Luna wasn’t sure if she was miserable or relieved when midwinter came and Amelia brought her breakfast to her in her rooms, instead of helping her dress for the exuberant festivities that the castle had always thrown for her birthdays. Instead she was escorted to the Princess Regent’s study, a small sunroom that had been redone for the purpose. Serena stood looking out at the winter gardens, she half turned as Luna curtseyed and took a seat before the ash desk that her stepmother had commissioned, there were few papers on it, and her newly crafted Regency seal with golden wax, no pens or ink for writing nor books for research. “It would be inappropriate for the castle to celebrate your birthday so soon after your father’s death and on a village holiday. So we will not. You are fourteen now and should display the maturity of your age. Soon you will begin the lessons most important to your station, ones your father neglected in his indulgence of your headstrong nature. Spend today in quiet reflection of what it means to be a ruler since you have already declared you believe yourself ready to do so.”

Luna pressed her lips hard together, glaring at Serena’s profile. She managed her response in a low voice thatl held a touch of the anger that simmered in her stomach at this high handed move. “Yes, stepmother. Of course, stepmother. May I be excused then?” 

Serena waved her hand and turned back to the window. Luna saw herself out, heels clicking in the halls as she went back to her rooms. She stiffened her spine at the pitying glances or whispers behind hands as she passed. That bravado lasted until she was able to collapse onto her settle shaking. Amelia and Jaeger had other duties or unlike her they were at the village fair. Luna curled in on herself, wondering what Serena considered the appropriate lessons that her father hadn’t. Whatever they were, a pity of dread opened up in Luna’s stomach. Tears dripped down her cheeks no matter how many times she wiped them away with her fingers. She gave up on stopping them after a while and closed her eyes remembering her father holding her small hands in his and telling her more and ridiculous stories about midwinter.

Amelia woke her hours later, all of Luna’s maids arrayed behind her, mostly grinning as if they were up to something though a couple looked nervous as they all stepped back to reveal a lovely little tea of cakes and sweets from the village festival. They crowded around her as she burst into tears again, flinging herself into the group of them and hugging indiscriminately. She was petted and wished a happy birthday before being firmly settled in the center of the tea and treated to the gossip of the castle as she had been when she was much younger. Luna was happy enough to tuck her stocking feet up under the warm layers of her gown and listen to the older maids tease Amelia about a certain cook's apprentice with her lovely golden braids.

“You even bought her that red ribbon didn’t you!” teased one of the older girls, Amelia blushed and grinned.

“She loved it.”

Luna considered if she felt slighted that she hadn’t gotten any gifts when it was traditional for one to give their friends gifts at midwinter and it was her birthday. Looking around though that seemed ungrateful and after all her maids had spent their money on the treats they’d all shared.

“Thank you all for the tea.” Luna said with a small smile, curled over her warm cup.

“Oooh, Princess! If you really want to thank us, tell us who strikes your fancy among the castle folks.” Luna found herself in the center of all their eyes. She gaped at the grinning group of maids, all except Amelia who had her lips pressed together and eyes averted. 

The chief of her maids who had served her father’s late mother and dangled Luna as a babe on her knee, affectionately called Auntie by most of the castle, cleared her throat.She cast a beady eye over the group. “The lad our Luna fancies should be plain to anyone with eyes. If you don’t know then you’re blinder than me.”

There was a general outcry at Auntie for that statement but no one pushed Luna further as Amelia brought up the village bonfire and the dances. More teasing ensued then, the maids pouncing on each other about who they would dance with. Finally the sun was setting and the maids swept out, shooed along by Auntie. The old woman helped Luna out of her sleep crumpled and tearstained gown and into a fresh shift. They settled by long habit in a chair and footstool that stood in front of the fireplace. Auntie ran a brush through Luna’s white locks, another long habit of theirs. Luna let the familiarity of the situation lull her, her eyes half closing.

