Chapter 49: Love amidst Uncertainty

King Merlion has been silent on their way back to the Green Haven. Queen Alina senses her King's lack of ease but tries to ignore it for the sake of their Princess who is presently very ecstatic that her two sets of parents have finally met.
Princess Aria does not notice her King Father's predicament because Queen Alina continues to discuss with her daughter how Marmee Rose really charms everyone with her superb cooking skills. Bran can very much be the proof of this since he is implying to join the group when the Princess feels she misses her human parents again. Bran volunteers to be her constant bodyguard for the trip to the human world.
The rest of the group is truly entertained by Bran. So upon their return to the Green Haven, Princess Aria does not notice anything odd about the King's silence. She joins the other rangers heading straight to training while the King and Queen retire to their quarters.
The Princess and the rangers go to the training grounds near the lake. It has been the busiest part of the Green Haven since the Heads of the Four Realms launch their comprehensive training of all the rangers in their respective realms in preparation for the mission to the Dark Mountains.
Aldar and Melandra resume their duties as the leader of the rangers in their realm.
Caspian is training with the bow and arrow weapon, along with some of the other rangers. Aldar oversees this group.
Princess Aria joins Melandra's rangers for dagger weapon training. Bran stays there too, as if intent on keeping his word earlier to be the Princess' body guard.
Aramir and Jeera train with the use of swords as they spot Orin and Cleo sparring in one corner of the grounds.
Alcon observes a group of rangers practicing their magic on the earth element.
This day is truly immersed in battle preparations. Meanwhile in the King's and Queen's sleeping quarters, King Merlion is having his own battle. This is rather more of a conflict in his mind and not of a physical one.
Upon discovery of the surprising truth of his supposedly anonymous half-brother, the King is still in shock how magic plays its part so well in creating opportunities for making sure things fall into place.
"Everything that has happened so far, from Alirion's rebellion, to our daughter's state of being a forgotten secret, then Caspian's encounter with Arianna, until now...my personal discovery of my brother..."
The King trails off and seems incoherent but not for his Queen.
"Merlion, what are the chances that my locket has chosen that particular house to entrust our daughter's safety?"
Queen Alina states the ongoing question that is running in her King's mind.
"Magic dwells all around us. We are all connected to this whole cosmic energy. All the elements; Earth, Water, Air and Fire are interwoven and bonded by love."
"That places everything in its proper order."
Queen Alina explains further with certainty.
"What should I do now? I feel like I would disturb this balance if I even let Reed know of his true identity. What about my father and mother? They have been growing close once more and if I speak of this knowledge, everything would start crumbling again."
King Merlion voices out his concerns one after the other.
"As for Reed, would he believe me on this truth? He has always lived a life of peace in the human world after all. I just started to get to know him. What would his reaction to us, as fairies when he realizes that my own father is the cause of his mother's misery?"
King Merlion continues.
Queen Alina gently holds King Merlion's face with both her hands to calm him down.
"My King, I think Reed has the right to know the truth about his life. We owe him that much for loving and protecting our daughter unconditionally without truly knowing who she is."
"I am positive that Reed would be able to handle this fairly well. Besides, he is family to us now not just for our Princess but by kinship as well."
Queen Alina's words are full of positivity that certainly assures King Merlion to be honest to his half-brother.
"Our Princess would be more than happy to hear about this. I am pretty sure your sister feels the same way."
The Queen adds.
"Let us then tell Aramir to send for my sister. We have to tell her first but not involve our King Father and Queen Mother yet."
This is what King Merlion firmly decides on.
***********
At the Blue Haven, the rangers have also been actively training under Princess Ava's close supervision. The Princess would like to be sure that her rangers are properly equipped with the skills for battle in such a treacherous place like the Dark Mountains.
Ailsa makes sure that their practice is regularly conducted. As their leader, it is her responsibility to ensure her people's safety. She would not fail her Princess ranger as well as her King and Queen.
Princess Ava gives strategies to the rangers on using the water elemental magic with minimal movements so their enemies would not predict what is coming to them.
"The key is total control of your connection to our water element which is most favorable to us, then combine it with our combatting skills."
Princess Ava instructs with utmost seriousness.
"You have been very busy my Princess."
Aramir comments as he enters unannounced.
"Aramir, your visit is unexpected. Aren't you busy as well in training?"
