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"I have a gift for you,” Farrin told her as they finished breakfast.
Rakel looked up at him worriedly. Have I missed some occasion? “But, I don’t have one for you.”
“Well, technically this was supposed to be your birthday gift."
Rakel felt relieved, if a bit confused. "My birthday is still six weeks away."
Farrin shrugged and looked at her with a mischievous air. "I can’t wait.”
Rakel crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a glare. “You are one of the most patient people I’ve ever met. What could possibly make you so impatient?”
Farrin grinned. “This gift is long overdue.”
Rakel raised an eyebrow at him. “Sounds intriguing.”
Farrin twined their hands together and led her out of the palace, through the gardens, toward a very large, very old oak tree on the edge of the meadow between the palace and the mountains.
She saw Phile, Gerta, Kai, and Glia standing near the tree and Little Farrin flying high over their heads. Rakel gasped and grasped Farrin’s arm with her free hand. “Magic?” she breathed. “Little Farrin has magic?”
Farrin looked baffled. “No, I don’t think so. Why?”
Rakel pointed to the tree and choked, “He’s flying.”
Farrin glanced at his namesake and puffed out a breath of a laugh. “No, he’s not. He’s swinging.”
It was Rakel’s turn to look puzzled. As Farrin led her closer to the little group under the tree, she could see the ropes to which the boy clung. Little Farrin was leaning backward and stretching his legs out in front of him, whooping as he swooped toward the ground and back up again in a large arc.
“Hey, Little Wolf! Wanna try out your present?” Phile asked.
Gerta and Glia turned and rushed at Rakel, both crushing her in their arms. “Auntie! Isn’t it great?” Glia exclaimed.
Rakel had not yet let go of Farrin’s hand. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to try this unusual contraption. Kai turned to them and bowed. Reaching for Rakel’s hand, he spoke to Little Farrin. “Get off, Farrin, Princess needs a turn.”
Before she could protest, Kai turned to her and said proudly, “I helped Prince Farrin build it. I hope you like it, Princess.”
Rakel could not disappoint him. When the little boy jumped off the swing, Rakel looked it over. It was simply a board suspended from two ropes attached to a low hanging branch. It did not seem like anything special. “What is it?” she asked.
Gerta piped up. “It’s a swing, Princess. Try it!”
Glia sounded shocked, "Haven't you ever swung before, Auntie?"
Rakel smiled a little at her niece. "No, I haven't."
Glia looked scandalized. "Why not?"
Rakel hesitated, unsure how much to explain to the little girl. She decided on something simple. "I didn't have one where I lived." That seemed to satisfy the girl. So, Rakel looked again at the swing and said, “Will it hold an adult?”
Phile laughed. “Yup, it will, Little Wolf. I’ve already swung on it a couple times this morning. Stop worrying.”
Wanting to delay the attempt as long as possible, Rakel touched Little Farrin’s head. “Was it fun, Buddy?”
The little boy bobbed his head and bounced on the balls of his feet. “It was, Auntie!” He leaned close and whispered conspiratorially, “But the rope swing on the farm is better because I can swing out over the river and jump in.”
Rakel's heart stuttered at the risk the boy had taken, but she did not allow herself to react outwardly. She took a moment to process what her nephew had said. “So this is a child’s toy? Have all of you children been on a swing other than this one?”
Enthusiastic nods greeted her from every little head. No wonder Farrin said that this gift was overdue. She smiled at them. “Well, I guess it’s high time I tried it, then. Right?” The children cheered in agreement.
Rakel allowed Kai to lead her to the seat. She turned and lowered herself carefully onto the board.
Kai shook his head. “You’re too far forward. Slide back.”
She did.
“Hang onto the ropes.”
She did. Then she looked at the ropes strangely and rubbed her palms up and down them. “Are these magic ropes, Kai?”
“It’s Kai’s magic, Princess. Isn’t it Kai?” Gerta exclaimed.
Kai nodded. “Ready, Princess?”
Rakel gripped the ropes and nodded.
Kai exclaimed, “Swing!”
The swing began to move underneath her. Her first instinct was to screech and jump off the contraption. But she squeezed her eyes shut and willed herself to stay put. She held onto the ropes tightly and sat stiffly as the swing moved her backward and forward at the direction of Kai’s magic.
“Relax, Little Wolf. It’s supposed to be fun,” Phile chided.
As she moved more and more swiftly, Rakel began to relax. The feeling of the wind whipping around her felt very similar to the feeling she got when her magic whipped around her, yanking on her hair and clothing. It was a soothing, familiar feeling and she allowed herself to enjoy it. Her breath hitched as she tried to breathe in the air blowing in her face. Finally, she opened her eyes and watched the tree sway back and forth beside her. She grinned and let out a little delighted noise.
“Do you like it, Princess?” Gerta asked.
Rakel looked down at the spectators, but quickly looked back up. The ground seemed far away. “Yes! It’s fun. It feels like I’m flying!” She giggled. “Farrin, have you tried this?”
Farrin chuckled. “Many times.”
After several minutes of swinging and following shouted directions from the children–and Phile–(Relax! Lean back! Kick your feet! Try it one-handed!), Rakel said, “Kai, will you please cut off your magic so I can come down?”
Kai obliged and soon Rakel was coasting to a stop. She sat still for a moment catching her breath and regaining her equilibrium. Kai came over and stood before her, beaming. She reached for his hand. “Kai, that was wonderfully fun. Thank you.”
Kai blushed, but said, “It wasn’t my idea, Princess. It was Prince Farrin’s.”
Rakel turned to her husband and grinned. He gave her a lopsided grin in return. “Happy Birthday, Rakel.”
She stood and crossed the few feet to stand in front of him. “Thank you, Love.” She reached up and put her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly to a chorus of "ew!" and "yuck!" from the spectators. When she pulled away, she lifted an eyebrow and asked, “Did you ever jump off of the rope swing into the river?”
Farrin turned and winked at his namesake. "Who do you think helped Pop put it up?”
