sunset stayed as theirs.
"What are you thinking about?" He pulls her from her thoughts.
She hums and the faraway look in her eyes disappears. Clarion meets his gaze. "Just about how lucky I am."
He looks surprised but his gaze softens. He wraps an arm around her, pulling her into his side. "I'm so lucky too."
She tilts her head up and being ever the opportunist, he leans down to let their lips meet, moving against each other familiar and practised. Milori lays on the grass, pulling her down with him. The sun was almost fully set but they had no intention to leave. "Want to stay a little longer?" He says, keeping an arm underneath her head.
"Okay." She smiles. "The stars are lovely to look at from here too."
Clarion was right. Though Pixie Hollow had great views of the stars anywhere but she was right nonetheless. The day's fatigue was starting to get to her with the weariness seeping into her bones but the chance to spend the whole day with him was so rare that the last thing she wanted to do was leave.
"Let's stay here forever." She says under the twinkling stars and the full moon, shifting to rest her head comfortably on his arm.
"That's silly. Forever is a really long time." He remarks. "Don't forget you're still a queen."
Clarion grins, turning away from the stars, studying his profile. The slope of his nose, his lips that smiled whenever he saw her, the stray lock of hair that fell over his forehead. She really was so lucky. Forever really was a long time, but as she lays here, she realises that that's how long she wanted to be with him. A thought pops into her mind.
"Milori," She calls. "Let's get married."
His breath hitches, turning to her so quickly he could have gotten whiplash. Although her smile grew, she was still laying on his forearm like what she said was nothing. "Did you just propose to me?"
Her eyes seem to twinkle and her laughter was light like bells. "I guess I did."
"That's supposed to be my job."
"Well, you were taking too long."
"Let me ask the question."
"Alright." She laughs.
He sits up with her following after him. "I don't even have a ring yet."
"It's okay." she grins. "Just ask me."
"No, you need a ring." Milori looks around though there's not much one can use in a meadow. In the glow of her wings, his eye catches on something blue- A flower. He plucks it from the ground. A forget-me-not. He remembers the name of this one. It's not ideal but it would do for now. "I'm lucky you're so bright. If not, I wouldn't be able to get you a ring."
His own wings didn't glow anymore after they broke but it was alright when she glowed bright enough for two of them. It's like having his own personal sun.
Milori manoeuvres himself onto one knee, holding her left hand gently in his palm like it was the whole universe. "Clarion, Sweetheart, Will you marry me?"
Her eyes are teary though they might have been sparkling for all he cares. "I will." She smiles, and he ties the flower's stem around her ring finger with a knot.
˚ʚ ɞ˚
Milori got her a real ring eventually. A princess cut white sapphire atop a silver band that he proposed with (again) at the border. It seemed like the perfect place to do it for the second time. It's where they met after all.
It wasn't long before the kingdom noticed the shine around the queen's finger and their engagement was made obvious to everyone. Marriages only had one purpose in Pixie Hollow which was for fairies to show devotion to one another but were still fairly common among couples and were big events. Despite being pointless retrospectively, Clarion had always wanted to have a wedding, and Milori was happy to oblige.
Their subjects assumed that their wedding would be the biggest event Pixie Hollow had ever seen, intricately planned and a marvellous spectacle but the two were quick to shut those assumptions down. Clarion and Milori wanted to keep it small. They never officially announced their engagement although they didn't have to. Everyone already knew. Word does spread fast in the Hollow.
The wedding preparations were entrusted to Fairy Mary and although all they wanted was a small intimate reception in the ballroom, she cut no corners on the beauty of it all, doing everything in her power to make sure the two have the most beautiful wedding they could dream of.
˚ʚ ɞ˚
Mary adjusts the straps of Clarion's dress on her shoulders and centres her tiara on her head. Looking in her reflection through the window, Clarion almost doesn't recognise herself. Her brown hair flowed down her back in waves, contrasting the snow white of her dress. She chose a soft crepe mermaid dress with a slight train. A simple dress for their small wedding.
"I'm nervous." Clarion confesses.
Mary laughs, making sure the pins held her veil in place. "There's no reason to be nervous. It's not like he's going to walk out when he sees you."
Her smile is sheepish, "I know, but I want it to be perfect."
"It will be." Mary assures, "I made sure that everything is perfect. You'll love it. And you're stunning tonight, Milori will be all over you."
