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There were fairies in the clearing again.
Kara narrowed her eyes, determined little hands clenching in anticipation. At 10 years old, Princess Kara Zor-El Danvers, heir to the throne of Krypton, realized she needed a plan. So she had asked Alex, who told her in her kind, soft 14-year-old voice that she always saves for Kara that Kara should “sit patiently and wait for one to land before you try to talk to them, Kar — you have to be patient.”
Kara had bounced on her feet and agreed, nodding her head vigorously. She was sure she could be patient.
Now that she was here though, she tried her hardest to sit still from her spot behind the large rose bush she was hiding behind. She was careful not to prick herself on the thorns (the day she and Alex had been playing knights and the two of them had tumbled into the rose bush had been a particularly bad one, full of tiny cuts and stings during her bathtime) — but she found waiting patiently for the fairies to land was more difficult than she thought.
She looked around at the forest around her, seeing the castle standing taller than anything else in the distance. As the princess and heir to the Kryptonian throne, Kara relished anytime she got to spend outside of the castle walls. It’s not that she was unhappy, but there were only so many things that could keep her occupied, and Kara wanted to see something outside of the castle walls. So the queen regent (and Kara’s godmother) Eliza let Kara and Alex venture out of the castle walls as long as they were accompanied by their knights.
Kara really didn’t have a problem with that — it meant more time with her cousin and last family (by blood — the Danvers have been Kara’s family since she was born, really, and then in a much more official sense after that dreadful night five years ago) and her cousin’s best friend, who Kara thought was probably the strongest person she’d ever met. Kara loved the two of them, who were also best friends — the two knights often entertained Kara with their back and forth jokes, and the two men relished in the happiness that radiated from Kara, who had gone through so much in her short years here and still managed to find the light in each day.
Now though, Clark and James were waiting a bit further away from Kara, who insisted that they wouldn’t be able to hide behind the same bush as her.
So Kara sat, and wiggled her fingers and waited as a fairy landed gently on a flower that was on the bush in front of her. Kara watched with wide eyes as the fairy shook her wings off, and to the untrained eye, what looked like glitter covered the leaf the fairy had landed on.
Kara knew though — she had seen it in one of her books in the library, where she spent a lot of time learning the etiquette of the court.
Fairy dust.
With bated breath, Kara stepped out slowly from behind the bush, careful to keep her movements slow and her voice gentle, just like Alex told her.
“Hi,” she breathed out.
The fairy turned, smiled at the little princess, and waved.
Kara let out a breathy laugh, before smiling and waving back.
“Your wings are so pretty,” Kara said. She sighed, looking up at the sky. “I wish I could fly.”
Kara’s attention turned back to where the fairy was doing what looked like a pleased little hop dance, shaking her wings and grinning. Suddenly, she flew up, circling in a quick, infinity formation over the leaf, and then Kara was blinking as the fairy was directly in front of her face, offering out her tiny hand with a smile.
Kara reached out slowly, palm up, and the fairy dropped what looked like a small, glittering ball into Kara’s hand. The ball grew once it touched her hand so it was roughly the size of a palm, and inside — Kara gasped — fairy dust.
“Thank you!” Kara managed to stutter out, bewildered eyes going from the smiling fairy in front of her and back to the small, clear ball in her hand, full of sparkling magic.
From her books, Kara knew that fairy dust could be used for a number of things — in potions, for one, and spells, if in the hands of a witch or wizard. For folks without magic, fairy dust was often used in artwork, or given as a gift, said to bring the receiver good fortune and luck.
It could represent a lot of things.
But at the root of all fairy magic — love.
Fairy magic was infused with love because they were beings of love — since the beginning of Krypton, the fairies have been there, as a symbol of good fortune and luck and love for the kingdom.
Kara knew exactly what she was going to do with this precious gift.
The fairy flew another few loops around Kara before flying up, up, up and disappearing amongst the tops of the trees, waving at Kara as she left.
Kara waved until the fairy was out of sight, grin on her face the entire time.
She couldn’t wait to tell Alex about this.
“Oh, Merlin,” a soft voice sighed out from behind her. Kara turned around, eyes lighting up.
“Lena!”
