Umm...Yes, Your Majesty

Queen Reinetta woke to the sound of bells and a fresh breeze, just like any other day. She stretched, rolling on the luxurious linen sheets. Sitting up, she called her maid in.

“Good morning, Your Majesty,” Anaya said with a curtsy. “What would you be in the mood to wear today?”

“Hmm… I think I will choose that blue one made of—of whatever-it’s-called,” Reinetta said thoughtfully.

“You mean the one made of charmuese and organza?” asked the faithful handmaiden.

“Yes, yes. That one.” Anaya assisted the queen into a dress that resembled a blue lace cloud, with matching slippers and gloves.

“Her Majesty’s breakfast is ready,” announced another maid. “You will be eating at your customary spot?”

“No. I think I will take it in the parlor.” Reinetta usually dined in her private courtyard, but today seemed to be an exception.

“Very well, Your Majesty.”

After a breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs, and warm bread with honey, the Queen proceeded to the council hall and sat in the head seat.

“As you know,” Reinetta began, “or maybe you have forgotten, that tonight is the Festival of Lanterns—Festival of—Festival… Oh dear. That name is ridiculous! Can anybody here tell me where that boring thing came from?”

“Uh…I think the holiday was invented a few centuries ago,” mumbled a high-ranking lord.

“Well, never mind when it was made, it must be changed. Does anybody have any suggestions? Sybil, I think you are good at that sort of thing.”

“Would ‘Lantern Festival’ be any better, Your Highness?” asked the royal scribe. “Or maybe ‘Light Festival’ would be better.”

Reinetta thought for a moment, then announced that ‘Light Festival’ would be best.

She then continued her declaration. “Okay. Because of the Festival, there is much for you to do. Steward, I’m sure the food is progressing nicely. Master Thalasar, any reports on the decorations?”

“Your Majesty,” said the chief architect, bowing politely. “I am happy to report that everything is going well. Tables are being erected as we speak. The lanterns are getting hung in straight lines of ten between trees. Food tables—”

“This is unacceptable,” interrupted Reinetta, “Straight lines of ten? On no account must they be straight. What do you have to say for yourself, Thalasar?”

Master Thalasar seemed agitated. “It is tradition. The lines of ten are symbolic. You see, a few hundred years ago—”

“No. I do not care about symbolism. They will be hung in spirals under the trees, in odd numbers—it makes you happier. Then, strung between trees, the lanterns will be in zigzags—also in odd numbers. In the center of the garden, you will make a big spiral like…a pine tree. Did you get all of that?”

“But—but it has never been done that way,” protested a distressed lord.

“I am the queen and you have to listen to what I say. If you do not, you will be removed from your position. Do you understand?”

“Umm…Yes, Your Majesty,” Thalasar said with repeated bows.

After the chief architect had left, the meeting commenced again, only to be interrupted by a messenger. “Your Majesty,” he began, “We have a message from the distant country of Vicinia.”

Reinetta smiled and said, “Messages are always exciting. Sibyl, read it please.”

Sibyl cleared her throat and began reading the paper.

“From His Majesty Leroy Aldrich, King of Vicinia, Lord of the Northern Provinces, and protector of the people of the Land, greetings and peace to her Royal Highness the Queen Reinetta Beaumont, regent of Gynaea.

It is our highest wish to secure the goodwill and friendship of Your Majesty and her land. I, the King, send this letter with deepest regrets for the hard feelings between these countries that may ensue. It is with our most humble apologies that we must say this.

Your large and bountiful country that sits like a valuable jewel on a pile of lesser treasures has come to our attention. We cannot sit here and watch the doings of your country and not wish to take part in them. It must be that you immediately join with the land of Vicinia and come under the rule of His Majesty, or we will have to wipe your country from existence. Your reply is greatly anticipated. In hopes of peace and prosperity to come, fare thee well.”

The Queen sat in silence for a moment, then announced, “This is outrageous. If Vicinia decided to make war on my country, they would be utterly defeated. I must deal with this immediately.”

One of the main advisors looked nervous. “My Queen. I think it wise to take up this matter in a Royal Counsel, and maybe…leave the matter up to the ol—mm…that is to say— ones who are more experienced in matters of war. The weight of your crown—well you must have many other, more important things, to manage.”

Reinetta considered this proposition. “Yes, I do agree that the crown is quite weighty,” at this, she paused and adjusted the small diadem. “But, that will not prevent me from taking care of this myself. The matter is simple, and there is but one course of action. Sibyl, I will dictate a reply. Ready?” She began,

“From Her Royal Highness, Queen Reinetta Beaumont de Gynaea, regent of Gynaea, to Leroy Aldrich, King of Vicinia.

I, the Queen, am offended by your insolent message. You have no right to threaten my country and crown—and to escape being horribly punished, you must send a letter of apology at once. If one does not reach us by tonight, there will be consequences. Good day”

“Now, messenger,” said Queen Reinetta, “send this by falcon. The fastest you can get. Also include a note telling them to send their reply by the same bird.”

