#fairytower

He had to make his rounds and then tend to the prince. He got up and went through his morning routine. Halting briefly as he picked out some clothes. Usually, he didn’t care much. Going for a simple standard uniform. But the prince had been quite sullen lately. And today, of all days, Virgil wanted to give him a reason to smile. If only briefly.

His mind made up he picked out the double layered purple skirt with intricate silver patterns, the matching leaf top that was a pain to button up on his own but he managed to do so without being bothered too much by his wings. He put on the dark hood with the silver leaf clasp, black pants and his good armor boots. He carefully picked up his captain’s crown, a silver branch that went from temple to temple around the back of his head and his sword. He never ceased to feel the weight of responsibility that these symbols of his calling carried.

He rarely bothered with the crown nowadays. Feeling undeserving of the nobility it implied and lacking an audience that needed reminders of his standing which did not match his 20 years. But he was all dressed up in his ceremonial wear so he might as well go all the way.

The prince loved pretty things and he ‘d gushed about this uniform plenty in the past.

Virgil went down to check on the princes’ caretaker and to get some breakfast.

“Good morning, Patton,” he greeted. Patton looked up from his oven and grinned widely as he whipped his hands on his messy apron.

“Well, don’t you look nice today Virgil!” he exclaimed, his light blue butterfly wings fluttering in excitement as Virgil took some bread and cheese.

“I’d hug you but I wouldn’t dare ruin that fabulous outfit,” he teased.

Virgil allowed a smile but straightened his back. He was still working. He was always working since they came to this forsaken tower.

“Yes, I felt that the occasion called for it. Just one more year,” he said formally.

Patton nodded, a soft longing in his eyes. “I’m sure the princes will be happy with that. The last four years have been pretty hard on them.”

Virgil nodded. “The Duke of the dark forest seems to make do mostly. I’m more worried about his highness our future king,” he admitted. “I fear he takes harder to us being in exile with him than to his own isolation.” Not that the prince would admit to it. He could see it though. Any time anyone gave even the smallest indication of longing for home or even just the grassy field beyond the walls of their tower and the Prince seemed to bow under his guilt over their circumstances. Circumstances that weren’t his fault. It was the dragon witch, his uncle, who had made the threats and his father, the king, who chose to hide his son until his coronation. And their companionship was all by choice. They all volunteered to join the prince, including his brother.

“Well, maybe having a handsome knight like yourself bring him this special birthday pie will cheer him up!” Patton suggested as he uncovered a delicious looking pie and nudged it towards Virgil who chose to ignore the handsome knight comment. “Janus already took the duke’s pie downstairs. I believe the young prince fell asleep in the training room again,” Patton stated with an exasperated but fond sigh.

“I rather he expends his energy in that room than anywhere he can be a hazard to us. I’m sure Master Logan would agree,” he stated as he carefully picked up the pie. Patton nodded. “He and Janus have their hands full teaching those boys,” he admitted.

“Well, some things never change,” Virgil grinned before nodding at Patton in goodbye and making his way up. He could hear the sound of Prince Remus going on about something to Janus downstairs. He didn’t understand what, but the Duke’s voice was unmistakable.

He passed Master Logan’s study. Logan had been the one to take him in as a young troubled kid and given him the education and opportunities he needed to make it where he was today. Patton was nice and kind. But if Virgil had to point at anyone he felt closest to in this tower, it would be Logan.

Not counting the prince, his future king, but that was unfair.

Virgil had been dedicated to his protection and wellbeing since he was twelve. And they’d been as close as a commoner or a guard could hope to be with the heir to the fairy throne.

His loyalty and devotion were unwavering. And he felt like the prince cared for and appreciated him. People gossiped and teased about it. But Virgil didn’t care. And neither did the prince.

“Your highness?” Virgil asked as he knocked on the door carefully.

“Come in,” the prince’s voice called.

Virgil walked in and found his prince sitting on the windowsill looking out over their surroundings. He was wearing a white dress with golden edges, around his waist a red band that had a long red cape attached to the back, standing it would likely end at his ankles. His big, elegant red wings, befitting his status, fluttering slowly in longing for the sky he was looking at.

