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Christmas was a favorite holiday throughout Xadia and Pentarchy. Not only had it been celebrated by the humans, elves, and dragons long before the peace had been established but it was also the birthday of Princess Holly, the first child born from a human and an elf.
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The palace was a bustle of activity. King Ezran had commissioned a ball to not only celebrate the holiday but also his niece's birthday. This Christmas, Princess Holly would turn five-years-old. That meant that everything had to be perfect.
Normally, Holly preferred to wear Moonshadow green like her mother. But, as a member of Katolis royal family, she had to wear red and gold to state and royal functions. But Christmas was different. Because it was also her birthday, she was allowed to wear whatever color she wanted and she always wanted moonshadow green. The royal seamstress had been busy making Holly's dress in moonshadow green as well as Rayla's gown and Callum's suit in Katolin red and gold.
All three had to be perfect and finished in time for the ball. Not only that but there was also King Ezran's suit to finish. The other servants were busy getting everything ready. There had been other balls at the palace but this one had to be absolutely perfect since it was also Holly's birthday party. The guest list was extensive with nobles from all over Katolis as well as representative from the other kingdoms. Those that couldn't come had sent gifts. Presents had been coming in all month. Holly had to be told several times a day not to touch them. The closer it got to Christmas and her birthday and Christmas, the harder it was for the princess to wait. However, today Holly was submitting to a final fitting for her dress; under protest her parents noted.
"Don't look so upset, princess," Rayla said. "I don't like fittings either but they have to be done."
"I still don't like it," Holly said as the seamstress pinned her skirt to the right length.
She looked at her mother. Even with the swell in her belly (Holly was going to be a big sister before summer), she still looked elegant. Holly was excited about being a big sister but Callum and Rayla were keeping an eye out for signs of jealousy since Holly had been an only child for five years. Callum remembered what it was like when Ezran was born. He had been happy at first but had felt left out since his mother had to give more attention to the new baby.
"How are my girls?" Callum asked coming into the room.
"Someone is getting a little antsy about standing for her fitting," Rayla said looking at their daughter. "And someone just kicked me."
Callum smiled. They were excited about their family growing even bigger.
"All done, your highness," the seamstress said.
Rayla helped Holly out of her new dress. They had learned the hard way that Holly sometimes knocked the pins out when removing her dresses. Then the seamstress would have to start over.
"Can I go play now?" Holly asked after changing back into her clothes.
"You can but remember dinner is in two hours," Rayla said.
"She is just like you," Callum said as he and Rayla watched their daughter run off to play.
"True. But she got her love and talent for art and magic from you," Rayla said.
It was true. Holly loved to draw as much as her dad and was really good at magic. Callum had started teaching her a year ago and she was already as good as his advance students. The family's suit of rooms was covered with Holly's artwork and it was hard to tell hers from her dad's. Not that she hadn't inherited trats from Rayla. Even at such a young age, she was skilled at combat. With her talent at art, magic, and combat at such a young age, many in the palace were calling her a prodigy. Everyone in the palace was curious about what the new baby would be like. Would it be a warrior like Rayla, an artist and/or mage like Callum, or a combination like Holly?
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Holly followed the hallway to the ballroom. She wanted to see the decorations that were being put up. Her parents and uncle had been talking about them all week. But she hadn't seen them yet. She would just take a peek. It was, after all, also her birthday. She wanted to see what the servants had done to decorate for the ball.
"Where are you going?" came a voice.
"Hi, Uncle Soren," Holly said turning around.
"Hi," Soren said. "Now, where are you going?"
"Nowhere."
"And this nowhere wouldn't be the ballroom, would it?"
Holly shook her head but she didn't know why she bothered. She could never keep secrets from Soren; he knew her too well. He should; he'd known her since she was born.
"Do Mum and Dad need to know about this?" she asked.
"Tell you what. If you come with me to the kitchen for some jelly tarts, I won't tell your parents about this."
Soren liked being a big brother to Holly. Though no one said it out loud, Holly seemed to have filled the void in Soren's life that Claudia had left. It had been a difficult decision when Soren choice the princes over his family but it was one he would make again. Now Soren saw it as his job to protect Holly when she was away from her parents. Holly took one last look down the hall to the ball room. She knew she wouldn't get to see the decorations now.
