Chapter 37: Family Affairs

The throne room seems cold and empty. A certain melancholy can be felt though the place is brightly lit by the rays of the sun seeping through the huge windows left wide open so the breeze of the afternoon winds fans the interior.
 
The King of the Green Haven sits on his throne with his right hand under his chin in deep thought.
He went straight to his throne upon his arrival in his realm.
 
But wait... Is this place really his home? He starts to doubt himself after the long, exhausting and emotional dialogue he just had with his own family back in the Blue Haven. Apparently, he is still very much involved in the affairs there. He sighs deeply in his frustration.
 
Though he tried staying away all those years, his belief that his hurt and disappointment for his parents' past would heal was a mistake.
 
Until now, all the secrets and the feelings that go with them linger in his being.
 
How can this be so complicated?
 
King Merlion recalls how shock his King Father was when he found out that he has a half human son. His father was almost in tears with all the guilty feelings in his heart. But King Merlion was not sure if it is from his realization that he had another son whom he failed to be a good father to or it is from his remorse that his philandering has a more concrete proof.
 
King Oberon, his father, has always been such a complex fairy. It is difficult to say what his actions really imply. Nevertheless, he surely looks affected by all the revelations.
 
As for his Mother, Queen Meridian, it is ironic that she is the one feeling guilty for hiding her knowledge of the illegitimate child of his husband from a human. All she did was cry the whole duration of the family reveal.
 
It was only Princess Ava, his sister, who took things with a level head. She has decided that they should find out what happened to this half-brother but not until she was sure that Aramir was in good hands before starting such a quest.
 
Princess Ava even joined him in bringing Aramir back here to be healed by Nurse Zella. She refuses to leave Aramir's side with her view that Aramir saved her life from the Dark fairy when they rescued the Fire Lord and freed the rest of the fire fairies.

King Merlion shakes his head and smiles a bit. His little sister never fails to impress him. She is more than worthy to lead the Water fairies, much, much more than their father and he put together. She has always been the most reasonable one in their family after all.
 
Presently, King Merlion is so grateful that all their family secrets are out in the open. Well just among the four of them. The whole realm need not know of his Father's indecency. He might hate his father for that but not that much to let him lose face among their kin.
 
He is a father himself now and for your family, you would do everything to avoid them from getting hurt.
 
His mind moves to another family that needs the same honesty that he tried to establish in his own, which is why he is in the throne room right now. He is waiting for his Queen to join him in this most difficult of task.
 
Right in time with his thoughts, Queen Alina enters the throne room. She rushes to her King who stands from his throne to meet her half way. She gives him a loving embrace.

King Merlion sighs once more. His Queen has always been his source of inner peace. She is aware of his internal battles.
 
"Are you ready for this, my love?"
 
The Queen looks straight into the King's eyes to make sure he is truly up to the task at hand.
 
The King nods in assent but definitely full of sadness in his eyes.
 
The door of the throne room suddenly opens and Princess Aria enters in a hurry.
 
"My Princess, what are you doing here?"
 
The King stares in his daughter's direction, truly surprised with her entrance.
 
Queen Alina takes his King's hand and leads him to sit with her at their thrones.
 
"My King father, I apologize for my intrusion but Queen Mother told me that you would be speaking with Caspian."
 
The Princess is in a rush to explain herself.
 
"I am sorry if I have been having a fight with Caspian when he was training me in your absence. I know he didn't mean to hurt me on purpose. I demand from him not to hold back so I would truly be able to learn to fight."
 
Princess Aria continues with her narration a bit flushed from sprinting to the throne room. She intends to get there first ahead of Caspian in the notion of explaining the incident at the lake.
 
"My Princess, whatever transpired during the training is definitely not the reason why I am set to talk to Caspian. Besides, whatever goes on in training you is based on Caspian's best judgment. He is a sensible ranger after all, just like his father."
 
King Merlion stops short in his discourse upon remembrance of his task.
 
"This is of a different matter."
 
The King's words are almost inaudible.
 
"So what is this about then?" Princess Aria asks with much interest now.
 
The King gazes towards the Queen by his side for a little help.
 
"My Princess, this matter is more about Caspian's past than anything you are worried about."
 
"Please my child, have a seat. You might as well stay so you would understand Caspian's situation better."
 
The Queen motions to the other throne by her side.
 
Princess Aria goes to her throne with a puzzled expression but stays silent this time.
 
After a while Caspian enters and bows to them. He is a bit wary seeing Princess Aria there too.
 