He wasn’t wearing his golden flower crown, which was an indication to his saddened mood. It broke Virgil’s heart. He was aware that after today, he’d known the prince longer in captivity than he’d known him when he was happy and free.

Virgil straightened his back and spread his wings, he had to put on a strong front, for the Prince’s sake here. No drooping wings, no wavering posture.

Virgil’s wings weren’t as elegant as those of the prince and the duke's, or pretty like Patton’s nor where they practical and modest like Janus’ or Logan’s.

On the streets of the capitol he’d gotten in a lot of trouble for wings shaped like those of a dragon. But at the court, it was a something for which he was to be respected. Still, Virgil had trouble to unlearn the bad things he’d been taught about it. The prince’s uncle was born with the same wing type. But he’d gone down a dark path, leading to his nickname. But at the court no one judged Virgil for the actions of a man he’d never met.

Wingtypes weren’t genetically. They revealed something about your inner self. Or so people believed. Their color their shape. It all supposedly played a part. Anyway, none of that was important right now.

“Patton asked me to bring you something to eat,” he said as he walked to the small table in the room and put down the pie. The prince sighed and finally looked towards Virgil and his eyes widened.

“Virgil… You look stunning,” he said.

Virgil fought down a blush. The prince never bothered with formalities, not when they were kids and by the time he turned sixteen and people started to tell him that he couldn’t be so casual with staff members, his life was threatened and he was sent away for five years where no one could tell him what to do for appearances sake.

“Thank you milord,” Virgil said calmly. “I figured today’s occasion deserved me putting in a little effort. Happy birthday,” he bid.

“Thank you Virgil… Can I make one request for my birthday though? Please?”

Virgil knew he would have a hard time denying his prince anything, but the prince didn’t need, couldn’t be allowed, to know that.

“If it is within my power,” he allowed.

The prince smiled, excitement springing to life in his eyes once again. “It is! Just… Call me by my name? Just for today?” he pleaded.

Virgil felt almost angry. This was not right. Such a humble request could not be the one gift the prince asked of him. It just didn’t make sense! But he didn’t say any of that aloud.

“Well… I suppose that can be arranged… Roman,” he allowed. It felt odd to say his name aloud. He hadn't ever done that, not even when they were kids and he helped him evade tutors.

The prince, Roman, beamed happily. “One more thing?” he asked, looking like he felt he was testing his luck. Virgil nodded, indicating he could continue.

“This pie is too big for me… Have breakfast with me?” he asked hopefully.

Roman always tried to get them in a more casual setting. Virgil almost continuously ept Roman company so long as he didn’t need to make his rounds, which weren’t that extensive in a tower built to house six people and little more that he could not leave.

Normally he insisted on some form of formality but… It was his birthday. And Roman was denied so much already. He could grant him whatever he desired today if it was in his power to give it.

“Alright. But only because Patton’s cooking is irresistible,” he allowed in a slightly teasing tone.

Roman lit up and as they ate, he rambled about all kinds of things and Virgil listened and engaged in the conversation until…

“And then Logan said the floating lights are coming back tonight! Can you believe it? On our birthday! That has to be a good sign!”

Virgil pondered that, though Roman didn’t realize it. He was still rambling on.

The floating lights had worried them the first time they appeared.

But Logan and Janus concluded that they weren’t dangerous. They were a natural part of the magic in this valley. Logan had figured out what caused them to appear, though Virgil never quite understood it.

Roman adored the lights. The first time he’d seen them he’d talked at length about how amazing it would be to fly amongst them.

Virgil didn’t do bad ideas… But now he was entertaining one of his own…

“I need you to talk me out of something,” he pleaded.

Janus looked up from their books in surprise. Virgil had found them in their study during his round of the tower. Roman was in a much better mood when Virgil left his room, though he was clearly still not back to his old self. He hadn’t been for years.