The Princess retorts back jokingly.
"I apologize to interrupt but my King requests your presence in our realm. It is about your half-brother."
Aramir states but does not elaborate anymore.
"In that case, it cannot wait. Let us go. Ailsa please assume training them now."
With the Princess' words, Ailsa bows in assent.
Aramir and the Princess rush back to the Green Haven at once.
***********
The Realm above the clouds is buzzing with excitement. The air fairies are finally witnessing their Queen's prowess as a fighter. Even Cleon could not help but admire their Queen's unwavering air magic and her fluid movements.
"My Queen, you have demonstrated flawlessly what our rangers should also be doing."
Cleon informs his Queen. He senses Queen Aine intends to join the rangers in their mission. Cleon knows the Queen's pride too well.
He waits for the Queen to dismiss the rangers in training. When they are the only ones left, he cautiously chooses his words for his Queen.
"Queen Aine, I wish you would not take my advice the wrong way. You are our Queen and we need your guidance here. It is commendable that you are training them yourself but I hope you do not intend to go to the Dark Mountains with us too."
Queen Aine does not reply to this but her frown directed to Cleon shows her disagreement with her head ranger.
"You know I am right. You are our Queen. Our people need you here."
Cleon takes advantage of his Queen silence. He has known her way too long to know when to push his point. For this matter the Queen is aware of the soundness of his advice.
"You need not prove yourself because our people would not forget the history of our four realms."
Cleon reminds her.
"Cleon enough of this talks. I shall be the judge of this. If I see that our rangers are ready, I would heed your advice."
Cleon bows to his Queen with a slight grin. He knows that Queen Aine's response is the closest to agreement that he could get from her.
**********
The Fire Lord waits impatiently for Haco to report to him after their last expedition at the Ogres' cavern for several days now.
If he would be the only one to decide, he would have rushed to those forsaken mountains by now and burned them all to the ground.
However, he is aware that he should keep the arrangement he made with the realms to take action in unity. So he just sends his rangers to scout just around the foot of the mountains.
Haco's entrance interrupts his musings.
"My king, the ogres, or whatever was left of them has fled to the Dark Mountains. We would have followed them there but I have to obey your command."
"No need to explain yourself. I am just waiting for the other realms to be ready. I know you are all eager for this as much as I am."
Haco nods in agreement.
***********
Back at the Green Haven, Princess Ava goes to the King immediately. She is so much eager to find out what her brother has to say.
Aramir finds Aldar resting as he observes Melandra from a distance.
"You know Aldar, for a brave and very outspoken ranger like you, it would seem that there is only one fairy you could not challenge."
Aramir startles Aldar with his keen observation on his strange relationship with Melandra.
"When did you get so smart about those things?"
Aldar retorts back to deflect Aramir's comment.
"I have seen how you react to her. You are equal yet you seem to favor so much Melandra's opinions. You prioritize her among other rangers."
Aramir pushes some more.
"Aldar, you have to be honest to yourself and to her. You have been given this chance. I know this because I faced death too. Now, I live my life making sure that I show how I feel to the one I deeply care for."
Aramir would not give it a rest.
Aldar stares at him incredulously then glances from afar at Melandra polishing her daggers.
"Go on Aldar."
Aramir encourages him once more.
Aldar makes an attempt to fix his long hair in a knot. Then he conjures a ring of interweaving leaves.
Aldar walks up to Melandra.
Melandra wears a puzzled expression.
"What is going on Aldar?"
Melandra gets suspicious for Aldar's serious expression.
"Mel, I am sorry to have waited for so long to tell you...being asleep for a very long time ironically awakens me."
Aldar pauses.
Melandra stares at Aldar waiting for him to make sense.
"I love you Mel. Will you marry me?"
Aldar finds the courage to say this as he bends a knee in front of his long time ranger partner.
"Finally...I thought you would never ask."
Melandra replies with pure joy in her eyes.
Aldar stands and takes Melandra's hand to position the leaf ring round her finger.
"Woot! Woot!"
Bran whistles loudly while Aramir claps continuously.
The rangers who witness this exchange of love were overjoyed for both rangers.
Love amidst uncertainty is a symbol of the strength that binds any kind of beings together. The willingness to take a chance despite the lacking of a definite outcome shows courage to be selfless.