[Status(P)quo(d)]

The first of the four to devise a plan was the oldest. Peaseblossom fluttered up over her companions and placed her hand on her chest, her bright smile enough to lighten their hearts. She gave each of the other Fae a wink before explaining her plot.

"I'm going to go out and have the Seamstress sew a dress for me with her Majesty!" She declared, fully confident. "When the Queen takes me with her to see the sights of the city, I will follow her lead and take some of the stars for myself. Then, I shall dance for the King of the Weald, and release those stars back up into the night sky!"

The other Fae were shocked, each of them speaking out loud in an attempt to dissuade Peaseblossom from her plan, but the maiden in white with the flowers in her hair heard none of their words. She was too enthralled with the romance behind it, that all of their fears fell on deaf ears.

The next morning, it was Peaseblossom alone who woke up the Queen. She presented the Queen of Gleann na Gaoithe Àrd with a bouquet of the most brilliant flowers, their petals lush with morning dew, their scent as sweet as honey and candyfloss. With a heartfelt plea she begged; "Your Majesty, please... Let me join you on your walks today!"

The Queen's compassionate eyes never faltered, and never strayed- she let the Fae sit in her hands as she listened to her flower maid.

"Your Majesty, I wish to wear a dress that is woven with the stars like yours. I wish to call down the constellations and hear the whispers of their hearts, and the love in their souls. I wish to adventure, and frolic, and share with them my own secrets!"

For a moment the room had grown silent as the Queen contemplated such a request. Yet as always, the kind and compassionate Queen nodded her head in acquiescence. She said unto Peaseblossom,

"Then I shall have the Seamstress weave for you a gown to rival my own. I shall teach you the way to call down the stars, and together we shall cross this kingdom, side by side. But fair warning, my sweet and gentle Peaseblossom..." The Queen reached out and pressed her finger against her nose, causing fairy dust to shimmer around her. "... No matter what may come, as the day comes to an end, you must return those stars to the Heavens."

Peaseblossom's head bobbled and bowed before her Majesty, and so the two left hand in hand to the Seamstress. A pair of dresses were then made, if not equal in size, then equal in their beauty- And from the heavens did the stars come tumbling down, caught in the fabric of each gown and shimmering with all the splendor that those skies bore. The little Maiden minded her manners, happily introducing herself to the stars that scattered across her dress.

"Hello, little ones! My name is Peaseblossom, Handmaid to Her Majesty!" She chirps, her wide smile growing amidst her rosy cheeks. She twirled where she stood, shimmering stardust gathering at her feet. "Please, do not be shy- Tell me all about yourselves!"

Yet there was only silence in response. Her Majesty spoke in a hushed tone with her own starlit guests, and seemed more than familiar with them- Yet for little Peaseblossom, there was no reply to be heard. Her crestfallen heart threatened to break, yet it was a little voice she heard from her dress that seemed ready to buoy her spirits.

"... Do not fret, Milady Peaseblossom," Said the voice, like tinsel caught in a gentle breeze. "We stars are a shy sort... And with a maiden of such beauty calling to us, many cannot help but hesitate to answer."

Peaseblossom's attention turned to the little star, her eyes alight with wonder, her heart singing with excitement. She bowed to get a better look at this little star- Dazzling in its light.

"Yet they count you among them, do they not, little star? One who is so bold as to call a Maiden of her Majesty a 'beauty'?" Her voice rang out in gentle giggles, and the star's light brightened if only for a moment.

"I am different from my peers- As I am not part of a constellation like them. It is a dreadfully lonely life, milady."

"Then I shall have you accompany me in earnest, Heavensent Guest, and I shall show you the beauty of Her Majesty's Lands, and Her Majesty's people!"

And so the two did indeed join Her Majesty as she crossed her city of Gleann na Gaoithe Àrd. Peaseblossom showed the Little Star the great towers that rose above the land. She introduced them to the people- The grocer, the butcher, the farmer- To the citizens, to the knights, to the other servants of the Royal House. She introduced them to the rivers that ran along the city, to the fields of flowers that bloomed, to the distant forests wherein lay the lands of the King of the Weald.

