The large hall was absolutely stunning. Twining branches of slender trees arched over the whole room, interwoven with twinkling lights and fragrant flowers. The trees grew all around the perimeter of the room, the little lights casting a warm glow that radiated inward. At one end of the room, deep purple curtains were drawn across a polished wood stage.

"What is that for?" Lena asked, gesturing to the stage.

"You'll see," Enigma replied. "Come and see the food!"

They walked to a long table filled with dishes of meats, vegetables, fruits, and baked goods. At the end was a beautiful cake decorated with violets, honeysuckle, and fresh berries.

"This is amazing," Lena said.

Just then, the other guests arrived at the room and Lena crossed the room to stand next to Katya and Ailan and greet everyone. Everyone bowed to Lena and Katya, shook Lena's hands, and offered compliments and kind wishes. Lena couldn't help but smile. She recognized Ashryn and Jeanette from the stables earlier. She also saw Jonik, who offered her birthday wishes, and then went to talk to Enigma. Lena saw Enigma smile, nod and whisper something to him, before her attention was drawn back to more guests.

"Princess Lena! I made you a present!" Ayen ran up to her with one hand behind her back. She proudly presented a colorful bouquet of wildflowers and vibrant greenery.

"Wow, this is beautiful Ayen!" Lena exclaimed, accepting the gift and giving Ayen a quick hug. Ryllae followed Ayen, with their parents Braern and Zaleria close behind.

"How's your training going with your new weapons? Are they to your liking?" Braern asked.

"They are wonderful, thank you," Lena said. Both Braern and Zaleria beamed with pride, then rushed off after Ayen and Ryllae, who were both enthusiastically talking to Enigma.

More and more people greeted them. Lena looked around to see if Etna was anywhere among the crowd, but she was not surprised when she didn't see her anywhere. It had been days since she had last seen her. Finally, all the greetings were done.

Katya announced that the feast could begin, and everyone followed Lena, Katya, and Ailan to go get food. Tables and chairs had been set up in a section of the room, decorated with vines of greenery and delicate white flowers. Katya, Lena, Ailan, and Ivy sat together on one side of a long rectangular table. Cyran and Enigma sat on each end, Enigma near Lena, and Cyran closest to Ailan.

"The decorations are amazing!" Lena said to Enigma.

"I'm pleased you like it! Cyran and I spent most of the day here," Enigma replied.

"You two did all of this?" Lena asked in awe.

"That we did, Princess," Enigma smiled as they began to eat. It was so good that they didn't speak more in favor of enjoying their food. Everything was amazing, but the cake was incredible. The berries were fresh and sweet, the frosting was fluffy with the scent of a wildflower meadow, and a flavor equally as good. The cake was rich, yet light. Once they had finished the meal, Enigma leaned in to Lena and Katya.

"Are you ready for the next surprise my Queen?" Enigma inquired.

"Yes, I think it is time. Cyran, Enigma, if you would... Lena, someone else has a gift prepared for you." Katya got to her feet, and silence fell, replacing the chatter of conversations throughout the room. Katya motioned to Lena, and she stood to go stand beside her mother.

Enigma and Cyran had gone up onto the stage and they each held one side of the curtains. At a nod from Katya, they pulled the curtains aside to reveal a piano on one side, and in the center of the stage standing in a moonbeam spotlight was a familiar figure.

"Etna?" Lena's mouth dropped as she stared at the girl on the stage.

Etna's normal armor had been replaced with a black dress. Her eyes were enhanced with black and silver makeup that sparkled under the moonlight streaming through an overhead skylight. Etna's hair had been pinned back with a silver clasp, and Lena noticed that she wore silver earrings and a necklace. Etna's eyes met Lena's across the room, and Lena felt her heart flutter as Etna winked at her.

"Happy Birthday, Princess," Etna said, "It's not much, but I can give you the gift of music."

Some of the other elves had risen to their feet to stand near Katya and Lena as Etna nodded to a slender male elf who had moved across the stage silently to sit at the piano. Then she began to sing, her voice low, then high, soft, then strong, flowing and changing almost effortlessly.

"Dark eyes shine with light,

Soft smiles in the night.

Whispering while the world's asleep,

I am falling, falling deep.

My heart feels wildfire,

Now and for forever.

You're beautiful in every way,

I cannot find the words to say,

Wildfire.

I'm kept awake all through the night,

Sleep is overtaken by dreams.

Waiting for the moment where

We can go where we won't be seen.

And wildfire's reaching higher.

Can we stay much longer?

The treasured seconds that we steal,

I know that I will always feel

Wildfire."

At first everyone was silent and still watching her, but Katya and Ailan began to dance, and slowly more and more people filed onto the dance floor. Lena stood staring at Etna, completely entranced.

"May I?" Enigma offered her hand. "You shouldn't dance alone at your own party."

Lena nodded. She allowed Enigma to take her hands and lead her in dance. The crowds parted around them as they moved. Lena saw Ivy and Cyran dancing together. Ayen, Ryllae, Braern, and Zaleria all danced with each other.

"Thank you!" Etna said, finishing the song and bowing to her audience. The crowd applauded, and Lena noticed that Ashryn and Jeanette stood to the side of the room. A short ways away, Jonik stood, his arms crossed across his chest self consciously. Looking more closely, Lena saw that his eyes kept darting to Ashryn.

