Chapter 4: Hanna's 14th Birthday

6 years later... 

It was the middle of June as the kingdom of Alta was in high spirits. The summer sky was a clear blue with puffy, snowy clouds, the terrain of the mountains were high and mighty, the fjords were peaceful and still while the Viking ships sailed through the rivers and creeks. 

The morning sun rose through the horizons and showered the town with love through its rays of sunshine. 

The kingdom of Alta and its townsfolk were also busy as bees, as usual, children playing in the Alta Town Square, grown-ups shopping at bazaars, buying fruits and vegetables and doing chores. 

Some older children at the village were helping their parents run errands, do chores and help take care of their younger siblings while their parents were away. 

Meanwhile at the Alta Castle, the Royal Maeland-Harrelson family were making preparations for a very special day. 

The servants and maids were running back and forth in different directions, decorating the dining hall, the ballroom, putting up balloons and streamers in the kitchen. Lucille, the most beloved stewardess, was in Hanna's bedroom, cleaning up and putting up White Freesia flowers, a birthday card and balloons on her dresser. 

She quietly tiptoes to a sleeping Princess Hanna and gives her a gentle kiss on her forehead, whispering in her ear, "Happy 14th Birthday, Princess Hanna." 

As Lucille quietly tiptoes out of her bedroom, leaving the soon-to-be 14 year old princess asleep, Queen Patricia walks in quietly, holding a tray with a plate of Swedish pancakes topped with cloudberries and chocolate syrup with a birthday candle aflame and a cup of fresh, squeezed orange juice while King Harold was behind her, holding a birthday present with a Polaroid Camera around his neck. It's time to wake up the birthday girl! 

The two adoptive parents hushed each other and sneakily tiptoed around Hanna's bed and ducked, waiting for the right moment to wake her up. 

Just then, as they heard the Alta clock tower chimed and the morning sun shone its bright light through her bedroom window, Queen Patricia silently mouthed, "3, 2, 1". She and King Harold jumped up and blurted out, "Happy 14th Birthday, Hanna!" 

Hanna was so startled, she woke up with a fright. "Ah!" Then, when she saw her loving adoptive parents and the birthday breakfast, she sighed in relief. Then she realized by looking at her almanac hanging on her wall below her nightstand, it was June 22nd, the day after the summer solstice and it was official; today truly was her 14th birthday! 

'I'm turning 14 years old,' she thought excitedly. I'm going to be 14! She stretched her arms and said joyfully, "Good morning, Mama and Papa." 

Queen Patricia and King Harold hugged their daughter and gave her her birthday breakfast while King Harold pulled out his ocarina and played the "Happy Birthday" song melodiously. 

Afterwards, the song ended and Hanna closed her eyes and made a wish before blowing out the candle. 

King Harold and Queen Patricia clapped their hands and cheered for their daughter, celebrating her 14 years of goodness. 

As Hanna started eating her birthday breakfast, King Harold asked, "How do you feel being 14 years old, Hanna?" 

Hanna cuts her pancakes with a knife and says before taking a bite, "I feel a little bit different -- but very excited!" 

Queen Patricia smiled. "Good," she said, giving her a gentle kiss on her forehead. 

"We have a full day ahead of us, filled with exciting adventures!" 

Hanna couldn't be happier. "That's great," she said, enjoying her breakfast. 

King Harold handed her her birthday present with a big smile. "This is for you, Hanna, from your mother and me." 

It was wrapped in red wrapping paper with a big yellow bow. 

Curious, Hanna gingerly unwrapped her present as her adoptive parents watched her happy expression. 

The birthday present was the same red box with yellow intricate designs and the golden yellow slate with the big, black bold letters engraved that read: "Courage Is The Key." 

Puzzled, Hanna asked, "What is it?" 

Queen Patricia and King Harold gazed at each other with elated smiles and Patricia told her, "We thought you might need this now for your newfound destiny." 

Hanna was more curious than ever as she gazed upon the box with wonder in her light hazelnut brown eyes and unlocked the lock on the box and when she opened it.... she gasped in amazement. 

Inside the treasure chest was a beautiful enchanted red and golden brooch that was into a shape of a Phoenix that had two glowing ruby jewels for eyes, golden yellow rhinestone on its wings, and emerald, ruby and sapphire glass cabochons and ruby and clear rhinestones. 