The other girl looked up from where she was inspecting the bushes on the other side of the clearing, small frown turning into a wide grin.
“Kara!”
Kara laughed and took off, running towards Lena. The 10-year-old witch seemed to have the same idea, laughing and running towards Kara, her black, pointy hat flying off her head as the two of them met in the middle.
“Oof,” Kara said, finding herself on her back, her friend giggling from where she was sprawled out on top of Kara.
“I thought you had class?” Kara asked, waiting patiently as Lena stood up, taking her friend’s offered hand.
“Mom let me out early,” Lena explained. “Eliza told her that she let you take the rest of the day off of your studies, so mom said I could go too. But I think they just wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon drinking tea and gossiping.”
Kara laughed, and Lena grinned, before Kara pulled her best friend in for a hug, greeting her properly.
“Hi,” Kara said.
“Hi,” Lena replied. “So, I missed them, didn’t I? Clark and Jimmy told me you were over here but it’s past noon.”
“Missed them by literally a few seconds,” Kara informed her best friend.
“Merlin’s beard!” Lena let out, throwing her hands in the air. “Oh well, next time then.”
Kara slipped the orb in her pocket, grinning at the thought of surprising her best friend with it later.
Lena had been Kara’s best friend since pretty much birth.
The daughter of Krypton’s High Mage, Lena Luthor had been training just as long as Kara had for her future role. As the only daughter of Lillian Luthor, Lena was tasked with becoming the kingdom’s next High Mage, the highest title in Krypton given to the Queen’s advisor and magic liaison.
Lena hated the title “High Mage.”
“I’m a witch, Kara,” Lena had explained. “I even have a hat! If mages and witches are basically the same like my mom says, then why can’t I just be called the Best Witch or something?”
And Kara really agrees with anything Lena says, because her best friend is smart and funny and the best, and she vowed to change Lena’s title to whatever she wanted once she was crowned Queen.
“Want to go to the fortress? I have something for you,” Lena continued, hand gripping the well-worn leather bag she had slung over her shoulder.
Kara nodded her head, reaching out and taking one of Lena’s hands, swinging it between them.
“Let’s get some snacks to take with us!” Kara said, already leading Lena back to where Clarke and James were waiting.
* *
Kara narrowed her eyes, determined as she clutched the bag in her hand.
She’d been holding onto this particular gift for almost four years now, and today, on Lena’s 16th birthday, she was going to give it to her and tell her how she felt.
She had gone over it with herself, and Alex, and Eliza, and even Lillian because she was like Kara’s second mom and Kara just needed to make absolutely sure. And well — advisors are there to help give Kara advice, and all of them were more than happy to confirm what Kara thought.
Kara had a crush on her best friend.
More than crush, really.
Kara was pretty sure Lena was her future Queen, actually (in both the cheesy, very romantic sense that Kara is very much into after reading countless romantic fiction books from the Krypton library and in the literal sense because she could only imagine Lena by her side when the day came to receive the crown).
The way Kara figured it, she’s always been in love with Lena. It’s the only explanation Kara has for one day realizing that Lena was the only one who made Kara’s heart thump thump thump in a way that let Kara know Lena was the one who controlled it. Lena was the first person Kara wanted to tell anything to, and the only person she wanted to talk about everything with.
Kara was certain Lena was the smartest person she’s ever known — definitely the best witch she’s ever met (and no, she wasn’t just being biased, Lena’s witchlete trophies proclaiming her as first place in the many competitions she entered around the kingdom backed Kara up).
On top of making Kara’s heart race and stomach flutter, she was also the only one Kara wanted to kiss, if Lena would let her.
And hold her hand.
And fill a room full of flowers and books and candied cranberries (Lena’s favorite snack) and give it to her.
Kara had grown up on stories of her parents — of Queen Alura and King Zor-El, and what was supposed to be a long and prosperous reign cut too short by a tragic accident.
She didn’t like to dwell on the ending, but the beginning — much of which she’d been told by her Aunt Eliza.
“Your father was sure your mother was the one as soon as they met,” she said. “She had checked out the book he wanted from the library, and instead of cowing to the future King of Krypton, she let him know he could wait his turn like everybody else. And then, she read the entire book right there, in front of him! She told me later it was out of spite — she hadn’t even meant to pick up that book, but felt like she had to make a point!”
