"Perhaps a tiny bite from this apple will save him. Surely, a little blemish like that will not hurt its magic. There will be enough to heal Zora, won't it?" went through Aidan's head. Luckily, he did not have to dread for long. A bit of water squirted from his beak. He jerked, coughing and heaving, still very much alive. The tiny fairy let out a sigh of relief, almost fainting from exhaustion.
"Oh!" Viniria uttered, landing to hug him.
"Chirp," the bird uttered, shaking his wet head. "That was close."
Aidan grinned from joy, wiping a tear from his eye. "Thank Heavens. I thought I lost you."
The fiery bird ruffled his feathers. "Perish the thought. I am way too lovely to be gone so soon."
The fairy creatures laughed out loud.
"You will be alright," Vinira smiled wholeheartedly. The fairy queen smiled, tired. The act of healing has taken a lot out of her.
It was time for him to return home. Since Chirp was still weak, only Viniria was to accompany him.
"Are you sure you are going to be alright, tiny friend?" he asked softly.
"With care like this, how can I complain?" the bird joked as a group of gorgeous fairies stood beside him. Their pet birds observed from the branches.
Vinira glanced at the sulky Flora. "You did not need to strain yourself so much, and yet… Thank you for saving our friend."
"It was nothing. Fortunately, he is quite small. If it was a larger creature, there might not be hope for him," she replied.
"Still, I did not know you had such powers."
Flora shrugged. "When you have eaten so many golden apples. Some of their magic passes on to you."
Viniria nodded, as if wanting to say something more. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier," she begrudgingly uttered.
"That is alright," Flora quickly replied. "I'm sorry I overreacted and nearly drowned you three."
Viniria shook her head. "Typical Flora. Nothing about you has changed. Except your size," she teased.
The fairy queen made a face, as if mad. "What can I say? Drama is in my blood. Now go away before you anger me again," she declared.
They hurried, not knowing that, at that very same moment, Zora was in the middle of bringing a new life.
"I hope they will take good care of Chirp," Aidan said as they approached the place where Viniria had buried the portal ring.
"I am sure they will. And, by the way, your secret is safe with me," the fairy added, floating by his side. Her shiny wings made a trail behind her which caused the forest guardian to groan in utter annoyance.
"I'm happy to hear that. I hope you understand now why I had to keep him hidden."
"I assumed as much, too bad none of the human's can ever find out," she replied.
The handsome prince glanced at her. "Say, now that you know about Chirp, would you quench my curiosity about something?" he added, slightly reluctant.
The forest guardian shrugged. "What is it that you wish to know about?"
"Well, I have to admit that I do not know much about your life before you so... graciously walked into ours."
She hummed. "That is true. You were never around when I was telling Zora my stories."
"Yes... I realize now that it was quite rude of me. But hopefully, you won't hold it against me."
"Not at all. It's more your loss than mind. Now, what is it that you want to know?"
"Well, I suppose my first question is how long have you and Flora known each other?"
The disguised forest guardian puffed. "Seems like a millennium at this point. I've known her since she was this tall," she said extending her slim hand somewhere around Aidan's forearm.
"Really," he gasped. "What happened?"
"Magic," she shrugged.
"Oh," he mumbled. "That truly does not tell me much."
She shook her head, somber. "You have to understand, young Aidan... When I say magic, I do not mean a few glowing trinkets or spells that may bring rain. Magic for my kind is a way of life. A powerful element that was the reason of our existence. Once it ran its course, life did not end for us. However, it did not seem as appealing as before."
"I see," he muttered amazed. "And what caused its end?"
"Who knows," she declared with another sad shrug. "It was gradual you see, but in some ways, it happened all at once. For some creatures, it was as if all colors faded into a boring shade of gray. That's about the time the fairy men started dying out."
"Oh," the king uttered politely. "I am so sorry to hear that. I never even assumed it was so difficult for you. So was there anyone special you were interested in?"
"What do you mean by that?" Viniria blurted, making him gulp.
"Forgive me! I overheard your argument with Flora, so I simply assumed," he stuttered.
The fairy guardian stared at him, amused by his expression. "Oh that. No, he was no one special. Simply a way to get under her skin and on her nerves," she chuckled. "We fairy creatures are not like you humans, in that regard. We are more like plants, growing our young in flower buds."
"How peculiar," he looked up amazed, waving at the rock creature family as they passed. "So many interesting things I had no clue about. My, dear guardian. I must say I am ashamed. It is as if, despite your generous contribution, I have not made proper effort to get to know you. I cannot apologize enough," he bowed humble.
"Please, dear prince," Viniria swayed her delicate arm. "There is nothing to apologize for."
"Still, I wish to convey that, like my wife, I too consider you my close friend."
She raised her nose boastful. "Thank you, Aidan. I do appreciate that. What can I say, I have lived a long and happy life. Filled with adventures beyond your wildest imaginations. Our lovely Zora was more than thrilled to listen to me ramble on."
He hummed, with a sense of dread returning to the forefront of his mind.
"I hope she is doing well," he uttered.
"I hope so too," the fairy added quietly.
Finally reaching the barrier, Viniria hurried, with her wings fluttering like those of a hummingbird. Passing through it, she sighed relieved, as her tiny body returned to its original form. "Freedom," she smiled, gliding her rough bark face.
The young prince dug out the bag. Still sweaty from intense labor, he smiled hearing the metallic sound and eagerly held up the sparkling circle. "Take me to my love," he declared as the hole filled with bluish light. Stepping out, he landed on unfamiliar gravel. The noise of war hit his earlobes like thunder. He gawked flabbergasted as the cavalry charged right towards him.
The army led by his brother was almost at the gate. The horses neighed, spooked by a bright circle appearing just outside the gigantic entrance. The knights yelled with their swords high.