It does indeed turn out to be a surprise party, and although I pretend to be surprised, (as per Faladel’s and my plan) I’m actually slightly disappointed. I would have enjoyed being surprised with a party so much! It’s not Faladel’s fault for seeing through it though, he didn’t even know my family, and to anyone other than my distracted brain, a party would have probably been rather obvious. No presents even a week later, an invitation to come home and bring a friend… two plus two does equal four. Still, I privately requested that in the future, he not point out any possible surprise parties, so they can still have the maximum desired effect.

Although the surprise part was gone, the rest of the party was excellent! The presents are fabulous, homemade mittens from mom, a new bow from dad, various small gifts from the siblings, a saddle from Faladel with hand carved runes for help with Myrddin’s speed and maneuverability. He couldn’t actually add any magic to them, due to the whole ‘no magical aptitude’ thing, but it's easy enough to hire someone to do that, or even to do it myself if I study up for a bit. The hard part is making the runes right, and ensuring that they won’t get damaged or stretched easily. It really doesn’t strike me as something that he could have gotten done in a few days, but that’s probably just my work ethic talking.

Supper was also delicious, and the blueberry cheesecake was to die for.

Luckily enough, nobody did die, but Faladel and I did have to go for a walk to let it all settle before bed.

My family’s house is pretty far from Heronmal, a good day's ride on horseback, so I don’t visit often, but the tall trees rising out of the ground around us, and the tiny treetop village nearby spark delightful memories of a childhood spent climbing and pranking the neighbors, and I grin as I stare through the countless branches up above, knowing the stars are twinkling somewhere up there. Only after I’ve gone a few paces, do I realize Faladel has stopped, and turning to look at him, I see that he’s staring back at my house, an unreadable expression on his smooth features.

I turn back to get him and try and see the house from his point of view. A tiny home on the ground, nothing like all the fancy tree homes in the village or in Heronmal, my father’s legs wouldn’t allow it. But it is a sweet home, filled with laughter and joy, and even now, bathing the night with the warm welcoming glow from its tiny square windows.

“What do you think of my family?” I ask him. “No worries, you can tell me the kids are brats, it’s nothing I haven’t told them myself.”

“No–no,” Faladel says, shaking his head and smiling at me.

I widen my brown eyes in mock astonishment and interrupt him, “Don’t tell me you actually like them?”

He bursts into a brief spurt of laughter, the first real one I’ve gotten from him in ages. “I do! I mean, I’ve only seen them at the party, so I have no clue how they actually act, but–”

“--But they seem nice enough, until they’ve gotten used to you and the girls try to convince you to play dress up with them twelve times a day.” I finish for him. “And make no mistake, with your long blond locks, they will definitely be attempting to braid it. They tried to braid mine until I started cutting it just above my shoulders.”

“Oh, is that why you wear yours short? Little sisters?” Faladel’s eyes dance with amusement.

“That and the fact that it wouldn’t stop getting tangled in everything. Shorter is more manageable for me.” I shrug, sending the brown curls in question bouncing. “Seriously though, what do you think of my family, I’m curious?”

“They’re very open with their affection, like my father.” Faladel says, giving the question due consideration. “If he hadn’t been elected, I imagine our family would have been something akin to yours, maybe with fewer children though. It’s just so strange to see what might have been.”

Privately, I doubt that Faladel would ever resemble me or my siblings, he’s far too mature and responsible, but I don’t tell him that.

“It’s so nice.” He continues, “That none of them questioned how we knew each other, or even asked for my last name. The fact that there were no formalities…” He trails off. “It was just nice.” He eventually finishes quietly, also staring at the branches above us and the lights of the town up there. And I think I get it.

Formalities have always seemed stifling to me, which is why I only bother in a few rather important cases– like medaling ceremonies, or direct reports to the council after a vital bit of espionage, stuff that hasn’t mattered since peace has been made. I haven’t been properly formal in around seven years, and my life has been better ever since.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“These bits of everyday life are valuable to you aren’t they?” I ask, mentally making a few adjustments to certain plans.

“Yes.” Faladel says and sighs, closing his bright green eyes. “It feels like I can finally put down a weight that I’ve been carrying almost all my life. Like I can finally relax, and just be, without anyone crit–”

“Well if it isn’t Briareth Herbalar!” A familiar voice calls out “Happy belated birthday you wild brat!” Out of the shadows of one of the great trees surrounding us staggers, Tannyl Luevon, looking more than a little drunk. He is known as both the best and worst gambler in the town, depending on who you talk to, and– based off the stench of the alcohol that hits me– it looks like he was thrown out of the tavern on a losing streak tonight. I can’t imagine what he’s doing outside of the safety of the tree-town.

