Fairies of Desire

EPISODE 4

I looked at Thorn, surprised.

“You mean…. Dance with Campbell?” I asked.

“You did say you wanted to get payback.” Thorn reminded me.

“Well, yeah, but I was thinking maybe make a rumor about her, or… I don’t know, play a mean prank on her.” I spoke. “Not dance with her fiancé.”

“I know you guys are talking about me,” Campbell said.

I turned around and leaped in fear to Thorn’s side.

Campbell was the strongest warrior in all of the Sun Clan. His match with my sister was unquestionable and seemed to be a perfect match. His eastern yellow swallowtail wings had few holes in them, representing the times he had been in battle with other fairies.

Even though he was engaged to my sister, many females still swooned over Campbell's good looks. My sister indeed had snagged herself a good one.

“We were just thinking of going to you to congratulate you,” Thorn said.

Campbell huffed. “Sure. How the heck did you get up here anyhow, Thorn?”

“I invited him. I brought him up here.” I quickly said, holding onto Thorn's sleeve.

“That’s very nice of you, Silver, but I think ruffians and drunks ought to stay at the ground festival,” Campbell said, then looking at Thorn. “It's not right for you to be up here anyway.”

I gripped Thorn's long-sleeved shirt. Campbell was our best warrior, and he was the bravest, but he was also unkind and uncaring when it came to those who had less than a fairy should. This meant he hated one-winged and wingless fairies.

Campbell hated Thorn. More so that he was an outsider from Bone Clan.

The clan’s strongest warrior vs the clan’s biggest drinker.

It was a rivalry I hated deep down. Campbell had no right to speak to Thorn that way.

“Thorn is my dance partner. He will stay.” I quickly said.

Campbell rolled his eyes at me. “Silver, no offense, but you don’t make good calls or have what it takes to make a clear judgment. I’ll speak to your father about this.”

Shit!

“Sounds to me like you are threatened by the sight of me here,” Thorn said, smiling. “What's the matter? Afraid I might sweep your betrothed off her feet?”

Campbell turned around. His swallowtail wings fluttered angrily.

“The only thing I am afraid of is that there won't be any dandelion wine or daisy champagne left by the end of the night,” Campbell replied.

“Oh dear, Campbell…” Thorn said, almost amused and smiling. It angered Campbell that Thorn wasn’t reacting the way he wanted. I stood behind Thorn, watching and listening. I knew my words would do no good in this quarrel.

“My place…. Is right here.” Thorn said, stomping on the wooden floor. He took a champagne glass from a passing servant and then handed it to Campbell. “Here you are, Campbell. That way, you can say you had some before I drank it all.”

Campbell looked at the glass, confused for a moment, and then back at Thorn. He gripped it in his hand and then shoved the glass at Thorn.

Thorn stepped to the side, revealing my position behind him.

I watched in horror as the daisy champagne came spilling all over me and my dress.

No! Not again!

I screamed in surprise and backed away, my wings fluttering in anger and embarrassment. The music suddenly stopped, and I immediately felt the eyes of everyone in the room.

I stopped and looked down at my dress. Daisy champagne was a clear drink, so it only looked as if water had been spilled on me. Unlike last time, golden liquid had been on me.

I looked up at Thorn. He took a few steps toward me, holding a napkin, quickly trying to dry me off. I felt myself boil in anger.

“What. The. Heck?!” I asked him.

Thorn didn’t react to my anger. He instead looked at me and winked.

“Watch.” He said and continued to use the napkin to dry me off.

I looked up at Campbell, who seemed horrified that he had poured champagne all over me.

Everyone was now looking at me and him. It was then that I understood Thorn’s method of madness.

“Oh, my stars! Did he just pour champagne all over the princess?”

“I saw him yelling at her. Isn’t she Campbell’s sister-in-law?”

“Isn’t Campbell engaged to the heir? Why is he with Silver instead?”

“Why did he pour a drink all over her? And in front of her date?”