“Whatever do you mean? Isn’t it usually your job to do that?” Janus asked intrigued.

“I know, so please return the favor. Be as petty as you need to. But I need you to tell me not to have a midnight birthday picnic with everyone to watch the floating lights and to let us all stretch our wings,” he rambled.

Janus smirked. “It would make our future king ecstatic though,” they mused.

“That’s not how you are supposed to do it! You are supposed to remind me that there is a threat against his life. That leaving the tower is strictly forbidden by the king. That it is my job to keep us all in. That a taste of freedom might make tomorrow harder on him…”

“You are doing a good job yourself,” Janus pointed out.

“Then why do I still want to tell Patton to get a basket ready?” Virgil demanded.

“Because…” Janus stated slowly, their eyes mischievous but not unkind.  “The heir is in your charge. You’d do anything for his safety, it’s your calling. But protecting him is about more than physical wellbeing. You see him wither away and you want to protect him from that too. You want to make him shine again.

It’ll be dark and the lights will likely obscure our presence rather than reveal it. I can go into the details but basically, they outshine us and as long as we don’t fly out above them anyone flying by will likely notice the tower before they notice us.

Tonight might be the safest time to take a little risk,” Janus said.

Virgil groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have counted on you,” he grumbled as he turned to leave.

“Now where are you going?” Janus smiled smugly, knowing full well that Virgil wasn’t going to admit that the sorcerer had told him exactly what he’d been wanting to hear.

“To get a dumb picnic ready!” Virgil growled before slamming the door.

Virgil knocked on the door to Roman’s room. Patton was getting everything ready. Everyone was alerted of the plan. Except for the one he was doing this for.

That came now.

The door swung open, Roman was now wearing his crown.

Virgil wasn’t sure how to feel about the fact that simply having breakfast with him and acting more like equals had put him in that much of a better mood.

The fatigue and sadness hadn’t completely left his face. Hopefully this news would do the trick.

“Virgil you’re back!” he grinned.

“I was literally down the hall and I was gone for maybe half an hour,” he pointed out.

Roman chuckled. “Yes, but between having you call me by my name and suckering you into having breakfast with me, I wasn’t sure if you’d had your fill of my company for the day,” he joked. At least, Virgil hoped he was joking.

“I wouldn’t do that to you on your birthday. Speaking of which…” he took a deep breath.

“We’ll be having a midnight picnic to watch the lights. So you might want to take a nap so you can be well rested for our outing,” he said formally.

Roman clapped his hands and jumped several fairy feet in the air, making a spin and giggling.

“Oh wonderful yes! Oh! I’ll make some space on the floor then! I have some nice blankets we can use and…”

“Not in here Roman”, Virgil said, anticipating the moment Roman would realize what he meant.

Roman lowered himself to the ground.

“But… My room has the best view and enough room. Remus’ might have a good view too, but it is a mess.”

“Not in here,” Virgil repeated.

Roman’s frown persisted for a bit moment and then slowly it started to give way to incredulous awe.

“You… You can’t mean…”

“There are conditions,” Virgil warned. “We can’t fly too high and the moment I think someone might be coming we head inside right away. We can’t be too loud either. Understood?”

Roman gasped teary eyed holding his hands in front of his face and nodded.

“Yes, yes, I promise Virgil!” he said earnestly.

Virgil nodded. “Good, in that case. We still have a few hours before sunset. You think you can try to focus on your swordplay practice?” Virgil asked.

Roman nodded again and followed him to the training room.

Hours later, the sun had set and Virgil was standing in front of the door to the outside. The door only he could open. The one he was supposed to keep closed until it was time to get Roman to his coronation and no moment sooner.

But if he didn’t do this now, then Roman would lose his light by the time he was sat on the throne.

He took a deep breath and broke the seal he’d put in on the order of the king four years ago.

It gave way almost too easy. But Virgil knew that no one but him would be able to do this.

The door opened and Virgil was knocked to the side into Logan and Patton.

Duke Remus had rushed outside and was doing laps already.