As she grew older, Kara thought about how her mother challenged her father — how she helped him grow into the King he was meant to be.
A true partnership.
Kara was sure Lena was hers.
And so she was determined, on Lena’s 16th birthday, to let her best friend know how she felt.
She stepped out into the clearing, rushing over to set up the items she brought in her picnic basket. She had begged the chef to show her how to make some of Lena’s favorite sweets, and was proud of the finished product. She had just finished setting down the last tin, full of Lena’s favorite shortbread cookies, when her best friend’s voice rang out in the clearing.
“Kara?”
Kara turned, smiling as she met Lena’s gaze from across the clearing. She laughed as Lena started to run before taking off herself, bracing her legs as they met in the middle and Lena leapt at her, full speed.
Despite Kara’s arms being wide open to catch her, they fell back just as they always did, Lena landing on top of Kara with a grunt and a laugh.
“Hi,” Lena greeted Kara, once their giggling was under control. “I missed you. Never go for week-long diplomatic visits again, okay? Not without me.”
Heart pounding, Kara grinned as Lena sat up, staring down at her with the bright smile reserved especially for Kara.
“Deal,” Kara agreed. “Happy birthday, by the way.”
Lena hopped up off of Kara, and Kara scrambled up, snatching Lena’s fallen hat off the ground. She carefully placed Lena’s pointy hat atop the witch’s head, taking care to brush the hair that had fallen in front of Lena’s face behind her ear.
“I have a gift for you,” Kara said, taking a step back and offering Lena her hand.
The witch raised her eyebrow and grinned excitedly, taking Kara’s hand after an exaggerated curtsy and let herself be led over to the picnic blanket Kara had laid out.
“Oooh, all of my favorites! Who did you bribe in the kitchen to get these made?” Lena asked, sitting down on the blanket, waiting until Kara sat before scooting closer.
“I actually made them myself,” Kara said, smiling at the bright grin she got in response. She reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a small, striped bag. “Happy birthday, Lena,” she continued. She offered the bag to Lena, heart racing as the other girl carefully removed the tissue paper, gasping when she found the gift.
Slowly — reverently — Lena reached in and pulled out a small, shining orb full of fairy dust.
“Is this…?” Lena breathed out, brow furrowing as she turned to look from the orb in her hand and the girl sitting next to her. “When did you…?”
Kara took a deep breath, wiping her hands on the inside of her cape — she hadn’t wanted to wear her royal garb, but during a traditional Kryptonian courting, they wore the house colors with a symbol signifying their status — and the cape that hung from Kara’s shoulders showed that she was the future Queen — a princess, heir to the throne of Krypton.
Her father had worn his cape the first time he had asked her mother if he could officially start courting her, that much Kara knew.
And so she donned her father’s old cape — now hers, to wear more frequently once she officially started her apprenticeship when she turned 20, before always wearing it in addition to the crown once she was crowned Queen on her 25th birthday.
A gentle hand on her knee broke Kara out of her reverie, and she took another deep breath before taking that same hand of Lena’s lacing their fingers together.
Lena had a good habit of grounding Kara in the moment — she often got lost in her thoughts, the future of Krypton and its people always on her mind.
She knew from a young age that she would take the crown — even before her parents untimely passing, Kara was the only heir to the throne.
Even with the cape on, Lena was Kara’s calm in the storm. Her bright spot Kara looked to whenever her duties became too much.
She took strength in that thought as she began.
“Lena,” Kara began, looking up and meeting her best friend’s shining, green eyes. “Do you remember when we were younger, and we used to wait for the fairies here? One time, when you were late I — well, we were ten, I think? I waved at a fairy, and she waved back and then gave me this dust. I’ve been saving it the right time and well…” she focused on Lena’s smile, her own green eyes looking a little watery as she continued. “You make my heart — soar, Lena. Like, bump bump bump,” Kara said, holding their joined hands up to her chest and demonstrating with a few gentle taps. “You’re my best friend, forever. And that’ll never change.”