Gazing upon its crafted beauty, it emitted an enchanted red glow brightly and on the back were magical, black, bold words that said, "Courage Is The Only Magic To Conquer Your Fears." 

Hanna was overjoyed, tears of gratitude were falling from her eyes as she jumped into her adoptive parents' arms and said, "Thank you, thank you so much, Mama and Papa!" 

As Hanna quickly gets dressed in her birthday Summer golden yellow Rosemaling dress, puts gold heart-shaped earrings on her ears, and Lucille puts her black hair style in a long braided ponytail with a flower hair pin, Patricia helps her put her gifted brooch on her chest of her dress and said, "You must promise to never, ever take it off. Always wear it with pride and joy." 

Hanna smiled widely. She nodded her head. "I promise, Mama." 

Unknowing to her, the brooch emitted an unearthly golden yellow glow. 

After her parents left the room, Aliza, who also grew up as an 18 year old girl, walked inside of Hanna's bedroom and while Hanna admired her brooch in front of the mirror, Aliza was standing behind her in front of the mirror as well, with a jealous and snobby look on her face. 

"Don't act like you're so special," she said to her little sister coldly, "Just because today is your birthday." 

Hanna turned around to face Aliza, who was wearing her cursed amulet and said to her kindly, "Everyone is unique and special in their own way, not just me." 

She didn't fully understand her big sister's social cues and just smiled at her while Aliza glared at her with her eyebrows frowning, her light brown eyes turning red with anger and her arms crossed. 

Aliza grabbed her by the collar and said coldly, "You better show your place because this town isn't big enough for two Crown Princesses, you better watch it, you witch." 

And with that, she pushes her out of the way and storms out of the bedroom with one last glare at her. 

Later that day at the Alta Castle ballroom, Hanna's 14th birthday party was in full swing. There were a few guests from other neighboring kingdoms giving her gifts, there were games to play like pin the tail on the Alicorn, Jacks, and hitting the piñata. 

There was an orchestra playing classical music and Hanna loved it. 

There was a towering chocolate cake decorated with white freesia flowers and yellow frosting. Hanna enjoyed her birthday, as she was blindfolded by King Harold and spun around a few times before he gave her a baseball bat and told her, "Ok Hanna honey, swing the bat and try to hit the piñata. " 

Giggling, Hanna swung the bat and tried to hit it as older children her age and younger children from the Alta Village kept on encouraging her to hit it. 

As she hit the piñata as hard as she could, she heard a crack and she hit the piñata so hard, the Alicorn piñata was showering with chocolate coins on the ground as excited children raced to grab the chocolate coins. 

Hanna takes off her blindfold and joins in on the fun with the other children as she grabs a few chocolate coins. 

When she saw Aliza standing at a corner, feeling left out and...a little upset, she grabbed a few chocolate coins and walked up to her with a big smile on her face and held her hand out, trying to offer her a gift. 

"Hi Aliza. Would you like some chocolate coins?" Hanna asked kindly. 

With one look at the treat, Aliza scoffed and said with a disdainful look, "I'd rather eat dirt and worms than those treats. No thank you." With that, she snatched Hanna's hand away, making the chocolate coins fall on the floor. 

Hanna was shocked. But, she shrugged it off and walked away, wanting to enjoy the rest of her birthday party. 

For the rest of the day, Hanna enjoyed her birthday without complaining and as everyone was having a good time, dancing to the music, Hanna went over to the long table in the dining hall to pour a cup of fruit punch from the drinking fountain. 

As Hanna watched the other guests having fun, she decided to stand alone and ponder over her life while thinking about her 14 years of goodness. 

'All these 14 years, she thought, 'I've been having a sheltered life; Mama is constantly locking me in my room, with no contact with any person whatsoever. She wouldn't let me go outside and play. Sheltered at the start of age 4? I mean, I know Mama meant well and was trying to protect me, but I'm growing up and I need some freedom in my life. I want to make some friends my own age and have an adventurous spirit and experience the world.' 

She wasn't lying either. As best as she could recollect, all of her life, Hanna remembered Queen Patricia has been constantly overprotective of her and was just desperately trying to keep her promise to the late former Queen Desideria and protect her...at all cost, while humiliating her in the process. 

