Chapter 50: Reunited

"What? Is that true? Aldar and Melandra are getting married?"
Caspian shouts at Bran in surprise.
"Yes, who would have thought that years of sleeping would make them arrive to that conclusion?"
Bran affirms to Caspian.
The news of the ranger's heartwarming scene at the practice ground reaches every ear of any earth fairy in the whole Green Haven.
"King Merlion and Queen Alina are in the great hall presently with the newly engaged couple."
Bran excitedly narrates.
"That would be such a happy tale for the two."
Princess Aria points out. She smiles while recalling all the wonderful things she experienced so far in her stay at the fairy realm. She still feels like she's inside a fairytale book every now and then.
Her thoughts came to her best friend Jo. She is usually the first person she tells such amazing stories to when she was still here. Suddenly, something crosses her mind.
"Caspian what is the date today?"
The Princess asks.
Caspian shrugs indicating his uncertainty too.
"Why do you ask Princess?"
Bran inquires.
"Oh my, I totally forgot about it. If I am correct, Jo would be arriving soon."
Princess Aria recalls excitedly.
"I will ask Queen Mother if I can stay for a while there. I have to be there when Jo arrives."
Princess Aria runs off to the great hall with so much enthusiasm.
"I can't wait to meet this friend of hers. Our Princess seems all excited about it."
Bran comments with curiosity, visibly as enthusiastic as the Princess.
"Who says you're coming?"
Caspian replies teasingly.
"If you must know, I have been granted by the King to be Princess Aria's personal guard whenever she goes to the human world."
Bran proudly snaps back.
"Oh, by human world you mean the Princess' house right? Come on admit it, you are just interested with the food!"
Caspian laughs knowing that he is right.
"Oh yeah? Who knows if I should need to guard our Princess when she encounters blondie boy again?"
Bran banters on.
Caspian's face speaks volumes.
Bran gives a victorious laughter aware that he touched Caspian's sensitivity on this topic.
***********
"We are so happy for you my friend."
King Merlion gives Aldar a congratulatory hug.
"Thank you my King. It was Aramir who gave a little push to my confidence. I think Marion's prodigy gets smarter every day."
Aldar says jokingly.
Queen Alina shares the same delight for her friend Melandra.
"I thought Aldar would never have the courage at all. Mel, I am so overjoyed for you."
The Queen exclaims.
"When would you have the ceremony?"
King Merlion casually inquires.
"Aldar and I have decided that we should fulfill our duties first. We have to finish what we have started. We must deal with Alirion first."
Melandra gazes meaningfully at Aldar.
"We would do this for Marion."
Aldar does not elaborate on this anymore. He knows that both the King and Queen understand their decision as rangers.
"We are sure that Marion and Cara would be so ecstatic if they are here right now. Finally, after all these years, our two closest friends would be officially partners at last."
Queen Alina says a bit softly to suppress her own feelings. She does not like dampen the mood of everyone in her mention of a very important fairy in their circle of friends.
"To Marion...and Cara!"
Aldar suddenly says as he reaches out for Melandra's hands.
The room seems to fill with loving thoughts on their lost friends.
The King and Queen have always considered their circle of friends as family. Aldar and Melandra...Marion and Cara.
"King Father and Queen Mother, could I stay with Popsie Reed and Marmee Rose for a while? I know Jo, my best friend would be returning from Alaska with her parents soon. I would like to be there when she gets back."
Princess Aria barges in without any formal greetings due to her eagerness to be present upon her friend's arrival.
She stops at her tracks realizes her outburst and bows to the group.
"My Princess, of course you can stay there. I think your aunt Ava would be interested to join you in your vacation."
King Merlion replies casually but looks to his Queen meaningfully.
"I think she likes to get to know your Popsie and Marmee a bit more."
Queen Alina adds to justify King Merlion's earlier words.
"I think Bran wouldn't want to be left behind."
Princess Aria reminds them.
"Alright my Princess, let Caspian join too. He could return here anytime when needed."
King Merlion suggests.
"Thank you so much, father and mother. This means a lot to me."
Princess Aria embraces her fairy parents at the same time.
"Congratulations and best wishes to you Aldar and Melandra. I am so happy for you."
