Fireproof

Kelani woke up to a knock on her door. It was one of the chambermaids she didn’t remember the name of. She whined, pulling the polar bear pelt blanket over her eyes. The sun peeked through the window next to her bed, but she ignored that too. 

The chambermaid knocked again, this time cracking the door open to make sure the young girl was awake. 

“Miss Kelani, you have to get up. The Chief wants you at breakfast in five minutes. Princess Yue is already there. She refuses to eat unless you’re there.” The maid explained, walking over to Kelani and gently shaking her awake. 

“But it’s early!” Kelani continued whining. 

“But it’s your birthday!” The chambermaid continued with a bright smile. “Today you are five, and tonight you will be celebrated by everyone.” Kelani’s eyes went big. “But only if you get up.” 

Kelani jumped out of bed and slid into her fur lined seal skin slippers. The chambermaid chuckled, leading her down the hall to the dining room. Kelani rushed in, hopping up on one of the tall chairs next to Yue. 

This was the first  year Kelani got to share a birthday celebration with Yue. Just under a year ago, Kelani’s parents went out on a fishing expedition, and their boat capsized in a storm. For Kelani’s wellbeing, the chief agreed to take her in. They learned early on that the girls were the same age, and only a few months ago that they were born on the same day. 

Yue loved having someone her own age around the palace. It made being Princess easier, and she got a best friend out of it. It made the palace less lonely too, since it was more than just her and the chief now. 

The two girls always got into trouble, going places they weren’t supposed to go unsupervised, or at all. Yue loved leading Kelani all over the palace and showing her all of Yue’s favorite secret hiding places. Now that Klani lived there too, the girls played hide and seek, and Yue actually had a reason to use her hiding spots. 

Their favorite was the Spirit Oasis, but they didn’t go back after getting in trouble last time. 

“Maybe when we’re older and allowed to go back, we can watch the fish!” Yue said one night before they went to their separate bed chambers. 

The idea of Yue taking Kelani back to the Spirit Oasis made her too excited to sleep, and too excited to grow up. 

Kelani was still adjusting to life at the palace. She liked having such a large, cozy bedroom, and having Yue to spend all of her time with. Having maids and guards who looked after her every move was hard to get used to, though. She learned that some were nicer than others, and she learned which ones she could trust. 

“Thank you for joining us, Kelani.” Chief Arnook said in a monotone voice. 

Kelani grinned, glancing over at Yue who giggled. 

The girls loved to rile up the chief. 

“Good morning!” Kelani replied, reaching for blubbered seal jerky. 

He eyed her, making a mental note to block out more time to teach her manners. Even after eight months, she struggled to grasp their way of doing things in the Ice Palace. It was fine, since she was so young. Things would easily become habits after enough practice. 

Kelani and Yue bounced with excitement as the sun started to go down. The closer to nightfall it got, the sooner their party would start. Each girl had her hair done in twin braids. Yue wore her Princess headpiece. They were dressed in very similar formal dresses, Yue’s being more intricate with patterns, while Kelani’s was plain. Their chambermaids smiled brightly at the excited young girls. 

Yue was excited for an extravagant feast, and a show put on by the waterbenders training under Master Pakku. She knew her father would gift her something pretty that was her mother’s. And she was excited to be sharing the party this year. 

Kelani couldn’t imagine what to expect, and bounced with anticipation to see what it would be like. Her parents could never afford fancy things for her birthday, but her father used to go on a three day fishing trip to catch her favorite fish and they would cook it just the way she liked. It always made her feel special. She wasn’t ready for what she was about to experience. 

Yue glanced at Kelani, grinning. She reached over and clasped their hands together. She demanded that they walk out together, and be presented together. Chief Arnook wasn’t eager to oblige, but it was his daughter, and he didn’t want to upset her on her birthday. 

The chambermaids gave the pair a little nudge, urging them to walk out to the party. They could hear the rhythmic beats of the drums, and Kelani’s heart started to race in time with them. Yue gave her hand a squeeze, her grin wider than ever. 

With a deep breath, Kelani walked out hand in hand with Yue. The room glowed with the light of the moon, and a long buffet table divided the room. Chief Arnook smiled wide at the two girls, his beaming eyes directed at his daughter. Many people from the tribe were there to celebrate. One of the guards bowed to the two girls and pulled back their chairs for them. Yue also insisted they share the head of the table for tonight. 