“Auntie, what did you mean about me fancying a lad? I don’t think I do?” Luna turned her head, the brush tugging through the long locks. Auntie smiled at her, her eyes vanishing in a nest of wrinkles.

“You’ll know when you know, my dear. And until then you needn’t worry about such things.” Auntie laid the brush aside and Luna turned to face the fire again as the old woman slowly arranged her hair in a complex braid. Luna thought of asking her about the lessons Serena had mentioned but she didn’t know where to start asking questions or if Auntie would even have any answers.

Luna watched the old woman pick out a somber wool gown dyed the color of winter firs but embroidered with greens and reds of holly. It was a fine version of what any maid in their kingdom might wear, and Luna knew it had been a gift to her from the tailor's guild last year. It was warm, comfortable and appropriate for mourning as were the rest of the pieces the old woman chose for her. Luna beamed at her for it as she wrapped a black shawl over the outfit and waved Luna back to the settle. Her eyes fixed on Luna’s. “You should know it was young Amelia that was behind that little tea we had, coaxing all the girls to put in a few coins for the treats.”

“I’ll thank her properly, Auntie!”

“I know you will, my dear.”

With that said Luna picked up the history of their kingdom she’d been reading and resumed her great grandfather's faded but plainly written account of a day spent in court judgment. He’d been deciding the fate of a man accused of diverting his neighbor’s stream. It took Luna several seconds to resurface at a knock on her bedroom door. Jaeger peered around the door a moment later and smiled at her holding up a small bouquet of flowers including two lovely and most certainly out of season white lilies. “Happy Birthday!”

“Jaeger!” She yelped, ancient lawmaking forgotten as she scrambled to her feet to hug him. He wrapped her in a one armed, horse, hay and pine scented embrace. She hurried for a vase and filled it with water from her wash pitcher. Jaeger plucked one of the lilies from the other flowers and tucked it behind her ear. Luna’s heart warmed, and she leaned on him again as she put the rest into the vase and arranged them to an effect she liked. They looked at the flowers together as she sighed. “They’re perfect.”

“Yes,” He said, turning to smile at her. “They suit you.”

A moment passed as they smiled at each other then he chuckled and held out his arm formally. “May I escort you to your birthday dinner?”

“It’s just dinner. The Princess Regent was very firm about that, but yes. I’d be delighted by your escort.” She slid her arm into his, ignoring how his smile faded and his head tipped questioningly. But he didn’t actually ask and she didn’t elaborate as they walked together toward the dining room.

Jaeger walked her up to the royal table and pulled out her chair. Luna curtseyed to him with a quick grin and seated herself so he could push her chair in. Luna extended her hand to him. "My thanks, Huntsman."

Jaeger took it and bowed over it, murmuring so quietly Luna only barely heard it herself. "I am honored, my Queen."

She started but he only grinned at her as he straightened. The grin fell away to a polite courtly smile as Luna heard a step behind her. "Your Highness."

"Huntsman. Thank you for your escort of our dear Princess Royal."

Jaeger's eyes flicked to Luna's but he bowed and withdrew. Luna turned to her stepmother, who looked away from the young man's retreating back to study her. "An interesting choice of gown for dinner."

Luna looked out over the court. "The wool for the gown came from sheep in the mountain foothills, the embroidery thread was dyed in the castle village and the needlework was done here in the castle. This gown is of our kingdom. You asked me to contemplate what it means to be a ruler. I think it means being aware of our people from the least shepard to the members of the Council."

Serena raised a cool eyebrow at her. "I see. An admirable stance to take, if naive. Now it's time for dinner." 

She looked away dismissing Luna and raising a hand to begin the dinner service. The tea felt distant as the food was brought out. Luna wasn't certain at first but her portions seemed smaller than usual. The roast fowl, Luna's favorite, cinched it. Instead of an entire small bird she was only served half of one. She lifted her head to call the server back but Serena's cool smile stopped her. "Really Luna dear, you do eat far too much. That's more than enough food for a proper lady."