Strange Magic Week Day 2: Potionless & Childhood. And because I’m trash and I’m stuck on this Queen Dawn AU, its a continuation of “a new queen” and spurred by this.
It is her second Spring Elf Festival since she has become Queen. Part of her is torn to just lie and say that she does not feel well and the other part is beyond excited to dance and maybe see him again.
Though she can’t act as brash and wild as she once did, chasing after a head of black hair and a smile so wide, there is no doubt that she is looking forward to the festival. Queen or not, she is still Dawn--energetic and social as ever.
As a child she would come with her family, holding onto her sister’s hand, her blue eyes sparkling to do things unfairy. The lights would sparkle and the village would sing songs that only Elves knew and she would try to learn the words. He would be there too, standing beside her, teaching her his customs as if nothing else matter.
At the time, nothing else mattered than spending time with him. It was during one such year, after the fireworks boomed and the moon was full in the sky, that they swore on pinkies: best friends till the end.
Cross my heart and hope to die. Stick a needle in my eye.
You don’t have to do that, Sunny! You’ll never break your promise!
As she grew older, she no longer held on to her sister’s hand, but instead was rushed forward on pink and orange wings, catching breezes to get there faster. Her father would call after her warning her to not be so flirtatious, but she would send him a cheeky smile over her shoulder and his small smile admitted his surrender. During those years, she would sing and dance with him, knowing that if he was by her side, the evening would always remain lighthearted.
So, I know that Aaron didn’t work out, but what about Bryce?
It’s okay, silly. I think I just want to hang out with my bestie.
Then one Elf Festival, they weren’t friends anymore, but something more. Of course, that is ignoring the entire fiasco with the love potion he got and the almost war between the two kingdoms, but at the end of the day, things were different between them.
I love you, Dawn.
I love you too, Sunny.
Remember those words still made her heart soar.
At the next Elf Festival a year later, she didn’t rush on breezes to dance or sing or meet other boys. She fluttered slowly, his hand in hers, and neither yet go for entire evening.
Can I have this dance, you know, with my girlfriend?
I would love to have this dance with my boyfriend!
Of course, both were grinning like made and giggling, but people paid them no mind. Young love, they would whisper.
And that’s how it was for a few years, just she and him, attached to the hip more than ever, closer than deemed possible. It was better than naps in the sun, better than warm food on a cool Autumn day, better than seeing a shoot star.
Her name may be Dawn, but he was her Sun.
But even suns have to set, days do not last forever as things change. Like a second born becoming Queen. And sometimes, it’s a bit difficult dating a monarch when society doesn’t approve, when culture does not want to bend.
This year, though, she is again without family and is, of course, without him. She’s not racing to get her and she’s not rushing to dance. Instead, she’s on the arm of her latest suitor, a handsome fellow from her Court. Together they amble in together, her wearing a modest gown of sweet pea petals, her hair loose.
“If I must say, Your Majesty,” Ian began, his deep blue eyes dazzling, “you look giddy this evening.”
She gives him a coy grin, a trick she’s learned with maturity. “Well,” she giggles, “I do love a good dance.”
His pale hand tightens on hers and for a moment, she thinks this isn’t right--I have to look up to speak to him!--the color of their skin too similar. “That you do,” he compliments, his voice too refined for her tastes.
As they get closer to the stage, she can hear him singing, his voice bold and loud, a surprise for his tiny stature. The Elves chitter and chatter, their manners relaxed even when they meet their Queen.
“Evenin’, Queeny!”
“Dawn’s here--oops--er, Queen Dawn is here!”
“Hey-o, Majesty!”
Her companion bristles at her side, reaching for his sword as if he was insulted, but Dawn pushes his hand away, more excited to meet with her old friends.
With a huff, she can’t help but blow her bangs out of her face, but her grin is so wide as she goes to hug her dear friends. With peppered kisses, she scolds, “Oh, you all know you can call me Dawn!”
She can hear Ian gasp behind her, his gold and red wings twitching behind him, causing a gust of air. She rolls her eyes as she gives Pare a tight hug, jokingly whispering “Fairies, am I right?”
When she returns to her escort, Ian still looks flushed, unsure what to do because fairies are usually more reserved then other creatures. The singing as stopped, she notices, but doesn’t want to make a comment on it either. “Customs are just different here,” she teases.
Ian stares, running a hand through blond hair and once again, she’s disturbed at how similar they look. “Yeah, you can say that...”
She smiles warm and almost hops up to him, feeling more spirited than she has in a long time. “You can home, Ian,” she says softly. “You don’t have to stay.”
He gulps, nervous and unsure what to do. “But Your Majesty...”
She pats him playfully on the shoulder, and gestures to the exit. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell.”
His shoulders sag, relief coursing through him, it seems. Dawn laughs politely, into the back of her hand. He gives her a small smile and kisses her hand, but she feels nothing, nothing like when someone else use to do this. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
But she grins and waves for him to go. “Don’t be. My sister will be here soon.”
He nods, feeling more than uncomfortable with Elfish tradition, and scurries back to the Fairy City across the Light Fields.
Sighing to herself, she’s miffed that another one has left her for one reason or another, but she’s decided to make the best of it. She loves the Elf Festival after all. More so than the Spring Dance.
She fondly looks at the stalls, glancing over all people, her gaze trailing over bright lights and glowing smiles. She wanted to have fun this evening, to let down her hair--literally!--but she will not let this evening go to waste. Even if...
“Hi, Dawn,” she hears a voice beside her, making her yip as she looks down to find who was there.
“Oh Sunny!” she laughs a little too loudly, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment, “Didn’t see you there...”
At one time, he would have laugh and made it into a joke, but now his strong jaw just clenches. But he takes a deep breath, smoothing his dark hands over his overalls, attempting to grin at her.
It reminds her of when her sister couldn’t really smile and makes her heart twist.
“So,” he beings, his eyes darting around her, as if looking for something. “Where did you escort go?”
A part of her is hurt at the bitterness in his tone, but another part is warmed by it. Maybe tonight she will feel brave enough to snatch what is rightfully hers.
But for now, she swallows and tries not to be awkward. “It wasn’t working out.” Biting her lip, she meets his eye, “Some people don’t love the Elf Festival the way I do.” Suddenly, the air is different, becoming something she recognizes.
Sunny’s features soften, his eyes going wide as if she has whispered a deep secret. Licking his lips, he moves a bit closer, his head going further back to look at her, his eyes filling with old trust. His voice is so soft, she almost doesn’t hear it. “Do you still love them the way that you did?”
She feels like this question has another meaning and her heart skips a beat, unbelieving that fate has give her this chance. Her hands twist together, her voice low, her face flaming hot. “I think so, but I would like to experience them again too.”
He clears in throat, but swiftly sticks a pinkie out. “Cross your heart?”
Her hear is warming faster in her chest, the feeling caressing her with familiar hands. She circles hers around his, “Hope to die.”
Yet like Ian, he presses her hand to his lips and is jolted by the touch.
“Can I have this dance then?”
And for the second time this evening, she feels more alive than ever. “Of course.”
