Actions Speak Louder

"She is simply trying to scare you. Now, you musn't speak until we arrive. The witch can only hear what you say through your own ears... so when we arrive, the fairies will clog your ears, and you may speak as you wish."

"Oh... yes." Miranda had spoken so much since her voice had returned, it felt strange being told not to talk but... it was with good reason. How would she be able to hear them?

Draco smiled. "We will see if the fairies can block her magic..." They began to walk a bit, and soon... they arrived at a funny looking tree. "Turn away so that I may open it."

Miranda turned and closed her eyes, she was a little bit anxious but happy all of this was happening. She already missed Owen terribly and wanted to hurry back home to him - she didn't like the idea of leaving him alone with Elsia being at her worst.

Draco pulled the twig that opened the door and he beckoned to her to turn and follow him inside. "This place is much bigger on the inside, see? I love fairies... they are beautiful creatures."

Miranda followed him slowly, her hand kept favoring her chest, just like she had her neck a couple days earlier. "Oh, I see..." She was still a little worried, but once she saw the world, it was easier to take in everything. She felt more at peace than she ever had before.

They were led to a great fountain, where a queen sat on her throne and smiled beautifully. "A dragon, you are most welcome here deatr friend. Tell me, what is your name and reason for coming?"

"Draco, and I first request that you block this young ladie's ears so that people listening through her ears cannot hear our words, or her own."

Miranda continued to clutch at her chest, the bruise had spread already and she looked uncomfortable. The fairy queen smiled warmly and gave a curt nod.

"Granted." All she had to do was blink and Miranda knew it was done, but she could hear most anything else. Her chest flared just a little and she grimaced.

"A witch has stolen this young woman's heart, and is threatening her life." Draco said gravely, and instantly, Mira was surrounded by fairies who were applying different medicines and speaking strange words to Mira's bruise. "She threaten's to kill Mira and force her to watch her true love suffer if she does not give up her first borne child."

The queen frowned as well. "What do you wish us to do? Without a heart for you to have, we cannot break the spell, else you will die."

Miranda spoke up, "I... I don't want to give up my first borne, Draco and my true love... thought it would be easier on me to have twins and to give up one... do you mean I will die either way?" She asked, her chest tickled from the fairies working on her. It did feel a little bit better.

Draco looked worried, "I wondered the same..."

"The only way to break her control over you is to either get your heart back, which is too horrible of a task to undertake, or we must sever the spell which binds your body to that heart. But... you need another heart to replace it... or half of one."

"H-Half... of a heart." Draco murmured.

"But it will only work best if it is your true love's heart." The queen smiled kindly.

"His heart..." Miranda breathed, she was shaken by this whole experience, as if losing her voice wasn't bad enough. "Won't he die? I'd worry that it would hurt him terribly. How would I go about such a task?"

"He won't die if you take only half... and you both will feel strongest the closer together you are. You would feelt pain when he does, and the same the other way... is that something you are willing to do? We could then spell-bind his heart halves to protect you both from the witch... the dragon she is no match for."

Draco chuckled some. "And she thought she'd frozen me..."

"Oh? She over-estimates herself that much?" The queen seemed surprised.

Miranda exchanged glances with Draco, "She's always overestimated herself," She giggled slightly and then continued to answer the questions thrown at her, "I'm... I'm prepared and I'm sure Owen will be prepared as well." She was relieved, it would mean keeping their child... and hopefully not having to go through the process of carrying twins, half elven twins at that. She shuddered nervously.

The queen smiled warmly. "I need his race and location... I will have him brought here."

Draco nodded. "He is of elven decent, and he is in the outskirts of Kinora village not far from here."

"Hmm... elven... and he is marrying a human? That is different."

"It is... but this is true love for them." Draco replied softly.

"I have no doubt of that." The queen closed her eyes and seemed really focused on something.

Miranda felt anxious again when she realized that Owen was coming. She wondered what he'd say or if he would be afraid, like herself. She soon realized her grip on Draco, but he didn't seem to mind at all. He was very calm and professional in his stance.

Soon, the Queen of fairies opened her eyes, and Owen appeared beside Mira, his eyes wide with shock. His face was pale and he seemed truly scared to be in the midst of fairies, whom his race were secretly warring with.

"Do not be afraid, we did not bring you here to harm you." The Queen's voice was soft, and kind. She seemed to mean exactly what she said.

"Then... why am I here?" Owen asked, regaining some of his composure.

"You are here to have your heart halved, so that your love may live." The queen replied. "You will have half, and she will have the other half."

"What...? And that will work?"

"Of course it will."

Miranda let go of Draco cautiously, stepping swiftly to Owen's side and grabbing his arm within her own, like a hug. She had missed him already, short as the time apart had been.

"Will it be painful?" Miranda asked, it looked like Owen wanted to ask the same thing.

"Yes... but isn't it worth the pain? After the transition is complete, you will feel each other's pains because of the link between your hearts."

"Oh, I see... that... is definitely worth Mira's life." Owen smiled then and pulled his arm out of Mira's grasp so he could hug her. "Let's do it!"

"You make up your mind quickly... it is interesting you would be so quick to trust us as well." The queen replied, her soft voice was like a melody.

"You told me you weren't going to harm me... and I will do anything to help Mira."

"Well then..." Draco rumbled. "Let's get to work. That bruise is only getting worse. I expect that witch is angry."

Miranda noticed the pain when Draco mentioned it, but she pretended like it didn't bother her. She had a feeling that Owen's pain would be much greater than what she'd feel.

"Very well, please, lie down."

Owen glanced around and saw two beds behind them, ready made for him and Mira. He nodded and helped Mira into her bed, then he laid in the other. "What now?"

"Now... I preform the transformation." The queen stood then, her bright orange and red wings seemed as though they were on fire as she walked to the young couple. "How old are you truly, Elf?"

"Nine-hundred and twenty-five."

"Hmm... you have quite a bit longer to live. Your love will live as long as you do, and die when you do." She looked to Mira then. "Are you prepared to live the eternity of an elf?"

Miranda smiled warmly to Owen, she wanted so badly to hold his hand. "I am willing to, I want to spend my whole life with him."

"Hmph... I see." The queen nodded and Owen took Mira's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Close your eyes." The queen commanded, and a few fairies removed his shirt.

Owen closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, but he still wasn't prepared for the burning, stabbing pain that came when the queen's scepter touched his chest. He cried out in pain so he wouldn't crush Mira's fingers.

"Hold still, only a little longer." The queen whispered calmly as she focused on splitting his heart and mending it as it split so he wouldn't die.

Miranda had not expected so many tears to fall at the sound of Owen's shouts. He was in so much pain and Miranda knew it was because of her.

Draco nuzzled Mira's cheek lovingly and a soft purr escaped him. "You should be happy... there is a closeness the two of you will be able to experience from this, that few others will ever be able to. Your tears should be those of joy, not sadness. His pain... he endures for you."

"It is finished." The queen stated, lifting the half-heart out of Owen, and into her hands. "Your heart is very pure, I am glad to see." She smiled warmly. "Sleep now, and awake refreshed and pain-free in the morning." She blinked once, and instantly Owen's breathing evened out, his eyes closing. His grip on Mira's hand loosened and he seemed to be peacefully asleep.

The queen then turned to Mira, her smile still soft, and warm. "This may be painful, but try to bear it." The queen then began to place the half of Owen's heart inside Mira, preparing herself for the screams which might come.