"Thank you, Mary."
Her friend just smiles. "I'll be going in now. We'll be waiting for you."
Clarion places a hand over her heart as Mary enters the ballroom without her. Her heart beats quickly under her skin. She had dreamed of this day for her whole life. As queen she sometimes assumed that a wedding would only ever exist in fairytales and the stories of others but as she stands behind the double doors in preparation to marry the one fairy she's ever loved, Clarion can't help but think about how lucky she is.
Once the soft orchestra music plays, the double doors open to reveal the ballroom Fairy Mary had spent a whole season decorating. A blue and white colour scheme with gold accents. Blue forget-me-nots seem to be the tinker's main inspiration for the wedding with them being quite literally everywhere they could be - in her bouquet, the floral arrangements, adorning every corner with their unmistakable blue. She takes a moment to gape at the intricacy of it all before her eyes fix on the reason she was here today.
Milori stands at the altar in a white suit and cape, his eyes widening at the sight of her as if it was his first time ever seeing her. Clarion can't help but grin, the butterflies fluttering in her belly. Mary, Hyacinth, and Sunflower sit on her side of the hall while Snowflake and Dewey sit on Milori's. Redleaf stands at the head of the altar offering her a comforting warm smile.
Milori extends a hand out to her as she climbs the few steps to the altar. "You're beautiful." He whispers.
"Thank you." She whispers back. "You look very nice too."
Redleaf's eyes look slightly teary when he faces the couple. He was surprised when Clarion approached and asked him to be their officiant but accepted as a big fan of weddings and being the most eloquent one out of their friends. "I remember when Clarion and Milori made a scene during the freeze." He starts, inciting giggles from the audience. "I'm sure we were all quite surprised. I definitely was, I'd never seen this sparrowman before and suddenly my queen was up and personal with him."
Milori smiles at her, "Your story, though tragic in the beginning, only proves that no matter what seasons you're from, there is no better match for the both of you than each other. Clarion and Milori have chosen to write their own vows. These words are a testament to the bond you've formed, the journey you're embarking upon, and the love that will continue to grow between you."
He let a breath he'd been holding, as if he was nervous. The hand that reached out for hers was clammy but large and familiar. "Clarion, sometimes I wonder why I was given this life, what my purpose was other than being a tiny part of the changing of the seasons. And then I met you." He gazes tenderly at her although she's been teary ever since he spoke her name. "You filled my life with so much light and warmth I didn't even know I've been missing and I know now that I was put here to keep you company, to be your most trusted confidant, and most importantly, your best friend who'll stay beside you forever. I don't think I can ever go back to living without you and I'd break my wings over and over again if I have to to ensure that I never do. Thank you for choosing me, from today I'll continue to be your most loyal supporter and I'll cherish and love and respect you every day."
Clarion wipes away a tear from the corner of her eye, chuckling at what a mess she's become and they haven't even been wed yet. "Do you remember our first sunset?" She asks, giving his palm a gentle squeeze. "If you look at all the sunsets we've spent together you can't really tell them apart. But each one holds a different memory from its time and it's funny because it's the same sun every time. My favourite part of the day is waking up with you and saying the same thing about how the sunset is lovely every evening. It never gets boring with you, though. I thought meeting you was a chance encounter but I'm starting to think that it's fate. You complete me and teach me new things that shape me and I would've turned out a lot differently without you."
Their soft sniffles blend in with the audiences, Sunflower and Mary both gripping onto each other's arms and bawling who might be crying more than the couple were. Clarion studies Milori's face, the red tip of his nose and the silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Why was she even so nervous before? "You're the protector of my heart, Milori. I'm so lucky to have met you. I want to be the sanctuary you seek when you need peace. I know everyday with you will be exciting and I can't wait to watch every sunset with you, forever and then some."
The exchange of vows is met with soft smiles and teary eyes from the then exchange matching silver wedding bands and seal their promises with a kiss. "I love you." She whispers so only he could hear.
He tightens his hold around her, "And I love you too."
˚ʚ ɞ˚
The rest of the night is spent having dinner with the company of their closest friends, a small but delicious banquet prepared specially for the occasion. Milori had asked if she would regret not having the rest of the kingdom present at their wedding, but just sitting amidst her best company, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Tomorrow they would announce their official marriage to everyone else and go back to their normal duties but tonight they would remain in the heart of Pixie Hollow, belonging only to each other.