“Who’s your friend?” He asks, stumbling towards us. I wince at the smog of drink that follows his question as he peers at Faladel, who shies away and ducks his head, trying to avoid the stare, “No way–” Recognition dawns in the sot’s eyes “Faladel Mithrandir?!” Faladel flinches slightly and then straightens his whole posture and shuts his face down completely from the thoughtful friend who was talking to me earlier to the cold, formal face of an utter stranger in less than a second.

Prince mode is on. And it disturbs me how different he seems.

Tannyl seems startled as well. “Well now that’s rude.” He blusters. “A prince visiting, Briareth, and you didn’t even bother to take him though our delightful town? So many people would want to talk to him. To ask questions, make suggestions, you know?”

I try to sooth him, so we can make our escape, remembering that he can get pretty pissed when kicked out of the tavern and drunk, and making a mental note to tell his husband to keep better track of him after a gambling night.

“It wasn’t supposed to be an official visit, my mum just said I should invite over a friend so–” It’s too late, I realize, as Tannyl opens his fat mouth, eyes glinting with sudden anger. Nothing would have stopped him. He wanted a reason to explode at someone, to throw his anger at someone else. Faladel is just a convenient excuse.

“Nothing’s ever not official! A prince should be available to all his people at any time, day or night! You can’t just invite him over, like his workday ends at dusk! Any visits should make him available to everyone, you can’t hog him all for yourself just because you got some upstart job at the castle running messages for the council!”

My lips twist into a downwards slant. I know I gave everyone that excuse when I started working for the King’s Archers, but dragging Faladel through this is unnecessary. He’s a person too, and shouldn’t have to–

“That’s going a bit far.” Faladel says, stopping my run-away thoughts in their tracks. His voice is ice cold, and there is a hint of anger in it. Just a hint though, and as I stare at him in shock– I’ve never seen him snap at anyone in prince mode before– he seems to realize his mistake and takes a deep breath before continuing. “I apologize that you feel that way. We had arrived late, and didn’t want to make a stir in the town, not when everyone was settling in for the night. I had adjusted my plans to visit come morning. It hurts me that you would jump to the worst conclusions automatically. And the fact that you would shame my dear friend’s job doing important work for the council?” He shakes his head in obvious disappointment and sighs slightly.

We have, in fact, made no such plans, and I stutter, my angry protests for Faladel’s rights dying on my lips. His act, though, does nothing to appease Tannyl. It takes only a few seconds for the fool to find something else to nitpick.

“Going too far? Ha! Having friends, paying them special visits? Ha!” He spits at our feet, and Faladel’s jaw muscles twitch and strain as his smile continues. “I wonder what all those news-folk would think about all this nonsense. All your precious voters! You’re supposed to be the public’s number one servant! The least you can do is behave properly and not hang around with vagabonds like this one’s ilk!” He jerks his finger at me waveringly. I clench my fists and resist the urge to slug Tannyl. I’m definitely having a talk with his husband about this first thing tomorrow. This man is a menace when he loses, even if he remembers none of it the morning after.

“Let’s just go Faladel,” I tell him. “He means none of it. He won’t even remember it in the morning.”

Faladel turns, and looks at me, eyes cold and bland. “Shouldn’t we bring him to his family? Does he have any? I don’t think he’s in any state to get anywhere on his own.” The question makes no sense, not even Faladel would normally want to accompany this man home, not with all the toxic nonsense he’s been spewing and the fuss he’ll kick up. We would never make it through all those brightly lit bridges unnoticed, unrecognized. A more Faladel suggestion would have involved something along the lines of finding a different townsfolk to bring him home.

“He has a husband.” I say, giving Faladel a strange look. “I can take him home myself, why don’t you head back to my place? It’s getting late.” In the background Tannyl starts yelling about how he doesn’t need a babysitter, and can get home perfectly fine on his own.

Faladel stares at me steadily. “If you insist.” He says quietly, a completely flat tone making his words sound strange. He turns, and disappears into the shadows as I stare after him and Tannyl yells more meaningless words about revenge and spreading the word.

Only after Tannyl passes out on my back halfway to his place do I realize that Faladel had been acting as if we had been on a busy street already, not at the bottom of an empty forest. As if everyone was already judging him with a harsh eye. As if his actions might mean something in the grand scheme of things. “If you insist” had been the only words he could say to escape from this man’s wrath without breaking character.