Wherever it takes us.

Birthdays,Deathdays, what's the difference?

Birthdays are always celebrated differently. Sweet sixteen,  entering teenagehood, and then of course the big three digits.

Being a prince is an entirely, different ball game.

From the two doors we passed through, was quite a sight to behold: from our feet was a deep blood-red carpet rolled out 100 yards north, then to the left were thousands of people from the kingdom of Kelflore. Most undergo the preparation later in the day. Chefs, entertainers, dancers, and the like. with all of them spread out on the light green blades of grass, with smiles etched unto their faces, therefore causing me to join in on their contagious smiles myself. The yellow-golden sunlight bounces off the surroundings signifying the time of day is sometime past noon, and with the clear blue skies ever-present, the ash-colored clouds dispersed out evenly in the sky. Then on my right were chairs and tables, dozens of them, all spread out. The chairs seemed to be white and plastic, however, the tables seemed to be wooden with the JH insignia etched on the middle of their faces.

The second we were in the field of vision for the civilians, the noises that filled the air from the music and hammering of nails, turned into frantic whistling and clapping, as all the civilians stopped their work suddenly and started to applaud.

As we walked gracefully down the red carpet waving to them: my mum doing her bold queen wave, my dad displaying his big white pearly toothed grin, aunt lucy keeping to herself, and me trying my hardest to mimic my father's behavior.

As usual.

As we approached the end, the civilians went back to their duties of course. I could smell the delectable aromas of the meals being prepared around me, which doesn't help the fact that I was currently starving. As we reached the end my father took us to a destination I am fairly familiar with. Past the festivities now entering a side of the home that I don't enjoy. "I know everyone here knows where this is ?" My father asked rhetorically, but still, let a deep breath escape his lips to the cold depressing silence among us.

"We're just here to pay our respects." My dad responded. I never knew of the man we came to visit since he kicked the bucket a long time ago, but it didn't stop the chilling numb sensation to spread around me.

This part of the castle was always creepy no matter the time and day, with the withered trees dancing towards the flow of the wind the, rays of sunlight only adding more light to the misery ever so present, and with the cold chill of a breeze washing us with despair causing the hair on my body to stand on end, with the tips of my ears and nose turning to light pink. As we finally reached the place we saw an ash-colored tombstone up to 4 feet sticking out of the cold brown sand around it, with the words carved in it:

"Here lies King Jason Hart, a man of peace and a heart of gold"

I had already read the words to know them by heart, aunt Lucy made me memorize them during the Hart family history class.

My dad walked up to the grave and knelt in front of it and uttered a few words, before rising his body up and walking back to us. His eyes held a sadness I had never seen before, with the lack of shine they once held, and the smile ceasing to exist. He walked over to my mother before dropping his head into the space on her neck without words being exchanged, simultaneously when I heard the sobs. A deep sigh left my lips as I turned around to face the tombstone once more. The click-clack of heels filled the air as my mother took dad inside the castle, as it had been the routine of my birthday for the past six years.

I glanced back one more time to have a view of aunt Lucy allowing a sad smile to form on her face with her arms crossed as she slowly but surely nodded her head in confirmation. My legs slowly approach the tombstone with them occasionally sinking my foot in the sand. I slowly get myself on eye level with the tombstone and cross my legs to sit down ignoring the mud-brown dirt settling on my trousers.

"Hey, Grandpa," I mutter, the words flowing from my mouth like a broken faucet, expressing the swirl of mixed emotions, which have been flowing me since I was seven. "Let me be honest...I don't know you; since you died a long time ago, but it says here you were a good person." I felt small drops blurring my eyesight which I removed with my right hand, which sparked wrath I never knew existed "Why...", my voice came out shakey"Why..." now with a bit of wind behind my words "Why did it have to be on my birthday, huh? Answer me !!!" I screamed letting the words leave my throat.

I let my tears and pent-up frustration flow through me and run down my cheeks, feeling like I've spent hours while it's only probably been half an hour. Aunt Lucy probably thought I was crazy but I didn't care, I was tired of all the tears, sadness, and guilt hanging around my parents, especially me. I suddenly felt a cold hand tear me out of my thoughts, "I am not in the mood Lucy." I mutter with venom behind each word, "Am I that feminine" I hear a masculine voice mutter.

My body shook and shivered as I immediately jumped from my spot to glance at my surroundings. Aunt Lucy was nowhere in sight, but was replaced with somebody else; a man to be exact. He had a muscular figure, with a height of 6 feet; a fair man which I had no clue why he was here. "You seeing something you like." He chuckled, seeming to be relaxing in my discomfort which was getting me fed up. "How did you even get here?!" I shouted, like seriously where are the guards?

"Is that how you greet family now?" he asks ignoring my original question, with a lopsided smile seeming to be ever-present. 'Who is this guy I thought 'Am I being targeted or'; "

"To answer the first question I'm your uncle, secondly if you were being threatened, I would have killed you like an hour ago so..." He says while spreading his arms for a hug "Calm down." I heaved a sigh I didn't know I had "So your power is telepathy huh?" I responded folding my arms. "Well not really...you just say your thoughts out loud kid." He says with another chuckle.

"Dang it," I mutter before allowing my hand to slowly slap my face. Who is this guy? or could it be...no it can't, unless. "Uncle Ben?" I ask before slowly looking at him right into his black beady eyes. "Right in the flesh kid ." He lets out a laugh that sounds like...

"Your laugh still sounds like a dying peacock I said with a smile on my face, causing him to stop and ruffle his uncut black beard. "It's been 8 years, give it a rest will you."He mutters causing me to laugh as well. He wore a pair of black combat boots, with the same color of trousers, and a plain black shirt. In one of his hands, he held what seemed to be a black leather jacket and a black eye patch. " Eye patch?"I ask pointing to the thing covering his left eye, "What happens in the army stays in the army ." He responds now causing me to chuckle. Wait if he's here then that means, "Uncle Ben!!!" I scream suddenly causing him to move his black-gloved hands to his ears."Yeah yeah, hold your horses. "Lets go in and talk yeah?" He says, as he silently glances at the cold, grey tombstone. "Change of scenery could do both of us some good."

He responds stretching his hand towards me. "Fine " I mutter before accepting the handshake then slowly walking with him to our destination.