“Do you think he wishes he had Silver instead of Helena?”

“Poor thing is all wet now!”

I felt a mischievous smile try to form on my face. I kept it hidden.

Thorn, you are a genius.

Campbell turned to the crowd. His wings fluttered with embarrassment.

“It- It was an accident!”

Helena and Queen Lohnni appeared through the crowd. Helena looked at me, then at Campbell, and then back at me again.

“What… What the…?” she stammered.

“Campbell? What on earth did you do?” Queen Lohnni asked angrily.

“I-I-I didn’t mean—

“Ugh! Campbell, you fool! I’m so embarrassed!” Helena said. She then turned away and disappeared into the crowd.

Campbell dropped the cup and went after her. “Wait! Helena!”

Queen Lohnni turned to me as the music began playing again. The fairies whispered a little while longer before going back to their normal business.

Thorn stayed by my side as Queen Lohnni floated to me and him.

“Thorn.” She greeted him, not looking him in the eye.

Thorn gave a half ass bow to her. “Your Majesty.” He spoke.

“May I have a moment with my daughter, please?” she asked him.

Thorn gave me a questioning look. I nodded, and he slowly turned away to a food table.

I looked at my mother. “What is it?” I asked.

“Your father… didn’t mean what he said earlier.” She spoke.

“Yes, he did,” I said flatly. “I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

Queen Lohnni looked at me in surprise that I had spoken up but nodded. “Well, I do need you to come with me to the foot of the throne. There’s… we… have something to give you.”

“Whose ‘we’?” I asked her.

My mother turned, and I followed her. “Me, your father… and the Bone Clan royalty.” She said slowly.

I looked at her, confused, but I kept quiet.

We dodged and weaved through the crowd and found ourselves at the foot of my father's throne.

Flying down from his golden wood throne, King Roland came by my side. He didn't look at me or acknowledge my existence as he did so.

Of course, he won't. You know now how he feels about you. I thought to myself.

I looked away from him and looked across from us.

Across from us, Queen Blossom stood with King Rheagis, a round yet buff-looking fairy king. He had short, wavy brown hair and a small beard. He had eastern swallowtail wings that had a great deal of holes and tears.

Between them was a young-looking male fairy who seemed to be my age. He had short, wavy hair and the same brown eyes as his father. He wore a navy blue buttoned-up suit. He had eastern swallowtail wings that fluttered slightly in nervousness.

I knew by just looking at him, he was Prince Sorren, the son of Queen Blossom and King Rheagis.

I thought he wouldn’t be here. Perhaps he just got here?

Once he saw me, however, he smiled.

I felt confused by this gesture as no one had willingly smiled at me before. I smiled back slightly but averted my gaze.

I searched the crowd for Thorn. Then I finally saw him. In the back of the throne room, getting a glass of dandelion wine. He had finally found the booze he originally came for.

I thought of the scheme he played to help me humiliate Helena. Gossip and rumors would spread for weeks now. This would tear a rift between them. I smiled slightly at the thought.

"Silver." My mom softly called to me.

I looked up at her. I was being ushered forward for some unknown reason.

The eyes of the throne room were all on us. The music had stopped again, and everyone was looking at us again. I looked forward and saw Prince Sorren was floating me.

I looked back and saw my mother giving me a slight smile. My father was expressionless. Helena had her fan again and was fanning her face. She seemed to have an annoyed look on her face. Campbell was nowhere to be seen.

I looked ahead again when I heard Prince Sorren clearing his throat. I realized he was kneeling before me.

My heart seemed to freeze. Every bone in my body seemed to shake, yet I remained frozen in place in horror at what was being revealed before me. My mind went blank with shock.

Prince Sorren grabbed my left hand. He kissed the top of my palm and looked up at me.

"Will you marry me, Princess Silver of Sun Clan? Let us conjoin our clans for the first time and be as one. Let us be together for the rest of our days."