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“ I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way... things I had no words for.” - Georgia O'Keeffe
The fae king was honourable. The fae king was good and kind. He was loved and cherished, every magical creature trusting him. And yet, one might think to see a secret flickering behind his eyes every now and then. Something hidden and unknown to his people. It was rumoured to be a past mistake, the onyx in his eyes filled with regret. Some said, it was a secret about magic. Others wondered if it was about possessions. But only one creature outside the royal family knew. He went by the name Park Jimin.
Park Jimin was a naturesprite, jumping and singing around rocks and trees, bushes and bees. He was known for his sharp tongue and words full of wit. But only a few knew about his loving heart and kind soul. Jimin had a secret, the same one as the king. But his eyes were filled with warmth instead of regret, the king's scandal nothing of the sort for Park Jimin. It was his friend. He was his friend.
Jimin danced through the forest, singing about the tales he heard and the earthlings he bewitched when a rustle accompanied his melody. Jimin didn't need to turn, he knew who it was and simply continued humming in the afternoon sun, lips stretching into a smile.
“ What a beautiful day it is, don't you think, Yoongi?” Jimin sat down on a rock and patted the spot next to him, eyes roaming the scenery. Just seconds later, he felt another arm brush his and finally turned to look.
He saw the familiar mop of raven hair, sitting on top of a soft, round face. He saw pink lips and cheeks, sharp black eyes and a nose with glittering freckles splattered across the porcelain skin. Yoongi. His friend, his companion. He looked into the forest, eyes sparkling in awe and Jimin knew he was agreeing with him.
“ Do you want to know what I did today?” Jimin asked excitedly, loving the way Yoongi smiled when he heard about Jimin's shenanigans. Yoongi nodded and closed his eyes, something he liked to do when Jimin told him his stories.
“ I tricked an earthling into thinking I was a cow. He tried to milk me but all he got was a puff of fairy dust. When he got angry and brought his wife, I simply switched with a real cow and let his wife scold him!” Jimin broke into a fit of giggles that echoed through the trees. Yoongi's lips quirked upwards as he shook his head slowly.
“ Don't pretend you don't like my tricks, Min Yoongi", Jimin teased and lay his head onto the man's shoulder, “Just be happy I have spared you until now.” Yoongi's shoulder shook with silent laughter and soon after, Jimin felt a warm arm being wrapped around his frame. They were quiet for a moment, listening to the crickets and leaves in the wind.
Jimin hadn't noticed he had fallen asleep when he felt soft skin poking his nose. Jimin scrunched his nose and wiggled slightly in Yoongi's hold before his eyes fluttered open. He saw something being held in front of his face but couldn't see what until he sat up straight again and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. And then he could see the charoite stone in Yoongi's palm, the lilac colours glistering beautifully. Jimin gasped, taking the gemstone into his hands and holding it against the sinking sun.
“ It's beautiful”, Jimin whispered, “Did you get this from the castle?” Yoongi nodded and then raised his hands to communicate in sign language. It was something Jimin had discovered from the earthlings and he had tried showing it to his friend. Yoongi was still learning but he tried to use it as often as possible when he was with Jimin. It was their own little secret, their language that no other magical creature could understand. Yoongi explained the meaning of the stone, how it was supposed to bring emotional healing energy and balance in life. When he didn't know a word, he tried to show it in another way and Jimin guessed patiently until he knew what Yoongi was telling him.
“ That's beautiful... Thank you, Yoongi.” Jimin smiled at him and he smiled back at Jimin. The last sun rays flickered over Yoongi's face and Jimin felt a wave of affection rush through his body. He leaned forward to kiss Yoongi's nose and pulled back with something warm stirring in his chest. Yoongi sighed and looked content and Jimin knew it was all he wanted to see. He didn't want his friend to leave again, to return to the castle where he didn't belong. Yoongi seemed to notice the shift in his mood and cocked his head to the side, question in his eyes.
“ I wish you could stay here.” Yoongi's face softened at that, a sad smile on his lips. He shrugged and Jimin nodded. It was how it was.
* * *
It had been a stormy night when Jimin had first seen Yoongi.
