Divine Realizations [ Clarion X Milori ]

Chapter 22

Kealy paused at the offending sound of hinges squeaking in protest.
All day he had been nervous and impatient as he waited for any news of how his plan might be unfolding.
He had been pacing in his throne room but now abruptly stopped and turned, bringing him face to face with his missive runner. Briefly making eye contact, Kealy's eyes then wandered down to the limp object (or rather the limp someone) his soldier was carrying.
Kealy smiled inwardly.
So the tales and rumors of the land were true, he thought.
Queen Clarion Of Pixie Hollow was a stunner.
As his soldier came to stop just a few feet before his throne, Kealy was able to get a good look at his unconscious future queen.
Her Dark rimmed eyes, faint worry lines and pale skin were the only indicators of the hard toll these last few months had, yet did nothing to take away from her beauty.
While slender, she had curves that where hard to ignore and an inner radiance that seemed to draw him in.
Half convinced she was a siren, Kealy wondered what draw Milori could possibly have that had all these beautiful and powerful women throwing themselves at his feet.
Pushing aside those thoughts to ponder later, Kealy nodded at the soldier who promptly dropped Clarion onto a nearby settee and left. Now that he had Helen, all he had to do was wait for the king to come, which he had no doubt that he would.
Only this wasn't Troy and the Hinterlands would most definitely not have the same fatal outcome as the fallen city.
No, Kealy swore, this time he would be the Phoenix rising from the ashes and nothing could stop him.

Clarion woke with a start.
Quickly sitting up, she looked around and realized she was in a small room and on an ornate bed.
Vaguely she recalled her falling out with Milori and being kidnapped by a Hinterland soldier, but not much else.
She looked around to take in the room and her surroundings.
Funny how no matter how lavish the furnishings, a prison was still a prison.
Standing up, Clarion half-ran, half-walked to the only door and tried the handle.
Locked.
Then a realization hit with such a force that she felt faint;
She was walking.
Fluttering her wings, she tried to lift off the ground but could not.
Feeling weak, Clarion realized that it had been too long since she had last refueled in pixie dust, something Kealy must have been counting on.
Just like any fairy in the realm, Clarion needed a daily refilling or risked her flying capabilities. Looking down, she saw that she still maintained her glow which, as queen, was a given since she had the power to harness the dust just not reproduce it.
She walked away from the door and looked around once more, seeing that there were no windows or obvious instruments that could be used as a weapon.
Sitting back down on the large bed, Clarion was glad that this did not seem to be Kealy's personal bedroom as it was devoid of any intimate belongings that one would have.
She also sighed in relief at the fact that she remained relatively untouched and left alone. While she didn't know what Kealy's final plan with her was yet, she reasoned he must have some decency.
As though conjuring him up, her head turned as she heard heavy and quick footsteps approaching from behind the door.
Rising to stand tall and proud, she waited for Kealy to appear, not wanting to give him any satisfaction.
For almost a year now he had harassed her and she was ready to face him.
Unremarkably, the door was twisted open and Kealy strode in with ease and familiarity. Wordlessly, he turned to close the door behind him and walked up to the lone desk in the room, pulling out its accompanying chair, he straddled it backwards.
Finally he looked up and made eye contact, gesturing to the bed for her to sit.
She remained standing.
Grinning, he spoke,
"They said you were beautiful but they did not say how stubborn you were".
Still Clarion did not reply but continued to stare at him blankly.
Kealy continued on, unperturbed.
"I hope the room is to your liking. Obviously a room with a window or balcony was out of the question but if you would like a larger room it can be arranged". 
Scowling Clarion replied,
"What I would like is for your head to be on one of my soldiers' lances".
Silently, Kealy observed her and she stared right back, not fooled by the show of concern he was putting on.
Standing up, he smoothly returned the chair to the desk and faced her.
"I was hoping we could come to an understanding but I see you are still tired from your ordeal. While your cooperation would help, it's certainly not necessary. All you need to do is sit there and you will complete your job by luring Milori here to his death".
Alarm raced across Clarions' features and she took a step towards Kealy.
"Why are you doing this? Our kingdoms have lived peacefully for generations".
Without a beat, Kealy responded coolly; "Queen Clarion you are daft if you think this is about you or what you want. Milori took something from me long ago and it's time for him to repay his debt in full."
This caught Clarions attention.
"You speak of Lady Arden? Any man who tries to steal another man's wife is not a king but a lowly thief and it looks like you'll never learn. Milori is twice the man and king you are. I feel sorry for the woman you do marry and any children you may have."
With that Clarion turned to walk away but Kealy reached out a grabbed both her arms and brought her against him.
His audacity stunned her and she couldn't help but think of how different it was when Milori had done so in the past.
He did it with love while Kealy did it out of anger and she could feel the stark contrast.
However it was clear that she had struck a nerve as at the mention of children, Kealy snapped.
She pushed against him and glared at him.
"Release me at once, you do not have permission to touch the Queen of Pixie Hollow".
With an ugly smirk, Kealy brought his mouth down, close to her ear and said,
"Let's get a few things straight, I am the future King of Pixie Hollow and your future husband. The fact that you and Milori married will no longer be a hinderance when I kill him. I can't steal what is already mine by right and on the subject of Lady Arden, she is gone now. I won't bore you with the details of what happens when I don't get what I am owed. Suffice to say people get hurt, that's not a threat but a fact my lady".
With that Kealy tightened his grip once more, then released her altogether.
Shock wound through her at what he was implicating... he killed Arden?
Losing some of her bravado now that she knew she was facing a cold-blooded killer, she watched as he turned to walk away.
"There's only one thing wrong with your plan", Clarion stated.
Kealy paused at the door in hearing this but did not turn around.
"And that would be?"
"Milori does not love me, he said so himself and our marriage was one of convenience." She informed him.
Unfazed Kealy replied,
"Ye of so little faith, my soldiers did not hesitate to report the numerous escapades you and Lord Milori publicly displayed. Even then if that was staged there is one thing you and I can both count on if his love is indeed under question; his character. Do let me know if the food is to your liking my love."
And with that Kealy was gone.
Clarion slowly sank to the bed.
Kealy was right.
Even if Milori didn't love her, (which he all but yelled during their argument), he would still come because it was the right thing to do.
As the enormity of the situation sunk in, all she could do was sit there and hope Milori did not act foolishly.
He might be able to live without her but she could not say the same for herself.