Chapter 32: Queen Aine

The Queen of the realm above the clouds seldom leaves her realm. She believes in the notion that the safety of her people lies on the security of the White Haven. 
She is a proud Queen and she relies on her magic that she is surely be able to protect her own realm. Her visit to the Blue Haven is a statement that Queen Aine is also truly troubled by the threat of the Dark fairy. 
 
Queen Aine of the White Haven comes in the throne room with her head held up high. She enters in a hurry but maintains her composure.
 
She is in a silvery gown that complements her ivory white hair. Her entourage follows her with their head slightly bowed.
 
Cleon, the head of her rangers, takes a knee in front of King Merlion.
 
King Merlion stands, a bit startled by the entrance of the Queen of Air Fairies.
 
"Greetings, Queen Aine. My sister and I were just planning to seek your guidance on the recent turn of events in the Orange Haven."
 
King Merlion bows to acknowledge the Queen's seniority. She might appear young but she is much older than him, same as his parents.
 
"Greetings to you as well, King Merlion. I can see that you have finally come to your senses and returned here."
 
Queen Aine's remark is full of admonishment.
 
King Merlion masks his frown.
 
The Queen never knew the true reason why he left in the first place. He just put on a neutral expression as a sign of respect for Queen Aine.
 
Queen Aine never got married. She has been the Queen of the Air Fairies ever since King Merlion can remember.
 
Queen Aine has a more practical view on leadership. She does not believe in passing on the crown through the bloodline. She believes more on merits.  Any fairy can be made King or Queen, if he or she deserves to be one.
 
King Merlion recalls the Queen eyeing her sister Ava to be the Queen of the Blue Haven and not him.
 
Queen Aine feels that King Merlion lets his emotions get in the way of his duties as a King. Ava has always been seen as the proactive warrior princess that she has grown up to be.
 
"So where is your father and mother?"
 
Queen Aine asks him maintaining her poise.
 
"Princess Ava has come to tell them of your arrival. They will be here soon. Have a seat."
 
King Merlion offers the dais of Princess Ava, gesturing with his hands. He extends his arms to take the Queen's hand.
 
Queen Aine walks gracefully and places her hand on King Merlion's. He kisses it and then he assists her to sit.
 
The other Air fairies stand in line at her side. Not one interrupts their discourse.
 
Having no other topic to say, King Merlion allows his mind to wander in the past once more.
 
This time his mind comes to recall Cara, the wife of Marion, was once being groomed to be her successor as Queen of the White Haven. She is not within the bloodline of Queen Aine but that does not matter to the Queen.
 
Cara was a brilliant Air fairy learning the craft of healing. That was what brought her to the Green Haven in the first place. She is training to learn healing magic from Nurse Zella.
 
This led Cara to meeting Marion, his formidable ranger. The rest is history.
 
King Merlion guesses that it might be the main reason for Queen Aine's slight annoyance to him. He allowed his ranger to marry Queen Aine's successor. Maybe she never truly accepted the choices of Cara. She was against their union.
 
King Merlion's reverie ends with the arrival of Princess Ava with King Oberon and Queen Meridian behind her.
 
Queen Aine stands to acknowledge the presence of the King and Queen of the Water fairies.
 
She holds out her hand to King Oberon, which the King kisses as customary greeting. Queen Meridian embraces Queen Aine while Princess Ava curtseys.
 
"Welcome Queen Aine. We have waited a while for you to grace our realm with your radiant presence."
 
King Oberon sits on his throne.
 
Queen Meridian walks up to King Merlion and gives his son a tight hug. It has really been a while since her son was with her last.
 
Afterwards, she sits at her throne while Princess Ava stands beside her brother.
 
"King Oberon, we need to save King Hakan at once. Regardless of the possible casualties, we must take action or else that Alirion will think of us as weaklings. Besides, the King is of utmost importance."
 
Queen Aine seems to demand than suggest.
 
"Alirion is cunning enough to keep him alive for the moment, as a leverage, but who knows what that crazy fairy would decide to do next?"
 
Queen Aine continues in her discourse when no one seems to react.
 
"I would never have left the White Haven if not for this urgent matter between our realms."
 
The Queen of the Air Fairies points out.
 
"Queen Aine, are you suggesting to disregard the lives of the other fire fairies?"
 
King Merlion couldn't keep himself from blurting out.
 
Queen Aine glares at King Merlion, surprised by the young King's question.
 
King Oberon looks towards his son for the first time. His expression is a mixture of emotions.
 
He is deliberating whether to reprimand Merlion for his outburst, in line with his paternal point of view, or admire him for expressing his disapproval towards Queen Aine, realizing his son is a King too.
 
King Merlion glares at King Oberon in defiance.
 
Princess Ava immediately touches her brother's arm to caution him. Her brother should not let his anger towards their father be observed by the other Queen.
 
"Queen Aine, at some point I agree with you. King Hakan is our priority."
 
Princess Ava expresses her approval to shift the growing tension in the throne room.
 
"If we plan to rescue him, we couldn't send a lot of fairies to do that. It might trigger an all-out war between the fire fairies and the other fairies of the realms."
 
The Princess reminds Queen Aine.
 
"I plan to lead the rescue mission myself."
 
Princess Ava states further.
 
"King Merlion, I will bring Ailsa, our head ranger. The rest of the rangers can be from yours and Queen Aine's."
 
It seems Princess Ava has everything perfectly planned out already.
 
"Princess Ava, I will join you on this mission."
 
King Merlion insists.
 
"My brother, as King of the Earth fairies, you need to go to your realm. Your safety is important as well."
 
The Princess gently reminds her brother of his duty as a King. She understands his concern for her but she is a ranger. This is what she must do.
 
"Then, let Aramir come with you."
 
King Merlion decides.
 
"Cleon, you join them as well."
 
Queen Aine turns to the silver-haired fairy beside her.
 
Cleon bows in assent.
 
"Princess Ava, you have impressed me yet again."
 
Queen Aine addresses the Princess as compliment.
 
"Queen Aine, it is my duty as a trained ranger to strategize in advance."
 
Princess Ava replies to the Queen.
 
"So things are settled. Princess Ava, take extra caution."
 
King Oberon stands and embraces his daughter.
 
Princess Ava walks up to her Queen Mother and hugs her. She does the same to King Merlion.
 
The Princess and Cleon bow to all of them then turn to leave.
 
After their departure, King Merlion reaches out to his Queen Mother to take his leave as well.
 
"My son, can I have a word with you first?"
 
Queen Meridian does not let go of her son.
 
"Let us talk at the Turquoise grotto."
 
King Merlion suggests, taking his Queen Mother's hand.
 
Both bow to King Oberon and Queen Aine.
 
Queen Aine turns with a serious expression towards King Oberon.
 
Her face seems to question why King Oberon is impassive with his son's behavior.
 
She does not say a word but her gaze speaks volumes.