Thunder was rippling through the clouds, drumming through the strong winds. Jimin’s pastel pink hair flew in all directions, matching the movements of the thin branches of the forest. Jimin loved the storm but he hated it. Loved, because the sounds of mother nature formed a beautiful melody in his ears. Hated, because he had no home to shelter in. He was a naturesprite, he went where the wind led him. Sometimes, he slept on a rock, sometimes he found rest inside a hollow tree trunk. But Jimin had been on the way to find the scarlet red berries and those were only near the fae castle to find. Now, Jimin didn’t know where to go except for the castle. The king would surely help out a poor naturesprite on a stormy night, he thought and made his way through the curtains of raindrops.
Jimin jumped from one brick to the other, climbing the castle wall up. He thought the main entrance was too far away and the king would unlikely greet guests there anyway. Jimin had climbed into the highest window and found himself in a small room. It was dimly lit and all the little naturesprite could see was a bed, a cupboard and a small desk in the corner.
A sudden noise startled him and when he turned around a found a young man staring at him wide eyed.
“Oh! Who are you?”, Jimin asked, having expected someone from the royal family up there. But the man simply blinked at him, no sound escaping his lips.
“Are you working for the king?” The stranger shook his head.
“Huh. Do you know if I can stay here until the storm stops? It’s cold and wet out there.” Jimin waited as he saw the stranger’s eyes widen before his shoulders deflated and he took a few tentative steps forward. The man held out his hand, palm up as his dark eyes found Jimin’s again. Jimin decided to trust him, his magical instinct never wrong, and lay his own hand in his. It welt warm and soft and Jimin liked it.
The man led Jimin to the bed where he sat him down and wrapped the blanket around him carefully.
“Thank you”, Jimin hummed and let him wrap him in. He saw the man smile at him, pink lips stretching shyly.
“Don’t you talk?” Jimin cocked his head to the side and the man sat down beside him. He shook his head. “I see. Maybe you can take one of the papers from your desk there and write down your name?” The stranger look surprised, as if he couldn’t believed Jimin wanted to get to know him. Jimin waited patiently until he finally stood up to get a piece of paper and a pen, leaving beautiful marks of black ink on the ivory surface.
“Your name is Min Yoongi? You bare the same family name as the king?” Yoongi seemed to frown at that, fine eyebrows scrunching together slightly. He continued to write and Jimin was eager to read, finding out who his new friend was.
I’m the first son of the king of the fairies. I was supposed to be the heir of the fae kingdom but I was born without a voice. My lips dance around words but no sound escapes them, staying trapped inside my heart. And who needs a king that cannot speak? I am useless in my father’s eyes and so my brother will be the fae king one day. I made my peace with it, so don’t feel for me.
Jimin huffed, letting a pink hair stand jump up. It didn’t seem fair to him, he didn’t believe in uselessness. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking at Yoongi with the most serious expression he could manage. Which wasn’t much but naturesprites were not serious creatures by nature.
“You know what I always say?”, he asked and waited for Yoongi to shake his head, “You can turn the roughest pebble into a gemstone. You just have to tend it a little.” Yoongi had cocked his head to the side, as if to ask if Jimin had truly ever said that. The truth was, he didn’t. But he could always start.
Are you saying I’m a pebble? , Yoongi wrote and Jimin could see the corners of his lips curling into a grin. Jimin liked that grin. It was better than his frown.
“I’m saying you’re a gemstone, my friend!”
And Jimin hadn’t known what caused it but it was the first time he had seen the sparkle. It appeared only for a second, disappearing into onyx as quickly as it came. But Jimin saw the sparkle in Yoongi’s eyes. It was the most beautiful twinkling he had ever witnessed.
* * *
“It’s your brothers coronation tomorrow, right?”
Yoongi and Jimin had their feet in the lake, watching how the colours of the forest reflected in the clear water. Yoongi’s eyes hadn’t sparkled today and Jimin wanted to change that. Yoongi should smile at least once a day, that was his personal rule.
“Do you have to be there?” Yoongi said no with his hands.
“Why don’t we spend the day together? You can see how much fun I have with earthlings! They are so easy to trick! Or we can take a walk along the fields, pick up flowers and braid them into crowns! It would be our own coronation”, Jimin snickered and sighed when Yoongi’s sparkle flickered in his orbs for a second. For a moment, it seemed as if Yoongi wanted to say something. It was the way he looked at Jimin, with deep words sitting on his tongue and his eyes full of an emotion Jimin hadn’t ever seen directed at him. It was the way his body turned slightly to him, so much closer than when they first had met. It was the way Jimin could feel that something was on Yoongi’s mind, something too big to put into words.
