บท 4: (4) Meadow's First Birthday

Two months have passed since Meadow's proud triumph over her brother Oswald. The whole house is currently preparing to host a small birthday party for Meadow who is turning one years old.

In the two month Meadow had mastered a few more words, some being: bye, no, yes, hello, brother, Nana, please, thanks, love, and even Os.

A week after the "ugly" incident, Oswald started to frequently visit her every day. He would make an effort to teach her his name. Sitting down in front of Meadow, he would point at himself and say his name. In turn, Meadow would tease him by smiling and calling him ugly.

It usually took about five times of Meadow calling him ugly that he would storm out the room all upset. He would shout as he left, "I not ugly, you are ugly."

Meadow thought that for sure that he would give up after two weeks of playing this game. However, one day he stormed out and said something new. "I'm not ugly… I'm sowrry Meadow... you're not ugly either."

It was the first time Os called her by her name. So the next time Oswald visited her, she decided she would stop calling him ugly and call him Os.

He didn't visit again for a while, but eventually he showed up again. Shyly peeking his head in her room, he entered slowly like a puppy about to be scolded. So before he sat down, Meadow called him from afar. Hearing his name Oswald perked up and ran right over and patted her on the head. Meadow now felt like she was the one being treated like a puppy, but let it go.

********************

It is midday and it has been a full year since Meadow has entered this word. Being a lost soul wondering in darkness, now felt like a distant memory. She instead thinks to how not too long ago she had trouble just trying to lift her arms. Now, her vocabulary was growing each day and she was able to walk farther distances.

Thought that soon she'd be able to do much more start to fill her mind. 'Soon I'll be able to run. As well as, be able to dress myself.'

Meadow pouts to herself, as her nanny is dressing her in a cute frilly dress for the party. Meadow is excited, because this is the first party she gets to go to. They held Oswald's and Leopold's parties early in the year, but she was not allowed to attend, because she was too young.

Her nanny picks Meadow up and brings her in front of a mirror. Seeing her reflection this clear for the first time. Meadow thought that she was a little cute, but---hating to admit it--- not nearly as cute as Oswald. She had a giant blue bow on her head that tried to contain up her messy green hair.

The dress was a pale blue and had dark blue accents stitched throughout the dress. It was also really frilly, which meant that it would be super hard to walk in. However, she did think that it helped to make her look cuter.

Seemingly proud of the way she looks, Meadow grins at herself like an idiot and gives a nod of approval. The nanny laughs at this gesture and walks out of the room with Meadow in her arms.

She is brought to the banquet hall, which is decorated head to toe in flowers. It is so majestic and beautiful that Meadow lets out a gasp in awe. Meadow's father bows to greet her.

"Greetings to my adorable little princess. May this father have the honor of carrying his little girl to her seat."

Meadow giggles at her father trying to act nobly and stretches her arms out to him. He lifts her up and carries her to her spot at the table. She sat down right next to mother. Father takes his seat opposite Mother with Leopold and Oswald on his side.

Meadow notices that the head of the table is empty. She assumes that this is where grandfather would sit, but he never showed before the food was brought out. Deciding that today was apart her she didn't give it much thought.

Excited, Meadow was able to try some new food for the first time. She eagerly ate even though she was still restricted from most of the solid food everyone else was eating.

As she takes a bite happily she notices movement out the banquet all window, but she decides to ignore it and continues to happily eat her food. No one else seemed to notice the movement outside either, as they all watched Meadow lovingly.

'I wished they would stop staring at me.' Meadow thought as she got her first spoonful of chocolate pudding. The moment it hit her lips, Meadow forgot about everyones stares as she was in bliss.

She squirmed happily in her chair with each bite. Then when the bowl was empty she stared at it dejected that everybody couldn't help but to smile on.

'So cute.' Everyone except Oswald thought. As he was the only one focused on his own food.

Her mother waved at the maids to bring Meadow another bowl of pudding. The servants stifled their laughter as they watched the dejected Meadow bright right up when another bowl was placed in front of her.

Meadow started dancing in her seat again with each spoonful.

'I believe my daughter has sweet tooth, just like her father.' Meadow's mother thought as she looked at her husband shove a piece a cake in his mouth, while happily watching Meadow.

Lady Lark let a sigh escape as she watched her husband try to sneak another piece of cake. Her his wife sigh, Hayes looked at her can gave her a chocolatey grin. She couldn't help but smile back as she looked back at Meadow who was also giving a chocolatey grin with each bite.

'Seriously, Like father like daughter.'

After food, it was time for the gift giving. Her oldest brother Leopold insists that he presents his present to his sister first. Holding a pot in his hand, Leopold holds his hand over the top of the pot and focuses.

Concentrating so hard, he starts to sweat a bit. Soon, Leopold hands start to emit a soft green glow, as a glowing green plant sprouts from the pot. Meadow watches in awe as the sprout grows into a magnificent daffodil.

"I know it isn't much and I am not that good at magic, but I hope you like it. Happy birthday, Meadow."

"I wuv it! Thank you big bwother!"

Meadow grinned happily at her bashful older brother. Next it was Oswald's turn to present his gift.

"I am sorry. I didn't prepare anything. Happy birthday, Meadow."

"That okay. Thank you!"

He leaned forward, gave Meadow a hug and then kissed her on the forward. Everyone around them thought that it was a super cute moment; however no one noticed both Meadow and Oswald shudder in disgust.

