Moonlight, Veiled - Book 3


                                            1.
                                            
                                                -CHAPTER XI-

                                            2.
                                            
                                                >The long and winding road had led Luna and yourself to a small cottage nestled away in the foothills of the mountains east of Canterlot.

                                            3.
                                            
                                                >It had been languid day’s journey, the two of you making your way down the royal road east at a steady pace.

                                            4.
                                            
                                                >You would have been able to make the journey must faster on your own, but you held your gait to accommodate Luna’s slower walk.

                                            5.
                                            
                                                >With the loss of her magic, titles and wordly burdens, Luna had taken to a much more relaxed, unhurried demeanour in her approach to life.

                                            6.
                                            
                                                >You suspected that, with her magic largely drawn out of her and cast into the brilliant sky above, age was rapidly catching up with the venerable Princess.

                                            7.
                                            
                                                >Your journey had been interrupted frequently, as well.

                                            8.
                                            
                                                >Ponies crossing your path on the road stopped to pay homage to Luna, and she paid careful attention to each and every one of them.

                                            9.
                                            
                                                >Most scraped and bowed in awe of her discarded titles and position – a practice Luna tried her best to discourage, but soon realized was fruitless to resist.

                                            10.
                                            
                                                >The handover of power to Canterlot’s government of nobility and representatives had been laborious, though it had been made as seamless and expedient as Luna had been able to manage.

                                            11.
                                            
                                                >After a couple long weeks of council meetings and petitions, Luna had formalized the handoff of power to a delicate balance of elected officials and electors of Equestria’s ancient titles.

                                            12.
                                            
                                                >As with any government not the purview of an immortal, benevolent dictator (which had been Equestria’s law of the land for untold thousands of years), there were bound to be some gaps in issues of administration, succession, sharing of power, and so on.

                                            13.
                                            
                                                >Luna, with your gentle guidance, had realized that if she was going to take personal responsibility for such concerns whenever they appeared, that her abdication would be in name only.

                                            14.
                                            
                                                >With faith established that the government of Canterlot was as responsible and competent as it was ever going to get, she had ripped off the metaphorical band-aid and formally stepped down from all titles and responsibilities, formally and legally becoming a private citizen.

                                            15.
                                            
                                                >That last change was, of course, in name only as well. No pony in Equestria would ever be able to see her as anything other than their beloved Princess of the Night, and Luna seemed to be at peace with that.

                                            16.

                                            17.
                                            
                                                >And so, whenever a passing pony stopped to bow before their beloved Princess, Luna restrained herself from correcting their error.

                                            18.
                                            
                                                >She refused all but the most trivial gifts and offerings when offered, instead urging ponies to share what they had to give with each other in the upcoming days of hardship and need in Equestria.

                                            19.
                                            
                                                >She asked after their families and loved ones, listening intently and passing long stretches in conversation with ponies concerning their dreams and hopes.

                                            20.
                                            
                                                >This slowed your journey considerably, but you suspected that even if you tried, Luna would not be dissuaded from what she saw as her duty to her former subjects.

                                            21.
                                            
                                                >You were certain in any case that as you put distance east between the two of you and Canterlot that you would likely encounter less fellow travellers on your way..

                                            22.
                                            
                                                >So, with a relaxing week’s journey behind the two of you, you make it to the first true destination on your mutual itinerary in what should have been a three day’s walk.

                                            23.
                                            
                                                >Luna perks up under your hand as the bend in the road reveals the cottage – though she’s still very nearly blind, the warm and welcoming lamplight ahead reflects in her greying eyes, brightening her face and drawing a grin from her as you approach.

                                            24.
                                            
                                                >”Oh, is that what I think it is?”

                                            25.
                                            
                                                >You pat her back reassuringly.

                                            26.
                                            
                                                “A warm, soft bed, firelight and hot food? Certainly looks like it.”

                                            27.
                                            
                                                >Luna’s grin widens and she picks up her pace.

                                            28.
                                            
                                                >The last week’s travel has been punctuated by camping out under the stars.

                                            29.
                                            
                                                >Neither you nor Luna had any complaints about the arrangement so far – her stellar arrangement of the heavens and her magical suffusion of the Moon’s presence overhead had rendered each night pleasantly warm and peaceful.

                                            30.
                                            
                                                >What little chill had crept into your bedroll over the serene nights under the stars had been banished by the presence of your beloved at your side, and she was in her element under the light of the lambent moon.

                                            31.
                                            
                                                >Still, a long journey on foot and earth made one miss the creature comforts of civilisation, and you were looking forward to a roof and bed again.

                                            32.

                                            33.
                                            
                                                >You reach the door – a rustic assembly of rough-hewn planks decorated with floral adornment – and knock gently.

                                            34.
                                            
                                                >After a brief moment you hear the clopping of hooves on the wooden floor beyond, and the door opens to reveal an elderly mare bedecked in a shawl and half-rim glasses.

                                            35.
                                            
                                                >As you’re standing slightly ahead of Luna and in full view of the threshold, she looks you up and down appraisingly.

                                            36.
                                            
                                                >It was a look you hadn’t seen in some time, as the ponies of Canterlot had long since become accustomed to your alien appearance.

                                            37.
                                            
                                                >”Hello, hello, welcome to the Shady Thistles, Mr... Creature. How can I help you today? Or, this evening, I suppose.”

                                            38.
                                            
                                                >She seems a little flustered, and you hurry to speak up to allay her perplexity.