"Excuse me a moment," Lena said, letting go of Enigma's hand. Enigma bowed, and turned to watch Etna, who had started a different song, lilting and gentle.

"There's a tree that I've seen,

Far away in a dream,

And beside it,

A little house stands.

And it's quiet, serene,

In that forest of green

Where the little house stands.

Run, run away I'd say to you,

And you would come with me too.

But it's only a dream,

Just a wish that's unseen,

Please follow me,

I'd follow you.

But it's just a dream

That won't come true."

Lena walked over to Jonik and stood beside him, facing Etna. Etna's voice rang with emotion as she finished the final notes of the song. Lena noticed that the song seemed to end more abruptly, as if it wasn't complete, but was soon distracted as Etna began another song.

"Enjoying yourself?" Lena asked Jonik as they watched the stage together.

"Yes, of course, Princess. And yourself?" Jonik said.

"This is honestly amazing," Lena replied. They stood in silence together as Etna sang a few more songs.

"She writes them all, you know," Jonik said after a while.

"What?" Lena asked, turning to him.

"Etna. Every song she has sung here, she wrote herself," Jonik said. "Not really what you'd expect, knowing her, huh?" He chuckled and gestured to several bruises that still hadn't quite faded from the last sparring match he had done with Etna.

"That's... wow," Lena said, watching Etna with admiration. "They're beautiful."

"Yes, they are. I wonder who they're about," Jonik looked at Lena with a smile and Lena felt her face flush.

"You should ask Ashryn to dance with you!" Lena blurted, her face still warm, wanting to change the subject. It was Jonik's turn to blush.

"Oh, uh... I..." He stammered.

"No excuses. I saw you looking at her, and I saw her glance at you a fair few times as well!" Lena said, motioning him to follow and leading him over to where Ashryn and Jeanette stood. Jonik followed obediently.

"Princess," Ashryn bowed as they approached, Jeanette hurriedly doing the same.

"I hope I am not interrupting?" Lena asked. She noticed that the two girls had stopped their conversation as they approached.

"No, not at all," Jeanette said with a wide smile.

Lena turned to Jonik, who was standing behind her, and gave him a pointed look. Reluctantly he stepped forward.

"Ashryn, would you... uh... do you want to dance?" Jonik said, offering his hand to her.

"I would love to!" Ashryn practically leapt toward him, her face flushing several shades darker than usual, but a huge smile on her face. Lena laughed and winked at Jonik as they left to go to the dance floor.

Looking out over the crowd, Lena saw that Katya was now dancing with Cyran as Ailan and Ivy danced nearby. Enigma had joined the group with Ayen, Ryllae and their parents, and as she watched, Enigma picked Ayen up and spun in a circle, making the young child laugh and extend her arms as if she were flying. Lena couldn't help but smile.

"It's a good party," Jeanette said.

"It is. Are you going to dance?" Lena asked.

"Oh, no. I'm fine here. I'm not one for dancing, even if I had someone to dance with," Jeanette said. "It's also been quite a long day for me. I'm somewhat exhausted, I just fear it would appear rude if I were to leave early."

"It's up to you," Lena replied. "I wouldn't find it rude. Parties and crowds can be a lot sometimes."

Jeanette looked at Lena out of the corner of her eyes, then nodded.

"I might go. Would you let Ashryn know if she looks for me?"

"Of course," Lena replied.

"Good night Princess, happy birthday," Jeanette said, bowing quickly then turning to exit the room.

Lena spent the next hour dancing, enjoying more food, and watching Etna. Finally, Etna bowed to the audience.

"I have just one more song for you tonight, Lena. Happy birthday to our lovely Princess, and our beautiful future Queen!" Etna said, smiling across the room as her emerald eyes met Lena's. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause for both Etna and Lena.

"This is Future Queen!" Etna announced.

As Etna began the final song, movement on the edge of the room caught Lena's eye. Turning she saw a figure in a dark purple cloak standing in the shadows away from the dance floor. The hood covered the person's face, but Lena could tell they were looking directly at her. As she watched, the figure beckoned to her with a pale hand.

Lena looked around, but everyone was dancing or watching Etna, and no one else seemed to notice the person there. Lena hesitated, then crossed the room to the figure. Approaching, Lena saw that the mysterious person was an old woman. Her hair was the color of fresh snow. She had a tired look about her, like someone who had lived a long time, and seen a lot. There were smile lines around her green eyes, but those eyes held a depth and a sadness as well.

"You're beautiful, my child," the woman spoke softly once Lena stood before her. "Just like your mother."

"Thank you," Lena said. "Um... Who are you? I don't mean to be rude, but I don't remember seeing you before."

"That's quite alright, Princess," the woman responded. "I only stopped to give you something."

From within the folds of the cloak, the woman removed a small package wrapped in soft fabric. The gift was bound with a vine, and in place of a bow was a tiny bird's nest, with flowers woven through the branches.

"It's a robin's nest," The woman said, seeing Lena's gaze fixated on the gift.

Lena accepted the gift, and was about to thank the woman, or ask one of the many questions that swirled in her mind, but at that moment, Etna finished her song, the crowd burst into another round of applause and cheers for Etna, Lena, and Erinaea.

Lena clapped along with everyone else and hugged Etna as she jumped off the stage, her face glowing with happiness.

By the time Lena turned back, the woman was gone, the wrapped package in her hands the only indication she had ever even been there.

Author's note: Happy Birthday @NovaEraKitty I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations!