Hilda stood on the oak table and stomped her foot until the entire back room of the tavern fell silent. She raised a full tankard of ale in the air. "I have an announcement!"

"No, Hilda!" Kara covered her face with her hands. "Don't!"

"Tomorrow my favorite girl on Paxus turns twenty-five!" she said in a booming contralto to a resounding chorus of cheers. "From the Age of Reason to the Age of Wisdom!"

With a face as red as a flaming sunset, Kara stood up. "No, really, you don't have to—"

Hilda spoke over her. "Her work sucks worse than a hungry babe at a mother's tit!"

The patrons all burst out laughing. Even Kara couldn't help but give a wry chuckle.

"Those cowpats won't even give her the day off to celebrate the most important day of her life with her friends!"

A chorus of boos and raspberries swept through the tavern.

"Guess what, ya drunk bastards?" Hilda stomped her foot so hard that even the oak table creaked under the strain. "Tonight we're going to make her forget the adult world!"

Another deafening cheer.

"H, my man, wanna do the honors?" she said, turning to Harald.

He stood over four cubits tall and reached out to Kara with his giant hand. The wizard grasped it tight as he pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her waist.

When the giant stared down at her, she could barely breathe.

"Oh, Light, protect me!" muttered Kara under her breath. Here we go!

"Don't be afraid," he said in a deep baritone that made her stomach flutter.

"I'm not." She smiled and placed her hands on his chest. Normally he left it bare. Today he'd covered it with a linen dress shirt for this special occasion. "Just don't let me fall."

"Never."

Harald had danced with her in the tavern before, so they had touched as friends. But it didn't feel like this. Invisible tiny flashes of lightning chased each other across her skin. Gentle thunder rumbled through her body with shockwaves, making every muscle tremble.

A round of chanting resounded in the hall. "Pick her up! Pick her up! Pick her up!"

"Little sparrow?" he whispered, his lips grazing her ear. "Grab on tight and don't let go."

After Harald lowered himself onto his haunches, Kara walked behind him. She grasped his hands tight and draped her legs over his shoulders.

"Ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Her heart thudded against her ribs in anticipation. "Let's do it!"

Holding her hands, Harald rose to his full height with her on his broad shoulders. Kara gave an excited squee, her heart leaping into her throat. 

"Dear Light! Dear Light! Don't drop me!"

The patrons cheered.

Harald wrapped his arms around her legs to support her. The potent mixture of fear and exhilaration almost set her skin on fire. Pulse after pulse swept through her body. Tingles trailed over her skin. Down her spine. Across her face and chest.

And she hadn't even drunk any ale yet.

A swarm of patrons gathered around them both as Harald escorted her through the tavern five cubits in the air. If Kara had reached up with her hand, she probably could have touched the ceiling. But she didn't dare. She gripped the giant for dear life.

Together, they all sang the traditional birthday shanty in an off-key drunken chorus:

Oh-ho-ho! The birthday belle!
We'll carry her on our shoulders well!
All the bards will sing with a joyous swell
Full of health! Full of beer!
Full of ale! Full of cheer!
With a heart so bri-i-ight
May she always fight for the Light!

After repeating the verse three times, Harald lowered onto his haunches and Hilda helped Kara down. Only then could the wizard take a proper deep breath.

The dwarf threw her arms around her best friend and gave her a hearty clap on the back. "You didn't think we'd forget your birthday, did ya?"

"Well, with everything going on..."

"Nonsense!" After the bartender had slapped three tankards of ale on the bar, Hilda handed one to Kara. "Now that you're a quarter century old, you're not drinking that small beer anymore."

"Oh, no! I couldn't possibly—"

"You're quaffing this ale, sis!" demanded Hilda. "After that, burp as loud as you can, and that's your initiation from new adulthood into full adulthood."

"What, all of it?"

"Yep, in one go."

After Kara gulped down her third tankard of ale, it felt like she'd swallowed a giant pig stomach. It hurt. And rumbled. Ouch, why do people do this?

Soon the wizard had her answer. A delightful cascade of tingles trailed across her skin, warming her from the inside out. Impending doom faded away as she let a carefree wave sweep her troubles away.

When Kara finally burped to release the trapped air, it sounded like a wild boar trying to attract a mate. Every patron in the tavern burst into cheerful laughter, stomping their feet in unison.

Before they returned to their respective tables, they clapped her on the back or squeezed her shoulder, wishing her a happy birthday with many joyful returns.

Once she was alone, Kara turned and faced Harald. He averted his gaze and swallowed so hard, the notch in his throat bobbed. Riding the wave of euphoria, she dared to confront him.

"Do you feel it too?" she asked him.