                                            39.
                                            
                                                “Hello ma’am, I was wondering if you had a room open for the night, and some food for my companion and I. We have bits for the accommodations, if they’re available.

                                            40.
                                            
                                                >At mention of your companion she looks past you to survey Luna, who had been serenely standing at your side, absent-mindedly peering out at the stars above.

                                            41.
                                            
                                                >You watch as her expression changes from passivity, to puzzlement, then finally to starstruck awe as she takes in Luna’s height, wings, horn and dappled cutie mark.

                                            42.
                                            
                                                >”Good heavens above, it’s the Princess, at my very door...” she says, under her breath to herself.

                                            43.
                                            
                                                >Luna’s ear flicks at the title and she turns to meet the elderly mare’s gaze, a warm and comforting expression settling on her face as she lowers her head in a gentle bow.

                                            44.
                                            
                                                >”Not Princess any more, madame. I expect news from the capital may not have reached your charming establishment quite yet, but please rest assured – We are here only on a personal errand of pleasure, and would be very grateful if you’d allow us to rest and recover for the night.”

                                            45.
                                            
                                                >”Of course, of course! Please, come in out of the cold, and make yourself comfortable, Princess. Thorny! We have company!”

                                            46.
                                            
                                                >Calling out into the room behind her, she anxiously beckons the two of you inside, demeanour shifting rapidly from her earlier briskness to the model of polite, if nervous, hospitality.

                                            47.

                                            48.
                                            
                                                >The following minutes are a whirlwind of customer service.

                                            49.
                                            
                                                >Thorny, who you learn is the husband of the elderly mare at the door and co-proprietor of the Shady Thistles, is directed to take your luggage to the “Fancy Room.”

                                            50.
                                            
                                                >Meanwhile the mare – who you’re introduced to as Spiny Thistle – directs you to a nook in a corner of the cottage’s main sitting room, where she hurriedly moves a large sofa for Luna beside an antique and very comfortable-looking armchair for your use, both in front of an invitingly crackling fire.

                                            51.
                                            
                                                >While she works, she offers Luna a continuous stream of services and victuals – from every variety of tea, alcohol and beverage that can be found in Equestria to every meal the inn has served going back generations.

                                            52.
                                            
                                                >Before too long, and after dismissing multiple offers of assistance from both you and Luna, the two of you are seated comfortably wrapped in woolly woven blankets, a hearty dinner ordered from their modest kitchen, and a serving of tea and biscuits before you.

                                            53.
                                            
                                                >After placing the latter items on the nook’s well-weathered oaken table, a flustered Spiny Thistle speaks up again.

                                            54.
                                            
                                                >”You two make yourself as comfortable as you wish, and if you need anything at all please don’t hesitate to ask. Thorny’s just setting up your room now, and we’ll show you to your accommodations after dinner if that’s to your liking. In the meantime, please feel free to make yourself at home while I get your food going.”

                                            55.
                                            
                                                >”Of course, Madame Thistle, we will. Please take your time, Mr. Anonymous and I are in no rush and you’ve made us feel perfectly comfortable.”

                                            56.
                                            
                                                >Luna speaks graciously, eliciting a low bow and beaming smile from the elderly mare before she trots off.

                                            57.
                                            
                                                >Finally, you and Luna are left alone together once again.

                                            58.

                                            59.
                                            
                                                >Luna takes a deep, calming breath over the whorls of steam rising from her tea before speaking again.

                                            60.
                                            
                                                >”What a lovely couple. It seems you chose accommodations well, Anon.”

                                            61.
                                            
                                                >You shrug nonchalantly, cradling your tea as well.

                                            62.
                                            
                                                “They came well recommended.”

                                            63.
                                            
                                                >Tea Leaves had suggested the inn to you over discussions of your planned itinerary with her and Ink Blot

                                            64.
                                            
                                                >A cousin of hers had stayed there once on a trip to Manehattan, and had spoken well of the Thistles.

                                            65.
                                            
                                                >Despite their thorny appellations, Mr and Mrs Thistle were reportedly as dedicated and hospitable innkeepers as any in Equestria.

                                            66.
                                            
                                                >While Luna had settled matters of state following here abdication, you had set the archives in order with Ink Blot and a small crew of other dedicated clerics and scribes.

                                            67.
                                            
                                                >While that process had progressed, you’d been given the liberty of planning a retirement vacation for Luna.

                                            68.
                                            
                                                >She wanted to see Equestria under the light of the moon, touring the rolling countryside of her domain between the mountains and the eastern sea.

                                            69.
                                            
                                                >The destination of the sea had been your idea, which Luna had taken to warmly.

                                            70.
                                            
                                                >You wanted Luna to be able to relax and enjoy her retirement as much as she possibly could, and she seemed excited at the prospect of a comfortable gallivant following your lead.

                                            71.
                                            
                                                >As you planned the journey, the prospect of its end pulled at your mind.

                                            72.
                                            
                                                >You had remembered your dream of a stony shore and scarce-remembered lullaby, of the rising sun on a vast sea.

                                            73.
                                            
                                                >You refused to give up on Luna, no matter how at peace she seemed to be with her own end.

                                            74.
                                            
                                                >If a faint nudging of a dream was all you had to pin your hopes on, that would have to be enough.

                                            75.
                                            
                                                >And so you had planned a comfortable journey with Luna, towards whatever end you would find together.

                                            76.
                                            
                                                >It was a sobering thought, though it was hard to worry too much about it with the beautiful mare at your side.