The messenger hurried away, eager to get the letter in the air. Reinetta promptly announced that it was time for lunch. After the meal, the queen and her maid went to inspect the Royal Guard.

“Good day, Seward. I do hope everything is ready for the inspection,” said Anaya.

Seward, the captain of the guard assured her that, yes, it was.

The inspection went unusually smooth, except for a minor interruption, when Reinetta asked why the guards weren’t smiling. It was cleared up with a simple order for them to smile just a little. Then, at the Queen’s request, the two proceeded to the menagerie.

“Baldric, I am wanting to see the little peacock pheasants in particular today.”

“Ah, yes. A very good idea. They are pretty birds, aren’t they?”

“Oh, how cute!” Reinetta exclaimed. “Can you get me some food to feed them with?”

The treats were produced in due time, and the little pheasants gained much from the Queen’s visit that day, who began feeding them out of her hand. Unfortunately, one of the blue birds pecked a little to vigorously at the hand, and left a little scrape and an unhappy queen.

“Here, Your Majesty,” comforted Anaya. “We can go back in the palace and get Curelle to fix it up. And if you want, Baldric could sell the pheasants to somebody else.”

Reinetta shook her head. “No, no. They are much to sweet to get rid of. Baldric must train them to peck softer. But I probably should have been more careful, right?”

“Yes, a very good idea. Now here is Curelle.”

The Queen’s injured hand was made better quickly, and Anaya suggested that she sign a few of the papers on her desk.

“Is it really that necessary?” asked Reinetta.

“I’m afraid so. Queens always have to do things like that.”

“Very well. But let us get Sibyl to tell me if it is very wise to sign all of them. Maybe a few should just be thrown away.”

The royal scribe assured her that it was indeed necessary to sign them all.

“Maybe you should study ancient treaties now,” Sibyl proposed.

“No. I always think that those are a bit boring,” the Queen sighed.

“But,” the scribe encouraged, “queens should know that sort of thing. It comes in handy at times.”

“Oh, maybe sometime else. I am thinking I need a small snack. Sibyl, please call a maid.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Anaya, I believe I will take the food in my garden. Then I can take a walk before the party.”

While she ate her snack, a reply arrived from Vicinia. It said that they were very sorry and that they begged for the Queen’s forgiveness, and suggested that an alliance be made instead. Anaya sighed in relief. Reinetta heard and asked why she had sighed.

“Oh, no reason.”

The Queen frowned. “But there must be some reason. Tell me why.”

“Well, I am just glad that it came in time.” In reality, the maid was relieved that there would be no war. “I do think an alliance would be a wise decision.”

“I will consider it.”

Delete

“Your Majesty, what are you going to wear tonight?” asked Anaya.

“Oh, most likely the pink dress. No—the one to the right—yes, that one. "

“Hmm, it seems to be too small. It must have shrunk.”

“Yes, that must be it. I couldn’t have grown, right?”

“Um..no, I don’t think so, Your Majesty.”

“Here, get down the green one—no , wait, I don’t really like that bright shade—is yellow a good color for an evening party?—well, then maybe the purple dress—that one—no, it’s far too puffy for my tastes.”

This went on for some time, until finally the Queen decided on a purply-gray and gold gown. The same indecision affected the choices of gloves, shoes, and a hairdo. At last, Reinetta was arrayed to her satisfaction, and she went down to the Royal Gardens and faced the awaiting guests.

“Welcome to this year’s Light Festival,” she announced, “I hope you enjoy yourselves tonight.”

Most of the guests enjoyed the new style of decorations, and the children thought that the abundance of sweet things was beyond words. Certainly, everything was done to perfection, and the spiral of lanterns enhanced the mood greatly as it grew darker. The Queen enjoyed herself immensely. But she soon noticed an opportunity for improvement and approached Anaya about it.

“I think this party would be much nicer if there were a few animals. I could get Baldric to bring over some of the little peacock pheasants.”

Anaya looked hesitant. “That sounds very nice, but remember that one hurt you earlier. Do you think that it’s the best idea?”

“Oh, yes. Please have someone tell Baldric to bring a few over.”

So, the birds were brought over, and it did was a fun addition. Anaya also took the liberty of calling Curelle over in case of any pecks or scratches. Reinetta tired herself out playing with the small pheasants, until she was nearly asleep on her feet.

“Your Majesty, it is quite late,” said Oramas, the head steward. “You should probably retire for the night.”

“Oh, no,” mumbled the Queen. “I am enjoying myself far to much to go just yet.”

“But you are only six, and such young people should not be up so late.”

“Steward, you know that isn’t allowed. My age does not affect anything. I cannot—” At this, Reinetta’s small head drooped and a soft snore interrupted her protests. The steward picked her up and called Anaya. He carried the young queen up to get ready for bed, and certainly she slept very deeply and didn’t wake up until quite late the nest morning.