And the Little Star did tell her tales that she remembered of lands far and wide, of times that were long past even the Little Star's life. Of lands beyond even the Weald, where little distant people lived out their little, distant lives, thousands and thousands of miles away. The two became enraptured with each others stories, and the day whittled away as they followed Her Majesty to the boundaries of Gleann na Gaoithe Àrd and the Weald.

Peaseblossom watched as Her Majesty stood before the King of the Weald: His mane was groomed and finely combed, and he wore a suit of black spidersilk and glimmering moonsilver. Flowers adorned his head, as deep and rich as the color of his eyes. And though the splendor of the Great City lay before him, beyond the form of Her Majesty, the Flower Maid saw how those eyes would only stare at the Queen as if transfixed by her majestic beauty.

A pang of sorrow raced through Peaseblossom's heart, a feeling she had never felt before as the King took the Queen's hand in his own and the two began their dance. For there were no hands for her to take in her own, and no one to dance with. She felt the tears trickle down her cheeks and splash against the dirt beneath her that marked the boundary, catching the Evening light of the Daystar before it set and welcomed the night.

"... But there is no one here to dance with me...!" She lamented. "How will I help return these stars to the sky if I cannot welcome the night with someone to hold?"

And the little lonely star, so enamored with the Flower Maiden, shone so brighly as to dazzle those tears away. The Queen and King halted their merry to approach them, and Her Majesty knelt down before her little Peaseblossom.

"... Little Flower. It seems as if you have a dance partner with you already." She mused, her painted lips curling into a warm smile. "Would you not welcome them to join you this evening?"

Peaseblossom was taken aback by this, and shook her head as hard as she could! "The Little Star...? But if I did that, who would help him return to the Night Sky?!"

And the Queen turned her benevolent gaze upon the Little Star that shone so bright and so lonely on the Flower Maiden's dress, and so addressed his light.

"Little Star. I humbly apologize... But may I ask you to stay another night, and help your companions return to the Heavens? The night will be a little colder without them, and I fear they may not return to the home they desperately seek."

Yet the Little Star did not hesitate. "Your Majesty, you do not need to ask for my forgiveness. For what you ask of me is my heart's desire. I would like to be given hands to hold Peaseblossom's hands, and feet to waltz with Peaseblossom's feet. And a body to offer warmth to Peaseblossom's body."

"Then so mote it be." Unsurprised by the little star's answer, her Majesty plucked him from the dress, and the King of the Weald did offer him a vessel, and with their union did a sprightly young boy come into being. He wore silver across his garments like the King of the Weald, and his robe was awash in delicate shades of orange, red, and yellow that mimicked the autumnal trees. His eyes sparkled like gemstones, he smelled like the rain, and his smile was only meant for the little Flower Maiden.

"Might you honor me with this dance, Peaseblossom?" Asked the Star Prince, his hand held out to her.

Her astonishment would not stop her from accepting that hand, though she hesitated before stepping out to dance.

"A thousand times, yes...! Now and forever, I hope! But, what shall I call you?" She asked.

And so the Prince did turn to the King and Queen, who both offered their grace to him in turn. Unspoken until he himself spoke it into being, the Star Prince turned to offer his name.

"You may call me Caol."

And hand in hand, foot by foot, bodies close together, Peaseblossom and Caol did dance the stars back into the setting sky alongside the Queen and King.

Peaseblossom and Caol did part that night, and would come to meet each other every night after. Though Peaseblossom never wore the gown of stars again, she would continue to join Her Majesty under the evening sky to meet the Fallen Star again and again, and again. Whatever secrets the Stars might have held for her to hear were far from her concern.

... Though much to the disappointment of her fellow Fae, who stared in astonishment that she had come back empty-handed in their eyes.

"Good heavens, Peaseblossom! Really?"

"What was that about the Weald...?"

"...!"

... To be continued?