"Your majesty, I-"
"Silence Melody!"
The older pixies voice burst with authority. Icily, she glared at Melody, who kept the gaze before dropping her eyes to the dirt floor. She heard Queen Lily laugh with triumph.
"Melody Song, you are no longer fit to be a advisor of mine. Do not bother coming here tomorrow, or else the consequences"
Queen Lily took hold of Melody's chin and made her cold grey eyes meet Melody's soft blue ones.She was smiling, a devious smile.
"Will be fatal."
With that, she dropped Melody's chin and walked into the elaborate labyrinth that she so unwillingly called home.
Melody watched as the Queen walked gracefully into the arena. Her heart started to rattle in her ribcage, and she was sure everyone heard it.
Did the queen know it was her that had done it?
"Ma..."
She looked at the four year old next to her. Carnation Song, the beautiful young pixie. On the other side, sat River, Melody's husband. He looked at her, reassuringly. He was the only one that Melody had told, and for good reason.
"Now, addressing the release of wasps into the mine" Melody looked back at the Queen as soon as she heard, and she gulped.
The Queen was scrutinising every single subject, until she had found what she was looking for. Her gaze locked on Melody. A thin sheet of sweat started to form on her forehead, and her breathing shallowed.
Then the Queen looked away, and Melody let out a sigh of relief.
"The wasps killed eighteen pixies. Most are still settling in the hospital, after horrible stings, that will scar them forever."
Gasps were heard all over the arena, and the crowd of pixies burst into shocked chatter. Queen Lily silenced them as soon as possible.
"For this serious crime against their own kind, this is punishable by death. An execution will be held against the criminal. I happen to know who did it."
Melody felt sick as the crowd muttered in agreement. Her heart nearly jumped out of her throat, as the Queen made eye contact again. Queen Lily pointed right at Melody, and she let out a little squeak.
"Melody Song, tomorrow afternoon, you shall die."
Melody fainted. The last thing she heard was her little pixie baby screaming.
Everyone's eyes were on her. Melody had served as prisoner for roughly 12 hours, but it might as well have been 12 years. Her hair was clumped into knots and hung in oily strings. Her clothes had been torn beyond recognition, and her wings...
Her dear wings had lost their glow.
Now, as Melody marched to her death, she stared out at the crowd. Their attendance was mandatory. River and Carnation were amongst the familliar strangers, both of their faces stained with tears.
She stopped. A guard kicked her, and pushed her on. Slowly, she climbed the steps, where the Queen herself stood.
Silence engulfed the whole arena, as Melody was pushed towards the Queen. Her knees buckled almost instantly against the hard wood.
"Melody Song, what do you have to say for yourself?" The Queen got a grip on Melody's delicate wings. She stroked them, seemingly affenctionaly, but Melody could almost hear her thoughts..
Those evil thoughts...
In reply, she shook her head. Queen Lily's hands tightened around the roots of her wings.
"Then, I hope you are prepared for death." Were Lily's words.
The last thing Melody felt was a searing pain in her back. Then her world became dark.
