A Scion in the Lunar Court

The nocturnal court was quiet, as it oft was. Luna lamented again that of all the cloaks that adorned her presence it was the menace of nightmare that shone most brightly. This time felt so wasted, a feeling Luna resented like few others. But to ignore her own court to study? To administrate? Whom would respect a court illregarded by its own sustainer? Whom would listen to a Diarch so lesser as to have no Courtiers? No Retinue? No Patrons?

The smothering silence of her Sister's grand marble hall answered her.

Yes. Better to let fortune come than to chase it as she had before.

But yet on the edge of her hearing came the rhythmic clacking of hooves. Luna's ears twitched. Neither was it the dull clap of steel guard shoes nor the muted patter of wood-soled servant clogs. These were the elegant tinks of glass. The growing closeness of Nobility.

Luna locked and buried her excitement. Worse to seem an eager dog than to remain a pariah.

"Presenting the Lady Aurum Sprig! of the House of the Golden Bough!" Despite the guard's thick Romarian accent Luna understood the proclamation well. Perhaps if– "And with her a gift for the most esteemed Princess Luna! For services rendered!"

What? When? Luna had not even heard of the family since before her banishment! But Luna hid her surprise deftly.

To her throne strode a beautiful mare, in all those ways Nobility oft are. Yellow-cream coat and mane the dark brown of a lively oak. Though her dress, the design was ancient. Old enough to be more familiar to Luna than modern fashions.

At the foot of the steps before her throne the mare stopped and bowed deeply and waited in silence. Ah, decorum, very old decorum. 'As we swear our fealty unto thee forever and again, know our lands and subjects be bound to thy majesties as obsequiously.' the vow would go, renewed and vigorous. There was a melancholic joy erupting in Luna. Better times.

"Thou mayest speak, House of the Golden Bough. The Diarchs of the Twin Skies admit intrigue at thy most welcome intrusion." How difficult it was to tamp her happiness made Luna truly realize how deep that nostalgia reached.

"Aurum Sprig, scion and last of her name wishes to thank thee and thine tirelessness of pursuit in thy divine duties." She spoke well, though the refinement of the old tongue held the halting of recent study—not quite the verbose dance it was meant to be.

"Our duties and subjects are numerous as our stars. Prithee, name the service done unto thee that thy gift may be judged equal worth."

This Lady Aurum remained bowed, "Verily. Of thine many shadows this Noble subject adulates thine most compassionate. Diarch Luna, Keeper of Dreams. Thou, in thy kindness, delivered me from nightmares most horrible and endless. Freed me from subconscial flagellation."

She meant those words, truly and deeply. Of that Luna held little doubt. If only she had remembered this mare that had been hurting so. But addressing one-thousand years of inattention meant every dream blurred until her memory of it all had been as though scattered light through misshapen stained glass.

"Raise thine head, Lady Aurum. That the heart in thine eyes mayest say what words cannot."

Blue and green met, souls touched, some may say. In them Luna beheld that twinkle as beautiful as her stars. That which her Sister could not give and that which she had been denied by too many subjects old and young.

Admiration

Wonder

Respect

And most sweet of all! Appreciation.

Despite their drapery of archaic decorum Luna feared very seriously that she may start crying...

It was all she had wanted. Just one pony, anypony to notice her. All that she did. The depth of her emotions showed in but a slight tremble of her lips.

"Thou shalt join us in the gardens. Thy gift will be most beautiful showered in Our moonlight amidst a choir of stars." T'would be better for her self-control to falter to but one pony.

The gardens truly were majestic at night. Subtle colors ensconced in a near mute chorus that only just tickled the ear. To focus on it bought Luna a little more time for the height of her emotions to further wane.

Lady Aurum obediently followed behind, from her conduct Luna judged that dawn could come before the mare would dare speak out of turn. Not that Luna would allow herself such rudeness. Unlike her Sister she did not find amusement in flaunting decorum and wheedling at the propriety of high society.

They came to an edge of the gardens, an isolated alcove with a porthole that looked out away from Canterlot and far into the moonbathed farmland and hamlets and towns of distant Equestria. Though Luna supposed the window's useless position in a siege made it more of a fenestra... She should stall no longer, it was becoming unconscionably rude.

"Now, thou needn't twist thy tongue any longer. Though We are touched thy speech should not be dirtied by speaking in a tongue lent to thee by a book. Prithee, speak in the vernacular of thine home."

Aurum winced faintly, "I fear an empty home grants me few words to say, Princess."

"Oh? Perchance this be the root of thy nightmares?"

She shook her head, "Only insofar as a gem-cut lense atop a bulb is the root of the thousand scalding rays." Aurum lightly waved her hoof to cast such thoughts away, "But my troubles only humble my gift Princess, they are not truly relevant."

Curious. Luna tried to reassure her subject with a smile, "Rest assured the gift shalt be taken in the spirit it is given." Privately she made a note to investigate the demesne of Aurum's House. Nobility down on their luck could resort to nasty things to rectify such. Fortune willing it is all as simple as Royal advisory and treasury loans.

"A spirit of friendship may be all that my gift may offer Princess Luna."

Now Ms. Sprig was delaying. Luna wordlessly bade the noble mare to continue. She'd not receive any more verbiage with which to pirouette around the matter.

The Lady Aurum understood Luna's patience ending, the mare breathed deep, that faint edge of worry unmistakable.

"My Majesty, Princess Luna, Diarch of all that is subtle and healing and twinkling. I, Aurum Sprig of the House of the Golden Bough, do pledge all that is me and mine to thee as Courtier. Though my lands be meager they shall move to thy behest until not one stone stands atop another. Though I alone can answer your command I shall dance to the choir of thy stars until the last drop of blood dries upon my bones. This I swear to you, my one and only Lady and Liege." With this proclamation the young Lady Aurum Sprig knelt before the majesty of the night, and the night itself trembled and wept at such loyalty sworn.

Luna's night dimmed, it and its peerless Lady below overcome with a warmth seldom ever felt before. What could the night do if not gently raise the young Sprig's gaze from the floor? Once more to touch their souls together in their locked eyes.

"We accept thy loyalty, Aurum Sprig. Thou shalt join our lunar cosmos and be as one of our very own stars forevermore."