"Happy fifth birthday, Irene!"
A loud, exuberant noise broke her out of her sleep. Irene, who had been soundly slumbering in the comfort of her bedroom, woke up with a start from the sudden cacophony. Wide golden eyes gaping at the three figures surrounding her bed.
Outside, the little white shreds of snow fluttered down to the earth like a midnight dance. And as Irene awoke to her fifth winter living as the princess of Cherliann, she remembered how time was drawing gradually nearer to the important events of the original story.
Her mother — Sarah Cherliann, wrapped her arms around Irene in a warm embrace, as the white-haired child struggled to process their excitement. The moon rode high in the sky and it was still late into the night, but her room had been lit up with lanterns and can
