'Happy birthday…'
'Shut up…'
Somebody laughed, shaking me gentle. 'Wake up, sleepy princess. It's your birthday!'
'Great,' I muttered, 'then let me sleep.'
'I can't' let you, sorry.'
Again I groaned. This time I did open my eyes, and found myself looking at my pillow. I turned my head slightly, and saw T'Challa. He was grinning, and held a long, quite thin package.
'Happy Birthday!'
Grudgingly I sat up. 'Can't we skip today?'
'I'm afraid not. But if you do not want my present…' he pretended to pull away the wrapped package he was holding.
'I think I may want to take a look at that,' I muttered slyly. I might not have looked forward to this day, I did still enjoy that exited feeling you get when seeing a wrapped present. My hands itched to rip off the brightly coloured paper.
T'Challa grinned, and handed me the package. It was heavier than I had expected.
'Careful.'
I ignored him, and started tearing the paper away. A beautiful, slick box was revealed. It was decorated with intricate carvings, and swirling golden and silver paint. Small, colourful gemstones completed the design, giving it a fantasy-ish feeling.
Excitedly I looked up at T'Challa. He gestured for me to continue, so I did. I flicked the small mechanism keeping the box closed, and carefully lifted the lid.
I gasped when I saw the contents; a beautiful, shining sword, with a hilt decorated more beautifully than the outside of the box. I took it out, and felt it was perfectly balanced. The blade had been polished well enough, that I could see my own reflection in it.
'My God, T'Challa, it is beautiful!' I wanted to jump up and give him a hug, but he ducked away.
'Please, put that sword back down. I would rather not lose my head.' But he was grinning. I was beaming. The weapon was marvellous, and an incredibly amazing present.
I placed it back, and hugged T'Challa with enthusiastic force.
'Thank you. Thank you so much.'
I might have grasped him a bit tighter than I normally would have done, if this had been a… "normal" birthday. T'Challa, too, held on to me in an emotional kind of way.
'Is it okay I still see you as my little princess?'
'I hope I never stop being her.'

Seeing the coronation would start until late afternoon, I didn't hoist myself into the coronation gown. Instead, I dressed myself in a simple white, billowing skirt and a deep purple blouse.
When I left the bedroom, James was waiting behind the door. He, too, was clutching a wrapped package. Though his was covered in paper with soft colours, and his present looked a more regular size.
'Happy birthday, highness,' he smiled quietly. He handed me the present. I was a bit stunned, actually; I hadn't expected him to give me anything. The idea hadn't even crossed my mind, to be honest.
'Thank you.'
I sat down. Before ripping the paper, I read the little card that he had attacked to the package with a thin string.

Dear Highness,

I wish you a very happy birthday.
I have doubted a long time if I should give you something, because it won't be the "proper" thing to do. But then I realised you deserve it, so here it is.
This won't be as spectacular as I wished I could give you, but I hope it will please you nonetheless.
The book is new, the movie is old. It's actually from my time. I remember a time this was the most astonishing thing I had lain my eyes on. So therefore I hope it may bring you some of the wonder I felt, when I saw it.
Please remember, that whatever anyone might say, you are a strong woman, and a good person. People that speak badly about you, don't know you. I have had the honour to not only meet you, but also to get to know you. And I've come to see, that you will make an amazing queen.

Yours truly,

James

I stared at the card for a while. It didn't occur to me I had already read all the words. And it took even more time for me to realise this… wonderful message wasn't the present. That it had only been an accessory to the gift.
I put it aside, my hands shaking lightly, and my eyes tingling, promising myself to treasure that little card.
When I had ripped away the paper, I was holding a beautiful, colourful book, with reflection golden letters spelling "Fantasia". Underneath the curling letters, Mickey Mouse was standing dressed in red robes, and a blue wizard's hat covered with white stars.
After opening it, I marvelled at the incredible pictures printed on thick paper. There were scans of original drawings and notes on the movie, and excerpts of the original films itself. From beginning to end, it was filled with the story of how this movie came to be, but also with brightly coloured, high-resolution images that could amuse me for at least a day.
'Thank you.' I tore my gaze from the book. 'Thank you James. This is really… special.'
James seemed relieved. How could he have ever thought I wouldn't like it? I loved smiled, and gave me that little bow, but a little bit more freely than he normally did.

That moment, T'Challa returned to the room, followed by two maids carrying large platters of food. They put it on the table, curtsied and left.
'I thought it would be nice to eat it up here,' he explained.
'Very nice,' I nodded gratefully, folding some of the wrapping paper back around the book and depositing it on the couch.
When I had sat down, I gestured for James to join us, so he did, and with the three of us, we started emptying the trays. Between two bites of pancakes with whipped cream, I looked around the table.
'So, today is the day, huh?'
Both T'Challa and James nodded. They both smiled. Evidently, they both wished to comfort me.
Today was the day. I felt a weird nausea in the pit of my stomach. Today was the day.