When Hanna was 9 years old, she was wandering in the forest, playing with some of the village children her age, but Queen Patricia rode on her Norwegian Fjord Horse and picked her up to take her home and locked her in her room with toys and books to occupy herself and food to eat. 

One of her embarrassing moments she experienced was when she was 10 years old, Hanna was outside one night with one of the royal children her age from the Kingdom of Elysium, playing at the Quiet Silverbell Forest, chasing the Light Fairies when suddenly, Queen Patricia, as usual, rode on her horse to pick her up...at night and Hanna remembered those mortifying words her adoptive mother said: "Hanna sweetie, come on home so I can give you your bubble bath and read you a bedtime story." 

Hanna gulped hard as the other Elysian children snickered, eyes on her and pointed at her, laughing and giggling while she just wanted to disappear into thin air. 

She blushed hard like a ripe tomato mortified, as she climbed on the horse and hid behind her mother as Patricia rode home. 

She did have her bubble bath and bedtime story that night, though. 

But, the most embarrassing thing Patricia did was when Hanna was only 12 years old and Aliza at age 14 were at the Alta Boutique, and they were shopping for dresses, gowns, bras and women's underwear. When Hanna went separate ways and looked for women's underwear independently, she saw a boy her age from the kingdom of Avalon named, Prince Harris Vuitton of Avalon, who was looking for a princely belt and when they saw each other, Hanna swore her cheeks were burning red as she "accidentally" bumped into him and offered to help him. 

When she saw a brown belt with sapphire jewels fit for him, she gave it to him and he kindly thanked him while Hanna was daydreaming of a beautiful, perfect first kiss. Just then, when Aliza found her little adoptive sister swooning for a boy, she quickly grabbed her arm and they rushed to get to the cash register.  

Once they reached the cash register, Aliza paid for their items while Hanna couldn't stop thinking about Prince Harris and his handsome face.  

When they came out of the boutique with their shopping bags, Prince Harris and his father came out and he thanked Hanna again for helping him. Just as Prince Harris was about to kiss her, Queen Patricia, as usual, came out of nowhere on her Norwegian Fjord horse and she said, "Hi girls. Hanna, who's this young man? Is he your boyfriend?" 

Prince Harris was so uncomfortable, he quickly grabbed his father's arm and they quickly fled like a bullet while Aliza laughed out loud and Hanna turned bright red from utter embarrassment. 

"Mama!" She gritted through her teeth and grabbed her shopping bag and said, "I'm walking home." Hanna walked home while Queen Patricia rode Aliza home on her horse. 

In the present, 14 year old Hanna drank her fruit punch and stood there as the orchestra music changed to slow-dancing music and every girl from the kingdom was dancing with a boy. 

Hanna's thoughts were interrupted when a young man, who looked like he was a year older than her, was waving his hand in front of her, snapping Hanna out of her trance. "Hi, Princess Hanna Maeland", he said gallantly. "Would you, your Highness and birthday girl, like to dance with me?" He took out his hand. 

Hanna, blushed with anticipation and utter embarrassment, gulped hard nervously but after pushing those past memories away from her mind, she took a deep breath and said, "Sure, I would love to dance with you." 

After a bright spotlight was on them, Prince Charles Halldorsen of Elysium, a 15 year old boy grabbed Hanna's small hand as they walked into the middle of the ballroom, thousands of people were making eye contact with them as they watched the young people dance on the dance floor. 

First, they started waltzing to the rhythm of the orchestra music. Then, Prince Charles spun Hanna around as they twirled and danced. Once the music was getting slower and slower, Hanna's heart was beating fast as Charles moved her close to his face and he said with kindness in his blue, dreamy eyes, "You are beautiful, Princess Hanna Maeland. Here's my birthday gift to you." 

When he said that, Hanna closed her eyes and moved in closer to kiss him, she swore she had thousands of butterflies fluttering in her stomach. 

As their lips touched each other's, Hanna felt like in 14 years, she's never had her 1st kiss with a boy before, especially a newly Prince from a kingdom. 

They smooched and kissed, causing Hanna's heart to beat slower and slower at a normal pace. 

'My 1st kiss,' she thought excitedly and nervously. 'This is my 1st true love's kiss.' 

It took them 15 minutes to stop kissing as everyone cheered for their young princess and her 1st experience in love. 

