Quest 318

[primrosella]

When I was seventeen years old, I remember it seemed as though all I could think about was how things would be on the day I turned eighteen. It was rather an important birthday, you know. That is--of course, it'd be important to anyone, but it was especially so for me, I think, because turning eighteen meant starting to think about being married, and there was to be a great grand ball for me, and dancing, and all sorts of things. Mother would've arranged all of it, and she's really just magnificent with parties and that sort of thing. And I remember I was a bit, er...well, nervous about the whole business. I suppose anyone would be, thinking about being married and all, hoping to find the right person and so on and so forth.

It was almost my birthday, I remember, when the dragon came. And then I wasn't thinking about dancing and parties and marriage anymore. I was only thinking that it had demanded a maiden sacrifice, and someone had to go, and it was my kingdom and my duty and if I didn't then some other poor girl would have to and...

Well, it ended up that I rather stopped thinking about being eighteen at all, really. I didn't...think it'd matter, either way, since I wouldn't be around to see it.

I never did turn eighteen, back home. Oh, er--not because of the dragon, thankfully! My twin brother showed up just in time and rather saved the day and me both. But the day I came to the City, it was only about thirty-six hours after I went to the dragon; I fell out of Daventry and into the Fountain on the morning of the second day after I thought I'd be its dinner. And when I did, it was August here, and so then I found myself waiting another seven months still before my birthday came around. And it did come around, and...well, then it came around again, and again, and again still. And now here it is again, the same as always on the first day of spring.

It's strange to think that someday, if--really, I'm not sure if I ought to say when or if at this point, but perhaps it'd be better to say when--someday, when I go back home to Daventry, I'll find myself at seventeen again, just a few days away from my birthday. It seems a bit silly now, the things I thought and worried about at seventeen. Before the dragon came, I think my greatest worries were that I might end up a spinster or be an unfit queen! That all seems so terribly silly now that I think about it like this, looking back. But I suppose that's really just a part of growing up, isn't it?

Most years, I make it a point to have a great mysterious countdown to the first day of spring, or I'll say it's my brother's birthday without also mentioning that we're twins, and so that makes it mine, too. But this year that seems a bit silly, too, and mostly I'm just happy to see spring come around again, and to think back on all the wonderful birthdays I've had before this one, and...and just how lucky I am, really. For as awful as the City can be--and it's been terribly awful, there's no way around that--I'm still glad I'm here, and that I've been here. I met my best friend here, and people I've considered as close as family, and learned so much from the people I've known and really just...become better for it. I'm glad for that.

Oh, and I suppose it's fair to say there's someone a bit glad for me, too, if the packages that came to my door this morning are any indication.

But! Just because I kept from saying anything about my birthday before now certainly doesn't mean I don't intend to celebrate it. So I think first I'll keep up my usual tradition of paying a visit to Ellington, and then tonight we'll have cake at the Blue Light--and Edmund would howl, but we'll have all the drinks for a discount, too. It's one of those funny cakes that bakery in the square is famous for, the ones made with the pie inside? And I still don't know how they manage it, by the way, but I doubt they'd tell me the secret even if I did say they ought to since it's my birthday.

Comments

[primrosella]

Why, I should hope not--I'm not that old!

Will you be coming down to the Blue Light for cake, Neil?

[had_not_lived]

Oh! Of course you're not, but being here as long as we have-- and you've been here longer than me-- well, it seems like... what it is, a whole other world. Maybe it's different for you.

I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm really glad we're both here to celebrate it.

[primrosella]

I was just telling Captain Rogers it'll be five years this August. And to think, the one after that will be six--I'll have spent the same number of years as the princess with the six brothers turned into swans! Goodness, I wonder what I'll do once I can't tell that story on my anniversary anymore?

I'm glad, too. Oh, and of course you ought to bring Todd along, too! But I suppose that goes without saying by now.

[had_not_lived]

It'll be four for me next month. [And his birthday to boot.] You could just add a seventh brother-- maybe no one will notice. Or tell people the story's different in Daventry.

Well, we do tend to go together, I suppose it's no surprise.

[primrosella]

I think there's a version of the story that does have seven, actually. I'd feel just terrible, though, making the little princess wait all that time to be able to speak again, and then right when she manages it asking her to wait another whole year besides.

I'm just glad there's no curse today. Some years I haven't been so lucky, though I don't think there's ever been an awful one interrupting it, that I can recall.

[had_not_lived]

There must be another story with seven somethings, then, that you could tell. And then eight, and so on, if you need. We'll just have to dig them up.

We'd just have had to extend your birthday if there was one, and celebrate all weekend.

[primrosella]

Or make one up! After all, it worked well enough for Peg-Fist Jack, didn't it?

...that is, when we uncovered his legend in the Library all those years ago, because of course that's how we first came to know about it, and certainly didn't make up a word.

And perhaps we could do that anyway!

[had_not_lived]

Exactly! I'm sure the Library's full of sevens and eights and nines, just waiting to be discovered. We'll have to get started on it.

I'm all for it-- carpe finis septimana, curses or not!

[primrosella]

Wonderful! I'm looking forward to it already. I've been thinking, you know, that with all the practice I have now at running the Blue Light, I might be able to start spending more time at the Library again, since I'm better at keeping things managed at the club, too.

Goodness, my Latin isn't what it used to be! Seize the...weekend, is it?

[had_not_lived]

I hardly ever see the Library these days, I'm too busy with the books in the shop. But that'd be nice!

Seize the weekend, as best as I could translate it. Mine's rusty, too, and I don't think they really had a weekend the same way. But I think it gets the idea across.

[primrosella]

We'll just have to set aside some time for it, that's all. The same way we would anything else!

Well, I think it's a fine sentiment no matter the language.

[had_not_lived]

That sounds like a fantastic plan.

I think so, too.

[primrosella]

Good, then that's just what we'll do. Seizing the weekend and exploring the Library together alike!

[had_not_lived]

You'd better warn that bakery.

[primrosella]

It's such a nice little bakery, too! Even if the baker always does look like he's about to cry when someone asks for a cakepie.

[had_not_lived]

Does he really?

[primrosella]

He does! Someday I'll ask him why--I tried once, but he only said something about never finding another boy like that. I suppose he must mean someone who once helped him in the shop, don't you think?

[had_not_lived]

I... suppose he must? How strange!

[primrosella]

Yes, very much so! As I said, I'll have to make certain to ask him the next time I'm in.