“Well that is a complete surprise,” Janus drawled bemused as they walked after the duke their staff in hand.

“Oh goodness. This is so exciting!” Patton giggled as he walked on with Logan, his favorite dress flowing in the late-night breeze.

Virgil sighed. No turning back. He looked back and found Roman looking at the outside world with wide eyes, a little hesitant.

“Roman?” he asked confused. He’d imagined the young prince would’ve been right behind his brother.

Roman smiled apologetically. “It seems I’m more nervous about going out there than I thought I’d be,” he admitted quietly.

Virgil nodded, he could understand that. “I’ll be right at your side the whole time. No one is getting past me,” he promised. If it went wrong today, he would give the others the ability to get to the tower. Logan had a received a master key. He could lock the door again and keep it that way until after the deadline. He didn’t tell Roman this though. He would object.

Roman nodded. “Yeah… Yeah you are right,” he smiled and walked outside alongside Virgil.

The second Roman’s feet hit the grass he froze. He lifted his head closed his eyes and took in the feeling of grass tickling the edges of his feet. Virgil had insisted the princes at least wore sandals.

Virgil watched as a smile slowly spread across Roman’s face. His wings spread out and slowly he lifted from the ground. Just when Virgil contemplated following him up, Roman gave a few powerful beats of his wings and rose fast.

In a panic Virgil chased after him. He couldn’t lose sight of him.

The wind was rushing across his skin, welcoming him like an old friend, but he had no time to greet him in return.

Suddenly Roman came to a stop and without warning he made a dive, laughing in ecstasy.

Virgil dove after him, recalling the pull of gravity and effortlessly bending his wings to adjust his fall.

Both came to a halt near the ground, a stone’s throw away from where Patton and Logan were setting up the picnic.

“That was amazing! I’d forgotten how good that feels!” Roman exclaimed in a whisper shout.

Virgil appreciated his effort to adhere to the rules he’d made.

“Glad you like your present,” he smiled, his annoyance at the scare already forgotten.

Roman turned and nodded eagerly. He was about to say something, but master Logan interrupted.

“It is time,” he announced.

Remus skidded to a stop nearby and Janus apparrated in their cluster. And a moment later it was like small orbs of light grew from the earth and floated up.

The group gasped in collective awe.

“Virgil… Can we?” Roman asked after a few minutes.

Virgil nodded. The lights would stay all night. They could have a quick fly around the field before eating.

Roman grinned. “Race ya!” he exclaimed as he took of. Virgil chuckled. Definitely worth it.

“Virgil look!” Roman exclaimed suddenly. Virgil followed his gaze and saw a light seemed stuck in the branches of a nearby tree. Which came as a surprise. Getting stuck implied being solid. And Virgil was fairly sure even Logan didn’t think the lights had a body to get stuck with.

It was very high up for any creature. Especially one the size of a toadstool. And Roman had never gone so high. But Virgil had.

Virgil nodded. “I see it, stay here,” he instructed as he flew up. The closer he got the clearer it was that the light was struggling to get away.

“Calm down okay? I'm here,” he assured the light before pushing the branches to the side to allow the light some space to move. When it got loose if spun around him and, amazingly, shifted hues. Going through the whole rainbow before settling on Virgil's purple.

“Cool,” Virgil whispered. He turned to look at Roman and see if he was just as blown away by this as him. But then he saw Roman… talking? To a red light.

Not feeling comfortable with being left out of that conversation, Virgil let himself freefall as far as he could and landed by Roman's side.

To his relief, Roman was beaming.

“Virgil! Meet her majesty, queen of the wishing lights! She thanks you for saving one of her young charges.”

Virgil blinked. Tonight just got way more complicated than he'd planned for.

“ uh… welcome?” he said hesitantly.

The queen light did the rainbow thing before settling on purple too.

“Greetings knight Virgil. I look forward to knowing you,” she spoke seemingly in his head.

Before he could recover from that, a bunch of other lights swarmed him, Roman and the others who'd come to join them. No words in this time. Just burning curiosity.