Vector and Kylie were up to something. Both Marya and Shark knew it, though they hadn't discussed it with each other. If the two conspirators thought they were being discrete, they were wrong. Or Shark and Marya had just become super sensitive to reading people's behavior- specifically guards'-during their time in the fields. And there was more than just looks between Kylie and Vector. They would often be huddled up together, whispering, but when Shark or Marya entered the room; they would immediately separate and assume innocent expressions.
Shark had almost made up his mind to say something to them, when the long-awaited day (at least for Kylie and Vector) arrived. In all actuality, it was more of a long-awaited evening. Shark was sorting through stacks of Vector's papers, all of them written in various languages and part of multifarious stories, whether his own or those like The Princess Bride that he had simply wanted to translate. Shark shook his head. How in the world was he supposed to complete the translation of a single book if parts of it were all over the place?
He had just finished when Vector himself burst into the room. "Guess whattoday is, Shark?" He said excitedly, practically dancing around the room.
"What is it?" Shark asked wearily.
"Oh, come on. You can't tell me you forgot your own birthday!"
Shark started. "My…birthday?" Of course, Shark knew that today he turned thirteen, but he hadn't expected Vector to remember it.
"Come on, come on!" The Prince said impatiently. "Kylie and I have a surprise for you downstairs. Come on!"
Shark allowed himself to be pulled out of the room and through the palace corridors, still trying to get over the surprise of Vector's remembering his birthday. So, a birthday surprise had been what they two conspirators had been up to. But why hadn't Marya been involved?
The two boys reached a large, inner courtyard, facing an inner garden and covered by a stone roof held up with pillars. It was brightly lit with candles, and in the center was a table laden down with food- soft flat bread, fruit, roast beef, and cider. Standing by it was Marya. Her hair, having grown back to almost its original length, was combed neatly and freshly cleaned, so it shined in the candles' flicker. She was wearing a purple dress, and Shark almost stopped breathing when he saw her. Because of her short hair and baggy clothes, he had never noticed…her.
Marya smiled shyly at Shark, seeing him notice her so completely. "Happy birthday, Shark," she greeted him. Managing to tear his gaze away from her, he looked around in amazement.
"What is all this?"
"It's your birthday present!" Vector exclaimed, hopping from one foot to another. "And Marya's, too, actually."
Kylie smiled apolitically. "Marya happened to mention to me that she was born only two sunrises after you, so I came up with this idea."
"Mom gave us everything so we could make it work," Vector said. "She's the one who got Marya the dress."
"Empress Vivian?" Shark asked, trying to remember the Barain Emperor of Astrania that had some to his father's palace for council meetings. He had gathered that she had secluded herself ever since Domitian's betrayal, apparently unable to face the people she felt she had let down. He had thought about going to her and explaining his situation, and what had happened in his home country, but it wouldn't have done any good. She was powerless against her husband's wrath.
"Yes," Marya said, giving him a twirl. "What do you think?"
"What? Oh, it's good. It looks good on you, I mean," Shark stammered out. The two of them blushed synchronously.
Kylie took the opportunity and elbowed Vector in the side. "Oh, um, we'll leave you two alone now," the ginger head said. "This is an exclusive birthday party." He and Kylie tip-toed out, leaving Shark and Marya to their own devices.
The first part of the meal was awkward, to say the least. They exchanged pleasantries and then ate in silence, every so often glancing at each other, but quickly looking away if their eyes met. Finally, Marya decided to be bold. "So, Shark, we've known each other since we were nine, and now we're thirteen, and I still don't know what your real name is."
Shark considered this for a moment. "If you don't want to call me Shark, you could always call me Reginald. It's pretty close to my name, in Heartlandish."
Marya looked surprised. "Is that why Kylie chose it? She always just said that it seemed to fit you somehow."
"No, she didn't know. It was purely coincidence." He hesitated. "Actually, none of you know my real name. I'd prefer it to stay that way."
Marya nodded slowly. "Alright. If that's what you want." The silence recommenced, and lasted all the way through the meal, until they stood up and moved to the garden, looking up at the stars. Marya sighed. "I wish we had some music. It's been so long since I've heard some good Salkie music."
"Do you have a particular song in mind?"
Marya thought for a moment. "I always liked 'I Have Dreamed.' Lanu used to sing it while she worked around the house, even though it was technically a duet."
Shark concentrated hard for a moment. Then, to Marya's utter surprise, he began to hum, the familiar tune, slowly and brokenly at first, but then he remembered more and more and the tune got stronger. Then, he began to sing the words.
"I have dreamed that your arms are lovely.
"I have dreamed what a joy you'll be.
"I have dreamed every word you whisper
"When you're close, close to me.
"How you look in the glow of evening-
"I have dreamed and enjoyed the view.
"In these dreams, I've loved you so,
"That by now I think, I know
"What it's like to be loved by you.
"I will love being loved by you." He stopped and looked at Marya. "I can't remember the rest," he said. "I didn't spend a lot of time on it, since it was a duet, and I didn't have anyone to sing it with."
"You studied music?" Marya asked.
He nodded. "It was my favorite subject."
Marya didn't know what to say next, so she resumed the song, singing the next verse.
"Alone and awake, I've looked at the stars,
"The same that smile on you.
"And time and again, I've thought all the things
"That you were thinking too.
"I have dreamed that your arms are lovely.
"I have dreamed what a joy you'll be.
"I have dreamed every word you whisper
"When you're close, close to me.
"How you look in the glow of evening-
"I have dreamed and enjoyed the view
"In these dreams, I've loved you so,
"That by now I think I know,
Shark joined her for the final lines,
"What it's like to be loved by you!
"I will love being loved by you."
They trailed off, the tune fading. Marya looked up at Shark, her green eyes glowing in the darkness. "I have to admit Shark, I have thought about you. What it would be like to…to love you. Please, tell me now, whether or not you feel the same."
He looked down at her, because he did have an inch or so on her, his indigo eyes more captivating than ever. He slowly, hesitantly, eased his hands onto her waist, leaned down, and kissed her. It was a soft, sweet kiss- nothing passionate or aggressive- and still Marya found herself unable to breathe.
Shark pulled back and breathed shakily. "What do you think?" he asked.
Form their carefully chosen hiding place, Vector and Kylie clasped each other's hands. They're matchmaking skills were even better than they'd hoped.
Next time on A Tale of Two Slaves: Everything comes crashing down and is lost.
I do not own "I Have Dreamed." All rights belong to Rogers and Hammerstein.