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shadowcat hey! When your 519 years old you're bound to forget some things! You've saved 3.5 dragons and they are thankful!

Golden Arwen sure you can name'em! But what do ya call half a dragon? Your book should be arriving in your brain in 3 .. 2 .. 1 ..

Chapter 8

Birthday Blues

"Why Miss-miss crying?" Dig asked tugging on Tk's dress.

"It's almost my birthday." Tk said hoarsely taking off her copper-rimmed glasses and rubbing at her tear streaked face and looking down at Dig and smiling weakly.

"Miss-miss no be sad. Miss-miss be happy! Miss-miss get big fancy yummy birthday cake, and presents! Miss-miss no be sad." Dig said. "I don't want a cake or presents or anything, not without mama and papa." Tk whimpered. "Dig go so miss-miss can be alone." Dig said hugging Tk's legs and scurrying out of the room shutting the door quietly then skittered to Jareth's study where every one was lounging and talking.

"Dig sorry sir but, miss-miss very sad." Dig said dropping into a deep curtsey. "Miss-miss no want birthday. No cake or presents. Miss-miss want Lord and Lady. Miss-miss sad. When miss-miss sad, dig sad, when dig sad, Dog sad, when dog sad, Dug sad, when Dug sad-

"Yes yes I get it Dig" Jareth snapped.

"Tk's been more affected by mother and father's deaths than any of us, she's had so much thrown at her these past weeks, and spending her 520th birthday without mother and father is bound to break the poor things heart, we must do something special, something just for her, something to help her." Trenton said.

"Is that big third floor gallery still empty?" Sarethanna asked.

"What third floor gallery?" Jareth asked.

"The one in the winter palace!" Sarethanna sighed.

"Yes, of course it is!" Jareth sighed in exasperation.

"Good! Boys get your magic butts in gear, I've got me an idea!" Sarethanna said in triumph.

"Should we be frightened?" Trenton asked his brothers.

"Oh yeah, be afraid little brother, be very afraid." Rio said nodding grimly to his younger brother, who gave a slight shudder.

"Alright, Trenton, write every noble and request any document or piece of history pertaining to mother and father and if they have any recollection of them when they were younger, before and after they had us. Rio, go to the summer and winter palaces and gather up all of mother and father's things, mainly mother and father's personal writings their personal journals. Jareth since you're the oldest and knew mother and father best, I need you to wright down every memory you can remember involving Tk and mother and father together, and I'll take care of the rest! Well? What are you waiting for? Move it monkeys, move it!" Sarethanna ordered, hands on hips.

"What Jareth? Can't you just tell me?" Tk said annoyed as Jareth held and transported them both to the winter palace, outside the third floor gallery.

"Well? Go on, go in!" Jareth said as he nudged Tk forward.

""Fine, ok! Keep your tights on." Tk grumbled pulling the large oak french double doors.

"SURPRISE!" everyone cried as the large room exploded into loud claps and cheers.

"What-!" Tk gasped in disbelief

The big gallery was decked out in strings of tiny crystals and pearls hung from the chandeliers and around the banisters and railings at the head of the room hanging on the wall was a large painting of their mother and father white silk was draped along the large ornate gold frame, a long table with a white silk tablecloth covering it, sat below the portrait. Various gifts were set on the table.

"Happy birthday Tk." Jareth said hugging her.

"Why?" Tk asked. "Why did you do this?

"Because we love you. Losing the ones you love is hard Tk, but it does not do to dwell in the past, and forget to live, they wouldn't want you to go on like this Tk." Trenton said holding a gift out to her. "Everyone who knew mother and father helped put this together."

Tk slowly took the gift and opened it, it was a thick volume of various notes, letters, comments, messages and memories all about her mother and father.

"...Thank...you, all...so much." Tk wept paging through the large book. "You... have no idea... mow much ... this means to me. I know now that my mother and father were loved very much by many of you, and I know in my heart that a lot of people believe that I have no right to take this position but somewhere in my heart a voice keeps saying this is where I'm meant to be
and I know even those who are gone are with us as we go on. My journey has only begun, in tears of pain, and tears of joy, one thing nothing can destroy is my duty and responsibility to my people even those that hate me" Tk said firmly.