Elara discovered Ravenna's birthday by accident.
It happened because Blue stole a piece of paper.
"Blue."
The little dragon froze.
The paper hung from his mouth.
Elara stared at him.
"Drop it."
Blue shook his head.
"Blue."
He ran.
Elara chased him through the corridor.
"Come back!"
Blue flew around a corner.
Elara followed.
Then stopped.
Ravenna's study was at the end of the hall.
The door was open.
Blue landed on Ravenna's desk.
The paper fell from his mouth.
Ravenna looked up.
Elara appeared in the doorway, slightly out of breath.
"I'm sorry."
Ravenna glanced at Blue.
Then at Elara.
"What happened?"
"Your dragon stole something."
"My dragon?"
"Yes."
Ravenna looked at Blue.
Blue looked innocent.
"What did he steal?"
Elara picked up the paper.
It was a list of royal events.
At the top was a date.
The Queen's Birthday.
Elara looked at Ravenna.
"Your birthday is next week."
Ravenna froze.
"Yes."
"You didn't tell me."
"I didn't think it was important."
Elara stared.
"It's your birthday."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
Ravenna looked away.
"Because I don't celebrate it."
"Why?"
"It's unnecessary."
"That's not an answer."
Ravenna sighed.
"Because there is usually too much work."
"On your birthday?"
"Especially on my birthday."
Elara frowned.
"Why?"
Ravenna was quiet for a moment.
Then she said,
"My mother died on my birthday."
The room fell silent.
Elara's expression softened.
"I didn't know."
"You weren't supposed to."
Ravenna returned her attention to the papers.
"It was many years ago."
"Ravenna..."
"I'm fine."
Elara knew that voice.
It was the voice Ravenna used when she did not want anyone to worry.
Elara stepped closer.
"Do you want to be alone?"
Ravenna looked at her.
"No."
The answer was so quiet that Elara almost missed it.
She smiled.
"Then you won't be."
The next morning, Elara made a decision.
Ravenna was going to have a birthday.
Whether she liked it or not.
Unfortunately, the entire castle seemed to have the same idea.
When Elara entered the kitchen, Garin was already there.
He looked at her.
She looked at him.
"You know."
"I know."
"How?"
"Your Majesty's birthday has always been difficult."
"What does she usually do?"
"Works."
"All day?"
"Until midnight."
Elara sighed.
"Not this year."
Garin smiled.
"That was our thought."
"Who is 'we'?"
The kitchen door opened.
Three servants entered.
Then two more.
Then a knight.
Then a witch.
Elara stared.
"How many people know?"
Everyone raised a hand.
Elara laughed.
"Apparently everyone."
Garin placed his hands on the table.
"Her Majesty believes birthdays are unnecessary."
"Then we'll make it necessary."
The servants smiled.
The plan began.
The first problem was Ravenna herself.
She was observant.
Very observant.
It was difficult to surprise someone who noticed when a servant moved a chair three inches.
So they had to be careful.
Elara began by pretending nothing was happening.
She had breakfast with Ravenna.
They drank tea.
They discussed the garden.
They talked about Blue.
Nothing unusual.
Ravenna seemed suspicious anyway.
"You are acting strangely."
Elara nearly dropped her cup. This story is hosted at g.com.
"I am not."
"You are."
"How?"
"You are smiling."
"I smile."
"Not like that."
Elara looked at her.
"Perhaps I'm happy."
Ravenna's expression softened.
"Why?"
"Because I like having breakfast with you."
Ravenna went quiet.
Then she looked down at her tea.
"I see."
Elara smiled.
That had worked.
At least for now.
The second problem was Blue.
Blue was terrible at keeping secrets.
The little dragon had been entrusted with carrying ribbons from the kitchen to the servants' hall.
He carried them directly to Ravenna.
Ravenna found him sitting on her throne.
A red ribbon was wrapped around his neck.
He looked proud.
Ravenna stared.
"What are you doing?"
Blue chirped.
"Where did you get that?"
Blue chirped again.
Ravenna removed the ribbon.
She looked at it.
Then toward the door.
"Elara."
No answer.
Ravenna narrowed her eyes.
"Elara."
Still nothing.
Blue flew away.
Ravenna followed him.
She found Elara in the garden.
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing."
Ravenna held up the ribbon.
"Blue."
Elara looked at the dragon.
Blue immediately hid behind her.
Elara sighed.
"Traitor."
Ravenna folded her arms.
"Tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because it's a surprise."
Ravenna blinked.
"A surprise?"
"Yes."
"For me?"
"Yes."