Lena let out a wet sounding laugh, and Kara reached out, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind Lena’s ear, making sure she didn’t knock Lena’s hat off her head.
“Every time I see that hat coming my way, my heart does the bump bump bump,” Kara explained. “I — it’s not the hat, though. It’s you. And I just want to tell you...”
Kara took another deep breath, and she fell all the more when Lena waited patiently, knowing Kara needed time to gather her courage for what came next. She tilted her head to the present Lena was still clutching in her other hand, taking a deep breath before continuing. “It’s tradition in the royal family to—”
“— gift their partners fairy dust to officially start courting,” Lena finished for Kara, voice sounding a little breathless as she finally spoke. “You told me your father gave your mother the gift.”
Kara laughed, knowing her eyes were starting to tear up a little but never caring about being vulnerable in front of Lena — her best friend since birth, who knows Kara better than anyone.
“I would be honored if you’d allow me to start courting you, Lena,” Kara said softly.
And Lena — Kara felt Lena release her hand and suddenly she was on her back, Lena on top of her, looking down at Kara with a beautiful, wide smile on her face.
Kara’s favorite Lena smile.
(And Kara has been treated to a lot of different types of smiles from Lena — the small, half smile when Lena is pouring over a new spell book and something catches her interest, the bright, happy one she wears whenever Lillian asks Lena to help out with some potion or other, the soft, gentle one she gives Kara when Kara says something she finds especially charming.)
This one spoke of Lena’s unbridled happiness, and Kara had no doubts Lena meant it when she leaned down closer, so their faces were only inches apart.
“Yes,” Lena said, equally as soft.
And then Kara closed her eyes as soft, gentle lips covered her own. She sighed, wrapping her arms around Lena and holding her close.
Lena pulled away, and the slight pink on her cheeks made Kara smile even wider, until she was laughing, and then Lena was laughing and the two were laying on the blanket, holding each other close and enjoying the moment — together.
“I can’t believe you gave me fairy dust. That was the most romantic and cheesy thing you’ve ever done for me, Kara Danvers. And that includes the time you got the royal choir to back you up for my birthday serenade last year.”
“...”
“You’ve never been very subtle, Kara. It’s one of the things I love most about you.”
* *
Kara narrowed her eyes, determined as she clenched the stack of paper in her hands.
At 23 years old, Kara was well into her final stages of formal training to take on the crown. With coronation just two short years away, the free time Kara had was far and few between — and most of it was spent with Lena, who was busy with her own studies as well.
Lena would officially be taking the title of “High Mage” from Lillian in a few short years too (much to Kara’s amusement and Lena’s chagrin, as the witch still complained every time someone used her “official” title).
Still, despite their lives being busier than ever, Lena remained the constant in Kara’s life. Ever since that day in the clearing — when Kara had formally asked Lena to court her in Kryptonian tradition, and Lena had said yes with no hesitation.
There was never anyone else, not for Kara — and over the past 7 years, Kara knew the same was true for Lena.
She felt it in the comfortable silences they shared, sitting in the library reading their respective books, or out in the palace garden, lounging under the shade of the apple trees.
She felt it in the way the sight of Lena always, always centered her, and how Lena would wear Kara’s spare capes sometimes because she said the scent of Kara reminded her of home.
She felt it in how Lena’s hand in hers gave Kara strength, and made her brave, and how she knew her hand on the small of Lena’s back was enough for Lena’s shoulders to relax, and lean slightly into Kara, drawing comfort from her touch.
She felt it in the soft, gentle kisses that grew to tender exploration, with tongues and teeth and awkward fumbling and laughter and so much love.
She felt it in the way they both found their footing as they grew into the roles they were meant for, the people they were expected to be — being each other’s support system when no one else understood the pressures of the legacies placed upon them, except for each other.
Kara knew she was lucky — she and Lena got to grow up together.
They would always be Kara and Lena, and that would never change.
Kara just lost sight of that, for one moment — a moment of panic, born from the fear of change.
So she waited, the paper she had made carefully placed in her satchel, until she spotted the top of a familiar black hat just above the tall, blackberry bushes that lined one side of the clearing. Lena came into view not long after that, and she stopped short as she spotted Kara on the other side.
