The Queen Must Remember

Part 10: the coronation of the real Queen...

This time Orpheus was closer when they talked, joining in every so often with a quiet word of advice.

They had added more pieces onto the board, models showing each patrol and each sentry. Rhae watched intently, trying to memorize the Labyrinth of walls and guards.
It was difficult, but she kept trying. She wanted to be useful so desperately, not just be the Queen on a chess board, she wanted to move the pieces...

Orpheus neared her, his fingers grazing over her own in reassurance. She pretended not to notice, but she did smile slightly.
Sawyer noticed, "So, when you're queen again, are you gonna bring back the Ionos Faerie? Y'know, make 'em legal again?"

Everyone went silent, all eyes on her and Orpheus, whose fingers then wrapped around hers. She didn't know what to say, she hadn't met any Ionos Fae save for Orpheus, and would they still like her if she wanted them back?
Fortunately, Arryn sided with her, "That is not something we should think about now, is it? We must place your crown upon your head before we decide things as troublesome as that." He placed his strong hands on her shoulders, relaxing her tense body. Orpheus, on the other hand, snarled at him,
"It shouldn't be such a tedious thing to think about. It's more like if you want me here or not." He directed that last part at Rhae before storming off.
She wanted to go to him, to apologize, but Arryn gently held her down, "Ignore him, this is about you, your crown."

She gave him a weak smile, and they continued their plots and plans.

**

Orpheus savoured the cold air, he hated being inside, it always felt as if the walls were closing in on him, as if he was caged again.
Leaning on the roofless porch fence, he gazed up at the stars, thinking how he used to fly around them before the accident.

He heard footsteps. Expecting it to be Rhae, he was immensely disappointed to find it was Aiden. The Fae sided with him,

"Y'know, I watched it happen... Your transition." He muttered, eyeing the stars to.

"What transition?" Replied Orpheus gruffly.

Aiden sighed, "Your face, as you became an Ionos. It took a few months, actually, though once we were certain we removed your bandages--"

"Bandages?"

The Fae huffed a laugh, though it carried no humour, "Indeed. Your wings were removed so poorly, no surgical procedure involved, just the guards and their swords--"

Orpheus shuddered at the memory.

"--So we had to bandage you up, or you would have bled out into your curse." He didn't sound smug, he was just talking, Orpheus didn't sense any hatred in his tone.
Aiden continued, "The others were distasteful of you, some even threatened to slit your throat while you were under--"

"What are you trying to get at?" Orpheus hissed, irritated.

Aiden rolled his eyes, "I'm saying that even if you are with the Queen, even if you lost your wings defending her, you still lost them, you're still an Ionos, you will never be accepted."

It was Orpheus's turn to roll his eyes, "Thanks for clearing that up." He spat before going back into the house with suffocating walls. He retreated to a small excuse of a bedroom and sat there, staring at nothing, as if waiting for his wings to return.

**
Queen Morona. That was what her imposter was called. Rhae had been fed information about them as they'd filled in on the plan.
Tonight was a ball, a ball to celebrate the day Morona took over Rhae's throne and cursed her into a mindless trance for three centuries...

They all had a role to play, even Orpheus. The others had recognised her friend's power is stronger than most, and had strengthened after more training. Rhae's own training had certainly been successful.