And yet, Yoongi simply sighed and turned back, leaving Jimin wondering and guessing. Instead, he motioned that they could meet up at this place tomorrow.
“Okay”, Jimin murmured, giving Yoongi a soft kiss to his cheek, “I’ll wait for you then.” And it was true. Jimin would wait for Yoongi.
* * *
Jimin had often spent whole days with Yoongi, either wandering around the forest or cuddled up in Yoongi’s bed. No one would ever check up on the prince so Jimin could stay in his room whenever it rained over the fae kingdom. It almost seemed as if it rained more often than usual, as if heaven wanted them to hide under Yoongi’s warm blanket, sharing stories and laughing until both of them fell asleep. Yoongi had been shy at first, not used to another hand in his or a soft cheek resting on his shoulder. But Jimin was anything if not patient, having eternity at his toe and a soft spot for his friend. Now, Yoongi was the one who liked to lay his palm against his, smiling when Jimin lay his head against his chest, even if a dust of pink covered his cheeks each time.
Yes, they spent many sunsets together but not once within the territory of the earthlings. It was exciting for Yoongi, seeing the place he had heard so many stories about. Yoongi had been down because of his brother’s coronation but Jimin always put a smile on his face, something almost hypnotising about his light laughter.
This day was no exception, as Yoongi found himself in awe as Jimin showed him the earthlings. Yoongi saw buildings a million times bigger than him, art made out of flesh hands and landscapes that looked so different than the forest. Yoongi always wanted to see different places but his father had never let him, has kept him within their realm. Yoongi didn’t even want to blink, too scared to miss something from this magical view. Yoongi soaked it all in, keeping it locked in his memory for the next million years until he would let himself grow old (although he could imagine Jimin preventing that from ever happening).
However, there was one moment that stood out for the prince: Jimin and Yoongi had been walking along the beach, only two earthlings standing in front of the shore. Jimin said he’d got a feeling that something wonderful was about to happen and Yoongi had to admit that he’d seen it too, in the way the earthling’s dark skin had practically glowed, a warm smile on their lips.
When one of them had bend down on one knee, holding something shining in his hand, Yoongi gasped in awe. Why was the other earthling crying? Hadn’t he just been offered a gift in the form of jewellery?
“This is a proposal”, Jimin had whispered into his ear, “Earthlings propose to ask someone for their hand in marriage. This is a promise to stay together forever. Of course, they don’t know eternity like we do but I think it’s just heartwarming to see.”
“A promise to stay forever? Don’t we promise that as well in the fae kingdom?”, Yoongi had wondered, eyes never leaving the beautiful lovers.
“Yes, we do but earthlings have a celebration! And they wear a ring to symbolise their bond to the one another. I always loved earthling’s rings, if only my fingers weren’t so small.” Yoongi had taken his hand in that moment, loving each of Jimin’s fingers no matter how small.
Yoongi had thought a lot about the promise to stay forever. There had always been only one person he wanted to stay with for eternity. Yoongi loved Jimin very much, he had known it for a long time. But he wasn’t sure how to tell Jimin, words not enough to express such feelings. He had tried to show it, whether it was giving him the little gemstones that caused Jimin’s eyes to light up or handwritten letters in which Yoongi tells Jimin all the things he could never tell anyone else.
But it wasn’t enough. Yoongi and Jimin weren’t lovers like the earthlings, weren’t as close as Yoongi wished he could be with Jimin. He loved to be Jimin’s friend but his heart longed for more. Hoped for more.
It took Yoongi exactly 21 days after the trip to the earthlings to decide that he wanted to propose. He wanted to give Jimin the most beautiful ring he has ever laid eyes on and wanted to promise him to love him forever, which he was fairly sure he would do anyway. Yoongi knew a few of Jimin’s friends who could maybe help him. The pixies Namjoon, Seokjin, Hoseok, Taehyung and Jungkook could probably lead the way and help him through this journey. Yoongi took some of the gold coins his father had hidden in the castle and hoped it would be enough to get a ring for Jimin. He was determined to go through with his plan. Jimin deserved it.
* * *
Jimin wasn’t sure where Yoongi was and he feared that something has happened to his friend. He hadn’t seen the other in a few days and had no idea where to look anymore. Yoongi was nowhere to be found and Jimin could do nothing more than to sit under a weeping willow tree, letting silent tears fall from his eyes. He had tried to ask his friends to help him find Yoongi but the pixies were gone as well. Jimin had never felt lonely, had never really minded wandering on his own. But ever since he met Yoongi he liked spending his days with someone else, suddenly seeing how empty his life had been before.
