A King's Love

Ariana 12 years ago... Today is my eighth birthday!  I'm in my bed pretending to sleep and waiting for my parents to come and wake me up. They always do on my birthday. My mother always plans the day and it is a surprise for me. I can't wait to see what she did this year.  Oh! by the way, I'm Ariana Riachand, princess of Aramis kingdom. you guessed it right, my father is king Thomas Raichand and my mother is queen Aurora Riachand. Riachands ruled Aramis for centuries. My parents are very good rulers and everyone loves and respects them.  Hmm, here they come. I hear them opening my bedroom door and I try not to giggle and but I fail. My father tickles me and I couldn't hold it any longer. "Happy birthday my princess," says, my father. "Thank you father". I turn to my mother and say "I can't wait for my surprise mother". My mother pulls me onto her lap and says " Then you better get up and hurry baby girl. I think you will love it. " "Okay!" I shout as I jump off my bed and running to Maria my nanny who is waiting for me near my dressing room door. Maria is my nanny ever since I could remember, mother being the queen she is very busy, but she always makes time for me in her busy schedule. So I spend the majority of my day with Maria who is like a second mother to me.  "Happy birthday princess" wishes Maria. "Thank you, Maria". She helps me get ready for the day, I'm wearing the most beautiful gown my mother picked for the occasion. It is white silk interlaced with gold shimmering threads and lots of crystals on the neckline and I love it so much.  I walk into the family dining room which is located in our private residential wing, I see my parents, grandparents, uncle George, aunt Lilith and my two best friends who are also my cousins Layla and Liam already at the table waiting for me to join them for the breakfast. As I enter I hear a big cheer from my family "Happy birthday Ariana!". I say thank you to everyone and make my way around the table hugging everyone. I reach my cousins, Liam says " I can't believe you are already eight Ari". I giggle and say "I know right". Layla says" Wow, Ari your dress is so pretty, I wish I have one just like it". "My mother picked it for me, if you want you can borrow it anytime Layla" I say. She hugs me and says "Thanks cuz, I love you". I hug her back and say " I love you too cuz". Liam rolls his eyes at our girly conversation. Me and Layla burst into laughter. Liam and Layla are twins and a year younger than me, we are inseparable and we share everything.  "Princess" My father gestures to me to come. I run to him and jump into my father's arms and hug him tightly.  "You look beautiful my princess," says my father. With a big grin on my face, I say "Thank you father". My father sits in his chair with me on his lap and my mother sits to the right next to him. Everyone takes their seat at the table.  My mother picks up a box which is on the dining table and gives it to me with a smile and says "Ari, here is your birthday present baby girl". I take it from her and open it with excitement. Inside I see my mother's beautiful neckless, a delicate gold chain with a small circular pink diamond pendant. I always admired hers, every time I ask her if I could have it she always smiled and said "Not yet baby girl, you will get it when it's time". I used to be so disappointed but as she promised here I'm holding it in my hands. "Thank you so much, mother". I jump off my father's lap and go hug her. she helps me with the neckless and says "This is a very special neckless baby girl, every firstborn girl in the generation from my side of the family is gifted this neckless on her eighth birthday. This neckless is passed on from generations and believed to be spelled with protection spells by a witch centuries ago. This kept me safe all this time and now it's your turn".  We all finish our breakfast and move to the palace gardens. Liam closes my eyes as the guards are about to open the doors that lead to the garden. "Open them" I hear my mother say.  Liam let goes and I open my eyes and see our entire garden is transformed with decorations. I see a huge banner with "Happy Birthday Princess Ariana"  on the stage and a huge cake to the right. There are lots of tables and seating for the guests. and every table is filled with giant centerpieces which look like chandeliers that are covered with pink roses and instead of crystals cupcakes are hanging from them. Everything is so colorful and spectacular.  "Do you like it baby girl?" my mother asks. I'm still in awe of the transformation which happened overnight. I turn and hug her "Yes mother, this is so pretty, and love it, thank you so much."   Best day ever.