"My little lady Meadow and young master Oswald are just too adorable. I am afraid my gift will pale in comparison. It is from me and Harriet."

Nanny Margaret walked forward and handed Meadow a children's book. Meadow hugged the book close excited. Nanny must have noticed how Meadow's eyes sparkled when she saw a bookshelf full of books for the first time. Meadow could remember that she loved to read in her past life.

"Thank you Nana! I wuv it!"

"You're very welcome."

Nanny smiled down at Meadow before stepping to the side. At that moment the doors to the banquet hall burst open, and Hornsby enters.

"I am sorry for my intrusion, but I would like to present a gift to the little lady from Marlow Lark."

Meadow peaks over to her mom and dad, and sees her mother's expression darken before nodding her consent. Meadow wonders what gift her grandfather will give her. She suspects from her mothers expression that it won't be good.

Hornsby gets down on his knee and presents Meadow a broach. It is a very pretty broach with a blue sapphire in the middle. 'I mean it doesn't look like a bad gift, but maybe a bit too expensive for a baby' Meadow thought.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, little lady. Then I shall take my leave as I can't keep Master Marlow waiting."

Meadow thought back to the movement that she saw when she was eating at the table. She was now sure that one of the figures she saw was her grandfather.

'If he came all the way here, why didn't he just present it himself?' Meadow thought.

In the corner of her eye she sees her father give her mom a light squeeze. It seems to jump her mother into action as her dark expression is removed from her face.

"Meadow you father and I have two gifts we want to present to you. The first is our family sigil and the other is a toy. Happy birthday, my sweet, lovely Meadow Lark."

"Happy birthday, my princess. Mamma and Papa love you very much. We are so happy to have you in our lives."

They hand Meadow a stuffed animal and a necklace which is a circle pendant. Engraved inside the circle is a tree. Meadow starts to tear up at their words.

"Mama, Papa. Thank you! I luv you very much!"

Her father and mother hold her in a warm embrace. Meadow, not fully understanding why she is crying, just knows that she is happy to be alive.

**************************

The party ended fairly soon after her parents presented their gifts. Her parents sent her off with Nanny giving her hugs and kisses. Meadow carried her children's book and wore her necklace.

After getting dressed for bed, Meadow excitedly handed her book to the Nanny to read to her. She gave her Nanny her best puppy dog expression.

"Pwease read!"

"Alright, but just for tonight, since it is your birthday."

Her Nanny gave in and sat in the rocking chair. She picked up Meadow and placed her in her lap. Nanny held the book open and started by reading the title.

"The Grand Historical Beginning of Grandeur. A story for all children."

Meadow thought that the title was a bit weird for the title of a children's book, but ignored it. As she let her nanny continue, but shortly in the book all her hopes were crushed.

"In the year 875, when the sun reached its highest, the first King of Grandeur was born. He was born to a farmer and his wife who gave him the name Tinnitus. In the year 880, Tinnitus started to help his family on the farm at the age of five. In the year 885, at the age of ten Tinnitus lost his family to the Great War. The Great War started a year prior to his parent's death and lasted until the great King Tinnitus himself put an end to it fifteen year later…"

'What is this crap?' Meadow thought to herself as her Nanny kept reading. 'This is not a children's book. Where is the princess, the dragon, or the knight? Where are the cute drawings and funny tales?' Looking down at the page in disgust. There were no pictures on the page, just boring black and white text.

Meadow wanted to wait and see if it got better, but with each new page was more dates just summarizing the achievements of Tinnitus. However, it was the last pages that really upset Meadow.

"… In the year 900, with the help of the Saintess and friends, Tinnitus fought the last battle against the Demon King. In this battle, Tinnitus lost an eye and his leg. The future queen, Gloria—often referred to as the Saintess—, was unable to fully heal his leg with light magic. The primary reason was because they were unable to gather the reminisce of the lost parts. Having been eaten by a monster, his leg was fully dissolved by strong stomach acid."

"Following the events of the battle, Tinnitus rose to fame as a hero and was crowned King. The previous Kingdom was mostly destroyed so a new Kingdom was born in its place. In the year 902, no longer the same man, Tinnitus starts to go mad and takes his own life at the age of 27. He left behind a baby, born by the Saintess, as well as, a legacy to last the ages."

After a long pause, Meadow grabbed the last page and quickly turned it. 'This can't be it. There really has to be more. I can't stand this ending. To just die like that after so many harrowing battles.'

"Meadow, dear, that was the last page and I believe it is time for bed." Nanny giggled watching Meadow desperately search for more pages.

'She must have liked it a lot.' The nanny thought to herself joyfully.

Meadow just stared at her nanny in shock. 'How could she read this garbage to a baby. This is the stuff for nightmares. Losing limbs and becoming King for a year, just to die. Where is the happy ending?'

Nanny, thinking that Meadow's stare is her begging not to go to bed, picks Meadow up to set her in the crib.

"Now go to bed my little Lady. I promise I will read it to you again tomorrow."

'Again?' Meadow thought. 'What makes you think I want to hear it again? I hoping I'll forget this book even exists.'

"Good night, Meadow."

"Nigh-night Nanny!"

After covering Meadow up with a blanket and gently brushing Meadow's hair, Nanny Marg left Meadow to her thoughts.

'Seriously, that can't be considered a children's book. There has to be something better somewhere.' Meadow thought and vowed that she would start searching for good stories in her free time. However, soon Meadow would realize that no such stories exist.