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"Soren said that he found Holly trying to get a look at the decorations," Ezran said.
"She's determined; you have to give her that," Callum said.
Holly had gone to bed and Callum, Rayla, and Ezran were talking. The talk had started with affairs of state and moved to the party. There was so little time until Christmas and Holly's birthday. And there was still much left to do. The rest of the decorations needed to be put up and the menu for the ball finalized. True there were servants to see to it all but Ezran, Callum, and Rayla were very hands on and liked to see for themselves that things were getting done. And besides, this ball was special. Christmas may come every year but Holly would only turn five once.
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Holly was up early a few days later. They had started counting down to her birthday and, with each passing day, she was getting more and more excited. She opened the door between her room and her parents' and went right to her parents' bed.
"Mum! Dad!" she said excitedly. "It's...four...teen days until my birthday!"
"We know, Holly," Callum said. "Now go back to bed."
Holly climbed onto the bed and snuggled in between her parents.
"I'm really excited," she said. "I'm going to be five."
"Yes, Holly," Rayla said. "Now sleep."
"Why didn't we go to the Banther Lodge this year?"
Callum rolled over so he was facing both of his girls.
"You're not going to go back to sleep, are you?" he asked Holly.
Holly shook her head and giggled. If she wasn't going back to sleep, Callum and Rayla wouldn't be able to.
"Alright," Callum said, "we're up; we're up."
"Yeah!" Holly said jumping out of bed.
With her birthday getting so close, Holly was getting excited. She was counting the days & getting more & more excited with each one. Her parents & uncles were being kept busy keeping her out of the ball room. They were also being kept busy welcoming the dignitaries to the castle. Representatives from all over Xadia & the other four human kingdoms were arriving to celebrate the holiday & Princess Holly's birthday. Fortunately, today Holly had a lesson in educate. With any luck she'd be busy for hours.
"Her majesty, Queen Aanya of Durn," the Harrold announced as Aanya entered the throne room.
Due to equal ranks, Ezran didn't have to bow to her though to his right Callum & Rayla did. But, out of both Katolis & Durn's friendship over the years & his & Aanya's own friendship, he did approach her.
"Welcome, Aanya," he said with the familiarity of an old friend before raising her hand to his lips & kissing it.
"Where's the birthday girl?" Aanya asked.
"In a lesson," Callum said. "She'll join us for dinner."
Aanya looked over at Rayla. News of her second pregnancy had reached the other kingdoms.
"Congratulations are in order," she said.
"It was a surprise. Believe me," Rayla said.
"It was a surprise when the news reached Durn."
It had been a surprise for all the kingdoms. The Katolin royal family was growing bigger than the others (especially when you included Rayla's family) but no one minded. After years of Katolis having a royal family of three, it was finally getting bigger.
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On Christmas morning (& her birthday), Holly was up early. She went into her parents' room & crawled on to their bed.
"Mum! Dad!" she said excitedly. "It's Christmas & my birthday!"
We know, Holly," Rayla said as Holly crawled between them.
"You're what now, three?" Callum said.
"Five," Holly said.
"No you're not. You're five?"
Holly laughed. That morning, the family (& Ezran & Sorren) opened their Christmas presents from each other & the winter spirit. Holly spent the rest of the day playing with her new toys & her friends from the other kingdoms. Soon it was time to get ready for the ball. Normally, Holly didn't like having to stop playing to get ready for a ball. But this was also her birthday party so she didn't need much encouragement.
"You look so pretty, princess," Rayla said as she adjusted Holly's tiara.
"You're going to be the belle of the ball," Callum said.
"Can we go to the ball now?" Holly asked.
The family made their way to the ball room. A footman was on either side of the double doors waiting for the family to be announced. At a silent signal, the doors were opened.
"Their highnesses, Crown Prince Callum, Princess Rayla, & Princess Holly," the Harrold said as the family entered the ball room & stopped at the top of the stairs Holly in front of her parents.
Ezran smiled & raised his glass to the family. Everyone else in the ball room followed suit.
"Merry Christmas," he said. "And, to my niece, happy birthday."
"Happy birthday, Princess Holly."