Chapter 3-Rilla

Today is the day. It's Princess Saria's birthday, and she's coming over later, for lunch. But I must see her before then. What better day to seek my revenge than today, her special day? Some would call that cruel, but I say it's not cruel enough considering how she's ruined my life. It's only justice.
"CALENA!" I call out. when she arrives I say, "Get Satin ready! I'm going out to see my sweet, perfect, birthday-girl cousin." I know she can here the sarcasm in my voice, but what do I care? She's only a servant.
Saria was only a servant, too, at one time... But this is different! Don't be distracted, Rilla, focus on the task at hand! I chide myself for the wistful memories, then head out of my chamber to go to the stables where Satin is.
I will visit Saria, and she will give me a birthday present, five months early. And if she wants to maintain that flawless image, she'll not be able to do anything about it.

"Princess Saria! How long has it been since I saw you?" I smile and pretend I'm thrilled to see this girl, who I hate with a burning, flaming passion.
She smiles a tight smile and says, "Six days, Rilla. Not that long."
"It seems like an age!" I gush with fake sentiment. She must know it's fake, but I don't care. I notice, rather distastfully, that she is cleaning out the stalls of the cows, and I comment, "Your parents don't even let you out of chores on your birthday?"
"Well, they'd never get done! But I do get the afternoon off. What can I do for you, princess?"
"Oh, I just couldn't wait til lunch to say happy birthday, cousin! And please, drop the formality. We are cousins."
"Half-cousins."
"Oh, whatever. We've got the same blood in our veins, that's the point. How about you take a break for just a moment to unwrap the gift I got you?"
"That's sweet of you, Rilla! Here, we'll go outside were the air is fresher than in these stables."
I follow here lead, glad to get out of that putrid air. How can she not be horrified by the stench of dung in those infernal stables? Still, I smile and pretend it hasn't gotten to me. I hand her the gift and she tears the paper off, revealing the lovely tiara inside. Naturally, it wasn't my choice of a gift. It's simply tradition (and my mom's idea) that a princess should get a crown on her twelveth birthday. I'll get one next year, and I better get it from her.
Saria gives me a genuine smile of delight at her present, which catches me off guard. She's never been really happy, never once. At least not that I've seen. Is a tiara that great a gift?
"Thank you so much, Rilla! It's lovely! If there's anything I can give you in payment..."
"Oh, it's your birthday! I had to get you a gift."
"But you didn't have to get me such a nice one! Come on, name anything I have and it's yours, I promise."
"Anything?" This is working better than I had hoped.
She nods, and I smile, saying, "Well, if I had to choose something, which you're making me do, I would have to pick...Navi."
Instantly her smile vanishes. She looks like she's about to say no, but she'd never go back on a promise. Not if she's as perfect as she tries to be. The horse is mine, and so is a part of Saria herself.