Ravenna looked genuinely confused.
"Why?"
Elara smiled.
"Because it's your birthday."
Ravenna looked down.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered,
"You don't have to do anything."
"I know."
"You don't owe me this."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Elara stepped closer.
"Because I want to."
Ravenna looked at her.
Elara smiled.
"And because someone should celebrate you."
Ravenna's eyes softened.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Then Blue flew between them.
The red ribbon landed on Ravenna's head.
Elara burst out laughing.
Ravenna sighed.
"I suppose this is part of the celebration."
"Apparently."
On the morning of Ravenna's birthday, she woke to an empty room.
That was unusual.
Elara was normally already awake.
Ravenna sat up.
"Elara?"
No answer.
Blue was gone too.
Ravenna dressed quickly.
When she entered the dining room, it was empty.
She walked into the kitchen.
Empty.
Library.
Empty.
Garden.
Empty.
The entire castle seemed strangely quiet.
Ravenna frowned.
Then she noticed something.
A trail of white petals.
They led down the corridor.
Ravenna followed them.
The petals turned black.
Then white again.
At the end of the corridor stood a large wooden door.
Ravenna had never seen it open.
She pushed it.
The door swung inward.
The room beyond was filled with flowers.
White roses.
Black roses.
Silver flowers.
Hundreds of candles illuminated the walls.
A long table stood in the center.
Everyone was there.
Garin.
The servants.
The guards.
The witches.
The council members.
Professor Orin.
And at the center stood Elara.
She was holding a small cake.
Blue sat beside her.
Ravenna stopped.
No one spoke.
Then Elara smiled.
"Happy birthday, Ravenna."
The room erupted.
"Happy birthday!"
Ravenna stared.
She looked around.
The decorations.
The food.
The flowers.
The people.
Her people.
She looked back at Elara.
"I..."
For perhaps the first time in many years, Ravenna did not know what to say.
Elara walked toward her.
"You don't have to give a speech."
"I wasn't going to."
"Good."
"I was..."
Ravenna swallowed.
"I was surprised."
Elara smiled.
"That was the idea."
Ravenna looked at the cake.
"What is that?"
"A cake."
"I can see that."
"It's honey and blackberries."
Ravenna stared at it.
"My mother used to make that."
"I know."
Ravenna looked up sharply.
"How?"
"Garin told me."
The chef raised a hand.
"Sorry."
Ravenna laughed.
It was a quiet laugh.
Then another.
Soon she was smiling.
Really smiling.
Elara felt something warm settle in her chest.
She had wanted to see that smile.
Now she had.
The celebration lasted until evening.
Ravenna received gifts.
A book from Professor Orin.
A wooden sword from the knights.
A black rose carved from stone.
A scarf from the servants.
A small basket of apples from the children.
And one small wooden fox from Elara.
Ravenna stared at it.
"You already gave me this."
"I know."
She smiled.
"This one is different."
Ravenna turned it over.
On the bottom was a tiny engraving.
For Ravenna.
Nothing else.
Ravenna ran her thumb across the letters.
"I'll keep it."
"I know."
Ravenna looked at Elara.
"You say that often."
"Because you always do."
Ravenna smiled.
Then she leaned closer.
"Thank you."
Elara smiled.
"Happy birthday."
For a moment, Ravenna simply looked at her.
Then she gently touched Elara's hand.
"You're the first person who has made me want to celebrate it."
Elara's heart skipped.
She squeezed her hand.
"Then we'll do it again next year."
Ravenna's eyes widened slightly.
"Next year?"
"Of course."
"You assume I'll let you."
"I'll remind you."
Ravenna smiled.
"I think I would like that."
That night, the castle finally became quiet.
Ravenna stood alone in the garden.
The moon illuminated the roses.
Elara approached.
"You disappeared."
"I wanted some air."
Elara stood beside her.
"Are you all right?"
Ravenna nodded.
"I'm happy."
Elara smiled.
"Good."
Ravenna looked at the flowers.
"I used to think my birthday was the day I lost my mother."
She touched one of the black roses.
"But today..."
She looked at Elara.
"It felt like the day I found something too."
Elara's breath caught.
"What?"
Ravenna smiled.
"A reason to look forward to the next one."
Elara did not answer.
She simply stood beside her.
Their shoulders touched.
Neither moved away.
Above them, the Silver Rose glowed faintly.
And beneath the castle, the ancient darkness stirred.
But for tonight, it remained silent.
Because for the first time in many years, the Demon Queen was not alone on her birthday.
She had someone beside her.
Someone who had chosen to stay.