"Thank you Princess. If not for you, we would still be stuck in our dreams."
Melandra points out.
"We are sleeping together but that's it."
Aldar could not help joke about their past predicament.
"But seriously Princess, we are forever indebted to you for this second chance for us."
Aldar adds, more seriously now.
"I believe that you have also given me something to be thankful for. You have chosen the best human parents I could ever live with for over sixteen years. It all worked out for all of us."
Aldar steals a glance towards King Merlion.
"And now we are in this very joyous moment for two selfless rangers who are meant for each other after all."
Princess Aria continues, not noticing Aldar's gesture.
"So, I would like to apologize for my intrusion. I would like to prepare something special for my best friend's arrival."
With that, Princess Aria bows to everyone and takes her leave.
The anticipation for finally getting reunited with her best friend can be seen all over her face as she leaves the great hall.
After the Princess' departure, Melandra stares at her the Queen questioningly.
"You have not revealed to the Princess of her true relation with her human father?"
Melandra confirms the cluelessness of the Princess.
"I think it is not yet the right time for it. Princess Ava and I agreed to inform our father first before making any move. Reed does not deserve to be miserable with us. He is contented with his life in the human world. It would be an injustice to complicate his life for now with my family's history."
"I granted my sister her request to spend some time with Reed. So, I think this trip with our daughter to see her friend would be a great opportunity for r Princess Ava to get acquainted and reunited with our human brother somehow."
King Merlion explains but seems to be convincing himself too. He feels the burden of this new secret. He thought that his family is done with such things.
For now, he owes to his half human brother his peace,
***************
Aldar and Melandra join the roster of visitors at the last minute. Both are eager to meet Popsie Reed and Marmee Rose from the house with the blue door.
At the moment, the fairy visitors are seated comfortably on the sofa at the living room. The fairy folks were able to finally enter the house. Melandra's and Aldar's combined magic counter acts the spell previously cast over sixteen years ago for Princess Aria's protection from any magical being.
The fairies are now having tea and chatting lively with their human hosts.
Princess Ava casually requested Popsie Reed to narrate to their group the tale he once shared a few days ago with her brother. The Princess is cautious not to ask about it earlier when the younger fairies were still present.
Currently, the only ones left to hear about this tale are Aldar, Melandra and herself. Princess Aria, Caspian and Bran are outside at the Willow tree. Marmee Rose is busily preparing dinner for all of them.
The Princess ranger intends to hear with her own ears the "Tale of the Water Prince".
Popsie Reed narrates with the same serious expression. It seems to give him a feeling of melancholy each time he recalls that particular story.
Aldar and Melandra listens intently as well which gives them the missing piece of the puzzle on why the magical locket chose this couple to entrust their princess to, way back when she was still a baby.
"That is such a sad tale. Your mother seems to confuse children stories. Isn't it supposed to be happy endings for fairy tales?"
Princess Ava tries to sound plain with her question though her motive is to get to know the human whom her father loved.
"I thought that way too. When I was younger, it seems just one of those fairytales about love. When I grew up, I felt like my mother made that up because it was her way to ease her loneliness for my father's death."
Popsie Reed rationalizes himself.
"All I know is that she misses him and this town. When she died, I moved here hoping to understand her better and to feel closer to her even though she passed away already."
"That led me to Rose."
Popsie Reed gazes lovingly at Marmee Rose from afar. He wears that bright smile once more.
"It's dinner time. I hope you all like baked beans and salads. I roasted chicken too."
Marmee Rose announces.
"Reed kindly call the young ones now."
Bran bursts through the door without any warning.
"Is it time to eat already? Mmm, that smells soooo delicious. Let's eat?"
Bran blurts out all these words, not giving time for anyone to react anymore.
Caspian and Princess Aria come in with confused faces.
"What happened to you Bran? You suddenly left us there."
Caspian asks, very concerned.
"I knew it! It's the food again!"
Caspian answers his own question upon smelling the food as well.
Everyone laughs then seated themselves to share the lovely dinner that Marmee Rose prepared.
Princess Aria stares around her with a contented expression. She is glad to be back home once more.
She just has to wait a few more days until she is reunited with her best friend. That, she could do patiently.