Chapter 23: The King, Queen, and the Princess

The great hall of the Green Haven is presently filled with fairies from three realms. The presence of these fairies is essential to each of their realms. The cooperation amongst all the fairies is the key to defeat the Dark fairy.
The fairies in gray are the rangers representing the Air fairies of the White Haven, with their silvery eyes. The rangers in black are the Water fairies from the Blue Haven. They stand side by side at the far right of the hall, staring alertly with their purple irises. The rest of the fairies present are in green, except for the rangers in brown, like Aramir.
When Aramir announced the presence of Princess Arianna, the hall is filled with anticipation. The story of the lost Princess has travelled from realm to realm. The search for her went on for years and years. This gives an atmosphere of a long tale in which a very significant part is about to unfold. Every fairy currently in attendance waits silently as if witnessing a climax in a story full of suspense. 
All eyes are glued to the major characters in this scene. The Princess at the center of the hall and the Queen with her King on their thrones, are like actors and actresses under a spotlight but has somewhat forgotten their lines. The deafening silence and long wait is beginning to be unbearable. 
Of course, King Merlion and Queen Alina sit at the elevated portion of the hall, in their green splendour. Both cannot take their green eyes off the girl with her equally green eyes, wearing her oddly out of placed shirt and jeans.
Princess Aria stares back speechless. Her emerald locket glowing non-stop, undeniably proves her lineage without any further explanations or introductions. She has no idea what to say anyway, so she just waits for her real parents to speak up. Caspian's sudden departure by her side makes her feel so unsure again if she really belongs here. Why did he leave so suddenly again?
"Princess Aria...Arianna. Welcome home." Finally, Queen Alina finds the courage to say something. Her words are merely whispers but can be clearly heard by every fairy. The Queen stands and approaches Princess Aria who seems to be glued at the center of the hall, immobile. King Merlion follows after her spontaneously.
Princess Aria's musing over Caspian's changing behavior is cut short when she sees her long lost parents walking towards her. Her eyes are fixed at the Queen and King approaching. However, she stays suspended inanimately out of anxiety, her glowing locket giving away her emotions.
Princess Aria cannot seem to make up her mind if she should walk towards them to meet them halfway. In a few moments, she realizes they are finally in front of her just at arm's length.
The King and Queen embrace her without hesitation. Something inside her stirs up and engulfs her with so much longing. The tears she is trying to hold at bay rushes in waves from her green eyes. It is as if the feel of her parents' touch stimulates a long forgotten awareness that she has yearned for such a long time. Her body responds before she even realizes what she is doing. She holds on to both of them as tightly as she could, like lost treasures she found that she could not afford to ever lose again.
"Welcome home, Princess Arianna!" shouts one of the elder-looking fairies in green robes.
"Welcome back to the Green Haven our Princess." All the fairies chant after an extended silence. Everybody cheer for the happy reunion.
It appears as if a long journey has come to an end. This one is a happy ending. This is something similar to the stories in fairy tale books.
A few minutes of cheering and applauding continues.
Princess Aria is led by her King Father and Queen Mother back to the throne. Princess Aria tries to wipe her tears but they continue to flow from so much happiness. She has never been more complete.
Her doubts on this particular moment being real have gone away completely. She has never imagined that the fairy tale stories she loved so much to read about could possibly be all true. Her, being a part of that tale as a fairy, a Princess fairy, seems just like a dream.
When the King, Queen, and the Princess settle down, Aramir bows and says, "We are greatly overjoyed by the completion of our fairy kin."
"Now, we have graver matters to deliberate. Upon conferring with the envoys of the Water and Air fairies, we have come to a decision to send rangers to the Orange Haven."
The hall turns silent once more for the reminder of the original purpose of this gathering.         
Aramir faces towards the majority of the fairies in the hall, and then continues.
"In behalf of the envoys, each of the realms will send their rangers together to the Orange Haven, to observe, but not engage in any battle, with the fire fairies."
"We need to find out first of the true involvement of the Dark Fairy. We have come to the conclusion that the Dark Fairy is gathering allies to strengthen his power before he challenges the other realms in an open war."
"I have chosen five of our strongest rangers to join me and the rangers of the Air and Water fairies to undertake this mission. We will leave as soon as possible by taking the route in the Blue Haven."
Aramir bows slightly to the King's direction signalling the end of his discourse.
"Aramir, I advise you to take the necessary precautions so your mission will remain secret. We cannot be sure that any of the fairies does not sympathize with the twisted Dark Fairy. We must not underestimate him yet again, after what he did in the past. It caused us our greatest ranger while the other two remains insentient." King Merlion reminds them.
"Is Caspian one of your rangers in the mission?" Princess Aria blurts out abruptly, standing as if ready to join him. All the audience seem surprise by the question of the Princess. However, Princess Aria is not concerned with what all these fairies were thinking.. 
"My Princess, Caspian is one of our highly skilled rangers and the keenest of observers. He will be a prodigious asset to our mission." Aramir explains to the Princess.
Princess Aria glances towards her King Father and Queen Mother, in a manner of asking for permission
"Father, Mother, may I speak with Caspian for a short while before he leaves?" Princess Aria asks politely.
King Merlion gives his daughter a warm smile while Queen Alina reaches out for Princess Aria's hands then replies, "My daughter, we owe Caspian for your safe return to us. Of course you can talk to him anytime you wish to."
"Aramir, please inform Caspian to go directly to the inner garden. Our Princess will be waiting for him there." King Merlion requests.
"Yes, my King. I will look for him now and gather the other rangers, as well." Aramir takes his leave.
The envoys of the Water and Air Fairies start to leave too. The rest of the Earth Fairies soon follow. Only, the elder fairy who welcomed the Princess a short while ago, remains.
"Nurse Zella, kindly accompany me and our Princess so she can change into our people's garments." Queen Alina instructs the elder fairy. She ushers Princess Aria towards a side entrance.
"Father, I will see you later." Princess Aria gives the King a tight hug before joining the Queen and the Nurse fairy.
King Merlion is left alone sitting at the throne. He seems to be remembering something as he smiles to himself. Her daughter's actions remind him of someone he has not seen for a long time now.
After a while, he stands to make his way out of the hall. He intends to check on Aramir and the rest of the rangers before they leave for the Orange Haven.