Kara met Lena’s gaze from across the clearing, before her cape was billowing behind her as she walked, picking up her pace until she was slightly jogging. Lena met her in the middle, as she always did —
“Oomph.”
“Will you ever actually be ready to catch me, darling?”
Kara sighed happily at Lena’s words, placing her hands on the witch’s hips sitting on top of her.
“I try every time,” Kara replied. “I think you just try to tackle me as hard as you can on purpose because you like to be on top of me.”
“Well, you’re not wrong,” Lena said, smirking. It turned into a soft, gentle smile as she reached out and cupped Kara’s face, stroking her cheek with her thumb. “Hi, darling. I’m sorry for storming out earlier.”
Kara sat up, wrapping her arms around Lena instead and holding her loosely around the waist.
“No, I’m sorry,” Kara answered. “I’m so proud of you. This is an amazing opportunity! And you’re going to be wonderful.”
Lena frowned, leaning forward and resting her forehead against Kara’s.
“Two years is a long time to be away from you,” Lena replied, softly. “And in the final years before your coronation...I don’t want to leave you.”
Kara wrapped her arms around Lena tighter, ducking her head to tuck her face against Lena’s neck. She dropped a soft kiss there, feeling Lena relax in her arms. She hummed, dropping more light kisses until Lena was giggling in her arms. She leaned back, reaching out with one hand and picking up Lena’s hat.
Lena put her hand out, wiggling her fingers and the hat flew from Kara’s hand and went up, up, before landing gently back onto Lena’s head.
“Show off,” Kara teased. She reached up, cupping Lena’s face.
“Lena, you have the opportunity to travel kingdoms all over the world, learning magic from the best mages and witches and sorcerers in all the lands,” Kara said. “Out of everyone in the kingdom, you were selected. And I’m so proud of you. I’m sorry I reacted so poorly, love.” She sighed, brushing her thumb gently across Lena’s cheek. “I was just scared. But the best thing about us is that we grow together — and even if we’re not in the same place, we’ll do the same. I love every version of you Lena, since we were ten years old. And in two more years, I’ll love you even more than that.”
She reached out with one hand to grab her bag, pulling out the stack of papers she brought with her. “Here,” she said, offering them to Lena.
Lena took them in her hands, and Kara watched as green eyes roamed the page. The Kyrptonian royal crest adorned the top of the page, and underneath, it read:
Lena Luthor
Krypton Ambassador of Magic
“I’ll miss you like crazy,” Kara continued. “But I’ll write to you often — everyday if you want. I got this for you so you can write too — send letters to your mom, and Winn, and Alex and me.”
Lena was silent for a moment, before leaning forward and capturing Kara’s lips in a fierce kiss, hands gripping the front of Kara’s cape and pulling her in close, as close as she could bring her.
When they finally parted, Lena rested their foreheads together again as they caught their breath, before leaning back.
“You really trust me to be an Ambassador for Krypton?” Lena asked, a teasing grin on her face. “What if I tell the Asgardian Master Sorceress that the beloved Princess of Krypton likes to sneak into the kitchens at midnight and eat leftover lava cakes?”
Kara gasped, hugging Lena close.
“You love our late night rendezvous!”
“I love you, darling.”
Kara sighed happily, tilting her head up and dropping another light kiss on Lena’s lips.
“I love you too. We’ll be okay, love. Better for it, even.”
* *
Kara narrowed her eyes, determined as she clenched the box in her hand.
She swung her cape behind her as she walked a few steps, before repeating the motion and heading back the other way, gathering her courage.
Kara was turning 25 tomorrow— coronation day.
And today, on the eve before she’s set to receive the crown, Lena was coming home.
For good.
Her apprenticeship finished, Lena’s ceremony to take over officially as Krypton’s High Mage set for a few weeks from now.
And as Kara paced, she fiddled with clasp on the velvet box in her hand, before putting it back in her pocket as she thought of the last two years.
The time had been filled with visits to allied kingdoms, meetings with the council, lessons from the Queen regent, and of course — Lena.
There were moments when she missed Lena so much she ached, but in those moments where she missed Lena dearly, she would take out her special paper she used especially for letters to Lena and started to write.
