Two years had passed since Edwin's arrival at Silvaria, and our tenth birthdays had come and gone with the kind of celebration that Mother believed appropriate for young nobles. But Edwin's birthday was different—it would be his first without his father, his first away from Ardenfall, and Celia had been planning something special for weeks.
"I still think you're overthinking this," I said as I watched my sister rearrange the decorations in the estate's smaller dining hall for the third time that morning. "Edwin will appreciate whatever you do."
"It has to be perfect," Celia insisted, adjusting a banner that read 'Happy Birthday Edwin' in carefully painted letters. "He's been getting sadder as his birthday got closer. I've seen him staring out the windows toward the west more often, and he's been really quiet during lessons."
She was right, of course. Edwin had been with us for two years now, and while he'd settled into our routine and formed genuine friendships, the approaching anniversary of his birth had clearly reminded him of everything he'd left behind.
"What if he doesn't like it?" Isadora asked, helping to arrange the carefully wrapped presents on a side table. "What if it just makes him more homesick?"
"Then we'll deal with that," Celia replied firmly. "But I think showing him that we care enough to make his birthday special will help more than it hurts."
The preparations had been extensive and secretive. Celia had coordinated with Cook to prepare Edwin's favorite foods—including a special cake flavored with mountain berries that reminded him of Ardenfall. She'd commissioned the estate's best craftsmen to create a detailed model of Ardenfall's main keep, complete with tiny Black Lion banners flying from the towers. Most importantly, she'd written to Edwin's father requesting permission to hold a proper celebration, and had received not only approval but a special gift sent by courier.
"Where is he anyway?" I asked, looking around the decorated hall.
"Mother took him to the training yards," Celia said. "She's keeping him busy while we finish setting up. They should be back any minute."
As if summoned by her words, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the corridor. Edwin's voice carried clearly as he discussed something about sword techniques with Mother, his tone more animated than it had been in recent days.
"Places, everyone!" Celia whispered urgently.
We arranged ourselves behind the table as Edwin and Mother entered the hall. The moment Edwin saw the decorations, his expression shifted from casual interest to complete surprise, then to something that looked suspiciously like the beginning of tears.
"Surprise!" Celia called out, though the word came out softer than she'd probably intended, as if she too was affected by Edwin's visible emotion.
Edwin stood frozen in the doorway, taking in the banners, the carefully arranged presents, and the obvious effort that had gone into making the space festive. "You... you did all this for me?"
"Of course we did," Isadora said warmly. "It's your birthday. That's what friends do."
"But I..." Edwin's voice cracked slightly. "I didn't expect... I mean, Father usually just has a small ceremony with the household knights..."
"Well, this is our ceremony," Celia declared, moving to take his arm and guide him into the room. "And it's going to be way better than a stuffy formal thing."
Mother smiled from the doorway, her expression soft with approval. "I'll leave you children to your celebration. Cook has prepared all of Edwin's favorite foods, and I believe there are some very special surprises waiting."
As she departed, Edwin allowed himself to be led to the head of the table, where a throne-like chair had been decorated with ribbons in the colors of both Ardenfall and Silvaria.
"This is incredible," he said, his voice filled with wonder as he took in all the details. "The banners, the decorations... is that a model of my home?"
"Celia had the craftsmen work on it for weeks," I explained, gesturing toward the detailed replica of Ardenfall's keep. "She wanted you to have something that reminded you of home."
Edwin approached the model with reverent care, his fingers tracing the tiny details—miniature battlements, carved windows, and flags that fluttered in the slightest breeze. "It's perfect," he whispered. "It looks exactly like home."
"And there's more," Celia said, barely able to contain her excitement. "We wrote to your father, and he sent something special just for today."
She produced a carefully wrapped package that bore the official seal of Ardenfall. Edwin's hands shook slightly as he opened it, revealing a small silver pendant in the shape of a roaring lion—the symbol of his house.
"It was your grandfather's," Celia read from the accompanying letter. "Your father says it's time for you to carry it, as a reminder that distance doesn't diminish the bonds of family."
Edwin's composure finally cracked completely. Tears ran down his cheeks as he clutched the pendant, and for a moment he looked like the eight-year-old boy who had arrived at our gates two years ago—scared, lonely, and desperate for connection.
"Hey," I said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay to miss him. That doesn't mean you can't be happy here too."
"I know," Edwin managed, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "It's just... seeing this, knowing he remembered, knowing he cares enough to send it..." He took a shaky breath. "Sometimes I worry that I've been away so long he's forgotten about me."
