Divine Realizations [ Clarion X Milori ]

Chapter 40

Hearing Avalon's muffled "Come in", Clarion entered into the girls' bedroom.
Not able to meet Avalon's gaze yet, she strolled around the room, looking at her daughters' various knickknacks.
She recalled when she had first learned of Avalon and of her relation to Milori.
Instantly Clarion had gathered a few servants and came up to this room, what was supposed to have been the royal nursery had she and the king been blessed with children.
She had thought it to be perfect and relished the chance to at least decorate a child's room once in her lifetime.
She still felt lucky to have Avalon to this day. Idly, as if Clarion had all the time in the world, she ran her fingertips across a few of Avalon's paintings and drawings hanging on her wall.
What would Avalon be like when she got to see her next?
Would it only be a few weeks from now or a few years?
Would she still want this princess bedroom and decorations that Clarion had picked out?
Or will she be too grown up for that by then?
The thought hurt her deeply, she couldn't care less if Avalon actually changed anything or not.
It was the fact that Clarion wouldn't be able to help or see Avalon through her phases that actually tore her up.
"Are you going somewhere? Why do you have your traveling cloak on?"
She heard Avalon's curious voice from over her shoulder.
Her fingers slightly clenched before she schooled her usual serene expression on her face and turned to look at her.
The girl was sprawled out on her bed, reading, but now looking up at her.
Clarion smiled a genuine smile which Avalon returned.
Calmly, Clarion walked over to her bed and sat down on the edge next to her, sure to not give away the sense of panic she felt in her bones.
In actuality, she wanted to run over here, grip Avalon and never let her go.
Instead, she lifted a hand and ran her fingers through Avalon's long tresses, combing them back.
"I am going somewhere actually. Do you remember how I used to go to Pixie Hollow for a few months every spring? To help usher summer to the mainland? Well I need to begin that again."
Avalon frowned at this, using her elbow to lift herself up more.
"But you haven't done that the last few years, you said fairy Mary was in charge of that now."
Clarion shrugged, "Your right, however we are expecting this one to be extra big this year and they will need me in person this time."
Not totally a lie, Clarion thought.
Avalon nodded at this, "Is daddy going with you too?"
Clarion continued brushing the back of her daughters' head with her hand.
"No honey, he has his own kingdom to rule. I shouldn't be gone too long though, I should see you very soon. You know you are always welcome to visit and come see me, no matter the time."
Avalon tilted her head at this, put off by Clarions' odd tone.
"Ok... are you leaving now?"
Clarion put her hands in her lap and nodded.
"Yes, so I need you to be good until your father gets home, I've doubled the guards on duty and you are to stay in your room until he's here, is that understood?"
Excitedly, Avalon nodded her head and sat up next to Clarion.
"I'm going to be home alone? That's so cool!"
Clarion rolled her eyes and leaned towards her.
"Hug and kiss me goodbye please."
Instantly, Avalon enfolded Clarion into a hug and she kissed the top of Avalon's head, savoring everything.
'I am strong, I can do this, change is good', she recited in her head.
After a few moments she pulled back, got up, and headed for the door.
Determined not to look back, she called over her shoulder one more time, "I love you."
Not waiting for a response, she acquitted the room and closed the door softly behind her.
Taking a deep breath, she moved down the halls towards the stables.
It took a couple hours to reach the warm realm from Milori's keep and she wanted to get there before dark.
She took the snowy owl Milori always assigned to her, Saffron, and began this new chapter of her life.