Dorne awoke on a bed of fresh leaves and vines from the forest, full of life and ready for his presents. The sun peaked in through the gaps in the straw roof, and he could tell that it was going to be a nice day. After-all, it was his birthday! He jumped out of bed and headed out into the small clearing that the royals called home, and set about collecting wood for the fire. He started to boil up some tea and waited patiently for his family members to awake, hoping that the sounds he made would help wake them. They did. The first to exit their small tree-hut was his grandmother, rubbing her eyes against the brightness of the morning sun. Next came his grandfather, large and wise, waddling out from within his …show more content…
Their they sat for a few moments, sipping from their mugs and slowly waking up, while Dorne waited in anticipation. He wondered what he’d be given. Twelve was a big year, he was a grown up now! He hoped, prayed, that he’d receive the royal amulet, a necklace worn by the village leaders. Old Jill’s ageing face seemed to illuminate with each sip, and it wasn’t long before she was up off the log and rattling around her hut. ‘Do you feel any older yet?’ His grandfather asked. Throughout his whole life, Dorne had never learned his real name; everybody in the village just called him Grandfather. ‘I don’t know,’ Dorne replied, ‘But I feel excited, like the whole world is at my feet.’ At this, Grandfather smiled. He was about to speak, something which seemed important, when Old Jill returned with a small box, wrapped lovingly in leaves and tied with rope made from vines. ‘Oh! Oh! Is that my present?’ He could no longer contain his …show more content…
Things aren't how they used to be, that’s for sure.’ She did seem a little low then, as if something was on her mind, but Dorne was too excited to notice. He took the gift and started to unwrap it. As the small collection of multi-coloured forest leaves fell away from the box, he popped open the lid, seeing within a shining collection of gold and silver, that at first glistened too brightly to even make out the shape. As the glare died down, he recognised it as a silver necklace with a pendant in the shape of an eagle. It was beautiful; shiny and glistening against the sun, an intricate piece of jewellery. ‘What is it?’ He asked, not exactly disappointed, but not what he was expecting to receive. A look of sadness flashed across Old Jill’s face, as if she was suddenly reminded of a painful experience. ‘It’s the symbol of The Summer Land,’ Grandfather spoke, ‘The symbol of the Gods.’ Dorne said nothing, just stared down at the pendant with a strange familiarity, captivated and confused all at once. He wondered why he’d receive such a gift, why they would give him the symbol of the Gods that had abandoned their