When the first snowflake falls from the sky, the dawn of a new age will begin

When your rose garden bears white petals with black wings

I shall return to claim my rightful place

So it shall sing

The supposed prophecy played over and over again in the fairy kings' mind for years upon years. Every time the first snowflake fell from the sky, he kept a careful watch on the rose garden where all fairy life began. Every full moon, the new fairy was born into the kingdom and placed where they belonged. Where they were to serve their purpose in their lives.

Tonight was another night where a fairy would come to join his kingdom. He took a deep breath of the night air and listened from his hollow in the tree of life as fairy below began to prepare to welcome the newcomers who would join them. Lights were strung above by the fire fairy. Bubbles floated softly through the air from the water fairy. The forest fairies flew around growing flowers and fruits for the feast they would gather together at and the wind fairies blew gentle warm breezes to guide the spirits they were expecting.

"My king," he turned from the view to see his beautiful wife standing in the doorway. Her elegant white wings were folded neatly against her smooth back, her skin as white as snow. Her silver eyes pierced his heart and her smile melted his tough facade.

"You are truly the embodiment of beauty, my love," he walked over to her and ran his hands through her long white silky hair. She gently took his face in her hands and slowly pulled him down to her height for a kiss. He closed his eyes, bathing in her fragrance that he loved.

"I can see your stress," she said. He sighed knowing that he could never hide his true feelings from her. She knew him too well.

"Have you felt the chill that threatens to come?" he asked as he walked away from her and to the hollow. He scanned the rose garden, watching the forest fairy tend to it. Red petals, blue petals, green petals, and silver petals...but no white.

"What I feel is that you should not worry," His wife rubbed her hands on his shoulders. "This is another night to celebrate. The moon will send us more fairy to raise and nurture."

"I know but..." he gazed up at the full moon, shining brightly in the night sky.

"Everything will be fine," his wife smiled and pulled her husband away from the view. "Please get ready. It's almost time for the ceremony and you have to be the first to greet the new fairies, remember?"

"Right..." he slowly made his way to his wardrobe but didn't make a move to get ready.

"Do you remember when I first appeared?" he looked at his wife who smiled as she spoke. "No one had ever seen a fairy with white wings before."

"Yes, I remember," The king sat down on a small stool and gave a chuckle at the memory. "You were quite the anomaly...and an exquisite one at that...None of us had ever seen a snow fairy before."

"You all thought I would bring such bad luck to you," she laughed. "And for a time, I did..."

"That is the past, my love," the king stood and walked over to his wife. She gazed at his golden wings, still not used to seeing the beauty of them.

"The fire fairy king and the snow fairy outcast..." she said sadly. "We weren't supposed to be from the very moment we met."

"And yet, here we are...together," he smiled and kissed her cheek. "I will meet you at the gathering."

"Don't be late," she hugged him once more before exiting his room.

With a sigh, he began to get dressed for the gathering. However, what he didn't notice was a small white flicker of snow float past his hollow...