"My King and Queen, Bran told me that you would like to speak to me?"
 
"If this is about my behavior during training..."
 
Caspian is about to explain further but the King raises one of his hands. The ranger stops in midsentence.
 
It is Queen Alina who speaks first.
 
"Caspian, you need not explain anything about it. In fact we are grateful for your help in training the Princess."
 
Caspian looks to the Princess' direction with a smile. Princess Aria scowls a bit but changes her expression quickly.
 
"Caspian, it is however us who owes you an apology."
 
King Merlion says in all humility.
 
Caspian's facial expression turns to confusion. Why do they need to apologize? He thought to himself.
 
"Caspian this is about your father Marion and your mother Cara." Queen Alina interjects to aid the King in his explanation.
 
Caspian's expression changes to sadness.
 
"My King and Queen, you need not be apologetic for what happened. My father did his duty as a ranger and my mother's death is on me."
 
Princess Aria remains silent on her seat but is tempted to go to Caspian to console him.
 
The King starts to speak again.
 
"Caspian, it is true that the death of your father is in the hands of the Dark fairy but you have to know the whole truth of the matter. It is our responsibility to reveal to you something of grave importance which is part of your past and also of the present."
 
Both Caspian and Princess Aria are clueless of what the King is talking about.
 
"Caspian, your mother Cara is not an Earth fairy. She is an Air fairy. But your father and mother fell in love so I gave them my blessing to be wed. Queen Alina and I have the same circumstances too. So each fairy has the right to choose their beloved."
 
"Though your mother truly wanted to be a great healer for her realm and the possibility of being their future queen, her love for your father made her decide to stay with us. They built a life here in the Green Haven."
 
King Merlion narrates slowly.
 
"So I am both an Earth and Air fairy?" Caspian asks curiously.
 
"Yes Caspian but that is not all that was hidden from you. We decided not to tell you about your mother's true lineage to prevent you from discovering something more complicated about her affinities."
 
King Merlion takes a slight pause as if doubting if he should still continue.
 
"We have always considered Cara as part of the Earth realm. She is a healer herself and that is surely one of the qualities our people embody. However, she has a sibling."
 
"Wait, are you saying I have a living blood relative?"
 
Caspian interrupts the King once more from his excitement in finding out about a kin.
 
"This is where the tragedy begins... Cara has a half-brother among the fire fairies. Her Air fairy father had a son but never recognized even in his death."
 
"However, your mother loved her half-brother just the same. But her brother grew up being bitter about his father's rejection and strived to be the greatest fire fairy he could be. It was only his sister who tries to give him guidance again and again though his bitterness grows inside him."
 
"With Cara's death, her brother lost any good in his spirit."
 
"He isolated himself and delved in dark magic. He blames his loneliness to all the fairies whom he thought stole his chance to be great or stood on his way."
 
"In his twisted mind, he blames your father for stealing his sister and having you lead to her death."
 
King Merlion stops his narration abruptly. He looks so tired by now.
 
Caspian is speechless as he process all the information revealed to him after so many years of living with this unknown tragic past.
 
His eyes widens upon realization of his mother's half-brother whom his King spoke of.
 
"No... he killed father!"
 
Caspian shouts in anguish.
 
Princess Aria cannot contain herself anymore. She stands and approaches Caspian to embrace him.
 
Caspian welcomes the Princess' comforting arms. He clings to her tightly just like when they were in the human world.
 
Suddenly, she is not the Princess anymore. She is the girl named Anna who saw him at the Willow tree.
 
Caspian can sense his legs would give up and he would stumble if not for the Princess in his arms too.
 
However, Caspian refuses to show his pain. He controls himself so he would not shed any tear in front of his King and Queen.
 
"I'm sorry about all this Caspian."
 
The Princess cannot find any other words to say. She wants to make things better for him but she feels helpless too.
 
King Merlion and Queen Alina stares at them in silent pity. They are aware of the pain in knowing a past that haunts you even in the present.
 
But they are truly convinced that they did the right thing. They have concealed it from Caspian for he was still young then. They would not wish for him to be full of anger growing up.
 
Telling him now that he is all grown up would give him a clearer perspective of what he should do.
 
Queen Alina hopes for Caspian to turn to forgiveness towards his uncle, Alirion. But King Merlion is aware of the pain of betrayal. He has doubts in the outcome that his Queen hopes for.
 
This time, a heavy burden falls on Caspian's shoulders. How does he see the Dark fairy now?