"That's impossible," Isadora said firmly. "No parent forgets their child. And from everything you've told us about your father, he sounds like the kind of man who thinks about you every day."
Edwin nodded, carefully fastening the pendant around his neck. "Thank you. All of you. This is... this is the best birthday I've ever had."
"We're not done yet!" Celia announced, clapping her hands together. "Cook made your favorite mountain berry cake, and we have presents, and I planned some special activities that I think you'll really like."
The next several hours passed in a blur of laughter, games, and the kind of celebration that felt more like a family gathering than a formal noble ceremony. Cook had indeed outdone herself with the food, preparing not just the mountain berry cake but also several dishes that Edwin had mentioned missing from Ardenfall.
The presents were thoughtful rather than expensive—a book of maps showing trade routes throughout the empire (from me), a collection of pressed flowers from the estate's gardens (from Isadora), and a hand-drawn comic about the adventures of four young nobles exploring mysterious towers (from Celia, which made everyone laugh until their sides hurt).
But the most meaningful moment came when Celia presented her final surprise—a small ceremony she'd designed to officially welcome Edwin as an honorary member of the Silvaria family.
"I know you can't really be our brother," she said seriously, producing a small silver pin in the shape of a wolf—Silvaria's symbol. "But we want you to know that you belong here, that you're part of our family now, no matter what happens."
The pin ceremony was simple but moving. Each of us took turns expressing what Edwin's friendship meant to us, and by the end, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"I have something to say too," Edwin said, standing with newfound dignity, the lion pendant glinting at his throat and the wolf pin fastened to his jacket. "When I first came here, I was terrified. Not just of being away from home, but of being a burden, of not fitting in, of being the political refugee who disrupted your lives."
He paused, looking at each of us in turn. "But you never made me feel like a burden. You made me feel like a friend, like family. You've taught me things my tutors never could—how to have fun, how to trust people, how to be myself instead of just the heir to Ardenfall."
His voice grew stronger as he continued. "I know I can't stay here forever. Someday I'll have to go home and take up my responsibilities. But I promise you this—when that day comes, I'll remember everything you've taught me. I'll remember that strength isn't just about power, but about protecting the people you care about. I'll remember that the best alliances are built on friendship, not just political advantage."
He smiled, the expression bright and genuine. "And I'll remember that the bravest thing you can do is let yourself care about people, even when it means risking being hurt."
The speech was remarkable for a ten-year-old, showing a maturity and insight that spoke to how much Edwin had grown during his time with us. But more than that, it was a promise—a commitment that the bonds we'd forged here would influence the kind of leader he would eventually become.
"Group hug!" Celia declared, and suddenly we were all tangled together in an embrace that was awkward and warm and perfect.
As the afternoon wore on, we moved the celebration outside to the gardens, where the late spring weather was perfect for the outdoor games Celia had planned. We played hide-and-seek among the hedge maze, had a small archery competition (which Isadora won decisively), and ended with an impromptu picnic under the ancient oak trees.
"This has been the best day," Edwin said as the sun began to set, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and purples. "I can't believe you planned all of this just for me."
"Of course we did," Celia replied, as if the alternative was unthinkable. "You're our friend. Our brother. That means we celebrate you."
"Even when I'm grumpy?" Edwin asked with a smile.
"Especially when you're grumpy," I said. "That's usually when people need celebrating the most."
Edwin laughed, a sound that held more joy than I'd heard from him in weeks. "I love you guys. I know that's probably not very noble to say, but I don't care. You're the best friends anyone could ask for."
"We love you too," Isadora said simply, speaking for all of us.
As we made our way back to the main house, tired but happy, I reflected on what we'd accomplished. Celia's plan had worked perfectly—not just the party itself, but the deeper purpose behind it. Edwin had needed to know that he was valued for himself, not just as a political asset or strategic alliance. He'd needed to feel that he belonged somewhere, that he had people who cared about his happiness.
More than that, though, the celebration had strengthened the bonds between all of us. In two years, we'd grown from acquaintances thrown together by circumstance into something approaching real family. The political implications of those bonds would become important later, but for now, they were simply the foundation of genuine friendships.
"Thank you," Edwin said quietly as we reached the main house, stopping to look back at the estate grounds where we'd spent such a perfect day. "Not just for today, but for everything. For making me feel like I have a home here."
"You do have a home here," Celia said firmly. "For as long as you want it."
"Always," I agreed, and Isadora nodded emphatically.
Edwin's smile was radiant as he looked at us—his chosen family, the people who had helped him discover who he could be when he wasn't trying to live up to impossible expectations.
It was a good day, and the beginning of something even better.