Once they stopped kissing, King Harold walked up to her daughter with a cup in his hand and said, "It's time for cake!" 

Later that day, everyone gathered around Hanna and sang "Happy Birthday" as King Harold played the song on his ocarina and Queen Patricia crowned her adoptive daughter, putting a birthday tiara on her head, which caused Aliza to grow jealousy and envy in her heart. 

Aliza watched with jealousy as her little sister was getting all of the attention and she growled angrily. 

Once the song was done, Hanna closed her eyes before blowing out the aflame fourteen candles on her chocolate birthday cake. Before she took a deep breath and blew out the candles, Aliza suddenly stomped in front of Hanna, pushed her so hard to the floor and pulled Charles in close to her and said to Hanna angrily and tearfully, "You little witch! You think you're so special and you think you deserve love? 

To Hanna's horror, Aliza suddenly kissed Charles on the lips, who was suddenly startled by Aliza's cruelty and pushed her so hard, causing Aliza to slip and crash into a pile of presents on the table. 

Aliza, hurt and angry, unknowingly saw that her amulet was glowing a bright dark blue, which caused the Needle Ice and Frost Flower's dark magic to take full effect on her and as she gets up and walks towards her little sister, she held out her hands and then suddenly, a gust of wind blew and spikes of ice began to appear, blocking Hanna's view and nearly killing her. 

Hanna, frightened and pale as a ghost, angrily marched up towards her envious big sister and yelled, "What on Earth is wrong with you, Aliza? Why are you so angry?" 

Aliza scoffed and said sarcastically, "Why are you acting like a "perfect" child, getting all of the love and attention while I had to live with an abusive parent all of my life?!" 

She stopped and covered her mouth with her hands, regretting the hurtful words she just said, only it was too late that she had revealed her secret...in front of everyone. 

Everyone gasped in fear and suddenly took a few steps back, cowering in fear and shock, afraid that Aliza might hurt them too. 

When the spikes of ice began to thaw, Aliza walked up to Hanna and yelled angrily, "I HATE YOU, HANNA And I Hope You Rot In Hell! You're Gonna Pay For This One Day." 

With that, Aliza raced out of the ballroom and ran upstairs in her room, with angry tears. 

After that, everything was quiet and as Queen Patricia and King Harold ordered everyone to leave, Hanna looked at Prince Charles, who was as shocked as her and he walked up to her and lovingly stroked her black hair as he puts a strand of her hair behind her ear and said, "I'm sorry, Hanna, but we can't be together." 

That made Hanna's heart break into a million pieces when she heard that, her light hazelnut brown eyes welling up in tears. "Charles..." she began, but Charles continued, "I'm sorry, Hanna. We will see each other again someday, but right now, I have to go home." Before Hanna could say something, he went over to the broken table and grabbed a small blue present and put it in Hanna's hand and said, "I love you, Princess Hanna and I bid you farewell. I wish you a happy 14th birthday and many happy years to come." 

Charles gave Hanna one last kiss on her lips before walking away at the door but Hanna stopped him and grabbed him by his hand saying with hurtful tears, "I...love you too, Charles." 

As Charles let go of Hanna's hand and walked away, Hanna couldn't help but watch tearfully as her potential friend left and while the maids and servants began to clean up, Hanna thought to herself, 'This was the most bittersweet 14th birthday ever.' 

Hanna walked up to her birthday cake and sadly blew her birthday candles and thought to herself, 'Well, I'm officially 14 years old.' 

As the crestfallen 14 year old princess walked up to her bedroom, she stopped to see that her adoptive parents were sadly looking at her, feeling sorry for their daughter that her birthday was disastrous. 

Queen Patricia walked up to Hanna and gave her a kiss on her forehead and said, "Happy Birthday, my kind, sweet daughter." 

Hanna smiled a little. "Thank you, Mother." 

As Hanna sadly walked up to the staircase with quiet tears rolling down from her cheeks with Charles's birthday present in her hands, King Harold looked at Queen Patricia and said, "I'll go talk to her tonight." 

Patricia nodded and said, "Give her this," and she gave him a birthday present to give to Hanna. 

Harold nodded and slowly started to walk up the staircase and followed her daughter while Patricia began to help clean up in the ballroom. 

Later that night, after the party was over and everyone left to go home, in Hanna's bedroom, Hanna was in her nightgown, sitting on her bed, sobbing quietly. 