Jimin hoped the king had nothing to do with Yoongi disappearing, his views of the once kind man had changed after he had heard how Yoongi was treated every day. Jimin had not once wished for Yoongi to have a voice since he met him but right now he was scared that he was in danger and couldn’t call for help. Jimin wiped the sad tears from his cheeks, feeling helpless and worried. He had never felt that way, not even once after he was born from a beautiful tulip in the end of spring many years ago. Jimin never knew worry or concern for someone else. But he also didn’t know love. At least not like he did with Yoongi.
Suddenly, Jimin saw something twinkle from his peripheral vision. When he turned his head, Jimin saw a little cloud of glitter flowing through the wind. Curious, he stepped towards it and tried to catch a bit of the fine powder.
“Pixie dust?”, Jimin wondered as he saw the colourful particles on his fingers. He looked to his left and right to see if it had been any of his friends. They liked to play games like that sometimes.
“Taetae? Jungkookie? Namu? Jinnie? Hobi? Is that you?”, Jimin called but instead of a response, another cloud of pixie dust flew into his vision, leading him further left.
Jimin decided to follow the lead, wondering where his pixies led him to. He walked through the forest, left and right, stepped over rocks and trees, and climbed over hills and walls. After a little while, Jimin couldn’t wait to find out where they brought him him to for he had never been at this place. He knew his pixie friends had a few secret spots that they never showed him and his curiosity only fastened his steps as Jimin followed the pixie dust.
Soon enough, there was no pixie dust to lead him on and Jimin slowly turned around, to see what place his friends had led him to. A quiet gasp whisked through the air as Jimin encountered the most beautiful sight he had ever stumbled upon. Flowers, in all different shapes and colours, covered the rich green coloured meadow. Pixies twinkled everywhere in the evening sun, accompanied by their firefly friends. And right in front of him stood no one but Yoongi, a blush on his pale skin and a smile formed on his pink lips.
“Yoongi? Oh, I was so worried about you!”, Jimin called as he ran towards his friend and jumped right into his arms. Yoongi felt warm and like home and Jimin never wanted to pull back. But he did, because Yoongi held something out to him. It seemed to be a note, rosé coloured paper that reminded Jimin of his own hair. He giggled and read out loud:
“Jimin, my dearest friend. I have long thought about this. Ever since we met, I finally learned to laugh, learned to live and learned to love. You taught me to speak without my voice and you taught me to trust without doubt. I have never been filled with so much love and joy as I have with you. You make me happy. And if you let me, I want to make you happy as well. Forever. So now, I want to ask y-”, Jimin took a deep breath before continued, “I want to ask you. Jimin, I will promise you to love you forever, as you are and with with all of mine...Will you take my hand?”
And when Jimin looked up, drops of tears on his cheek and a slight shake to his hands, he saw Yoongi down on one knee with a ring in his hand. His breath hitched when he saw the ocean blue gemstone that was attached to the silver band.
“Aquamarine”, Jimin whispered, eyes locking with Yoongi, “Courage and communication.” The aquamarine ring’s purpose was to remind people to express their love for one another, through words or any other way. It was one of the first things Jimin found out in one of the books of the earthlings. He had told Yoongi about it many moons ago.
Yoongi looked up towards him, a shy smile on his face and a question in his eyes. Jimin sighed, his stomach tickling with love for the prince. His prince.
“Of course I will”, Jimin breathed. He watched closely as Yoongi put the shiny ring onto his finger, heart beating loudly in his chest. It fit perfectly.
And when Yoongi looked up, his eyes sparkled.
* * *
Yoongi loved many things. He loved his little hut that he built with the help of the dwarfs that became his friends. He loved spending time with the pixies and water nymphs. He loved caring for the little elf baby that Jimin once found abandoned in the forest. Little Mini was his whole pride and Yoongi loved her with his whole heart.
But what Yoongi loved more than anything? Jimin. He loved to kiss him and to listen to him, loved to talk to him in fluent sign language or write him letters. He loved to bring him gemstones or to accompany him to visit the earthlings. Yoongi loved to hold Jimin in his arms, to listen to his heartbeat and his laugh. And he knew that Jimin loved him back. Yoongi finally had a home. He finally had a place where he belonged.
And he had never been happier.