Hi everyone! I know that I told a few people that this chapter
was going to be super-long to make up for the fact that I won't
be able to update it in a while, but I was severely swamped with
studying and exams. So I PROMISE a HUGE update when I come back
to school after the holidays. Thanks for your understanding and
Happy Holidays!

Love,
Ash


Switched at Birth - Chapter 10

After all the guests had left, my parents and I, along with
Darien and his parents retired to the Rose Room for a nightcap.
King Stephen and my father were sipping from large snifters of
cognac while concentrating on a chessboard made of clear and
frosted glass. Queen Gaia and my mother were seated on a couch
by the fire, discussing details of my wedding to Darien. If I
had actually been paying attention to their conversation, I
would have heard my mother saying that she wanted two hundred
doves to be released into the air as soon as Darien and I
kissed. But instead of listening to their conversation, Darien
and I simply sat beside each other on a Louis XIV chaise with
our fingers laced together, gazing into each other's eyes.

"Did you have a nice time tonight?" Darien asked me softly.

I smiled and nodded. "I had a wonderful time," I told him.
"I'll never forget this day. It's hard to believe that a year
ago, I had just received my learner's permit." My mind started
to wander as I thought about my previous birthday parties when
something occurred to me. "Was something done for Beryl?"

King Stephen, Queen Gaia, and my parents turned to look at me
at the sound of her name. "What did you just say?" my father
demanded.

I suddenly felt very afraid. "I was simply wondering if anything
was done for Beryl today, since it is her birthday as well," I
explained hesitantly.

It was as if everyone in the room suddenly became enthralled
with their hands or something else. No one would look at me.
Finally, Darien broke the silence.

"I don't believe that anything was done for her," he told me.

I stood up, dismayed. "But it's her birthday today!" I protested.
"Surely you did something."

My mother shook her head uncomfortably. "We are sorry, but we
did not. She is not our daughter."

"Not your-?" I was astounded. "For fifteen years, you believed
that she was your daughter. I refuse to believe that you simply
don't acknowledge her anymore."

"Serena, that is enough," my father said sternly. "You do not
know what you are talking about."

"Will someone please tell me, then?" I asked impatiently. "You
shouldn't be hiding this from me, and I shouldn't have to learn
it from the servants."

"Princess Serenity," my mother commanded sternly. "You will not
take that tone of voice with your father."

I stared sullenly at the floor. "I'm sorry, Father," I said,
trying not to clench my teeth. "But I do not think that it is
fair to have forgotten her."

"What would you have us do, Serena?" my father asked me. "Would
you have wanted her at your party?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You know very well that I was not suggesting
that," I replied. "But perhaps a small token that lets her know
that she was not forgotten in the excitement of my birthday
celebration."

"Serena, you have a very kind heart," my mother told me
affectionately. "But you do not know Beryl the way we do. She
would not appreciate your gesture of goodwill."

"But you haven't even tried," I protested. "Perhaps a birthday
confection, and a small gift would make her happy."

My parents must have decided that there was no use in arguing
with me. Father nodded his consent. "If you insist, then you may
tell the kitchen to prepare something nice for her," he told me.

Mother nodded in agreement. "And you may give her a gift of your
choice," she added.

I made my way over to each of them to give them a hug and a kiss
on the cheek. "Thank you," I told them. I curtseyed to Darien's
parents. "Your Majesties."

King Stephen and Queen Gaia nodded. "Princess Serenity," they
replied.

I went to Darien and looked at him with pleading eyes. "Please
understand why I have to do this," I begged him softly.

Darien smiled understandingly and nodded. "I understand that you
are a compassionate and caring young woman," he told me. Then, he
leaned down to kiss me gently.

"I'll be back soon," I promised. I curtseyed quickly before leaving.

************************************************************************************************************
Twenty minutes later, I knocked on Beryl's door with a tray in my
hands. On the tray was a small chocolate cake with chocolate icing,
decorated with blue and yellow flowers, and a wrapped present.
Inside, was an etched glass box that I had seen in a store that I
had helped dedicate a few days earlier. I liked the rose design so
much that the store gifted me with over a dozen pieces of
glassware with the same pattern on it. Hopefully, Beryl would be
able to use it for something.

The door opened slowly and Beryl stood there looking at me
suspiciously. "What do you want?" she asked accusingly.

I tried to smile disarmingly. "I wanted to wish you a happy
birthday," I told her.

Beryl's dark emerald eyes narrowed. "Why would you want to do that?"
she demanded. "Are you taking pity on me? The person whose life you
stole?"

"No...of course not," I stammered, shocked by her venomous tone. "I
didn't want you to think that people had forgotten that today is
your birthday too."

"Everyone has forgotten," Beryl snapped. "Also, no one cares. My
family didn't bother to wish me a happy birthday, so why should you
and yours?"

"Beryl, that's not true!" I insisted. I wanted to say more but she
cut me off.

"The only reason you remembered was because you saw me tonight. If
I hadn't been on that balcony, would you have given me a second
thought? Or a first one for that matter?" Beryl inquired. "All you
care about is living my life and taking everything away from me."

"I had no choice!" I protested. "I was told that lives were at stake!"

"And what of my life?" Beryl asked. "I'm nothing now. No one wants me."

I started to get mad. "You didn't want to live with your real family,"
I pointed out.

"Do you really think that they would have given me a warm welcome?"
Beryl countered. "A complete stranger claiming to be their daughter."

"It would have taken some time, but I'm sure they would have grown to
love you," I defended my American family.

Beryl's eyes flashed furiously and she looked ready to explode, but
she smiled pleasantly instead. "I'm sure you're right," she told me.
"Thank you very much for remembering my birthday."

I blinked a few times to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating.
"You're welcome, Beryl," I managed to say. "I hope that we can be
friends."

Beryl smiled again, and I found that I had to repress a shudder. "I'm
sure," she replied. "May I take the tray from you?"

"Of course," I said, holding the tray out for her.

"Thank you. If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone now," she informed
me.

I nodded. "Happy birthday," I said, before leaving to rejoin Darien
and our families in the Rose Room.