She walked up to her dresser, where Lucille put her flowers, birthday card and balloons there this morning and grabbed her birthday card and read it silently. 

After sitting quietly on her bed, she held Charles's birthday gift and thought about him. 

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a gentle knock on her bedroom door. 

"Enter," she said in calm sadness, wiping away her tears. 

King Harold came in with a slice of birthday cake and a birthday present in his hand. "Are you ok, pumpkin?" He asked sweetly, sitting beside her on the bed. 

Hanna held her head low and looked down sadly at the gift Charles gave her. 

"Papa, I had a wonderful birthday, don't get me wrong, but why did Aliza do that?" 

King Harold thought for a second then he said softly, "Well, maybe something was going on in Aliza's life that you didn't know and she needed to get it off her chest." 

Hanna then said, "Well, if she was going through something, she should've at least told me or you, or Mama, not in front of everyone at the party." 

King Harold chuckled a little, pulled her in a hug and kissed her on the forehead, then said wisely, "You're young Hanna and Aliza is 18, a young adult. She needs to learn to control her anger and not take her frustration out on other people." 

Hanna sniffled then asked, "Is Aliza going to be ok?" 

King Harold smiled at her daughter's compassion and said, "I'm sure she'll be fine." 

Hanna smiled a little. She looked at Charles's gift and sighed sadly, contemplating about him. 

King Harold gave her a playful punch on the arm, sensing that her daughter has a crush on a boy. He looked at her knowingly and asked her jokingly, "So...who was that boy you were dancing with?" 

Hanna blushed, her cheeks burning like fire. 

"Papa," she said, embarrassed. "Charles is just...a friend." 

Harold smiled. "Mhmm...just a friend or a boyfriend?" 

Hanna began to stutter. "H--he's just...a boy, who happens to be my...f-friend." 

Harold chuckled and asked, "Do you like him or love him?" 

Hanna, looking at Charles's gift and her father, gulped hard and said, "I think I'm starting to have...a little bit of a--" 

Harold crossed his fingers and muttered, "Say it, say it." 

Hanna finished, "--A crush on Charles." 

King Harold smiled proudly and said, "Open his gift." 

Without another thought, Hanna obeyed her father and opened Charles's gift, which revealed to be a beautiful silver bracelet with silver butterflies on it. 

Speechless, Hanna choked, with mixed emotions. Her heart beginning to lift up, she thought to herself, 'He truly loves me. He has true feelings for me...and I love him a lot. 

Harold squeezed her hand tightly and kissed her on the cheek. Before he forgot, he gave Hanna his gift and said, "Here, this is your last birthday gift. It's from me personally." 

Hanna smiled widely. She gingerly unwrapped the gift and opened the box. 

What was inside left her shaking and surprised. 

It was a magical, silver compass with a chain. 

"This is the moralis circuitus," Harold explained. "This will help guide you on your destiny." 

Hanna was on the verge of tears as she hugged her adoptive father and said tearfully, "Thank you, Papa."Harold gave her a kiss on the forehead and said, "Always remember, Hanna, knowing right from wrong requires looking inwardly from your heart and soul. 

Your moral compass will guide you through life, everyday and so forth, together with compassion and kindness, it will help you reach true north." 

Hanna nods her head obediently. "I'll keep that in mind, Papa." 

After Harold leaves the room, Hanna looks at the gifts her adoptive parents gave her and smiles broadly. 

She went to sit at her window-seat and hugged her knees as she gazed upon the night sky, with a huge smile and joyful tears running down from her face. 

The night sky was beautiful and enchanted as the stars twinkled brightly, the crescent moon shone its brilliance and the Aurora Borealis were shimmering with their green and blue lights. 

Hanna sighed happily and thought to herself, 'Whatever destiny Mama and Papa have planned for me, I will make sure to follow my heart and lead with courage. 

With my enchanted brooch and compass, there's nothing I can't accomplish.' 

This has been the most bittersweet 14th birthday ever in my whole life. It wasn't perfect, but hopeful.'  

Hanna had an optimistic smile on her face as her Phoenix brooch and compass emitted an enchanted glow, foreshadowing that her destiny will come sooner than later and whatever happens, in the depth of her heart, she will know that she'll be ready for it!