It didn’t matter if she had already written a letter for that day— Kara had gotten in the habit of writing things down wherever she went, often sending little notes full of her scribbles along with her letters to Lena. In turn, Lena sent Kara things from all around the world — a beautifully crafted silver crane one week, a jar full of sand from the next, a new set of paint in colors Kara had never seen before — along with letters. The letters were full of Lena— filled with Lena’s thoughts, and hopes and dreams and happiness and sadness and everything in between — and Lena’s words helped soothe the constant ache of missing her. It had been a long two years, with Kara and Lena only being to meet up in a far off kingdom a handful of times, when their schedules allowed.
But Lena was coming back.
She would be meeting Kara at their clearing in a little while, in fact. And as the leaves near her feet began to swirl, dancing in the air gently around her, she grinned, turning back to face the other side.
Her girlfriend stood there, one hand in the air, fingers waving, signature black hat on and one of Kara’s capes — the one she had insisted on bringing with her on her travels — and a large grin on her face.
Kara let out a laugh, before she took off, Lena doing the same. She opened her arms, stopping short of the middle as Lena leapt into Kara’s arms.
And Kara caught her, feeling her heart soar at the feeling of Lena finally back in her arms. She laughed at Lena’s surprised, “Kara! You caught me!”, twirling her girlfriend around a few times before setting her down.
Kara grinned, leaning down and capturing Lena’s lips in a gentle kiss, deepening it when she felt Lena thread her fingers through her hair, lightly scratching her scalp.
“Mmm, I missed you so much,” Lena said when they broke apart, keeping Kara close by gripping the sides of her cape and keeping her in her spot. “Hi darling.”
Kara gave her another kiss, and another, and another — until the both of them were smiling too wide to do more than hold each other close, swaying gently from side to side.
“I missed you too,” Kara replied. “I have something for you.”
Lena wiggled her eyebrows, before leaning back slightly and holding one of her hands out.
“Ooh, gifts?” Lena asked. “You spoil me, darling.”
As Kara looked into Lena’s gaze — her best friend since she was born — the love of her life, Kara didn’t feel nervous at all.
She felt ready.
Ready to begin a new chapter in their lives together — for Lena to claim the title out loud that she’s always had in Kara’s heart.
She reached down with one hand to pull the box out of her pocket, before taking a step back and dropping to one knee.
“Lena Luthor, Queen of my heart and the Best Witch in all the lands,” Kara began, smiling as Lena gasped, her free hand coming up to her chest. “I’ve loved you for what feels like forever. I will love you forever, if you give me the chance. You’ve held my heart in your hand since we were young, and you’ve never taken that lightly. You’re my light, Lena. And I, and the entire world, kingdoms far and wide, would be lucky to call you Krypton’s Queen High Mage.” She reached out and opened the box, unveiling the ring.
“Oh, Kara,” Lena said, eyes watering and a bright smile on her face. “Your mom’s ring?”
Kara nodded, unable to take her eyes off of the beautiful witch in front of her.
“Lena, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
And then Kara was on the ground again anyways, because Lena leaped at Kara and tackled her to the ground, shaking her head.
“Yes!” she shouted happily. “Oh Kara, of course, darling.”
Kara gave a wet laugh, wiping the happy tears that were falling from her eyes. She sat up, bringing Lena with her and taking the ring out of the box.
“Here, love,” Kara said, offering out her hand. Lena put her left hand in Kara’s, the both of them exhaling gently as Kara slipped the ring onto Lena’s fourth finger.
“Perfect,” Kara breathed out, gently swiping her thumb across the ring now shining on Lena’s finger.
Lena leaned in close and kissed Kara, pouring what felt like the past two years of missing each other into the kiss. She felt more than heard Lena laugh, before her fiance — fiance — leaned back, smile wide.
“What?” Kara asked, dropping light kisses all over Lena’s face.
“Nothing, nothing,” Lena said, leaning back and putting one hand on either side of Kara’s face, stroking her cheeks with her thumbs. “It’s just — did you call me the Queen of your heart?”
She laughed, and Kara felt her cheeks warm, shrugging unapologetically.
“Okay, now that was the most romantic and cheesy thing you’ve ever done for me, Kara Danvers.”