Kelani took her seat, mouth hung open slightly as she surveyed the room. Everything was beyond her imagination. The buffet had her favorite dishes and plates piled high with kale cookies. The star of the meal was the giant sea crab. Kelani had never tasted it before, only knew that it existed. At the sight of it she felt silly for getting excited over Platypus Bear and Tentacle Soup. 

Hot plates of the food were brought to them, and Kelani’s mouth watered at the smell of it all. Yue grinned, watching Kelani take in the royal treatment. As they were about to eat, Chief Arnook signaled Master Pakku to start the bending routine. Kelani watched in awe at the group of waterbenders. She couldn’t decide whether to indulge in her plate of food or to watch the performance. 

As a lifeline, she glanced at Yue, who ate her giant sea crab with ease while watching the waterbenders. Kelani decided she would do both too. 

Once the performance was over, the room erupted into applause. Kelani felt a bubbling in her chest, like this was the best night of her life. 

The girls continued the indulge in the delicacies of their tribe, and bask in the shower of attention and adoration they got from everyone present. It wasn’t clear at the time, but everyone only really cared about Yue. 

After plates and plates of food, and an abundance of cookies and music and dancing, the girls were sent off to bed. Truthfully they were both very tired, but neither wanted to miss any more of the festivities. Yue’s chambermaid led them back to their wing of the palace. Yue yawned, her mouth opening up as wide as it could go. Kelani chuckled at her tired friend. 

Before the chambermaid could take Kelani back to her own room, Yue pulled her into her bigger, warmer room. The chambermaid sighed, but didn’t dare argue with the princess. Kelani drank in the decor of Yue’s room. The walls held portraits done of her parents before she was born, next to one of her and her father holding her as an infant. Her fireplace was twice the size of the one in Kelani’s room, and it burned brighter. The light from the fire made the room cozier. 

Yue went over and plopped on her oversized bed. Her pelt blanket puffed up and fell back down around her. A small blue box with a leathery bow on top sat next to her on the bed. She noticed it and gasped, sitting up. Her eyes shined at the sight of her gift. 

Without waiting, the young girl untied the bow and lifted the lid to the box. Inside sat a small ring with a white gemstone surrounded by tiny blue gemstones. It sparkled at her and she rushed to slide it on her finger. It was far too big, but she loved to look at it. Kelani smiled brightly at Yue, watching her excitement at her present. 

“You can sit y’know.” Yue said, patting the space next to her on the bed. Kelani cautiously walked over and sat next to Yue. 

She was afraid that she would get caught being in the Princess’ chambers instead of her own and be kicked out of the palace for good. She was still getting used to life in the palace, and it felt like one misstep would make everything go away. 

“Where’s your gift?” Yue asked, looking at Kelani. 

“I- I don’t have one.” Kelani shrugged. 

For a second she thought maybe there would be a box waiting for her on her bed, but then she remembered that Yue was the princess, and she wasn’t. Not that she wanted or needed a gift. Being able to live in the palace with her best friend with a nice warm bed and a pretty coat was enough. 

“Here, take mine.” Yue said, plucking the ring off of her finger and sliding it onto Kelani’s. 

“But it- it’s your mom’s…” Kelani argued, eyes wide as saucers. 

She knew that Yue never met her mom, and that she cherished everything she knew about her mom, or that she had of her mother’s. Part of her also knew that the chief would not like her wearing the gift he prepared for Yue. 

Yue shrugged and admired the way it sat on Kelani’s finger. 

“It’s yours now. It fits you better anyway.” 

Kelani blushed and crushed Yue in a hug. Yue giggled and hugged her back, just as tight. 

“I’m tired.” Yue yawned, kicking off her fur lined boots and scooting under her blanket. 

Kelani moved to get up, but Yue grabbed her hand before she got too far. 

“You can stay with me, it’ll be like a special birthday sleepover!” Yue insisted. 

Not wanting to argue, Kelani nodded and padded over to the other side of Yue’s giant bed. She kicked off her own boots and snuggled under the covers. She felt encased in a warm hug, and was lulled to sleep.

 Yue interlocked their pinkies before falling asleep.