When Kara ran her fingers down his arm and to his fingers, the thrumming began again like a pulse over her body. Harald began to breathe quicker. Shallower. It couldn't have been a coincidence.

Every time their skin touched, she could feel a pull. Connection. A spark that set her heart on fire.

Harald covered her hand with his and pressed it to his heart, thudding so hard and fast that she could feel it against her palm. "What do you think? It isn't exertion."

"It isn't exertion?" breathed Kara. "My, my...tell me more."

The giant drew himself straight. "I haven't had enough ale for that."

"Oh..."

"Yet."

He reached over her head and grabbed two more tankards, handing her one. "Happy birthday, little sparrow."

Before she could finish her drink, a band began playing a fast folk tune with drums, a flute and a very talented person on the vielle. "Hey, you're allowed to dance, right?"

"Allowed?"

"You made that silly bet, right?"

"Oh, that!" Harald extended his hand to her. "Who gives a damn? Come on!"

He pulled her towards a dance circle forming in the center of the hall. Kara couldn't help but notice his steps felt precise and controlled, as though he'd been practicing. When each man chose a twirling partner, Harald grasped her hands before they pulled in opposite directions. Spinning round and round until the world went fuzzy.

Kara shrieked in pure joy and cried out. "Haraaaaald, help!" Dizzy, she stumbled around with her arms outstretched, cackling with tipsy laughter along with the other patrons, and fell into his arms. "Sorry!"

After setting Kara back on her feet and keeping her steady with one hand, Harald tucked a stray lock behind her ear. The tender gesture set her face alight. Tingles of delight danced across her face, and it wasn't just the ale.

"I've always wanted to do that," he whispered with a wistful smile.

"What? To me?" asked Kara with an ill-timed hiccup. With wide eyes, she covered her mouth. "Oops."

They both chuckled.

Harald didn't have time to reply before the next song began. To Kara's chagrin, it was a slow love song led by a mournful elvish flute, followed by a slow-paced vielle. Pretty, but unsuitable for dancing with friends. Especially once the beautiful dwarven bard began to sing the tale of forbidden eternal love between a dwarven maid and an elven prince.

When Kara turned to leave the makeshift dance floor, Harald didn't let her go. She furrowed her brow. Halted. After he'd gently tugged at her hand, she intertwined her fingers with his and returned to him.

"May I have this dance?" he whispered in her ear.

"Hold me close," replied Kara. "After tomorrow I might never be the same."

Harald drew her as close as convention would allow for such an intimate dance. Only a single digit of space separated them. Still chaste, but near enough to make her heart flutter.

What's wrong with me? He's never been more than a friend.

Something changed, but what?

In the customary style, Kara placed a tentative hand on his heart and the other on his right shoulder. Her first real slow dance. Never breaking eye contact, Harald rested his hands on her upper and lower back. Her breath hitched. Another long pulse traveled up and down her body while they swayed in time to the song.

Her heart swelled. Harald's never danced this way before. Not that I've seen, anyway.

"Let me come with you." Harald's lips grazed her cheek. "You shouldn't go on your own. If you need to fight, let me fight with you."

"Some battles you need to face alone."

Harald shook his head. "Not true. I read the handbooks they gave us. You can always take a comrade with you. Even for the final challenges. Take Hilda if you want, but..."

Kara placed a finger on his lips, and invisible lightning bolts traveled up her arms. "I have my mentor. He will protect me."

He grasped her hand gently and placed it back on his heart. "I don't trust him."

"Why? Because he's a dragon?"

The giant's eyes widened then narrowed into slits. "No, because he threatened you."

"Harald, we talked about this."

The giant pulled her near until their bodies touched, sending a burning desire through Kara that she wasn't ready for. "It isn't safe at the castle. Please trust me on this."

"This isn't an appropriate distance." She wiggled to create space. "The patrons will talk."

"Let them talk," he hissed. "There are dangers at the castle you can't even dream of. I can't speak of it, but someone else should go with you. Not him!"

"Handle me right or let me go," growled Kara, pushing him back.

Silence hung between them as passing dancers glared.

"Forgive me." He gave an awkward bow. "I'll take my leave."

"No, that's not what I meant!" she hissed under her breath. "Harald, wait!"

He strode toward a small antechamber in the corner of the tavern. The place where he'd always make out with whatever girl had caught his fancy that week.

How dare you! Why can't you dance normally like you did at the start?

A drunken peasant stumbled up to Kara. "Heyyy, I'll dance with you, birthday belle."

Kara pushed him aside with a firm rejection and marched toward the giant who had abandoned her on the dance floor. 

___

Word count: 1,738
Total word count: 24,092/40,000 (max)