Courtship in the Lunar Court

Nightshade!

From a night of surprises and full of twists,
That I might learn that guard’s name was low on my list.
But to say this knowledge was unwelcome is false to be sure,
I am rather excited to get to know the one who watches the door.

As for my evening spent at Luna’s side,
She asked me for help with her nightly rites.
And so we spent the midnight hours walking,
Replacing flowers in the hallways and quietly talking.

She spoke of memories from an age long past,
Of another castle and her rule that did not last.
She spoke of pain, of sorrow and hatred,
But most of all she spoke of how much she regretted.

The suffering she caused to the world and her followers most loyal,
For condemning her precious thestrals to generations of secrecy and toil.
I comforted her the best that I could,
But to be honest I probably sounded a fool.

The princess however took my words in stride,
With laughter soft and a smile of pride.
“Ah, young one, We do thank thee,
For listening to Us and offering amity.”

“Of course your highness, tis my pleasure,
No one should be made to carry this guilt forever.”
Her smile turned down for a moment at my words,
But after a shake of her head once more it returned.

Soon after came the time for dawn,
And so to her chambers she retired with a yawn.
I left her with a bow and bid her good day,
And outside the door is when the guard asked my name.

Oh how fiery my cheeks were burning,
As I shakily replied and tried to still my yearning.
The guard repeated my name with quiet, cool charm,
Which near made my knees buckle, much to my alarm.

Somehow though I kept my legs and through my lips,
I heard my own voice asking for his.
The stallion pressed a leather wing to his chest with bowed head,
And the name “Nightshade” is what he said.