Luna looked between the shelves where her mother's journals were and the shelves of history books she could use to further her studies were. She turned herself away from the histories with reluctance, gripping the top handle of her little candle lantern. She got to the journals, with only one more longing glance at the histories section. There would be time for that, later.
For now she pulled the first journal from the half full shelf. The thin spine cracked quietly as she opened it. It was thick cardboard and sturdy canvas unlike the leather bound later volumes. Luna sank down on the floor by the shelves with her lantern shining on the blank cover and opened the first page.
The writing was bold, but the hand practiced as she started to read. Luna imagined a voice as unlike Serena's as she could manage.
I chanced upon this blank book in the castle town. I have always liked to put my thoughts to paper but Magnus tends to hoard it. The wretch. Just because he claims to need it more for his spells. But he did trade his prosperity cantrips for new winter cloaks for us while we were in the castle town today. I suppose I'm not that cross with him. I'm always worried I'll have a vision when we go into town. So many twists of fate cross there.
But nothing happened, nothing ever seems to and Magnus says I worry too much. He can talk, his magic is so much more biddable than mine. Words and gestures and he can scribe changes into the world. Ugh. Brothers.
I told him he ought to write a spell that makes foresight useful. He hugged me. Ah well. Brothers.
Luna rubbed at her eyes before the tears on her lashes could fall and smudge the pages. She pushed the book away from her gently, then covered her face with her hands as the tears fell faster and great gasping sobs pushed out of her chest. The noise of her crying filled the library but she couldn't make herself stop.Though she had never known her mother, only Serena, she felt a deep relief and grief that she wasn't alone in her experience of strange powers. She clutched the book to her chest and scrubbed at her chest, even pulling up the skirt of her robe to muffle herself and wipe away tears.
It didn't help so she hurried to the histories section and started to pull books down at random. Luna's hope was if she hurried she and Amelia could rush off to her room. But midway through snatching her fourth history she heard a scuffling outside the door and then Amelia's outraged voice. The doors were flung open and in strode two of the Princess-Consort's lackey knights. One had a lantern raised high and the other had Amelia who was struggling and cursing him with several terms Luna had never heard before.
She thought perhaps she could slip around the side and behind them as the one with the lantern turned towards where she had left hers. But the one struggling with Amelia drew a cry of pain from the maid. Luna turned and marched back, giving up on the books except the journal which was small enough to slip into her skirt pocket. At least she'd get this to her room.
"What do you think you are doing to my maid!" She snapped as she strode towards the two knights. They gaped at her for a moment but then straightened with all the borrowed bravado Serena's favor granted them. "Your Highness, you're not supposed to be in here. We must escort you back to your room."
"You will unhand my maid and we will walk back to my chambers myself. You may follow to report that we returned." Luna tipped her chin up, trying to keep her voice firm but it betrayed her with a waver and in the end both she and Amelia were escorted back to her room with a mail covered hand on their shoulders. Luna could feel the weight of the touch even after she'd hidden her mother's journal in her sewing basket and Amelia had put out the lights. They hadn't spoken, just exchanged a few tense glances. Luna lay in bed in the dark and could hear the muffled noises of the older girl weeping in her little alcove. She had to rub her own eyes in the dark. This was all her fault, she'd have to find a way to make it up to the maid.