The Queen Must Remember

Part 4: The key of our curses...

Nothing.

I found nothing in the hours I spent ravaging through the flowers. The only thing I had found was a sleeping hedgehog, a confused pixie and a startled deer.
The sun was already setting, I had been searching for so long...
I swore under my breath, struggling to keep strong under the pressure of finding the key to free us both.
I was scared to think of what was going to happen if I succeeded, what was it like beyond the Garden?
I wearily stomped over plants, making my way to the birdcage.
A butterfly rested on the dark Fae's fingers as he slouched in his swing, he caressed it's small black body, admiring the sapphire wings beating slowly.
He noticed my arrival, twitching his fingers to scare away the butterfly before dropping from the swing, "Anything?" He asked hopefully.
I shook my head, sniffing, "I'm sorry..."

He frowned, but lifted a hand through the bars to grasp my hand, "It's not over yet... We're so close-"

I pulled away from him, "Orpheus... I have no knowledge outside of this Garden- this is everything I have... What if-"

"No," he hissed, gripping my shoulders through the bars, "You're not giving into this spell again! If you do I'll never get you back here- you'll never question again!"

I frowned, "But I'm scared, Orpheus- what if it's not safe out of the Garden!" I cried, my lips quivering anxiously.

Orpheus stood back, "It isn't safe, Rhae, that's why the real world needs you!"

I felt terrified. I wished he could tell me what was happening, if his curse didn't silence him every time he tried.

Suddenly, I had an idea, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to ask of it...
A part of me was so curious though, so I stared straight into Orpheus's dark, silver-lined eyes, "Use your magic to show me... Tell me the story." I ordered.
Orpheus was surprisingly hesitant, yet sat down cross-legged, "Okay." Was all he said as he solemnly shaped his mist into being:

A female Fae with a crown sat on a throne, many Fae surrounding her with bowed heads, respectful.
I sat myself down to view his memories easier;
It was a ball, lots of dancing and drinking. There was a winged male Fae lurking in a corner, bored with his hands in his pockets and chatting to another male.
The female in the crown approached them, they bowed in respect before continuing thier chatter, she joined in, smirking and laughing at something he said.
She gestured to the dancing, he shook his head, the other male punched his arm playfully, shoving him forward.
I watched the two Fae dance among the others, but I could also see another female, she looked bored, impatient and- jealous.
The ball ended, the smoke spun into another scene, suddenly there were swords, fierce magic unleashed upon Fae battling in the castle.
Among so much gore, blood and silent screams only the imagination could voice, the female in the crown was apprehended by traitorous guards, forced to her knees in front of the jealous female Fae. The jealous Fae said something, and the crowned Fae spat in her face.
The jealous Fae kicked her heel into the crowned Fae's face, snatching her crown and laughing. The winged Fae was also apprehended, struggling against the guards. He suddenly outstretched his wings and sent the soldiers flying. Enraged, he launched himself at the jealous female, grabbing her throat. She only laughed as a guard ambushed him from behind and pinned him to the floor.
The once-crowned Fae queen lifted her head to the jealous Fae, hissing something. The jealous Fae only shook her head mockingly, jerking her chin to the winged male-
I wished I had had a warning... I wished his misty memories were not so graphic-
The guard's sword came down, slowly severing the wings from his body. There was no sound in Orpheus's magic, but I could hear the screams as if it were happening again.
The wings were offered to the jealous Fae like a trophy, the Fae queen at her knees began shouting in anger, struggling against the guards' grip. The once-winged Fae was limp, slowly trying to rise, failing.
I continued watching in horror as the two were dragged away, the rest of the prisoners were slaughtered immediately.
The next scene was the queen waking up in a Garden, attended by pixies and a deer coddling up against her, the once-winged Fae waking up in a cage...